Secrets // Ethan Dolan

5. fucking peas

Chapter 5, Fucking Peas

"Okay class, listen to me for a minute!" School was almost over, the bell would ring in about 5 minutes and then I could finally get out of here. Everybody kept quiet and the teacher started talking:  "I want all of you to do a presentation in groups," everybody gave each other glances, already picking out who they wanted to work with. I just sat still in my seat, nobody want to partner up with me so I didn't even tried to look around, "BUT, I will choose who you work with."

                  

All kinds of sighs sounded through the whole class, mine was a relieved one because this meant that I wouldn't end up alone. The teacher quickly hang up a paper with the groups on it. As the bell rang, I gathered my stuff, waiting for everyone to leave before looking on the paper.

Katie Campbell and Grayson Dolan.

"So ehmm, hey." I turned around to find Grayson standing in front of me. Did he wait for me?

"Hey," I gave him a quick smile, "you're my partner." My hand rose up, wanting to high five him but I quickly changed my mind, scratching my head awkwardly.

"Yeah, I saw. I was thinking that you could maybe come to my house?"

"Sure. Let me just text my mum."

*~*~*~*

"Gray, no! You can't type that!" I said, laughing hysterically. He kept making these really bad jokes. But like, so bad that they actually became funny. At first, things were a little uncomfortable, but after 30 minutes, things loosened up and we started joking around. I tapped the delete button before typing in the correct answer, finishing our project.

"Wanna stay for dinner?" He asked me, grabbing his bottle of water from beside me.

"Sure. If your mother doesn't mind." It was almost 7 pm, we had been working on the project so hard, but I was glad it was done. I really had fun today and I secretly hoped that after tonight, we still would keep in touch. Maybe like sit together in class or hang out after school. Okay, don't go head over heels, Katie. You guys were just doing a school project, you didn't become besties or anything.

"Nah, it's okay. Ethan let's stay friends over all the time." He said friends. Did he consider me a friend? Did I make a friend today?

His mum called from downstairs and we walked in the dining room. We all gathered around the table and oh my god, the food smelled delicious. "Thanks for letting me stay here, Mrs. Dolan." I noticed one seat was left empty. He was missing.

I almost finished my meal when Ethan came barging in. He sat down at the table, not looking his mother in the eyes. "You're late" She said, "And say hi to our guest."
He looked up to me, connecting our eyes together. I could feel the air being sucked right out of my lungs. He had the most beautiful eyes ever, eyes I could stare at all day. I found myself getting lost in my thoughts so I quickly put some peas in my mouth covering up the fact that I was totally staring at him. I forgot that I actually didn't even like peas.

"Hi." His voice was deep and made me lose my focus again. I tried swallowing the peas but one got stuck in my throat. Coughing sounds filled the quiet kitchen and seconds later I felt Grayson's hand on my shoulder, asking if I was okay. Which I was not. Tears filled my eyes and I started pointing to my glass, asking for water. I was getting lightheaded and soon I felt two big, strong arms wrap around my stomach, pushing it down. The pea flew out my mouth before I knew it.

I took a big gasp before speaking: "Oh my God, I'm so sorry and thank you so much." I gave Ethan a thankful look before sitting back down.

"Well, that's something you don't experience every day." I started laughing at Mrs. Dolan's comment.

"Yeah, I just met her and I already saved her life." He spoke quietly, more to himself than to others. I decided to ignore his comment and just talk to Grayson. It looked like Ethan didn't want me here, so I wasn't going to give him any more attention than needed.

After dinner, Grayson and I decided to watch a movie. We watched The Avengers and I cried. I couldn't help it. Always when something sad happened, it didn't even have to be sad actually, just something that got to me that I could relate to in any possible way, I would cry. But now, I actually had a reason to cry. My favourite character died and it was the saddest thing ever. Grayson got me some ice cream to make me feel better but I just sat there, sobbing, shoving the ice cream in the hole that we call a mouth.

*~*~*~*
"I should probably get going, it's almost 11." Grayson nodded and lead me downstairs. I found his mother sitting in the living room, watching some cooking program.

"Bye Mrs. Dolan. Thanks for letting me stay over." I gave her a quick wave and put on my jacket waiting for Grayson in the hall. He said he would walk me home after telling his mum.

"Katie, I'm so sorry. My mum wants me to clean up my room now, she won't let me go." Grayson appeared in to the hallway. I gave him a small smile. Okay, I was kind of disappointed that Grayson couldn't walk me home but it wasn't such of a big deal anyway.

"It's okay. I'll make it there on my own." I winked and pulled the door handle, walking in to the cold night.

"Ethan, you go with her. I can't let her walk home all alone!" I heard before feeling someone, who I guessed was Ethan, starting to walk beside me. This was going to get awkward as Hell.

"You don't have to walk me home, you know that, right?" He gave me a look, which told me to just shut up and keep walking. But I couldn't, I had to talk to him. I had to get to know him a little more. No- I didn't want to get to know him a little more, I wanted to know everything about him. I wanted to know every little detail about him, the thoughts that kept him awake at night, his habits and the things he loved.

"So, we never really introduced ourselves to each other." I held out my bandaged hand, waiting for him to shake it. He took my hand in his, sending all sorts of feelings through my body when my skin touched his. For God's sake, Katie, he just shook your hand.

"You're right. I'm Ethan and I'm sorry for what happened to your hand. I didn't intend to." Aha. So it was him.

"It's okay. It's healed almost completely and you kind off saved my life earlier so I think we're good." He gave me a small laugh, walking me to my door.

"Well, I'll see you around, Katie." He said, walking away, leaving me at my doorstep.