Chapter 41

On Friday after school had ended, my friends and I were hanging out at Phillip’s place.

Mind you, it was still very weird between us, but I had nothing better to do.

“She’s doing alright.” I say, answering Hannah’s question about how my mom was doing. “She’s tired and sore from all the chemo, but she acts like it doesn’t bother her.”

“She’s definitely going to kick cancer’s ass.” Jake says, and I hoped it was true.

“I agree.” Lucy says. “Your mom is the strongest person I know.”

She is. If anyone can get through this, it’s her.

“Jake, did you get any alcohol for the party tonight?” Asked Phillip.

They’re referring to Grayson’s party. The party I didn’t want to go to.

“Yes. But none of that beer shit.” Says Jake. “I got a bottle of Jack and a bottle of vodka.” He reaches into his backpack and pulls out two bottles.

“How’d you even get them?” Hannah wondered.

“My cousin Jude gets them for me, he’s kind of a saint.” Jake answered.

“The game starts in a few hours, should we pregame?” Lucy suggested.

“That sounds like a great idea.” Cody says.

“I agree.” Jake added.

Phillip was already on the other side of the room retrieving cups and soda to mix the drinks.

“Shouldn’t you be playing?” Hannah asked Jake.

“Oh, yeah nah, I quit the football team. And by quit, I mean that I was kicked off.” Jake says.

“What? Why?” Hannah wonders.

“Well, since I was suspended for fighting with another guy on the team, the coach kicked me off.” He says.

“I don’t think that’s allowed.” Phillip says.

“Well, okay, he didn’t exactly kick me off. He asked me to apologise for fighting, to which I responded and told him to get fucked. I guess coaches don’t like that kind of thing.”

I laughed, as did everyone else.

“Anyways, it’s for the best.”

“I can’t wait for the game.” Lucy says excitedly, sticking to the topic of football.

I didn’t know she liked football?

“I thought you hated football?” Hannah wondered.

“It’s not so bad.” Lucy says, readjusting her bangs.

“Well, I just hope the birthday boy scores the winning touchdown and takes his jersey off.” Hannah practically drooled.

“And I hope I get flashed by a cheerleader.” Added Jake.

Hannah rolled her eyes. “Gross.”

“Says the one who wants see Scott shirtless.” Jake retorted.

Wait.

Scott?

As in Grayson Scott?

But she said birthday boy…

Oh my god.

Is it Grayson’s Birthday today?

“Whose birthday is it?” I asked for clarification on the matter.

“Grayson’s.” Hannah answered. “Didn’t you already know?”

I shake my head.

“Isn’t he best friends with your brother? How did you not know it was his birthday today?” Phillip wondered.

Why didn’t he tell me?

Maybe he did and I spaced out?

No, I am ninety-nine percent certain he did not.

“I don’t know.” I say, disappointed in myself.

“Alrighty Dal, pick your poison.” Jake says to me.

“Huh?” I am confused.

“Which drink do you want?” He asked.

“Oh. Uh, I don’t want a drink.” I say. “In fact, I have to go.” I get up and head for the door.

“Is everything okay?” Asked Cody.

“Yeah, all good. See you guys at the game.” I wave them bye and dart upstairs to head out.

I can’t believe I forgot Grayson’s birthday.

I walk home, which took longer than expected, and head inside to see if I had any money in my money tin upstairs.

Nothing says ‘I’m sorry I forgot your birthday’ like buying a birthday gift. But what do I even get the guy that I’m kinda in a secret relationship with? I know I have no other relationships to go on, but I like where Grayson and I are at. Despite him being an ass most of the time, he kinda makes me feel some type of way. And I’m not just saying that because his lips are soft and he has the body of a Greek god. He’s kind, and surprisingly sensitive.

Still doesn’t erase the douche.

I have $326 in my money tin, which I am certain is plenty enough to buy Grayson some kind of gift.

What does he even like?

Maybe I could buy him car fresheners, because he kinda needs them. No, that’s not at all meaningful.

I take the money that I have been saving up for no specific reason, and I go for a walk downtown. The first store I enter was called ‘Eventide’ which was not as nice as it’s name. They mostly sold aromatic soaps and other products for the bathroom, like fifty dollar hand towels? Who on earth would buy a hand towel for $50?

That’s some a-list celebrity shit.

Three stores later, I was standing in a thrift store where I was stuck between choosing a fancy watch and a silver chain necklace.

On one hand, the silver necklace was $30 cheaper. But on the other hand, the silver chain necklace seemed basic. I mean, the watch looked sick. It was black and gold, and it also told the date and day along with the time.

I guess it’s settled.

Watch it is.

I set the necklace back where I had gotten it from and take the watch to the counter.

Is $100 too much to spend on a guy that you’re secretly dating?

Oh well.

After paying for the watch, I head back home and get ready for the football game.

It was the Redfield High Mustangs, Mitchell and Grayson’s team, up against the Warnick Falcons. The Warnick Falcons came from three towns over, and are apparently pretty good, according to Hannah, who prides herself on knowing more than anyone else in our friend group.

I was seated in between Lucy and Hannah when the game starts.

“GO REDFIELD!” Hannah screamed.

“Yassss!” Lucy added.

I roll my eyes.

“So, are you coming to the party tonight?” Asked Lucy.

“I wasn’t going to, but I think I want to now.” I tell her.

How else am I going to give Grayson his gift?

“Yes! I can’t wait.” Lucy beamed.

Mitchell scored the first touchdown, which was surprising to me. I don’t know why, but I keep forgetting about the fact that my brother is actually good at football. I guess it’s just because he’s so dumb most of the time, that I find it hard to believe that he even knows how to play.

“GO MITCHELLLLLL!” Yelled a girl a few rows down.

Grayson ended up scoring the winning touchdown, to which half of the crowd erupted into victorious cheers.

After the game, we went back to Phillip’s place, waiting before we had to head over to Grayson’s house for the party. I was kind of nervous, but excited to give him the watch.

I hope he likes it, otherwise that was a waste of $100.

Already, the party was in full swing.

Where do his mother and siblings go when he throws parties? I wondered.

The front lawn was already scattered with teens getting drunk off cheap beer.

I am not here to get drunk.

I am here to say happy birthday to Grayson, give him his gift and then leave.

Easy peasy.

“OH MAH GOD!” A girl screeched at the top of her lungs. It was loud enough that I think people across town might have heard her. “It’s starting to rain.”

And she was right.

It was starting to rain. I don’t think she needed to be that dramatic, as it was only sprinkling, but she was correct.

Everyone began to migrate inside away from the rain, which made it harder for us to get inside.

“What the fuck.” I say as shoved into my left side.

“Sorry dude.” Said someone I didn’t recognise.

I roll my eyes.

When we finally make it inside, I exhaled a breath of relief.

Now all I had to do was find Grayson and give him his gift. I’m still not sure how I’m going to give him his gift.

I guess I could subtly motion for him to meet me upstairs?

Or a better idea would be to just text him.

Yeah, I’ll just text him.

“Do you want a drink?” Cody asked me as I pulled my phone out of my pocket to text Grayson.

“Uh, maybe a soda?”

“Okay, be right back.” He walked off.

Jake and Hannah still hadn’t arrived yet, and Phillip had already wandered off into the party, leaving me in the entrance with Lucy.

“Oh, I’m going to find a friend. I’ll come find you soon?” Lucy says, not even waiting for me to respond before walking off.

As I click into my messages and click on Grayson’s contact to text him, I look towards the kitchen and I see him.

There he is. I think.

I slip my phone back into my pocket and psych myself up to walk over to him.

His friends are gathered around him, cheering him on for his victory today.

He looks so different when he is with his friends.

Happier, even.

I halved a smile at him.

Maybe I could just wait here to see if he can spot me?

Yeah, I like that idea.

That way I don’t have to make my way through this annoying crowd.

One of his teammates playfully punch him in the arm as he downs the rest of his beer before he scrunched the can with one hand. He smiles when Aisha approaches him, and I feel my heart sink in my chest.

There’s no need to feel weird, Dal.

They’re probably still friends….

Right?

But do friends feel each other’s arms like that?

Her arms are trailing upward, over his shoulder and up his neck before she leans in for a kiss. He too, leaned in to meet her halfway.

Oh….