The Bucket List

Talia - 2

I spent the entire last half of the school day filled with that terrible anxious feeling, the feeling I tended to get in Grayson's presence. My stomach had a lingering pit in it that made it hard to concentrate on my schoolwork. I was continuously zoning out and the feeling of nausea wasn't helping the situation. I spent many moments just staring at the clock, watching the seconds tick. Seconds that were closer to meeting Grayson after school. I was regretting my decision more and more as it drew nearer.

Finally, after hours of my nerves being shot, it was 3 P.M. and the bells had rung to signal the conclusion of the school day. Who knew the sound of that bell would practically send me spiraling? I took my time gathering my supplies, hoping that maybe he would just leave if I took too long. It took me an extra few minutes to get the courage to walk out into the hallway and toward those school doors. My eyes wandered around the area around those big glass doors. I let out a sigh of relief when I didn't spot him, but there was a little pang of hurt.

Until I did.

He waited?

We made direct eye contact and then I really couldn't escape. There was no way to avoid the fact that I saw him and I couldn't use an excuse. His gaze made my heart skip a beat. He was intimidating and not just because of our past, his physical appearance would send anyone running. He didn't smile or show an ounce of happiness. He looked like a stone statue, his face constantly stuck in a deadpan expression. I had heard many girls comment about how he was so 'mysterious' and they obsessed over the fact that he was emotionless and closed off. His careless vibe pissed me off. I'd rather he have voiced his disdain for me, it made it easier for me to read him. Being an overthinker made things hard.

I approached him slowly.

Wow, is he that tall now?

The height difference was pretty significant. I stood at about 5'4 while he looked around 6'1. I guess I had never been close enough to notice. I didn't exactly just stand around with him.

"You ready?" He asked me and I snapped out of my trance. I had a lot of questions about why he suddenly decided to apologize or why he didn't apologize earlier, but I kept my mouth shut. The answer would probably wind up hurting my feelings all over again.

"Where are we going?" I asked, the hesitancy clear on my face. He began walking toward the parking lot with no explanation or reply to my question. I walked behind him for a moment before I stopped. I wasn't going to blindly follow him into his car. This could all be a big scheme to humiliate me. He must've noticed I stopped because he turned his head back to look at me and he stopped along with me.

"Tell me where we're going or I'm not following you," I said in a stern tone. He stared at me for a moment. I could feel myself practically shriveling up underneath his hard gaze.

"You'll see when we get there. Come on." He said his eyes telling me to follow.

I didn't. I stayed in the same position.

"I didn't ask you, I told you. Come on." Grayson grumbled. There was the Grayson I knew. The entitled asshole who expected everyone to blindly follow his demands.

My head flew back slightly in response to his sudden demand and I let out a scoff. "Who are you talking to? Because it damn sure isn't me." I spoke.

He must've been surprised by my defense because he tilted his head in confusion before he rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Fine, can you please come on and I'll explain later?" He corrected himself as his hands flew up and fell back to his sides, clearly frustrated with me.

"Fine," I replied. We were being childish and anyone in the school parking lot could see that.

His insistence did raise red flags in my brain, but I just went along with it. If worse came to worst, I'd just call my dad.