BRIGHT

Chapter 8- Greyson POV- The Downfall

After I dropped Peyton off, I couldn't wait to go to practice and tell the guys what had happened. Peyton and I were a thing and I was happier than ever. I pulled into my driveway and stopped the engine. I grabbed my keys and went into the house. My mom, dad, and Maggie were waiting for me in the kitchen with prepared sandwiches, ready to be eaten. My mom looked concerned.

"Greyson, you have anything you want to tell us?" my Mom asked. I glared at Maggie. I couldn't believe she had to tell my parents about what had happened with Peyton.

"Maggie, why don't you go upstairs," my dad offered. She nodded and clomped up the stairs to her bedroom.

"Look, I can explain," I started to say.

"Let's hear it. Because I don't think there is an explanation for a 56% on a quiz! I checked your grades this afternoon," my mom said. Oh my god, thank the Lord. Maggie hadn't told them what was going on.

"I'm sorry, it was really hard. Almost everyone failed it," I pleaded.

"Greyson, if you keep getting grades like this, you won't be able to play football this year," my dad reprimanded.

"It was one quiz, I'll figure it out, I promise," I said.

"Well, is this girl who you studied with tonight the same one you studied with over the phone?" Mom asked.

"Yes, but I wasn't honest with myself last time. I just told her I understood it because I didn't want to look stupid," I explained.

"Well maybe having a tutor you want to impress isn't the best idea," my dad scolded.

"I agree. If she caused you to get a 56, I want to hear what she got," my mom said. No problem.

"She's insanely smart. She got a 100 on the quiz. The next highest score was a 70. Honestly, she's a good choice. There is another quiz on Thursday, and I already feel better about this one than the last one," I pleaded.

"This is your last chance Greyson. Right now you have an F in the class. If you don't have it up to a minimum of a C by the end of this week, we will be hiring a new tutor who is qualified," my mom threatened.

"A C? That's next to impossible!" I said.

"Too bad, you are going to have to figure it out. I wonder what Coach is going to have to say about this," my dad asked. Oh my god. Coach was going to kill me.

"I'm sorry!" I exclaimed.

"Sorry doesn't cut it this time Greyson. This is your future we are talking about. You have a sports scholarship in the line and Northwestern is not going to take you if you keep this up," Mom scolded.

"I'll figure it out. I always do," I replied.

"You better," my Dad said sternly. I grabbed a sandwich and grabbed my gear bag with all my football equipment. I walked out of the kitchen and into the garage. I threw my bag in the back of my car. Before I got into the driver's seat, I heard the house door slam. I saw Maggie running over to me. Before I could say anything, she submerged me in a hug.

"I'm sorry," I said to her as she pulled back.

"It's okay. I would never tell Mom and Dad that sort of thing. That's between you and Peyton," Maggie replied.

"How did I end up with the best baby sister ever?" I asked her. I cared about her so much and I it meant so much to me that she had covered for me.

"You just got lucky," she said, smiling. "I heard what Mom and Dad were talking to you about. I know you will get it up Greyson. You can do this!"

"Thanks, Mags," I replied. I gave her one more hug and she scampered back into the house. 

I knew Coach would know right away because head coaches got an email anytime a student had below a D in a class. I knew he would be angry It turned out I was right. Coach was just as angry about my grade as my parent were.

"You're my best player Greyson. I don't want to have to bench you, but you have to maintain that 2.5 GPA. Right now, you are at a 2.7 and that can slip so easily. Just, get it up okay? An F is unacceptable," he reprimanded.

"I will coach," I replied back and got into the game. I gave that practice everything I had. It felt good to work my problems out on the field like I often did. I was a beast in the weight room, lifting my max weights and even topping my best weight for bench press by 10 pounds. The anger I was possessing gave me the energy to excel at the one thing I truly loved. I didn't fool around at all like I usually did with friends. I hadn't even told them about Peyton during practice. I was upset with myself for getting an F and was frustrated with all the work that I now had to accomplish.

After a grueling practice, Coach Dawson, who was the assistant coach, went out of his way to tell me how impressed he was with me. Still frustrated about my grades, I headed into the locker rooms. Sawyer, Cameron, Drew, Matt, and Josh all came over to me almost immediately.

"Well, how did it go with Peyton?" Sawyer asked.

"She said yes okay? We are officially a thing," I snapped. I grabbed my bag and headed quickly out of the school. I knew what I had done was wrong, but I was just too stressed out right then to think straight. I walked out to my car and heard a voice.

"Grey, wait up," it called. I turned around to see Cameron, chasing after me.

"What is it?" I asked impatiently.

"What's going on? You weren't yourself the entire practice. Did Peyton not actually say yes or something?" Cameron accused. I ran my fingers through my hair.

"Okay, look. I did really bad on my first Calc quiz and Coach and my parents are eating me up about it. Coach was really pissed and said I need to get it up if I want to play. My parents said it has to be up to a C by the end of the week. This class is impossible and I don't think I will be able to do it," I vented to him.

"Ok Grey, I know you didn't try your hardest on this quiz because you wanted a reason to talk to Peyton, and that may have been dumb. But now, take advantage of having her! You said how smart she is so just let her help you. I get how stressful grades can be," Cameron told me.

"I know, and sorry for kinda mouthing off on you guys. I'm just frustrated," I explained.

"It's all good bro," Cam said with half a smile. "Why don't we go back in and you can tell the guys whats up. I'm sure they will understand." I nodded and we walked back into the building.

I explained myself to the guys and they were very understanding, even more than I thought they would be. After I finished, we went straight back to how we usually were with each other.

"So you want to tell us what really happened with Peyton?" Drew asked. We all laughed.

"Well, she came over after school to help me with Calc. We did study for a while, but then it starting getting like really open and then I told her liked her. Then she said she liked me and agreed to go out with me," I told them. They all went nuts, pummelling me, chanting and being absolute idiots as usual.

"Your plan, though it had some obstacles, actually worked!" Sawyer exclaimed. We all laughed.

"Greyton for life!" Matt yelled and we all laughed again, just as best friends would.