Don't Listen

Chapter 11- Parents Suck

Grayson's Point of View

"Gray, get up its one in the afternoon," My mom shouted from the kitchen.

"It's Saturday let me sleep," I yelled back.

"It's Sunday!" She called back, I checked my phone and she was right.

I groaned and got up to get some painkillers. Not only did I get drunk Friday night but I once again woke up in Macy's bed. After an awkward run with just my jeans on, I had arrived home and slept off my drunkenness.

"Gray!" Julia said running into the room and tackling me to the ground.

"Jules!" I shouted back and tickled her.

"Gray, guess what?"

"What?"

"Mommy has work, you know what that means?"

"Sugar, pillow fort, and Disney movies," I said as I picked her up and brought her to the living room. We started to make our fort with all the pillows in front of the television, but then I heard someone in the hallway.

"Change of plans," my mom said.

"Huh?" I said looking at the disappointment on Julia's face.

"Your dad is here so he is going to take you out," she explained running a hand through her hair, trying to get ready for work.

"I can't get out of this can I?" I said putting the pillows back.

"No sorry Gray, you need to know him you haven't talked in awhile and he's a good person," she said.

"Well a good person wouldn't have left his family knowing damn well he was the only one making money," I muttered, unfortunately I think my mom heard as tears welled up in her eyes, she walked out of the room. I sighed and a second later I heard a car leave and I knew she left.

"Hey Grayson, hello Julia." My dad said when we met him outside. He started to pick Julia up, she giggled and looked at me, I nodded as if to say it was alright and she started giggling again and let him pick her up.

"Okay so what do you want to do?"

"I don't know," I mumbled.

"There's a fair nearby," he offered as we got in his car.

"Can we go to that Gray?" Julia asked. I gave an and again when we arrived I got out of the car expecting Julia to take my hand but she went to our dad instead. I didn't say anything but that stung a bit. We spent the day going on a bunch of rides. Towards the end of the night, Jules was playing in the bouncy house while my dad and I sat on a bench.

"So how are you, Grayson?" He asked after awhile.

"Fine," I said looking away.

"Well what's new with you? Do you have a girlfriend?" he asked.

"No."

"Are you still friends with Gavin?"

"Yeah."

"How's football?"

"Fine."

My dad sighed and shook his head. "Okay look Grayson I get that I haven't been present in your life for the past five years. I take full responsibility for that and I'm sorry, but I'm trying okay so can you please just open up a bit?" he pleaded.

I stared at him, offering no response.

"Fine I'll tell you about my life instead," he said after my lack of response. "I'm still a police officer, I still like the Jets, I still can't cook, thankfully my girlfriend-" He began to say but I quickly cut him off.

"Hold up, you have a girlfriend? For how long?" I asked. From the look on his face he must have realized what a huge mistake me made.

"Almost five years," he said quietly.

"So you left mom and didn't even wait before moving on to someone else?" I asked angrily.

"No Grayson it's not like that," he tried to explain but I pushed past him and went in a different direction. I knew he wouldn't come after me immediately since he had to get Jules so I took my time. I quickly found the exit and went to the parking lot.

Once I got there I remember I came with my dad and there was no way I was going with him. I internally groaned when I realized I left my phone at my house. I sighed and looked around hoping to find a bus or something, that was when I saw a familiar set of blue eyes. I swallowed my pride and walked over to her and sat down next to her.

"Hey Chloe," I said not really looking at her.

"Hi," she said barely above a whisper.

"Are you okay?" I asked her.

"No, but I'm not sure I ever have been," she said softly. I looked at her closely and realized she was crying. She must have realized I noticed and looked away.

"What happened?" I asked.

"I could ask you the same thing," she stated wiping the tear that fell down her cheek. "You could scare a lion away with that angry face," she said.

"Rough day," I admitted finally.

"Me too," she said quietly.

We sat in silence for awhile before Chloe eventually stood up.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"To my motorcycle," she said. She sighed and my guilt increased as I saw tears fall down her face. "It was a tradition every year since we moved here to come to this fair, but now, I just can't."

"My dad who I haven't seen since I was twelve brought me here to bond and just told he has been dating someone ever since leaving my mom."

"Shit," she said. "Did you ditch him?"

"Yeah, I have no ride though," I explained.

"I would offer you a ride but I came on my bike," she said.

"It's okay," I said.

She frowned and dug around in her pocket. She pulled out a hundred dollar bill. "Take a cab," she offered.

I felt embarrassed taking her money but she was already walking away. I made a mental note to thank her later. For now, I called the cab.

"Oh my goodness Grayson Matthews do you know how worried I was? Your dad called saying you ran off, why would you scare me like that?" my mom said hugging me the second I walked through the front door.

"Did they come back yet?" I asked.

"Yes, and he left already," she answered.

"Good then I never have to see him again," I say.

"No Gray, he's moving here remember?" she said quietly.

"Crap."

"Go to bed you have school in the morning, but please, I don't know what happened today but don't do that again. Okay?"

I nodded stiffly and she walked into her room and turned the light off. I went to my own room and laid down, why did I always cause so many problems?