Grayson slowly opened his eyes to blurred and foggy vision. A bandage was tight around his forehead. His whole body was drowning under the depth of his pain and he hardly had control over his eyes. Sweat dotted his brow as a fever took its course in him. The heavy quilt tucked around him didn't help at all and he glanced around. An IV had been entered into his wrist and dripped methodically.
He wanted to get up and rid himself of the bandages and blanket. The minutes passed at an agonizingly slow rate, but as they did, his control gradually returned. He rolled over to the edge of the bed and groaned as he pushed himself up to sit.
It was then that he spotted his father leaning against the wide panning window sill, arms crossed and eyes balls of fire. Mrs. Charlotte ghosted her hands over Grayson's forehead. Her other hand rested on her chest and her face was scrunched up with worry.
Grayson didn't want her near him. He hated the sight of her. How she could so easily conjure a caring expression. He moved faster than his body liked and smacked away her hand.
"Grayson?" she asked in a low, clearly upset voice.
She placed her hands on his shoulders and pushed down, tried to make him lay again. Grayson's father moved away from the window. His arms remained crossed.
"Why do you insist on making our lives miserable, boy?" he growled.
"Why? Oh, I don't know, maybe it's because you don't let me do what I want to! If I want to slit my wrists and die, you'd try and stop me! Don't fucking stop me!" Grayson yelled, and with every breath, his lungs burned.
"What did you say?!" His father lurched closer, a fist raised, but Charlotte bolted up before he could deal the blow.
"Wait, please! Let's talk about this later," she grabbed his arms and touched his face.
"No, woman! Let me talk to him!" Charlotte lowered her head slightly and clutched his chest as he shouted at Grayson. "Tell me! Tell me, when have I ever stopped you? You always did what you wanted! You almost hurt a child in your last school but I protected you! You killed our neighbour's cat but I saved you again! You've done everything possible to humiliate me even when I save your ass every goddamn time! Now you're cutting yourself?! This has gone on long enough!"
Grayson smirked. He gave a glance to his so-called mother and ripped the bandages and IVs from his body. No one tried to stop him as he leapt from the bed and thundered out of the room.
William picked up a glass and threw it on the door as it closed behind Grayson. Shattered shards snapped back and stung the two parent's skin.
"I can't handle this!" he cried out, almost in tears.
Charlotte looked at her feet and patted his shoulder.
***
It was almost 7:30 and Jane was, as usual, late for school. Her fat tabby kitten was lying on her blanket. The whole room was a mess and she was lying upside down not caring about the shit consequences of being late again.
Her digital alarm blared continuously, but without a care in the world, she fell back to sleep. Lance stood outside her house waiting for her to come out, but he knew that she was still sleeping. He banged on the door as hard as he could.
Then he called her phone which she groggily answered.
"Wake up!" he shouted through the phone.
"Okay, okay, I'm coming!" she said, rubbing gunk from her eyes.
She stumbled into the bathroom and stared at her disgruntled bed face. Short, curly ginger hair sticking out in every which way, a pointed nose and long face, and big blue, startling eyes. All on a heart shaped face.
The mirror made her look extra tall, when in reality she was just about average height. She didn't like being around tall people too much since it made her feel and look so much smaller.
She was like normal girls, similar to the majority of us. Neither beautiful enough nor ugly enough to be talked about in high school. She was one of those unnoticed, friendly people that others are always too uncomfortable to talk to. One of the reasons she didn't have friends was because she was so hyper and over friendly.
Jane changed into her uniform and giving her hair a quick brush. She checked on her pets with only a quick glance as she rushed out the door.
"Sorry," she said to Lance as she locked the door.
"Don't say that anymore. The more you say it the more worthless it becomes," he snapped. "Now will you move your ass before we miss the bus?" he cried, grabbing her hands and bolting along the road as they usually do.
They reached the school and were just about to head into their separate classes when Lance grabbed ahold of Jane's hands.
"What?" she asked.
"Are you sure you're gonna ask that bastard for help?" The protective tone of his voice was edgy.
"Yes," she said.
He released her and held out a jelly candy. "Good luck," he sighed.
"Thanks," she gave him a glowing, energy filled smile.
As soon as she entered the classroom she saw everyone talking and chatting. They were all excited about the upcoming talent show which was planned for that week.
"Hey everyone!" Jane said in her usual cheery voice.
"Sup!" they all said in a chorus.
"It's a free period so we're allowed to work on our stuff for the talent show," Emma explained.
"Okay! Let's get started!" Jane rubbed her hands together in anticipation. She pushed everyone to do their best, which many people didn't like about her.
After about half an hour, Jane asked,"Everyone get enough practice?"
"Yeah. Should we move on to the poster?"
"We started already, but we need to finish it," Jack said.
"Good, go ahead and work on that then." Jane left the group then and checked around to make sure everything but the poster was done. She glanced up and saw Andrew standing in the corner, waiting for something.
She walked over and quietly said, "Hey."
"Hey." He forced a smile.
"Why are you standing all alone? Don't you want to join the group?"
"I wish, but nobody needs me."
Jane knew what he wanted. He was Andrew, after all, the guy to play boss.
"Sure they do! Come on!" Jane grabbed his arms and pulled him back towards the group.
"Change in leadership! Andrew's leading now since he's so good with art. I'm sure he'll give us good advice and manage everything like a pro." Her smile never faded.
The group welcomed him and he soon engaged in the conversations going on.
Jane never liked Andrew but she was the kind of person who never cared much about what people said. Speaking of which, she looked around and, not seeing Grayson, she wandered out into the hall and searched the darkest corners she could find. Still, he wasn't there.
She returned to class.
School ended and she was in the right classroom, ready to serve detention but the teacher was exhausted and grumbled that she was leaving and Jane could do whatever the hell she wanted. Without saying a word, Jane headed home, a part of her still wondering why Grayson wasn't in school.
***
The next day after lunch Jane went to the old abandoned building near the baseball fields in search of Grayson.
She found him crouched in a doorway, head lowered.
"There you are!" She crouched next to him as she caught her breath.
He merely grinned. He looked pale but she was too occupied to ask where he was.
"Liar! You are such a freak!" she declared.
"What?"
"You promised that you would help me but haven't even bothered to stop by my house the past two days!"
"You must of missed the texts I sent you every day," he laughed.
"No way!"
"I can manage it for two more days," he shrugged. He was again eating those sour sweets and it seemed like he was enjoying it.
"Here's the deal, do me a favor and you won't have to help me heal the dog you almost killed," she said in a mysterious tone.
He stopped chewing for a minute then his eyes went wide open. "Really?" The excitement in his voice clear as day.
"There's one condition."
"What is it?" he inched closer, eager.
"You have to tutor me in English and math!" she said in her soothing voice.
'That smile! I wish I could kill her!' he thought.
He began to laugh maniacally.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" he howled.
"What's so funny?"
"You! You're a complete joke! I hate laughing but you are making me laugh so hard right now," he chuckled.
He picked a wire from his pocket and pinched a hole in his finger till drops of blood dripped from it. She watched him enjoy the pain.
"Do you see this blood? It's flowing and you can't stop it now but it will stop itself. Same is the case of teaching you. Everything I'll give you will slip out of your mind."
"Are you saying that I'm dumb?"
The blood was not flowing anymore and Grayson was typing something on his phone now.
"Yep. You're too good to be with me."
His response left an uncurable ache in Jane's chest.
***
Lance waited for Jane more than half an hour. Just when he was about to leave he saw her coming with a sad face. She grabbed her chair and silently started drinking cola.
"Hey, what happened?" he asked.
"Nothing."
"Come on!" he asked again.
"I said nothing! Will you stop nagging me!" she yelled and picked up her cola, leaving him astonished.
She was still upset and angry about what had happened. She had never been insulted by someone so much. She knew that she was dumb but Grayson was too much. She was still sad that without any help she wouldn't be able to pass. She was more upset about being mad at Lance.
***
Jane was walking in the grass area. It was at the back side of the school where couples go to hide and makeout.
It wasn't her favourite place but she wanted to be alone. Just walking along the bushes she saw Grayson hiding something in the mud. She ran to him and watched him rubbing his hands.
"What are you doing? You're doing one of your pranks! I won't stop now!" she threatened him and was about to run to the office.
"Wait! Please wait!" he begged her.
"Just listen to me!" he stuttered again.
"I don't want to hear anything!" she smirked because now she had a point.
"Please, it's just!" he wanted to say something but stopped.
"I will tell everyone about you! Every single prank!" she yelled.
"No one is going to believe it!" he replied.
"They will!"
"What do you want?! You Miss Colgate!" he ground his teeth.
"A favour for a favour," she said. At first he was confused but then he understood what she meant.
"Done, but I can only teach you at my house. In return you will help me with my pranks. Agreed?" he extended a muddied hand.
"Your house?" she shook her head and, with a gulp, shook his hand, smearing the filth from his onto hers.
"Agreed."
A/N: Sorry for the late update. Please vote and comment...
Ps: its my birthday today 😙😍