If you're loved by someone, you're never rejected, decide what to be and GO BE IT
-The Avett brothers
Recommend Reading Introduction to Unproven
DEFINITELY READ Prologue
Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three
Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six
Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen Chapter Twenty Chapter Twenty One
Chapter Twenty Two Chapter Twenty Three Chapter Twenty Four
Chapter Twenty Five Chapter Twenty Six Chapter Twenty Seven
Chapter Twenty Eight Chapter Twenty Nine Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty One Chapter Thirty Two Chapter Thirty Three
Chapter Thirty Four Chapter Thirty Five Chapter Thirty Six
Chapter Thirty Seven Chapter Thirty EightChapter Thirty Nine
Chapter Forty Chapter Forty One Chapter Forty Two
Chapter Forty Three Chapter Forty Four Chapter Forty Five
Chapter Forty Six Chapter Forty Seven Chapter Forty Eight
Chapter Forty Nine Chapter Fifty Chapter Fifty One
Chapter Fifty Two Chapter Fifty Three Chapter Fifty Four
Chapter Fifty Five Chapter Fifty Six Chapter Fifty Seven
Chapter Fifty Eight Chapter Fifty Nine Chapter Sixty
Chapter Sixty One Chapter Sixty Two Chapter Sixty Three
Chapter Sixty Four Chapter Sixty Five Chapter Sixty Six
Chapter Sixty Seven Chapter Sixty Eight Chapter Sixty Nine
Chapter Seventy Chapter Seventy Chapter Seventy Two
Chapter Seventy Three Chapter Seventy Four Chapter Seventy Five
Chapter Seventy SixChapter Seventy Seven Chapter Seventy Eight
Chapter Seventy Nine Chapter Eighty Chapter Eighty One
Chapter Eighty Two Chapter Eighty Three Chapter Eighty Four
Chapter Eighty Five Chapter Eighty Six Chapter Eighty Seven
Chapter Eighty Nine
Grayson barely got to see Ary for the next several days, his father had him doing something every evening with Jay tagging along. He had to content himself with exchanging texts, which wasn't terrible since most of what she sent made him laugh, lots of pictures and funny captions, and of course frequent mention of their upcoming summer. He'd been giving Dori money to purchase things they'd need and according to her they had better find people with a large trunk, because the camping supplies were piling up.
The only sore spot in the week, excluding his nightly performances, was when he heard through the grapevine that Randy had indeed asked Ary to prom. He might have given permission, but he was still bothered by it, especially since the kid had sat next to her in the lounge on Friday. Something told him that Randy was hoping for more than just a date to the prom, though he knew Ary would gently but firmly set him straight. Still, the thought of some guy lusting after her was pretty high on his list of pet peeves.
By Saturday evening he was more than a little agitated, between his cursed affliction giving him trouble since he hadn't been with her since Wednesday, and the knowledge that she was going to a huge Patty's day party where Randy was certain to be. Just to calm himself he sent her a text asking that she not dance with Randy that night, even the no-touching kind, his hands on her at prom was already almost more than he could stand. She'd assured him that she wouldn't, that the only dancing she would do was with the girls and he breathed a little easier.
After another dinner with his father's people his agitation had grown, so when Jay suggested they go to a bar and shoot some pool he was all for it. By ten he was already buzzing pretty hard, and he found himself hoping some asshole would start something. A good fight would definitely relieve some of his tension.
"It's your shot," he told Jay just as his phone rang. Dori. He answered it and went into the bathroom so he could hear her. "What's up?"
"Oh nothing, I'm just bored as hell. What are you doing?"
"Shooting pool at some dive on Fifty-ninth…You should come."
"Eh. Bars aren't really my thing. There's always some guy who thinks he has the right to grope me."
Grayson snickered, "Actually, that's perfect, I'm itching for a fight. Get over here, and when some dickwad starts hitting on you I'll take him out back."
Dori chuckled, "I'll think about it."
"Hey, why aren't you at Andie's party?" He asked suddenly.
"Um yeah, Andie's not my biggest fan these days."
"So? Apparently there's a crowd of people there, I doubt she'll give you a hard time."
"What you're really saying is: Why don't you go to Andie's to keep an eye on Ary in case Randy tries anything. She sent me your text about not dancing with him. You need to chillax, she loves you, she's not going to lead on some other guy."
He frowned, "She sent you my text...What did she say about it?"
"Again, chillax. She wasn't making fun of you, she was worried that it was bothering you so much."
"I see, is that why you called, to check on my frame of mind?"
Dori made a noise, "Maybe.
He smiled slightly, "No worries, I'm fine. But you really should go to that party, you said you were bored, right? Either that or come here."
"Well, okay, what I'll do is look on Facebook, see what people are posting. If it looks like anything interesting is happening then maybe I'll go."
"Good. Otherwise come here."
She laughed, "You really are spoiling for a fight. Stay out of trouble Gray."
They ended the call and Grayson decided to check Facebook out himself, hoping he’d find pictures of her shaking her ass with the girls. It was such a nice ass, definitely picture worthy. He scrolled down through the home page and found several people posting. This party's off the hook! A comment by some chic in his Lit class accompanied by photos of a very crowded living room, some dude doing a keg stand, and a bunch of girls shaking it up, though no Ary, unfortunately.
He kept scrolling and found several more similar sentiments, but still no pics of Ary. He was about to sign out when a new post popped up. If you go to Salinas High, you should get your butts to Andie Donovan's, best party of the year! His lip curved as he imagined Brooke's posse reading that since they were having one of their own. Pictures started appearing under the caption and he scanned them, still smiling. Then his smile froze. He stood stock still, staring for a moment before clicking on the photo to enlarge it.
She was standing near a table in the kitchen, beer in one hand, head tilted up with the kind of smile that usually made him feel all warm inside. And smiling down at her, so close they were nearly touching, was a guy whose face he'd hoped to never see again, because he'd been certain if he did he would kill him. His hand started to shake, a burst of rage making his vision go red around the edges.
"Motherfucker," he breathed, "you're a dead man." He turned to leave the bathroom and his phone rang. Dori. He stopped and answered it, vibrating with fury, "I'm gonna kill him."
"What? Who? What's going on?"
"That fucking bastard who violated my property, that's who," he said through clenched teeth.
"What the hell are you talking about, what property?"
He started moving again, pushing the door open, "Petite blonde, beautiful eyes, a smile that's about to get a man killed," he said as he headed toward the door.
"Ary? You're calling her property now? Never mind, just tell me what's going on."
"Did you look on Facebook?" He asked as reached the door.
"Yeah...? Wait, is this about a picture?"
He pushed the door open and walked out on the sidewalk. He'd ridden with Jay, he'd have to call a cab. He answered Dori, "Natalia Gibbons."
"Okay, just don't do anything stupid Grayson, stand still, can you do that?"
He didn't answer.
"You there?"
He grunted.
He could hear her rustling, then, "Oh. I see. Grayson, this is not a big deal. He's Grant's cousin, it's not like he's there because of her... Listen to me, you are not going over there, you are not going to throw away everything you've been working for over a smile. Grayson, are you listening? You are not going to blow your cover over this. I am going over there right now, and I will have her call you and tell you exactly what I'm telling you, that this is nothing, and you are overreacting."
He breathed heavily, "You're going there?"
"Yes, I'm out the door already. You're staying put, right?"
Grayson took a deep breath and rubbed his temple, "Yeah. Don't take too long."
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