The Pickup Line

Chapter Eight

Leave this dress a mess on the floor, still look good for you

Good for You - Selena Gomez 

- Sawyer - 

It was one day before we were to leave for Cancun  as Gracie and I packed separately in our rooms after helping each other pick out outfits for the trip. I was thinking about how thankful I was that it was a summer trip since all my outfits were light and could easily fit in my carry on bag when my phone rang.  I laid my triangl bag on top of all the clothes before glancing at who was calling me.

Brayden. 

I let the call go to voicemail.  Brayden and I hadn't spoken since graduation night.  I ignored all his calls and messages, which were daily occurrences,  as I tried to give myself time to think all of this through.  I mean, there are plenty of times when a guy or a girl has someone in their lives and continues picking that person.  Over and over and over again, they date other people and go back to that one person.  And I didn't want to be the one that was being left. 

Then again, I was dying to just say 'fuck-it' and go ahead with it anyway.  Part of me knew that life was short and that I should just jump at the chance to be with Brayden.  The other part didn't want me wasting my time.  The safe part and the adventurous part of myself were at a loss by not being able to agree on any terms.

Ding-Dong! 

The doorbell and hard knocks dragged me away from my thoughts.   The obnoxious noises didn't stop after it started, like a child asking for attention. 

"Chill! I'm coming!" I heard Gracie yell to whoever was at the door.  I didn't bother checking on it seeing as Hannah and Tess often us the same antics to get our attention. I busied myself by putting a pair of sandals and wedges in the little spaces I had left in my suitcase.  I stopped short when I noticed that no one had said anything to me, and if it was Hannah or Tess at the door, they would have said something to me for sure. I listened to the hushed voices before I let myself be seen, and it wasn't until I was standing across from the laundry room did I realize who was at the door. 

"There you are!" Brayden yelled.  He didn't have to say a word to me, I could already tell that he was drunk.  His clothes were wrinkled and bunched up in places, and his eyes were a light shade of pink.  I felt my chest get tighter and begin to move up and down at a faster pace.  I felt the uneasiness in my body and noticed that I was shaking from head to toe.

"Gracie," I said.  I felt the same old feeling growing inside.  The feeling that I hated more than anything in my life.  Gracie knew how to help me, but I hoped to God that it didn't come to that with him standing in front of us. Gracie took a step back from him as he struggled to stay upright and locked eyes with me, a sort of 'What do I do?' look.  

"That's not my name, silly," he gave a cute little hiccup, but I couldn't concentrate on that.  Couldn't concentrate on anything right now except keeping myself from having a break down. 

"Brayden, I think you should leave," Gracie told him lightly.  He stubbornly shook his head, the motion nearly knocking him down. 

"No.  I-I need to talk to baby girl," he slurred.  In a normal situation I would have smiled at the name, but right now it had no affect on me. I shook my head at her best I could.  

"What's going on?" I heard come from outside the door.  Hannah and Tess stood behind him with curious eyes, as his loud noises got their attention. I tried not to look too worried as I looked at them.