Chapter Six - I Plan On Changing That

Ryland 

“See you tonight?” Ben asks. 

Ben is in some of my classes, and we got to talking today. He is like me in many ways. He has a wild side and likes to get himself into trouble. We didn’t get to talking in a classroom, but at the principal’s office. He was there because he got into a fight with some douche jock. I was there because I talked back to one of my teachers. After our trip to the office, we sat together in the next class, and now we are making plans for tonight. 

I smirk. “Hell yes.” 

“You should bring Gracie and her front Lola, too. I have yet to see Gracie go wild. Lola is a fun girl. Gracie seems more well-behaved.” 

I have picked up on that myself. They were opposites. Lola seems like the type to go wild whenever she wants, while Gracie is more reserved. 

“I plan on changing that.” 

“Nice! I don’t think it will be that easy. Gracie doesn’t date or hook up. I have never seen her with a guy unless it is in a friendly way.” 

“Yes, but that was before she met me. By the time I finish with her, she will be a completely different girl. She needs to lighten up.” I say. 

We speak for a few more minutes before we head out. The plan for tonight is to go to his place for a weekday party while his parents are away. I plan to get wasted and high, hook up with someone and have fun. I need something to keep myself entertained in this stupid town. If I don’t, I will get myself in some serious trouble. I always get into trouble when I am bored. 

I stroll over to my car and wait for Gracie. I am giving her a ride home. We didn’t have the last class together. I did text her to meet me by my car when we were done. I will try my best to get her to come tonight. I hope Lola will be with her when she comes to meet me. There is a better chance of Gracie coming if Lola convinces her. 

Gracie should have been here before now. I am getting impatient. I check my cell to see if she had texted me, but there is nothing. I soon hear a familiar laugh and know instantly it is Gracie. I glance up to see her coming towards me with Lola. 

“You are late. I thought you didn’t like being late?” 

“It isn’t her fault. One of the jocks was trying to chat her up,” Lola laughs. 

I feel a twinge of jealousy. A jock? I thought Gracie had more sense than to go out with an idiot like that. I like to hope so, anyway. 

“And failed miserably. Where are they going to take the hints? I don’t date jocks.” Gracie says, rolling her eyes. 

She doesn’t date jocks. By what Ben said, she doesn’t date anyone. I will change that. 

“You can do better than a dumb jock, brown eyes.” 

Lola nods in agreement. “Yes, she can.” 

Lola leans against my car, and Gracie stands in front of us. “Did you manage to stay out of trouble for the last hour?” Gracie asks. 

“I did!” 

Lola pats my arm, laughing. “Good boy.” 

Good boy? What am I, a dog? I turn to her, raising my brow. She shrugs and laughs again. 

“So, ladies, I am going to a party at Ben’s house tonight. I think the two of you should join me.” 

I am asking both, but looking at Gracie. I give her my best pleading look. I can tell by the look on her face that she is going to turn me down. 

“Yes, I like that plan. Please, can we go, Gracie? Pretty please?” she says, batting her lashes at her best friend. 

With the two of us begging, I hope she caves and says yes. 

“Fine! If it will get both of you off my back, then yes.” I whine. 

Lola does a little happy dance. “Yay!” 

Thank you, Lola. I know if I were the only one asking Gracie, she would have said no. We arrange a time to meet before Lola says goodbye and heads to her car. Gracie smiles sweetly at me before she climbs into the car. I follow and get us on our way home, silence filling the car. She isn’t much of a talker. 

“Do you want to grab food before we go home?”

Gracie shakes her head. “I can’t. I need to go straight home.” Her voice sounds almost fearful. 

I don’t understand why she should be afraid to go home. I don’t even know who she stays with. She may have mentioned her dad, but not her mother. 

“Do you stay with both parents?” 

“No, my mom passed away a few years ago,” she says sadly, “What about you?” 

“I am sorry to hear about your mom, Gracie. That can’t be easy. I stay with my mom. My dad left years ago, and I haven’t seen him since.” 

I never cared for my father when he was around. He was an asshole, a horrible man who deserved to be in hell. 

“Sorry about your dad.” 

I shrug. “I am not. He was an asshole.” 

The conversation ends there. It is not easy trying to have a conversation with her. I wonder if I will ever get a conversation out of her that lasts longer than two minutes. I sigh, not sure what else to say. I put some music on to drown out the silence. I don’t do well with silence. It makes me uncomfortable. 

I want to ask her why she sounds fearful about going home. I have a feeling that she would not tell me. It makes me wonder if she has a bad home life. He better not be hurting her in any way, or I swear I will not be held responsible for my actions. I hate it when people who are meant to care and protect you hurt you, especially when they are in a place of power.

“Are you sure you are okay driving us there tonight? What if you want a drink?” 

“I don’t drink. I never have. It is fine.” 

Has she even tried alcohol? I thought everyone our age has tried it, at least once. 

“Have you ever tried it?” 

“It isn’t for me. I don’t like what it can do to people.” 

There is more to that story than what she is telling me. I won’t force her out of it. If she wants to tell me more, then she will, but why would she? We have only known one another for a couple of days. 

We arrive home. Gracie says a quick goodbye, telling me she will see me at seven, then rushes out of the car and heads inside. She is always rushing away from me. I groan, annoyed. I wish she would give me something, anything. I don’t like the way she closes up around me. It is frustrating. I understand it. I don’t tend to open up to anyone either. You need to trust people to open up to them. I don’t trust anyone. It is better that way. It means people can’t fuck you over or destroy you. 

The second I walk inside, my cell beeps. I take it out of my pocket and am surprised to see it is a message from Gracie. 

I am sorry, I keep rushing off, Ryland. It isn’t anything personal. I promise. I will see you at seven xx 

It may not be personal, but sometimes it is easy to think so, given how she always disappears on me. 

It is okay. Why do you keep doing it, though? Xx

I can’t tell you. I will see you in a few hours. I have a lot to know before then xx

Okay. I will see you then xx

Gracie doesn’t get back to me after that. I leave it there. She must have her reasons, and what they are is none of my business. I will see her later, anyway. I am glad my mom isn’t home. She is at work. I can’t be dealing with her right now. I know the principal would have called her and told her about my trip to his office today. It will result in another lecture that I don’t need. I don’t know why she bothers. It doesn’t change anything. I do what I do, no matter what she or anyone else says to me. It is who I am, and people need to deal with it. The sooner they accept it, the better. It will make life easier for everyone. 

I jump in a quick shower and get myself some dinner before settling down to play the Xbox for a bit until it is time to get ready for the party and meet Gracie. I am looking forward to getting wasted. Life is always more fun when you are wasted because you don’t give a damn.