hurricane • graysonbaileydolan

twenty seven

One month later

"Skylar!" Mariana runs up to me, hugging me tightly, "I missed you so much, I can't believe you left me for a month."

"I'm sorry! I had to get away." I hug her, "But I missed you like crazy."

"Obviously." she says, "You're so tan, I hate you."

"Love you." I smile, "My aunt says hi by the way."

"Aw, I love your aunt. She's so nice." she smiles and we walk inside,

"Hello?" my mom calls and I walk into the kitchen, Sawyer widening his eyes,

"Save yourself and turn around." he whispers to me and I furrow my eyebrows, looking over and seeing Jake sitting at the table with Sophia.

"Little conniving bully." Mariana rolls her eyes, "Heard a song that he used to
play all he time, now I hate him even more."

"Ha." I laugh, "Where's dad?"

"Work."

"How long has Jake been coming over?"

"Everyday. For the past two weeks." Sawyer stares at me, "I don't think I've hated someone this much."

"Did you guys even miss me? I was expecting a banner and some cake." I say, "Gone for a month and I came back to Jake Paul sitting at my kitchen table and my mom not acknowledging my existence."

"I missed you."

"Thanks." I reply, "What're they talking about anyway?"

"Who knows? Maybe they're going to date." Sawyer says,

"I'm going to go unpack." I sigh, walking upstairs and Mariana shuts my door. "Senior year starts in two days, you ready?"

"No, I hate school. But at least its senior year." I shrug, throwing everything in my hamper and then unpacking all my toiletries,

"Have you talked to Ethan at all?" she asks and I nod,

"We've been texting while I was away, I kinda wanna see him."

"Have you warmed up to the idea of dating him at all?" she asks and I glance at her, concealing a smile. "You have!"

"He's just so sweet and caring. I've grown to liking him over the past few weeks." I look at her and she smiles, "I don't want to date him just yet, Id start slow by hanging out with him and everything. But I don't want to tell him that I like him like that so I don't get his hopes up if it doesn't work out..."

"But will he want to hang after he told you and you totally turned him down?" she asks,

"Thanks, Mariana, you're so helpful." I say and she smiles, "Okay, time to go back downstairs. I wonder if they'll notice I'm home this time."

"Jake is here, that's gross." she says and I laugh as we walk downstairs.

"Ill be back!" I exclaim, grabbing my keys and rushing out. Mariana gets in the passenger seat and I drive to Ethan's. "It'll be quick, just going to say hi and give him his gift."

"You got him a gift? You went to LA and didn't get your best friend a gift?"

"It's a cheesy souvenir." I say, "I got you a real gift."