Chapter 25: The Unplanned Date

After getting back into the car, I was a bit calmer about the whole Sam and Grayson situation. Sam wouldn't do that to me and Grayson probably won't be interested in her. I mean, she's pretty and all but she is Sebastian's sister. I hope that'll keep Grayson away from her long enough for me to make a move, if that will ever happen. We drove to the roller-skating rink with the music in the car blasting.

By the time we got there, our friends were already waiting in the lobby with their skates on. Carson was skating around, laughing wildly as Sandra struggled to stand up. Grayson and I sighed as we went to get our skates. Grayson paid for mine, against my will, really. He held me back as he handed the man the money, the guy didn't care who was paying- as long as he got his money. I grabbed a size eight skate set and put them on my feet, standing up a minute later.

I saw Sam and Sebastian enter the rink and I tried to rush over but failed and landed on my face. I greeted them with a large smile. Sam just nodded at me before letting her eyes flit to the people behind me and Sebastian grinned directly at me. Sam made her way towards the skate's stand and rented her own set while Sebastian looked behind me. I turned to see the guy's scowling at him. "I can tell you guys are glad to see me."

The guys continued scowling at him and he just laughed before turning his attention back to me. "This better be worth it; if they don't fall, I'm going to push them."

I rolled my eyes at Sebastian's statement before motioning for him to rent his skates with a flick of my wrist. He just walked over towards where his sister was and proceeded to rent a set of skates. Shane skated by me, going in a circle around me. He was surprisingly good. I sense an embarrassing childhood story behind this odd skill. "Oh Sebastian, you are so amazing."

I glared at him before extending my leg and tripping him. He got back up startlingly fast and smirked. "You're not going to get rid of me that easily."

I snorted. "One can hope."

He laughed before going in another circle. "You little player." He skated away and I noticed Carson and Sandra struggling to walk out towards the rink where a few people were skating aimlessly. Lola and Kyle were also following behind the two but were going at a slower pace, trying hard not to fall. Shane was zooming out towards the rink. He was nearly there.

I decided to wait for Sam. I didn't realize Grayson was standing a few feet away from me until I turned and smiled at him. He raised an eyebrow. "Who are you waiting for?"

I motioned towards Sam who was swearing at the roller-skates. "Sam." He nodded and I realized my mistake. "And you, but you're already ready- so we're just waiting for Sam."

I suddenly felt a presence beside me and my feelings were confirmed when I saw Grayson narrow his eyes at Sebastian. Sebastian looked down at me and motioned towards the exit, as if feeling the tension. "I'm going to go, wish me luck."

I smiled back, watching as he struggled to stand up straight. "Good luck."

"Bye." Grayson's curt response earned a laugh out of Sebastian, which seemed to anger Grayson even more.

Sam stood up and managed to slide towards us. "So this is Grayson?"

I narrowed my eyes at Sam. "You recognize him from calculus, right Sam?"

She nodded, realizing her mistake. "Yes, I do. I'm Samantha, call me Sam."

Sam was taller than me and was a bit shorter than Grayson. "You drive the Honda cruiser, right?"

She nodded, a smirk appearing on her lips. "You like bikes?"

He nodded. "I drive one." They began walking and I lagged behind, suddenly becoming aware of the burning pit in my stomach. Maybe I was right; maybe he will like Sam more than he likes me.

Stalking past them and catching up to Sebastian without falling, thankfully, I sighed loudly. He looked at me with furrowed eyebrows and a small smile on his face. "What?"

I shrugged and he looked around. "Where's it?"

Instead of glaring at him for calling Gracie it, I sighed. "Having an in-depth conversation about motorcycles with your sister."

He groaned. "Can't she go one day without talking about bikes?"

I shrugged again. "Are you jealous?"

I shrugged again, praying that he wouldn't make fun of me. "Why are you jealous of my sister?"

"They have so much in common." I muttered.

He sighed, shaking his head. "He already likes you."

I snorted. "Don't get my hopes up."

"Don't act like they're not already up." He muttered, nudging me playfully.

I rolled my eyes, shaking my head. "He doesn't like me. He's just like that. He's a flirtatious guy."

"Name the friends he has that happen to be girls." He told me.

"Me, Sandra, Lola." I told him but he was shaking his head when I said Sandra and Lola.

"He wouldn't give them any attention if it weren't for the fact that his best friends are practically dating the two. And not to mention, they're your best friends." He told me.

I just shrugged, earning an exasperated sigh from him. "You're the only girl he talks to."

"As far as we know, he could be talking to about nine other girls." I replied. I hate when people give you hope about crushes because the moment your crush says that they don't like you, you're, well, crushed.

"There's only one way to find out." He told me.

I furrowed my eyebrows. "I can't just outright ask him. 'Hey Grayson? Are you coming to work? Oh, and are you planning on dating any other girls?"

"No, silly, check his phone." I gaped at Seb, my hand finding its way over my mouth. I knew I was being dramatic but that's going too far. It's an invasion of privacy. "Don't give me that look and don't tell me that the thought has never found its way to your mind?"

I shook my head. "It hasn't!"

He rolled his eyes. "All you have to do is wait until he goes to the bathroom while you're at work and get his phone. Check it quickly and put it down where it was."

I was staring at him and he sighed. "Or you can live the rest of your life not knowing if he actually liked you because you were too scared to make a move."

I frowned at him, pouting out my upper lip. "I don't know, it's risky. It's like something from a movie or a book."

"And your life isn't like a movie or a book? If you ask me, it's pretty cliché. A nobody harbors a crush on a popular football player who has no idea she exists!"

"He knew I existed! Did you forget about our families being longtime friends?" I snapped, slightly annoyed by the fact that he assumed I was a nobody.

"Okay, whatever. But he disregarded you for all of these years and then suddenly, he enters your life and you fall in love with him." He told me.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! First of all, he didn't just enter my life. He was looking for a job in this small town and the library was the first and, most likely, only place to hire him. And secondly, I am not nor will I ever be in love with him because believe it or not, I'm in the process of getting over him." I told him, turning to my side to point at his chest. I lost my balance, falling in the process. Maybe it's karma for lying to his face. I'm not even close to getting over Grayson.

I groaned once my butt came in contact with the hard floor. Seb just laughed before shaking his head. "I decide to not believe it."

With that last comment, he struggled to walk over to the rink and the moment he got onto the rink's floor, he continued to hobble along. I remained on the floor after failing to get up once. A hand was extended in front of my face and I looked up to see Grayson standing there with a smile on his face. I took his hand as he yanked me upward; causing my ankles to shake once I landed.

"Thanks." I muttered, still not over the fact that he'd ditched me to talk to Sam. I noticed her circling the ring like a pro. She and Shane were racing and he was taking it slow, preparing to speed up once they were close to the imaginary finish line.

He smiled at me as I untwined our hands and grabbed the railing in order to steady myself. "Are you having fun yet?"

I shrugged. "We're not even on the floor yet."

He shrugged again, the smile not faltering at my lack of enthusiasm. "So? The walk is just as fun." He nudged me slightly, catching me before I tipped over.

"So... you're friends with Sam?" I tried to bring it up casually even though we were speaking about a totally different subject.

He shrugged. "I wouldn't call us friends. We just have similar tastes in motorcycles. Other than that, there isn't much in common. Although, she does remind me of someone."

I nodded, trying to encourage him to talk without speaking but he wasn't having it. "Who?"

He lifted up a hand and allowed his index finger to find its way to my nose. Allowing his finger to pluck my nose, he smirked. "You."

I furrowed my eyebrows, ignoring the growing butterflies in my stomach before speaking. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

He shrugged. "It depends on how you see another stubborn, violent, sarcastic girl running around."

I punched his arm and he nearly lost his balance before managing to stay upright. I snorted, stepping on the rink we've arrived at. "Took you long enough!"

I rolled my eyes at Shane but turned my attention back towards Grayson. The guilt raced through me when I realized that only moments ago, I was considering searching through his phone like a clingy girlfriend. "Is that a good thing?"

He smirked, allowing himself to slowly back away from me while I was clinging onto the railing. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

I nearly groaned aloud. Yes, Grayson, I would- or else I'm going to have to search your phone! Shane laughed as he passed by me, doing another lap in his race against Sam. He smirked at me, shaking his head. "You have such a huge crush on him. Why don't you just tell him? You know what? I'll do it for you!"

Before I could even process the information that'd spewed from his mouth, he skated over to where Grayson and Kyle were talking. Grayson turned and tuned in to whatever Shane was saying. I prayed he wouldn't reveal my secret. He wouldn't right? I sighed, rubbing my hands together due to the cold, managing to stay upright. "Nervous?"

I glanced over my shoulder to see Sam leaning against the railing that my hands were clutching to for dear life. I shrugged. "He said he's going to tell Grayson my secret."

Sam skated over until she was in front of me. "Doesn't feel good, huh?"

I shook my head, biting my lip. "Not at all."

"Why don't you just tell him?" She asked me. "Besides, I doubt Shane's telling them, anyway."

Out of her and her brother, she definitely gives the better advice. "What?"

She nodded. "Take control. That's what he's waiting for. He's waiting for you to make your move. Ask him out. Today."

"Today?" I asked; my eyes widened a bit.

She nodded. "Today."

I suddenly became suspicious. "You don't like him, do you?"

She snorted. "No way, he may know motorcycles but he's definitely not my type."

For some reason, I believed her. She doesn't come across as a liar, in fact- she's a bit too blunt. I pursed my lips. "What if he says no?"

"Why would he?" She shrugged, quirking an eyebrow.

"I don't know." I told her, fidgeting under her curious gaze.

"Just ask him. If he says no, smile and say 'your loss.' But I doubt he'll say no." She told me before skating away. I let my eyes flit to Shane again who was smirking at me.

~~~

We all exited the skating rink, filing into the lobby, preparing to go out for pizza. I only fell a few times and Grayson and I talked for a bit before my gals decided to steal me away. Sam and Lola became quick friends but it took Sandra a while before she decided that she liked Sam. I was already changed and waiting outside, preparing to ask him on a date in just a few hours. I'll do it when I'm about to get out of the car when he drives me home so if he does say no, which I'm hoping he won't, we won't have to suffer in an awkward silence.

Grayson walked outside, his hands tucked into his pockets as a shiver rippled down his spine. He looked over and me and motioned for me to get into the car, so I did. I guess they'd agreed to go to a certain pizza place because the moment the car roared to life; he didn't hesitate to start driving. "Where to?"

He glanced over at me before smiling. "Weenie Hut General."

I snorted, shaking my head as I stared out the window. "So, did you have fun?"

I nodded. "Yeah, did you?"

He nodded, smiling at me. "Yeah, after falling a few times, I got the hang of it."

I shrugged. "It was kind of hard, though, you know, when people kept pushing you."

I tossed him a pointed look but only got a laugh in return. "You're the one that kept falling. I just nudged you to help you gain speed."

"After the first three times, you'd think you'd understand that nudging doesn't help to gain speed." I muttered.

When we reached the pizza parlor, we all sat down in the largest available booth. Sebastian and Sam were the last ones and Shane scooted over so Sam could sit down. Sebastian was stuck standing but he walked over and grabbed a chair, tossing it at the end of the table. He smirked at the guys who were glaring at him. A layer of tension coated the air, earning a sigh from me. "Can you guys cut it out?"

The guys turned to me and offered me innocent smiles. Shane grinned at me, pressing his hand under his chin. "Stop what?"

"Whatever it is you guys have going on. It's annoying and frustrating." I snapped in response. "At least try and be civil."

Shane shrugged before going back to look at the menu. I already knew what I wanted; two slices of large cheesy goodness and a large sprite. Everyone began talking after we ordered and I stayed silent, staring out of the window into the dark. My mind was racing, as was my heart. I'm going to have to ask him soon. It's only a matter of minutes, maybe half an hour.

When I received the food, I thanked the waitress before digging in. Despite my nervousness, I still managed to work up an appetite. Everyone was chatting and laughing, sharing their comments on who fell the most and which fall was the funniest. Carson fell the most and every time he did, he'd let out a loud swear- earning a glare from the rink manager and any passing parents.

As I bit into the pizza's crust, I felt something hard come in contact with my shin. I let out a groan as I reached down and held my leg. Sam was glaring at me as if telling me to man up and stop being so see through. Grayson furrowed his eyebrows as he looked at me. "You okay?"

I nodded, feeling my face heat up as everyone looked at me. "Perfectly fine."

I went back to eating my crust, ignoring my throbbing leg. After several failed attempts to include me in the conversation, I decided to excuse myself from the table to go to the bathroom. Once I was in the bathroom, I rinsed my face off, allowing the cold water to wake me up a little.

I am a strong, independent woman who don't need no man. If he says no, who cares? He's just a guy; there are several of them out there.

Once I finished my pep talk, I exited the bathroom, struggling not to limp back to the table. I noticed them cleaning up and my pep talk went down the imaginary toilet of my mind. "I grabbed your soda for you."

I smiled at Grayson and shakily took the soda. Thankfully, he didn't notice my old man shakes as he turned towards the table. He waved at everyone and surprisingly didn't throw a retort at Sebastian. "You and Sebastian are okay now?"

He shrugged. "He paid for everyone."

Remind me to thank him. "That's all it took?"

He shrugged. "We talked, too, in a civil manner."

I nodded and finished my Sprite before tossing it into a trash can as we walked towards the car. I decided to put on a smile, realizing that if he does say no and if he gets to thinking, he'll know how much that question affected me. And if Grayson is still in his kind mood, he might decide to go on a pity date with me. That's the last thing that I want.

"Something wrong, Darling?" He asked me as he opened the passenger's door and I crawled in.

I shook my head. "No, I'm just tired. I never knew roller skating was that hard."

He laughed before nodding, climbing into the driver's seat. "Yeah, falling takes a lot out of you, doesn't it?"

I rolled my eyes and punched his shoulder, leaning back in my chair. If he says no, it'll make everything awkward. I've never put myself out there and if I'm rejected the first time, it'll be the last time I ever try and attempt to ask a guy on a date. I have no clue how to take rejection. We started driving in silence.

Eventually, we reached my house and Grayson allowed the car to idle as he turned to look at me. "I had a lot of fun tonight."

He nodded. "I did, too."

I nodded before allowing my eyes to drift towards the window. I'll ask him but I'm definitely not going to look at him. "We should do it again sometime, but alone."

I winced at how high my voice sounded. "Like a date?"

I shrugged. "Yeah, I guess."

"Are you asking me on a date, Darling?" Grayson asked. I nodded as I stared out the window to my house. My room light was off, like I had left it.

"Yeah, I guess I am." I replied as I focused on the only light on, it was in the living room. It reminded me of my hope. It was dull but still shining. Once the light went out, I closed my eyes. He was silent for too long; he's finding a way to break it to me gently, isn't he?

"So, are you going to look at me and ask or not?" He questioned. My eyebrows furrowed together as I turned to peek at him. I couldn't say anything and instead, found myself staring at him. "You'd make a terrible guy. Would you say yes to a guy who was staring out the window and avoiding eye contact?"

I felt my face warm up and I shrugged. "Now say it with confidence."

I narrowed my eyes at him before crossing my arms over my chest. I then shook my head. Grayson just smirked. "Where has your confidence gone, Darling?"

I shrugged. "So now you're not going to talk?" I shook my head again. "Confidence is key, Darling. All you have to do is say it with confidence and you'll get your answer."

Glaring at him, I pursed my lips. "Grayson, would you like to go on a date with me?"

The words were rushed and Grayson raised his hand to his ear, in a cliché manner, and asked me to repeat myself but slower. "Gracie, would you like to go on a date with me?"

Deciding to torture me a bit more, he put his hands under his face and rested his elbows on the middle compartment of the car. "And where would we be going?"

I shrugged. I hadn't thought about that. Sam drilled the idea into my mind that if I don't ask him tonight, the world will end. "I don't know."

He sucked his teeth three times, shaking his hand. "You're a terrible date planner, you know that?"

I glared at him. "I didn't know if you would say yes or no, so I didn't bother to think about where we'd go."

He nodded slowly. "That makes sense. You do realize that the person who asks the other person on a date has to pay. And I am a growing boy so I do eat a lot."