Grey

14.

Dan's POV

I woke up on the floor to an empty room. Greyson was gone. We were over. I went in the bathroom to wash my face. I looked horrible. My hair was a complete mess and my eyes were red. I threw some cold water on my face and dried it with a towel, then headed downstairs to check on my parents.

I heard conversation coming from the living room, so I knew they were in there.

"Mom, Dad...is everything going to be okay? I can always get a job while you guys figure things out." I said interrupting them.

They looked up at me, concern in their eyes.

"Daniel everything is going to be fine. This is something that you don't have to worry about." My dad said firmly.

"But if there's anyway I could help the situation.."

"No honey. There isn't. Your only job will be school and trying to get into a good college. Okay?" My mother chimed in.

"Okay. Well I'll go clean up the mess in the kitchen." I said sighing. I knew they wouldn't let me help. I'd find a way to help them though.

The plates from dinner still littered the kitchen table. Just a moment ago everyone was happy and Greyson and I couldn't have been more in love with each other. Now things were a complete mess just like the kitchen.

As I was putting away the leftovers my father walked in.

"Daniel, is everything okay between you and Greyson? You seem a little upset. And he seemed upset when he left."

"Everything is fine." I lied.

My dad eyed me for a minute clearly not believing a word I said but sighed when he decided that he wasn't going to push me to talk about it.

"Okay, well he told me to tell you that he was sorry." My dad said watching for my reaction.

Truthfully I felt like I was being punched repeatedly in the stomach. "Okay thanks for telling me." I said dryly.

"Look Daniel, whatever is going on between you two don't let it go on to long. It's just that, that kid, his eyes look really sad. Something tells me he needs you to be there for him."

That was my dad always the perceptive one. I swear he could read any situation it was almost frightening.

"Okay Dad."

He gave me a knowing look and began to walk away but then stopped.

"Oh and son? Be careful. People with that kind of sadness in their eyes have the ability to hurt those around them unintentionally. I don't want to see you get hurt. So be there for him, but protect yourself too."

"Got it Dad." I said miserably.

That was the problem. It was impossible to do both. I couldn't be with Greyson without taking the risk of getting hurt or even worse my family getting hurt.

I sighed and went in my room. This was going to be a long school year. At this point I just wanted to graduate and go to college so that I could forget about everything.

The next day at school I was standing at my locker with Amanda. I had just finished telling her everything that had happened the previous day .

"Oh my poor Dan! Everything is going to be okay." She cried throwing me into a bear hug.

"And the worst part in all of this is that I should be more worried about what is going to happen to my family in the next few months but the only thing I can think about is Greyson. Mandy, how selfish can I be?" I said hopelessly.