For some reason, I've been antsy all morning. I woke up an hour early and decided to take a shower and dress a little different today than normal. I put on my black fitted jeans and rolled them up at the ankles. Picking out a light, burnt Orange t-shirt, I made sure it smelled okay then tucked it into my jeans. I tug on socks that showed above my signature black converse. The socks are black with little yellowish suns all around which match my shirt. You heard it here, folks, I'm matching stuff now.

I look in the mirror and frown. I'm missing something, but what?

Ah! I go into my brother's room who is still sleeping and rummage through his closet.

"Reid?" Peter questions sleepily. "What are you doing?" He has drool on his face. My brother's always been a drooler.

"Looking for a belt and your jean jacket," I answer.

"Look left."

I face left and spot the jean jacket hanging up. I smile and pull it out. I turn to my bother who looks like he's fallen back to sleep with his arm dangling off the bed.

"Hey," I snap then clap to get his attention as if he's a dog. "Your black belt?"

"It 's over there," Peter doesn't look up just points his hand aimlessly towards his dresser. "Top," is all he says.

I go to the top drawer and find the black belt. Once secured through my belt loops, I examine myself in his mirror. I smile. Perfect. I know he'll like my outfit.

"Are you checking yourself out?" My brother asks and I turn to see him sitting up.

"No," I lie.

My brother looks at my outfit. "You look... different."

"A good different?" I ponder, pulling the jean jacket straighter.

My brother shrugs lazily, "a stylish different. It's nice." I don't think Peter would have said that if he was fully awake.

"Thanks," I smile. "I'm ready for school so we're leaving in ten minutes," I tell him and he groans before laying back down.

Before leaving my house, I made sure to spray my most expensive cologne on.

*

Having woken up early, I got to school twenty minutes earlier than normal (Which Peter was not happy about). Then I found out that Alex gets to school early as well so we chatted for a bit before the rest of our group got there. Alyssa said to me "you look nice today," with a blush.

Then Preston clapped my shoulder, "my boy is so handsome," he said in the gross fatherly way he does.

Right now, with five minutes before class, I am sitting in my first-period psychology class, glancing at the doorway every thirty seconds. My leg is bouncing up and down profusely and I can't stop anxiously gnawing my thumb nail.

Before you get any ideas, no, I am not waiting for Grayson Clarke to show up. I definitely do not care rather he sees a difference in my appearance or not. Why would I?

With the warning bell going off, little by little, students start strolling in. Jessica and Marisa taking their seats in front of me and begin gossiping about the latest "scandal" in our school.

I tune them out and try to focus on not focusing on who enters the door. Sneaking a glance one more time, I finally spot Grayson, talking with Lucas who's also in our class.

I drop my hand from my mouth and straighten up, bringing my attention onto the whiteboard and what's written on it.

Agenda- Charles Manson documentary

"Hey," Grayson says as he takes his seat next to me.

"Hm? Oh, hey Grayson," I say nonchalantly, not bothering to look at him.

"You look..." when he pauses, I risk a look at him. He's scanning his sky blue eyes up and down my body. My heart flutters. "Cute."

I frown. Cute? I don't want him to say I look cute. I want him to tell me I look hot, or sexy, or delicious, or like he WANTS TO EAT MY ASS. Not cute. Ugh!

Wait, what am I thinking? I don't like Grayson and I certainly don't want him going anywhere near my ass. That would be gay, which I am not.

"Cute?" I question him with narrowing eyes. The final bell goes off, but as usual, our teacher isn't here yet. She probably won't be for another two minutes.

Grayson smirks, "Yes, cute. Why, did you want me to say something else?"

I scoff, cross my arms over my chest, and look away with my chin held high. "I didn't want nor need your comment on how I look in the first place," I tell him stubbornly.

I glance over and see Grayson nod before he says, "Though you don't 'want nor need' my input..." he moves his chair closer to me. I intake his fresh, soothing scent and my stomach does summersaults. "In my dictionary, the term 'cute' has multiple synonyms. Want to hear some of them?"

I want to give a snarky reply, but I can never seem to think logically when he's near. So I nod.

"Other words for 'cute' are: gorgeous, hot, sexy, stunning, beautiful, and much more," he explains to me causing something to stir to life inside my body. Then he inhales. "You also smell nice. Don't worry; there are multiple synonyms for 'nice' as well."

Knowing I'm blushing like a mad man, I look away and try hiding my smile by biting my lip. It doesn't work too well. Reid, what is wrong with you?! It's like you're a middle school girl with a crush! Get your shit together! You're blushing over Grayson, a boy!

Shaking myself out of my Grayson haze, I look back over at him. "Thank you," I tell him.

Grayson smiles and is about to say something until Mrs. Spencer walks in starting class. That entire class, Grayson and I couldn't stop stealing glances at each other.

Something is seriously wrong with me!

I have gym with Grayson and he caught me staring at him taking his shirt off! When did I become such a pervert?! But can you really blame me? His body is perfect. Like Michelangelo, himself sculpted Grayson's body. So defined and exemplary.

"Sorry," I mumble awkwardly and turn to focus on my locker, my face heating up in embarrassment.

I'm glad it's only us two in here. The locker rooms are split up by two sides; the freshman, sophomore, and juniors in one area, and the seniors in another. The seniors get bigger lockers. The divided lockers are connected with a bathroom in between them.

Our fourth-period gym is with Mr. Wilson in Team Modern Sports. The class consists of juniors and like five seniors including Grayson and I. The other three seniors are already dressed and in the gymnasium. Grayson and I are alone.

I haven't decided if that is a bad thing or a good thing yet.

I know Grayson is smirking that stupid smirk of his, and I'm sure me staring at him boosted his ego even more.

Wanting to get out of there as soon as possible, I quickly take my shirt off then my jeans before grabbing my gym uniform. I hear Grayson's locker shut and immediately Grayson is by my side, leaning against the locker next to mine. I'm only in my boxers. I know I should put the required red shirt and black shorts on, but I'm frozen from Grayson's proximity and his eyes on my chest.

I gulp. "W-What are you doing?" I stutter.

Grayson shrugs, "just admiring your body. Like you did with mine."

I fiercely blush and look away. "Well, stop. I'm naked. And I wasn't admiring your body."

"Unfortunately you still have your boxers on, so you're not technically naked, though we could change that," he winked at me.

My heartbeat speeds up. "N-not in the locker room," I tell him and when I see his raised eyebrows, I realize my mistake. "I mean that's not gonna happen anywhere!" I say in a panic.

Grayson chuckles, clearly amused. "It's too easy to get you flustered." He steps closer to me, glances down at my mouth then says, "you going to my party tonight?"

"What?" I ask even though I heard him. I thought he was going to kiss me and I can't help but feel disappointed that he didn't. God, please help me.

I realize I still have yet to put my uniform on, so I begin getting dressed as Grayson steps back from me to give me room (but not much) and talks.

"I asked if you are coming to my party tonight?"

"I don't think that's a good idea," I say even though my heart swells at the thought of going to Grayson's house even if there's going to be other people there as well. I sit down on the bench to tie my gym shoes on.

"Why not?"

I stand back up once my shoes are secured on my feet. "You know why."

"Actually, I don't," Grayson stubbornly says. I know he knows why I can't go to his party. I don't need a repeat of Saturday.

"Me and drinking don't mix too well."

"You don't have to drink," Grayson points out.

Jesus, he's persistent. I open my mouth to speak, but the locker room door swings open with an angry-looking Mr. Wilson. "Clarke! Henderson! What the hell you still doin' in here? Get to class!"

"Sorry, Sir," Grayson and I say in unison.

"When you're out there, you're gonna start with ten suicides! Don't make me change it to twenty!"

"It is Throw- Back-Thursday at the movies tonight, anyone in?" Alex asks us, glancing around excitedly when all of our friends take their seats at the lunch table.

"As long as no one tricks me into seeing a stupid chick-flick this time, I'm in," Preston says in disgust. All but Preston and Grayson laugh, remembering the time Alyssa and McKenna scammed Preston into seeing New Moon from the Twilight Saga.

So Grayson's not left out, I turn to him and explain, "Alyssa and McKenna got Preston to go see one of the Twilight movies by telling him it was a movie about a zombie apocalypse. Of course his dumbass believed them even though we all know McKenna would never go see a horror movie."

Grayson chuckles then looks at McKenna, "how can you not like horror movies?"

"Probably since I threw up after watching Saw II," she explains.

"Well, we're not gonna see a horror movie tonight. They're playing Back To The Future," Alex assures her then focuses back on the group, "so who's in?"

All except Grayson and I agree to go.

"I have plans tonight," Grayson vaguely says, bumping my knee with his, under the table. Is he not going to tell them about his party tonight?

"Uh same, I uh, I have to watch over Angie," I lie. I don't know why I didn't mention Grayson's party, maybe because it doesn't seem like Grayson wants my friends there. Not that I'm even going.

"Can't Peter watch over Angie?" Alyssa asks.

I scratch the back of my neck, I hate lying to my friends. Why am I even lying? It's not like I want to go to Grayson's stupid party anyway. "Uh yeah, but he's not gonna be home tonight. I think his church group is going bowling or something." That's not completely a lie, my brother and his church group are going bowling... just not tonight.

Preston eyes me suspiciously. I know he knows I'm lying, but he doesn't comment thankfully. I'm sure he'll question me later when we're alone.