The Shattered// E.D G.D

Bribe deals

<buttercup- hippo campus>

Holy hell, I can tell that you hate me
Dying moon, keep me up, keep me waiting
I'll be fine, I'm alright

—

"ANYTHING I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HERE?" Ethan looked at me in the eyes, almost challenging somehow.

What the heck does he want me to say? Oh yEaH, wE aRe a tOwN fuLl oF gAnGs, dOn't mInD mE!

"Depends," I quietly replied, keeping my gaze on my hands purposely. I didn't want to look up to see his eyes digging it's claws into my skull.

There was silence and I wasn't sure he heard me. I looked up, watching his eyebrows narrowed in confusion. So I added, "Depends on the area of Ari you live in. Which side of town do you live on?" I questioned, tapping my foot underneath the table.

"The east side." He ran his long fingers through his messy wavy brown hair, keeping his eyes glued to mine.

"Cool, I live there too," no shit. "On this side of town, it's small. So you will mostly see someone from School at the store whenever you go..." I looked out the window, hoping he would stop making conversation and back away.

He nodded his head, biting into the side of his mouth whilst throwing his head back and closing his eyes. He seemed  in pain, hissing underneath his breath.

Um...what?

I furrowed my brows, following where his apparent pain came from. My eyes met Grayson's nails digging into the side of Ethan's arm, pinching the skin.

The brother pulled away his hand, allowing Ethan to rub his arm to comfort himself.

Ethan whispered yelled "What was that for?" To his brother that had on a winning smile.

"Why do you think?" Grayson growled in return, pinching then pulling away once he caught me staring.

Ethan turned to me, forcing a smirk onto his lips. I accidentally giggled, widening my eyes once it left my lips.

"Even she thinks it's funny that you're wet!" Ethan chuckled, placing his elbows onto the table and leaning inwards.

I had to stop myself from laughing at my dirty mind.

Grayson looked to me with an unamused look, trying to capture seriousness but failing. "It's not that funny, right? He got hands full of water and threw it at me in the bathroom." he looked back to Ethan with a scowl.

What do I say? I don't want to say the wrong thing.

"It's-" before I could finish my sentence, which thank god I didn't, I watched Ethan subtly slide a five dollar bill my way.

He passed it behind the condiments on the table, making sure his brother couldn't see the buck.

Is he bribing me to say it's funny?

"It's very funny," I took it as my cue, giggling, snatching the money and stuffing it into my lap.

Grayson's eyes met my hand quickly, catching the green paper. His eyes widened in shock before he threw his head back laughing. "You took a bribe?"

"It's money, okay?" I said, actually genuinely laughing for the first time tonight.

"But ether way, I still win the argument. " Grayson grinned.