Falling For my Best Friend || Grayson

twenty five

Riley's POV

my body flops onto the couch as i let out a long sigh. Grayson joins me after dropping his backpack by the door. his tan, muscular arm wraps around my neck and i lay my head on his chest. he kisses my forehead and turns the tv on.

we've been fighting on an off about nothing recently, and i'm getting tired of it. we sit in silence for a few minutes before he says something. "hey Ri...?"

"yeah?" i say, continuing to focus on the tv. 

"what're you doing for thanksgiving?" 

"um, i think i'm going to my dad's. why?"

"oh... i just thought maybe we could do something together"

"Grayson... i hate to ditch you for my dad, but you know how he is. there's probably not even a chance i'll get out of the house that day" i say, looking up into his eyes, frowning. he looks away shakes his head.

"yeah, whatever i'm used to it" he mumbles under his breath. i sit up on the edge of couch and face him.

"what's that supposed to mean..."

"nothing, it's just you say you hate to ditch me for your dad but that's all you ever do" he says. my eyebrows furrow and my jaw drops a little.

"you're kidding right!? you're fucking kidding! well i'm sorry if i'm there for my dad! i spend plenty of my damn time with you, and my dad's already trying to separate us because of it" i shout, standing up. 

"okay, well that doesn't change the fact that every time we do something you have to run off because of your dad" he in a quiet shout. i roll my eyes and run my hands through my hair, pacing.

"god, you're a fucking dickhead Grayson" i say.

"what the hell is wrong with you Riley!?" he yells, standing up and grabbing my arm. i yank my arm away from him and back up. 

"just leave me alone" i shout, grabbing my backpack. he lets out an annoyed laugh.

"where you going? running off to your dad again?" he spits and i clench my jaw. i turn around and face him when my eyes start to water.

"fuck you, Grayson" 

"one second you're saying you love me, the next you're saying fuck you. classy. just get out" he says and i open the door before he yells, "god, i wish you never would've moved here. would've saved me a lot of time". i freeze in the doorway as i feel my eyes fill with tears and my lip quivering. 

"maybe i you're right. maybe i shouldn't have moved. maybe my dad's right maybe we're around each other too much. maybe i should just go home." i say quietly before slamming the door behind me. i just run. i run, squeezing the strap of my backpack as tears stream down my cheeks. i run until i reach the house and i open the front door to see my father in the kitchen. i run upstairs as he shouts, "Riley? are you okay?".

i don't answer him. i just grab a few things and shove them into a duffel bag. i run back downstairs and i'm greeted by my dad. "what are you doing? why are you crying?"

"i'm going to mom's for a while" i say, wiping my face.

"what!? is this about Grayson?" he asks and i painfully laugh a little. 

"dad, please. i'll be home soon. i just need time alone to think". he sighs and nods after awhile. the tears start flowing again and i thank him. i give him a quick hug before i head outside. i think he was okay with me leaving. i think he knew i needed some space and time to clear my head. i open my car door and shove my bag into the back and pull my keys out. i hear a car pull up behind me, but i ignore it.

"Riley!" Grayson yells and i get into my car, starting it. "stop! Riley!". i quickly back up out of the driveway and pass him, as he runs after my car for a while, giving up fairly fast. i exhale and wipe my face before turning the music up to distract me. i look down at my buzzing phone and see his picture appear. i decline the call and turn onto the main road.

-----

Grayson's POV

i stand in the middle of the street, watching her drive away. god, i feel like such an idiot. this wouldn't be happening if i wouldn't have said that shit.

i get back into my car and grab my phone, calling her. it goes to voicemail and i try again. i keep trying. i give up after a few times and slam my fists against my steering wheel, yelling. i sit in silence for a while, trying to calm down. 

-----

i open the front door, and slam it shut behind me. "you okay?" Ethan says and i clench my fists together. 

"does it look like i'm fucking 'okay'?" i say. i fall onto the couch and cover my face with my hands, groaning.

"she'll be back Grayson. she loves you. i can tell. just give her some space" he says. i sigh and nod. maybe he was right. i mean, she has to come back eventually.

Riley's POV

it's been a few hours since i left and it's 9:04 pm. i pull into the gas station. i won't be in Arizona again for a long ass time, so i might as well stock up. i quickly pump some gas into my car and head inside, buying some snacks. 

when i get back into my car, i open up the bag of chips and look up hotels around me. there's one a few minutes away that i can sleep at for tonight. i open up my calls and scroll through the long list of Grayson's calls, clicking on my mom's number. it rings a few times before i hear her voice and smile.

"hello?" she says.

"hey mom, it's Riley..."

"oh! Riley! hi!" she says and i giggle.

"um, i know this might sound weird but uh... would it be okay if i came to Arizona with you for a while?"

"oh, um... sure! what's this about Riley?"

"i just needed a little break. i won't be there until tomorrow night so, it'll be a while"

the conversation continues for a while before i hang up and start driving to the hotel. i'm just so tired. tired of school, tired of driving, tired of fighting.

-----

i slide the key card into the slot as the door clicks open. i drop my bag by the bed and jump onto it. one of the first things i do is shower. 

i get out of the shower and wrap up in a towel. i step back into the room and sigh when i hear my phone buzzing. it's just going to have to wait Grayson. i'm sorry, but maybe my dad's right. maybe we just needed some space. 

hi! i wanted to do this for a while and i might rewrite it soon b/c i honestly think what they're fighting over is stupid so uh yeah. anyways thanks for 2k reads! love you guys! updating again soon!