Friends Don't

Chapter Two

Monday rolled around quicker than I hoped for it to. After the party Saturday night I spent the rest of my time in my dorm room doing next to nothing besides homework.

I slipped on a pair of leggings and a sweater before leaving the dorm. On my way to class I stopped by the small coffee shop on campus to grab a latte. I never would have imagined a college to have such good coffee, but surprisingly it tasted better than most places I'd been.

I intertwined my fingers around the cup warming my hands as I headed to class. When I made it inside the building the change in temperature was a relief. To say I wasn't ready for winter would be an understatement.

I pulled the door open to my Psychology class and began heading for the general area I sat, somewhere in the middle, but then I heard Lana say, "Ellie, over here!"

I turned around to see her sitting on the opposite side of the room a few rows back from our normal spot. She was sitting next to Derek. I guess he really was in this class. I headed over to them and slid into the aisle seat.

"You remember Derek, right?" she asked.

"Of course," I told her and then turned to him. "Hey."

"Hey," he said giving me a warm smile.

There was a guy sitting next to him busy talking to some other guy to his right, but seconds after I had spoke he began to turn around and our eyes met. "I thought I recognized that voice," he said a smile creeping onto his lips.

My face scrunched as I looked to Lana and Derek. "What's he doing here?"

Lana looked surprised. "You know him? That's Grayson. Him and Derek are best friends."

That was when I turned to Derek. "Why?" I questioned him.

He seemed taken back. "Um, I don't know?"

"Because I'm cool and fun," Grayson chimed in.

"About as fun as a splinter in your ass."

"Still going with the rude remarks, I see," Grayson said to me.

I rolled my eyes at him, catching the confused and somewhat uncomfortable stares from Lana and Derek as I faced the front of the room.

As the teacher began I put my focus on her, ignoring the whispers of the three beside me talking. When class ended I gathered up my things and headed out the classroom door.

"What was that about?" Lana asked appearing beside me just as I slipped outside the building.

I looked around us, Derek and Grayson were nowhere to be seen. "That's the douchebag I was talking about."

Her eyes widened. "From last night?"

I nodded. "Mhm. Grayson."

"Oh wow. I had no idea." We walked in silence until she asked, "do you want to go grab some breakfast?"

My stomach growled at her words. "Sure."

We made our way off campus and just across the street. Most places were within walking distance which was nice.

We slid into a booth near a window looking out to the college. The waiter appearing soon after taking our orders before leaving.

"I can't believe he's the same guy from last night."

"I can't believe Derek would be friends with him." I stared at her. "Unless he's full of himself and a player, as well."

"What, no!" She clasped her hands. "Or at least I don't think so. He doesn't seem like it."

Our food arrived moments later; eggs and bacon. As we dove in enjoying our meals, still warm which was nice, we made some small talk.

Thanksgiving would be coming up soon and both of us planned on staying on campus instead of driving the six hours home.

Then the bell above the door rang out. I looked up to see who was walking in, not necessarily to be nosy, just a reaction. I regretted looking the moment I noticed who it was because their eyes caught mine and suddenly they were making their way over to us.

Derek slid in beside Lana, a smile on her face as he put his arm around her shoulders.

"Can I sit?" Grayson asked me.

I looked up at him, not wanting to move, but I slid over allowing him to sit down.

Lana looked across the table at me giving off a small 'I'm sorry' look, but it was whatever. I wasn't going to let him ruin my breakfast, because I was hungry and I liked food.

"Man, seeing each other two times in one day. Could a person be any luckier?" Grayson asked me.

"You? Probably not. Me? Yeah."

"Ellie," Lana whispered at me giving me a small kick under the table.

"What?" I mouthed back, completely obvious to what she meant, but pretending not to.

Lana put her attention on Grayson. "So, anyway, Grayson. I don't know much about you."

"Is that really such a bad thing?" I muttered, receiving another kick to my shin, this time returning one right back.

"Ow!" she yelped.

Derek and Grayson looked between us both but we paid them no attention. "There's not really anything to know," Grayson told her.

After breakfast we said our goodbyes to the guys and began heading back to the dorms.

"Why would you invite them to Thanksgiving dinner with us?" I questioned her.

"They're both staying on campus like us and I thought it would be nice." She pulled her coat tighter around her waist. "And it will be fun."

"Hm," I said and then fell quiet.

"Hm, what?" she asked after a few seconds of silence.

"I'm just trying to see how you figure that this falls under the fun category."

***

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