Grayson Lockhart
"Grayson"
The sound of my name, spoken with a familiarity that sent a shiver down my spine, halted my movements just as I was about to climb into my car.
Emery Rose.
The name alone was enough to evoke a flood of memories, each one a bittersweet reminder of a past that I had fought so hard to leave behind.
I turned to my side, my eyes meeting hers, and there she was. The sight of her sent my heart into a tumultuous frenzy, a whirlwind of conflicting feelings swirling within me. She was both the source of my greatest joy and my deepest pain, a constant presence in my thoughts despite my best efforts to forget her.
Emery stood before me, wearing a coat that engulfed her petite frame, hanging loosely around her.
And then I saw it- She's wearing my coat.
The one she was wearing during that rainy car ride, never expecting to see it on her again.
My coat.
Memories flooded my mind, transporting me back to that rainy night when I had given her a ride home. That ride was torture. Even then, soaked from the downpour, she had looked radiant, her beauty undimmed by the wetness clinging to her skin.
It was driving me crazy.
I hadn't anticipated encountering her at Donna's bookstore, a familiar refuge where I often sought solace and respite from the chaos of daily life. Helping out my grandmother during my free time had become a routine, but that day, everything changed.
It had been years since we last spoke, since I made the painful decision to push her away for what I thought was for the best
I often caught glimpses of her around school. And Sometimes, I could feel her gaze burning into me, but I never dared to meet her eyes.
Donna is the only person who knew about my feelings for Emery. She had a knack for picking up on things, especially when it came to matters of the heart. So when Emery mentioned her name, Donna immediately recognized her.
She had asked me to give a girl a ride home from the bookstore, but she hadn't mentioned it was Emery until I had already agreed and saw her standing there drenched and shivering because of the unforgiving rain.
Seeing her in such a vulnerable state stirred something deep within me, a mixture of concern and resentment towards the circumstances that had brought her to that point.
I couldn't shake the nagging question of whether her stupid ass boyfriend knew she was out alone in such inclement weather, her tear-reddened eyes betraying the inner turmoil she must have been experiencing.
How could her boyfriend allow her to walk home alone in the pouring rain, completely oblivious to her distress? It was a question that gnawed at me. The fire of protectiveness that had always burned within me when it came to Emery flared to life, urging me to shield her from harm.
The thought of her out there, alone and vulnerable, filled me with a primal rage unlike anything I had ever experienced.
But beneath the surface, another emotion simmered—a deep-seated longing that I had spent years trying to ignore.
Despite my best efforts to push her away, Emery had always held a special place in my heart, her presence a constant reminder of everything I had tried to bury beneath layers of denial.
That night, I had treated her coldly, deserving the label of jerk she had given me. But despite my distant demeanor, there was no denying the undeniable truth: she looked breathtaking wearing my coat.
And now, in the dim light, she was nothing short of breathtaking, The soft glow cast upon her features, making her appear almost ethereal. Her long orange hair cascaded around her shoulders, and without a trace of makeup, her natural beauty shone through, each freckle on her skin visible under the gentle illumination of the streetlights.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still as we simply stared at each other. I found myself lost in her presence, unable to tear my gaze away.
But then reality crashed back in, reminding me of the situation at hand. With a jolt, I snapped back to attention, my heart pounding in my chest.
Her beautiful brown eyes bore into mine, but uncertainty flickered across her features. But with a determined set to her jaw, she took a step forward, almost closing the distance between us. Crossing her arms over her chest, she fixed me with a steady gaze, her eyes burning with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.
Oh, don't do that.
"I need to talk to you" she said, her voice firm.
I hesitated for a moment, my hand hovering over the handle of my car door. With a heavy sigh, I decided to leave my backpack on the seat and closed the car door behind me, turning to face her fully.
As I stood there, towering over her, I couldn't help but remember the days when she used to tease me about being shorter than her. But now, things had changed. I had grown taller, towering above her at 6 feet tall, while she remained 5'3.
But instead of the usual banter or friendly teasing, she was glaring up at me with her arms crossed. It struck me as odd, considering that many people at school found me intimidating and avoided talking to me. Yet here was Emery, unafraid to meet my gaze, her defiance evident in the way she held herself.
I clenched my jaw, my hands finding their way into my pockets of my black coat as I fought against the urge to reach out to her "What?" My voice came out colder than I intended.
Emery took a deep breath before speaking, her voice steady but tinged with urgency "I need your help with math" she stated, her eyes locking onto mine with a sense of determination.
I was taken aback.
I thought she was never going to agree.
"Mr. William said that you're 'willing to help'" she added, and here was a hint of disbelief in her tone, as if she couldn't quite fathom that I would agree to help her.
But I did.
In the weeks prior, when Mr. William had first approached me about tutoring Emery, I had been quick to decline. The thought of spending time with her had felt like a dangerous proposition, a risk I wasn't willing to take.
Yet, in the wake of that unexpected car ride we shared, something had shifted within me.
I needed her close, even if it was just to tutor her. And she needed my help. Mr. William had told me about the consequences she faced—being kicked out of the cheerleading team. And somewhere deep down, a part of me couldn't bear to see her suffer, knowing how much the cheerleading team meant to her.
I couldn't shake the feeling that helping Emery was the right thing to do. It wasn't just about tutoring her in math; it was about being there for her when she needed support the most. And if my assistance could prevent her from losing something so dear to her, then I was determined to do whatever it took to help her succeed.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I relented with a terse nod.
Emery's eyes widened "Thats it?" She cleared her throat before continuing, her words laced with forced nonchalance
"Oh, yeah. Okay then. When do we start?"
"Tomorrow" I replied, my tone steady but my mind racing with uncertainty.
"Sounds good. Tomorrow after school. My place" Emery responded, her voice trailing off as she hesitated, her uncertainty palpable in the charged silence that hung between us "See you tomorrow" she murmured softly after a while, turning to leave.
But before she could take another step, I felt compelled to make something clear.
"Emery" I called out, stopping her in her tracks.
Her hopeful expression faltered slightly as she turned back to face me.
"This doesn't change anything" I stated firmly, needing to reinforce the boundaries I had set for myself.
Despite my willingness to help her, I couldn't allow myself to forget the reasons why I had been hesitant in the first place.
She opened her mouth as if to speak, but then closed it, her features shifting into a mask of anger. The sudden change in her demeanor caught me off guard, her glare cutting through the tension between us like a knife.
"Got it" she replied.
It's for the best.
As she turned to leave again, a sudden realization seemed to dawn on her. She glanced down at the coat she was wearing, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she made the connection.
"This is your coat, isn't it?" she asked, her admission tinged with a hint of sheepishness.
I nodded silently, my gaze locked onto her as she slowly peeled off the coat, revealing her short tank top and short pajama pants underneath. I found myself momentarily speechless, my heart racing in my chest.
Without a word, she tossed the coat back to me, and I instinctively caught it
The gesture was simple yet profound, a silent acknowledgment of the boundaries between us.
"I don't need it anymore" she declared firmly, swinging her hair with such force that it hit my chest before she turned and strutted away in her pink bunny slippers.
I watched her disappear into her house, with a coat in one hand and a sinking feeling in my stomach.
With a heavy sigh, I climbed into my jeep, fully intending to head to the boxing gym to release my stress. But as I started the engine, I realized that my mind was completely consumed by thoughts of the red-headed that had been driving me crazy for the past 10 years.
I glanced down at the coat she had tossed at me, and my nostrils were instantly filled with her familiar scent.
Vanilla.
It wrapped around me like a warm embrace, stirring up memories long buried beneath the surface.
I tossed the coat onto the passenger seat beside me, unable to shake the feeling of her presence lingering in the air around me
Shit.
That girl is going to be the death of me.