Speechless (GRETHAN)

Chapter 12: '4OU'

Grayson Bailey

Calculus. The last class of the day. Mr. Parker scribbled equations and questions on the board while the class hurriedly took notes or copied the solutions from the board in front of us. Ethan and I sat beside each other in the second-last row. I had been sketching my version of how a cute and friendly alien would be. For some reason, I related to that sketch but regardless I had stopped drawing as Mr. Parker went around the room to make sure his students were diligently doing the classwork provided to them.

Ethan and I passed looks at each other, each one making my heart race. I was the happiest ever since he had asked me out. I knew he was clearly serious about liking me and he better keep his word. This is me, taking a chance on love for once in my life. I need happiness. I didn't want to be taken for a joy ride because I wasn't one.

However, admiration for me was visible in Ethan's eyes and I was a good people-reader. Right now in class, he usually grinned at me and I'd just blush like an idiot which I was. "Ethan, what's the answer?",Mr. Parker spoke suddenly and he stood up from his seat. Effectively breaking me out of my thoughts, I looked at the teacher in front of me and then at my boyfriend who was standing in his seat. "What's the distance travelled by the man in 13 seconds?"

Mr. Parker repeated his question while Ethan fumbled with his response. The man stood with his arms folded as he awaited a response. While I worked out the problem at lightning speed, Ethan looked nervously at me. Smirking at him, I fluttered my sheet of paper from the edge of my desk with the solution scribbled on it. The final answer had been haphazardly encircled to make it vividly recognisable.

"Um....S equals thirty.....point seven one yards?",he stuttered nervously.

Mr. Parker glanced at the open book on his table and looked up with a contented smile. "Well done Mr. Dolan. Please sit down." The edgy look on Ethan's face was replaced with a grin as he took his seat. "So everyone, the man travels 30.71 yards in 13 seconds."

Twenty long minutes later, the bell rang, signalling it was time to head home. "Thank you.",spoke Ethan as he stood by my desk while I neatly put my books and other things into my backpack.

'You're welcome but I only helped you cause you're cute. How about you pay attention the next time?',I typed in my Notes app and I gave a teasing smile while Ethan read the words. He looked around the class which was now empty and he leaned in, close to me.

"I can but a boy named Grayson has me wrapped around his finger. Hey, if anyone's to blame, it's him.",he laughed and pointed to me in a playfully accusing manner. Rolling my eyes and laughing, I gently nudged my shoulder with that of his. We both giggled like idiots and he reached down to interlace our fingers. "So I was thinking we can head out somewhere since you're not working tonight."

I had been offered two days off from my schedule to accommodate the same time for a new employee and thus my updated schedule consisted of offs on Thursdays and Saturdays. I loved it when Ethan memorised my schedule. It showed me how much he cared.

'I'd love to but you know I'm out of money. My entire pay check from last week went straight to the water bill.'

"Oh shut up, you know I'll pay for it. You just need to say yes. For the record, I've never asked you to pay. So what's your craving? Chinese? Fried chicken?",he laughed, walking down the hallways with me, our connected arms swinging. It's true. So far, Ethan had never taken a single dollar from me.

He went on to ask what lunch I was craving while we stopped at our lockers. I twisted the lock on mine and it swung open.

'Definitely Chinese.' I shut my locker again and turned around when Ethan carefully pushed me against the metal bins and his arms on either side of my head, locking me in place.