Things Change

Chapter 8:

Riley:

"Let's go somewhere." Grayson spoke up. "What?" I looked over at him. "Well we can't sit here all day unless you plan on going in. If that's the case, I can leave." He said. I shook my head, truthfully I had no intentions on going inside. I start the car and back out of my parking space pulling out of the school parking lot. "Where are we going?" I asked. "Where ever the road takes us." He said. "What?" I ask. "Don't think about it. Turn wherever you feel is right." He said. I looked over at him confused and he smirks. "But what if we get lost?" I asked. He chuckles looking away from me. "Isn't that the point?" He asks. I took a left turn taking the road all the way down when I take another right. That road lead all way out of town. "Turn here," He says. I turn onto a dirt road and follow it until we reach a small lake hidden behind a large willow tree. "It's part of the Furn Lake just outside of town but no one ever really comes to this side." Grayson explains as we get out of the car. We walk down the path that leads to the deck. He takes a seat at the edge so I sit beside him. I smile. "What?" He asks. I shake my head, "You have a knack for picking beautiful spots." I say. He clears his throat and nods. I could tell his uncomfortable with my statement so I look away from him at the water. It really was beautiful. The sun hit the water just right so it reflected off. "Do you come here to think?" I ask. Grayson smirks, "No. I've only come here one other time." He said. I waited for him to continue but it was evident he wasn't going to. So I look back at the water. A comfortable silence falls between us. It's like this for a while until Grayson speaks. "So Brad, what's the deal with him?" Grayson asks. "What is this confession week?" I ask. He narrows his eyes holding his hands up in surrender. "How will you expect this to work if you're just as closed off as I am?" He asks. "This?" I whisper. Grayson clears his throat looking at the water. "Are you gonna tell me or not?" He said. "Uh, I dated Brad to get back at my parents. Mostly my mom. Before I dated Brad, I found my mom sleeping with my school teacher. She still doesn't know that I know and I never got the courage to tell my Father. My mom is obsessed with having a good reputation which is pretty ironic if you ask me. So when I met Brad at a party I knew he would be perfect for pissing her off." I explain. Grayson looks surprised that I'm actually telling him. Honestly so am I. "He was just a bad person all around. Did drugs, drank alcohol, broke the law a lot. Now that I think back on it he was always high or drunk. I started skipping school, running away, sneaking out, smoking pot." I said. Grayson laughs, "You sound like a badass." He said. "I thought I was. One day I got in a really bad fight with my mom. She called me a fast girl saying that Brad didn't love him. So I left the house and drove to Brad's. Only to find he was screwing my best friend. So I drove away and got hit by a car. I woke up in a hospital a few weeks later. With a broken leg, cracked ribs and a few stitches." I say. Grayson nods, "Did you love him?" Grayson asks. His question surprises me. "No. I thought I did but deep down I knew I didn't. That's probably why it bothered that she called me a fast girl because I was still a virgin." I answer. He laughs, "You're not now?" He asks. I felt my cheeks redden. "Yeah..I am." I answer. He nods looking away but from the corner of my eye I see a smile on his face. "So what does he want now?" Grayson asks. "To talk. Try to work things out. I don't know. When I woke up in the hospital I didn't understand why Brad or any of my so called friends didn't come and see me. It turns out that my mom told them all to stay away and I found out a few days ago."
"That's why you were at the 7-11." Grayson concludes. I nod. "It just pisses me off that my mom is trying to control my life. I've been trying really hard to be on my best behavior these last few months because of everything that happened but I just can't.." I shake my head annoyed. "So now that I've spilled my deepest darkest secret it's your turn." I say. Grayson sighs, "There isn't much to tell." He answered. "Oh come on. I even know that's not true."
"There isn't anything to tell, okay?" He snaps. I wince from the tone of his voice but nod. I understood. "Let's go." He said standing up. I follow after him getting into the driver side of the car. We drive back into town. "Where are we going?" I ask. "My house." He answered. I felt my heart jump in anticipation.