The Art of Wasting Time ~ g.d.

22

Violet:

I wake up to hear my room door open quickly and slam shut. I flutter my eyes open to see a flustered Grayson.

"What's wrong?" I ask as I sit up a little taller in bed. "He's here." He says with wide eyes. My eyebrows knit together until I realize what he means.

"What? How did he know? I was early. Who told him?" I ramble. He shouldn't be here. He doesn't deserve to be here.

"I think one of our friends told him. He's in the waiting room." He says quickly. "I don't want to see him." I say flatly as I look down at my folded hands.

"I know. I'm sure your mom won't let him in." He says trying to reassure me as he takes a seat in the chair next to my bed.

It's silent as I try and take in everything. Why would he even care to show up? This is all so messed up.

The door swings open yet again and there he stands with his chest heaving up and down. "I'm so sorry violet. I couldn't keep him in the waiting room." My Mom rambles. "It's okay Mom." I say to make her feel better not because I didn't care that he was here.

My mom closes the door with a sigh as Ethan takes in Grayson and I. "Grayson can we have a minute?" Ethan ask him. "Fuck you dude." Grayson spits as he stands up from his seat.

I grab his wrist and give him a reassuring look. "Gray it's okay." I mutter. He glances at Ethan and then his gaze locks back on me. "I'll be right outside." He says sternly. I nod because I expected that from him.

As Grayson leaves Ethan stands there playing with his hands. God, I hope he hates himself right now.

"I heard that you were gonna put Grayson's name on the birth certificate." He blurts. That's what he's worried about right now?

"Yes I am. He's the father as far as I'm concerned." I snap. He shakes his head with an angry smile plastered on his face. "But he's not." He chuckles darkly.

"Why do you even care?" I ask rolling my eyes. "Because she's my daughter!" He says raising his voice a bit. "Then why'd you leave if you cared so much?!" I ask now raising my voice in frustration.

"I was scared." He says flatly. "That's no excuse for you to completely leave without a trace and never talk to me or your brother." I argue.

"You're in love with Grayson now aren't you?" He ask looking down at his hands yet again. "I think so." I say quickly.

He looks like a child who had just had his toy taken away from him. I don't know why he's acting like he cares. He left without even saying goodbye.

"Why did you come?" I ask now wanting to know everything. "I wanted to apologize." He says flatly. I scoff.

"I know you probably shouldn't forgive me but I-I didn't want you hating me forever for what I did." He mumbles. I have no clue what to say. I don't know what he wants from me.

"Listen, I'll be out of your hair by tonight. I'll be gone for good it's just I really felt like I should talk to you." Again I remain silent. "I just wanted to wish you luck and tell you that it's best if I'm not here. I don't know what I'm doing. I'm not ready but I-I uh know Grayson is. He's always had a thing for you." He rambles.

For some reason I find myself crying. Maybe it's because this is the Ethan I remember. He used to be so heartfelt and he'd look out for anyone he cared about.

"So this is goodbye for good violet." He says barely above a whisper. He moves closer to the bed and before I know it I'm engulfed in his tight embrace. He smells just like I remember.

He rubs his familiar hand up and down my back. "You don't deserve me. You deserve someone like Grayson. Someone dependable." He says pulling away and wiping my tears with his thumb. "I love you." He says one last time. I don't dare say it back because I don't feel the same like I used to but a part of me will always care for him due to the amount of time we spent together.

Ethan lets out a sigh as Grayson steps back into the room to check on us. Ethan flashes me a soft smile before he turns on his heels to leave the room. On the way out he pats Grayson on the back and mutters "Take care of them bro."

Both Grayson and I are shocked as Ethan closes the door softly behind him.