Grayson Clarke is a regular at my lunch table now (Though it is only Wednesday). From gym class, Grayson and I would walk together to my locker, so I could grab my Government textbook, then walk to lunch together where Grayson would sit a little too close to me- thigh against thigh. Not that I minded. (I mean, I don't mind that he walks with me and sits at our table. I do, however, mind the thigh touching).

Grayson gets along great with all of us. He and Alex especially get along which I find bothers me, but I'm not too sure why. Maybe because Alex was my friend first so I feel a little territorial towards him?

I don't know, but walking up to them two laughing about something in the hallway had my stomach twisting in all sorts of knots.

Grayson was leaning against the locker next to Alex's locker while Alex was putting his Spanish book away in return for his British Literature book. It was just after sixth-period meaning I have Film as Literature with Grayson in five minutes which is where we also walk together too. Oh, did I mention I have seventh-period with Grayson Clarke? No? Well, now you know.

Irritated by their possibly flirtatious laughter, I walk up to them and say with an attitude, "What's so funny?"

They stop laughing and Grayson's striking blue eyes travel from my black converse, slowly up my faded, ripped jeans, past my dark red hoodie that reads "Obey" at the top left, looks at my lips a second too long, then finally meets my eyes. "Hey," He says. I don't know how, but it's the most sexual hey I've ever heard and I just know there's an underlining meaning to it.

I blush and look at Alex instead. Grayson does this a lot; checks me out in the most obvious way. You'd think I would get used to it and stop blushing, but no.

Of course, Alex is oblivious towards all of this as he shuts his locker and faces me with a smile. "I was telling Grayson the time Preston shoved grapes up his big nose then ended up sneezing them out," he laughs.

I chuckle, feeling at ease now knowing that it wasn't a flirty-type laugh... not that I would care.

"Alright, well I gotta' get to class, I'll catch you guys later," Alex says to us then looks over my shoulder, his face lighting up, "McKenna, wait up!" Alex shouts to her, drawing attention from others, then runs to meet up with her. Grayson and I watch as Alex foolishly rushes towards the girl he's helplessly in love with.

Grayson sighs, making me turn to face him and I see him shaking his head, "Them two really need to stop being stubborn and just get married already."

I chuckle and we start walking to Film as Lit. "You've noticed?"

Grayson raises his eyebrows at me as if to say, are you kidding? "You mean have I noticed how they're both stupidly in love with each other but won't admit it? The entire school notices it."

I laugh until he says, "But it seems like people being too stubborn to admit their feelings is a common theme at this school," Grayson says, sighing dramatically.

I stop in my tracks, "What's that supposed to mean?"

Grayson rolls his eyes then pulls me into the nearest stairwell. There are two minutes until class, so most kids are in their classrooms. Still, Grayson waits for the last two remaining students making their way upstairs and waits for the sound of the door shutting before talking to me. "We both know you know what I mean."

I shake my head, "No, I don't know what you're talking about. I don't and will never have feelings for you, Grayson Clarke, so I don't know why you're insinuating that I'm too stubborn to admit my feeling for you when there isn't any feeling to be admitted!" I shout in a whisper. Okay, so maybe I do know what he was talking about.

I was hoping for him to feel rejected so that he'll move on to someone new to harass, but instead, he smirks. I hate that smirk. I just want to kiss it off of him. Wait, what? I meant, kick it off of him. Yeah, kick.

Grayson steps closer and I step back, bumping into the railing. He leans down, his breath hot on my neck and his hands on my waist keeping me in place. This is the most physical contact we've shared since the party and my heart is racing! "We'll see about that," he whispers into my ear, then leaves a soft kiss just below. My breath hitches and I know I need to push him back, but paralysis takes over my body.

He kisses the other side of my neck, my stomach flips, and my heart beats faster if that's possible. He brings his mouth to mine but stops just short of my lips. I gulp.

Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me. I want it, I want him to kiss me so badly, my heart's pounding out of my chest. I close my eyes. This need to feel his lips against mine overtakes me and I'm about to lean into him...

The bell rings.

"We're late to class," he murmurs an inch away from my mouth then quickly steps away from me then leaves.

I'm left, standing alone with my mouth hanging open foolishly as I am unaware of what the fuck just happened.

I can't believe I leaned into him! What if I kissed him! Who am I right now?

I was told once that the stronger your relationship is with God, the stronger the Devil tries to drag you down. Maybe this is like that in some way? Giving into my feelings for Grayson and being with him is going to end me up in Hell. I don't want to go to Hell.

And yet, here I am; in a stairwell with a boner for Grayson Clarke... Yep, I'm going to Hell.

*

After taking care of myself in the bathroom (No, not how you're thinking. I would never do that in this disgusting public restroom! I mean, I splashed water in my face and thought about weird things to make my lower-half calm down.) I head into class ten minutes late.

Luckily my Film as Lit. teacher likes me, so when I apologize for being late and tell her it was due to bathroom problems, she lets it slide.

I take a seat in my usual spot which was- Thank the Lord- across the room from Grayson. He sits in the front near the door as I sit in the way back next to the windows. When I get my material out for this unit, I look up and notice Grayson looking back at me. He smiles then faces the front of the room, back on Mrs. Wheeler's Google Slides which reads the definition of a birds-eye view and why directors would choose to use this angle in their films.

The class goes by painfully slow. By the time it's over, someone's kicking my foot to wake me up from my nap. I look up, locking eyes with Grayson. "You fell asleep," he tells me and I glance around the room and realize it's almost empty save for one other person who's talking to the teacher.

"Oh," I say, then gather my things and put them neatly back in my bookbag. "Thanks for waking me," I say, standing up.

"You're welcome. I don't know how you haven't been sent to the Dean's office yet. You fall asleep in Mrs. W's class and you were even late." Grayson makes a "tsk tsk" sound.

I shove him, but it meant no harm. "Who's fault is that?" I ask blushing as we walk out of the classroom.

Grayson chuckles then pulls me to the side so we're against the lockers and not in anyone's way in the hallway. "My party starts at eight tomorrow night," he informs me.

"And? I already told you, I'm busy."

Grayson smiles as if knowing I'm still gonna show up, and walks away, towards the final class of the day. "Don't be late," he calls over his shoulder at me. I lean my head against the locker and sigh, exhausted by this game Grayson's making me be a part of.

This needs to end. I change my mind, I will not go to his party tomorrow!

**

Comment and vote if you're excited for Grayson's party on Thursday. I know I am ;)

-bert