Reversing Roles

Chapter 16

Alyssa leaned up against Grayson's freshly-painted, bright blue locker that very same day, once the final bell had gone, and people began swiftly exiting the school grounds, eagerly, hurriedly dashing to escape the horrid hellhole. Grayson had completely skipped their last period. Alyssa was merely worried; this was definitely not something he'd ever done before, according to Joey. Joey, too, was pacing around the emptying corridor, deep in thought, trying to wrack his brain to find the location of where his mate could be. Both Alyssa and Joey had called and texted and even sent him multiple snapchats, resulting in no answer.

Before they arrived at Grayson's locker, the pair had split up, like determined detectives. Joey had checked the boy's bathroom, while Alyssa searched the library. Nothing. No trace of him anywhere.

"Maybe he went home?" Joey suggested, suddenly, glancing up at Alyssa.

"Maybe.... but why?"

"I.... I don't know," he responded, dropping his head.

"I'm worried, Joey," Alyssa piped up, after a moment.

"Same. This is unusual behaviour for Grayson." Alyssa nodded in agreement, chewing on her thumbnail. Joey huffed. "Ah, screw it. I'm calling him again." He whipped out his phone, scrolled through his short contacts list, until Grayson's name appeared, and the phone started ringing. At that moment, Alyssa's ears perked up as she heard someone's Vans clomping along the lino, from around the corner, and cheerful whistling. She knitted her brows together. Then, the boy himself, Grayson Mendes, strolled around, swinging his arms. Alyssa's jaw dropped, and she quickly nudged Joey.

"No need," she murmured, racing down towards Grayson, with Joey in tow. "Grayson!"

"Grayson, bro."

"Oh, um.... hey guys," Grayson said, coolly.

"Where have you been, Gray? You skipped all of last period!" exclaimed Alyssa. He rubbed the back of his neck.

"Bro, you've never skipped a class before."

"Uh, yeah.... sorry?"

"Don't say sorry to us, just tell us where you've been," Alyssa said.

"I-I, was just hanging out with someone, that's all."

"Someone important enough to make you skip last period?" Joey questioned. Alyssa raised her eyebrow suspiciously, at his remark. Grayson looked worriedly at Alyssa, then Joey, then back to Alyssa.

"N-not exactly," he stammered.

"Who were you hanging out with?" she slowly asked.

"A friend. That's all."

"Bro, we are your only friends," Joey snickered. Grayson nervously laughed.

"Yeah." He cleared his throat. "Anyway, sorry guys, but Mum needs me at home. I'll see you tomorrow." He quickly pecked Alyssa on the cheek, then darted passed them. Alyssa and Joey both whizzed around, to watch him, utter confusion washing over them like a tsunami, as he sprinted out the doors, their mouths gaped open. Alyssa released a shaky breath. Joey felt her tense up next to him, so he quickly turned to her.

"Hey, Alyssa? I know Grayson, and I think I know what you're thinking. But, believe me, he's not the cheating type. He's extremely loyal. And trust me, he likes you a lot. Like, a lot a lot. You have nothing to worry about. I'm positive." He shot her a hopeful smile. The edges of her mouth tugged up into a small smile of her own, although, anxiousness swirled and swooshed and mixed together inside of her. Something about this situation didn't feel right.

~~~

Alyssa trudged down her driveway, on Saturday morning, eager to get out of the house and away from Robert. She shuffled passed her evil stepfather's fucked up Mustang, grimacing at it, and down along the footpath. The autumn wind sliced through her, like a knife, so she wrapped her arms around her black coat, some more, snuggling into it. Grayson had briefly texted her over these two days, since Thursday, but his excuses to leave her on 'read' always consisted of him typing, 'Sorry, gotta go, I'm meeting with a friend xx.' Honestly, despite the kisses he sent along with the cold messages, it made Alyssa feel slightly excluded. Like she was his second choice. Problem was, she didn't know who she was competing against to be his first choice.

She pulled out her iPhone, plugged in her earbuds, and let her rock and roll playlist sound through her ears. It usually settled her down. Helped her clear her head. Made her feel better, all that crap. AC/DC pounded through the earbuds, the song's memorable, head-banging beat desperately trying to disintegrate her thoughts of Grayson, which swarmed relentlessly in her mind, but failing miserably. Her uneasy reflections of Grayson seemed to scream louder in her head than Angus Young's loud guitar playing.

Her mind was wiped, suddenly, as she found herself wandering up the steps to Joey Vega's front door. He'd given her his address a few days ago, and she had figured out that he lived just a few blocks from her own godforsaken home. She delicately knocked on his small, yet welcoming door. The door was the grey of unburnished silver, dull and spotted with years of water and sun damage. Moments later, padding footsteps could be heard nearing the door, and she watched the brass-coloured doorknob, stained with greasy finger-marks, twist and rattle, until the door was flung open. Joey stood before her, his dark eyes growing wide.

"Hey," she greeted, slightly waving her hand, and pulling out her earphones.

"Oh, uh. Hey, Alyssa. This is so weird-"

"Oh, yeah. Sorry. I kinda just showed up. I guess I probably should have called first, huh?" He chuckled.

"No, no. It's really fine. The weird thing is that I was actually just about to call you, to see if you wanted to hang out, or something." She tilted her head, smirking slightly.

"Really?"

"Yeah," Joey replied. "Grayson has seemed a little distant since Thursday."

"Tell me about it," she mumbled, a tinge of bitterness lingering on her tongue. He shrugged.

"So, uh, what exactly are you doing here? Can I help you with anything?"

"Funny story. I'm actually here as well, to see if you wanted to hang out," Alyssa explained, tittering. He gave her a lop-sided grin.

"Well, you're in luck, because I just made a large bowl of popcorn, and stacked up all my animated Disney movies. I was planning on having a marathon. Plus, I've got the comfiest blankets on the planet. What do you say? Wanna join me?" He gestured into his cosy house, and already, as Alyssa peered in, One Hundred and One Dalmatians was giddily lighting up the television screen, paused on the beginning credits. She absolutely adored that movie. Her smile dropped suddenly, as she hoped that Joey didn't think this was, like.... a date, or anything. They were just friends, and that's all.

"It wouldn't be, like, a date or anything," he reassured, smiling gentling, as if reading her mind, and sensing her silence. Her eyebrows shot up. "Just friends." She returned a warm smile. "You like Disney, right?" He glanced at her, unsurely.

"Only a maniac doesn't like Disney. Thanks," she responded, slipping off her Converse, and stepping into the warm house. It smelt of sugary cinnamon and delicious spices. In all fairness, she hadn't watched an old Disney movie for years. Robert had thrown away all her favourite movies when he moved in. Her happiness was chucked out the window when her Disney movies were. Watching this would hopefully connect her to her childhood again, which she'd been dying to do for years. And now, she had Joey to thank for that.