Drown

Chapter 4

The next week was purely heaven.  I woke up next to Greyson every morning, and fell asleep with him every night.  The feeling never faded.  It wasn't lust, or a crush.  I was in love with him, completely, and with my whole heart.  I'd yet to say it again since the first night.  I was afraid he'd get scared.  That's how Greyson was.  He was extremely sensitive, to everything.  I was sure that had something to do with how he got at night, but it didn't make me want him any less.

We spent the week in bed mostly.  Nothing sexual, just sleep, and watching movies.  On new years eve we went to my friend Abbi's house and hung out with a few of my friends.  Greyson seemed to melt right into the little group of friends I had, which made me feel great.  But throughout all of the great things that were happening, I had a very bad feeling.  Nothing ever goes as well as it was going.  Life just doesn't work that way.  So I couldn't help feeling like something bad was going to happen.

I woke up alone that Wednesday morning.  Laying on my stomach, I reached one arm out beside me, expecting to find a warm body there, but finding cold sheets instead.  I turned over, stretched, then sat up.  Greyson was standing in the doorway to my bedroom, wearing the jeans and shirt he'd gone to bed in.

"So, what do you want for breakfast?"  He asked. "Expired yogurt or a stick of butter?"  
"Give me ten minutes and we'll go shopping."  I yawned.

Greyson smiled, then came over and tried to kiss me.  I dodged his lips, earning a sad look and a dramatic pout from him.

"Morning breath."  I said. "At least let me brush my teeth."

"Did I care about your morning breath yesterday?"  he asked.

He didn't give me a chance to respond, jumping on top of me and forcing my head back onto my pillow.  He kissed me hard and fast, then got up and left the room.  

I got dressed, brushed my teeth, and fixed my hair.  Then went to meet Greyson in the living room.  He'd changed his clothes, tamed his bed head, and had that black backpack on his shoulders. 

We took the subway across the city.  The only grocery store I liked was on the opposite side of Chicago than my apartment.  We got what we needed and not much more.  Bringing bags onto the subway was a hassle.  

On our way back, we sat at the back of the subway car.  The car was mostly full.  Greyson had his earbuds in and was kind of zoned out.  I payed attention so we wouldn't miss our stop.  After a few minutes, I noticed that Greyson was focused on something.  I followed his eyes.  A man sat at the other end of the car, staring right back at Greyson.  

"Grey, who is that?"  I asked, taking one earbud from his ear.

"Don't talk to me."  he snapped quietly. "And take your arm off of my shoulders."  

I felt my heart sink. 

The train came to a stop, and Greyson stood up.

"Stay here."  he told me, then ran off the train.

I almost stayed where I was.  I was shocked, confused, and starting to feel sick.  But then I saw that man getting off the train, and felt even sicker.  I jumped up and followed him out.  When the crowd of people cleared, leaving only a few, I found Greyson standing at a corner with the man.  He seemed to be yelling at him, but keeping it quiet.  I couldn't hear him, but I could see that he was scared.  My need to protect him kicked in, and I jogged over to them.

"And who is this?"  The man asked.

"No one."  Greyson answered quickly.  "I don't know who he is."

"That's not how it looked on the subway." 

"He already had his arm up when I sat down.  It's my fault.  He didn't mean anything by it."  

"That's bullshit."  I snapped.

It wasn't until then that I noticed the light bouncing off a piece of metal in the man's hand.  He was hiding it in his jacket, but it was very obviously a knife.  Greyson was just trying to protect me by saying we didn't know each other.  Now though, the damage was done.  There was no way I was going to let him get hurt.

"Put down the knife."  I said, pulling Greyson behind me.

"No."  the man said, "This little brat has ruined too much of my life to get away that easily."

"Luca please, go home."  Greyson begged,trying to get back in front of me.

"You said his name!"  The man laughed. "You still have the guts to lie to me after you wrecked my family?" 

"I didn't wreck anything!"  Greyson snapped. "You were the only one who had a problem with it!"

This man was Greyson's step father.  It was obvious now.  It was also making me angrier.  This man had put scars all over Greyson, and made him run away from home.  He'd caused him so much pain.  I guess what Greyson said made the man angry enough to try to kill him.  He pulled the knife out from his coat and tried to get behind me, but I wasn't letting it happen.  So instead, he went for me.

I felt a few sharp stings in my stomach, then my body hit the concrete floor.  The last thing I heard clearly was Greyson screaming my name.  After that, things became muffled and echo-y.  I watched the man run and jump onto the subway, then Greyson turned my head to face him.  He was yelling at me.  I could hear the words 'stay' and 'die', which were getting tossed around in my head and confused me.  

It kept getting harder and harder to breathe, and eventually I felt myself stop.  The light around me seemed to fade away, then turn black.  I thought I was dead, but I guess just being able to think I was let me know that I wasn't.  Even if I had died that day, I think I would have been proud of myself.  I would have died for someone I loved, and that was enough for me.