The Grey Area of Sater

Chapter 4

Gray was expecting his sister and this was not her. That didn't matter, Gray had to reply but how was he going to do that? He wasn't going to lie to his foster father and he most certainly wasn't going to tell the truth.

Ding!

Gray had to think of something fast his foster father was getting impatient. Damn it! why him of all people he paics way too easily Aline can answer her own text messages. Gray thought. He would just have to give his father what he wanted: a location.

Outside Toronto. I met a couple that's letting me stay at their house for the night, they'll drive me home tomorrow.

Where outside Toronto? The reply was immediate.

I... don't know. But they've been nothing but nice to me if that's what you're worried about, they're not dangerous.

Graynnon! How do you not know where you are? This wasn't good. Gray's foster father has never called him by his full name--he was either really worried or really mad or both.

Way too much happened at once, I panicked and I ran. It was stupid, I know and I'm sorry. And can you please tell Aline I said that? Now that was the full truth and Gray meant it.

A few moments passed before Gray heard back and when he did he couldn't have picked up his phone faster. Gray's stomach flipped he wasn't ready to talk about all that happened let alone the fact that he didn't plan on staying.

Okay fine you should stay I'm not going to disrupt them at this hour. Get them to take you to your school and I'll pick you up from there. I don't want them knowing where we live if they don't have to. Gray thought that was a little cautious but he understood where his foster father was coming from. That being said it didn't give Gray a chance to slip away.

Fair enough I'll tell them that.

Thank you now get some rest. Goodnight.

Okay. goodnight, dad.

There was no way Gray was getting any sleep that night he had plenty to think about.

~~~

The next morning when Ray pulled into the parking lot of Gray's school Gray saw his foster father already waiting in his car.

Okay, here we go, Gray thought with a sigh, he was not ready to face his family yet, especially Aline. What if she caught on? He was sure she didn't know everything Gray did--she didn't have enough information--but his sister was definitely going to question him. 

"Thank you again for everything, Ray," Gray said, picking at his cuticles, "Don't worry about anything else I can take it from here."

"It was just some food and a bed it wasn't much." Ray unbuckled and Gray looked up at him. He could only hope his foster father wasn't going to interrogate Ray too much. "Plus, the least I could do is introduce myself. I'm sure your father wants to know who kept his son for the night." Gray didn't know how to reply so he just went along.

Gray's foster father got out of his car the moment Ray pulled in, it was just the three of them the early May sun beating down on them making his father's look of concern all the more visible.

The two locked gazes in less than a second and the seconds passing felt like an eternity. Gray still needed an explanation as to why he ran off, he got away with it in the car with Ray by saying "it's personal" but this wasn't going to work with his foster father, he knew almost all of Gray's personal matters and as far as he was aware Gray had no reason for doing what he did and Gray wasn't about to give the real one.