Penance - Uncovering the truth, Secrets and confessions, and Twisted pasts

Chapter 44

Grayson spotted Alison waiting by the gate as he made his way to his IT class at Harvard University. Their eyes locked, causing him to halt in his tracks, the world around them seeming to come to a standstill. Her blue eyes carried a hint of sadness, yet there was a glimmer of hope within them. Grayson noticed that she appeared slightly thinner than before.

Alison approached him slowly, never taking her eyes off him. Then, in a sudden burst of emotion, she dashed towards him and enveloped him in a hug. Onlookers, including students and teachers, observed the unexpected scene, whispering among themselves. Some girls even wondered who had the privilege of hugging Grayson Hawthorne. Not wanting to cause a scene, Grayson stood frozen, allowing Alison to hold onto him. Hugs were unfamiliar to him; the closest he had come was when his brothers playfully tackled him. Even his own mother had never embraced him in such a way.

Alison's embrace was gentle, not too tight, but there was no space between them. Grayson could feel her heartbeat and warmth, catching a whiff of her vanilla scent. It felt... nice, being held by her. Slowly, Grayson's hands found its way to her hips as he leaned into the hug.

"Were you waiting for me?" Grayson whispered in Alison's ear.

"You're worth the wait," Alison replied, releasing the hug. For some reason, Grayson didn't want to let go just yet. However, he reminded himself of his decision to distance himself, to stop playing.

Grayson straightened his suit, smoothed his cuffs, and took a deep breath. He created visible space between them by stepping back. But her genuine happiness at seeing him, the sincerity in her eyes, made it difficult to ignore her completely. Fortunately, the bell rang, signalling the start of class, and everyone hurried off. Grayson began walking towards his class, but he couldn't help but notice that Alison remained standing.

She looked beyond the gates, as if expecting someone to appear. Grayson hesitated for a moment, torn between adhering to his plan and succumbing to his curiosity. He glanced at the entrance of the building where his IT class was located, but his gaze kept returning to Alison. He contemplated whether to ignore the pull or follow it to its source. In the end, curiosity won, and he found himself making his way toward Alison. He abandoned the path to his class and quickened his pace to close the distance between them. As he approached, he noticed her tensing up, her eyes fixed on the distance.

"Alison, what are you doing?" Grayson asked, trying to conceal the concern in his voice.

Alison turned toward him, her eyes searching his face. "I... I needed some fresh air," she replied, her voice calmer than usual. "Want to get some ice cream?"

There was a vulnerability in her gaze that he hadn't seen before, a glimpse into the depths of her emotions. He couldn't deny the pull he felt towards her, the desire to uncover the secrets she held.

"Is something bothering you, Alison?" Grayson asked, his voice slightly softening.

Instead of responding, she reached out, her hand trembling ever so slightly, and slowly intertwined her fingers with Grayson's. Her touch sent a warm jolt through his veins, dissolving any remaining doubts. This was a very bad idea, Grayson reminded himself, but he didn't care.

Time seemed to stand still as their hands met, their palms fitting together as if they were always meant to be. A faint smile tugged at Alison's lips as she gently pulled on Grayson's hand. Without a word, they began walking toward the boardwalk, their fingers still intertwined. Grayson stole glances at Alison, taking in the subtle expressions on her face, their hands swaying harmoniously. She hummed a familiar tune, a John Denver song: "Take Me Home, Country Road."

Without thinking, he joined in, his voice blending seamlessly with hers. Their intertwined fingers tightened ever so slightly, a gesture filled with unspoken meaning. Grayson knew this shouldn't be happening, yet he couldn't resist. The world around them faded into the background, leaving only the melody and the warmth of their clasped hands.

"I thought you were never coming back," Alison spoke in the midst of a verse. Grayson continued humming, resisting the urge to look at her, and remained silent, his gaze fixed ahead, emotions swirling within him. "I told myself I didn't care where you went," she began, her voice laced with frustration and...pain. "But I cared more than I wanted to admit, and I hate that."

He understood the pain of pretending not to care, of burying emotions deep inside, only for them to resurface with an undeniable force. He also understood why Mason had compared him to her.

Still, he remained silent, unable to find the right words to respond. He knew his actions had caused confusion and hurt, but he couldn't offer her the solace she sought. Grayson cared for Alison more than he wanted to admit, and he hated that too.

His humming faltered momentarily, doubt clouding his mind. Instead of thinking clearly or responding, Grayson tightened his grip on Alison's hand.

They continued walking, their humming becoming softer, their steps slower as they reached the ice cream shop.