𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐀𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐆

;chats

Emma Chamberlain

It's a week or so later.

Nothing interesting has happened since mine and Ethan's interaction where he saved me from the embarrassment of having no clothes after the bad boys had ran into Girls room one mid-lesson and took all the girls clothes and drenched them in the showers.

I never got to thank Ethan for his small act of kindness, but I did tell my best friends the following Thursday night over a Chinese.

"No way" Olivia gasps, utterly shook at Ethan Dolan being anything other than an evil mute.

She bit into her chicken and with a full mouth decided to speak again,

"Do you think that Gray told him to?" She suggests spitting a bit of her food out making Amanda cower in disgust.

I hadn't considered it at all but it seemed more likely than Ethan suddenly being a caring person.

"Shall I ring him? Like hint at it and see whether it was him?" I ask closing the lid of my Chinese box in victory after devouring the full thing.

"Sure, if you want an excuse to speak to him, bub" Olivia says sarcastically and Amanda can't help but giggle.

I shoot her a glare before taking my empty box into the kitchen and pressing upon Grayson's contact and waiting for the familiar ring.

"I wasn't sure you were ever going to call me again. But I'm glad to hear your voice" he says deeply down the phone.

It sounds like he's quite sleepy and I can imagine him laid on his side in his bed staring out into the dark abyss.

"Well I thought I'd pay my therapist a good visit, tell him I never told the dude that massive rant and that I probably never will due to embarrassment purposes obviously" I giggle into the phone.

I wave at Olivia and Amanda in the living room and mouth them good night before treking up the stairs into my room and flopping down in exhaustion.

"Ah I see. Probably the best idea that's come from you yet" he chuckles "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the boys"

I pause before speaking. I didn't know whether to offend his friendship group choice or whether I should just let it go.

"It's fine" I lie, curling into my quilt feeling the soft fabric against my newly shaven legs.

"They're actually pretty nice lads when you get to know them" Grayson says and I scoff,

"Which ones are nice? The one who groped me? Or the other criminals?" I ask and there's an awkward silence but Grayson is quick to carry on the conversation.

"And plus they like you which is rare" he explains which comes as a surprise to me.

I wonder on whether I should ask my next question or whether I should leave the conversation as it is and change subject.

I decide on asking the follow up question of who in the group could possibly like me and why I would've been in their topic of conversation at all

"Well we all know Nate likes your body"

I huff down the phone but don't stop Grayson from talking.

"K always says you're a sound chem partner"

I imagine Kian being called K and it makes me laugh a little

"and Ethan" Grayson stops and he doesn't sound like he's going to carry on.

"Ethan likes me?" I question in absolute disbelief. 

"Yeah I think so anyway. He hasn't spoken in a while unless it's about you or to you so I'd say thats a strong like. He's my twin brother and I know him pretty well" Grayson brags through the phone "he's a good person, I promise you"

I think back to the conversation with the police officer. Good people don't get into trouble with the law, good people don't hide instead of handing themselves in, good people don't break into pharmacy's for drugs.

I don't repeat any of that because to Grayson it sounds like he knew nothing of it. And now as he speaks of Ethan's fondness towards me it starts to seem more plausible that it wasn't Grayson who told him to move me changing rooms, it was him himself.

"I'm sure he is a good person somewhere DEEP inside of him but it doesn't mean I'm gonna sleep with him the first time he sticks up for me" I say with a fiery tone.

I don't know really why it came out but it did, Ethan had never been anything but kind- other than intimidating- towards me and this is how I thought of him.

"I'm not saying sleep with him, maybe just give him a chance to speak. Or try speak to him. I'd like it if my brother started to interact again instead of becoming an excessive introvert"

Grayson's words are genuine and that's when I realise how nice of a person he really is. He truly cares about Ethan and his well being and I guess now that means so do I.

I'm not going to go out of my way to speak to him though, that is for sure, but okay if Ethan wants to speak me, I'm not going to parr him off.

Before Grayson's words I might've done. I might've drawn the conversation to a close, pushed Ethan away. But by his serious tone it really sounds like he wants whatever old Ethan used to be like, to be back.

And hell if I could aid that- for Grayson's sake- of course I'd help.

"He's not a charity case, Gray. I'm sure that if he wants to speak to me he has enough confidence to do so. Me on the other hand. Have you seen me try to answer a question in lesson without stuttering? And that's when I KNOW what I'm going to say"

I kick my legs around like a child listening to Grayson's voice like a soothing ASMR video.

"It's been good talking to you Emma" he says as the conversation comes to a close and in all honesty I had enjoyed it too "maybe one day we can hang out" he offers.

"Sounds good" I laugh feeling satisfied that Grayson is a nice enough guy even if he smokes and breaks laws "night" I whisper down the phone.

"Goodnight"