Friends • E.D.

twenty-seven

As the sun set on the horizon, and the sky melted into a puddle of pinks and oranges, I swerved hard into a gravel driveway spitting it in all directions. I sat back against the leather seat staring at my steering wheel. I was internally shaking, and it didn’t even feel like I was breathing.

I looked up to see a white garage door, and to my right a red jeep. I’d driven right to Grayson and Ethan’s place. Even though I didn’t want to consider it an option, I could have easily just turned the car back on and driven back home. Where I then would have crawled into my bed, and cried myself to sleep for the second night in a row. But I couldn’t drag this shit out any longer.

I exited the vehicle and made my way to the front door. My stomach turned and I felt utterly sick with each and every step. I even felt light headed. I’d been here a thousand and one times before but right now, right now it felt like the first time. All of this felt like it was happening for the first time. In a sense I guess, it was.

Breathing hard, I pressed a shaky finger against the doorbell. I heard it sound from the inside and waited patiently. I reached out to ring it once more but the door suddenly flew open.

A flustered Grayson answered, his eyes widened once he saw me.

“It’s about fucking time.” he said softly with a stern tone.

I couldn’t muster anything more than a shrug.

“It’s for you E.” he called over his shoulder not breaking his gaze with me. My heart jumped into my throat and I could taste the burn of vomit.

“They can come in.” I heard him call back, and my stomach dropped.

“Nah it’s a package and you gotta sign for it bro.” Grayson held his gaze on me as he stepped away from the door.

I felt completely and utterly exposed. My mind was drawing a blank and my head was screaming at me to run. Run to the car and fucking drive away, he’ll come back at some point just wait it out. I gripped my hands together, my palms extremely sweaty. I heard the patting of footsteps and Ethan made his way around the door.