Page 13 of The Spotlight Effect

I don’t even know why she is in my head. I’m experiencing major alexithymia right now. Even with this, I still stare at the picture.

“What ya looking at?” Scarlett asks, hovering over my shoulder.

“Nothing,” I reply quickly and turn my screen off. Scarlett laughs a little, leaning back. To not raise any more suspension, I look out the window regardless; my mind is still on Alexia.

I wonder what she’s like. What did she order at the steakhouse? I want to know so many things about this girl. I’ve never been so curious about someone before. It’s creeping me out. Like I'm giving stalker vibes, and I don’t like that.

I need to push these feelings somewhere else.

Whatever these feelings are.

“Gray, get out of the car!” Raven yells at me. I look around the car, noticing we are atIn-N-Outand everyone has gotten outof the car. I hurriedly get out of the car and close the door behind me.

“Thank god you guys are here, I was starting to worry,” Emerson says, walking over to us. She begins hugging everyone, but she doesn’t hug me or Shawn, which is normal. We aren't big physical contact people. Once she is done, we start to walk up to the restaurant.

“We would have been over sooner, but someone has been a little distracted,” Charlie says.

“Yeah, what did you do, Noah?” Raven asks as we all start to enter the restaurant.

“As far as I know of, nothing,” Noah answers.

Before we talk more, we put our orders in and get our drinks. A large Neapolitan shake and a double-double with added chilies and pickles, along with animal-style fries, is just what I needed. My favorite fast-food meal. This will definitely help this brain fog I’m feeling.

“I’ll be back, guys,” I tell them and head off to the restroom. Of course it doesn’t take me long to do my business and soon I’m walking out of the restroom.

Looking up, I stop dead in my tracks. Alexia is here and If I walk up closer, she will see me, and I may have to talk. I don’t know if I could do that. This is one of the very few times in my life I am nervous.

Remember, she stole someone's song. Do not be nervous.

Alexia is waving to my friends as she locks arms with a woman who looks to be in her forties. Alexia is holding take-out bags from the restaurant. It’s a quick moment, but to me, it feels like hours, and in reality, it’s like fifteen seconds.

“Gray, come sit down and stop looking like a dumbass,” Raven says from our booth. I don’t say anything or look over to them, I just get back to the table and sit down.

“What’s wrong with you? You’re like having wonder brain right now,” Charlie asks.

“Nothing,” I reply.

“Right, because spacing out is normal for you,” Kenan says.

“Come on, guys, let’s leave him alone. Maybe he’s not having a good day,” Emerson says.

“Well, as long as he’s good for the concert,” Shawn says.

“I will be,” I say.

There’s definitely something wrong with me.

“Alright,MorningStars, Tati will be here in a few minutes with the sweepstakes winner and her guests. We need to be ready. Kenan and Raven will give the tour while Shawn will help the sound crew get situated. The rest of you, donothing,” Austin says. His Australian accent comes out a lot stronger today than normal.

“Why aren’t we fun?” Charlie whines, while hanging upside down on the sofa, causing his voice to sound very nasally.

“Because Charlie, you do things like what you are doing now,” Bridgett adds as she types on her iPad.

“Come on, that's what makes me so much fun,” Charlie says, swinging himself around to face forward.

“Yeah, we’re the life of the party,” I add.

“Just stay, and Scarlett, watch the terrible two,” Austin says as he and Bridgett leave.

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