Page 48 of Counterpoint and Harmony

Just then, Natalie slips back into the room, a small cooler in one hand, and paper plates and napkins in the other. “Here you go.” She passes out the plates and napkins, then opens the cooler and rattles off the sandwich options.

After we all claim what we want, Damian and Natalie taking the folding chairs across the coffee table, I rip open the wrapper and take a big bite. At first I assume the silence is because we’re all digging into our food, but when I look up, I see Lauren and Damian staring at me, their sandwiches untouched.

Natalie giggles, covering her mouth with her hand as she talks with her mouth full. “Don’t mind Charlie, guys. She’s always ravenous after a show.”

Lauren seems to unfreeze at Natalie’s reassurance and takes a bite of her own sandwich, still eyeing me as she chews. “Holy crap, woman. I lived with you for months. I know you can eat, but damn. I’ve never seen you attack food like that.”

Grinning around another bite of sandwich, I shrug, chew, and swallow. “Natalie’s right. Shows make me hungry.”

“Good. Then you should eat,” Damian puts in. “Just don’t, y’know, forget to chew and stuff. I don’t want to give you the Heimlich.”

“No, you’d prefer to give her mouth-to-mouth,” Lauren mutters into her sandwich next to me.

When I jab her with my elbow, she gives me a wide-eyed look. “What? You know it’s true. Don’t even try to deny it. I know what I saw yesterday.”

A glance at Damian reveals that his ears are pink, and he’s very interested in his sandwich.

Natalie’s eyes dart between each of us in turn. Then she clears her throat and stands, wrapping up her sandwich. “Um, I just realized, I need to go, uh, check on … that thing. Remember?”

Before anyone can say anything, she darts out of the room, the door closing hard behind her.

There’s a moment of silence, and then Lauren bursts out laughing.

Damian tosses a wadded up napkin at her head, but I can tell he’s fighting a grin. “Nice going. You scared off Natalie.”

Waving a hand in front of her, Lauren shakes her head. “Man, if that’s all it takes,” she splutters out, “then she needs to stay far away from me. I didn’t even say anything scandalous.”

Damian’s reluctant grin overtakes his face as he looks at me, and I smile back.

“See?” Lauren exclaims. “This! This is exactly what I’m talking about. You guys are going all googly-eyed over each other. Will you please just admit that you’re seeing each other again?”

I shift in my seat, glancing at Damian. Lauren whips her head back and forth between us. “What? Is that supposed to be a secret? You’re both shit at hiding things, you know that, right?”

“Hey! I successfully hid my identity for over three months!”

Lauren snorts. “Right. And the minute someone thought they recognized you, you gave it all away in a second.” She shakes her head, then looks between us again. “And I know how to read you both.” Her finger wiggles in the air. “You might be able to fool other people, but not me. But if you don’t want to talk about it, then I’ll mind my own business.”

“Ha,” Damian says. “When have you ever minded your own business, Lauren?”

She sticks her tongue out at him and throws his napkin back, and we all laugh, any lingering awkwardness successfully dispelled.

I don’t really want to go meet my fans. I’d rather hang out with my friends. Or my friend and my maybe-boyfriend. But duty calls.

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