Again | g.d

Part Twelve

"No offense, E, but you suck at this," I laughed as I beat him in whatever game we were playing for the hundredth time.

"I invite you over to my house and you insult me? Ouch." He pretended to be hurt.

I shoved him over. "We both know you invited me over because you were home alone and bored."

"Nah," He dragged out as he wrapped his arms around me. "I missed hanging out with my best friend," He said cheekily, lifting me off of the ground.

I laughed as I hit his arms. "Ethan, okay, put me down!" I yelled frantically as he turned around in circles. "Ethan, I'm serious!" I laughed, again, trying to pry his arms from around my torso.

Just then the front door closed, and seconds later Grayson was standing in the doorway of the living room, a blank stare on his face.

I hated that for the first time, ever, I couldn't read him. I couldn't tell what he was thinking or how he felt.

Silently, Ethan slowly placed me back onto the ground, untangling his arms from around me without saying a single word.

I hadn't seen him since a few nights ago - when he told me he still loved me and we almost took things too far.

"What's up, bro?" Ethan questioned him nonchalantly.

I shouldn't have been shocked that Ethan wasn't affected in the slightest by the tension filling the room.

"We're still moving into the new place," Grayson said as his eyes flickered to me for a split second before he looked at Ethan. "I just came to grab more of my stuff. I didn't think anyone would be home," he trailed off.

I took a tiny step forward. "Can we talk?" I asked him, again, quietly. "About the other night?"

Grayson snorted, catching me off guard. "Now you want to talk?" He asked me harshly.

"That's not fair, and you know it." I tried my best to sound confident, but could hear the wavering in my voice.

I could feel Ethan's hand on my waist as he held me back - his way of telling me not to spend anymore time talking to Grayson.

I ignored him though, pushing his hand off of my hip and stepping back to where I was.

"With you, Savannah, I don't really know anything, anymore." He spat.

"What is that supposed to mean?" I asked hoarsely. I could feel the burning sensation in my throat.

He opened his mouth, but quickly shut it. "Forget it," He sighed, running his fingers through his hair.

"No," I piped up, finding a tiny sliver of confidence. "Say it," I demanded. "Tell me what you meant."

Grayson sucked on his tongue, before looking away from me. "I mean I'm done."

"Done with what?" I asked slowly.

I knew the answer. I just needed to hear him say it.

"With this. With whatever the hell this is, Savannah." He said furiously, motioning in between us.

My throat was burning from trying to hold back tears. Grayson and I had never argued like this before, and the fact that we were arguing about us made it so much worse.

"What - because I made you leave instead of being stupid and sleeping with you? because I wasn't going to let us get in the way of you and Avery?" I shouted back with the same level of anger.

"Why don't you get it? Savannah, we already fucking hurt her!" He yelled over me, making me go silent.

It was my turn to look away from him. The truth stung - because as much as I wanted to deny it, I couldn't.

"We've already done things we can't take back. We've already betrayed Avery," He said softly. "What's the point in trying to do damage control, when the damage is already fucking done? I can't keep trying to pretend like nothing's ever happened between us whenever you change your mind -"

"Change my mind?" I fired back, whipping my head to face him.

"One minute you're kissing me - okay with whatever fucking consequences come with being together - and the next you're icing me out, and making me feel like the bad guy! Then we mess around again, and the whole thing just circles around!"

"You make it sound likes it's easy being caught between you and Avery!" I said frantically. "I have two options, Grayson. I hurt you by choosing Avery, or I hurt Avery by choosing you. And I don't want to hurt either of you."

"I'll make it easier for you, then, Sav." Grayson said sternly, backing away from me.

"I never said I wanted it to be easier," I could hear the desperation in my voice - on the brink of begging him to stay.

"I'm tired of waiting for you to make a choice! I'm tired of fighting for someone who doesn't even know if they want me!" He yelled.

"You know what, Grayson, if you're way of fighting for me is making me feel like shit for trying to do the right thing, maybe you should just stop." I said, my heart clenching tighter with each breath I took.

Grayson paused. For a second, I could see the disappointment sweep across his face.

"Okay," He straightened up a bit, his eyes never leaving mine. "I'm done fighting for you. It's over."

"Great," I let out a shaky breath. "Finally," I whimpered.

"It is great," He echoed me coldly, staring holes into me. "After all these years, I'm finally getting rid of you."

I was silent from shock as I processed the most hurtful thing Grayson could have ever said to me.

"Enjoy your life with Avery, Grayson," I choked out, letting the first tear fall from my eye.

I shoved him out of the way and rushed to the door.

"Savannah, stop–you don't have to leave!" Ethan shouted after me.

"It's clear I should have a long time ago," I said through tears, not bothering to turn around.

I was hit with fresh air the moment the front door closed behind me.

I tried to calm my crying as I got closer to my car, but couldn't. In fact, the moment I sat down I only began to cry harder.

I'm free. After years of being entangled in Grayson, he had finally let me go for good. And I should feel relieved. I should be the happiest I've ever been because now I can move on from the one person whose been holding me back.