There was a loud knock on the bedroom door and Lily was so startled that she nearly fell out of bed. A panic surged through her. Was it Ford? Oh crap, Lily thought to herself, I look like shit.
"Girls? You dressed?" A deep voice came from the other side of the door. It was her father. Lily let out a sigh of relief.
"Just a minute dad," Lily said trying to find some clothes to throw on.
"Well hurry up," he responded. "Grant's at the front door."
The panic was back, along with the feeling that she might throw up. Lily couldn't tell if it was the hangover or her guilt over what had happened the previous night, although she wasn't even exactly sure what had happened. Maybe it had been nothing. Maybe she was drunk and remembered things incorrectly. Regardless, she knew she couldn't hang out with Grant right now until she got her head on straight.
She found a pair of jeans on the floor, grabbed a T-shirt from the closet and gave herself a quick glance in the mirror. She turned around to leave but found herself frozen in place, unsure and unprepared for what awaited her on the other side of the door.
"Violet!" she said suddenly.
"Yeeeees," Violet sister responded, suspicious of her sister's sudden and unusual excitement over her presence. Usually it was the opposite: annoyance and irritation.
"You should come with me."
"What? Why would I do that?"
"To say hi to Grant. You don't want to be rude." Even as she said the words she realized how ridiculous they sounded.
"Since when do you care about being rude?"
"Come on, we had fun last night, right?"
She was reaching.
"Speak for yourself," Violet said. Daylight had brought back the harsh reality that she was still, and would always be, Lily's nerdy little sister. One night wouldn't change that and she wasn't sure she wanted it to.
"Look, I didn't want to say anything, but I think Grant needs some extra help with his math before the big game. He can't screw up his test this week before Homecoming."
Lily couldn't believe the lies that were rolling off her tongue. She felt frazzled and confused and it was all because of stupid Ford Jameson and his ridiculously cute dimples and insanely beautiful eyes. Ugh.
"Okay, fine," Violet reluctantly gave in. Lily knew she couldn't say no to someone in need of academic help.
The two girls made their way out of the bedroom and down the hall to where Grant stood patiently waiting. Lily immediately felt a pang of guilt in the pit of her stomach.
"Hey Babe!" Grant said as Lily approached. Lily's father made a grunt from his chair in the living room, both indicating his disapproval of Grant's pet name and also making it known that he was listening.
"How you feeling?" Grant said quieter, hoping her father couldn't hear every word they were saying.
"Not great," she said and she held her hand to her throat. "Actually I think I might be coming down with something." Lily eyed her sister who was about to open her mouth to speak until Lily gave her the stare of death to which Violet rolled her eyes.
"Oh no, really? I was hoping I could take you out to breakfast to make up for missing the concert last night." He leaned in towards her and wrapped his arm around her waist to pull her closer. Her father made another loud grunt and for once Lily was grateful for his overbearing fatherly ways.
"Yeah," she continued twisting out of his grip. "It must be from getting wet and hanging out at night in my under....." she trailed off remembering that her father was listening.
Violet let out an audible laugh which quickly changed to a cough when her sister shot her another angry look.
"But you should take Violet," Lily said smirking at her sister. If Lily really wanted to wrap her head around what had happened with Ford than she needed some time to herself. It was best if she could get rid of both of Violet and Grant for a while.
"Oh no," Violet interjected shaking her head. "I'm sure Grant has plenty to do."
"Actually, I'm already here and I'm really hungry so if you want to come it's fine with me."
Violet couldn't believe he actually wanted to spend time with her without Lily around. The only time they did that was when he needed help with his homework. Then she remembered what her sister had said about him needing extra help with his math. Maybe this was just his way of being nice before he asked for help.
"Oh, um, yeah, I haven't eaten yet either so I guess I could go."
"All right then it's all settled! Well you two better hurry on up and get to the diner before all the seats are taken. Wouldn't want you hanging around here too long and picking up whatever it is I'm coming down with." She let out a fake cough and began pushing the two of them towards the door.
"Well I guess I'll just call you later then Lily," Grant said as she hurriedly ushered them towards the door.
"What?" Lily was barely listening "Yeah, sounds great. Have fun!" she said as she shut the door behind them. She leaned up against it and let out a huge sigh of relief. Her father let out another heavy grunt and she jumped, forgetting that he was there.
"What?" she said defensively when she saw his raised eyebrow which seemed to be implying something she didn't much care for.
"I'll never understand teenage relationships these days," he replied shaking his head.
"That makes two of us," Lily retorted and huffed back to her room.
***
Grant held the door open for Violet as they stepped into the diner together. She couldn't help but feel like all eyes were on the two of them, which was something Grant was no doubt used to, but for Violet, it was unfamiliar and unwelcome.
They sat on opposite sides of a booth near a window. Violet ordered the veggie omelette while Grant ordered a tall stack of pancakes and a side of bacon. After the waitress left, Violet figured they might as well delve straight into the math Grant was struggling with. There was no reason to act as if they were actually hanging out as friends.
"So what was the math homework that you needed help with?" Violet took a sip of her water and tried to act like it was no big deal that he had ulterior motives for inviting her to breakfast.
"What do you mean?" Grant replied while simultaneously giving a head nod to a kid from their high school who waved hello. It seemed like half the school was in the diner, yet this was the first time Violet had stepped foot in here. She really needed to get out more.
"Lily said...." and then she stopped herself, realizing that her sister had lied to her but not entirely sure as to why.
"Is it just me or was Lily acting a little strange this morning?"
"I'm the wrong person to ask. She always seems strange to me," Violet replied, trying to skirt the subject. She knew Lily was acting weird and she was pretty sure it had to do with Grant's best friend and she didn't want anything to do with that drama.
Just then the food arrived, saving Violet from having to dodge anymore uncomfortable questions.
"Last night was fun though. I don't think I've ever seen you with your glasses off. You looked...different," Grant said while grabbing the container of syrup and draining nearly the entire contents onto his plate.
"I know. I shouldn't wear them. Lily tells me all the time," Violet rolled her eyes at the thought of her sister's nagging.
"Don't listen to Lily. You look pretty in your glasses," he smiled and Violet felt her face turn red. "Yeah, I mean, most girls try really hard, but not you."
"Thanks," Violet replied sarcastically, at his backhanded compliment.
"No," Grant chuckled. "That's not what I mean. I mean, most girls have to try but you don't need to. I think it's cool that you're so comfortable in your own skin."
Violet couldn't help but smile again. It wasn't often that she was complimented on anything other than her brains.
"And you definitely seemed very comfortable in your skin on that slip n' slide," he added and smiled out of the side of his mouth as he looked up from his plate with a forkful of pancakes.
Violet's smile quickly faded and her cheeks turned flush.
"I, uh, I..." she stuttered, unsure of what to say.
"Guess Lily's got some competition."
Violet figured he was just trying to be nice and make her feel better so that she wouldn't be embarrassed about what happened last night. He couldn't be hitting on her? Could he?
***
On Monday Lily actually contemplated calling sick into school. She had spent the weekend fooling Grant that she was under the weather and figured she might as well just ride it out another day or two, to avoid seeing Ford. But she knew it was inevitable. Eventually she would have to see him and face what had happened.
Or at least that's what she thought. Ford was MIA again. When Lily tried to casually ask Grant where he was, he gave some excuse about being busy with schoolwork and practice. As the week went on, Lily began to wonder if she had just made up the connection that Ford and her had shared that night. Maybe she was drunker than she thought. Maybe it was just crowded and him rubbing up against her was because of all the people being pushed around in the standing room only section. But just thinking about his hand making its way up her thigh sent a tingling sensation through her body and she knew she needed to find out the truth.
She shook the thought from her head and told herself to put all her mental energy into class. But that was going to be harder than she expected because as soon as she shut her locker, there was Ford leaned up against the locker next to hers.
Lily jumped and grabbed her chest.
"Jesus Ford, why are you always sneaking up on me?"
"This is the only time I can get you alone," he said, staring at her with an intensity that made her head spin. She felt her heart pound in her chest at the thought of them being alone. That's what she was trying to avoid. That's what worried her.
"Well, you got me. I mean you don't 'got me' but here I am. I'm here. Along with all these other people in the hall, listening and watching." She didn't know why she was rambling and pointing out that there were other students around. The intensity of his stare worried her and made her wonder if he would do something right then and there.
"I wanted to talk to you about that night at the concert."
Lily gulped.
"The concert. Right. I had fun. Didn't you?" She tried to sound nonchalant but she was worried she sounded desperate for his answer that he enjoyed the evening as much as she did.
"I had a great time," he said moving towards her. Lily held her breath. Suddenly it was as if they were the only two people in the hall and she didn't give a damn who was watching.
But just as quickly as he had moved closer, he took a step back, breaking their eye contact and removing his hat from his head. He ran his fingers through his chin length brown locks and placed the hat back atop his head.
"But," he continued. "I was, uh, I was pretty drunk. I mean, I was really drunk. Benny's brother gave me a couple shots before I met you back at the bathroom and I uh, what I mean to say is..."
Lily couldn't believe it, he was going to use the alcohol as an excuse for him trying to make a move on her. She had heard enough. It was just a drunk night to him. She had spent all weekend wondering why he had come knocking on her bedroom window that night and now she knew it was just because he wanted to tell her he was drunk and regretted what he had done.
"Don't worry about it," she said, gathering her books. "I was drunk too. Didn't know what I was doing."
"That's what I figured," he responded.
"So you won't tell Grant?" He continued. "I mean, I wouldn't want to stress him out before the big game. I think there's a scout coming so he's feeling pretty anxious."
"Tell Grant what?" Lily said pissed as all hell at herself for thinking there was anything more than a forced friendship happening between the two of them.
"Thanks," he said sheepishly.
"No problem," she said throwing her bag over her shoulder. "Consider it a favor," her face was emotionless as she threw the jab back at him in reference to what she now realized their date had been all along.
Lily could feel the emotion rising up in her throat and she knew she had to get away from Ford as fast as possible.
"Lily wait," Ford said and she could hear the sound of his boots behind her.
She quickly made her way through the throngs of students and rushed into the girl's bathroom. She ran into a stall and slammed the door behind her just as the tears started to trickle down her cheeks.
She didn't want to hear what Ford had to say. She was determined to never hear what Ford Jameson had to say ever again.