Strong - GRETHAN

Chapter 3

Grayson's pov

Holy fuck... He's in my class! I internally start to panic and it results in me shaking slightly and having to gulp down the saliva that had accumulated in my mouth. He's going to be sitting behind me the whole year... I'm not ready for this. But at least I found out his name, so it's Ethan huh?. I snap out of my little moment and walk to my seat, smiling nervously to Ethan and the rest of the class before sitting down and trying to pay attention to the teacher but failing miserably as the only thing that was on my mind was the fact that I had a class with Ethan... For the whole year...
I can feel eyes burning into the back of my head but I'm definitely to afraid to turn around as I know it is Ethan since there is no one else behind him. A blush starts to rise on my cheeks and I descretly cover them but it might be useless as it has probably made my neck and ears red too. It's almost as if I can feel his smirk without even looking at him. What the fuck am I going to do?
After not paying attention at all for that class it was finally time for lunch, I'll get to see Kristina again, maybe she can calm me.

As soon as the bell rings I'm out the door and rushing to the cafeteria, I need to see Kristina my emotions are all over the place right now. I wait for her in front of the doors of the lunch room, seems her class went a little over. As I'm waiting i hear lots of talking and chatting coming from behind me so I look up from my phone, that I got out to pass time, and see the same group of popular kids that laughed at me this morning approach me, assuming they are heading to get lunch. As expected they walked right passed me which I was fine with, but one of them bumped into me and as I look back I see Ethan turn around with a slight frown but says "sorry" and gives me a smile, more on the smirk side though. And oh my God, I almost melted at the sound of his voice. It was so smooth and deep, calming. I want to hear more of his voice. I already can imagine his morning voice, all raspy and even deeper, his comforting voice, or when we whispers in my ear while moan- WHY DOES MY MIND GO TO THAT! I stop my unholy thoughts before it gets any worse for me and I start to blush like I always do. I seem to have been caught in a daze as I jump slightly when I hear Kristina call me from half way down the hall. She comes up to me and hugs me and even tho I was caught off guard, after hesitating a second, I hug back. We walk into the cafeteria and wait in line to get our food,talking about how the class was for her and what I thought so far of the first teacher I met. We get our food and head outside on the spot we sat at this morning, she was right, that will be out designated spot for the rest of the year. We sit on the soft grass and start to eat our food which, as you expect from any school, was pretty disgusting.

"I'm so bringing my own lunch tomorrow" Kristina grumbles, obviously not content with the food on her plate. I laughed and she joins in, giggling softly. "I'll probably do the same, I just have to remember to cook it the night before, but I'm bad at remembering" I joke, mocking myself and my already developing Alzheimer. "How about I texted you the evening before to remind you? I'm pretty much the opposite I remember everything" she laughs, handing me her phone. "Here, just add yourself to my contacts" I look at her startled. "R-really? You- you wanna switch numbers?" I ask, surprised. "Of course, we are friends right? Why wouldn't I have my friends number". My heart fills with joy as she says that phrase, reminding me once again she sees me as a friend... A FRIEND! It just makes me so happy to know someone thinks that of me. I quickly put in my number and hand her phone back. She smiles at me and continues eating the horrible food on our plates, I'm surprised I haven't puked it out yet, I have a very weak stomach...
"What were you looking at before, with that blush on your face" she asks blatantly and I almost choke on my food. "What are you talking about?" I ask dumbly in hope of her not continuing further. "You know, at the door, you were looking into the cafeteria and a blush rose on your face, you also seem to ignore my calls of your name" she says giggling. Oh no she saw me. "Uhm I-" what do I say, I have no excuse right now. "What... Got your eye on someone already?" she smirks, raising a brow at me "I- what! No it's not that! I don't have m-my eye on anyone!" I blabber out, going full panic mode. "Well your reaction says otherwise" she laughs. "Uhm..." I just stay silent, it's better that blabbering out random shit that has no sense to it. "I was just joking, but I think you do have your eye on someone" well now what do I say, should I lie? Should I be honest but still descret? "Well I guess you could say I think someone is pretty cute..." I say truthfully. "Oh my gosh, Grayson has a crush!" she says excitedly "I mean I wouldn't call it a crush tho..." (author's note: yet) "Yeah yeah sure, I believe you" she winks at me and I blush. "It's really not what you think" I insist "We will see as they start talking to you, so... Who is it?" well... Fuck. Is all I can think of. What do I say, I can't just come out to her we've only known each other for 3 hours, and I most certainly can't say it in the middle of the school grounds, what if someone heard us. "Hey you ok? You seem lost in thought" she asks concerned. "Uh yeah I'm just- I don't really want to talk about it in the middle of the school you know, word might get back to them and like rumors spread" or bullying occurs "so I generally don't say anything really in public" i say, hoping she understands me and doesn't think I'm pathetic. "oh that's fine" she smiles "wait what? You're not mad? You seemed really eager to know". I state. "I am but if you don't want to say it here then I can't force you to say it, I don't know you can tell me when we are at our houses or something". Is this what a friend is? This kind and understanding? Where has this part of life been all this time, why have I never experienced it? "Oh god, Grayson! You're crying" I hadn't even noticed I was until she pointed it out. I wipe them away and smile at her. "Happy tears, don't worry" I laugh softly. "Why did you get so emotional?" she asks, raising an eyebrow in confusion. "Long story, I'll tell you another time" she smiles and nods and we continue making small talk for the rest of the lunch hour before we part ways yet again to head to our classes.

Why does class have to be so boring. I like school, weird i know, i like to keep my grades high I want to go to a good university and I'm trying to get a scholarship in some way, but I still can't help myself from not listening to the teacher. My mind goes straight to Ethan, am I surprised? No. Just the way he seemed mad before he turned around and smiled at me, it's just so weird. Why did he do that? Was that person trying to bump into me? But even so why would Ethan care, we haven't even talked to each other. My ming runs crazy with all these questions, desperately needing answers. Was he... Trying to protect me? Why else would he seem so pissed off about what happened, but then again... Why would he do it in the first place, we are strangers. I groan internally in desperation, this is so fucking confusing! I can't keep thinking about all this now I need to focus on class or I'm not going anywhere. I force myself out of my thought world and try to focus on the classes I have for the rest of the day. Boring like I expected.

I walk out of the school, the day finally over. I'm about to turn to my left ready to head home but I get caught up by Kristina, running up to me with a giant smile on her face. "Hey Grayson!" "Hey Kris, what's up?" I smile back. "Where do you head to go home?" she ask. "Uhm I go this way, why?" I say, pointing to my left. "That's amazing! I live that way too! We could walk together." I smile "Yeah that doesn't sound like a bad idea" she smiles, already walking ahead turning around to face me while walking backwards. We walk down the streets till we have to part ways as she lives closer to school than me, so while she turns to her left I continue straight. I arrive to my apartment and i lean back against the door as soon as I close it, sighing softly. I never liked living alone, I always hated it, I'm always exhausted at the end of the day but I guess it's for my best, or at least that's what mum says. I lift myself off the door, setting my backpack on the counter about to start doing my homework when I hear my phone ding, indicating I received a message. I open my phone and see it's an unknown number that texted me, who could that be? I open the message and read the text

? : hi Grayson! It's Kris, now you have my number too we can chat 😄

I smile as I read the text, still not getting over the fact that I've already found a friend on the first day of school, and what seems to be a good friendship. I sit at the kitchen island and set out my books ready to start the homework, smiling at my thought...

Maybe this time really will be different...

*****
Word count: 1808

Hey, how's everyone doing? I'm hoping well
What do you think of this? Tbh I'm kinda eh about this I just didn't know what to write anymore so ig you could call this a filler? Idk
Feel free to say anything I could improve
Ik this took a long ass time, a lot is happening in my life and I put the book aside, everything has calmed down now so I'm hoping I will find more free time between school to write, I'm getting many ideas for this book and I can't wait to write them all

I love you ❤️