Shattered Asylum

Chapter 51

It's Saturday, and I'm getting ready for our triple date tonight. Originally, it was just going to be a girls' night, but the guys insisted on coming along.

I zip up my overnight bag and toss it onto my bed before my phone buzzes. I pick it up, already knowing who it is. "You here?" I ask Nora, balancing the phone between my ear and shoulder as I slip on my shoes.

"Yes! Hurry up, or we're going to be late!" She snaps before hanging up on me mid-sentence.

I roll my eyes, shaking my head as I grab the bag, sling the strap over my shoulder, and head downstairs.

As I pass the living room, I spot my grandparents dancing to soft music playing from an old record player.

"Sono arrivati, vi amo ragazzi. Ci vediamo domani." "They're here, I love you guys. See you tomorrow." I say, my voice cutting through their quiet moment and startling them.

"Divertiti, sii buono." "Have fun- be good." They reply in unison, smiling warmly.

I chuckle softly. "I will," I mutter, waving before stepping outside.

The moment I close the door behind me, Kristina's voice rings out. "Oh my gosh, you look amazing! That outfit is so cute on you!"

Nora, on the other hand, decides to skip straight to teasing. "Grayson's not gonna be able to keep his hands off you tonight!" She yells, smirking like she's thoroughly enjoying my embarrassment.

I feel my cheeks warm as I jog to the car, throwing my bag in the back and climbing into the passenger seat.

As I buckle my seatbelt, I glance around. "Did they decide not to come?"

"They're taking Vinnie's car," Nora says, clearly annoyed. "Mom wouldn't let me take the Maybach SUV. Something about 'insurance' or whatever. Ugh."

"How far is the is place, anyway?" I ask, settling back into my seat.

"About an hour," she replies, flipping on her blinker.

I hum in response, letting my head rest against the window. Outside, the world blurs by, rows of trees, storefronts, and occasional streetlights blending together.

After a moment of quiet, Nora breaks the silence with a sly grin. "So..." she begins, dragging out the word dramatically. "You and Grayson have been getting pretty close lately."

I roll my eyes at her tone but catch her eyebrows wiggling in the rearview mirror.

I haven't officially told anyone about Grayson and me yet, well, except for her classic lecture about "being safe," which was mortifying but, admittedly, informative.

For now, I've been letting the girls think whatever they want. I'm pretty sure they know, but I haven't confirmed anything yet.

I take a deep breath, deciding to the Band-Aid off. "Yeah... about that..." I pause for dramatic effect, unable to hide my grin. "He asked me out a week ago."

The car erupts into chaos.

Nora lets out an ear-piercing scream, jerking the wheel so hard we almost swerve off the road. Kristina, meanwhile, sits calmly in the backseat, looking entirely unfazed.

"WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG TO TELL US?!" Nora shrieks, turning her head briefly to glare at me.

Her attention quickly shifts to Kristina, her brow furrowed in suspicion. "And why aren't you freaking out? A whole week, Kristina! She didn't tell us for an entire week!"

Kristina shrugs nonchalantly, scratching her arm and looking out the window. "Grayson may have gotten drunk and told me...some stuff," she says vaguely.