Damaged -Grayson Dolan-

Chapter Eight

"PROM! Get your prom tickets!"

I yanked my gaze up from my phone just in time to see a huge neon green and blue banner coming my way.

"Don't miss a night at the rave! Get your tickets!"

"Shit-" I ducked down as the sign swung over my head, carried by two cheerleaders screaming about the dance. I glanced over my shoulder to glare at them but they'd already moved down the hall as they hadn't just almost taken out a third of the student body on their mission.

"Geez, I just almost got decapitated by that." Grayson appeared beside me.

"Yeah- you and me both." I watched as the duo continued to move until they were out of sight. "Where the hell do they plan on putting that?"

"No clue." Grayson tugged at the straps of his grey backpack and followed me through the grey hall to my locker. He leaned up against the wall, humming as he scrolled through his phone. I spun the dial on my lock and swung open the green colored door. I grabbed my notebook and math textbook from inside. It'd been two weeks since Mina and I had hung out with the twins. And since then we'd become a tight-knit group.

I zipped up my bag and slung it over my shoulders. "Ready?" I asked Grayson.

He snorted. "I'm always ready for lunch."

We made our way to the cafeteria and found our table with Mina and Ethan. They both were already seated and arguing over something. "Uh oh," I said under my breath to Grayson. "Lover's quarrel?"

He chuckled. "I wish they'd just hurry up and date so I don't have to hear Ethan go on and on about her all day."

"He's that into her?" I questioned.

"Oh, you have no idea."

I sat down next to Mina who immediately turned to me. "Alanna, thank goodness you're here. I need someone else to back me and say how stupid Ethan's idea is."

I raised my eyebrows at Ethan. He sighed exasperatedly. "I think we should go hiking over the weekend."

"Hiking?" I opened up my sandwich bag. "Where?"

Ethan shrugged. "It's basically spring now and the weather is getting warmer. I'm sure we could just go to the state park or something." He took a drink from his water bottle. "I just thought we could do something different."

I bit into my sandwich and then gave a shrug. "I'm down for it."

"What?" Mina turned to me. "Traitor!"

"Hey," I held up my hands in defense. "You wanted my opinion so you got it. Why are you so against it anyway?"

"Because!" She placed both hands flat on the table. "Dirt! Bugs! Rain! No!"

I started to laugh. "I forgot you weren't really the outdoors type."

Mina glared. I took another bite of my sandwich. "I think it's a good idea."

"Me too," Grayson piped up.

"So," Ethan turned to Mina, a smirk playing on his lips. "Looks like you're outnumbered. You in or not?"

She ground her jaw. "Fine."

"Yes," Ethan fist pumped in the air and Grayson grinned. He looked at me. "It's a date."

~~

I stood in my closet, staring at my clothes. The usual debacle would be that I didn't have anything to wear. But that wasn't my issue. In fact, I had plenty of things to wear.