On an Edge of Glass

perfect manicure, you’ll shut up and order the man some pizza.”
                  “Good point,” Payton laughs.  She pulls out her phone and starts to look up the number for our favorite pizza delivery place.  Her dark bangs fall into her eyes.  “What does everyone want?”
                  “Cheese!”  Ainsley chirps.
                  “Sundried tomatoes and feta for me.”  That’s Mark. 
                  And a new voice: “Pepperoni and mushroom.”
                  I look up.  Ben is smiling at me from the door.  He’s got his arms crossed over his chest and he’s leaning sideways against the frame. 
    I blush furiously .  He remembered what kind of pizza I like. 
                  “That is…” Ben says slowly, dropping his cello case by the hall table and taking a step into the living room.  “If it’s okay with you guys if I crash this cozy little beauty fest, or whatever you call what’s happening here.”
                  Mark lifts the pink-tipped nail polish brush in the air.  “You want to go next?”
                  “Well, I wouldn’t want to take anyone’s spot, so I think I’ll wait until next time,” Ben says nonchalantly as he falls into the armchair.   
    I notice that his hair is back in a messy ponytail and he’s got his sleeves rolled up.  He looks exhausted from three orchestra practices this week and staying up late the last two nights to work on a new song that he’s writing for Accidental Sweet Tea.  The fact that it’s a love song has not gone unnoticed by me.   
                  After ordering the pizza, Payton slips her phone back into her bag and looks at Ben with interest.  “Be-en,” she coos, playfully twirling her hair over her index finger.
                  He shifts his eyes to her expectantly.  He’s got his elbow bent on the chair and his chin is resting in his hand.
                  “Did Nick happen to mention me recently?” Payton asks.
                  “Ooooh!  Who’s Nick?”  Ainsley leans forward so that she can see Payton over Mark’s shoulder.
                  I turn my head.  “Yeah, who’s Nick?”
                  Payton clears her throat.  “Ellie, you remember him.  He’s the hot drummer for Accidental Sweet Tea.”
    The drummer ?  A memory tugs.  Right.  He’s the redhead who stopped the argument between Ben and Drew the night of the Halloween party.  The one who was dressed like The Incredible Hulk with green paint smeared on one side of his face. 
    “Huh.  The redhead?”
                  “I prefer the term ‘ginger,’” she says with an elusive shrug.  “But yeah, we bumped into each other on campus the other day and, I don’t know… I thought he would call me by now, but he hasn’t.”  She glances at her cell phone and frowns.
                  We all turn to Ben, who looks like he’s just been asked name every single element on the periodic table. 
    “Ahhh,” h e squirms, wrinkling his nose and looking insanely cute.  “We don’t really talk about that kind of stuff.  It’s sort of a rule of mine after the whole…” his eyes touch me and jerk away quickly. “Well, it’s a rule not to get involved in my friend’s love lives.  It gets way too messy.”
                  Payton lets her head fall against the back of the couch.  “God, Ben!  I hope that you realize that you are being no fun at all.  I thought if I wasn’t allowed to sleep with my male roommate, I could at least count on him for a hookup with a hot guy friend every now and then.”
                  He laughs and it sounds so good.  The phrase, “music to my ears” comes to mind, but then I think that I’m pathetic for even entertaining the thought.  Pathetic or whipped, and I don’t really want to be either. 
    “I don’t know if this helps, but if any of you guys are interested, we’re playing at The Hill a week from Friday.”  He drops his arm and sits up.  “It’s after exams, so unless you’re heading home for winter break early, you should come out.  I’m sure I can get you in the door for free.  Ellie already said that she would come.”
                  I meet his gaze.  Ben told me about the show yesterday.  He wants me to see him play and he wants to tell