Focus

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

I woke up to the sound of pans clashing together in my kitchen. I grabbed my gun from under my bedside table, slowly opening the door and making my way down the hall. 

I turned into the kitchen, but it was just my friend Nolan. I cursed him, throwing my gun on the couch.

"What are you doing here?"

"I didn't have any milk," he said, raiding my fridge.

"I don't either," I said, "but if you want baking soda I have plenty of that."

He laughed, sitting down at my table, eating his cereal without any milk. I went to the cupboard, grabbing five dollars from behind the rice.

"I'm going to get coffee," I said, "I'll be back in a bit."

I slipped on some flip flops and left my apartment, just as Grayson was leaving his. He smiled at me, and I glared at him. He followed me down the hallway, getting on the elevator with me.

"I heard a commotion in your apartment this morning. Is everything alright?"

"Just dandy," I snapped, leaving the elevator and ignoring the doorman again as I left the building.

"Do you know where a coffee shop is?" he asked.

I sighed, looking up at his handsome face, tracing his features with my eyes.

"I'm going to a place down the street," I said, "Just follow me."

He smiled, reaching his hand towards mine. I slapped his hand away, pulling my long hair back into a messy bun.

We walked in silence for a few minutes, which was the best few minutes I have had with the twins since they moved in last week. But it didnt last long.

"You have beautiful eyes," he said, "I usually go for brown eyed girls, but your eyes are so green. Its enchanting."

"What is your deal?" I said.

"What do you mean?"

"No one talks like you. What boy says 'enchanting'. Why are you so fucking weird? Just be normal, god. You're so weird."

He paused.

"Sorry, I just like your eyes," he whispered.

"Then just say that, you don't need to make it weird."

He nodded. 

"I'm sorry," he said, "I just don't know how to talk to girls like you."

Girls like me? What does that mean? Was that supposed to be an insult?

I saw Jackson standing at the corner of the street and grabbed Grayson's arm, slipping into the alleyway.

"Is this where you kill me?" Grayson joked, but stopped laughing when I glared at him.

"There's someone I'm trying to avoid," I said.

"Jackson?"

My heart stopped, and a million questions blurred my brain. I took a step back from him; was he more dangerous than I thought?

"How did you know?" I asked.

"I saw him on the corner. I used to go to school with him back in New Jersey," he said, "He was a real pain in the ass."

My heart beat calmed down a little, but I still kept my guard up. He knew Jackson, so theres a good chance he could be a real threat.

"Are you okay?" Grayson asked, taking a step forward.

I kept my face emotionless, but I wanted to scream for him to get away from me. I peeked my head around the corner, and Jackson was gone. Grayson followed me down the street and into the coffee shop, and after getting our coffee's, we sat down in the corner.

"You can trust me," Grayson said, "You know that right?"

"Yeah, because you saying that I can trust you is definitely good enough," I snorted, "All I know about you is that you know Jackson. I don't trust you."

"I know he's a pain, but why do you hate him so much?"

I couldn't tell if this was a trap, and he was trying to get me to talk to he could report back to Jackson, but there was something innocent in his words.

"Its nothing."

He rolled his eyes, making me want to punch him in his perfect face. I stood up, leaving. Grayson followed after.

"Did I say something?"

I stopped walking, throwing my coffee in the trash.

"You come out of nowhere, moving into my apartment building and immediately wanting to be buddy buddy with me. You know Jackson and you ask me questions and try to get into my life. So what's your deal? Do you work for him?"

Grayson looked confused, and I knew I said too much. He had no idea about Jackson, I could tell. I cursed myself for letting my emotions take over. 

"No, I don't work for him. What are you talking about?"

I started walking away, ignoring Grayson the entire way home as he asked me question after question. It was taking all my willpower to not shoot him right here, right now.

I grabbed his shoulders, making him look at me.

"Stop asking me questions," I growled, "Jackson isn't your business, so just go back to your fairy land."

"Are you in a gang?" Grayson asked.

I pulled my hand up, slapping him hard across the face.

"What part of stop asking questions do you not understand?"

He rubbed his cheek, a red mark already forming. When I started to walk away, he grabbed my wrist, pulling me towards him.

"Look, I didn't want to say this when we were in public. Jackson is after you and he's not going to stop until you're dead. I need your help,and you need mine."

~*~