You can never be too old to create a new dream and achieve a new goal. - C.S lewis.
Grayson's POV
I leave Ashley's house with the widest smile ever on my face. I was feeling way better now compared to how I've felt in the past few days, days that felt like years. Way better than how I felt with a heavy heart before coming to her house.
I'm elated, to say the least, said she'd take me back. We'll finally be together again after everything, the turmoil. We'd get to be together, but only if I apologise to Devi and talk to my mom, forgive her and let go of everything, forget the past. That was Ashley's condition. I will, do exactly as she has said, apologise to Devi for punching him, and talk to mum. Her request's quite easy, far easy compared to hollowness I've experienced. I never want to feel that again.
Right about now, I'm back at Cole's house shoving my stuff into my bag. My aim now, is to go back home, as much as I don't want to, I still have to. My relationship is at stake here. I will do what she says as long as I'll get to be with her. That's more than enough.
And... when I saw her in a towel wrapped around her body, I felt paralysed to the core, my senses heightened. My eyes felt glued to her exposed legs and bare shoulders. I didn't mean to but I ended up staring at her for far too long than I thought possible. If not for her calling out my name, I wonder if I would have snapped out of it, probably not. You can't blame me. My body was reacting differently towards her, a way I've never felt before, not in the entire time we dated. I'll tell you what, it felt like some sort of renewed attraction towards her. A sudden stronger likened-passion, way better than the former.
Some minutes of driving and I finally arrive home.
When I enter, my attention is drawn to figure seated on the couch, a laptop on his lap, as his fingers worked their way on the keyboard, typing away furiously, eyes squinted in concentration.
Dad.
As I made my way over to him, he lifts his head and makes eye contact with me, I might be wrong but something like relief heightened his features. He quickly tosses the laptop aside and stands on his feet. He threw his arms over me when I got closer.
I wanted to, hug back, yet it wasn't an action I've been used to, so I don't, hug back. I remain, my arms stilled at my sides.
It takes a few seconds and he pulls away and gazes into my eyes, worry latching on to his every feature, "Where have you been?"
I smile in reassurance, to ease his worry, he doesn't deserve the stress. "Cole's place." I mutter.
He sighs, "I'm glad you're back."
"Yeah," I say and he gives a small smile. "Where's she?" I ask.
A moment of confusion ensues, "Who?"
The word kept resounding in my ears, it felt stuck not knowing how to say it but then with much scolding and talking to myself, I utter "Mum." It did feel weird saying it, it felt so odd rolling off my tongue.
A momentary look of surprise crosses his face.
"She's not here. I can ca.."
"Goodnight dad." I cut him off, saying.
I climb the stairs and head for my room, shutting the door gingerly behind me. I drop my things and walk towards my drawer. Pulling it out, I pick up the picture frame, one I've kept there for as long as I can remember. It was a picture of my once beautiful family. In it was my mom, dad and I. My toothless grin shows just long it has been, I was still young when everything changed. Mom had her fingers buried in my hair as she smiled, her skin, flawless, milky and glowing almost like she was just a teenager, which wasn't the case. Her bright blue eyes shone in happiness. Dad looked a tad young too both of them was crouched to my level, mom's hand was Dad had his arm around my shoulders.
We were happy. What changed? What happened to us?
Hugging the picture to my chest was the last thing I remember before drifting off to sleep.
_ _
Third Person's POV
"I brought this for you." Grayson mutters a bit nervous as he hands Ashley the doughnuts he had managed get her. It was one of the things she loved and it'd make him happy seeing her smiling. Ashley for a second eyes whatever it was that he held in his palms stretched towards hers. Immediately she takes it out of his palms and he spends no more than a second as, disappears from the cafeteria, away from the inquisitive prying eyes of students.
Pulling on her face an awkward smile as she casts a glance towards Lucas and Cam, directly before her, Ashley opens the paper bag and pulls out her favorite. Her heart leaps in excitement.
Cam and her counterpart had knowing smiles on their lips.
"I..." Ashley tries to explain but Cam cuts her off.
"You don't need to explain yourself to anyone. You don't owe us an explanation."
"But.."
Cam cuts her off, "Enjoy your doughnuts, honey. They're going to get cold." Fluttering her lashes.
It takes some time, things felt awkward but she eats it anyways, after all it was her favorite. She tries offering them some but they shook their heads.
"It's all yours, honey." Cam teases and Ashley shrugs. It was her favorites after all.
ââ
During class, Ashley kept involuntarily glancing in Grayson's direction, studying his every move, unknown to him, storing it to memory. Her heart was soaring, his gesture had eaten into and softened her heart. She wanted him back, she knew this, and the urge to be with him was growing and getting stronger by the second. She felt a burning gaze at the side of her head. Involuntarily her gaze switches to Anne's, who was already watching her, a glint of hate evident in her eyes, disdain on her face. She flickers her lids, eyeing her from top to bottom.
"What the heck does she want?" Ashley says to no one in particular.
"Who?" Cam asks from beside her.
"Anne."
"Why? What did she do?"
"Look at her, see the disdain for me so clear in her eyes."
"Her loss, not yours."
"Yeah right."
A cunning smile stretches on Cam's lips, "Aha! Lest I forget, what's happening?"
Ashley frowns, "I don't get."
"Grayson."
"Well.. He kinda came to my place and we talked, and I.."
Cam was all ears waiting, her lips stretching wider.
"I promised that I'd take him bac-"
"Yes! Twas about time."
"But on the basis he had a heart to heart conversation with his his mom and also that he apologises to Devi."
"The important thing is that you're gonna come back and do all that lovey-dovey shit y'all used to do."
"Ms Anderson." The teacher calls and now everyone's attention was now on Cam.
Cam glances at the handful of eyes staring at her "Shit." She cusses.
"Up on your feet." She says with a strict tone and Cam complies, "Can you tell us what I just said?"
Cam scratches her neck and Ashley mutters a 'sorry' that Cam dismisses.
She clears her throat, "Uhm... You know, my cat died yesterday" The whole class was in an uproar of laughter at this, "that was what I telling her."
"So sorry to hear that, but you shouldn't be discussing it in class when there's a teacher in front of you, teaching you something you obviously have no idea about."
"Sorry."
"It's okay, you can sit."
ââ
After class ends, Ash continues from where she stopped, explaining to Cam how she ended up promising Grayson them coming back together.
Cam was so elated, it didn't seem to surprise Ashley. It had always been her style.
So here they were, Ashley, Grayson and Devi, at a coffee shop, all three seated around a table, Devi, silently sipping the coffee Grayson ordered for him against his protests.
The couple sat directly in front of him, Ashley being the nervous one between them. Her mind was playing tricks on her, as the memory of Grayson punching Devi kept resonating in her head over and over. She wondered if this meeting was a mistake, bringing both of them here to reconcile. What if it turns into something hideous, worse a fight. A shudder runs through her at the mere thought of that happening.
******
Hellooo!
How's work? Or school? Life in general?
If you ask me, I'd say stressful.
Anyways I hope you'd enjoy this chapter just as much as the others. Love y'all.