Chapter 4: 'I hate Grayson Carter, The Ballerina - Audrey Peters'

Since today is the day of the football game, like every Friday, Grayson works until 7 and then goes to his game, which is from 7:30 to 9. But he works from 4 and unfortunately, I share the same shift. The whole entire week, I spent all of my time avoiding him as much as possible. At work, he’d help the boys with their homework and I’d help the girls, who all thought that he was hot and asked me if we made out yet, to which I responded with a disgusted face and a vigorous head shaking.

Grayson also realized that we have not one, not two, but three classes together: Pre-Calculus and Home Economics on A Days (*1) and AP English Literature and Composition on B Days (*2). We also have lunch together but I don’t count that because of the fact that he’s either outside, practicing football, in the gym practicing football, or sitting with his friends at their crowded lunch table.

But today, since the children had an all-day field trip and don’t get back until later, we technically had a free shift where we could do our homework, read, or have friends over as long as we don’t disrupt people studying. Of course, Grayson’s choice was the latter which stopped me from finishing the latest sad, but amazing book by John Green. Grayson had three rowdy football players in a library. I was on the second floor where the text books, encyclopedias, and other sources were and I was staring down at the football players, or Shane to be exact. My books were abandoned on the couch where I was recently sitting.

Shane Deville is probably the most handsome guy I’ve ever seen. His black hair is always messy and it looks so soft. He is tall and I like tall guys, except for Grayson. His eyes are the prettiest shade of blue I've ever seen. Even though I can’t see all of his face right now because he’s turned sideways as him and Kyle toss the football back and forth (something I’d have a fit about if I wasn't gawking at the near male model who is in close vicinity of me). I can still tell you what he looks like because this isn’t the first time I found myself staring at him. I was so into staring at Shane that I didn’t even notice Grayson’s mysterious absence.

Suddenly, I heard Grayson’s voice which caused me to jump. “See something you like over there?”

I felt my face burn and it was most likely the darkest shade of red it’s ever been. My worst enemy, and only enemy, caught me staring at one of his best friends. “Pfft, n-no. I’m just counting the minutes until something gets knocked over.”

He smirked. “Okay, then I’ll just tell Shane that you weren’t staring at him,” he started to walk away and I found myself hissing his name.

“Grayson!” I reached out and punched his back, causing him to turn and look at me.

“Did you just punch my back?”

“He noticed that I was staring at him?” I asked, wringing my hands together. My face was still burning as I brushed the hair behind my ear. Grayson narrowed his eyes at me as he scrutinized my face. A slow grin made its way across his face.

“You like him, don’t you?” he was standing tall as if he discovered a secret. Well, he did discover a secret but a whack over the head with a chair will make it disappear.

I shook my head. “Pfft, no.”

“Admit it or I’ll tell him that you like him," he threatened.

I crossed my arms. “And who’s to say that you won’t tell him that I like him if I say that I like him?"

“So you do like him?” he inquired. I was surprised that he understood that. I was trying to confuse him.

I shook my head. “No! Who said that?”

“You! You just said that," he exclaimed.

“Lower your voice, Gracie,” I snapped and he glared at me. “Now, hypothetically speaking, if I did like Shane, which I don’t, would you tell him?”

“Well, hypothetically speaking,if you like Shane, which you do, I’d be required to tell him because he’s my best friend," he mocked me and I glowered at him.

“But y-you can’t!” it was all I could think to say! I’m not on the debate team! I don’t think well on my feet!

He smirked as he rocked back and forth on his feet. “I-I can,” he imitated my stutter. “Unless…you do something for me.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What it is?”

“Use this free time to make a poster that says ‘Talking to Grayson Carter is the best thing that’s ever happened to me – Audrey Peters’ in big bold letters. Come to the game today and before it starts, when the bleachers are full, run around with it in the air,” he explained and I stared at him.

“Is that even allowed?” I snapped and he started to turn away. I internally panicked before I grabbed his arm forcefully and turned him around. He rubbed his forearm as he stared at me. “If I do that...you won’t tell a single soul about…Shane?” I asked and he nodded.

“I won’t tell a single soul.”

Swallowing my pride and placing my hands on my face. “Fine, I’ll do it.”

---

I made the sign. But I don’t think that Grayson will be happy with it. Instead of it saying, ‘Talking to Grayson Carter is the best thing that’s ever happened to me; – Audrey Peters,’ I put something...different. I wrote it in big black letters; hopefully, they’ll put it on the jumbo screen.

I walked down the stairs of the library, holding the poster to my chest, the words facing me. I approached the football players, where Grayson sat. I noticed that they were laughing and when Grayson saw me, he grinned. “Hey, Audrey," he said my name as if it was some kind of code.

“Hey, Gracie,” this brought a frown to his face and earned a few snickers from his friends. I grinned inwardly. Shane laughed at a joke I made! “Well, since nobody came in during the last hour, I’m telling you that I’m going home. It’s your responsibility to lock up.”

“Why are you going home?” Grayson narrowed his eyes as he scrutinized me, something he seems to do when he’s confused and curious.

I quirked an eyebrow as I tilted my head to the side. “Don’t worry about it; anyway, you have to lock up.”

“What if I tell Ms. Janie that you left early?” he threatened as I walked away. I turned to look at him.

“What if I tell your friends here that you’re a closet singer and dancer? And you’re not very good at it,” I replied before I pretended to wince. Grayson’s face was red, most likely in anger. “Whoops, too late.”

I exited the library, grinning widely. Don’t I feel cool?

---

As I entered my house, I raced up the stairs. I sent a text to Sandra and Lola, inviting them to the football game. They asked me how I got tickets and I frowned. Are they sold out? I phoned the library, once, twice, and finally, the third time, somebody answered.

“Hello?” the person asked and I frowned.

“This doesn’t sound like Gracie,” I casually replied.

The person laughed. “That’s because it’s not. It’s Shane, Gracie is currently arm wrestling.”

“Is he losing?” I asked, excitement clear in my tone. Maybe it’s from the fact that I’m on the phone with Shane, my crush of two years, or maybe it’s because there’s a chance that Grayson will break his arm and potentially cry. Or maybe it’s both.

“Actually, no; he’s pretty good at this,” Shane explained and I frowned.

I sighed. “Can you please put him on the phone?” I asked and I heard a small fight going on.

Finally, after a minute, Grayson was on the phone…and so were the other guys. I was currently on speaker phone. “You made me lose!”

“Who cares? I don’t,” I snapped before I pursed my lips. “You know the favor that I’m doing for you? With the poster? At the game?”

Grayson grunted. “Yes, I do. What about it? Now why are we talking like this?” He emphasized the last word at the end of his sentences. I tossed a flat look in the mirror as I thumbed through my makeup case.

“Shut up you idiot,” I muttered before realizing that I was on speakerphone and that I must sound like a jerk, even though I am. “I mean, how am I going to get tickets? They’re sold out.”

“I don’t know,” Grayson replied.

“This doesn’t mean you’re going to do what you threatened to do, right? It’s not my fault," panic was filling my voice. It was quiet for a moment and it seemed like days.

Finally, I got a loud response from Grayson. “Eureka!”

I winced away from the phone. “Geez, Gracie, are you trying to make me go deaf? The phone was on my ear!” I barked.

Grayson ignored my previous statement. “As football players, we have three seats to give away to family members but since this favor decides your fate, I’m being oh so generous and giving you one of the seats.”

“You mean three of the seats,” I replied.

“Why three?” Grayson questioned.

I sighed. “Since you’re making me embarrass myself, I want to be able to go back to my friends when it’s over.”

“What are you making her do?” I heard Kyle ask, or at least I think it was Kyle.

I replied loudly before Grayson could say anything. “Nothing, he’s not making me do anything! If you say something Grayson, I will rip your intestines out, bake them into a pretzel and force-feed them to you.” 

“Graphic,” Grayson muttered. “Anyway, I won’t say anything. But if you try anything, I will-,” I cut him off mid threat by hanging up my phone and placing it on the table.

I went back to doing my makeup. I put on mascara and eyeliner. I even did a cat eye. I should know how to do these things by the substantial amount of time I spend watching beauty guru videos on YouTube.

“Audrey?” My mother asked as she opened my door. She noticed I was doing my makeup and she grinned. “Why are you doing your makeup? Have any plans?”

It was rare that I actually went out and when I did, I never wore makeup but I’m not trying to have a greasy face on the jumbo screen (if I manage to get on it.) They rarely turn the thing on. It takes up a lot of electricity, which costs the school a lot of money. “I’m going to the football game tonight.”

“Doesn’t Grayson play on the football team?” I nodded. “Does this have anything to do with you guys working together?” my mother always has this hope in the back of her mind that Grayson and I will become best friends.

I decided to not say ‘somewhat’ because I didn’t feel like explaining the situation to her. I really don’t want to admit to her that I like Shane, either, so instead I just shook my head. “I just want to look nice.”

“What time will you be home?” my mom questioned.

“I’ll be home around nine,” I blinked my eyelashes and looked to see if my cat eyes were even. My foundation and blush looked good, too. I applied a layer of lip balm and clear lip gloss.

“Is there an after party?” my mother asked and I shrugged.

I placed all of my makeup back. “Maybe, but I’m not going to go.”

My mom frowned. “Why not?”

“Aren’t you supposed to be glad I’m saying no? You have to know what happens there, right? Underage drinking, underage smoking? You know…it,” 17 years old and still afraid to talk about anything intimate.

“I trust your decisions; besides, it’s your last year, I mean, don’t you want to have fun? When was the last time you went to a party? A year ago? Maybe two?” my mother frowned.

I shrugged carelessly. “I just don’t like parties, I don’t like people touching me, I don’t like the smell of beer and smoke, and I don’t like watching couples kiss,” I stated simply as I walked over to my closet. My mother turned from her seat on my bed to watch me.

“Okay, so how’s school?” my mother and I are very close and I appreciate that. She feels bad that she didn’t have another kid that I could play with when I was growing up. That’s why she was ecstatic when she reunited with her college best friend, Emily, who just so happened to have a son my age.

I didn’t like the park because the sand was uncomfortable and I was scared of the slide so I rarely interacted with children. I was a mama’s girl and didn’t go to pre-school and instead, went straight to kindergarten. My teacher was worried that I was too antisocial so my mother quickly tried to set me up on play dates with Grayson and that ended quickly when I poured juice all over his Gameboy. He would hide behind his mother at every play date after that, even though I promised not to touch his Gameboy.

I decided to give her a simple answer. “It’s going okay. How’s work?”

“It’s going great; Emily, Richard, your father and I are going to the staff Halloween party. Did you get your costume for Halloween yet?” my mother inquired as I grabbed a plain red sweater. It was a V-neck but didn’t cut too low. It fit me comfortable. I grabbed jeans, too. It was rare that we got to dress down so I’m taking advantage of this activity and wearing my cutest outfit.

Realizing I didn’t answer my mother’s question yet, I shook my head. “I didn’t yet but I want to be a cat.”

“I know, you told me. When are you going to get the costume?” my mother asked me and I thought for a moment.

“Tomorrow, after work,” I answered and she nodded. She left when I had to get dressed.

---

I honked the horn loudly in front of Lola’s house. The blonde walked out of the house, her clothes girly and white. I winced. She’s going to sit on the bleachers with those on? As if hearing my inner voice, Sandra spoke. “She’s going to sit down on the bleachers with those pants?”

I turned to look at her with a nervous look on my face. Lola got into the car, grinning at us. “You’re going to ruin those pants.”

“No, I’m not,” Lola argued. The two girls argued back and forth as I drove to the school.

As I got out of the car, I took the poster with me and the girls both gave me a confused look. “What’s that?”

I looked down at the poster, a smirk overcoming my face. “Oh nothing, just really rooting for Grayson.”

The girls exchanged anxious looks. Lola decided to speak up. “How are we even getting in?”

I turned to look at them. “Don’t worry about it; I have connections.”

When we walked up to the ticket collector, the girl smiled. “Ticket please.”

“Actually, we’re here with Grayson Carter,” I explained and the girl gave me a flat look.

“Grayson Carter?” The girl asked and I nodded. “As in Grayson Carter?”

No, as in Justin Timberlake. “That’s the one.” I replied.

The girl sighed and shook her head. “This is the third time this happened today.” She held up her index finger and walked towards the boy’s locker room. She knocked loudly and someone peeked their head out. She began talking to them and they closed the door. I heard shouting and Grayson appeared.

I glanced back at Lola and Sandra who were staring at me, wide eyed. They looked at Grayson who was behind the lady. “These girls say they’re here for you.”

Her voice sounded bored. Grayson looked at us. “You actually came. I thought I was going to have to tell Shane,” I gave him a warning look and he smirked. “They don’t know?”

I glared at him. “Not yet,” I barked while Sandra stared at me oddly and Lola admired Grayson. “I was planning on telling them after this little stunt.”

“Sorry to interrupt your conversation, but are they with you? Or not?” She asked and Grayson nodded, motioning for us to enter the field. When Grayson left into the locker room, I glanced at the lady who stared at us. I put my hands on either side of my head and wiggled my fingers while sticking my tongue out. Serves her right for assuming I’m obsessed with that idiot.

“What did you have to tell us?” Sandra immediately asked.

I looked down at the floor as I held the poster against me. I explained how Grayson caught me staring at Shane and how he threatened me to make a poster and run around or else he’ll spill to Shane. “Are you actually going to do it?”

I scoffed at Lola’s question. I showed them the poster. “Does it look like I’m going to do it?”

Sandra gasped. “You can’t do that!”

“Who says I can’t?” I replied and Lola just shook her head.

I saw Grayson enter the field and walk over to the front row, where we sit. We were casually sat next to an awkward break in the protective fence where the bench and the water were located, along with the other football player’s close friends and parents even though we were neither. “Are you ready?”

“I was born ready," I smirked and glanced at my two friends who just slowly shook their heads. I rolled my eyes at their overreactions.

I stood up, my heart racing. I turned backwards so I was facing Grayson who had a smirk on his face. He thinks he won. I slowly raised the sign and his eyes skimmed over the words and the smirk dropped from his face. He started advancing towards me as an enraged look took over his face and I smirked, turning around and jogging away.

I heard his footsteps on the turf and I increased my speed. I didn’t need to go very far, I just needed to U-Turn and make my way back to my seat. I heard people laughing and I glanced back at Grayson who was angrily glaring at me, eyes narrowed. He started gaining speed and I started to freak out. He saw this and grinned. I smiled mischievously as I devised a plan. Maybe I am good at thinking on my feet.

I saw the mascot who was jumping around, doing cartwheels and back flips. I turned my direction towards the unidentifiable creature but Grayson already predicted it and came up beside me, running a bit faster than I was. Soon enough, he was facing me with an angry yet amused look on his face. He ran towards me and I felt frozen in my spot. Instead of running away, I just stepped to the side. When he ran right past me, slightly confused, I kicked him in the back of the legs, causing him to fall. I jogged back over to the awkward break in the fence and squeezed by the water table, walked to my seat, and sat down with a satisfied look on my face.

I watched as Grayson got up, an annoyed look on his face as he saw me, relaxing in my spot. I noticed the football team in the entrance of the field, laughing loudly. I felt my face redden as Shane raised a ‘thumbs up’ signal and I awkwardly looked away. "I hate Grayson Carter, the ballerina? Really?"

"Yeah," I shrugged. Wasn’t that fun?

---

The crowd was cheering due to our teams win. Thanks to me, Grayson was angry throughout the game and he ended up tackling the majority of the team.

“Are you sure you don’t want to go to the after party?” I shook my head at Sandra’s question. Lola groaned.

“You never want to go anywhere!” she crossed her arms childishly.  

I rolled my eyes at her. “The star of the team is the guy I angered. Just because I don’t want to go doesn’t mean you don’t have to go.”

“She’s right, you know,” Sandra stated and I nodded my head. “No, Lola is right.”

“What?” I questioned.

“You don’t want to go anywhere… it’s going to be fun,” Sandra replied and I furrowed my eyebrow.

“Maybe next time, I can’t get in too late tonight. I have work in the morning,” I replied as I awkwardly fidgeted under their gaze.

“Then we’ll go to the party tomorrow night,” My head snapped up at Lola’s statement.

“But… there won’t be a party tomorrow,” I replied.

Lola smiled. “Somebody will be throwing one. Don’t make the excuse that Grayson will be there because I doubt anybody can handle two nights of partying and then going to school the next day.”

I was silent and Sandra raised both of her hands up expectantly. “So…. what do you say? No Grayson? Just fun?”

I bit my lip, deciding that I need a break from work and all. My mother will let me go, I know she will, as long as it doesn't interfere with my school work. “Okay.” 

__

*1- A Day - A type of schedule that usually has an A day and then a B day where you have 4 classes each day. Most classes are 88-90 minutes with a lunch period that is 30-40 minutes long. 

*2 - Refer to A Day