The Story of Us || g.d.

~35~

"I don't like how much time you are spending with Ethan." Grayson crosses his arms.

I open my mouth, then close it. I'm not sure what to tell him. "Grayson, it's been one day. You were with your friends."

"So? You could've came." He frowns.

"I wanted to go to the beach. Ethan is my friend too." I bite my lip.

"Grayson, come back to the pool!" Rose shouts over to us.

I look at her before facing Grayson again. "What do you want me to do?"

"Whatever. I don't really care right now." He huffs.

I let out a cold laugh and take a deep breath.

"What?" Gray furrows his brows.

"I got my hopes up."

"About what?" He asks.

"About you actually loving me back." I swallow back tears and turn around, passing the commotion in the pool.

"Trinity Mae!" Grayson shouts after me as I walk into the house.

I make my way up the stairs, ignoring Ethan's calls. I can't do this. Coming here with the twins was a bad idea.

I rush into the bathroom and lock the door, sliding down the wall. I hear footsteps come up the stairs along with hushed whispers.

"This is your fault, asshole." Ethan.

"I don't care if it wasn't for you, I would not have gotten her mad." Grayson.

"It doesn't matter right now. I don't want her to hurt herself." Ethan.

"Trin?" Grayson knocks on the door.

Tears are flowing down my face, yet I don't feel strong enough to answer. I eventually unlock the door, thinking they are gone. To my dismay, the door swings open to reveal Grayson hovering over me with a worried expression.

"Come on." He leans down and picks me up, bridal style. Despite the fight, I shove my face into his shoulder. "Shh." Grayson lies me down on his bed, putting the comforter over me. "You've had a long day. Go to sleep and when you wake up we can have ice cream."

"Okay." I close my eyes.

"I love you." Grayson kisses my forehead and closes the door behind him.

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Grayson's POV

After letting Trinity get her sleep, I walk back downstairs to see the table all set for dinner. Lucas and Brad are seated on one side of the table while Rose is on the other. Mom is at one end and Ethan is sitting across from her. I take the seat next to Rose and join in on the conversation.

"Trinity isn't joining us?" My mom looks to me.

"She wasn't feeling too well. I think the traveling has gotten to her." I give her a sad smile before piling my plate with food.

"What's her story anyways?" Brad raises his eyebrows at me.

"She lived next door." Ethan answers before I can get words out of my mouth.

"Aw girl next door vibes, how cute." Lucas smirks.

"Her brother is Cameron Dallas." I add.

Rose gasps and grabs onto my arm. "Cameron Dallas as in Magcon dude?"

"Yeah." Ethan glares at Roses's hand on my arm and raises his eyebrows to me. Giving him a look, I pull my arm away and start to eat.

"So you guys are dating?" Lucas continues this awkward conversation.

"We are." I look suspiciously at him.

"Bummer, Luke wanted to get some." Brad grins.

"I don't want that talk at my table, boys." Mom looks to them with a scowl.

"Sorry Mrs. Dolan." Brad cringes and continues eating.

We soon finish the food and settle down in the basement to watch a movie. Lucas and Brad are arguing over the category while Ethan and I head upstairs to get more blankets and pillows. The three of them are going to sleepover tonight since we haven't been home in awhile.

"You shouldn't let her be all over you like that. What if Trin saw?" Eth rolls his eyes and tosses some pillows from his bed.

"She would get over it. She always does." I shrug and hold the pillows.

"It was hard for her to get over everything, Gray. She has been through a lot."

"I know. I just can't babysit her all the time and be on watch." I pull the comforter off his bed and turn to leave, coming face to face with the girl herself.

"You think I'm a baby?" Her eyes grow wide with tears, her hair a blonde mess from taking a nap.

"Trin, I-" I stop when Ethan brushes past me, wrapping her in a hug. She cries into his shoulder, making me stomach churn. Becoming annoyed, I decide to leave the two and trudge downstairs.

"Where's Ethan?" Lucas looks up as I throw the blanket and pillows down.

"Talking to Trinity." I frown and take a seat on the couch.

Rose sits next to me. "She's awake? I really wanted to cuddle."

"Honestly, I don't care." I stare straight ahead as Rose gets closer to me, wrapping a blanket around us.

Trinity's POV

"Ethan, I just don't understand. If he loved me, he wouldn't do this. Right?" I sob into his shirt, fisting the fabric.

"Shh. Trin, there's a lot going on. Just take it easy." He rubs my back and hums, calming me down. "Let's go downstairs. We were picking a movie."

I nod and follow Ethan down the stairs, stopping when we pass the kitchen.

"What is it?" He frowns.

"Grayson said I could have ice cream." I pout. Maybe I am a baby.

Ethan shakes his head and grins. "Fine."

I smile and go with Ethan into the kitchen, holding the bowl as he scoops strawberry ice cream in.

"Good?" He looks to me for approval.

"Very." I nod and turn to the basement after Eth.

When we go down it's eerily quiet, making us believe that they just abandoned us. Yet, we hear a girlish scream as a confirmation that they are down here and watching a horror movie.

"You scared me." Brad sighs and chucks a pillow at E.

"What are you watching?" Ethan throws the pillow back and sits at the other end of the couch, patting the spot next to him for me.

I glance to see Grayson all cozied up next to Rose and feel a lump form in my throat. If this is how our relationship is going to be, I am not sure how long I can do it. I feel just being in New Jersey with them makes me so much more vulnerable to my emotions. I tried to shut them out back in California without my parents around but, too much has happened for me not to care anymore.

"A Nightmare on Elm Street." Lucas answered, pressing play and focusing back on the movie.

I look down at my ice cream and eat away, trying to ignore the sadness building back up inside me.

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a/n: hope you're having a good summer!

-hailey