NOT A FAN

chapter 26

*one week until going back to Jersey*

"Em!" My mom called from downstairs, earning a groan from me in response.

"What?!" I shouted back.

"Em!" My mother called again.

I swear she needs hearing aids.

I hopped off of my bed and walked into the hall with a huff.

"What?!" I answered for what felt like the 26277236 time.

"You need to start packing Hun. We leave Friday" she shouted.

That. That right there is the words I've been dreading to hear ever since Grayson and I met.

I suddenly didn't feel that great... So, I did the one thing that always makes me feel better when I feel like crap...
I sang.

I walked back into my room and pulled out my guitar.

I grabbed the pick from in between the strings, holding in between my lips as I tuned the guitar a little better.

I then began strumming the tune to a song I had been practicing for awhile now.

I'm actually planning on singing it for Gray before we leave, but I don't know..

I'm not sure if I've quite got the tune down yet.

I sang and sang for probably about two hours, taking notes on how to play the song correctly as I did so.

-
-

I was stuffing some of my clothes into a suitcase when my Grandma walked into my room with a smile on her face.

"Hey" I said with the most real smile I could manage.

"Hey Hun" she said patting my arm as she sat down to help me fold some of my clothes.

My grandma always knows when I'm upset, She can sense it from a mile away and I think it's because we've always been very close.

Even though we're not close in miles..

"I wish I could stay here forever" I said with a small laugh trying to lighten the gloomy mood.

"Me too" she said with a nod.

"You're welcome to stay as always" she said with a smile.

"I can't.. I have senior year awaiting me in Jersey. I have to get into a good college, and in order to do that, I need to make A+ grades" I said with a sigh.

"Grades aren't everything Em. I know they're important to you and to your mother... But, you're grades don't define you and they never will" my Grandma spoke.

She's right.. They are important to me, and definitely to my mom. I've always grown up with her pressing me into getting good grades, so I guess it has just become engraved in my brain now.

My brothers the jock, my sisters the prep, and I guess somewhere along the line I fell into the category of the
'smart one'.

I nodded.

"I know"

The truth is, my Grandma had offered several times for me to stay in Cali with her.. She actually does every year.

I would never tell Grayson this though because I already know what he wants me to do.

And frankly, it's what I want to do too.

I need to do what makes my mom proud which is to live in Jersey and go to school. I need to get into a good college, and have no distractions.

She already thinks of Gray as a distraction, so me staying up here with a 'distraction' would about crush her spirit.

And I can't do that to her... Or to all of my hard work over the past three years.

I guess drunk Jake was right.

Jake... Jake OH MY GOSH.

"Uh. One second I have to pee" I lied getting up in a rush and sprinting off and into Jakes room to find an empty bed.

Crap.

I ran out of his room and knocked on the bathroom door to see if he was possibly in there.

I heard a toiled flush from inside and the water turn on...

Oh phew...

The door nob twisted and opened revealing Maddie...not Jake.

"Oh no" I said running my fingers through my hair.

"What's up with you?" Maddie asked with an eye roll.

"Nothing" I said dully as I walked past her and back into my room.

"Hey Grandma, have you seen uh Jake?" I asked scratching the back of my head.

"No, I haven't seen him.. But my car was gone when I woke up, so I'm assuming he went out with some friends" she answered with a shrug.

"Oh no" I mumbled.

"Hm?" My grandma hummed, looking slightly concerned at my expression.

"I need to go out for a while.." I said grabbing my adidas shoes and slipping them on, grabbing my purse and phone as I did so.

"Is everything okay?" She asked standing up.

"Y-yeah. I just need to get out of the house for awhile" I said in the most reassuring voice I could manage.

She nodded still looking slightly concerned.

I don't blame her. My face was probably drained of color and I feel like I could get sick at any moment.

I'm honestly so scared for Jake right now. I don't know what I would do if I lost him.

That already almost happened once, I can't let it happen again.

A/N: Gray isn't in this ch, but i promise he'll be in the next one:)

ALSO: if you're are confused about some of the things I wrote in this ch, that is because I want you to be haha.
I WILL EXPLAIN EVERYTHING.
I promise!