Page 14 of Level Up (Franklin U 2 #4)

Chapter Fourteen

Ryan

My comp ticket for Jay’s show sat on the shared nightstand in our dorm. He texted me after my finance class today, giving me the good news. I nearly tripped walking back to the dorm. Even Colton was like… dude, what the fuck is going on?

“It’s a ticket to Jay’s show,” I explained.

Colton shrugged, dropping his book bag at the foot of my bed. He grabbed the video game controller and turned on the console. The friendly beep sound dinged through the room. “I didn’t realize he was an actor.”

“Oh yeah,” I said. “And a dancer. I helped him rehearse for tonight. I didn’t realize he’d get me a free ticket, though.”

“Is he still all worried about your dad being your dad?”

I nodded, setting the ticket down and grabbing the second controller. “And I get why. He’s the definition of an environmental activist. My family is the opposite. It sucks, but I understand.” I grabbed my chair from my desk and pulled it next to my bed. I sat down, propping my feet up on the mattress .

“I don’t,” Colton replied. “I’ve seen how you two look at each other. It’s gross but also pretty sweet.”

“We look at each other normally.” My eyebrows inched together. I ignored the prompt on the screen to start the game and turned to Colton. “Do we?”

“You look at each other like you’re both five seconds away from fucking at any moment.”

My head dropped. “No way. Really?”

“Mhmm.” He chuckled and pointed at the TV. “Let’s start this game so I can beat your ass.”

I clicked X on the controller. The TV screen filled with a rainbow assortment of swirls and colors as the game started up. “Fine, but we can only play a couple rounds.”

“Why?”

“Because the show’s in a few hours, and you’re coming with.”

“I don’t have a ticket.”

I smiled. “Yes you do. I bought one before Jay comped me. You can have that one.”

“You… bought a ticket to one of the school plays? You hated theater shows. Damn, he’s really got you sprung, huh?”

“I never hated theater shows,” I said, turning my focus to the game.

“You literally said you’d rather do anything else than sit in a dark theater while people tap-danced and?—”

“That wasn’t me. That was an impostor.” I smiled at my best friend and motioned toward the screen. “Now, can we forget about me and focus on the game for a bit?”

“Sure, Ry, sure.” He gave me a sideways look. “You also said that?— ”

“Oh, look, the game started.”

My character flew across the screen and punched Colton’s in the face, sending him launching off the platform. Colton forgot about his mission to poke holes in my story and focused on the game. He ended up winning nearly every match. My head just wasn’t in it. All I kept thinking was, Hah. He got me a comp ticket. He wants me at the show.

With how flighty Jay was about being seen in public with me, I really didn’t think he’d get me a free seat up at the front row. It was why I’d secretly bought a ticket all the way in the back of a theater. I wanted to see him perform, but I didn’t want to tip anyone off as to why.

Guess I was overthinking it all along. Jay was full of surprises.

Just another reason why falling for him felt so natural.

…Shit. Falling for him.

Talk about a plot twist.

“Ah, shit,” I said, the screen turning black as my character died again.

The Franklin University theater was packed. It was opening night, so all the rows were full. It was a nice theater, too. I’d never been in it, which was a damn shame. It was like one of the theaters my dad had brought us to on trips to Los Angeles.

Luxurious red curtains draped on a stage that was framed by intricately carved wood paneling. The stage gleamed under the lights, the curtain shifting as people walked behind it. The energy was electric, a lot like the start to one of my big games or a rowing match.

My heart pounded like a stage drum as I slid into my seat—front row, dead center. Colton nudged me, a wide grin splitting his face. “Dude, this is nuts. We’re so close!”

I had asked if I could get my comped ticket and purchased ticket sat together. The student working the box office knew me from class and pulled a couple of strings. “Seriously,” I said, leaning back into the plush velvet chair. I fiddled with the plastic wrapping around the bouquet of roses I’d brought.

Someone sat next to me and surprised me with a warm hello.

It was Maddy. Jay must have gotten us tickets together. “Fancy seeing you here,” she said, smiling wide. She looked like she should be part of the cast. Her makeup appeared airbrushed onto her face, her sparkly black dress reminding me of a clear night sky, flooded with twinkling stars.

“I wasn’t going to miss Jay’s opening night for the world.”

“Opening night or just opening?” Colton said in a loud stage whisper.

I elbowed him in the ribs, earning a pleasing grunt from my right.

Maddy chuckled and rolled her eyes. “Jay told me you’ve been helping him rehearse. He seems really happy to have you around. No matter how bitter he acts about it.”

My chest felt warm all of a sudden. Like someone had cranked up the tiny space heater that took residence inside of my rib cage. “Really? You think so?”

Maddy nodded, fanning herself with the folded-up program. “Oh, a hundred percent. But don’t tell him I told you.”

“I won’t,” I said, sitting back as the lights started to dim. The conversation around us slowly began to die out before it stopped altogether, the curtains splitting open and the orchestra kicking off. The set was a flower-filled courtyard, two tall turrets built on either side of the stage. Two actors twirled onto the stage while another rappelled off the turret, all three of them singing in perfect harmony about a war that brewed in some distant land.

It didn’t take long for the star (at least to me) of the show to appear.

Jay came around one of the turrets wearing a bright red soldier outfit, warning of gunshots sounding in the horizon. He sang with the other actors and danced across the stage as if it were his playground. He had explained it was a mixture of ballroom and contemporary dancing, two of the styles he was strongest in.

And I could tell.

He moved with a grace that hypnotized me. I was a big guy, and most times, I was clumsy as fuck. I was used to using my muscles to push me over the finish line, but Jay was different. He didn’t use his body the same way I did. He extended his legs in perfect lines, curved his arms in impossible ways, glided across the stage as if he were floating.

It was beautiful.

He was beautiful.

He stopped in the center of the stage and looked out to the audience. For a quick second, our eyes locked, and everyone else in the theater disappeared. He flashed me a smile— one that was out of character but one that said, “I see you”—and he slipped back into the monologue he needed to deliver.

“Damn, he’s really good,” Colton said during intermission. “Think I can get his autograph after the show?”

“I’ll see if I can pull any strings,” I said.

“Oh, I’m sure you want to pull on something, dude.”

“Colt… what the fuck?”

Maddy leaned over me. “Don’t worry, Jay wants the same.”

I started to laugh, my cheeks warming for some reason. I wasn’t exactly the modest type, but everything felt different with Jay.

Everything felt right. And I wanted to hold on to that feeling as long as I possibly could.

And yes, Colton was also right. That bastard.

I was really happy to have him as my best friend. Seeing the bond forming between all four of us felt like I was beginning to find a new family.

I smiled all through the rest of the show, riding a high that was unmatched.