Despicable Arrogance

Chapter 5

Since today is the day of the football game, like every Friday, Grayson works until 7 and then goes to his game, which is from 7:30 to 9. But he works from 4 and unfortunately, I share the same shift. The whole entire week, I spent all of my time avoiding him as much as possible. At work, he’d help the boys with their homework and I’d help the girls, who all thought that he was hot and asked me if we made out yet, to which I responded with a disgusted face and a vigorous head shaking.

Grayson also realized that we have not one, not two, but three classes together: Pre-Calculus and Home Economics on A Days (*1) and AP English Literature and Composition on B Days (*2). We also have lunch together but I don’t count that because of the fact that he’s either outside, practicing football, in the gym practicing football, or sitting with his friends at their crowded lunch table.

But today, since the children had an all-day field trip and don’t get back until later, we technically had a free shift where we could do our homework, read, or have friends over as long as we don’t disrupt people studying. Of course, Grayson’s choice was the latter which stopped me from finishing the latest sad, but amazing book by John Green. Grayson had three rowdy football players in a library. I was on the second floor where the text books, encyclopedias, and other sources were and I was staring down at the football players, or Shane to be exact. My books were abandoned on the couch where I was recently sitting.

Shane Deville is probably the most handsome guy I’ve ever seen. His black hair is always messy and it looks so soft. He is tall and I like tall guys, except for Grayson. His eyes are the prettiest shade of blue I've ever seen. Even though I can’t see all of his face right now because he’s turned sideways as him and Kyle toss the football back and forth (something I’d have a fit about if I wasn't gawking at the near male model who is in close vicinity of me). I can still tell you what he looks like because this isn’t the first time I found myself staring at him. I was so into staring at Shane that I didn’t even notice Grayson’s mysterious absence.

Suddenly, I heard Grayson’s voice which caused me to jump. “See something you like over there?”

I felt my face burn and it was most likely the darkest shade of red it’s ever been. My worst enemy, and only enemy, caught me staring at one of his best friends. “Pfft, n-no. I’m just counting the minutes until something gets knocked over.”

He smirked. “Okay, then I’ll just tell Shane that you weren’t staring at him,” he started to walk away and I found myself hissing his name.

“Grayson!” I reached out and punched his back, causing him to turn and look at me.

“Did you just punch my back?”

“He noticed that I was staring at him?” I asked, wringing my hands together. My face was still burning as I brushed the hair behind my ear. Grayson narrowed his eyes at me as he scrutinized my face. A slow grin made its way across his face.

“You like him, don’t you?” he was standing tall as if he discovered a secret. Well, he did discover a secret but a whack over the head with a chair will make it disappear.

I shook my head. “Pfft, no.”

“Admit it or I’ll tell him that you like him," he threatened.

I crossed my arms. “And who’s to say that you won’t tell him that I like him if I say that I like him?"

“So you do like him?” he inquired. I was surprised that he understood that. I was trying to confuse him.

I shook my head. “No! Who said that?”

“You! You just said that," he exclaimed.

“Lower your voice, Gracie,” I snapped and he glared at me. “Now, hypothetically speaking, if I did like Shane, which I don’t, would you tell him?”

“Well, hypothetically speaking,if you like Shane, which you do, I’d be required to tell him because he’s my best friend," he mocked me and I glowered at him.

“But y-you can’t!” it was all I could think to say! I’m not on the debate team! I don’t think well on my feet!

He smirked as he rocked back and forth on his feet. “I-I can,” he imitated my stutter. “Unless…you do something for me.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What it is?”

“Use this free time to make a poster that says ‘Talking to Grayson Carter is the best thing that’s ever happened to me – Audrey Peters’ in big bold letters. Come to the game today and before it starts, when the bleachers are full, run around with it in the air,” he explained and I stared at him.

“Is that even allowed?” I snapped and he started to turn away. I internally panicked before I grabbed his arm forcefully and turned him around. He rubbed his forearm as he stared at me. “If I do that...you won’t tell a single soul about…Shane?” I asked and he nodded.

“I won’t tell a single soul.”

Swallowing my pride and placing my hands on my face. “Fine, I’ll do it.”

---

I made the sign. But I don’t think that Grayson will be happy with it. Instead of it saying, ‘Talking to Grayson Carter is the best thing that’s ever happened to me; – Audrey Peters,’ I put something...different. I wrote it in big black letters; hopefully, they’ll put it on the jumbo screen.

I walked down the stairs of the library, holding the poster to my chest, the words facing me. I approached the football players, where Grayson sat. I noticed that they were laughing and when Grayson saw me, he grinned. “Hey, Audrey," he said my name as if it was some kind of code.

“Hey, Gracie,” this brought a frown to his face and earned a few snickers from his friends. I grinned inwardly. Shane laughed at a joke I made! “Well, since nobody came in during the last hour, I’m telling you that I’m going home. It’s your responsibility to lock up.”

“Why are you going home?” Grayson narrowed his eyes as he scrutinized me, something he seems to do when he’s confused and curious.

I quirked an eyebrow as I tilted my head to the side. “Don’t worry about it; anyway, you have to lock up.”

“What if I tell Ms. Janie that you left early?” he threatened as I walked away. I turned to look at him.

“What if I tell your friends here that you’re a closet singer and dancer? And you’re not very good at it,” I replied before I pretended to wince. Grayson’s face was red, most likely in anger. “Whoops, too late.”

I exited the library, grinning widely. Don’t I feel cool?

---

As I entered my house, I raced up the stairs. I sent a text to Sandra and Lola, inviting them to the football game. They asked me how I got tickets and I frowned. Are they sold out? I phoned the library, once, twice, and finally, the third time, somebody answered.

“Hello?” the person asked and I frowned.

“This doesn’t sound like Gracie,” I casually replied.

The person laughed. “That’s because it’s not. It’s Shane, Gracie is currently arm wrestling.”

“Is he losing?” I asked, excitement clear in my tone. Maybe it’s from the fact that I’m on the phone with Shane, my crush of two years, or maybe it’s because there’s a chance that Grayson will break his arm and potentially cry. Or maybe it’s both.

“Actually, no; he’s pretty good at this,” Shane explained and I frowned.

I sighed. “Can you please put him on the phone?” I asked and I heard a small fight going on.

Finally, after a minute, Grayson was on the phone…and so were the other guys. I was currently on speaker phone. “You made me lose!”

“Who cares? I don’t,” I snapped before I pursed my lips. “You know the favor that I’m doing for you? With the poster? At the game?”

Grayson grunted. “Yes, I do. What about it? Now why are we talking like this?” He emphasized the last word at the end of his sentences. I tossed a flat look in the mirror as I thumbed through my makeup case.

“Shut up you i***t,” I muttered before realizing that I was on speakerphone and that I must sound like a jerk, even though I am. “I mean, how am I going to get tickets? They’re sold out.”

“I don’t know,” Grayson replied.

“This doesn’t mean you’re going to do what you threatened to do, right? It’s not my fault," panic was filling my voice. It was quiet for a moment and it seemed like days.

Finally, I got a loud response from Grayson. “Eureka!”

I winced away from the phone. “Geez, Gracie, are you trying to make me go deaf? The phone was on my ear!” I barked.

Grayson ignored my previous statement. “As football players, we have three seats to give away to family members but since this favor decides your fate, I’m being oh so generous and giving you one of the seats.”

“You mean three of the seats,” I replied.

“Why three?” Grayson questioned.

I sighed. “Since you’re making me embarrass myself, I want to be able to go back to my friends when it’s over.”

“What are you making her do?” I heard Kyle ask, or at least I think it was Kyle.

I replied loudly before Grayson could say anything. “Nothing, he’s not making me do anything! If you say something Grayson, I will rip your intestines out, bake them into a pretzel and force-feed them to you.”

“Graphic,” Grayson muttered. “Anyway, I won’t say anything. But if you try anything, I will-,” I cut him off mid threat by hanging up my phone and placing it on the table.

I went back to doing my makeup. I put on mascara and eyeliner. I even did a cat eye. I should know how to do these things by the substantial amount of time I spend watching beauty guru videos on YouTube.

“Audrey?” My mother asked as she opened my door. She noticed I was doing my makeup and she grinned. “Why are you doing your makeup? Have any plans?”