Chapter 14

The next morning, Grant and I were sat on my bed together. I was trying to fix his face but he kept cringing at my touch.

This was so much more difficult with him moving all the time; he should seriously man up a little. "Hold still." I ordered.

Grant groaned. "Maybe I would if you were a little gentler. It is a bruise you know?"

"Do you want to walk around with a black eye all day?" I asked frustrated. He shook his head. "Then hold still." I went back to trying to cover up the black eye. I had to admit that it’d gotten a lot worse overnight.

Using my cosmetics pad, I wiped some additional concealer around his eye then tried to even it out- more gently this time. It was a good job I owned some make-up that was my boyfriend’s skin tone. Wait- did I really just say that? This whole situation was way too weird…

"I can't believe I'm wearing make-up." I guess Grant and I were thinking the same thing then.

"Why?" I asked innocently. "A lot of guys wear make-up." I decided I should at least try and make him feel better about the whole situation- nice girlfriend that I am.

"Name one person."

"Brad Pitt probably wears make-up." I replied smugly.

"Yes, but he’s a celebrity. Name a non-famous person."

"Okay," I said, thinking. "Kevin wears make-up."

"Who’s Kevin?"

"You know, Kevin Thomas." I explained.

Grant rolled his eyes. "He doesn't count."

"Why doesn’t he?" I frowned. Personally, I thought my answer kind of rocked.

"Let me make this clear." He said. "Name a non-famous, non-emo, straight person who wears make-up." Well I guess cut down my options considerably…

I thought about it. He was right; I didn't know anyone who fit that category. "I can't think of anyone right now.” I confessed.  “But there are guys out there."

"Sure there are." He said unconvinced.

After one last dab of concealer, I was finished. "Okay, all done" I told him whilst admiring my work. With this masterpiece, I could give even give Ryan a run for his money. There was no trace of a black eye.

Grant pushed himself off the bed and walked over to the mirror on the other side of the room. He checked himself out for a bit. "Not bad." He smiled.

I’d woken up even earlier this morning so there was time for both Grant and I to take a shower. I also had to sneak into my brother’s room before he got up. Grant needed some fresh clothes so I had to steal some of Trent’s. It was a good job he had so many clothes; my brother probably wouldn’t notice that his green t-shirt and jeans were missing.

There was still one more problem though.

"How are you going to get out of my bedroom without Trent seeing you?" I asked him.

Grant thought about it for a second. “I’ll go out by your balcony, walk to the park, walk back and be back here just in time for breakfast. Your brother won’t suspect a thing. Trust me.”

"But you always drive here." I reminded him.

"My car is back at the park though." He smiled innocently. 

"Okay." I said, pecking him on the lips. I guess it could work.

"Rose?" My brother's voice sounded from somewhere behind my door. My heart skipped a beat while I stared at Grant, terrified. He gave me a look telling me to say something back.

"Y-yeah?" I stuttered.

"I made breakfast." Trent announced. “Come down and get some when you’re ready.”

"I'll be right out." I assured him, listening carefully for his footsteps to get further away from my door. I breathed out a sigh of relief. "That was close."

Grant nodded in agreement. "I'll see you later Rosie-bear." He said pecking me on the lips. I rolled my eyes at his childhood nickname. I hated that he still called me by it sometimes!

He was about to leave when I called out. "Wait." He turned around to face me. "Why do you let Trent drive you to school when you can drive yourself?"

He shrugged. "There's no law that says that I can't ride with my girlfriend to school."

Wow, sometimes it shocked me how sweet Grant could actually be. I pulled him to me as a smile spread across my face. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I gave him a passionate kiss. He instantly kissed back, licking my lips for entrance which I gave him immediately.

We pulled away, catching our breath. He touched my cheek before climbing out my window and onto my balcony.

“Be careful!” I called before he climbed over the side and disappeared.

I turned to look at myself in the mirror. My hair was impeccably straightened and my make-up was perfect. I’d noticed that I was making a lot more effort with my appearance recently- probably trying to look good for Grant. I guess I still hadn’t gotten rid of that feeling that he was so much better than me. That he was finally going to realise that fact and leave me.

After applying some more lip gloss and completing various other tasks, I was ready to go. Kissing Grant so much was seriously using up my gloss supply; I constantly needed to reapply it thanks to him! Grabbing my Spongebob square pants bag, I headed downstairs.

Both Trent and Grant were sat at the kitchen table eating sausages and pancakes. Was I really upstairs for that long? Or was Grant just fast?

"Hello Rose." Grant greeted. I gave him a small wave, sitting down next to Trent.

"You guys are acting rather civilized this morning." Trent noted, chuckling. Thank God he didn't notice Grant's clothes.

Grant and I shrugged. I picked up my fork and I started to chow down on the food Trent made. One word: yum.

**

I was in the process of getting my books for first period when someone slammed my locker shut.

I spun around to glare at the culprit; it was Ryan.

"Is something wrong?" I asked, annoyed.

"Yeah, you didn't call me back last night." Ry crossed his arms and leant against some nearby lockers.

I felt my facial expression soften. "Sorry," I apologised. "I was kind of busy."

"Doing what?" He pressed, intrigued.

I couldn't lie to Ryan but I knew I couldn't tell him about Grant's situation. I decided on telling him the truth- not the whole truth though.

"I was talking to Grant." I answered.

"Oh, what did he say?"

"That he was sorry for being a jerk." I replied.

"Did he tell you why he was acting like that?" Ry was as confused with Grant’s behaviour as I had been.

"Um--" And then the bell rang. Talk about saved by the bell!

"I’ve got to go." I said quickly, walking away. "Talk to you later." Throwing back a smile, I disappeared before he could ask me any more questions.

**

I groaned, bored to death. Even nerds like me can get bored stiff of school sometimes. Mr Blain was going on and on about a war that happened about a thousand years ago. Seriously, I didn’t see the point in learning about that sort of stuff. It was old news- really old news.

I felt my phone buzz in my pocket, and I slowly took it out making sure Mr Blain didn’t catch me. It was a text from Grant.

It read: Ask to go to the bathroom and go to the bathroom on the third floor.

I gave a quick reply, telling him I would as soon as I could get out of class.

Mr Blain turned back around so I quickly put my phone away, raising my hand.

"Yes Ms. Richards?" Mr Blain acknowledged.

"Can I go to the bathroom?" I asked in the most polite voice I could muster.

"Surely it can it wait?"

I shook my head. "It’s, you know… girl problems." It was harsh, but it always worked with male teachers.

"Okay.” Mr Blain was obviously uncomfortable with the subject. “You may go." He nodded towards the door.

I stood up and walked over to the door awkwardly; everybody was staring. I hated it when I had any attention on me, never mind the whole class.

I was almost at the bathroom when a hand reached out and pulled me in to one of the janitor's closets. I was about to cry out, but the person covered my mouth with their hand- muffling my scream.

"Shh!" The voice hissed in my ear. What the hell was going on? When I was about to kick my attacker, the light snapped on.

I breathed out a sigh of relief when I realized who it was. "Grant! You scared me!" I accused, putting my hand over my chest.

"Sorry love." He replied, smirking.

"Was there anything you wanted?" I asked, annoyed. What he just did? Yeah, it wasn’t funny.

"I missed you." He whispered.

Before I could reply, he leaned in and crashed his lips to mine. Instant shivers ran through my body and I automatically kissed him back.

We pulled away and I couldn’t help but stare at his memorizing eyes. He was so, so perfect; it made my heart literally ache.

"I--" I was interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Grant and I both froze, looking at each other in panic.

"What the hell is going on here?" It was my brother.