Chapter 30

"Are you ready?" Lola asked me over the phone.

I sighed, staring at myself in the mirror. I tried to go easy on the makeup, I only applied mascara, eyeliner, and lip balm but I can't help but feel like I need more. Deciding not to risk messing up not only my face but my white shirt, I quickly shoved my makeup bag to the side. I looked at myself in the mirror. I went with a simple white, long sleeve sweater and a dark jean jacket. The jean jacket matched the color of my actual jeans. My high-top converses were white and clean. My black ones, on the other hand, weren't so fortunate.

"Yeah, I guess I am." I told her, allowing an extremely minty breath to blow out of my mouth. I winced, with the minty lip balm, mints, and gum I'd been eating all day- was I overdoing it? Probably, but at least my breath will smell good. I quickly looked at my makeup, taking out my abandoned strawberry lip balm. I switched it out for the minty one. If Grayson likes strawberry, then I'm pretty sure I can handle it.

I glanced at the clock, letting out a nervous sigh. Why am I so nervous? We've already been on a date! Two if you count our trip to Trampoline Land, three if you count him helping me sneak out and taking me out for ice cream. I quickly shook my hands and grabbed my purse, deciding that I don't want lumpy pockets for whatever he has planned. He said it should be fun but that I should dress warm.

Suddenly, something hit my window. I opened it to see Grayson standing at the bottom, throwing pebbles. Talk about a Taylor Swift moment; hopefully my father won't ban him from seeing me, even though he seems close to it. "What do you want Romeo?"

He grinned at me, his eyes taking in my shiny, curled hair and my seemingly natural face. "You look beautiful."

I stared at him for a moment as my face heated up. Great, my makeup just might burn off in his presence. "Thanks."

He smiled at me before twirling around. "What? No compliment for me?"

I laughed, rolling my eyes. "So why are you standing below my window?"

"I didn't want to wake up your parents, so the doorbell wasn't an option. I'm told that I knock too loud, so that wasn't an option either." He told me.

"Texting me wasn't an option, either?" I asked, raising my cell phone. He gave me a sheepish look while I rolled my eyes. "Meet me in the front of the house."

Giving me a quick nod, he jogged towards the front of the house while I gave myself one last onceover before grabbing my purse and jacket. The sun was barely in the sky when I walked outside. I don't know why he rescheduled the date from noon all the way until 7:30 in the morning. I had to wake up at 5 AM, but I'm not complaining; I get to spend time with him and that's good enough for me. Glad I grabbed a thicker jacket; I stuffed my arms into it, shivering once the cold air nipped at my cheeks.

"Why the early commute?" I asked him when I reached the bottom of the stairs where he was waiting patiently. I began to lock the door of my house, making sure I tuck the key away in my pocket.

"What are you? The FBI?" He questioned as we walked towards the car.

A few cars were out on the road but not many people worked on Saturday mornings, or at least this early. I know my mother does but she wasn't awake when I got up. "No, I'm a girl being held hostage."

"From what I remember, you willingly walked into my arms." He told me, smirking cockily.

"I didn't walk into your arms." I reminded, zipping up my jacket. I noticed him shivering slightly. He needs to zip up his jacket.

"Oh that's right; that would be a hug- which you're too rude to give me." He told me, crossing his arms over his chest.

I snorted as my heart hammered in my chest. It's just a hug! "And why would I hug you?"

He laughed as he opened the passenger's side door, allowing my eyes to meet the McDonalds breakfast bag waiting for me in my seat. I squealed as my stomach growled in hunger. I turned towards him and allowed my arms to curl around his neck while I stood on the tips of my toes. His arms went around my waist as he hugged me to his chest. I heard his heart beating rapidly but it's probably because of the cold, his body is working pretty hard to keep him warm. Can that even be backed up scientifically? At the moment, I don't care. There is McDonalds patiently waiting in the passenger's seat.

Once I pulled away, I got into the car after lifting up the McDonalds bag and resting it on my lap. I furrowed my eyebrows and turned to him. "How'd you know I didn't eat?"

He shrugged. "I just guessed. I finished getting ready twenty minutes early and said, 'hey, why not surprise her with fatty food?' Is that the key to your heart?"

I snorted. "No, it's the key to obesity, but I'll take it."

He laughed before starting the car, allowing the warm air to encircle us. I took off my jacket, already feeling the effects of sitting in a warm car with a thick jacket on. "You look nice."

I looked down at what I was wearing, my eyes scanning his outfit too. I sighed in relief. "Thank goodness we aren't matching."

"Being that couple was fun." He frowned at me and I rolled my eyes.

"Now where are we going?" I asked him and he gave me a flat look.

"I said that I'm not telling you." He told me.

"Do I know the place?" I asked him.

He nodded. "Yes."

"Is it in Rodencia?" I asked him, referring to our town.

He shook his head. "Is it in our state?"

He smiled at me. "Well, that would give it away, wouldn't it?"

"Is it?" I asked and he just smiled. "Answer me, Grayson!"

He just laughed in response. "I like seeing you flustered."

I scowled at him before looking away.

~~~

We drove for about an hour and a half before Grayson stopped for gas. He turned to look at me. "Do you want anything?"

I began stretching my limbs before nodding. "Can you get me a Sprite and a brownie?"

He nodded, raising his eyebrows. "Is that all?"

I nodded before leaning back in my seat, watching as he ran into the gas station. A few moments later, he came out with a bag. He ran over to the side of the car and began pumping the gas. Once he finished, he entered the car and smiled at me before giving me my Sprite and my brownie.

I took a sip of the Sprite before opening my brownie. He looked at me and smiled innocently. "Oh, do you want a piece?"

He nodded, grinning. I laughed as I held the last piece up. "Tell me where we're going."

In a second, he grabbed the brownie out of my hand and stuffed it into his mouth. "Nope."

I glared at him before turning towards the window, sipping my Sprite occasionally. "Fine, be that way."

~~~

When we arrived at our destination, I couldn't help but stare in shock. We were in the middle of nowhere but at the same time, in the middle of everywhere. We were in the state I've dreamed of going ever since I was a kid, but my parents felt that there was, "nothing of interest there." My eyes scanned the crowded city as people went about their daily lives, acting as if being in Talpintine City wasn't an accomplishment itself.

This place was known for their lively nights and even livelier days. The shopping plazas were endless and several stores were scattered around the street we were on, along with restaurants and food carts. Streets were packed with people and cars were loud and honking. Hordes of people were crossing the streets, several of them dressed in business attire while a few had scarves wrapped around their necks and grins on their faces. This city just makes you want to smile.

I felt the car slowly come to a halt as he stopped it. I turned to him, my eyes widening. "Are you serious right now?"

"What? You don't like it?" He asked, looking around the busy streets.

After attempting to give him a flat look, all I could manage to do was grin and laugh. "Does this look like the face of an unsatisfied person?" I pointed to my smile and he laughed.

"Well, what do you want to do first?" He asked me.

"What do you have in mind?" I asked him, hoping that we could actually walk around the city.

He shrugged. "I was hoping we'd make it up as we go but I have plans for dinner."

I nodded, my hands going to my seatbelt as I finished off my Sprite. He watched me in amusement as I screwed the cap back on the bottle before opening the car, letting the cold yet fresh air greet me like a smack in the face. But it was a good smack in the face, if that's possible. Grayson came and joined me on the crowded sidewalk as we walked through crowds of people. "So...do you like it?"

"Didn't I just answer that question?" I asked as I stared at the stores towering above us. None of them caught my eye; most of them were just extremely expensive makeup stores.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him grinning. "Yeah, I guess."

A large crowd of businessmen and women came rushing down the street, cutting directly in-between Grayson and I. Once they passed and I couldn't find Grayson, I began to panic. We weren't even here for five minutes and we're already broken up? Not that we've ever dated, but I didn't mean it in a relationship way- I meant it in a weird 'I like you' friendship sort of way. I think he likes me, too. "Glad to know that you're just standing there thinking while I'm practically being stepped on by old people."

I noticed Grayson standing beside me and I offered him a sheepish smile. He was dusting himself off and I couldn't help but laugh. "High five for the failure that is the buddy system?"

He rolled his eyes, allowing his hand to collide with mine before he wrapped his fingers around my palm. I glanced at our entwined fingers and my face began to burn. He smirked at me, his eyes gleaming playfully. "So, you know, we won't get lost."

All I could manage to do was nod as we walked together, dodging people as they rushed down the streets. At the speeds they were going, it was practically a football match as they shoved into people who were too slow to move out of the way. Lucky enough, I found a store that I wanted to go into and Grayson and I swiftly ducked into the entrance. We were greeted by warm air, a friend during frigid times like these.

"For some reason, I expected you to want to come in here the minute I saw it." He told me, his eyes scanning the rows and rows of chocolate.

"It's a Hershey's store, what do you expect?" I asked him as my eyes widened when they landed on a Hershey kiss the size of my head.

"Do you want something or are you going to drool over everything, myself included?" He asked me, earning a glare from me.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Yeah, I do want something." I snatched a bag of milk chocolate and caramel Hershey kisses off of the many shelves and walked towards the counter with Grayson in tow.

After buying the chocolates, Grayson and I exited the store. The streets were still crowded and fighting against us like the tide but our hands were entwined so we didn't have another moment like earlier. I personally wanted to stop at a place so I can start eating the chocolate and I think Grayson knows this because he keeps shooting me amused glances. "What?"

He shook his head, smiling. "Nothing...how about we go in here?"

I nearly jumped at the idea, especially when I realized that it was a bookshop. It was like Barnes and Nobles, there was even an area where people could sit and read books in the back. I tugged Grayson back there as I devoured the chocolate. I offered him some and he nodded so I handed him a few chocolate kisses. "Hey, Darling, look."

I looked over to see him tossing the chocolate into the air and catching it with his mouth, shooting me a satisfied grin once he caught it. I laughed and tried it but the chocolate kisses landed on my cheek. I quickly lifted it from my cheek and ate it, wiping at my face to get off the small smears of chocolate. Meanwhile, Grayson was laughing.

"The tip is to keep your eye on it." He told me as he repeated his actions, his eyes never leaving the chocolate kiss as it flew up into the air. Once it landed in his mouth, he smiled at me. "See? Now you try."

I actually caught it and laughed, nearly choking. Grayson was in hysterics by the time I managed to catch my breath. I was still coughing occasionally but I was okay, for the most part. "You idiot."

"Toss one at me." He encouraged, parting his lips. I tossed the chocolate kiss at him and he caught it.

I narrowed my eyes at him, shaking my head. "I hate you."

I quickly stood up, stuffing the half-filled back of chocolates into my purse. He was behind me as I walked towards the romance section of the store. I was in search of Sarah Dessen books. The lady was a Goddess when it comes to writing. As I plopped down onto the carpeted floor, I was surprised to feel a presence beside me. I turned to see Grayson kneeling beside me. He nodded as his eyes scanned the books. "So you're a romance reader, huh?"

I shrugged. "Sometimes, I usually read other things." I awkwardly replied.

"Well, choose a book." He told me.

My eyes grazed the titles, furrowing once I noticed a book that I haven't read by my favorite author. Isn't that a first? Just Listen; I grabbed the book by its spine, reading the back of it casually. It was awkward reading a romance novel with the guy you like beside you; even though it doesn't sound awkward, trust me, it is. Especially when you come off as a nonbeliever of romance, which I'm sure I do.

"So does it sound good?" Grayson asked me as I glanced up at him.

I nodded. "And even if it didn't, I'd still buy it."

He furrowed his eyebrows. "Why?"

"Because the author is amazing, I have practically all of her books." I told him.

He snorted. "And I'm obsessed with football."

I hit him in the chest with the book as we walked towards the counter. "Shut up."

He rubbed the spot on his chest where I'd hit him and frowned at me. "You're so violent for a short person. It makes sense though, that pent up anger can't spread out."

He laughed at his own joke while I stared at him with a flat look on my face. "You're so hilarious. Oh my gosh, Grayson stop, I'm going to die of stomach pains because you're so funny. Someone call an ambulance, it must be unhealthy to laugh this much." I announced with a straight face and Grayson scowled. The clerk stifled a laugh.

"Fine, be a killjoy." He muttered, swinging the bag in which my book was in slightly. The cold air hit us once again as we exited the shop. "You're really mean, you know that, right?"

I shrugged. "It's what I do." I told him as we grasped hands. The familiar feel of his fingers warmed my hand, despite the fact that I didn't have gloves on and it was fully susceptible to the cold.

He rolled his eyes before he nearly screamed in my ear. I'm guessing if it were to actually exit his mouth, it'd come out as a rather girlish shriek. But instead of coming out as expected, the sound came out as a throaty cry of enthusiasm. I looked at him, watching as he stared straight ahead. In the distance, I could see a large, most likely plastic game controller extending from a techy looking building. "Come on."

He nearly yanked me until we reached the videogame building and I let out a heavy breath once we reached it. He looked at me, his eyebrows furrowed. "You're very unfit."

"Says the football player who practices football thrice a week." I said between breaths, my hands placed sturdily on my knees as I heaved, struggling to allow air to greet my lungs.

"Who says thrice anymore?" He asked. "Wait, who says thrice ever?"

"The one who reads for a living." I muttered as I stood up, pressing a hand towards my rapidly beating heart. I would never survive in an apocalypse.

"You should have said something back there." He told me.

"That's a good idea, I would have said something if I wasn't being yanked through traffic!" I snapped as we entered the cool building. I will admit, the design of the place drew you in, especially the large televisions showing game previews. I never realized that Grayson was such a... well, nerd for videogames.

I'm pretty sure I have enough money to buy him something if he wants something. When he went to get gas, I checked my purse and my paycheck from yesterday, where I worked overtime in order to compensate for not showing up today (thanks to Grayson). I set up all of the girl scouts activities so Ms. Janie wouldn't have to go through the trouble, all the while Grayson laughed at me for being such a kiss up.

I decided that I was going to spend $150.00 of my money on this trip and I'd put the other half away into my college fund, like I'd been doing for the past few years, although I'd always put $200.00 away unless I needed something that was more than $100.00, which was rare. Sometimes, I'd put the full amount into the account if I was feeling extremely generous towards myself.

When I noticed Grayson nearly making out with a glass case, I walked over and saw him staring intensely at a game, as if it could solve all of his life problems. "What are you looking at?"

I walked up beside him and he glanced at me before turning his full attention towards the game. "Is it a game about football?"

He managed to nod as he stared at the game, which had a famous football player on the front of it, intercepting a catch. "I'm guessing you don't have that game."

He shook his head. "And I'm guessing you want it."

He nodded. "I'm guessing you put all of your money from work into a bank account for college."

He nodded again. I wonder if he'll nod after everything I say. "I'm guessing your milkshake brings all the boys to the yard."

Grayson looked at me and rolled his eyes, a smile taking over his features. "Yes, it does."

I snorted in response before motioning to the game. "How much is it?"

"Seventy dollars." He told me, groaning loudly before shaking his hands. His fists rested on the case before he sighed, looking as if he wanted to kick the case. That was more than I expected it to be, but I guess I can buy it- that's if he'll use it.

I nodded, looking at the game. "What's so different about it?"

He sighed. "A lot, mostly things with the graphics and I hear the plays have improved extremely."

I nodded, my eyes looking at the game. "I have to go to the bathroom, the liter of water I drank while getting ready earlier has just hit me."

"Grayson!" I stated and he turned to look at me. "Can I get the book?"

He nodded, handing me the black bag with my book inside. I walked over towards the counter as I saw him disappear into the bathroom. "Can I buy that football game?" I pointed in the direction of the case.

The guy nodded, seeming surprised that I knew what the sport was. He walked over towards the display and unlocked it with a key that hung around his neck. Grabbing a game case, he walked back over to the counter after locking the display. "That'll be $70.00 plus tax."

I handed him a fifty and three tens, anxiously switching from foot to foot as he slowly rang up the game. Handing me my change, my receipt and the plastic bag, I stuffed it all into the bag with my book in it, trying to hide it from Grayson. I walked over towards the display, trying to remain calm. He approached me, a smile on his face. "Ready to go?"