[Hidden with a Smile.]

❶⓪

At first, I really tried my hardest to stay mad at Grayson, I really did, but then he started talking, and whenever Grayson and I talk I have too much fun to stay mad. He also had given me a cinnamon roll, so that warmed me up too.

We were sitting in the living room area of my apartment, laughing at the most absolutely idiotic things we thought of. I was really enjoying Grayson's sense of humour, and it was like we never had an awkward break in the conversation.

"Okay, here's a real question," I said, trying not to laugh while saying it. "Would you rather have no eyebrows or no eyelashes?"

"Oh crap, both sound kinda horrifying to be honest" Grayson told me, chuckling. "I think I'd have to go with eyebrows, like I'm sure I can find a way to draw those back on kinda okay. I can't draw eyelashes on."

I laughed even louder. "True, that's a good point."

Truthfully, I had no idea why I had let Grayson in other than the fact that he brought food, but it was really the nicest time I've had with someone in a while. My friend group at school was always fun, but sometimes I felt as if I was just there without really needing to be. They would continue on without me with very little worry, and of course I would miss them, but at the same time I could live without them. It's kinda terrible of me to think of it like that, but my mind has always been off like that.

"Azalea?" Grayson spoke a bit louder than before, making me fall out of the thoughts I had.

"Huh?"

"I was just asking why you were out today" Grayson said.

"Oh, uh well I just got invited out by some friends, but Dean was the only one who showed up" I told him. Grayson nodded, looking down at the coffee table we were sitting near.

"Are you dating Dean?" Grayson questioned, making me laugh a little.

"No, Dean is just a friend. I've known him since he was in his emo phase in 6th grade, it's hard to think of dating him after that" I said, laughing. Grayson laughed as well.

"I'm pretty sure I'll never not be in some sort of emo phase" He told me, and I snorted.

After our laughing died down, we were met with a silence.

"Grayson," I spoke, sighing as I realized I probably sounded really lame. "Can you honestly tell me if you think of me as a friend?"

Grayson looked up at me, seeming surprised in how earnest I sounded.

"Well, I'm not quite sure what to think of you Azalea. You're much different than who everyone thinks you are, and I believe you're different than who you think you are as well. I respect you, but I feel that you have many layers to yourself. And honestly, I'm not great with people like that. They remind me too much of myself."

Now it was my turn to be surprised. I didn't expect Grayson to be so honest like this, letting me know exactly why.

"So you don't want to be friends with me, because I'm too much like you?"

"I guess thats what it is, yeah."

"Then why did you ask me to help you with this painting?" I questioned.

"Because layered people like you, they're who the most amazing artworks are based off of. I mean, when I first asked you, I was expecting much thinner layers. You've proved me wrong yet again though, but that's better that you're more complicated. I don't think I'd find a better model to paint if I had years to search for one" Grayson explained to me. I nodded, not fully understanding his reasonings but letting myself think it over.

"Well, I know you feel uncertain about it, but I'd really like to become friends with you. I'm not as complicated as you think I am, I just have had complicated things happen to me" I said to him, feeling embarrassed.

Grayson rested his head in his palm as he looked towards me, seeming to be thinking.

"Is that what you really want?"

"Well I wouldn't say it if I didn't" I answered.

"Then," Grayson began, "I'll become friends with you."

_

After another hour of Grayson and I conversing and discussing the painting, Grayson had to leave. He told me if I needed a ride to school on Monday, to just call him.

I sat down in the living room area of me and my mom's apartment after he left, letting the situations I'm in settle. Grayson's warmed up to me, but I still have to deal with my mom not coming home.

Almost as if it were on queue, the doorbell to our apartment rang, and I sprang up hoping God had heard me or something and my mom had come home, maybe even calmed down. Maybe she would talk to me?

I unlocked the door and opened it, only to see a man standing outside. He looked to be in his thirties, and he was a bit disheveled, but he had a nice face.

"Oh, uh, is Josephine here?" The man questioned, making me look at him confused. No one had ever come over asking for my mom using her first name. Men had come looking for her, but they had never known her name.

"No, my mom hasn't been home in a few days. I can leave a message if you'd like?" I offered, becoming even more confused when his eyes widened.

"Wait, you're, I mean, she...you're her daughter?" The man asked me.

I nodded slowly, and he just stayed looking at me. "I'm sorry, this must be so weird, it's just, she had told me she had given her daughter up for adoption. I didn't expect to see you. What's your name?"

I tried to hold back the pain I felt from my mom telling others I wasn't even with her as I answered him. "I'm Azalea, and you are?"

"Robert...Azalea, like the flower?" The man asked, but he obviously knew the answer right away.

"Yeah, it uh, it means-"

"Take care of yourself, for me. I studied botanicals in high school, Azaleas are beautiful flowers. They uh, they match you" The man told me. I just looked at him, my eyebrows knitted together.

"Not to be rude, but do you know my mother?" I asked him. He looked towards the ground.

"I know her from around town, just tell her I stopped by when, well if she comes back soon" Robert said, apologizing and leaving. I watched him climb down the stairs and towards his car, having a heavy chest as I thought of many things.

___

a/n:

I TOTALLY MEANT TO UPDATE THIS A MONTH AGO BUT I DIDN'T AND I FEEL LIKE COMPLETE SHIT, but for those of you who read this, I hope you enjoy this semi-short update, and thank you so much for reading !!! see you hopefully very much sooner than last time.

xoolives. ♡