The Gray Family: Let The Games Begin✔️(Wattpad version)

Crash and burn

Payton

I went back to the rental house and walked inside. Selena and Parker were eating as I walked over and sat down at the table.

"How was your stroll?" Park asked.

"If you mean by stroll, bumping into Josie Mitchell and getting an attitude, then it went well," I rolled my eyes.

"That's surprising since Josie is usually pretty laid back," Selena told me.

"Well, I accidentally bumped into her, making her drop her books. I helped her pick them and apologized, then got an attitude," I huffed.

"No, you don't say," Parker remarked as I looked at him. Selena chuckled as she ate.

I gave him a look, then rolled my eyes. "Cute," I retorted.

"Yes, we already know I'm freaking adorable," he smirked.

"You're not helping," I told him.

"Well, how does one help a tool who kicked a dog when it's down repeatedly?" Parker asked me.

"What the hell are you blabbering about now?" I asked him.

"He means that you treated Josie like she was nothing and unimportant," Shaun said as he walked over to the table and sat down.

"It's funny how my brother needs a clue," Park mentioned as I looked at him. He was no help, and neither were the other two. I have to figure out Josie's deal and make things right with her. It's easier said than done.

Josie

I looked in the mirror at myself. I look so different from last year. I didn't have my glasses, my hairstyle more updated, my clothes more stylish, but I wasn't sure if I'm happy with it. I would try it, and if I'm still unhappy with it, I'll go back to my glasses.

I wanted Payton Gray to notice me, and all I got is him calling me by the wrong name. I try to make conversation and got indifference in return. I wasted four years liking someone who couldn't see me for dust. Maybe I set my standards too high?

Who knows? Maybe I will meet someone that sees me and calls me by the right name? I guess anything was possible. My phone lit up, and I opened my messages to see a message from Lucille.

How did the advice work? - Lucille

You were right. The guy finally noticed me after I changed my look. - Me

Are you still interested in him? - Lucille

I'm not sure. I thought I was, but if I change my look for the guy to notice, then maybe he's not the guy for me. - Me

I think you should give him a run for his money since he did it to you. Turn about is fair play. - Lucille

Maybe Lucille is right. I could provide Payton a taste of his own medicine. Then perhaps he wouldn't be so quick to toss aside a girl without a second thought. Let the games begin.

I told Lucille I would follow her advice and let her know how it goes. I mean, what did I have to lose?

Payton

The next day, I got up, got ready, then left before everyone else woke. I went to see if I could find Josie and talk to her. I walked around the town and looked to see her, but I didn't. How difficult is it to find one girl? It was difficult.

I got a coffee since I haven't had one yet. I still needed to pick up my schedule and books. I'll do that after I get my coffee.

I walked into a cafe and stood in line as I decided on what I wanted. Then I heard a voice, not any sound, but that voice. It was perfect. I made my way to the counter, placed my order, and glanced at Josie as she chatted up some dude at the bar. Then I heard her laugh. Wait. Was that a flirty laugh? How come I never heard that laugh?

I also notice she flirted with him, doing things that catch a guy's attention. I know I've had girls flirt with me. Wait. Why is she flirting with him?

Someone handed me a cup of coffee. I paid for it when I made my way over to her.

"So, if you're free, I thought we could see a movie," the guy offered.

She was about to answer when I interjected, "She can't." They both looked at me. "She has plans already," I told him.

She gave me a strange look.

"I don't, and a movie sounds nice. Here's my number," Josie said as she handed him a piece of paper. He took it, and she left. What happened?

"Did you crash and burn?" Someone asked me. I turned to see Shaun standing there, looking at me.

"No, I didn't crash and burn. Shouldn't you wail over my brother?" I asked him.

"Unlike you, Pax knows where we stand. We agreed to date other people," he told me.

"You're not helping," I told him.

"And you're failing miserably," he smirked.

I shook my head and left. I went looking for Josie and finally saw her walking ahead of me. I hustled to catch up with her. When I did, I stopped her.

She turned and looked at me with annoyance.

"Can I help you?" She asked with irritation.

"I've been looking for you," I answered.

"Why?" She asked.

"Because I wanted to talk to you," I replied.

"You had four years to talk to me and blew me off," she informed me.

"I had a lot on my plate," I shrugged.

"That's a lame-ass excuse, Payton, and don't buy it," she said as she walked away.

Someone made an airplane sound along with an explosion. I turned to see Parker standing there with Selena.

"What was that?" I asked him.

"That, brother, is the sound of you crash and burning," he remarked as I felt my left eye twitch.

"You're not helping," I told him.

"I'm not here to help. I'm a Gray. It's my job to make fun of you and show you that you're a big ass tool," he retorted. I rolled my eyes. "Maybe you should get pointers from Presley since he loves all the women."

"Shut up," I said with an annoyed look as I walked away.

"Payton has it bad for my sister," Selena told Parker while snickering.

"And this is one key piece of information we keep from him since he needs to learn a lesson of how to treat women," Parker commented.

"Isn't that against the brother code?" She asked him.

"When your brother inherits the tool gene from your grandfather, it violates nothing," he shrugged.

"Suitable point," she added.

Between my brother and Shaun, they weren't making my life easy or helping. I needed to figure out how to persuade Josie to talk to me and not go on that blind date. I didn't even know why I cared so much about this girl? I mean, it's one girl. Why is this bothering me so much? I didn't know, but what I knew is I refused to give up.