Things Change

Chapter 5:

Riley:

I stare at my phone screen as Brad's number appears on the screen. I step out into the bowling parking lot answering the phone. "Don't hang up." Brad speaks first before I can even speak. I take a deep breath and lean against the building wall. "You still there?" He asks after a few moments. I nod, biting my lip. "Yeah." I breath out. I hear him sigh in relief but he doesn't say anything. "God, I miss you." He finally says and my heart clenches. "It doesn't change anything, Brad." It feel weird saying his name out loud. He's quiet. "I know, I know but I need to see you. Can I come see you?" He asks. I take a deep breath watching the cars drive by. A little part of me wanted to see him. I missed him too but there were to many things that he did that were forgivable. Even if he came back my mom would have a cow. "I don't think it's a good idea." I announce. "We need to talk. Face to face there were so many things said that-well I can't take back. I know that but-Riley, please." He begs. I shake my head biting my lip. My gut was telling me it was a bad idea. "What are you gonna do if my mom finds out your here? Huh. I can't risk that." I feel my eyes start to water so I blink back the tears. "I'll stay at a hotel. You can meet me there. I can come during spring break. Just please, give me a chance." He pleaded and I scuff. "I've gotta go." I say. "Just think about it. Okay?" He asked. "Fine. I'll think about it." I hang up the phone shoving it into my pocket. I walk to my car pulling out a cigarette from the pack under the seat. My mind goes to Grayson but I push the thought away leaning on the hood of my car as I smoke. It's quiet out here except for the occasional car that drove by. Brad stresses me out but I still miss him. We were best friends before all this shit went down. Becoming his girlfriend was the worst and best thing I ever did well up until now. It all seemed petty now compared to how it felt just a few months ago. I was finally broken from his charm and I seen the person he really was. "Smoking again?" I turn my head to see Grayson walking towards me. I couldn't help but smile back at him. "Man your life must be stressful." He mumbles sitting beside me. I offer him a cigarette and he takes one. "You don't know the half of it." I say. "Try me." He dares. I look into his eyes and there is a glint of mischief. I shake my head looking back at the road. "I don't like to talk about it." I finally say. Grayson snorts, "And here I was thinking you were some kind of girly girl." He says. I smirk, "Awe, you think about me?" I ask sarcastically and he seems surprised but he rolls his eyes. "Whatever it is. It can't be that bad." He assumes. "Maybe. Maybe not. It all depends on the person." I say causally and he looks over at me. I can feel him staring so I make eye contact with him but he doesn't drop his gaze. "So, what's your reason for smoking?" I ask. He shrugs and his poster becomes very tense and he still doesn't say anything. "It doesn't really matter does it?" He says. I frown at the thought but don't say anything. He throws the butt of his cigarette down and stands up from the hood of my car. He starts to walk away when he turns back and faces me. "Do you want to do something crazy?" He asks. I bite my lip unsure but find myself nodding. "Can I have the keys?" He extends his hands. I set them in his hand and get into the passenger side. He turns the car on and peels out of the bowling parking lot. I clench onto the side of the seat as he races down the road taking a sharp turn onto a back road. "Will you slow down?" I ask. He ignores me and I feel my heart thumping against my chest. "Grayson," I breath out his name looking over at him. His eyes are locked on the road and he doesn't seem to be paying attention. "Grayson, slow down." He still doesn't say a word when he suddenly slams on the breaks. I jolt forward putting my arms out to stop from myself from hitting my head on the dash board. I can only hear myself breathing as I try to catch my breath. "What the hell?" I look over at Grayson who shoots me a confused look. "What?" He asked calmly. "Do you have a death wish or are you just crazy?" I demand. He shrugs turning off the keys getting out of the car. I watch him walk around the car heading to a railing on the right side. "Fuck." I mumble under my breath getting out of the car. It takes me a moment to realize but we are on a bridge. I can hear the water moving below us. I take hesitant steps towards Grayson. I stand beside him looking down at the water. We stand in silence for a while and it's peaceful. "I came here with my brother once when I was like fourteen. He found this place by accident and he said he had to show it to me." Grayson spoke softly. He looks down at the water, "My brother...my brother was adventurous. He had this glow about him that made you want to do great things and be a better person." Grayson looks over at me makes eye contact with me. "When we came here he gave me the 'being a man' speech because-" He stops himself. "Anyways, this is were I come when I need time to myself." He smiles a little to himself. I look away from him down at the water and wonder why he told me this. "You ready?" He asks suddenly. I looked over at him, "For what?" I ask. "To do something crazy." He says. I feel my eyes widen, "You're driving wasn't crazy?" I asked. He chuckles rolling his eyes grabbing the railing pulling himself up. "Whoa, what are you doing?" I asked. "Just get up here."

"No." I shake my head.