Things Change

Chapter 3:

Riley:

I pull into a 7-eleven parking lot parking on the side and sit in the car in silence. I wipe my eyes occasionally before I find enough courage to get out of the car to walk inside. I get a slurpy and walk to the counter, "Can I get a pack of Marlboro special blend 100s, please?" I say pulling out my I.D. sliding it across the counter to the clerk. He grabs a pack of cigarettes after checking my I.D. and rings it up. "$11.97." He said in mono tone. I was two dollars short. "I don't have enough," I say. He looks at me with an annoyed expression on his face. "I'll pay for it." A voice says behind me. I turn to see a guy that looked oddly familiar. Then I remember he's one of people Susan pointed out to me. Grayson. "You don't have too." I say as he hands the clerk the money. He smirks over at me. "Have a nice night." The clerk snapped at us. Grayson looked at him and intensely started. "Don't need to be an asshole, dude." He said handing me my stuff. I turn on my heel and walk out heading back to my car when Grayson calls after me. "You're that new girl aren't you?" He asks. I press my lips together and nod. He smirks, "Can I get a one of those?" He asked gesturing to my pack of cigarettes. I hand him the pack and he takes it sitting down on the curb. I feel awfully silly standing next to him so I sit down. He packs the cigarettes then opens them taking one. "I didn't take you for a smoker." He said handing me the pack back. I take one, Grayson hands me his lighter. My fingers brush against his and they feel warm compared to mine. I light the cigarette handing it back to him. I exhale the smoke watching it disappear into the night. "Only when I need one." I finally say. He passes me a side glance taking a long drag of his cigarette. He nods then looks straight ahead. "Me too." He breaths out and I glance over at him. I wonder what problems he has but I shake my head taking a drag of my cigarette. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth so I take a drink of my slurpy. Grayson spits on the ground, I look down at the pavement and notice a four leaf clover growing through the crack by the side walk. I pick it and twirl it in my finger. I can see Grayson glance at in from the corner of my eye. You mind?" He asked. I shake my head and he tastes a drink as well. "So, what happened to your leg?" He tapped it with his foot. I clear my throat, "Car accident." I say. He finishes off his cigarette flicking it onto the pavement. "Does it hurt?" He asks. I shake my head and he nods. "I broke my arm once when I was little. I jumped down from a tree because I thought I was some sort of badass," He starts to laugh. His laugh sends chills down my spine. I couldn't help but laugh with him. "I thought I was even cooler when I went to school and showed off my cast." He said. He spits again and shakes his head. "Are you gonna have people sign it?" He asked. I shrug, "Maybe. I haven't thought about it." I say. "Hold on," He walks back into the gas station and I finish my cigarette. He comes back out with a pack of sharpies. "They only had silver ones." He states taking the seat beside mine. "Do you mine?" He asks wrapping his hand around my leg. He picks it up setting it on his lap. I turn so he has better access. Suddenly it hits me how foolish we must look sitting here like this. I could feel the heat from his lap against my leg through two layers of clothes. He scribbles something on my boot then places it back down on the ground and I sit up straight. I pull my cellphone from my pocket to see my moms name pop up on the screen. I click it closed and put it back into my pocket. "So, let's make a deal." Grayson said making eye contact with me. I hesitate for a moment but nod. "Okay?" I wait for him to talk. "We share the pack." He said picking up the cigarettes grabbing two more out of there. "Deal?" He asked. I smile a little but nod standing up grabbing the cigarettes shoving them into my sweatshirt pocket and take the slurpy from Grayson's hand. "I never got your name," He states as I start to walk away. I glance over my shoulder at him. "It's Riley." I say. "Grayson." He introduced himself and I nod as I hadn't already known. He starts to walk and I feel bad because he did buy me my cigarettes. "Hey, do you want a ride?" I ask. He turns around and looks at me. "I can walk. I don't live far." He said. I narrow my eyes and smirk, "See I'm not taking no for an answer." I cross my arms. He looks at me surprised for a moment but then recomposes himself and laughs it off. He puts his hands up in surrender as he walks towards me. "If you insist." He teased getting in on the passenger side of the car. I climb in fastening my seat belt. I pull back onto the road and stop at the red light. "Do you have a car?" I ask. He chuckles, "Ah yeah I do but I like to walk. It always helps me to clear my head." I nod pressing my lips together. He gives me his address and we drive in silence besides the radio playing. I could hear Grayson singing along to the song playing on the radio. I smile but don't say anything. I pull into his drive way and stare in awe at his house. He gets out of the car and leans in to look at me. "See you around, Clover." He winks closing the car door. It hits me that he's talking about the clover I was twirling at the gas station. I pull out of the drive way and head home. He doesn't live far from so it doesn't take long to get home. I hide the cigarettes under the seat of my car and walk inside locking it behind me. "Why weren't you answering your phone?" My mother asked. "Jesus, let her get through the door." My dad called behind her. I take my shoes off hanging my keys on the hook. "I'm back in one peace." I say walking past her heading to the stairs. My stupid boot was making it hard to have a dramatic exit up the stairs. "Get back down here young lady or your grounded." My mom called as I get walk way up the stairs. "Then I'm grounded." I call back down closing my bedroom door pushing the computer chair under the doorknob again.