Lifeline

Struggling

The whole next day, tensions ran strong; Ashton wasn't mad at the twins at all; he was actually proud of them for defending me. He wasn't mad at me either, saying nobody had a right to speak to me like that and I should always stand up for myself. He did, however, want to know why the twins had told him I had been getting called names all day.

Let's just say that was the most embarrassing conversion of my life. He made it very clear I was too young for a boyfriend, and I needed to make sure I wasn't careless. I chose to roll my eyes once I was out of his sight.

I skipped school on Tuesday, saying I didn't feel well. Luckily, that's something Grayson doesn't take lightly, so he made me go to work with him, gave me a full check-up, and then made me rest on his couch all day, but I honestly didn't mind.

I'm pretty sure he caught on the fact that I just didn't want to face school.

Now, I walk in the doors to start this oh-so-magnificent Wednesday; I can feel everyone's eyes on me.

"Just ignore them; they will have someone new to gossip about next week," Lily whispers, looping her arm through mine.

"Let's hang out this weekend; I could use some serious friend time," I say, leaning my head on her shoulder as we walk to homeroom.

"Definitely, she smiles back at me."

The day went on as boring as could be, and when I saw Grayson's car there to pick me up, I felt so thankful to escape from there. Usually, I liked school, but so much just felt off, and I was starting to really understand why everyone dreaded it so much.

As we got off the elevator and walked into Grayson's office, suddenly, my feet stopped. There was Jack in the waiting room. Gosh, what was he doing here? I tried to hide behind Grayson, which just made him turn around in confusion. He glanced back and forth and then whispered toward me.

"Do you know that kid?"

I just shook my head no in response; I did not want to explain he was the guy behind my recent school drama.

Grayson turned to him instead. "Can I help you? Do you have an appointment?"

It would be unusual for Grayson to see patients in the afternoons. Usually, he just does paperwork so that we can get out of here on time and pick the twins up from football practice.

"No, just checking the place out," Jack states as he gets up and makes his way toward the exit, giving me a look that makes a shiver run down my spine.

What happened to Don't talk to me again.

Grayson gives me one more confused look before leading me back to his office.

—-----

It's official that homework should be illegal. I'm half a second away from using the candle burning on my desk to light my English homework on fire.

You might say I am being dramatic, but me and my dyslexia would love to argue with you. English is my weakest subject because of it, and it always takes me ten times longer than everyone else.

We have this stupid essay due, and no matter how many times I look over it, I find a million and five mistakes still in the paper. At this point, I think I have rewritten the whole thing.

I glance over at the clock: 11:38. Ashton said goodnight about an hour ago, but I know he will come around to check on us younger kids, including Ezra, around midnight. Even though Ezra is never asleep at that time, Ashton says he will always see him as a kid.

Anyway, Ashton doesn't know I am still working on this. Usually, I would have him read over my papers, but I couldn't do that without telling him I put it off until the last minute and that I was not in the mood for a lecture.