Chapter 24

A hot make out session in the woods, sleep deprivation, a sprained ankle, a possible concussion and inflamed hamstrings from hiking up and down a hill were the consequences of camping.

I was more than grateful that it was finally over. In fact, from this day forward, I solemnly swear that I will never go camping again. Because that worked so well the last time I told myself I’d never go camping…

The bus ride back home gave me more than enough time to think about the events that happened, more specifically, a singular event that I haven’t been able to get out of my head.

Grayson kissed me…

And I kissed him back?

The memory of it struck me with a wave of engulfing nausea. What did this mean? Did I like Grayson? No, I don’t think so? I’ve spent the past few years hating him, and with good reason. Did Grayson like me?

I scoffed the thought away.

There’s no way in this entire universe he would ever have a thing for me. It’s just not possible. Nope.

There are two obvious explanations as to why he made out with me: either he got bit by an undiscovered classification of mosquito, to which one of it’s side effects would be to get an attraction to the closest person in his vicinity. Or… there was something in his joint, to which one of it’s side effects would be to, well, get an attraction to the closest person in his vicinity. The latter made the most sense to me.

My phone was still uncharged and dead, I couldn’t use earphones and music to block out the buffoonery that was going on at the back of the bus. I turn around and throw a glare towards Mitchell and Brock, who were acting like two children hyped up on sugar. Beside them, Grayson sat reclusively with earphones plugged in. My glare softened as I studied him. What was he thinking about? I thought as his head inclined to the left. His eyes look up and he catches me looking at him. My face became feverish with embarrassment as I anxiously and abruptly turn around.

When the bus halted at the front of our school, I waited in my seat until everyone was off so I could limp down the aisle without being shoved from behind.

“I can’t believe you sprained your ankle.” Phillip says as I make it onto the sidewalk.

“I can’t believe you got lost.” Hannah added.

“I can’t believe I thought camping would be a good idea.” I say.

“Dallas, are you coming?” Mitchell called out to me. He’s holding his luggage as he starts towards Grayson’s car in the parking lot. Grayson, who was already standing at the driver’s side door to his Jeep Wrangler, looks over at me, guilt written across his face.

“Hannah will drive me!” I tell him in a panic.

“I will?” She asks.

I turn and glare at her.

“I will!” She says, this time more excitedly.

“Alright, see ya at home, loser.” Mitchell says.

I stick my middle finger up at him as he reaches Grayson’s Jeep.

“Why didn’t you want to go with them?” Hannah asked me.

“Because they suck.” I say, steadying myself against a street light pole.

“Should we go inside and see what Cody and Lucy are doing?” Hannah wondered, gesturing to the school’s building.

“They’re probably in class.” I say. “Do you really want to end a camping trip by going straight back to school?”

Phillip chuckled. “Yeah, there’s no way in hell I’m walking in there. I am going straight home to eat anything other than s’mores and poorly made Mac and cheese.”

“Oooh, mac and cheese sounds amazing.” Said Hannah, who was practically drooling at the thought.

All I wanted to do was to go home and sleep for the next five days.

After Hannah drove me home, I limped up onto the front porch with my luggage and waved her goodbye, to which she responded with two beeps of her car horn before racing down the street. Grayson’s vehicle was in the driveway. For some reason, knowing that he was here caused my chest to tighten. I reached to open the front door, but instead, hesitated as my hand hovered over the door’s knob. I pulled my hand back and remained on the front porch, unsure wether or not I should go inside. After waiting for a few minutes, I decided to get over myself and just open the door. It’s my house, I shouldn’t be nervous to enter my own house.

Before my hand made contact with the doorknob, it twisted and opened, revealing Grayson, who looked as if he was in a hurry. He was taken aback by my presence, his eyes slightly widening.

My breath caught in my throat.

“Oh..” His voice is low and distant. He averted his gaze as he readjusted his grip on his duffle bag’s shoulder strap.

Oh.. he’s leaving?

“Are you headed back to yours?” I asked him.

“Yeah.” He clenched his jaw.

Why did it bother me that he was leaving?

I decided to play it cool. “Okay, see ya.” I limp out of his way and wait for him to leave.

He throws the duffel bag into the back before he goes to the driver’s side. Before opening the door, he looked over at me with the same guilty look he had plastered on his face earlier on. I turn away, reaching for my luggage before limping my way inside.

“Did you forget something?” Mitchell asks from the couch. “Oh, it’s you.”

“Yeah, it’s me. One of the residents of this house.” I roll my eyes at him.

“Smart ass.” He scoffed as I limped up the stairs.

I needed sleep asap.

When I woke up later that afternoon, I had the overwhelming urge to make a grilled cheese sandwich. My father made them all the time when I was growing up. Of course, his were far more superior than mine. Still, I couldn’t deny my cravings.

I limp downstairs, still weary-eyed when I hear a feminine giggle coming from the living room.

Mitchell was seated on the couch making out with Stacy.

Ugh.

Shaking my head, I continue my quest to the kitchen and start preparing a grilled cheese sandwich when Mitchell decided to tell me that he ordered pizza.

That saves me from cooking food myself.

I packed away the ingredients to a grilled cheese sandwich and waited in the living room for the pizza to arrive.

“Is this your little brother?” Stacy asks.

Little? I’m only one year younger than him. Though on an intellectual level, he was twelve years younger than me.

“Yeah.” Mitchell answers.

“You guys look nothing alike.” She stated, taking in my appearance.

“Thank god.” I say before rolling my eyes.

The doorbell rang, saving me from whatever she was about to say. At the risk of repeating myself: thank god. Mitchell reached for his wallet on the coffee table and went to get the pizza while Stacy just looked at me, as if she was examining me.

I don’t know if I have expressed this yet, but I did not like Mitchell’s girlfriend. And not just because of her dodgy attempt at doing her eyeliner and the fact she was currently wearing her hair in pigtails.

“Have a good night.” Mitchell says, closing the front door and bringing two boxes of pizza into the living room.

I was starved.

As soon as he sets the boxes down on the coffee table, I reach for a slice of ham and pineapple and take a huge bite out of it.

My phone vibrated in my pocket.

Holding the slice of pizza in my left hand while eating it, I use my right hand to reach into my pocket and get my phone.

There was a text from an unknown number.

Unknown Number:
Hey

Me:
Hey?

Unknown Number:
It’s Deja.

From school.

Hannah gave me your phone number.

I paused before taking another bite from my slice of pizza. Why did Hannah give her my number?

Me:
Oh, hey Deja. How are you?

Deja from school:
I’m alright, how are you?

Me:
Let’s see…

I sprained my ankle on the camping trip after tripping over a rock and falling down a hill. Other than that, I feel alright.

Deja from school:
Omg. That must’ve hurt.

Yes, Deja from school. Yes, it must have.

Me:
Yeah, it does.

Deja from school:
Wyd?

Me:
Eating pizza.

What about you?

Deja from school:
Listening to Taylor Swift.

Me:
Cool.

Another text came through. This time, from Cody.

Cody:
I heard what happened. You okay?

Me to Cody:
I’m okay. Foot hurts like a bitch, tho.

Deja from school:
What kind of music do you like?

Small talk? Well, Small Text is more accurate.

Me to Deja from school:
I mostly listen to alternative.

Cody:
I bet.

Also, how did you get lost? 🤦‍♂️😭

Me to Cody:
It’s a long story. One I wish I could forget 🤦‍♂️

Deja from school:
Nice!

Cody:
Okay. Well, I was just checking to see if you were okay.

Oh.. okay. I guess he is still avoiding me.

Me to Cody:
Thanks.

Cody:
Night.

Me to Cody:
Good night.

“Who are you texting with?” Mitchell wondered. I sighed, reaching for another slice of pizza.

“He’s probably texting a girl.” Said Stacy, the girl I’ve known of all, what? Five minutes?

“None of your beeswax.” I retorted.

Deja from school:
I was wondering if maybe you wanted to go to the movies or something?

When your ankle is better.

She’s asking me out?

I looked upward in thought, my slice of pizza getting cold in my hand. It wouldn’t be a terrible idea. I might not really know her all that well, but she seemed like a nice person. And this would be helpful to me figuring out my sexuality, which kind of makes me sound like a douche.

After thinking on it for what felt like eons, I hesitantly typed in my response.

Me:
Sure.