** REWRITING ** Tidal Wave

Chapter Nine

I managed to avoid Grayson for a total of four days. Including the day when what I liked to call 'the big reveal' happened. Nothing to brighten up your Monday and first day at a new school like finding out that the you liked, I repeat, liked, had a girlfriend. And a bitchy one at that. Ok, maybe, I still had feelings for Grayson. But he obviously didn't like me back and I would just have to deal with that.

It didn't help that Kiera couldn't wrap her head around why I was hiding from the 'most attractive male to ever set foot on this planet and God's gift to football'. Her words, not mine. I still hadn't told her about exactly why I was avoiding Grayson, only that I was. I thought she would press for more details but she was entirely too pleased with her job as 'hot guy watch'. Meaning she would keep an eye out for Grayson, tell me when he was closing in, and then I would rush away, most of the time pulling her and her boogling eyes with me. It was wonderful in the most horrible way. Avoiding Grayson, I mean.

Friday at lunch, I was talking with Kiera about how to do some extra credit for Calculus. I had already failed the first quiz. Did I metion she was also extremly gifted in all subject matters that involved, oh I don't know, life? Anyways, I blamed my first bomb on Ms. Avery, my math teacher back in Minnesota. It wasn't my fault she wanted to show us cat videos everyday! When Kiera and I were disucussing the Fundamental theorem, she was just going to give me a brief overview of what she already knew, her eyes zeroed in on something over my left shoulder.

I prayed to Jesus. Once. Twice. Three times. Kiera laughed at me freaking out and mouthed two words to me.

"Hot twin." I rolled my eyes at her and spun around in my seat to greet Ethan.

"Hey Eth--" but then I stopped short. It wasn't only Ethan standing there. "G-grayson." I was going to kill Kiera.

"Nice to see you too, Ellie." Grayson smiled so sweetly it hurt. Ethan watched our exchange, clearly confused, but he ignored it. Grayson sat down on the other side of me. I could feel the heat that radiated off his leg.

I could tell Kiera was in bliss but she hid it well. "Hey Grayson, Ethan." she said smoothly.

Ethan smiled. "Kiera, long time, no see." Grayson just nodded at her. I could feel his eyes on me. I tried not to look back at him. After five seconds, it was too much, believe me, I counted. I tore my eyes up from my hands. His eyes locked with mine. I was lost in them.

Ethan said something I couldn't make out. "Ellie?" he asked.

"I'm sorry, what?" I asked dumbly. I look up at Ethan but I could only focus on Grayson's leg, less then two inches from mine.

Ethan just laughed."I said, are you enjoying Coby High so far?"

"Yeah, people are nice." That was a lie. Exhibit A: Alyssa. Just thinking about Grayson's girlfriend, gave me a clear head. I shifted my body away from his and concentrated on his brother.

Relief flooded Ethan's features. "Oh thank god. I thought I was going to have to beat someone up!"

I smiled at his comment. It was nice to have someone looking out for me. "Maybe next week?" I asked him sweetly while batted my eyelashes.

Ethan winked at me. "Anything for you." After that, our table fell into a nice conversation. It mostly consisted of Kiera and Ethan discussing last weeks episode of SNL but I chimed in whenether I had an opinion. Unlike Grayson, who sat there like a stone. I don't think he took my eyes off me once. I studied my nails and fought my every instinct to look up into those chocolate brown eyes and forgive him. For everything. On the other hand, I also wanted to snottily ask him where Alyssa was. I did neither. Finally, the bell rung.

Ethan jumped up. "What do you guys have?"

"English," Kiera said.

I opened my mouth to respond but Ethan bet me too it. "Me too. Lets walk together. See you two later?" Then they left before either of us could say a word. It was Grayson and I. Alone.

Dammit, Kiera. You had one job! I cleared my throat and looked up at Grayson, my feet were already inching towards the door. "Well, I've got to get going. I'll see you later?" I said, trying to leave the same way Kiera and Ethan did. But no one stopped them. Grayson stopped me.

His hand, blazing hot, grabbed my upper arm. "I can help, you know Ellie," he said softly. When I didn't respond, his grip tightened to the point of almost painful. But it wasn't. It was just... strong and maybe something else. My breath caught at our close proximity. He didn't seem to be affected.

"Help with what?" I asked breathlessly.

Grayson smirked playfully. "Your math grade, fool." He released his hand but that didn't mean I still didn't feel compelled to look up at him.

"How...how did you know about that?" Grayson gestured towards the table we had just gotton up from. There face-up was my quiz. My name, Ellie Parker, was scrawled across the top next to a big, fat, red fifty-two, and a note.'Need to see tutor' it read, with three, yes three, exclamation points. "Oh." I was so embarrassed. I did pretty well in every class... except math. Grayson apparently didn't have this problem. According to Kiera, who I may add, has a very biased opinion, Grayson was perfect. She told me he had been starting on varsity football since freshman year, he took all advanced placement classes, was the type of boy you would bring to meet your grandmother, but most of all, he was stunning. I know, it's weird to describe a guy that way but... it was true.

"Ellie?" Grayson asked,"Ellie? Hello?" I snapped out of my daze.

"Yes?" I said, trying to pull myself together.

He smiled."Do you want me to be your tutor?"

I hesitated before answering. I couldn't avoid Grayson forever. I had just learned that. But I also couldn't be distracted by him all the time. This tutoring thing sounded like a good middle ground. I had to get over the whole Alyssa thing. I couldn't do anything about him liking another girl. I took a deep breath. "Sure." He grinned even wider. "When do we start?" I asked.

"Tonight," Grayson said while picking up my backpack from the ground. What a gentleman.

"But isn't it a Friday?" I questioned.

He winked at me while. My heart skipped a beat. "Learning can never wait, Ellie." I rolled my eyes and he handed my backpack to me. "What time do you want to come over?"

I thought about this. Four seemed too early. And too despeate. "Is six ok?" I was hoping when I got there Marissa would already be making dinner. She was the best cook.

Grayson seemed to know exaclty where my thoughts went and laughed. "Yes, that's fine." Then he raised an eyebrow. "My mom was thinking about making her four cheese mac and cheese tonight but since you're coming maybe I will tell her not to..." he teased me as we walked out of the caf.

My mouth watered just thinking about my favorite of Marissa's dishes. I punched him in the shoulder. "Grayson! Don't you dare!" He laughed at my reaction. I couldn't help but smile. I was gald I had came to the conclusion that our previous friendship was more important then what was growing between us. I couldn't picture my life without Grayson in it. I don't know how I survived all those years.

We reached the point where we had to go our separate ways. "So tonight, six o'clock?" I asked. He nodded and I started to walk down the crowded hallway. After a few paces he called out to me.

"Ellie?" I turned around.

"It's a date!" I blushed and quickly scanned the area to see who had heard. Not many. Good. I didn't need word getting around saying that I was trying to steal Grayson from Alyssa. But then again, it could be nice. Maybe then Alyssa would treat Grayson more like her boyfriend than pet. When I looked back to where Grayson was standing before, he was gone. He had disappeared into the sea of people.

He deserves better I thought and the little voice in the back of my mind couldn't help but contribute.

Someone like you. He deserves someone like you.

__________________________________________

Thanks so much for reading guys! I hoped you enjoyed it and please remember to vote, vote, vote!