Dangerous [A BAD BOY ROMANCE]

13

I walk down the halls of the school as quickly as I can without causing pain to my still healing abdomen. I'm unable to process the sight that I just saw, so instead, I try my hardest to forget I saw anything at all. To be fair, Maddie has always had a crush on Gray, and I told Gray that things wouldn't work out between us. Still, there's a part of me that likes Gray and seeing him kiss another girl wasn't doing anything beneficial for me.

I finally make it to my car and slump my shoulders in the driver's seat before starting it, so that the A/C can save me from the blistering heat, and backing out of my parking spot. I drive quickly towards my house and soon enough pull into the driveway. I can tell by the lack of other cars there that my Aunt still isn't home, which doesn't surprise me. I step into the house and grab a glass of water before sitting down. As much as I hate to say it, I can't help the pangs of jealousy and anger that surge through me at the thought of Maddie and Gray together, and it's because of this that I come up with a plan.

It's around 7:00 when I finally receive a call from Sam.

"Hey, you're still coming right?" She asks into the phone.

"Yep." 

"Alright, we will pick you up in an hour." I smile to myself at the anticipation of seeing everyone but quickly get back to work doing my makeup. Despite rarely wearing anything more than mascara and some highlighter, tonight I'd applied some concealer and a bit more intense of a mascara, along with some highlight and lip gloss. I'd also achieved natural beach waves in my semi-short hair, and now all that's left is an outfit. I rummage through my closet a bit before deciding on a pair of light wash, tight-fitting, mom jeans, and a black tank top that I normally wouldn't wear since it's a bit too revealing for my taste, along with white sneakers. I check the time after getting dressed. It reads 7:45. I take my extra time to look myself over in the mirror. Not gonna lie, I look hot, and that's exactly what I was going for. 

After a bit of waiting, I get a text from Sam, telling me that they're out front, and I grab a small black purse and throw my phone in before jogging out to the car.

"Hi, guys." I smile as I get into the back of Sam's car. 

"Heyo," Sam replies, and Leila gives me a small but sweet smile.

"Where is everybody?" I question upon noticing all of the boys, and Maddie's, absence.

"They're meeting us there," Leila explains quickly as Sam shifts the car into drive a pulls away from my house. I nod in approval and sit back as we make our way to the bowling alley.

I immediately know we've arrived when I see the flashing lights and signs pointing towards the entrance of the vintage looking building. The three of us get out of the car and walk inside. I'm greeted by the mouth-watering smell of popcorn, as well as cute decorations that remind me of a diner, and older music playing through the speakers.

"This is so cute." Leila looks around in awe before apparently spotting the rest of our group and waving while walking towards them. Sam and I follow close behind. We reach our friends who are sitting in front of a lane.

"Took ya long enough." Liam jokes as he grabs his girlfriend and sits her down next to him. I barely notice though, because all I can focus on is Gray. I watch out of the corner of my eye as he looks up from his phone and instinctually his gaze finds me. I observe in satisfaction while he eyes me up and down and his jaw clenches before he catches my eyes with his. I flash him a tight smile and sit down with the rest of the group, who are watching Liam take his first turn. Leila is cheering him on while Sam and Aron laugh about something. Maddie is nowhere to be seen, although I notice that her name is on the board, so she must be around somewhere. I look around a bit and finally find her ordering a drink at the counter, but I can't stare for long since I'm quickly informed that it's my turn to bowl. I pull a light blue ball into my hands and roll it down the lane, knocking over a few pins at the end of it. I hear some cheers from behind me and I turn around giggling at my friends' enthusiasm. My next roll I knock down a couple more. I've never been great at bowling, but at least I don't need bumpers anymore. After my turn, I sit down next to Sam, who is the only one not completely engrossed in watching Leila roll bowling balls. The boys are yelling commands at her, and I chuckle slightly at her red-tinted face.

"God, could they be more annoying?" Sam whispers from beside me.

"What're you talk-" I'm about to question her but when I locate the subject of her annoyance I'm at a loss for words. Maddie is all over Gray, and when I say all over, I mean rubbing her hand up and down his thigh and playing with the hair at the back of his neck. I never took Maddie to be the PDA type, but clearly, I was wrong. I wave of anger and hurt hits me like a truck, and I can feel the tears forming in my eyes at the sight. What I don't know is why they are getting on my nerves so much. It's not like Gray and I were really anything more than friends, but either way, I can't stand to look at it.

"I'm gonna go get some fresh air," I whisper to Sam, and she nods back at me sympathetically. I have to give it to her, Sam is a really good friend, and I can tell she'd picked up on my moodiness surrounding the subject of Maddie and Grayson.

I stand up from my spot on the bench and head towards the doors that I'd come in from. The fresh California air hits me as I open the double doors, and lean against the side of the building, wrapping myself in my arms for some warmth. Even though it's warm at night in this state, my tank top wasn't doing much temperature-wise. I'd only been gazing at the stars for a couple of minutes when I hear the door next to me creak open. I know who it is without looking.

"What're you doing out here?" I snap.

"Checking on you." Grayson is careful with his words, somehow sensing I'm on edge. I tear my eyes away from the sky and look at him. The moonlight dances over his head, and I can't help but notice his perfect facial features and dark grey eyes.

"Why don't you go check on your little girlfriend in there?" His jaw tightens at my words, but nonetheless, he takes a couple more steps towards me.

"She's not my girlfriend." He states calmly, and I feel a tear fall down my face. I wipe it away quickly, hoping he won't see, but my plan fails. His eyes widen. "Hey, hey, hey. What's wrong?" He attempts to comfort me, but he should know better. 

"Are you serious Gray? What's wrong? What's wrong is that you're in there getting nice and comfy with my best friend right in front of me." I roll my eyes. "What's wrong is that I really thought you were different. I thought you cared." I try to shoe him away from me, but he grabs my hands before I can touch him and brings them down to my sides.

"That means nothing Tea-"

"Cut the bullshit. I saw you guys kiss." His eyes widen even further as he lets go of my hands and grabs my waist, staring straight into my eyes. I can't help the butterflies that erupt in my stomach as a result.

"Fuck, what am I supposed to do T? What can I do when you tell me that nothing can happen between us, and you ignore me all week, and then my best friend is flirting with you but I can't tell him to stop because nobody can know anything happened between us in the first place. Then you show up here dressed like," He checks me out again and gulps. "Like that." He pulls me a little closer to him. It's hard for me to think with him so close to me, but somehow through my haze, I realize he's right. I'm in no place to be upset with him. I was the one who ended things, and even if it hurt me to watch, Gray could do whatever he wanted.

"You're right."

"I get that but- Wait, what?"

"You're right. I'm not allowed to be mad. You've done nothing wrong." I step out of his grasp. "I don't want to ignore you anymore though. Friends?" The word tastes like poison on my tongue, but I know what has to be done.

"Friends?" He questions. Clearly feeling the same way as me.

"Friends," I state. "No more being jealous. No more getting mad about things that friends don't get mad about. No more avoiding each other."

"If that's what you want." He levels with me.

"Maybe just refrain from making out with Maddie in front of me." I force out. His eyes drop.

"Teagan, even if we are just 'friends'," he finger quotes in the air. "I want you to know that didn't mean anything. Heck, she kissed me, and I pulled away right after I promise. I'll make sure she knows that there's nothing between me and her."

"Okay then."

"Okay then." And with that, we walk back into the building and to our laughing group of friends.