"His hands are in my hair, his clothes are in my room
And his voice is a familiar sound, nothing lasts forever
But this is getting good now
He's so tall, and handsome as hell
He's so bad but he does it so well"
-Taylor Swift
G R A Y S O N ' S P O V
Status: unedited
Usually, Gracie would wake up before me and I'd feel her staring, her deep brown eyes burning holes into my skin as she looked at each and every feature on my face.
This morning was different, though. I woke up cold, my body was tense and littered with goose bumps as I shook with coldness, my lips trembling, and my feet were even colder then the rest of my body.
I opened my eyes, wondering why the fuck I was so damn freezing when I sat up, my eyes resting on the girl next to me—my girlfriend.
She was rolled up in my blanket, literally. If it wasn't for that thick main of hair on top of her head, I wouldn't have noticed her tiny body engulfed a duvet.
If it was a one night stand or any other girl in general, I would've told her to fuck off. But not Gracie, god, I'd never disrespect her in any shape or form.
If I had more then just boxers on, I'd be able to bare how cold it was right now, but unfortunately, I didn't, and it was probably between five and six in the morning, so the morning breeze was making me even colder.
I should've shut my window.
I ended up giving in, though she looked so peaceful, I was about to die of hypothermia, so I rolled her over to me, unwrapping the blanket and draping it over the both of us, as soon as I pulled her towards me, she was attached to me like a leach.
Her body completely pressed up against my side, her arm draped across my stomach. I smiled, sliding my arm underneath her head, placing my hand on her shoulder, drawing stupid things, shapes, words. . singular letters.
Her sleeping face was almost as beautiful as her normal face, scratch that. Equally beautiful.
I could see all her beauty for what it is, I saw her plump dusty pink lips which are usually tilted upwards into a heart melting grin, something she does a lot. . smile. Her eyes were closed, clearly, her long black eyelashes brushing her pale cheeks. I can't forget about her nose, that tiny little button nose.
I wanted to go back to sleep for a few more hours but it's hard to sleep when there's something so eye-opening in front of me, merely wrapped up in my arms.
She was pure art, she should be framed and put in an art gallery, though that'd require a mass amount of people staring at my girl, and I can't have that.
She's my baby.
I can't forget the first day I saw her. Grace North.
It was my first day of freshman year, I was still depressed about Avalon, but I couldn't miss the first day of school. I tried out for the football team that day, of course I got on the team without barely lifting a finger just because of the background behind my last name.
I couldn't miss Caleb, he was like me, I could tell her wasn't okay. His aim was off, he was dazed and couldn't keep his eye on the ball.
I convinced coach to let him try out the next day, it took a lot of begging, but he eventually agreed.
Caleb was confused as to why the soon to be star quarterback was helping the kid with the athletic skill of a sloth, in that moment anyway.
I went over after school and we practiced in the back yard, tossing the ball back and forth for what felt like hours, it probably was.
We told each other everything, he was more open with me then I was, but it felt good to vent to someone who understood what it's like to lose someone you love so suddenly, how it tears your heart strings, shattering your heart into a million pieces.
I'd never be so open and talkative with Caleb now, back then was difference, now all we're about its girls, Xbox and alcohol and parties.
Well used to be, now the only girl I care about is Gracie and my mom, Xbox is still a thing, but parties and alcohol aren't what they used to be. They seem completely irrelevant and stupid when you could be at home with your person cuddling.
Beats vodka shots and desperate blonde chicks.
I remember seeing Gracie in the kitchen, staring at me with wide eyes through the window, wondering why the hell I was at her house.
It seemed like without her even knowing, in that moment she mended me, slowly picking up the pieces of my shattered heart, storing them away until she's able to put them together again, which is now.
Almost five years of refusing to look at her or be within two metres of her and I finally gave in, I got her detention, I openly stared at her ass a countless amount of times, I dumped her in the ocean and spent a number of times at the diner just watching her work until her shift was over.
She was something so foreign, something I never had the luck of experiencing. . . until now.
She was so graceful (no pun intended) the way she moved so swiftly from table to table, gathering everyone's dishes and rubbish.
Her naturally thick almost black hair which she doesn't ever bother to style, which I don't mind. Her baggy shirts and funny laugh, it's so loud and dramatic but it makes every situation twenty times funnier just because of it.
I was so used to girls and people like Avery and Avalon, people who spend hundreds on their appearance and trying to act like someone they're not.
But Gracie, she's unapologetically herself and I wouldn't have her any other way.
I know Gracie feels guilty about us being an us. Being together behind her brothers back but I didn't care, he's a good guy, he's a good brother to her and a good friend but I can't let him ruin something so good, something I can keep.
I'm so used to being alone, so used to people coming in and out of my life, but not her. She's staying, no matter what I have to sacrifice in return.
I snapped out of my thoughts when Gracie began to stir in her sleep, her eyes slowly adjusting to the light as she squinted.
Before she realised, I was awake, I quickly closed my eyes, breathing slightly louder so it appeared like I was sleeping.
"Gray?" I heard her soft raspy voice.
I ignored her, continuing to pretend I was asleep.
"Graaay," she whined, poking my cheek.
I bit the inside of my cheek trying not to smile, though it was no use.
I opened my eyes, my lips uplifting into a huge smile as I stared down at her.
"Yeah?" I smirked.
She narrowed her eyes at me, "You weren't asleep, were you?"
I shook my head, "Nah."
She rolled her eyes, plonking her head back down.
I pulled myself out of bed, picking up a pair of track pants I had worn the other day, slipping them on before walking around to Gracie's side, grabbing her hand, tugging her out of bed.
She groaned but got up anyways. I tugged her to the door and down the marbled staircase.
I came to an abrupt stop at the bottom of the steps when I heard two extremely familiar voices in the kitchen.
Shit, I was talking about my mom and dad last night how the fuck did I forget they're coming already.
I didn't want her to meet them this soon.
"Quickly go back up st—"
"Grayson!" I heard my mom squeal.
I sighed, turning around, staring back at her with a smile. I love my mom, it isn't her I'm necessarily worried about, it's my dad.
She walked over to me, her black heels tapping against the tiled floor, she opened her arms before pulling me into an extremely tight hug, I bent down a little, wrapping my arms around her.
"Hi, mom."
She smiled, pulling away but keeping her hands on my shoulders.
"Who's this?" she asked, staring over my shoulder at Gracie.
Grace took a step forward, so she was standing directly next to me.
"This is Grace," I said, inhaling a sharp breath, "My girlfriend."
My moms' eyes went wide, and she couldn't help but open her mouth as her jaw dropped.
"Girlfriend?"
I nodded.
Grace hesitantly reached her hand out, preparing to shake my moms' hand when my mom grabbed Gracie's hand, pulling her into a tight hug much like she had given me.
"Um, nice to meet you Mrs Snow," Gracie said, trying not to show how shocked and awkward she felt right now.
My mom finally released her from the hug, "Oh no, no," he waved her hand around, "Call me Rose,"
Gracie nodded, smiling, shifting her weight from one foot to the other as she stayed silent.
"Peter!" my mom shouted, "Come here."
I heard my dad groaned, muttering something under his breath before exiting the kitchen. His eyes widening when he saw me and Grace.
He walked over, he was wearing a navy blue suit, matching my mother's navy dress.
"Son," my dad nodded, I nodded back, forcing a smile.
"Peter, this is Grayson's girlfriend, Grace." Mom said excitedly.
Dad wrapped his arm around my mom's waist, not so discretely eyeing Grace, not in a perverted way, in a "do I like this girl or not" type of way before he narrowed his eyes.
"What happened to that Avery girl?" dad asked, completely dismissing Grace.
I clenched my jaw, grabbing Gracie's tiny hand with mine, intertwining my fingers with her, rubbing her hand with my thumb, as if saying "it's okay,"
Though I think I was reassuring myself, not her.
"We never dated, dad." I snapped.
My mom noticed the tension and discomfort in the room, her eyes widening before she finally spoke up.
"Grace!" my mom walked over to Grace, placing her hand on her back, urging her towards the kitchen.
Grace stared at me with wide eyes before releasing my hand from her hold and entering the kitchen with my mom.
"Grayson," my dad sighed, "Is this a permanent thing?"
I nodded, "Obviously."
"Cause remember, Avery's dad is on the scholarship committee at Florida State. She has connections, who is this Grace girl?"
I clenched my jaw even more if that's possible, my hand curling into a fist.
"I remember," I sighed, "And this Grace girl is my girlfriend, so get used to it." I said trying to sound calm though I'm pretty sure my tone was near deadly.
I didn't give him another second to reply before I walked away and into the kitchen.
I expected to see Grace standing around awkwardly, nodding to everything my mom was saying whilst she's freaking out inside because she's so shy but instead they were both leaning against opposite ends of the bench, laughing hysterically.
"And one time when he was six, I picked him up from his first day at his new school and he got so excited to see me, he—he wet himself!" my mom finished, laughing loudly.
Gracie threw her head back in laughter, her long soft hair cascading down her back as she did so.
I narrowed my eyes at my mom, "Talking about me?" I asked.
Gracie giggled, "She's just telling me some stories about you when you were little," she smiled at me, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
Mom nodded, "I was going to order something more pleasing for breakfast, but this darling insisted that pancakes are fine, is that okay with you, hon?"
I nodded, "Pancakes sounds good to me," I said, rubbing my bare belly.
Gracie giggled, her eyes darting to my abs, not being so discrete.
Fifteen or twenty minutes later and mom had successfully cooked up a pile of pancakes, piling them on top of each other on a white plate, placing them in the centre of the table.
I was surprised she still knew how to cook something as simple as pancakes, she hasn't cooked a single thing in years.
Grace and I sat on one side of the table, mom sitting across from me and dad entering the kitchen, seating himself in front of Grace.
I placed more then enough pancakes on my plate, covering them in maple syrup whilst Grace put two and carefully drizzled the syrup, tugging the pancake apart with a fork before eating it, surprisingly not messily for once.
"So, Grace," My dad spoke up, breaking the silence.
Oh no.
Grace stopped eating, staring at my father, awaiting what he was about to say.
"What college are you planning on going to?" he asked.
Grace gave him a small smile, "Just community college," she replied.
He nodded, a smirk on his lips. Any body would think is was an approving nod though I know my dad, I can tell he's judging her extremely hard in his head right now.
"Oh," he smiled tightly, "Studying anything in particular?"
She shook her head, "Uhm, no I'm not really sure yet."
"Hmm," he hummed, "So are you two going to break up? Everyone knows long distance never works."
I scoffed loudly as Grace tensed up, I know what he's trying to do.
"Nah cause we'll see each other on breaks and once I'm finished university, we'll move in together."
Grace's eyes widened at the words "move in together," though she was blushing, so I think it wasn't the wrong thing to say.
"But what about when you properly get into the NFL, you'll get drafted all the time. There's no use, son."
I inhaled a sharp breath, don't let him get to you.
"Oh, Peter. Stop it." My mom scowled, lightly smacking him.
"I'm just trying to help, Rosie. I don't think they realise it isn't as easy as it sounds." He finished.
After that, he stayed silent because he's gotten his point across.
"E-Excuse me," Gracie said, pushing her chair back before exiting the kitchen.
I followed after her, getting out of my seat, sending my dad a harsh glare before exiting the kitchen and following her up the stairs.
When I walked into my room, she had grabbed her phone and was texting away, her fingertips smacking the screen of her phone loudly.
"Gracie," I whispered, her eyes immediately snapping to mine.
She sighed, her posture slumping, "I'm so sorry,"
I walked over to her, wrapping my arms around her neck, pulling her into me. She placed her head against my chest, wrapping her arms around my waist.
"Nah, I'm sorry. My dad's a dick."
Gracie cringed, "I'm sorry but I'm not going to disagree."
I laughed, "it's fine."
"I should, uh, get going."
I stared at her with furrowed eyebrows, "What?"
"I just texted Taylor and asked if she can get me, I should really get home."
I shook my head, "I'll drive you,"
Now it was her turn to shake her head, "No, it's fine. Honestly."
"Gracie," I said sternly, "I'm driving you."
She sighed knowing there's nothing she can do to change my mind.
"Fine,"
I grabbed each side of her face with my hands, leaning down to place a long kiss on her soft lips, she kissed back immediately. I know she loves kissing me.
"Grayson?" she asked quietly.
I stared into her eyes, watching her obvious discomfort, "Hmm?"
"D-Do you think your dads right about the long distance thing?" she said shakily.
No, she's upset, the dick upset her. I knew this was going to happen.
"No, no," I said warily, placing a kiss on her forehead, "We'll see each other all the time, it'll be like I never left."
She sighed, not seeming so convinced but she nodded anyway.
"I promise." I said sincerely.
***
This chapter is sooo long so I hope you enjoyed itttt 💘
Okay so this is a minor detail I doubt anyone noticed but can we just appreciate the fact Gray's dad called Rose "Rosie" like Gracie ya know.
Okay anyways, I'm so tired but I look forwards to reading your comments when I wake up.
Please comment, vote & follow me 🌟
Love you all 💕