The Captains

Chapter 27

The funeral came and went. It was held in Pittsburgh three days later. It was beautiful, everyone Garret played football went came, ESPN came, fans came, Grayson's family came, my dad came, but of course Jennifer was a no show. All the professionals of football and ESPN promised to keep an eye out for Grayson, football career wise. But I don't think that's what Grayson wanted, he wanted someone to look out for him personally and feeling wise.

Then the day after the funeral, we had to rush back home to Tampa. We had state championships in two weeks and everything depended on it. We would be playing in Raymond James Stadium, one of the stadiums Grayson's dad played professionally in. Against Tampa High of all teams. It would be hard for Grayson, his dad died a week ago and he was still adjusting. Well, he was still a mess.

On top of everything shitty that happened this week, Madison and Blake were on a 'break'. We didn't know what it meant. If they were getting back together or not. They wouldn't even tell us why they were on a break.

School this week was okay. Boring, to say the least, but it was Saturday and Grayson wasn't up to going out, going to dinner, or even just a movie and I wasn't going to force him.

At least I wasn't until I got a phone call at 1:47 in the morning from Grayson.

"Grayson? You okay?" I asked turning on a lamp after I woke up from my sleep

I could him snickering in the back, "Assspppeennn." He said sound extremely drunk

"Are you drunk? Are you okay?" I asked frantically waking up

"Might ofgotten a drink or twenty." He slurred "Can you come to myyhouse?"

I slipped on a jacket and quietly ran down the stairs, "Where's your mom and sister?"

"Gone. Just comeeee. ILove you baby girl." He confirmed as I opened my front door and grabbed my keys and quickly drove to Grayson's house.

I rolled my eyes as I walked up the stairs to see Grayson sitting on the floor in a jacket and sweats. With alcoholic beverages surrounding him. "Babe, are you okay?"

He nodded as he carefully stood up and I quietly closed the door. He took off his jacket and sat on his bed. I realized the back of his right shoulder was wrapped. As well as his inner forearm.

"Grayson, why do you have wrapping on your back and arm?" I asked

He shook his head, "I got two tattoos."

"Grayson your mom is going to kill you!" I shouted

"I know, wanna see it?" He smirked as he turned around and took off his shirt. I put on some germ-x that was on his nightstand before I peeled it off. "Careful Ass-pen."

I carefully peeled it off to see the tattoo. It said Sometimes you have to fall before you fly. With birds silhouettes flying all the way to his shoulder. It wasn't anything cringey drunk thing like I expected, it looked planned out.

"How long did you think about this tattoo?" I asked as I covered the tattoo back up

"A few months," Grayson said as he played with his fingers

I shook my head, "Why are you getting drunk like you did when your parents split up? No matter how much you get drunk it won't change the fact that he's dead."

"Why are you yelling at me?" He roared back

"This is the third time you've gotten drunk in the past week. You're eighteen not twenty-one. It's not healthy Grayson. I know your dad is-" I started before he cut me off

He shook his head "No you don't know! You don't know what it's like to have a parent dead, Aspen. I was fatherless longer than you! I would know."

"So you think I can't help you? You think nobody can help you? You think I can't help you?" I yelled