Unexpected

Austin the Cockblocked

*Austin's POV*

When Monday morning hits, I get to the cafeteria a little earlier than usual to spend more time with Gabby in a setting that she's more likely to talk to me in. It may not be much, but it's better than class time when she's actually trying to focus.

She sits at the end of the table with Sarah to her right, so I'll have to settle for the place across and diagonal from her. Zach is directly in front of her, talking more animatedly than he usually does in the mornings. I speed up when I hear the mention of her date with Elijah.

Neither of them acknowledge me when I sit down, both deep in conversation. I listen on, not hiding the fact that I am since Sarah is also openly listening.

"You didn't tell me he's buff as shit." She says to Zach, and he laughs loudly. I refrain from scoffing and Zach goes on to say, "Yeah, he's kind of a gym rat."

"I'll say." She replies, looking to me briefly as she does so.

"I get it, my brother's dreamy. What did you guys talk about?" Zach looks at me for the first time since I've walked over with a set look and I get the impression he's telling me to lay off. If I didn't know any better, I might think he's a little too interested in how their date went.

"Our lives, what we're like. You know, the basics. I was expecting a more stereotypical college guy, but he's super respectful, and mature, and-"

"You should've seen what he was like on summer vacations." I interject, not as impressed with Zach's older brother as she is. He was peeing in bottles during road trips and making dick jokes with the rest of us.

"Ignore him. You're right. He's always looked out for me. And my boys." He adds, shooting me a warning look.

"Have you talked to him? Has he mentioned anything about our date?" She prompts Zach, causing him to turn his attention back to her.

"Yeah, he said that you're really pretty. And sweet."

"Gabby? Sweet?" I laugh bitterly, thinking that he must not know her at all.

"Austin, will you shut- well, actually I have to agree with him on that one. You put a spell on him or something?" Zach says, and I smile to myself, enjoying the validation.

"No. Believe it or not, I know how to be nice when I want to be." She says defensively, crossing her arms at the both of us. She looks so damn hot like that, wearing the pissed off expression I've come to know well.

"He didn't want to tell me too much, probably because he didn't want it to be taken as disrespectful. So you'll tell me then? It went well? Do you think you'll see each other again?" The mention of Elijah holding back details on his brother, the one who arranged the date, strikes me as try hard.

Gabby nods thoughtfully, her sour expression and crossed arms dropping. "Yeah, I'd say it went well. He called last night and after our date we kissed-"

"Gabby, gross. You're really going to say that in front of Zach?" I speak up, noticing how Sarah rolls her eyes at me. Her attitude towards me is always worse when Alex isn't around.

"If I can handle my brother and Gabby kissing better than you can, maybe they're not the problem." Zach answers for Gabby, looking at me pointedly. I just shrug in response, not knowing what he wants me to say to that.

Thankfully they drop the subject and I'm left to tune out completely, focusing only on the micro changes in Gabby's face as she reacts to their conversation. Something that Zach says makes her pink lips purse ever so slightly and something inside me stirs. As if sensing this, she glances to me and notices my staring. I wink and she looks back to Zach, ignoring me.