Stranded (A Greyson Chance FanFic)

Chapter Six

Chapter Six

            Wiping the tears trickling from my honey hued eyes I read the actual message. “Emma misses you. Make sure you come soon.” I observe the little girl in the picture, this time not overwhelmed by tears. Her blonde hair is thin and her eyes are sunken into her skull. She is extremely sickly looking but somehow, her blue eyes still sparkle giving a sense of hope to this situation.

            Emma was my little cousin. I care for her with all my heart and if I ever loved someone it would have to be her. Lately, things have not been great for her. About a year ago she was diagnosed with terminal cancer called leukemia. Since then, they have run dozens of tests on her and she now lives at Saint Jude’s Research Hospital in Indiana. She is seven years old.

            In all honesty, I needed to see her but I was too scared. I wouldn’t be able to see her in that state, all alone, and sick. It would kill me. So, I act like I never received the message and snap my phone off. Returning to my song, I strum absentmindedly trying to get the next verse, but that peppy carefree song won’t come like I imagined. Finally, I give up and pick up my guitar only to fall backwards, thanks to gravity, and I plant myself on my back in the golden sand.

            Exhaling aggravated, I just rest there and stare at the waves gently lapping the eastern coast. Suddenly, a shadow appears behind me and towers over me. “Um, you alright there?” The voice was cocky and sarcastic, yet a sense of kindness was weaved in. “Yeah, just fine. In fact I love falling backwards. Its my goal in life to be the number one faller in the whole state of Florida.” The voice laughs and Greyson sits in the sand next to me.

            “Well then, I’d give you a ten.” A smirk plays at my lips and I begin to mess with my fingers. Instantly, my heart seems to turn to stone and even if I did know why, I wouldn’t tell you. “Why are you here?” He exhales and an awkward silence settles in. It seems as if he is ignoring me. So, I grab my guitar and begin to stand up and stalk off to my room.

            “Wait!” He exclaims taking a hold of my arm. As soon as he does, I have a flashback of another arm taking a violent hold of me years ago. Turning to him, I realize that maybe he wasn’t trying to be rude or malicious. In his eyes there was something more that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. “I’m sorry, okay. I honestly don’t know what I did but whatever; I just want us to be able to be friends, without the arguments are hatred or anything. So, please forgive me.”

            My eyes gaze upon his brown ones to the ocean. I couldn’t do this to him. It would be unfair. All he wanted to do was be my friend and know more about me but I blew it way out of proportion. In reality, I should be the one saying sorry not him.

            “No Greyson, I should be apologizing. You were just being nice and I kept trying to push you away. Please forgive me?” Suddenly, I am enveloped in his warm, surprisingly strong, arms and I allow myself to fall into them. When we pull away he is smiling widely. “I promise you, I will only be your friend from now on, nothing less.” I nod and playfully punch him. “Alright friend, hey I have an idea.” I tell him, as if an epiphany had struck. “What is it?” He inquires. I don’t tell him but grab his hand and take off running towards the condo.   

            “What is this?” Greyson asks in awe as he stands at the edge of the steep cliff. The wind plays with his hair, causing it to fly around his face. The sound of the crashing waves is overwhelming and all I can feel is the rapid thump of my heart and the salty surf spraying against my olive skin. “Its called Fishers Cove” I tell him observing my surroundings.

            The rapidly setting sun turns the sky into a work of art. Birds caw in the sky and play with each other as if young children. “Its beautiful,” Greyson whispers airily. I smile at him, genuinely and he continues to look out over the rocky embankment. By the way he was looking at the water I could tell he wanted to swim in it.

            “You can go swimming if you want.” I tell him matter of factly. He shakes his head, unsure of the frank drop. Laughing to myself, I take off my converse and socks. Swiftly, I sprint towards the edge and dive over it.

            My stomach falls with me and my heart comes up into my throat. I scream with delight, instead of fear. As soon as my body hits the water cold angels of liquid immerse me. The sensation is breathtaking and I cant help but laugh giddily when I surface.

            To no surprise, I look up to an astonished Greyson. “Come on pop star!” I shout playfully. “Jump!” He backs away from the edge shaking his head, and I believe he has decided not to. Chicken. But of course, he catches me off guard. The next thing I know a shirtless Greyson is barreling towards me into the water. I squeal in surprise and dive beneath the waters before he comes down on me.

            Popping up, he is freaking out and frantically looking everywhere. Apparently, he does not see me. “Drew! Drew, where are you?!” I feel comforted by his concern but really, have you ever seen the way he positions himself when he’s worried. Imagine a spa zing monkey. Yep, that's it.

            Deciding to have fun with this, I come up right behind him and whisper in his ear. “Greyson…” He turns and instantly tackles me. “Oh thank God! I thought you were dead. I was freaking out because I din’t want to lose my best friend.” Whoa,whoa,whoa, best friend? “Greyson, I’m not your best friend. We have only known each other a day.” His face turns beet red and I cant help but laugh. “I-I- I mean we could be.” He smiles warmly and I nod as I swim to the shore.

            “Whatever,” I tell him. But as we walk home together I know its not true. “So, about you wanting to know more about me,” I begin playing with my fingers, my tell, “I changed my mind. If you want to know something about me just ask. But, don’t be offended if I don’t tell you.” He nods understandingly then thinks for a moment. “Okay, favorite color?” I smile and look at the sunset going on behind us. “Orange, like the sunrise.” I tell him, a little melodramatic I must admit but honest. “Cool,” He states as if trying to avoid a certain subject. “What’s yours?” I question cocking my head to the side. He mutters something and I cant hear him. “What?” I re alliterate. “I said…race ya to the condo!” Suddenly he begins to sprint at an incredulous speed but I easily overtake him.

            Whenever we do reach the room its night though and the cicadas are chirping excitedly. “Goodness, Drew.” Greyson manages through short breaths. Cockily, I wipe off my shoulders and nod my head with “swag”. Greyson just rolls his eyes. “Okay, whatever miss Thang,” he tries to speak in a southern accent but fails. I just shake my head as he makes his way to the door. “G’nite Drew,” he says goodbye and I nod. “See you tomorrow, right?” he questions with hope lighting up in his eyes. “Haha yeah, oh and Greyson?”

“Yeah,” he says sticking his head out the door.

“You never told me what your favorite color was.”

“Oh yeah, its pink.”

            That’s when he quickly shuts the door and I burst out laughing.