Things Change

Chapter 7:

Riley:

To say that my mother would have spared me a lecture is like saying a police man would have let a criminal walk out of jail. She was still pretty pissed off about the whole ordeal. "What's the problem?" My dad walks into the kitchen. "The problem is, that our daughter doesn't know how to follow the rules. First her storming out, doing God knows what then her coming in at 11-"

"You came in late?" My father asked looking over at me. I bite my lip and nod. This is why he told me to come home early. To avoid this confrontation with my mom but I seemed to lose track of time when I was around Grayson even if we didn't talk much. "She came in soaking wet. From head to toe." My mother announces. She shakes her head. Suddenly she stops and looks at me. "Has Brad called you?" She asked. I stand up in my chair, "So this is what it's about. Brad?" I asked defensively. She shakes her head, "It's about the things you did with Brad. I just don't want you to fall back into those bad habits." She said. "Why can't you let that go? Just because I fucked up in the past doesn't mean that you have to second guess everything I do." I yell. "Language." My father said sternly. My mother stares at me in disbelief. I stare at her back because I wasn't going to back down from this. "Hurry up. I'm taking you to school." She said turning around to grab her coffee cup. "No." I state. Both of my parents turn and look at me. "I'm driving myself to school from now on. I have a perfectly useable car that I can never drive because you guys always insist on taking me everywhere and I'm tried of being depended on you." I say. I take a deep breath to calm down. "Yes, I was in an accident. Of course I got hurt but stuff like that happens all the time and I can't be babied anymore. I'm 18 technically an adult. If I let one bad accident determine the rest of my life then I'm just setting myself up to fail." I explain. I grab my bag off of the chair beside me and my keys that are resting on top of it. "Now with that being said, I'm going to school." I turn and walk out of the kitchen heading to the front door. I get into my car, heading to school. When I reach the parking lot, I park far away from the entrance reaching down under the seat for the pack of cigarettes. I grab on and lite it. I know I shouldn't be smoking on school grounds because it's against the rules and I could get suspended but I didn't care. I rest my head on the steering wheel and close my eyes. Even when I tried to forget Brad my mom would bring him up. Or he would call his way back in. I jump when my car door opens and Grayson slides in. "It seems to me that you need a cigarette almost everyday." He observes with a smile. He closes the car door. "You do realize that your more than likely to get caught right?" He said. I bite the inside of my cheek and nod. I could taste a small amount of blood. "Did you get in trouble for coming in late?" He asked. "More than you know." I said. He smirks, "Have you gotten in trouble for something like this before?" He asked. I sigh, looking over at him. "What's with all the questions?" I asked irritated. He shrugs, surprised by my outburst but he plays it off. "Maybe I want to know or maybe I don't give a shit and just want to spread rumors about you." He snapped. I slump back in my seat in defeat. I barely know this guy but his mood swings are getting old. "Yeah, I used to stay out all the time. Sometimes I didn't even come home. Hell other times I did but I would sneak out when my parents were in bed." I tell him looking out the window. I could feel him staring at me and I shake my head looking down at my lap. "I did a lot of bad things in the past. Now I breath the wrong way and my mother is down my throat." I explain annoyed. He stays quiet for a moment then scuffs, "My parents barely notice me." He said. "That must be nice." I answered and he smirks. His facial expression changes quickly and I know he's putting on a mask again. "It has it's perks. Sex as much and as loud as I want." He grins. I smack his arm but laugh at him. "Is that all you ever think about? Sex." I ask. He makes eye contact with me and winks. I roll my eyes looking out the window again staring at the building. The more I sat in here the more I didn't want to leave. I didn't want to go inside but I knew I had to. I had to talk to Susan and tell her what happened but then I get this small twinge of jealously and I don't want her to know about Grayson. "Penny for your thoughts?" He asked. I smile a little but shake my head. "My brother used to ask me that all the time." I whisper. I can see him nod from the corner of my eye a small smile on his face. "So did mine." He agrees. I want to ask him about his brother and all of the things that he did but I didn't want to push. I had a feeling Grayson has told me more about his past than anyone else. Or maybe not? "So your friends with Susan Harris?" He asked causally a smirk on his face. "Yeah, why?" I asked. He shakes his head and makes a face. "No reason...it's just her and Clarissa used to be best friends until they had a bet to see who could hook up with me first Freshman year," He said. I felt my stomach churn and I looked over at him. "Who won?" Clarissa came to mind. Maybe that's why Susan hated her so much because she won. "Susan." He said. I felt myself gasp and Grayson laughed at my reaction. "Plot twist, holy shit I didn't see that coming." I mumble leaning back in my seat. "That explains why Clarissa hates her why does Susan?" I ask. Grayson shrugs, "I don't know maybe fighting over a guy does something to a friendship or maybe it's because I didn't want a relationship with Susan. Or anyone." He said. I give him a confused look, "Aren't you dating Clarissa?" I ask which causing him to laugh and throws his head back. "What? No. We're more friends with benefits." He said. I felt stupid for asking so I nod biting my lip again looking out the window. The bell rang announcing the start of class but I didn't move. I was still trying to processes everything Grayson told me. It all made sense. Why was he telling me all of this? All of a sudden my phone started to ring and I stare down at it. "Who's Brad?" Grayson asked. I grabbed the phone and pressed ignore but he was calling me a few minutes later. "What?" I answered bluntly. "Have you thought it through?" He asked. A grab the pack of cigarettes from under the seat lighting a new one handing the pack to Grayson. "Okay, let's say I do go. What are we gonna talk about? About how much you miss me? How you screwed up? It's the same with you all the time." I said. "It's different this time." He answered. "What's different?" I asked. "Us." He states. I feel my breath catch in my throat. "I've gotta go. Stop calling me." I hang up the phone not waiting for his response. Grayson stays quiet for a moment then smirks. "So that's Brad."

"Don't start." I snap.