Chapter 4
August 13th
It's been 5 months since Drake and Grayson started hanging out. At first they were hanging with Taylor, Emery and Roman, but sooner they started going out alone. June came and Drake and Grayson got a job together.
They were part of local coffee's staff and everything's been going pretty good. Emery told Grayson that Drake and Taylor had a thing, which left Grayson confused and sad.
"Hi", Grayson said when he saw Drake in the morning. The two were heading to work when they ran into each other on the street. "So, how are you?"
"I've been better." Drake stated looking ahead. The two decided to go to work together.
"Come on, tell me what's wrong." Grayson tried to smile, but the final product was far from a smile.
"I don't really want to talk about it…but it's Taylor. She kissed me and now everyone expects me to be with her. I just can feel the pressure already. Everyone from school knows. Taylor is basically selling it to the whole school as If we're actually dating."
Drake and Grayson went inside the café. Grayson was worried and he knew right there he has to do something to make Drake feel better.
And he did. He tried to make Drake smile the whole day. Grayson was the one doing stupid things and making a fool of himself just so Drake can be happy, but it seemed like he's just plain sad.
"This has to end. We have to talk to Taylor" Grayson said as soon as he saw Emery.
"I talked to Roman and…"
"What? Are we still talking about him? After everything that happened at the school five months ago?" Grayson was obviously pissed. "You told me that you're done with him and from now on you're going to be just friends. Forgive me for being a son of a bitch, but I have no intentions to listen to your boyfriend drama every single day while Drake is suffering from Taylor's obsessive behavior."
"What?" Emery was confused."Where's this all coming from? You know Taylor, give her a month or so and she'll move on to the next guy. But this thing with Roman…we talked and he seemed ready to finally explore…"
"NO! Just no, Emery. Drake doesn't have to go through this, Drake…"
"Why do you suddenly care so much about Drake…it's like you…" Emery was trying to make sense out of the whole situation when it hit her. "So you…"
Grayson was shaking; tears came running down his cheeks. He closed his eyes and tried to calm himself from all the feelings that took control over his body.
"Do you remember the party that Taylor ratted, like five months or something? Somebody pushed me on the ground and there were people running everywhere. I felt someone kicking me in the stomach and honestly, I had the feeling I might die there. But Drake saved me. He came out of nowhere and pulled me out of that mess. Ever since, I've had this feeling inside me…I can't put it exactly to words and I have no idea how to describe it." Grayson opened his eyes and looked at Emery. He knew that he had to come to terms with his feelings one day, but at this point it was a positive step forward if he could even say it out loud. "I'm in love with Drake, Emery. Since that day he's all I can think of and it's getting hard to ignore my feelings."
Awkward silence filled the room as Grayson and Emery kept looking everywhere but each other.
"Grayson…I don't know what to say…I…I think you should tell him." Emery was the one to break the silence as she placed her hand on Grayson's shoulder. "And I'm going to be here for you no matter the outcome."
On the next day Grayson ran into Taylor at the grocery store.
"Oh, hay Gray…" she started placing a manipulative smile on her face. "So did you hear that Drake and I…"
"Yea, I heard." Grayson was about to leave, but he couldn't just stay silent. "Did you also hear that Drake wants nothing to do with you and you look like a total idiot who can't keep it in her pants and kiss around random people praying that they magically fall in love with her?"
Taylor's hand went out as fast as a lightning leaving a red spot on Grayson's cheek.
"Slut-shaming? Such a gentleman…" Taylor was pissed and her face turned red in a matter of seconds. "Don't ever speak to me again."
"Thank God I don't have to listen to your whining anymore."
"That wasn't cool, man." Drake was placing a bag with ice on Grayson's cheek.
"She was talking trash, Drake…I couldn't just stand there." Grayson kept looking at Drake to find some understanding and comfort, but to his surprise they were missing.
"Yeah, but…" Drake focused his look on his shoes, because he couldn't look at Grayson.
"See, I can't understand you. Why do you suddenly care about her?" Grayson was confused.
"I don't, it's just…complicated. And what you said was way out of line."
"Excuse me?" Grayson felt betrayed.
"Grayson." Drake tried to grab his hand but failed.
"I have to go." Grayson stormed out of the coffee place.
"What do you mean "go"? Aren't you covering the next shit?"
"I guess I'm not."
Grayson leaved the coffee place in a desperate attempt to control his tears.
