Chapter 57

Chapter 26 "Babe, I'm bored," Grayson whined for what seemed like the hundredth time. Every minute, he said those three words and every minute, I was getting irritated. "You're always bored," I pointed out. Grayson sighed dramatically and placed his arm over his eyes. "... Just one game?" "No," I said. "Your wrist is still sprained and knowing you, you'll injure it more just by playing video games. You can continue watching me play." "But you suck." I raised an eyebrow and looked at Grayson, who was sprawled across the couch with his head rested in my lap. "Have I ever told you how nice you are?" I asked sarcastically. "I know, thank you," he said, removing his arm from over his eyes and looking up at me. "Please? I'll love you forever." "You know, that never works because you already do love me forever," I said. "Playing the game won't hurt my wrist more," Grayson said. "Besides, you've been stuck forever. I can offer my assistance." I sighed, knowing he was not going to shut up at all. Besides, it wasn't like he was going to break his wrist just by playing a game. "Alright, whiner. One game." Grayson smiled, sitting up and taking the controller from my hands. "Thank you, Flower. Now watch the master beat this part for you." I did watch. And he did not beat it. Right when he was at the end of the part I was stuck on, Grayson moved his wrist the wrong way. Whenever he plays games, he moves his hands too much, and this time, it hurt him a lot. Grayson dropped the controller, grabbing his wrist as he hissed a string of profanities. "Are you done?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at his colorful language. Grayson, his face twisted in pain, looked at me. "Seriously? You could at least ask I'm okay." "It's not like you broke it," I said. "And you're the one who was begging me to play." "It still hurts," Grayson said. "You could be more sympathetic about it." Recently, Grayson has been going through mood-swings. One minute he was all happy and annoying me for the fun of it. The next, he was snapping at me or being really cranky. I was trying my best to go along with his flow of mood-swings, but it was so exhausting. "Grayson, are you okay?" I asked. "It's too late to ask that," Grayson snapped. "God, it hurts." I sighed and stood up. "I'll go get the ice." Right before I was about to walk passed him, Grayson grabbed my wrist gently and pulled me back down on the couch. "No, it's fine. I'm sorry. I've just been stressed recently. Between my depression and the fact that my family won't stop calling me, I... I don't know. I'm sorry." "It's fine," I said. "As much as I hate you snapping at me, I do understand. Do you need ice?" Grayson shook his head. "No, the pain is leaving. I just moved it the wrong way." He tucked my hair behind me ear, resting his hand on my cheek before pressing his lips on mine. "I love you." "Mm, I love you too," I said before our lips connected again. Being careful not to use his left hand because of his wrist, he lowered me until the back of my head hit the armrest with him hovering over me. The doorbell rang throughout the house, so I pulled away. "I have to answer it." "And why can't your parents?" Grayson asked. "They're at work, remember? Now get off." I tapped his shoulder and he sighed deeply, pushing himself off of me. Grayson followed me up the stairs, but headed to the kitchen to eat, like he always did. I opened the front door, honestly shocked at who was standing there. "Hi, Poppy. Can I speak to my brother?" Graeme asked in a harsh tone. "What?" I asked, trying to make it seem like I had no idea what he was talking about. Grayson didn't want anyone in his family, except for Gale, to know he was living with me now. "Don't play dumb with me," Graeme said. "I thought long and hard one where my brother might run off to. The first thing that should have popped into my mind was his girlfriend's house. Thankfully, I knew where that was because of the many family dinners. So I drive by and what do you know? Grayson's car is parked in the driveway." I had no excuse for this, so I didn't exactly know what to say. That was when Grayson decided to walk over, carrying a bowl filled with chips. He must have heard Graeme talking, because he just looked at his brother with a neutral expression. "You," Graeme said, pointing sharply at his brother. "You're coming home, now." "Fat chance," Grayson said. "I'm eighteen, thus being able to move out. Get child services involved for all I care. They'll tell you the exact same thing, especially if I tell them about what you and Dad started doing when I was ten." "Grayson, you are dad's son," Graeme said. "You listen to him." "Are you not listening?" Grayson asked. "I'm eighteen. Do me a favor and stop getting involved with my life, yeah? I've had enough of you and dad. You beat me just because he told you to, nearly beaten my to death, and caused my depression. If I tell this to social services if you do decide to involve them, I'll tell them all of that." Graeme crossed his arms. "Fine. The social services will get involved. They'll take you away from here." "Cool," Grayson said before closing the door. "Does he not realize you're eighteen?" I asked. It was law that when you turned eighteen, you get to make your own choices. Vote, move out. What wasn't his family getting about that? ~*~ A soft knocking on my door woke me up in the middle of the night. "Yes?" I asked in a groggy voice. Grayson slowly opened the door. "Sorry to wake you," he said softly. "But... My mom keeps calling and I want to answer it. I need support, though. Can I sit with you while I talk to her?" I rubbed my eyes and sat up, turning on the lamp beside my bed. "Yeah, of course." He smiled faintly as he walked over, sitting on the edge of my bed with his cell phone clutched tightly in his hand. I sat beside him, resting my head on his shoulder as we waited for his mom to call again. The wait wasn't that long before Grayson's cell rang. He took one look at the caller id before answering it and putting it on speaker. "Mom, hey," Grayson said. "Grayson?" Gertrude asked as if she wasn't sure it actually was her son. "Is it you?" "Yeah," Grayson said. "Thank goodness!" Gertrude said. "I was so worried when you weren't answering. I thought you weren't able to get a place to stay which was why you weren't answering. Then Graeme told us where you are. I'm just happy you're okay." "Yeah." "I know you're not happy with your dad and Graeme returning," Gertrude said. "But you have to understand that I still love your father, and Graeme is my son. We're a family, Grayson." "I'm not coming home," Grayson said. Gertrude sighed. "Grayson, please. We can work through this. We can become a family again. All of us." "We can't," Grayson said. "They beat me, Mom. They almost killed me. They're the reason I have depression. I need... I need to stay with Poppy." Gertrude scoffed. "You've been dating her for six months, Grayson. Just because it's been half a year, it doesn't mean you'll last. What happens when you break up?" "If, not when," Grayson corrected. "And we won't. I'm staying with her." "Grayson, come on," she said. "We're your family." "Mom, just stop," Grayson said. "I'm depressed and I can't be near the two people who caused it. I'm staying with Poppy, okay?" "Grayson..." "Please don't call anymore," Grayson said before hanging up his cell phone. He placed it beside his and placed his face in his hand. I rubbed his back, trying to comfort him. "You did good, Grayson. She loves you, but you need to do what's best for you. She just wants this perfect little family." "She could have it without me," Grayson said, looking at me. "Because I have a new family. One that actually cares about me." I smiled and gave him a kiss. "Get some rest now, okay?"