Love Only

Chapter Four

Grayson's POV

It's the next day and everyone is still giving me weird looks. The whole day on Wednesday guys gave me sympathetic nods while the girls either glared at me or gawked at me. In an effort to keep my status and because I honestly felt bad, I planned a pretty spectacular apology if I do say so myself.

I walk into the building earlier than usual and see their navy car parked outside. Behind my back I hold a single, bright, red rose. And then I see her. My heart seems to flutter. Quit it Grayson, get ahold of yourself. I take a deep breath. Her locker is in the main commons, almost front and center. Luckily nearly no one is around. The only person who knows about this is Nate, who helped me prep on what to say. Maybe she'll believe I'm being sincere.

She's standing at her locker, putting books away. I decide to sneak behind her locker door. As soon as she shuts it, I put on my biggest smile and hold out the rose to her. She jumps back and nearly gasps, and then her shocked expression turns to a grimace.

"What's this about?" Vanessa asks. She tucks back a strand of her hair behind her ear. Her eyes fail to disguise her curiosity, and I fail to not smile at her wonder. Despite her being pissed, she may just believe how sorry I am.

"It's to say I'm sorry." I place it in her hand and she accepts. "I'm sorry for the way I acted yesterday, and all the days before that. I know I was being a dick. You didn't deserve that."

All she says is, "Thank you for apologizing."

"Yeah. See the truth is I just really like you, and I didn't know how to deal with it, especially because of my friends."

"I get keeping up your reputation, but you shouldn't let them define who you are. You're more than that."

"You're right. So I was wondering if you'd like to go to homecoming with me." It's a long shot, but just maybe...

Oh no. I see Jake and the rest of the guys are watching us closely, and a few other people are too. They point at me and laugh, while making obnoxious gestures. I panic.

A smile dances on her lips. "Look, the thing is Grayson..." I cut her off.

"It's not like anyone else wants to go with you."

Her face drops. "What?" She's shocked. Rightfully so. "Excuse me?" Now she's pissed again.

"You heard me." The guys stop laughing at me and start laughing with me. But why do I care? Why am I doing this?

"Well you're the one asking me. Wait wait, what's happening? What happened to the guy from two minutes ago, the guy who gave me this?" She holds out the rose limply.

"Is that a no?"

"A definite no. I'd rather die than go to homecoming with you. Why did Ethan have to be right about you?" She looks hurt, but that comment burned.

"Don't bring him into this."

"Why? Everything he said about you was completely correct. Hell, everything I thought about you was right too." Vanessa's voice started to rise, attracting a crowd.

"Yeah? Well you're that one who had a crush on me in tenth grade. Seemed like your thoughts about me were a little different then, huh?"

"As if! Maybe your ignorant brain thought that because you were a nice guy back then and now you aren't used to someone being sincere. I haven't had a decent thought about you since then."

"Hmm, that's what I thought. No decent thoughts about us together in your head. Care to elaborate?" More and more people gather. Seems like half the school now.

"Not like that you perv! What's wrong with you?" Both of us are shouting. Somehow are bodies were drawn closer together, centimeters away from touching.

"What's wrong with me? Maybe the fact that I even tried to apologize to someone like you! Maybe the fact that I even thought about going to homecoming with you!"

Our faces are so close to each other's. I feel her raspy breathing and I look deep into her eyes. I can't stop myself.

I lower my voice. "Maybe the fact that we are screaming at each other and all I can think about is kissing you."

I lean in and pull her gently into me. Gasps and whispers are in the crowd but I don't listen. I just feel. I feel her lips on mine and after a second, she kisses me back. I feel the way her body fits into mine. It's too early when she pushes me off of her. I search her face for some kind of happiness that matches the way my heart feels, but I can't figure her out.

"I'm sorry, I can't do this." She stutters and stumbles back to run away. Veronica and another girl dart after her, and they look at me with something I'm all too used to: disappointment. I lose them all in the mob of people.

For a few moments, nobody speaks. Nobody moves. Then, the bell rings.