Carter.

12.

It's become a regular thing for Grayson to eat lunch with me outside on the bleachers and I can't help but feel like I'm taking him from his friends. I don't want them to hate me...

I look up from my homework while slightly chewing on my pen. Grayson is sitting across from me at the table in the library. Our class is supposed to be researching and writing for our essay on eating disorders but I can't focus, it's due tonight at midnight online.

He always talks about his friends and yet I haven't officially met any of them. What if he's embarrassed of me? That's crazy... but I don't want to be that girl that makes him not hang out with his friends much. I know I've only been taking his time for like 3 weeks, but we now hang out basically every night I don't work, he always drives Emma and I home from school and we hang out during the day on Saturdays and Sundays.

He keeps asking me to sit at his lunch table during lunch but I can't. I can't deal with all that noise and drama. I need my hour break from the masses of my school in the middle of the school day. It used to be my only me-time on days I work, but Grayson has been a enjoyable add in.

"You still coming to mine today after school?" Grayson asks pulling me out of my own head.

"Yeah of course." I breath out. "Unless you have better plans?"

"Better plans than hanging out with you? Not possible." He chuckles slightly looking back down at his book and notebook.

I look back at mine and try to focus. I jump at a sudden sound and look up immediately.

It's one of Grayson's friends, he slapped his hands on his shoulders. I let out a silent but shaky breath.

"Gray!" He greets him and pulls out the seat next to him. "Gray's girl!" He nods to me. Gray's girl? I smile at him. He's got brown hair, a tan that almost looks fake it's so perfect. He's got nothing on Grayson but he's a good looking guy.

"Brock, what's up man?" Grayson greets him, glancing at me. I'm sure he noticed me jump at the sudden noise, he notices everything about me.

"Sam's mom is hosting some shitty book club at his house tonight so we can't watch the game there. Can we watch it at yours?" He huffs, clearly annoyed.

"Sorry man. I already got plans tonight." He shrugs and sends me a wink.

"You weren't planning on coming to Sam's?" He looks so confused, he quickly picks up his phone and start to look for something on it. "Didn't you say in the group chat that you'd be there?"

"For the party on saturday, I said I would DD." He shakes his head at his friend. Maybe this is a normal thing for him? Or maybe Grayson always hangs out with them it's just a given? Used to always hang out with them...

"Oh that's right, you'll be with your girl tonight. Your mom is out of town." He smiles huge while looking up at Grayson, obviously insinuating something.

"Y'all can still come over and watch the game if you want." I offer before I can really think through what I'm saying. I'm really offering Grayson's house up? Like I live there. Brock looks over at me at the same time Grayson does.

"For real?" Brock says at the same time Grayson says "No, you can't."

"I mean it's not my house but I'm fine with it." I hesitantly look over at Grayson. He looks surprised but not necessarily mad.

"Great! We'll be there around 6:30 for the game." Brock says jumping up before Grayson can really say anything. "See y'all later tonight!" And with that, he saunters off.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to invite them over if you don't them at your house." I grimace while biting my lower lip.

"Don't do that." He almost growls.