Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do - John wooden.
Grayson's POV
An hour after speaking to Cam, I decided that I had stayed long enough. If Ashley wasn't going to talk to me, then I couldn't be under the same roof as her, knowing fully well she was just a huff of breath away, It's just pure torture. I needed to get home quick to clear my head and emotions that was everywhere. Besides Anne didn't look like she was enjoying being here, she'd been pestering me to take her home a while ago. Yvie wasn't downstairs with us so I texted her letting her know I was leaving and if she wanted to join.
'Will Anne be joining too?' She replies my text and at her words I inwardly shake my head. She'd definitely not go if I told her Anne's tagging along. But I can't lie to her either, or can I? too. Guess I have to opt for the truth.
Let me try to convince her, 'Yeah! But you guys might get along, who knows. Just come downstairs.'.
'Thanks! But I will PASS!!!' Comes her reply immediately.
I turn to Anne who was comfortably seated beside me, yawning out of boredom. From her posture, it's so obvious she's bored outta her mind and she might fall asleep any moment from now. Old habits die hard, don't they?
"Hey!" I snap my fingers in her face and she lifts her eyes to meet mine. "Let's go, let me drive you home."
"Finally!" She sighs, "I honestly thought I was going to pass out due to immense boredom. Is this how you guys have your sleepover?" she raises a brow at me and I nod my head in response. She scrunches up her nose, "It's so booring. Gosh!" She stretches her hand towards me, "Help me up."
I take her hand into mine and pull her to her feet and when she's studied, I turn to the rest, "Guys, we're heading home."
"So soon?!!" Pierson says.
"Yeah, Anne wants to go home. So see you guys later."
"Bye!" Dylan says.
"Later, man." Pierson says.
"Bye." Anne waves them and we head out for my car.
Immediately I drive out of Cam's neighborhood, from my peripheral vision I could feel Anne gazing at me as if she wanted to say something.
I turn to look at her, "You want to say something?"
"Why was your girlfriend.... " she taps her chin in thought, what's her name again?"
"Ashley."
"Yeah, that one, she was acting really weird today. Is anything wrong with the two of you? Not to be inquisitive or anything but you were acting a tad off too."
"Nothing really."
"Are you sure?" She raises a brow at me.
"Yeah! It's just.... we just had a little misunderstanding, that's all."
"Oh I'm so sorry."
I force a smile, "It's okay."
"Couple's fight. I presume it's normal."
"Actually this is the first time this is happening."
"Really?! Then it must hurt."
"It does!"
"But do you know the source of all this?" My mind goes through a million number of possibilities as to why this is happening but then none of them really clicks.
"Honestly, I wish I knew so I we could patch things up, but I don't."
"I think no matter the situation, she shouldn't be ignoring you."
I half smile and she places her hand on mine, "I'm here for you, in case you need anyone to run to for comfort. Just know that you have a friend in me that is ready to lend you a shoulder to lean on, anytime you want," and squeezes it.
As weird as this sound, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. A heavy weight just lifts off my shoulder almost like I needed to hear those exact words or similar.
I don't pull my hand away like I initially thought I would, instead my lips stretch into a genuine smile, "Thanks, a lot."
"You're welcome." She returns the smile.
Just like that, it felt like we'd connected even more. We allow the chords and melodious sound of music take over the atmosphere in the car throughout the rest of the ride to her home.
When I drop her at her place, she doesn't get down from the car but stays in it as a frown maneuvers its way to her face. For a second I was confused at her sudden switch.
"Why what's wrong?" I ask.
"I want to come over to your place. Plus I'm really craving for pizza right now."
"Okay."
"So...." I start when we enter the house after placing the order, "...I was wondering, did you acquire friends over these past years?"
"Y-e.." She was about to answer but I cut her off.
"Of course! You did. Tell me about them."
She chuckles, "Well I actually made a lot of friends, never really had close ones like how you and I used to be but they're still my friends."
"I see! So what are you are their names, some of them. I guess they're a whole lot so some of them."
"Well, Tristan, Parker, Phil and Mel."
"Just one female friend?"
"Not really but just that the guys are a lot and she's the person I call my actual friend."
"Cool."
"Yeah! By the way ever since I came, I haven't quite set my eyes on Mom, where's she?"
Shit! No, this isn't happening. My actions becomes static and my body tense at the mention of my mother's name. Not again, I don't like to talk about her.
"Well... she isn't around."
"Why where did she go to? A Business trip?"
"U-h No!"
"Then, where's sh..."
"She left." At this point, my tone was devoid of any emotion.
She scrunches her face in confusion, "I don't get you."
"She divorced my Dad and left."
She gasps, "Oh no!" and covers her mouth with her hand, "Please tell me you're kidding." When I don't say anything. "So... you're not?"
"I'm not."
"Oh my, I'm sorry. I didn't know something this terrible happened to you. I wish I was here for you when it happened."
"I-t's okay, it's fine. I'm f-i-ne." My voice slightly wavers.
We stay silent for a long while. "Can I give you a hug? You probably need it."
Do I ?!!!
I couldn't trust my voice at the moment so I nod.
She draws closer and her arms go around me. I hug back and I feel her pat my hair. Suddenly a memory flashes in my head. A memory of us while we were kids. If I quite remember it vividly, my dad scolded for something silly I did and I was crying.
Flashback...
"Why are you crying?" A tiny voice says to me and I lift up my head to see it was my friend, Anne. I don't answer her, instead, I continue sobbing.
She sits beside me and takes my hand into hers and squeezes it, her baby brown eyes watching me carefully. After a few seconds when I still don't stop crying, she asks, "Can I give you a hug?"
I shake my head. "Why?" Her tiny voice asked and I shook my head again, uttering no words. Before I could realise, her small body engulfs me into a hug, asking for no permission.
"Don't cry, else you'll make me cry too." My sobs began getting faint by the second because I didn't want her to cry. She pats my hair and I shut my eyes as the tears stopped flowing. Eventually we both fell asleep in each other's arms. After that, it was our usual routine to hug one another and pat our hairs whenever we were sad or crying.
Present time
We both pull away and my face lits up at the memory.
"You still remember?" I ask and she nods.
"Of course! I do. It was our own special way of comforting each other, how could I possibly forget?"
"Yeah!" I smile, "Thanks for the hug, though."
"It's nothing, really, anything for you."
"I think the pizza's in," I point in the direction of the door, "I'll get it."
"Sure."
__
Never would I have thought chatting like this again with my former best friend would be this amazing. It's overwhelming, the memories. It feels good to smile like this while in retrospect.
"And you remember that time..." Anne's eyes glows as she speaks, my ears perk up immediately as I take a bite of the pizza slice in my hand, "...when you were brave to collect back my toffee from, what's his name again,"
I gulp down the content in my mouth "Is it Peter?"
"Yes! Peter. At the time I was so happy, you were an amazing best friend."
I was? "Mmmmhh..." I take another bite.
She laughs, "I know you don't believe it, but it's true. You still are, you know?"
I raise a brow at her and she clears her throat and snaps her eyes to the open pizza box before us, she picks up a slice and munches on it.
After a while, we were done eating and there was nothing left to do.
"Let me walk you to your place?" I inquire.
"That'd be great." She grins.
********
Hey!!
So do you hate Anne even more now?
Or do you like her? Just a tad?
Comment!! And remember to vote!