Eight - Lunch Date
1014 Words
Grayson was a bit more talkative in English today. He asked me how I was doing and genuinely seemed to be worried. I assured many times that I was fine, and he didn’t need to worry. The substitute teacher let us work in pairs on the assignment.
“What are you doing for lunch?” Grayson asked out of the blue.
“The same thing I do every day: sit with my friends.”
“Want to go to lunch with me?”
I looked up at Grayson.
Was he being serious?
He seemed serious.
“Sure,” I said at last.
The bell rang and I followed him out to his car. we drove for a bit before he pulled into a small shopping center. At first, I thought we were going to the liquor store, but he started walking towards the other end. In the corner, was a small bakery.
He held the door open and I stepped in. Immediately, the smell of bread hit me strong in the face. The bell on the door rang, signaling our presence. An older lady walked out from the back to the front counter.
She smiled brightly, “Hello.”
“Hello,” Grayson said.
“What can I get you?”
“Two turkey sandwiches.”
I glanced around the bakery. It was cute and quaint. It was the perfect spot for quietness.
Grayson paid for the food and walked over to a table in the corner. He drummed his fingers on the table.
“Can I pay for my food?” I asked.
“No.”
“I insist.”
“No,” he said again.
I sighed. It wasn’t going to work with him.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Fine.”
“Didn’t pass out yesterday?”
I glared at him. “No.”
The lady came to the table with out sandwiches. She set each one down in front of Grayson and I. The sandwich looked amazing. It tasted even better. It was the best sandwich I had ever had.
Grayson ate his food in minutes when I was barely half way with my sandwich. The lady came back and brought us two glasses of water which I gladly drank.
“Can I ask you something?” Grayson asked.
I glanced up at him. His face was blank, I couldn’t decipher what he was thinking.
I swallowed my food before saying, “Sure.”
“What exactly happened the other day when you got sick.”
I was confused. “I just got sick.”
“I know you got sick but why.”
Was he being serious?
“Because of the news.”
“Yes, but why did the news make you sick. Did you know already?”
My palms were sweaty.
“Know what?” I played stupid.
“Mrs. Alvarado.”
“I didn’t know.”
“You seemed like you did.”
I shook my head. “I honestly didn’t know.”
Grayson stared, unwavering. It was making me grow more and more nervous by the minute.
“Are you sure?”
“Why are you asking me weird questions?”
He leaned back in his chair. “Why won’t you answer my weird questions?” He was very calm but firm.
“I don’t think it matters.”
“I think you should tell me.”
I scoffed. “You would think I was crazy.”
“I doubt it.”
“I don’t.”
“Tell me.”
I sighed. Grayson was stubborn and he wouldn’t let this go. I was probably worry about nothing and if I said it out loud, it wouldn’t seem so crazy.
“I had a dream about Mr. Eckberg coming to our classroom and telling us that Mrs. Alvarado had been in an accident.”
Grayson didn’t say anything for a moment. He was processing what I said. I searched his face for any kind of clue of what he was thinking.
“Like déjà vu,” he said at last.
“I, um, guess.”
He shrugs. “Everyone gets those.”
“I guess your right.”
“That doesn’t make you crazy.”
Grayson glanced down at his phone. He furrowed his brows as he read a text. He sent a reply before looking up at me. “Ready to go?” he asked.
I nodded, getting up from my seat.
I silently followed Grayson to the car. He was right. I wasn’t crazy. It was just a coincidence and I was reading way too much into it.
The ride back to school was pretty quiet for the most part. We were a few minutes away from school when he asked, “Are you going to the party?”
I tried not to glance at him. “I think so. You?”
“I have to go.”
“Why?”
“It’s my friends party.”
Grayson pulled into the parking lot. I grabbed my backpack from the backseat before stepping out of the car. he waited patiently for me before locking the car door. We walked together into the main building. We were walking very close to each other that his arm brushed against mine. It made my heart beat faster.
It felt as if everyone was staring at us as we walked down the hall. The first bell had already rang telling us to get to class. I past Sydney and Jordan in the hall. Grayson walked with me all the way to my class. I sat through class in a daze.
Sydney might be right. Maybe Grayson did like me. I’ve never seen him talk to anyone else as much as he talks to me. I had to go to that party. I pulled out my phone and texted Paul, taking him up on his offer.
- Writer
