Page 39 of The Gargoyle in the College

I check the room throughout, there’s no gargoyle, not even his scent. Am I upset that he isn’t here?

But I’m the one telling him to give me my personal space.

I shrug. I’ve been on my own for longer than his existence in my life. I’m going to be fine.

Compared to wondering what Gisett is up to, I should record this museum trip before I forget about the things I saw.

I wash my face, take a shower, and take a seat at my desk. It has been a fruitful day, even though it was awkward at times when my friends seem to want to give Ryan and me room, which is completely unnecessary. This isn’t high school, why are we doing that?

My phone buzzes. Ryan sends a few photos to the group chat, which I’m still not sure whether I’m happy to be in. At least I can be friends with them, not like some of the wilder people in my class. I scroll through the photos on my phone, only ending on the photo with Gisett.

Well, I’m not sure whether that counts. That’s the photo of me messing with the gargoyle. There’s cream on Gisett’s face and I pretend to be happy standing next to him, holding onto his wing to keep my balance.

This is such a silly photo. I’m going to delete it, but... Gisett looks silly with moss and cream. When the few sprayed cream onto his face, he probably couldn’t see how he looked, so...

I turn around to the couch, only remembering that he isn’t around.

Maybe he is busy, otherwise, he’d ask whether he can be here, or surprise me with his presence.

Another message from Ryan pops up, taking up the screen. He asks whether I’ll go to the library with him, and it isn’t in the group chat, which means that...

Before I can reply, a message from Gisett comes. He just can’t keep himself away from me.

He’s nice and cares about me, but... dating him is as far from normal as that can be.

I type to tell him not to come. He sends a smiling face, regardless. I don’t think he is happy.

But if I type something else, he may misunderstand. I... I stand and head to the window, looking in the direction of the statue. Gisett is still there, right? I narrow my eyes, making out the statue’s shape with the tiny help of the dim streetlights.

Maybe I should talk to Gisett, then it’ll be done. Probably.

Chapter 20

Gisett

Yesterday was a whole day without seeing Laura, not counting how she walked around with that annoying human male.

I hate that. But I can’t do anything if that’s what Laura wants.

Why doesn’t she want a gargoyle? I can bring her along and fly along the city. She’s going to enjoy that.

I stare at myself. No, the illusion of myself as a statue. I can’t stand being in that spot, which is such a weird feeling. A lot of gargoyles would love to do that, but...

What’s Laura doing?

I check my phone again. The last message we shared is the smiling face I sent after she told me not to show up at her place, which is pretty sad. But maybe it’s even more pathetic to hope for a response.

But I couldn’t make her want me, so...

The sun is setting, which means students are heading back to their dorm room, or just walking around, getting to places.

Is Laura going to walk by? She is going to, but is she going to even look at me?

My phone buzzes with a message from her. I hurry to check it out. She said she’d be back in half an hour, and I could wait for her in her room.

My heart skips a beat. I’ve been wanting that, but now that I have a word from her, I’m not sure what to think. I should be happy, but I can’t feel that. Maybe today’s the day she tells me that she doesn’t like gargoyles, and I should go back to being a statue.

What do I do next? Sit there and wait for another female who hits deep into my heart?

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