What is Home

Chapter Twenty-One

All first period, Grayson blew up my phone. I honestly had no idea how he didn't get in trouble for having his phone out, that's how often the messages were coming through. I refused to even acknowledge the fact that he was even messaging me. Every text I left unread.

As lunch rolled around as much as we wanted to outcast Grayson I felt like it was wrong. Pierce though, was the person with the biggest issue towards Grayson. He wanted Grayson nowhere near me. I was forced to sit next to Pierce instead of my original seat next to Grayson.

"What could possibly make you say something so fucking foul?" Pierce looked over at Grayson. The anger still raged in him. I grabbed his hand under the table for comfort making sure that we kept it hidden from Ally.

"You." Grayson said with no hesitation.

"Excuse you?" Pierce tried to stand up wanting to hit Grayson right then and there, but I held him down from doing so. There was no way I was letting him ruin everything he built because Grayson was an asshole.

"You walked in here thinking you were the best person that has ever existed on this Earth. You take my sister and wrap her around your finger. Then, Charlee comes in here and you do the exact same thing to her. You have my sister; you don't need Charlee too. Don't act like you aren't messing around with the two of them. I see right through you Hudson."

I wanted to stand up right then and there and air out Pierce and I's past, but I knew that it wasn't the right time or place. Pierce's anger grew even thicker. His grip on my hand tightened. The grip was so tight my fingers were turning a bright shade of red.

"You think you are so fucking entitled Grayson. Just because you come from a family who gets handed everything. Guess what? I was just like you until my entire life was ripped away from me." Pierce laughed and his grip on my hand completely went loose. At this point everyone in the cafeteria was staring. It was clear that this wasn't normal. I brought a tornado whirling behind me as I arrived, and it was causing destruction to everything in its path. "I had money just like you. I was king of the school just like you." A laugh escaped his mouth. "You need some serious humbling."

All eyes were on Pierce. Even Ally was taking his side. Ally had never gone against her brother, or so I heard. They bickered about the little stuff but whenever one of them did something wrong, they always had each other's backs. This time though, Ally wanted nothing to do with the insane accusations that her brother was spewing.

Before Grayson or Pierce could say another word, I stood up and stood at the end of the table so I could be seen by everyone. I took a deep breath as I gripped the edge of the table. "I'm closest with Pierce because he understands what it is like to lose everything. This week I got two of my siblings back because I was gifted an incredible family." I looked at Reece. "I honestly thought I was going to be stuck in a group home rotting away in a room by myself until I was too old to be there anymore. I had a best friend in that home that made me feel alive." I gave a quick glance to Pierce before I went back to addressing everyone. "That was a feeling that I didn't have for sixteen years. I lived every day for sixteen years fearing going home. I didn't know what I was going to walk into my home and see. I woke up every morning not knowing if I was going to be beaten or sexually assaulted. Imagine going through every day of your life worrying if this time one hit is going to be too hard and you'll lose your entire life. But at the same time, fearing more for your siblings than for yourself." My eyes drifted down to the table not wanting to see the faces of the friends I had formed in my short time at Lincoln High. "I lost my family first, I lost the person that made me feel alive when a family wanted him second, and I lost the person who made me look forward to waking up every morning on Monday." I looked at Grayson. "My life has had a whole fucking lot of loss in it, but I still stand here with my head held high. Because good things come to those who deserve it. Grayson will learn from his mistakes. Just like Pierce learned how to rebuild himself into a new person after losing his bio family. Just like Reece learned how to be the best quarterback in Alabama state. Just like Ally learned how to lead a crowd better than any other person I know. Just like I am learning how to love myself."

My eyes moved to each person that had a seat at our table. My eyes landing on Grayson last. I could tell that he was lost within himself. He had built up so much jealousy and anger towards Pierce and I, he lost himself. Having me speak to him, to the table, had him realizing that he had misread everything.

"Gray," I said softly. His eyes full of sadness and anger at himself lifted from their focus on his hands, to my face. "You had me thinking about our kiss for days." The thought of how gentle he was, ran through my mind. Always asking for permission before doing anything. Taking in my past before pushing too far. "I wanted nothing more than to be the girl that made you happy. Like Ally makes Pierce happy, like Harlow makes Reece happy. Clearly, I failed you there. It's kind of my thing if you hadn't noticed. I fail a lot. Unless it's school because god damn I'm smart." I tooted my own horn to bring the lightness back into the conversation. "Get out of your own head okay?"

I walked around the table and pulled him up from his seat and wrapped my arms around him. I did this for no one other than Grayson. He made a mistake. Everyone deserves second chances in my opinion. Everyone should have that chance to fix something they have done wrong. I probably looked really stupid but I had more on my mind than just trying to squash everything. They had a game tonight and everyone needed to be on the same page. It was one of the hardest teams they had to face all year.

In that moment I felt like I was back standing at my front door saying goodnight staring into Grayson's eyes. Standing there waiting for his lips to be pressed against mine. We had gone from screaming at each other, to avoiding each other, to him saying hurtful things, to this. Me wanting nothing more than to replay that night. My eyes danced from his eyes to his lips.

Grayson took that as an invitation and pushed his lips against mine. Gasps sounded from the table. I pulled away at the sounds and looked at my friends. Pierce couldn't even stand to look at the two of us. My heart broke at the same time that it felt full. My head was locked between two people.

"Does this mean you'll wear my jersey the rest of the day?" Grayson's attitude had fully switched back to his positive self. You could literally see the switch flip in his brain when my arms wrapped around him.

"You're not off the hook that easy." I turned around and pointed to my back. "Leighton all day, every day."

Grayson grabbed the back of my shirt and pulled me back toward him spinning me to face him. He lowered his voice so only I could hear him. "I will see you with my name on your back by the end of the day." A smirk ran across his face.

"Cocky much?" I brought my lip between my teeth as I stared at this blonde haired boy who made me feel wanted.

The bell ending the period sounded and I tried to take off before Grayson could say anymore, but he grabbed my hand before I could get away. He pulled me hard back to him causing me to collide with his chest. His hand reached up and pushed the hair that had fallen out of my half up pony behind my ear.

"I'm not cocky. I just know what I want." His lips grazed lightly over mine. It made me yearn for wanting his lips pressed hard against mine. I tried to push my lips into his but he moved away when he felt my face moving towards his. "I think you have a class to get to my Charlee girl."

"You're a dickhead." I shook my head as his hand wrapped itself around mine.