I'll Always See You

Chapter 5 - Sick Days

Friday didn't come nearly quickly enough. Waking up slowly, the first thing I did was pull back my curtains from the window to reveal a thick blanket of fog curling through the morning air. I sighed happily and started getting ready. I loved dreary mornings. A shower, mascara touch-up, and I was set to go. I grabbed my backpack and headed out, walking down the steps and stopping. In the den across from the kitchen, Matt lay spread out across the couch covered by a blanket, still in pajamas and needing a hairbrush really badly. I walked over.

"Dude, you're on the couch." I stated obviously.

He blinked bleary eyes at me. "I don't feel well," he replied. "I don't think I'm making it today."

I stared back at him. "Five days into the year? What kind of not feel well?" I dropped my bag on the floor and sat down at the foot of the couch. "Can I get you anything?"

"I think I'll survive. Probably just a 24 hour bug, it'll be over before I know it," he responded.

I nodded, albeit a bit hesitantly. "You sure you don't need anything?" He nodded.

Grayson picked that moment to make his entrance. He walked in the door, weaving his way towards the kitchen, and paused when he saw us. "That doesn't look good," he said casually. He joined me by the couch and asked the same questions I had.

"You're happier to see him than you are to see me," I groused teasingly.

Matt blinked at me again. "He's nicer," he said. Feigning indignation, I stood up.

"If you're sure you'll be fine, we're going to take off then," Grayson said, bending down and picking up my bag for me.

Now it was my turn to blink at him. "I can take that," I said helplessly.

"No, that's okay. Maybe you're sick too and if you pass out from overexertion while I'm supposed to be watching you, then I'll be the one in trouble."

"Oh, you shut up." I snagged the bag from him and got a slight smile, while I nearly tumbled over the coffee table as I upset my own balance. Stabilizing myself, we said goodbye to Matt and left.

"I call shotgun," I said as we walked across the yard, attempting to break the eerie silence only perpetuated by the heavy fog.

"You're literally the only other person. Shotgun needs not be called," he responded.

"Is that the official rule of shotgun?" "The unofficial rule of shotgun." I climbed into the front seat and tossed my bag into the back. He started the car and we pulled away from the curb.

"This is weird," I said randomly about three minutes into the drive. He sent a curious glance my way. "Shoot. I don't mean, like...I just mean that Matt's always here. I can't even remember the last time he was sick."

Grayson nodded. "Been a while." Conversation lapsed again. "I love the fog but I hate driving in it," he said, choosing his turn to say something random.

"I love it too. I also love that I don't have to drive in it," I told him. So this was small talk. Lisanne would want to be here to hear every word of this, I knew. She'd also be chewing me out for not fishing information out of him every chance I got. Dark and mysterious wasn't exactly her type.

We pulled into the school lot and he still hadn't said anything. As we got out and walked in together, he said he'd see me later but not at lunch because he had to tutor someone. Since when did he tutor anyone? I was left thinking in the hallway about which subject he'd even be tutoring in. I guess all of his grades were pretty decent so it didn't really matter. It was only a matter of minutes before Lisanne found me and my day started.

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Classes. Lunch. Classes. I met James. He was decently cute but severely a playboy, I could practically smell it on his breath. Lisanne seemed to be having fun though, so I guessed that she already knew that and was reverse-playing him. She was the only person I'd ever known to perfect that game. Few weeks, she'd be done with him a day or two before he'd be done with her and all would be fine for Lisanne. Meanwhile, she'd leave the ego bruised of the boyfriend she had been toying with last. I just hoped that once she found a nice guy that she wouldn't get caught up in that habit.

I had to wait a few minutes by the car for Grayson, who came loping out of the building on his cellphone. He hung up as he neared me. A cloud of some emotion hung around him as heavy as the fog had been this morning, but completely invisible. Anger, hurt, sadness. Indistinguishable.

"I have to swing by my parents' house on the way back. Do you want me to drop you off first?" he asked.

"The way you say 'swing by' leads me to think that you're coming back to my house to check on Matt like the good friend that you are, so I can go with you. It's completely out of your way and nonsensical to drop me off and then go back to your place just to come back again," I rambled as we got into the car.

"Are you sure?" he asked, a slight strain permeating his words.

I tried to get a read on him. "Yeah, I'm sure. Thanks for asking though."

The house that I'd been thinking about the other day was even bigger in real life than it was painted on the canvas in my mind from years ago. Grayson hadn't said a word the whole drive to his parents' and didn't seem about to start as he unbuckled and told me he'd be right back. I leaned back in my seat and unlocked my phone, shooting Matt the third text of the day.

- You need tissues?

Brother Dearest - Not that kind of sick.

- No, I meant because you're a big baby

Brother Dearest - Funny

I smiled and turned off my phone screen, closing my eyes for just a second before Grayson jerked open the car door. I jolted upright, bringing the seat slowly up with me. Now I could tell exactly what he was feeling as anger radiated off of him in waves.

"You okay?" I asked softly.

He didn't look at me but his voice was even despite the shadows playing across his features. "I'm fine, Dawn. Thanks."

I didn't press it any further as we went back home. He parked and took a second to unbuckle, leaning back in the seat and running a hand through his hair. I just watched him, torn between leaving him to his own thoughts or trying to be a friend.

"You definitely seem okay," I said, choosing the latter route but injecting enough sarcasm to keep it true to my style.

He finally turned to look at me. "You ever wish you could pick one or two things to change about your life?" he asked, startling me with his genuineness.

I nodded sincerely. "Yeah, I do. I think about that all the time, actually." I paused. "What would you change, Grayson?"

His eyes, open for the briefest of moments, shuttered up again. "I don't know." He opened the door and got out, waiting until I was out to lock the car and walk inside. I didn't try to follow him but rather stood outside a moment longer, now thinking about what few things I'd change about my life if I could.

Hi there - sorry, I know this chapter kind of sucked. I'm playing around with a couple things with the goal being to have a better storyline as things continue. Stick around - we'll start to get to the good stuff really soon! :D