I forget to FaceTime Alyssa when I'm lying in bed at night. Instead, I pull out my phone and text Grayson.

Grayson🥵
Today 1:26AM

Hey.

Grayson doesn't respond and as pathetic as it is, I watch my phone for a good few minutes before sighing and putting it back on my nightstand. Of course, he's not going to respond, it's past midnight.

Then my phone dings. Excitement floods my body as I hastily pick up my phone. I frown seeing a notification from my social media. I go to place my phone down when it dings again. This time, a text message. I smile, seeing that it's from Grayson.

Grayson🥵

Shouldn't you be sleeping?
1:29am

I could say the same to you.

Touché

What are you doing right now??

Trying to sleep.

Oh... should I stop texting you??

Not if you don't want to.

I don't want to...

The text bubbles pop up then disappears. Maybe he does want me to stop texting him. But then he responds.

If I asked you to come over...
would you say yes?
1:34am

My heart immediately picks up speed. Grayson wants me to come over this late? On a school night? I contemplate this. Sneaking out? I mean, my parents are asleep. So is Angie and Peter. I'd probably sleep over... in a bed... with Grayson. What if I get caught? I'd be grounded for a month. Would it be worth it?

It's a stupid idea. Forget I asked.
I'll see you tomorrow.
1:39am

I realize it's been five minutes since I've responded. Grayson probably thinks I'm ignoring him. My heart squeezes in pain.

I type out a response then hesitate. Grayson would be worth it. I hit send.

Be there in ten. Better have
the front door unlocked.
1:41am

I get out of bed thinking how crazy this is as I grab my phone and keys. I'm about to leave before I stop. I go to my bathroom and fiercely brush my teeth for the second time tonight... not that I'm expecting anything to happen.

*

Parked outside of Grayson's driveway around two am, I'm wondering what the hell I was thinking.

I end up bringing my backpack— adding some extras like hygiene stuff and clothes for tomorrow— so I can just go to school with Grayson.

I sigh and take out my phone to text Peter to get another ride in the morning.

Dickhead Brother
Yesterday 1:27PM

I failed my history test lol
do you think mom will be

You'll be grounded for a mouth.
Good luck.
read 1:32pm

Today 2:07AM

Get a ride from someone else or
take the bus tomorrow. If mom
and dad ask where I am, tell
them I left early to get help from
my teacher. Remember you owe
me for that time I covered for
you while you were at a party.
2:07am

I nervously shut my car off then text Grayson "I'm here" once I'm at the front door.

The door quietly opens to reveal a gorgeous looking Grayson. His hair is messy from laying in bed and he looks tired, yet hot as Hell.

"Hey," he whispers and that greeting alone is enough to make me smile. Then, of course, he gets me to blush when his eyes slowly roam my body, checking me out. "Nice pajamas. They're... cute."

I'm wearing my Lilo and Stitch pajama pants and a plain black t-shirt. My face burns red in embarrassment. Should I have worn something different? No, he called my pj's cute... I like when he uses that word.

"Nice..." I check him out then try not to gulp as I take in his bare chest, "boxers. You really couldn't have put clothes on?" I scold him jokingly as I step inside and close the front door as quietly as possible.

He shrugs with a grin, "didn't I tell you I like seeing you blush?"

"Shut up," I mutter. Without thinking about it, I grab Grayson's hand and bring us to his bedroom and shut his door. I drop his hand along with my backpack on the floor. Though I'm internally shaking, I lift up the covers and slip into his bed, moving to the far right to make room for Grayson.

"Would you prefer me to sleep on the floor?" Grayson asks me in a hushed tone. Fuck, he's so sexy at night.

I blush, "I don't care what you do," I mutter stubbornly. Hell no, I don't want him to sleep on the floor.

Grayson hesitates then grabs a pillow off his bed as if he's chosen the floor over his bed.

I frown. "Don't be stupid," I say in a harsh whisper. "It's your bed. You can- you can sleep in it... if you want," I tell him, hoping he understands that I want him to sleep in bed next to me without having to admit it. I'd have to swallow my pride to ask him, which I refuse to do.

Grayson smirks causing me to roll my eyes, but I bite my bottom lip to keep me from smiling when he places his pillow next to my head and lays down under the covers by my side. I turn away from him, not wanting him to catch me blushing, which I'm glad I did as my face grows hotter when I feel his chest against my back.

What the hell do you think you're doing, Reid?! Sneaking out to sleep in Grayson's bed?! I sleep in Preston's bed with him all the time, I try to reason with myself, but I know it's different. Preston doesn't make my heart race like Grayson does. Preston doesn't make me nervous, anxious, and excited all at once like Grayson does.

I take a deep breath then reach back, grab Grayson's arm, and wrap it over my stomach. After a moment of silence, I whisper, "this doesn't mean anything."

"Okay," he says equally as quiet and squeezes my body closer to his.

And I fall asleep thinking how this does, in fact, mean something to me.

*

The next morning, I subconsciously snuggle closer to something and inhale the beautiful, familiar smell. "Mmm," I smile. It smells like Grayson...

Grayson.

My eyes shoot open as I spring to a sitting position. Oh, fuck! I slept in Grayson's bed last night! With his strong, muscular arm wrapped around my body! I made him spoon me! We must have rolled over at some point in the night considering I woke up with my head on his chest. I glance down at Grayson. He's still asleep.

Okay, okay. Don't panic, Reid, there's no need to panic. So what, you slept in Grayson's bed? You told him last night that it meant nothing, so you don't need to flip out.

I silently and as gently as I can, reach over Grayson and pick up the closest phone on the nightstand- which happens to be Grayson's- and check the time. Almost five-thirty in the morning. I place the phone down.

Knowing I have at least another hour before we have to get ready for school, I take a deep breath and lay back down, pulling the covers up to my chest.

I hesitate as I watch the ceiling fan go round, and round, and round. "Fuck," I mutter then give in and rollover. I lay my head back on Grayson's nude chest and wrap my arm around him. Ignoring the fact that my heart is beating faster, I close my eyes and drift back to sleep in the comfort of Grayson's body.

Grayson's alarm goes off at six-thirty. "Grayson," I mumble, my voice groggy from sleep, "your alarm," I say.

I feel him reach over to his nightstand and finally the ear-rapping alarm ceases. I should get up, I know I should, but I also know if I do, this moment will end. I'll be forced back into reality. The reality is that I have a girlfriend, and I shouldn't be sleeping in the bed of the boy who makes my heart beat faster. The boy who makes my body tingle in excitement and anxiousness at the same time.

But I'm with Alyssa, so none of that matters.

I go to unwrap myself from Grayson and get out of bed, but this only makes Grayson's hold on me tighten. "Mmm, let's skip," He murmurs, his hot breath fanning the back of my neck, shooting an electrifying tingling down my spine.

"Funny," I deadpan, but my stomach flip-flops at the prospect of staying in bed all day with Grayson. "We have to go to school," I tell him.

"Can't your honor-roll-student ass play hooky for one day?" Grayson asks as his face turns to look at me.

We're too close. If he leans in just a few more inches, his lips would be on mine. "I have a girlfriend," I whisper, mostly to myself as if I have to audibly remind myself of Alyssa before I do something I'll regret. Like cheat on my girlfriend.

"Then why are you in my bed?" He asks, equally as quite.

I break away from him and sit up. "I told you this didn't mean anything." Why can't I ever shut the fuck up?

Grayson sighs before getting out of bed. "I'm gonna' take a shower," he tells me before walking out of his bedroom. When the door clicks shut, my face falls into my hands and I take deep breaths to prevent me from having a panic attack.

What the fuck am I doing? Leading Grayson on like this? Leading Alyssa on when I know I don't have feelings for her? I'm such a shitty person. I'm just so confused. I wish I had someone to talk to, but talking to someone means telling them my sexual feelings towards a boy. And I can't do that.

I inhale then exhale at a steady pace before getting off his bed to get ready for school.

When Grayson comes back into the room, I avoid peaking at his bare, dripping wet chest, as I grab my backpack and head to the bathroom to brush my teeth.

The car ride to school is silent and almost awkward. And the heavy, guilty feeling in my chest reminds me that it's my fault for that. When we park in Grayson's designated parking spot, I break the quietness, but not by much. "I'm sorry," I speak softly. "I shouldn't have come over last night, I know that. I don't want to lead you on, but—"

"You have a girlfriend," he cuts in, "trust me, I know. You don't need to apologize. I knew what I was getting into when I texted you to come over last night."

"Do you... wish you hadn't?" I ask, but I'm not too sure I want to hear the answer.

Grayson hesitates, then looks at me and says, "would it make a difference?"

Yes! Because it does to me. It would make a difference because even though I said I shouldn't have gone to his house, I don't regret it. I'd do it again if it meant I got to sleep with his arms around me. And I don't want Grayson to regret it either. It was a simple intimate moment, but it was our moment and I don't want Grayson to say he wishes he never texted me last night.

I gulp down the bitter taste of guilt, "we should get to class," I tell him before opening his car door and not waiting for him as I walk into the school building.

*

The rest of the week was filled with sneaking side glances at Grayson, Preston sharing dumb stories at lunch, everyone talking about the upcoming basketball game, Alex and MaKenna acting like they hate each other. And Alyssa clinging to me and making out with me in the hallways at any chance she could get.

**

Ugh, I love and hate this chapter!!
Comment what you thought of it and thanks for reading!

-Xoxo Bert