Dabbling In Sweetness

Chapter 51

I leap into Graysons arms, wearing his jersey and sticking my tongue out to all the other football players' girlfriends because my boyfriend had gotten the final points. Grayson holds me on the top and spins me around as I bask in his glory. They had won the football championship. They had worked hard all year to stand before me with a giant trophy that had a football on top.

From up here, I can see the girls from the beginning of the year. Monica and Jessica run down to meet their new football player boyfriends in the field while Mark is alone, glaring at them. I was happy to see, they had finally learned they could do better than a cheater. I stifle my laugh as I look at Alex who is talking very enthusiastically with the recruiter and they shake hands. He spots me and gives me a thumbs up before running to tell Matt the good news. I see Abacus who is with his mom and dad, all of them laughing and congratulating him.

Although Grayson never got to be the football captain or the quarterback, he was finally content playing the game he loved. He puts me down and looks up to the sky, raising the trophy. "I did it dad," he yells. I can see him wipe away the tears and go to hold him in my arms.

I then grab his hand and says, "let's go visit them, huh?"

It wasn't my first time coming to the grave, but I knew it had been a while for Grayson. As soon as we reach his dad's grave. Grayson gets on his knees and breaks down. I stand besides him, rubbing his back while the rest of our friends give us distance. I try to back away a bit, but Grayson keeps me there as he starts talking. "I'm sorry I failed you dad. I didn't get the position you pushed me for but those were your dreams and not mine. I never wanted to steal the spotlight from Abacus. He was a friend and you guys turned us into enemies." He wipes away his tears, "I'm not mad anymore, dad. I'm actually in a better place than wanting your approval." He sniffles, "I am sorry that I wasn't there for you or mom. I didn't know, but my uncle has been sentenced to jail. The media was all over that, the story painted me as a fallen angel avenging his fathers death." He squeezes my hand, "when we all know I'm no angel."

When Grayson is done, I guide him to my dad's grave where I introduce everyone. "Dad, I haven't come in a while but I finally brought everyone to meet you. I especially wanted to introduce you to my football player boyfriend," I say and bring Grayson forward.

"You're only dating me because of the title aren't you?" he jokes.

I look at him and joke back, "which one? The bad boy title?" He laughs at me and I can't help but smile. I turn back to the grave, "but he's also rich."

"Strawberry," Grayson says in a warning yet embarrassed tone.

"He also has a weird fascination with Strawberries," I say. I get down and in a serious tone say, "I think you would have liked him, dad. He's had some problems but he's a good guy. I just know you would have loved to meet him." The tears start rolling down faster than I can wipe them away. Grayson lifts me up and I lean into him. "We'll be back, I promise," I whisper into the dead silence as we walk back to the car. During the car ride, Link puts on "The Scientist" by Coldplay as I watch the dark clouds form in the night sky. It looked like it would rain soon. I hum along to the song as the tears keep trickling.

"Nobody said it was easy

It's such a shame for us to part

Nobody said it was easy

No one ever said it would be this hard

Oh, take me back to the start"

"Why would you put a sad song on," Gina reprimands.

"So she can cry it out," Link defends.

"Guys," Grayson warns.

"Sorry," they say and stop arguing. I can't help but smile. It was the first time they both had listened to someone else and didn't object.