Chapter 69

Chapter 38 A few days back to school and the Seniors were already having another surprise event. However, it wasn't really a surprise, per se, since we had to get permission slips signed for a field trip to the beach. I was excited to go back there, but I knew that there was going to be something going along with it. Last time I went to the beach on a field trip, we had a worksheet to fill out and it was boring, especially because my partner was Grayson and he refused to do anything. All the Seniors got onto the bus after checking in with their period one teacher. Grayson and I sat together with Belle and Devon in front of us. Grayson refused to cover up his still remaining black eye today since we were going to the beach and the water would probably wash it off since my make up wasn't waterproof. So, he settled with wearing his sunglasses. "So," I said to Grayson, hooking my arm in his. "Can you not sleep this time when we get to the beach?" "Come on, Flower," Grayson said. "That was one time. And you slept afterwards." "And what happened when I fell asleep?" I asked. Grayson narrowed his eyes at me. "Don't go there, Poppy. I told you, I get pissed when guys say whatever they want about my girl. They can't do that." "And you couldn't have told them not to do it?" I asked. "When has someone ever stopped doing something because a stranger told them not to?" Grayson asked. "You really think those guys would have stopped if I said 'Hey. Can you not talk about my girlfriend like that?'" "They could have," I said. "Trust me, I know guys," Grayson said. "That and they had these stupid smirks on their face. They were basically asking for a fight." "Nobody asks for fights," I said. "Can we not talk about this?" Grayson asked. "Quite frankly, I preferred you to be sleeping. You're less annoying." "Take that back!" "Make me, Flower," Grayson said with a smile. Oh, that was going to be extremely easy for me. Poor Grayson. He didn't know what he was in for. I just had to bribe him with his weakness. "I'm serious, Grayson," I said. "You better take it back." "Or?" Grayson asked. "Face it, Flower. You're not that good at threatening me." "Really?" I asked. "So you're not going to take it back?" Grayson smiled. "Nope." "Fine," I said. "Then I am not going to kiss you, nor am I going to let you kiss me until you take it back." Grayson's smile immediately turned into a frown. "Oh, you did not just go there." I scooted further away, crossing my arms over my chest to prove my point. I wasn't really mad at Grayson for saying what he did; we teased each other all the time and him saying that was nothing. But I loved teasing him a lot more than he liked teasing me. Grayson leaned closer to me, but I quickly held up my hand so he kissed my palm instead. "Oh, you're serious, aren't you?" he asked with a smile. "Suit yourself. I know you won't be able to resist my kisses." "We'll see about that," I said, looking out the window and at the passing scenery. However, as soon as I did that, I regretted it. I saw the very tree Grayson and I crashed into while we were arguing. I knew we got over the crash but seeing that very spot made the memories come back. Not feeling like teasing Grayson anymore, I scooted back to Grayson's side, hooking my arm in his and digging my face in his chest, tears straining my cheeks. "Hey," he said softly. "What's wrong?" I shook my head, not wanting to answer. Grayson hated talking about the car crash; it only caused his depression to get worse. Although he acted like he was fine, I knew he wasn't. And if he saw me upset about the car crash, that would make it even worse. Grayson wrapped his arm around me, pulling me closer as he kissed my forehead. "You want to tell me what's going on?" Grayson asked. I shook my head again. I couldn't tell him. I didn't even know why seeing that tree bothered me so much. Grayson was fine, I was healing. For some reason, it just bothered me, a whole lot. "Hey, when we get to the beach, want to..." Belle began, but then she stopped. She must have turned in her seat to talk to us and saw me. "Poppy, what's wrong?" "She won't say," Grayson said. "Just let her calm down a bit." "Tony!" Belle suddenly called since Tony was sitting in the front and we were near the back. "Your sister needs you! She's upset about something!" "Thank you for announcing it, Belle," Grayson said sarcastically. "I am very tempted to go back to hating you." "The feeling's mutual," Belle shot back. "Poppy, what's wrong?" Tony asked suddenly, so he must have been by Grayson and I now. I looked at him, keeping my head rested on Grayson's chest. I still had no idea why I was freaking out just by seeing the tree we crashed into. I thought I got over it. I thought it wouldn't bother me anymore. "I'm fine," I lied, my voice cracking a bit. "You are not fine," Tony objected as Grayson wiped the tears from my cheeks. "Seriously, what happened?" "Nothing, I promise," I said. "Poppy, please tell us," Grayson said. "You were fine a minute ago when you were teasing me. Then suddenly you start crying? That's not like you. Something is wrong." "I... I saw the tree," I said softly. "A tree?" Tony asked. "You started crying because you saw a tree?" "I didn't say a tree," I objected. "I said the tree." As soon as the bus pulled into the parking lot of the beach and the doors opened, Grayson got up with his backpack and got out of the bus ahead of everyone else. He knew what I was talking about and that was the reason I didn't want to tell him. Memories of the crash was going back in his head. Tony sat down beside me. "I'm still confused as to what tree you're talking about." I looked down. "The one we crashed into. I thought I would be okay with it, Tony. I thought I was over it and it wouldn't bother me anymore. But something inside of me just broke down once I saw it." "It's normal, Poppy," Tony said. "You can't expect something that big to just vanish from your memories and your feelings. It's like your..." He stopped mid-sentence, unsure if what he was going to say next would affect me. However, I already knew what he was going to say. "My assault, I know," I said. "It took me a while to get over it." I looked out the window, seeing everyone gathered around the principal, all except Grayson. He was leaning against a nearby tree, his head slightly tilted up and I assumed his eyes were closed; I couldn't really see through his sunglasses. "It affects him a lot. Everything does." "And all you can do is be there for him," Tony said. "Go talk to him. I'll give you the instructions the principal is giving everyone later." We both got up and walked out of the bus, thanking the driver. I walked over to Grayson who kept his eyes closed. "How are you?" I asked. "Don't cry over the crash," Grayson said, ignoring my question. "It makes me think it's my fault." "But it's..." "Not, yeah, I get it," Grayson said. "That doesn't help. I can't control how I feel. I blame myself for stuff all the time when people tell me it's not my fault. Nothing works. And seeing you cry over it made me feel horrible." He rubbed his forehead. "Crap, I'm crying now." "I don't see you crying." "No dip, Sherlock, I'm wearing sunglasses," Grayson snapped. "Someone's touchy today," I muttered. Normally, I would be hurt by him snapping, but I knew he was now in a bad mood because I couldn't keep my tears in. "Sorry," he apologized. "I didn't mean to snap at you." "Grayson, it's fine," I said, glancing over my shoulder to see if everyone was still listening to the principal's instructions. They weren't and most of them had left the area. Tony walked up to us. "Are you okay, Grayson?" "Uh huh." Tony didn't even notice the sarcasm in Grayson's tone. "Great. So basically, everyone can do what they want for the next two hours. Then everyone has to meet back here." "Got it," I said. "Come on, Grayson. Let's go relax." I held Grayson's hand and pulled him towards the beach. Since we go here a lot, we had a regular spot, and luckily it was empty. We pulled our towels out of our bags and set them on the sand before sitting down. Belle and Devon found us and sat down as well. "Feeling better, Poppy?" Belle asked. I nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine now." "I'm fine too, thanks for asking," Grayson muttered under his breath. He was really touchy today. "Do you guys want to do something fun?" Belle asked. "Sitting around and doing nothing is boring." "Grayson and I actually like just sitting at the beach," I objected. "You're not obligated to sit with us." "So please go somewhere else," Grayson said. "I don't like you anymore." "Grayson, seriously?" I asked. "What? I don't." Belle sighed. "Poppy, what do you even see in him?" "That's a long list," I said. "Damn right," Grayson said. "I am her best friend after all." "Can you not argue with her today?" I asked. "I just want to relax." "No promises," Grayson said.