Chapter 29: I can't even recall her name...

Staring at the clock, I urged for the class to be over. We had three minutes left and the teacher was still going on and on about the review for our test coming up. I already studied this material last night, knowing that I'd be totally zoned out during the class. It seems as if I was right. Once the bell rang, I darted out of the door, my bag already in my hand. I practically sprinted to the car. Ms. Janie gave us permission to take the day off of work, claiming that she could handle the little devi- kids. I gratefully accepted, planning to hang out with my friends. I just hope they don't invite the guys last minute.

I got into my car and drove towards my house, planning on showering and getting ready alone. The girls were getting ready at their own houses, too; seeing as we were all meeting at one place in less than two hours, there wasn't enough time to go to my house or Sandra's, or Lola's. I slung open the doors of my closet, contemplating a possible outfit. If it were warmer, I would wear a short sleeved shirt, my vest, and a pair of shorts but because it was winter, and the weather was in the low forties- high thirties, I was forced to wear jeans and a long sleeve shirt, not that I was complaining.

I sighed, rubbing my tired eyes. My father came home last night and rather than turning to bed like I would on a normal Tuesday night, my father forced me to stay awake so he could tell me and my mother all about his adventures while on his mini vacation. He droned on for an hour, just talking about the car show while I dozed at the table. He finally let me go to my room at two o'clock, and I only got four hours of sleep- which obviously isn't enough.

I planned on going to sleep early today and sleeping in this Wednesday, which was a major staff meeting for all of Rodencia schools, but the moment it was announced in class that there wasn't any school on Wednesday, Grayson wriggled his eyes at me before texting me about Carson's plans to hang out as a group. I decided that going to sleep early wasn't as important as hanging out with my friends. At least I'll be able to sleep in! Plus I have no work tomorrow, thanks to the staff meeting!

Running a brush through my hair, I absentmindedly made faces in the mirror, nearly shrieking in surprise as a knock sounded against my door. Putting the brush down, I walked over towards the door, swinging it open. "You look nice, Audrey."

I smiled at my father, glancing down at my long sleeved red shirt and black jeans. I was going to wear white but it reminded me too much of Christmas, and we're not close enough to that holiday to dress in its colors. "Thanks, dad, what's up?"

I walked back over to my vanity, grabbing the brush and running it through my hair once again, hoping it'd dry in time. "Your mother told me that you and the Carter's boy have something going on, is that right?"

I tilted my head back and groaned, my hands going over my eyes. "Dad, we don't have anything going on." I know it's bad to lie, especially to a parent, but when it's my father- especially my father, it's better to lie. Plus, he knows Grayson- and his parents, and he won't hesitate to go over to Grayson's house and storm into his room, shouting at him to 'back off of his baby girl.'

"Your mother says differently." My father told me, picking up a small trinket off of my dresser before putting it back down. "You can tell me, I won't go over there and yell at him or anything."

I snorted. "For some odd reason, I don't believe you."

"I like that boy; I always knew he'd like you. For some reason, I had a feeling." Oh great, allow my father to explain how he was a psychic when he was my age and knew that his soon-to-be best friend's son would have feelings for his daughter. "Besides, I know you like him. Your mother told me."

I shrugged. "Well, it doesn't really matter. I'm over him." Maybe he'll believe me.

"Your mother told me about how you guys kissed... three times." My father explained and I nearly choked on my spit. Who told her about that?

"What?" I nearly shouted, turning to look at my father. He was grinning.

"So you do like him?" My father asked, nodding as he picked up a picture frame.

"How'd mom know?" I asked, wringing my hands together. What if my father already threatened Grayson? All of my chances would be gone!

"You talk very loud, or so she says." My father laughed. My father's face suddenly got serious. "So you guys are dating, I presume?"

I snorted, shaking my head as I leaned against my dresser. "No, we aren't."

My father furrowed his eyebrows. "You're letting guys that you're not even dating kiss you?"

I gaped at my father. Is that how he sees it? "No, dad, it just happened."

"Three times?" My father quirked an eyebrow.

I shrugged. "I guess, but that's beside the point. He's too much of a wimp to ask me out."

My father laughed loudly. "How do you know he wants to ask you out?"

My mouth dropped open as I stared at my father. I reached out and punched his arm. "Dad! You can't just say things like that!"

My father shrugged. "What? I was just saying. But if he's too much of a wimp to ask you out, why don't you ask him out?"

My eyebrows furrowed. "No, I already asked him on a date."

My father chuckled. "You like a wimp."

"Dad!" I exclaimed as he continued laughing, exiting my room.

"Wimp lover!" I groaned before closing my door and locking it, so I could continue getting ready.

~~~

"Are you ready?" Sandra asked me once I picked up my phone.

"Yeah, Criss Angel, are you?" I replied, sad that she interrupted my intense game of Flappy Bird. I was about to beat my record of 9.

"Yeah, when do you plan on leaving?" She asked and I glanced at the clock on my wall.

"Uh, in about five minutes." I told her. My mother decided to take my father out to dinner for a 'welcome back' date. It's even better because I'm going to be gone, so I won't have to worry about being scared in my own house. The doorbell rang loudly and I groaned, getting up from my bed. "Can I call you back? You know what? I'll just see you in a little bit."

She agreed and hung up rather quickly, muttering something about having to call Carson. After stuffing my phone, keys, lip balm, and my money into my pocket, I grabbed my coat and walked downstairs, ready to leave. I'm already up, might as well leave now. After turning off all of the lights on the way downstairs, I opened the door. Grayson greeted me with a smile as he held his keys in front of my face. He motioned towards his car as if silently asking me if I want to drive with him. Or at least I hope he was, he could be asking me if I wanted to run him over- which I did (for being a wimp) but it'd be embarrassing to just assume.

"Come on, save gas! Keep the earth clean! Carpooling, the next big thing!" He persuaded, nudging me as I locked the door, stuffing my keys in my pocket. I began walking in the direction of our cars. His was parked right behind mine, which was in front of my house. I turned back to look at him, raising my arms.

"Are you coming or what?" His grin widened as he jogged ahead of me, opening the passenger's side door for me.

I smiled at him as I got into the car, buckling my seatbelt while he ran in front of the car. The engine roared to life as he buckled his seatbelt. I took the time to discreetly glance at him out of the corner of my eye. He had a red hoodie; it didn't have a zipper and lacked any words on the front of it. He had black jeans on, too, matched with red vans. His outfit sounds all too familiar. Glancing down at my black jeans, red sweater, and red vans- I gasped.

He looked over at me, his eyes scanning my outfit before he guffawed in laughter. "It's not funny! We're clashing, that's weird couple stuff!"

"You don't want to be that couple?" He asked as he stopped laughing and started driving us down the street.

"No! That couple is always laughed at!" I retorted.

"Then what kind of couple do you want to be?" He asked curiously. I shrugged, my face turning a light shade of red at the mention of being a couple. I hope he means me and him.

"I don't know. What kind of couple do you want to be?" I muttered in reply.

"It doesn't matter; a couple is a couple. You can't try and base a relationship off of your hopes and expectations because, usually, you'll be let down." He told me. I thought about his words after I nodded in acknowledgement. I internally groaned as I felt myself falling for him more and more.

~~~

The minute we stepped into the restaurant, we heard loud laughter. I knew the exact location of my friends thanks to their loud chortles. We turned to see our friends laughing at us, pointing to our outfits. "Do you see what happens to this type of couple?" I muttered, motioning to our clothing.

He laughed. "We can make it work." He told me, flinging his arm over my shoulder.

After nearly freezing up, I walked beside him towards the table, completely aware of his arm around my shoulder. If I stopped walking and concentrated hard enough, I could feel his pulse on my shoulder, but that's creepy. Sandra and Lola's eyes rose as they glanced at each other. I already knew the thoughts rolling through their heads.

"You guys made it official?" Kyle piped up, snorting in surprise as we sat down. I wriggled out from under his arm and scooted towards Sandra and Lola. I mentally pleaded with them not to say anything. Lola smirked and patted me on the back.

"I didn't think you'd be able to actually ask him out. You've been harboring this crush for a few months, right?" She asked, smiling at me. Her eyes were tinged with evil, though. Slaughter her, the first thought that came to my head; although I have the urge to slam her head against this very table we are seated at, I held back because it'd land me in jail, plus I'd have to pay for the damages. Of the table, not her face.

"I actually asked her out, didn't I?" Gracie played along from beside me. I wanted the floor to open up so I can dive into the never-ending parallel universe like Tom Daley. Tom Daley doesn't sound too bad now, but he's gay so he wouldn't be interested in me, even though I get most of my looks from my father.

"No, nobody asked anybody out because we aren't dating. We aren't a couple, okay? Now can we eat?" I snapped angrily as I lifted the menu up to cover my face. I made a point to sink lower in my seat in an attempt to fully disappear behind the laminated list of foods and drinks.

"Yet." Sandra whispered. I extended my leg and kicked her in the shin, earning a yelp from her. "Why would you do that?"

"Do what?" I asked, my eyes glued to the menu. I wasn't even reading anything; I was just trying to keep my gaze elsewhere. I'm pretty sure my face is bright red; I can feel the temperature rising every few seconds. "You know, I have to go to the ladies room. Care to come with me, Lola, Sandra?"

"Yeah, I think I should check out the bruise you inflicted upon me." Sandra muttered, standing up. Lola got up, too, looking behind her and smiling at the guys as I led us towards the bathroom. The moment I opened the door, I turned to glare at them.

"What was that, Lola?" I snapped. "And you, too, Sandra?"

"Well, you're not telling Grayson that you like him, so we took it upon ourselves to do it for you." Sandra told me.

"Without even asking me? And for your information, I am doing something about it! I plan on asking him out again soon. Next weekend." I told them.

"Why not this weekend?" Lola asked me, raising an eyebrow.

"Because if I do that, I'll seem clingy and desperate, even more than I already am. Plus, I don't want to occupy two of his weekends." I informed them, walking over towards the mirror. I put on a new layer of lip balm, making sure to take off the excess. "Now can you please stop dropping hints? I'm pretty sure he already knows; don't overwhelm him with my feelings."

The girls nodded and we exited the bathrooms, walking towards the table again. We saw a waiter leaving and I furrowed my eyebrows. Don't tell me that they ordered without us. As I sat down at the table, Grayson turned to me. "I hope you don't mind; I ordered you lasagna."

I couldn't help but smile. Lasagna is my favorite. "That's fine." He nodded, a grin taking over his face.

"Can you guys stop?" Carson groaned as I looked away from Grayson. I sent him a curious look. He just sighed, shaking his head. "Never mind."

Shrugging it off, I glanced around the table. "Where's Shane?"

Normally Shane would be talking about how hot a random waitress is, or even the owner of the store- even though she's in her late thirties. "He and Sebastian are hanging out. They're at Sebastian's house though, because he has more gaming stuff; but I personally think it's because he wants to try his luck with Sam, but he continuously denies it."

I stared at Kyle once he finished speaking. "That's the most I've ever heard you speak."

"Lucky you." Lola muttered, grabbing her glass of water and sipping it from the straw.

He nudged her. "Hey!"

She giggled, smiling up at him. I was surprised she didn't splutter water everywhere, if it were just the girls- she would have spat the water all over the table, creating a mini lake. "I'm sorry."

"Why don't I believe you?" He muttered. She leaned up and kissed him, earning a strand of groans and 'come on' from the five of us.

"Can you guys not?" I muttered as I looked around for our waitress.

"Don't act like you haven't kissed someone!" Lola replied.

I rolled my eyes. "I have, just not in front of people!"

"Yes you have." Carson and Sandra replied in unison, earning a confused look from me.

"I'm pretty sure I haven't." I replied.

"At Shane's party, remember? You kissed Grayson." Sandra reminded, causing my cheeks to go up in flames. I wanted to kick her under the table but she was too far, seeing as she switched places with Carson when we returned to the table. Smart girl.

"That didn't count; I was dared to do it." I replied.

"Don't act like you didn't like it." Grayson muttered from beside me, earning a snort from Kyle. I nudged him in the side, gritting my teeth as I focused on Lola's words.

"You weren't dared to kiss Grayson." Lola added. "You were dared to kiss the first person to walk in the room."

"And Grayson was the first person to walk in; I didn't want to kiss him. It was either him or that beady eyed guy." I replied.

"Oh, Grayson, your face is gorgeous. Kiss me right now before I die!" Grayson exclaimed in a falsetto voice. I punched his arm but he didn't stop. "Kiss me like you want to be loved."

"Did you just quote Ed Sheeran?" I asked.

"Maybe." He replied in the falsetto voice. I groaned while everyone else cackled in my face.

"You're so annoying." I murmured, a sigh falling from my lips.

"But you can't help but like me." He muttered and I glared at him, punching his arm again.

He lightly pushed me, earning two raised eyebrows from me. I pushed him harder and his chair tipped lightly. "You wanna go?"

I laughed. "Yeah, I do."

"On a date with me?" He replied, and my eyebrows rose even higher while the guys high fived. I wanted to groan aloud. He didn't mean it. Of course he didn't mean it. I wished he had meant it.

I really do.

~~~

"Where to now?" I asked as Grayson and I got into his car. I managed to push my thoughts of earlier to the back of my mind, trying to keep them back there.

He shrugged. "I don't know, someplace fun. Shane suggested it."

"Shane suggested it? How do you know we're not going to go to some—?" He cut me off quickly.

"He grew up there; his aunt and uncle own the place. They're staying open late, just for us. And because they need to refill some of their bouncy supplies." He replied, smirking knowingly as if he already knew what I was wondering. "Besides, Trampoline Land isn't exactly a rated r location."

"Trampoline Land?!" I exclaimed, my eyes widening. This caught Grayson off guard and he gave me a sideways glance as I grinned. "Shane's family owns it?! I've always wanted to go there as a kid!"

"Yeah, he was even that awkward kind in the commercials." I let out a wild laugh as I remembered the commercials. I even thought Shane was cute back then, as a preteen standing behind a random family- pretending to talk.

"I remember. Trampoline Land always seemed fun, judging by the commercials." I replied.

"Well, it's going to be even better than it would've been if you would've gone as a child." He convinced. I gave him a curious look.

"Why?"

"Because I'm going to be there." He smirked, earning a snort from me.

"If anything, that'll make it worse." He frowned at me, looking genuinely offended. "I was kidding."

"You're going to pay for it." He told me and I snorted.

"What are you going to do? Lightly push me?" I cackled.

He chuckled evilly. "No, something worse than that, much worse."

I rolled my eyes. "Try me."

We were silent in the car, the sound of the heater of the car greeting us. About ten minutes into the silence, Grayson looked over at me. "Hey, can I ask you a question?"

"Shoot." I replied with a western accent and he rolled his eyes at my antics.

"Who was the last person you kissed and when was it?" He asked.

Well, his question was stupid. "You and it was on Saturday."

He scowled. "Before me?" He asked. As if catching onto my thought process, he sighed. "Exclude me from the question."

I sighed, squinting slightly as I struggled to remember. "It was in eighth grade, some boy named Jericho Downey or whatever."

He nodded and I pursed my lips, still unsure about whether or not to ask him. His answer could hurt my feelings but it could also make me feel special. Sighing, I allowed myself to ask him. "Who was the last person you kissed and when? And don't say me."

"Oh the answer wasn't going to be you. I kissed some chick yesterday. I can't even recall her name." He told me, causing my heart to explode into a million pieces. I gaped at him, my mind racing at an insane speed. He's been stringing me along all this time? In the middle of my thoughts, he began laughing loudly.

"What? What's so funny?" I snapped. So, he's laughing at me now? I'd get out of the car if we weren't going sixty on the highway.

"I was kidding! You were the last person I kissed. And before that, it was some girl from a few months ago!" He chuckled. "I didn't even kiss that college girl."

"You're not funny." I retorted, turning to face the window. How could he play with my feelings like that? I just experienced heartbrokenness in about three seconds and it was the worst thing ever. Even though it's a relief that he didn't kiss another girl, I was still angry that he'd play such a cruel joke on me.

It was silent for a few moments. "Darling?" I continued to give him the silent treatment. "Darling?" I didn't even look at him as he poked my arm. "Darling, come on, I was only joking."