Friends Don't

Chapter Seven

Everyone had left except for Tyler. Honestly, I wasn't sure I even wanted to deal with him, but I didn't want to kick him out just because his ex was a bitch.

"I'm so sorry," he apologized again.

"It's fine." I was still staring up at the ceiling, growing tired of the popcorn texture. "I just don't know what you see in her."

I felt the bed shift as he sat on the edge. For the first time in almost fifteen minutes I moved my eyes from the ceiling and looked at him. His head was down. "She's never acted that way before. I don't know who that girl even was."

I sat up criss-crossing my legs and placed my hand gently on his back. "Look, I don't mean to sound rude. I don't know her, it's just-"

His head shot up and his eyes met mine. "She had no right to say those things about you."

"Well, no, but you're a sweet guy, Tyler." I stared sincerely at him. "And if you want to be with her that's your choice, but if she keeps that act up just know you deserve better. I know she was just jealous but it's still no way to act."

"I know," he said. He stood up and turned towards me looking down at me. "Maybe I should go talk to her and see what's up with her."

I gave him a warm smile. "Maybe you should."

I watched him leave and then grabbed my things for a shower. Our dorm room shares a bathroom with the room next door, which I hate, but it's so much better than having to share with the whole floor, so I suck it up and manage. I'm, also, thankful that our bathroom buddies like to keep things clean, so the bathroom is never dirty.

I stood in the shower letting the warm water run down my body. I thought about hitting Stacie and feeling a sliver of guilt. Not that she didn't deserve getting some sense knocked into her, but she was drunk and I should have gone about it differently.

After my shower I changed into some black leggings and a dark gray sweatshirt. Then I slid on my knee length boots and pulled my coat on before heading out.

As I stepped outside and the cold hit my face stinging my skin I instantly regretted my decision to leave my room. If it wasn't for the overpowering growl in my stomach I would have curled up in bed all day.

It still surprised me how many students lingered around outside with how cold it was getting. Did they wear more layers of clothing than I did? Were they immune to the cold?

As I crossed over from the sidewalk in front of my dorm to the one adjacent to it leading straight out to the diner across the street my eyes caught a familiar site.

"Up to your old tricks again, I see," I said rolling my eyes at him.

Grayson spun himself around, a smile creeping across his lips when he saw me. "I still find it crazy how much we run into each other."

"I think exhausting is a more fitting word," I told him standing there staring at him.

He started to make his way over to me, the girl he left standing there glaring at me as he did so.

I started walking before he made it to me and I could hear his footsteps grow louder before he caught up to me. "I think your girl back there might be a little irritated."

"Oh well." Then he turned around. "Yeah, maybe." His eyebrows lifted and his mouth curled up just a little as he pinched back his smile. "Oops."

I gave him a quick side eye glance before focusing back on my destination that was just in view. "Are you following me?"

"Depends where you're going."

"To get something to eat."

"I thought you hated being out in the cold?"

"Apparently my stomach can't read a thermometer."

He burst out laughing and I turned to him quickly at his sudden outburst. I watched him as his eyes held shut and small wrinkles formed at their sides, and his smile was wide. My eyes scrunched as I looked suspiciously at his amusement, but I felt a smile creep onto my lips.

Then he gathered himself and his eyes opened focusing on me. "You're smiling!"

My lips fell to a thin line. "No I'm not."

"I think that's the first time I've ever seen you smile."

"Oh whatever." I rolled my eyes.

I stepped into the diner listening to the bell fill the tiny space. A few people looked in our direction before going back to their own conversations.

As I started to make my way to the counter to order my food to go I felt Grayson's hand lightly touch my arm stopping me. "Do you want to sit and have lunch? Or would that be awkward?"

He looked nervous even asking me such a simple question, but I have made a lot of snide remarks towards him so I didn't really blame him. "Yeah, sure."

"So, I've been wanting to ask you something," he said after we had sat down and ordered our food.

"Okay?" It came out as more of a question. Maybe I was a bit afraid of the next words that would come from him.

"How come you act like I'm such a bad guy when you've done the same thing?"

"What are you talking about?"

He leaned across the table to close some of the gap between us. "Having one night stands. You did the same thing with Tyler."

"It's not the same thing," I said matter of fact.

"How isn't it?"

"Because we had a mutual agreement that it was nothing but sex. No feelings. No relationship in the future." I slid the wrapper off my straw and stuck it down in my drink. "I see the way you flirt with those girls. It's like they genuinely think that something is going to come out of sleeping with you. Like they believe they're going to be the future Mrs. Grayson Pierce."

His brows raised at my last words and he looked at me in almost an amusing way. Okay, maybe that part was a little much, but I think it got the point across. "You know what I mean," I said.

"Well, thanks for making me sound like an ass."

"You are," I said flatly, then took a sip of my water. "Look," I began as I noticed a hint of a frown from him, "you don't have to lead girls on. You're hot. I'm sure if you wanted no strings attached sex you could find someone easily."

He smirked. "You think I'm hot?"

I rolled my eyes. "Is that seriously the only thing you heard. Typical."

The conversation paused as the waiter brought our food, but the moment she stepped away from the table Grayson looked back at me and said, "you're hot, too. Beautiful. Sexy."

"Not interested," I told him.

"What? I'm being serious."

"I'm not looking to be another notch in your belt." I shook my head. "I'm surprised there's even room."

***

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