Hey guys! I'm back! These chapters are getting longer and longer! Last one was about 1,600 words now this one is 2,500 words. I'm really working on getting them longer by making everything flow together better and not having so many gaps in time. As of right now, that will have to happen in the story because this story is going to happen over a matter of months. Unlike Ransom Romance, that happened over a matter of weeks. So hopefully, if all goes according to plan, I'll be able to adjust and make everything flow together so it won't be all gaps of time and filler chapters. That's my goal anyways. Alright, so on with the chapter. As always, Read and Review!

Clare's POV

"Come on Clare. You need to hurry up. Zig is going to kill us if we show up late." Katie called from where she stood knocking on my door. I walked over to the door, opening it. She stood there tapping her foot, as I walked back to get my stuff together.

"Yeah. Yeah." I smile, grabbing my phone and purse from where they laid on the bed.

"Come on. Marisol is already there, and she is known for being fashionably late." Katie stated. "Plus Marisol wanted to officially meet you before the band started playing, since you two have been missing each other whenever we have tried to all hang out."

"I know. I'm just not used to these things." I sighed, putting my dorm key and a couple other things into my purse.

"Band gigs?" She asked confused.

"Social gatherings." I clarified.

"Ah. Well, you have to get used to it some time." She smiled. "Come on. Let's go."

"'Kay." I exhaled.

I slung my purse onto my shoulder, before following her out into the hallway. As we walked, she began talking about what tonight would be like. Mainly, she was telling me what typically happened at these 'gigs'. However, she didn't give me any clues on to who I was meeting. I knew Marisol and Mo vaguely, but everyone else I had no clue about. It was nerve-wracking. How could I possibly act okay, when I had the issue of freaking out about not knowing anything ahead of time?

Katie and I walked across campus and towards one of the many campus buildings. Katie led me into a building with a bunch of smaller classrooms. Katie explained that Zig and his band got permission to practice in there once a week. They didn't have a true gig tonight but they would next week. Tonight it was just the band doing a performance in front of friends, so they could get into the swing of things again now that school was back in session.

"Hey. You guys made it!" Marisol exclaimed walking over to us. "Mo was going to freak out if Zig decided to bail to get ahold of you."

"Thanks Mar. Freak Clare out even more, why don't you?" Katie teased.

"Ladies. Ladies. Don't fight over me. I'm not a trophy." Mo joked, walking over.

"Mo. This is Clare." Katie interjected.

"Ah, so she's the reason that Zig wouldn't stop looking at his phone." Mo stated bluntly. I began blushing because I barely knew Zig. We have been talking on and off for a week but honestly, I didn't know much about him. But apparently that didn't matter to him.

"What am I? Chopped liver?" Katie asked laughing.

"Yes." Marisol directed at Katie, before speaking to me. "Clare come on. I want to introduce you to everyone."

"Everyone?" I asked nervously. I wasn't good with a spot light. I liked to stay off in the shadows. Plus there were like thirty people in here. At least. I didn't want to go get introduced to everyone.

"The band?" Marisol prompted, taking my arm and walking me towards the stage area where Zig was standing with a couple others. They were messing around with their instruments. "Guys. This is Clare. Zig and Katie's new friend. This is her first year."

"Ah so you are the infamous Clare. We have heard a lot about you." This girl stated, she looked even younger than me. "I'm Maya Matlin. Katie's younger sister, current freshman, and the band's cellist. The reason I might look younger is because I am. I graduated two years earlier than I should've." She beamed.

"Oh. Hi." I replied, caught off guard with her bluntness. "I didn't know Katie had a younger sister."

"I'm Jack. I'm sure you don't know anything about me either." Another girl stated, but she didn't say anything more before walking over to the amps.

"Sorry, Jack takes a little getting used to. She tends to be a little distant, but she is very nice when you get to know her." Maya explained.

"Her name is Jack Jones. She's a sophomore." Marisol continued. "And she plays the drums."

"Connor." Maya called to a guy that looked around my age. "Come over here."

"What? I'm trying to set up the amps to the instruments." This guy said. He had glasses and was taller than Mo and Zig.

"I just wanted you to meet Clare. Calm down." Maya stated smiling.

"I am calm." Connor pointed out confused.

"Clare, this is Connor. Connor, this is Clare." Maya continued ignoring what Connor said.

"Can I go now?" He asked, barely giving me a glance.

"Connor." Maya warned.

"But you did what you said you wanted me for." He said, still confused.

"Okay. Okay. Go." Maya said shaking her head. After he walked off, she turned to me again. "Sorry. He's not very outgoing. Trust me though, he's the smartest person you'll ever talk to. However, he might not be the nicest, he is honest."

"That's refreshing. I wouldn't mind blunt honesty after everything." I exhaled. Maya noticed that I wasn't going to elaborate and she didn't pry.

"Hey, Maya. We have to get ready." Jack called from where she was setting up at the drum set.

"'Kay, so I have to go. I'll see you guys after the show." Maya said before walking off. I followed Marisol back through the crowd until we found Katie. By that point, the band was on stage and they were setting up. Apparently Zig was the singer, which he never told me.

"Hey. We are WhisperHug and we have decided to take things back to the beginning, by singing the first song that we ever did." Zig announced, before focusing on the guitar in his hand.

They started playing and everyone in the room was amazed and focused on them. Apparently they were good. When they really got into the song, I could tell they were good. The song was good and I couldn't help but watch all the band members. They were really passionate about their instruments and making sure that everything came together perfectly. Every note. Every word. To make it all flow together into a network of sounds to form a song.

"So what do you think?" Marisol asked, from where she stood next to me. Katie stood on her other side glancing over at me.

"They're good." I smiled briefly before glancing back at the stage. "Why didn't Zig tell me he was the singer?" Katie and Marisol glanced at each other before looking back at me. "What?" I asked confused.

"Nothing. He just doesn't want to seem full of himself." Katie reassured.

I wasn't exactly reassured by that, but I ignored it and returned to watching the band. They had already changed songs into something else, and I wanted to show that I was paying attention. Even though my mind was somewhere else.

What did they truly want to say? Was Katie right? Did Zig like me? A lot? Was he truly trying to impress me? I felt bad that if this was true, that I was going to end up hurting him. I couldn't get into a relationship when I still wasn't over Eli. If Zig truly liked me, how could I hurt him like that?

Who was I kidding? I didn't even know for sure if he liked me. All I knew was from what Katie said. Maybe she read the signs wrong. Maybe he didn't like me. That would be for the better. Because even though I liked Zig as a friend, and he could possibly be an opportunity to move on from my past, I didn't actually want to date him. I thought he was cute and funny but I wasn't ready for all the unexpected drama and issues that would come with dating.

Oh god. I am going crazy over something I didn't even know the truth about.

"I'll be right back." I stated to Katie and Marisol. The band was still playing but I needed some fresh air.

I moved passed everyone as I made my way to the door. When I made it into the hallway, I leaned against the wall and slid down. I couldn't do this. I couldn't pretend that I was normal. I couldn't pretend that I had feelings for Zig when I was clearly not over Eli. However, I knew Eli was gone forever and I should move on. Hurting Zig and messing with him wouldn't be the right way to get over him.

I stayed out there for a while before the band stopped playing and all I heard was chatter going on inside. Eventually I heard music that was on the radio, most likely meaning that the band was done playing for the night. I knew everyone would be looking for me. I knew that I should go back inside. However, I couldn't seem to get myself up and walking. I just wanted to become invisible.

"Clare?" I looked up to see Zig walking over to me, from where the room was. "What are you doing over here? Did we suck that bad?" He smirked.

"No. You guys were great." I replied. Zig sat down beside me, looking at me.

"So why are you out here by yourself then?" He asked.

"I just have a lot on my mind right now. And since I am not one to go to these types of things, I figured I would stay out here. I didn't want to be a buzz kill, but I am not really feeling up to partying." I explained.

"Why not?" He asked curiously.

"It's just something Katie said. It's not a big deal, but I just don't really feel up to talking to everyone anymore." I responded vaguely.

"Well, it's obviously a big deal if you are out here in the hallway on a Friday night in Columbia University dorm life." He continued.

"You make it sound so glamorous." I gave a small smile.

"Well isn't it?" He asked. "We are at one of the most prestigious schools in all of the country. Getting to do what we want to do, minus homework, and we have our whole futures in front of us. How could life get any better?"

"I suppose it couldn't." I agreed.

"So why does something Katie said bother you so much?" He asked.

"Because she said that you liked me." I whispered.

"And is that such a bad thing?" He asked confused.

"No. It's just I don't want a relationship right now. And I also don't want things to get weird between us." I sighed.

"Clare look at me." Zig stated. I did. "Why does me liking you, have to equal up to a relationship? Why couldn't we have a little fun together and see where things go? If they end, we move on. Trust me when I say that I don't mind the whole 'no strings attached' thing. Yes. I like you. But that doesn't mean we can't just remain friends." Maybe we could just fool around. I mean it is college right?

Maybe I could grow to like him if I was able to keep things casual for now, and then hopefully get over Eli in the process? I could kill two birds with one stone. I wouldn't lose the chance to see where Zig and I could go, but at the same time I would be able to have time to get over Eli. If that was all possible.

"You promise that it won't affect our friendship?" I asked.

"I promise. Clare. This is a guy you are talking to." He laughed.

"True. But you have feelings too." I reminded him.

"But they won't get in the way. This will be something fun to do. Something that will keep us satisfied while also making it so we don't have to worry about all that relationship drama. Plus wouldn't it be fun?" He prompted.

"It would. I just—" I cut off. "I can't have sex. I can't go through that right now. I won't."

"I respect that. Like I said, we will see where this goes. For now. Nothing but fun." He continued. "Now can we stop talking so I can kiss you?"

My breathing cut off as he smirked and leaned in. He brought his hand to my cheek and pulled me in. As our lips met, I felt content. It was nothing compared to kissing Eli, but then again I knew that I was never going to get over Eli if I was going to compare everything and everyone to him. So I ignored my thoughts and just deepened the kiss.

I opened my mouth and he accepted the invitation, pushing his tongue in. I grasped his shirt in my hand, trying to find any way to pull him closer.

"Va, va, voom." We broke apart when Marisol spoke up.

"Mar. Leave them alone." Katie scolded.

"Come on, Clare. Time to drag you away from the rock star." Marisol stated. "Zig, Mo needs your help cleaning up."

"Is the party over already?" He asked standing up. I soon followed.

"No, but he wants to get all the instruments out of there now. Otherwise, he's afraid of having another instrument smashing fiasco." Marisol explained.

"Right. Connor still hasn't forgiven Jack and I for what we did to his keyboard." He replied, before turning to me. "I'll see you later Clare."

"Yeah." I agreed, watching him walk back into the room.

"So, give us the juicy details." Marisol prompted.

"Nothing happened." I stated.

"Right. Nothing ever happens when a guy has his tongue down your throat." Katie smiled. "So are you guys going out now?"

"It's not like that." I argued. "We are just going to keep things casual for now."

"Right. Casual. That never stays that way for long." Marisol retorted.

"If I feel like things are getting too emotional or like a relationship, I'll end it. Case closed." I replied.

"That's what they all say." Marisol teased.

"Come on, Mar. Clare doesn't want a relationship right now, and Zig never really dates so it's perfect." Katie stated. "Now. How about ice cream?"

"Sounds good." I smiled, halfheartedly. If people didn't understand why I wanted a casual relationship, then I guess I would have to live with it. Katie understood. Hopefully everyone else would in time.