I try to ignore the warmth spreading through me, and stare intently at my coffee until the guys return. Charles is wearing a smart blazer and dress pants, his lips no longer purple. Tate, who’s apparently heading to the same class, hasn’t bothered changing out of his PJs, though he did brush his lips and teeth, too.
“Bye, Roo Roo.” Tate places another soft kiss on my cheek and heads for the door. Charles kisses my other cheek a second later, and I blush.
My Prince Charming slips on his perfectly-white cross trainers, and my Beast pulls on dress shoes that shine like mirrors.
Then Charles turns back, all serious. “We’ll see you at the audition tonight, Roonie?”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I reply and lick a wayward piece of blueberry off my front teeth.
The door to the suite closes, and JJ and I are suddenly alone.
“So...” he says slyly. He licks his purple lips in an obvious attempt at seduction. “What do you want to do now?”
Chapter 2
“I should brush my teeth! I mean, my lips! I mean, to get out all the purple.” I blurt, and practically run from the room.
My heart hammers in my chest and my palms feel sweaty, all because I’m in the dorm apartment alone with JJ.
Unlike the first time the guys had left me alone with him, I’m no longer afraid. This time, I’m nervous and excited, and I don’t know why.
When I come back, my lips scrubbed pink and my teeth shining, I find JJ cleaning the kitchen. He gives me a purple smile and a flirtatious wink, making my heart leap, and I have to remind myself that he doesn’t mean anything by it. He’s not into me, and I’m not into him. I can’t be when I’m having a hard enough time deciding which of his roommates I like best.
When the dishes have been put away and the counters look spotless, JJ brushes his own teeth and lips and then joins me on the couch. He pulls up some a cappella videos for us to watch—recordings of past winners and other competitions—and we spend the afternoon critiquing each of them. And occasionally even singing along!
We order regular burgers for lunch—normal ones, not the fancy, fancy stuff Tate and Charles like—and I grab us some mint chocolate chip ice cream from the freezer for dessert.
When JJ finally shuts off the videos, I turn to him with a huge smile... and realize how close we’re sitting. I can practically feel the warmth from his skin. I inhale, and the fresh scent of his body wash envelops me, reminding me of curling up amidst his blankets and falling asleep to a scent that’s uniquely JJ.
I suddenly feel nervous, and the silence only makes it worse.
“So... um... what made you choose to go to LUV Academy?” I help myself to one of the throw pillows and hug it to my chest.
JJ shrugs. “I like music.”
“Me too.” I feel another wave of nerves as we lapse into silence.
JJ’s fingers tap against the back of the couch, and I hug the pillow closer.
“I guess I also like the straightforwardness of it all,” he finally says. “Like, we get to be creative, but it’s not all artsy-fartsy.”
“Artsy-fartsy?” I giggle.
JJ shrugs. “That’s what I call my parents. Artsy-fartsy. And it’s nice to go to a school where everything is, like, clear and direct. You know?”
“Your parents sing?”
“Nope. That’s just me.” JJ shrugs. “Dad draws and Mom puts fruit hats on sculptures of prominent political figures.”
“She... what?” I pause, wondering if I’ve somehow misheard.
“It’s a lot more lucrative than it sounds.” JJ shrugs.
“Do you not get along?” Something about his tone tells me they don’t.
“No, we do.” JJ sighs. He runs his fingers through his hair, seemingly lost in thought, and finally adds, “I guess they just don’t understand.”
“Understand what?” I hold my breath, wanting to learn more about JJ.
“Why I would want to sing and not be famous.”
“What do you mean?”
JJ chuckles. “That’s what I like about you, Roonie. That you’re passionate about singing and you’re not just doing it for the fame. You sing for the sake of singing.”
I smile. “You do, too. So do Tate and Charles... and Silas.” Especially Silas. The way the Dark Prince poured his whole heart into his song, the way he played the piano, there is zero chance he was singing for anyone but himself.
“We do.” JJ shifts closer to me, so our knees are touching.
My pulse spikes, and a part of me wants to jump back while another begs me to stay. It’s like I’m possessed by two fairies, the good one reminding me that I already like Tate and Charles, while the bad one is telling me to stop thinking and enjoy the moment. They war within me, and I know I should listen to the good fairy—I know I should—but I’m not sure I want to.
“So, tell me about yourself.” JJ leans even closer.
“Oh, um...” My cheeks flush. What am I supposed to say? Hi, my name is Roonie, and I couldn’t get into college or find a job. All my friends moved away and my home life sucks, so here I am? “There’s really nothing to tell.”
“Well, how’d you get so damn good at writing songs?” he prompts, and a warm feeling spreads through me.
I know JJ doesn’t actually mean it. He’s just happy the guys don’t have to audition with their original song, Apples. But his words still make me smile.
“I just sing a lot,” I tell him. Not that my songs are any good. If they were, I’d be going to LUV Academy myself, instead of crashing in their dorm. “How did you get so good at singing?”
JJ smirks, and it sets my heart on fire. I remind myself nothing can happen between us, but my treacherous body doesn’t listen.
“Maybe I’m just good with my mouth,” he whispers. I blush the color of roses, and JJ chuckles in satisfaction. “Did you want a demonstration?”
“Y-you mean a singing demonstration?” I blurt, even though I know that’s not what he’s implying.
“Damn, you’re cute.” He starts to lean closer, and I jump to my feet.
“Hey, hey, hold on.” JJ grabs my hand before I can make my escape. “You forgot something.”
“W-what?” I blush again, staring down at our joined hands.
“You know what.” JJ slowly gets to his feet and pulls me toward him, his eyes not once leaving my own. “Do you want to kiss me, Roonie?”
My cheeks flush with embarrassment even as my eyes lock on his mouth. There’s a small smudge of purple I hadn’t noticed before, right there in the corner of his lips, but somehow it only makes him look even more endearing.
How can I be this attracted to JJ? And what would Tate and Charles think if they found out?
“Roonie?”
My gaze snaps up to his.
JJ raises an eyebrow, waiting, and I realize that I must have been standing there staring at his lips for an awkwardly long time. As if that’s not embarrassing enough, JJ repeats his question, his gruff voice sending a shiver down my spine. “Do you want to kiss me?”
“Yes,” I say quickly and then flush scarlet. JJ never even said he’s into me. He’s probably just a flirt. And none of that matters, anyway, because I already can’t choose between Tate and Charles.