oxygen (e.d.)

chapter twelve

hi! how are you liking the story? be honest, do u hate it? also, let me know if there's any specific plot points you might want to see in this book. i LOVE feedback and i'd love some from all of you! what can i do better?

once again, thank you for reading 😘

^grayson^

notice how it says GRAYSON. just making sure you noticed ;)

it's been about a week since ethan brought rowen home, and i haven't really talked to him since.

i'm not mad, i guess i'm just not ready to dismiss the fact that RILEY IS PERFECT FOR HIM.

whatever.

i can't control him.

"gray?" he asks, sitting at the kitchen table.

"yes?" i roll my eyes, tired of being a servant.

"can you make me chicken?"

"can't you make it yourself?" i spit.

"you need to chill, gray, okay?"

"whatever," i mumble under my breath.

"i'm going to rowen's today."

"okay," i say.

"is there something you want to tell me?" he sighs.

"nope,"

"good,"

"but is it okay if i ask riley if she wants to go on a run?"

"what?" he exclaims.

"i lost her too, e."

"really?" he says, as if he can't believe me.

"just relax. you guys are still friends so why does it matter?"

"whatever. i don't care."

he definitely cares.

i run upstairs and change into a cutoff and running shorts, and lace up my running shoes.

i debate on wether texting her first, but decide against it. it'll just be casual.

driving to her house, i wonder what we're going to talk about. college? summer? plans? i refuse to talk about my brother.

i pull into her driveway and take a deep breath.

i was never close with riley when she was dating ethan, but she was still a sister to me, and always will be.

the doorbell rings and i shift my weight on my feet, staring at the ground.

the door swings open and reveals a girl. but it's not riley.

"hello?" she says, smiling in a way that makes me feel some sort of way.

"hi, is riley here?"

"you're gr-" she snaps her fingers, but riley appears behind her, cutting her off.

"who's here, sloane?"

riley and i lock eyes and she looks surprised.

"sorry," i apologize, "i didn't know you had friends over."

"i'm more of a sister, but okay." the other girl shrugs, turning on her heels and walking swiftly past riley.

"that's sloane," riley laughs, "sorry. what'd you stop by for?"

"i was wondering if you wanted to go for a run?"

"a run?" she asks carefully.

"yeah, if you want."

sloane reappears behind riley and rests her chin on her shoulder, looking at me expectantly while eating a bag of doritos.

"uh- yeah. mind if i leave for a bit, sloane?"

"go ahead," sloane shrugs, "i'll be taking a nap probably."

"make sure to make my bed again after you wake up," riley says.

i chuckle at that and riley smiles.

"i'll be right back," she says and disappears upstairs.

"so," sloane leans up against the door, "have her back in an hour, okay?"

"yes ma'am," i affirm.

"make sure she doesn't out do herself."

"got it."

"and don't mention ethan."

"wasn't going to."

"good," she smiles contently.

riley comes bounding down the stairs, sporting running shorts and a tank top.

"ready?" i ask.

"yep," she says and stretches her arm over her head.

we start on a very slow jog, just barely past the walking point.

our feet lift heavy off the ground and i breathe in through my nose and out my mouth.

"so," riley says after awhile, "to what do i owe your appearance?"

"in need of a running buddy," i flash a smile and she laughs.

"why me?"

"i used to hear a lot of impressive things about your running days,"

"from who?" she asks curiously.

"from..." i think, not wanting to mention ethan, "school newspapers."

"oh," she looks disappointed and focuses her attention on her shoes.

we pick up our pace and the air is filled with our shortness of breath.

i stop suddenly and pull out my inhaler. riley stops in her tracks and waits for me to catch up.

"thanks," i cough.

"no problem. how's your summer so far?"

"boring," i struggle to laugh, "but i'm making do."

"mine is anything but boring with sloane around," riley grins, slowing down her pace slightly.

"i can tell," i say, "she seems to be a perfect best friend for you because you're-"

"polar opposites," she finishes, as if she's heard it a thousand times before, "i know."

"what's wyatt been doing? haven't hung out with him in awhile."

we slow down to a walk and i wipe the sweat off my forehead with my shirt.

"he's been mostly at the house, spending time with me and our parents, which is too."

"i'll have to text him sometime for a skate day," i breathe heavily.

"he'd like that," she smiles.

we walk in comfortable silence for a bit, the only noise being our feet hitting the concrete.

"well," i say when we get back to her driveway, "good run. what was it- 2 miles?"

"child's play," she grins, highfiving me.

"next time we'll do it twice!" i yell as our paths spilt and she heads for the door, and i walk towards my car.

she holds her hand up to a wave and stays there until i've driven away.