Things Change

Part 10:

Riley:
"Just hear me out," Brad pleads. "You have two minutes." I snap. There is a pause for a moment. "I know that I screwed up. Especially with Allie but I've regretted it ever since." I roll my eyes. "You wouldn't regret it if you wouldn't have been caught. I know you, Brad. Don't forget I was with you for almost two years." I counter. "Fair enough. Besides that I do miss you. Terribly. I wouldn't be trying so hard to get ahold of you if I didn't." He states. "What's your point?" I ask. "Come see me. I will let you go if you change your mind and I'll leave you alone, completely. Just please, give me a chance to talk to you in person. Spring break is next week." Brad said. "Let's say I do go, what am I supposed to tell my parents?" I ask. "You're smart, Riley. Come up with something." Brad said. "Fine, I'll meet you in Silverstein on Friday." I say. "Okay, you won't regret it." He reassures me. I bite my lip hanging up the phone tossing it down on the bed. How on earth was I going to lie to my parents? Especially now that my mom watches me like a hawk. I sigh laying on my back continuing to read the book that Grayson let me borrow. It was a strange book but I couldn't put it down. I was already half way done with it. I groan when my cellphone starts to ring again. I pick it up reading the name on the screen. Grayson. "Hello?" I answer. He lets out a shaky laugh, "Hi." I wait for him to say something else but he doesn't. "What's up?" I ask.
"Oh...I was sitting at home watching Transformers and you came to mind. You know the part where Meg Fox is running towards Sam..yeah that's when you came to mind." Grayson explained. I laugh, "So what your saying is I'm Meg Fox and your Sam?" I ask jokingly. "Yes...wait no..I don't know." He laughs. I sit up in bed criss crossing my legs. "What is up with you?" I ask trying not to laugh. "...It's nice out." He announces. "You're outside?"
"Which window is yours?" He doesn't answer my question. It takes me a moment to realize what he has just said. "Wait...you're outside my house?" I ask. I get out of bed walking to my window looking outside. I jump when I hear a crash next door. "I think I'm at the wrong house." Grayson whispers. "Just go the post light in the middle of the two houses. I'll meet you there." I instruct him hanging up. I open my bedroom door listening for my mom and dad but I didn't hear a sound. I run down the stairs trying not to trip in the dark. I put in the passcode to the alarm then step outside. Grayson is leaning against the light post with his hands crammed in his pocket. I wrap my arms around myself as I walk across the lawn towards him. "I think I broke your neighbors trash can." He admits. "What are you doing here?" I ask. "I told you." He remarks. He steps forward and that's when the smell of alcohol hits me. "Have you been drinking?" I ask. He smiles, "I may have had a few beers." He admits. "Did you walk?" I ask again. He nods. Well I couldn't send him back home drunk. God knows he would walk onto on coming traffic. I sigh, "Come on." I grab his head leading him across the lawn. We reach my door so I turn and face him. "You have to be really really quiet because if my parents catch me sneaking you into the house, I'll be dead." I say. "My lips are sealed." He runs his hand over his mouth. I open the door quietly pulling him after me. "Shh," I whisper. I close the door setting the alarm. Grayson tries to take off his shoes but he stumbles. "No, no. Stop." I grab his arm. "Why do-" I throw my hand over his mouth to make him be quiet since he was talking loudly. "Shut up." I demand. "Leave your shoes on. If my mom sees them in the morning she'll know something is up." I whisper. Grayson nods letting out a deep sigh. I drop my hand from his mouth grabbing his arm. I push him up the stairs mentally cursing at myself for thinking this was a good idea. Considering he tripped twice. "I'm going to kill you, I swear." I mumble under my breath. As I open my bedroom door I hear my parents door open. I shove Grayson in closing the door behind me. "We're so dead." I say. Grayson opens his mouth to speak but there is a knock on the door. I throw my hand over his mouth pressing a finger against my lips telling him to be quiet. "Riley?" It's my dad. Thank god. "Yea?" I answer. "Open the door." He orders. Shit. I let go of Grayson's mouth opening the door enough to see my dads face through the dark. "What's going on? I heard a lot of noise." He asks. I'm so caught. "I just went downstairs to get some water and on my way back up I fell. I shouldn't have turned on the light but I didn't want to wake you. I guess I failed, huh?" I lie. He stares at me for a few moments making eye contact. I want so badly to look away because I feel like he can see through my lie. I jump when Grayson grabs my arm. "Are you sure that's everything?" He asks. I press my lips together and nod. "Alright, goodnight then." He turns walking away. I close the door locking it. I face Grayson who's sitting on the bed looking at the book he let me borrow. "You're actually reading it?" He sounds surprised. "Why wouldn't I?" I ask. He shrugs, "Because a smart girl like you shouldn't listen to a person like me." He claims. "Well let's just say I'm not smart then what?" I ask. He makes eye contact with me. "Then I'm a fool for staying around you." He says standing up. I feel my heart beating a mile a minute. "Kiss me." I whisper. He runs his thumb across my lips holding the side of my face. "I can't." He breaths out. "I want too." He adds. I feel my stomach start to churn. "Fuck it." He crams his fingers in my hair pulling me closer. His lips brush against mine sending shivers down my spine. Then he finally kisses me. I wrap my arms around his neck trying to hold me closer to him if that were even possible. He wraps his arms under my butt picking me up. I tighten my legs around his waist. My back presses against the mattress. He runs his hands over my exposed legs. He hovers over me pushing the hem of my shirt up. He kisses down my neck stopping at the base of my throat. I lace my fingers in his hair closing my eyes as he softly bites my skin. I involuntarily moan. Suddenly he stops pulling back. "We can't do this.." He sits up. "W-what?" I ask sitting up pulling my knees closer to me. "I'm no good for you, Riley. You need to get that into your head. If you want to become the better person you want to be for your parents that won't happen with me." Grayson said. "I don't-"
"You and I won't work." Grayson says. I feel my heart falter and my stomach is churning now. I feel sick to my stomach. "I should go." He stands up. "Can you at least stay with me tonight?" I ask. He watches me for a few moments then nods. He crawls back up beside me laying down. I turn off the light turning my back to him. I fight back the tears as I listen to his steady breathing. I turn my head when I hear him move. "What are you doing?" I ask. He places a pillow between us. "Right." I didn't need him to answer me. I turn my back to him. I felt rejected and stupid. Mostly stupid. "I'm sorry." He whispers after a while. I don't bother answering him. It would be pointless.