The Gray Family: Let The Games Begin

A new chapter

Payton

The summer flew by, and we’re on our way to college. I must admit that it felt nerve-wracking, taking this leap. It’s not like I didn’t have any direction in my life. That is a lie. I didn’t have a clue about my life.

I’m the oldest, yet I can’t figure my life out at all. Then some girl tried to talk to me. She seemed sweet and all. How the hell do I chat it up with someone when I’m clueless about my life. I’m a freaking Gray and suck at life.

“Are you going to sit in the car all day, or were you planning on coming in, Payton?” Parker asked me.

“I figure if I sit here long enough, I will wake up and realize this is all a dream,” I told him as he looked at me. Selena said nothing but giggle.

“Look, you finally figured out what you want to do with your life. Get the hell out of the car before I drag you out,” he told me as I rolled my eyes.

I finally got out of the car and followed Parker and Selena into our parents’ rental house. We walked in, and it’s okay, nothing fancy. We got settled and checked out the town. I should since I didn’t have a clue what the town offered.

I walked around and saw a bunch of people doing the same. I also checked my phone to see if there were any messages, and sure enough, there is a message from that one reader. I responded to them, and in doing so, I wasn’t watching where I’m going and bumped into someone. I dropped my phone as they lost their books.

I picked up my phone, then helped them.

“Sorry about that,” I mentioned as I handed them a book. I looked up and noticed a girl. She seemed familiar to me.

“Do you always make a habit of bumping into people?” She asked as I looked at her.

“It was an accident,” I said.

“If you spent less time on your phone and paid more attention, this wouldn’t happen,” she replied. I looked at her.

Before I said anything else, she walked away. What the hell was that? Most girls would giggle and flirt. This girl is a bitch.

I decided no girl would cop an attitude with me after I apologized to her. I ran after her and stopped her. She looked at me with annoyance.

“Do you make it a habit of being a bitch to someone when they apologize to you?” I asked her.

“And who are you? You’re God’s gift to women. News flash, buddy. Because you apologize means nothing,” she countered.

I looked at her as she looked at me, unimpressed.

“No one says you have to be rude,” I told her.

“You should know about rudeness. You have no issue being rude to others,” the girl retorted. I looked at her like she was high.

“I am not rude to people,” I said.

“Oh?” She said as she glared at me.

“Yeah,” I replied.

I didn’t know who this girl was and why she acted this way, but she irritated the piss out of me. She stepped towards me.

“I wouldn’t be so sure of that, Payton,” she said, using my name. I looked at her, then realized it was Josie.

“Josie?” I said as I looked at her, surprised.

“Wow, now you finally see me, and now I’m gone,” she said as she turned and walked away, leaving me stunned. She looks different from the last time I saw her, which was when Parker and Selena graduated. Damn, the summer changes people.

Josie

I can’t believe it worked. The person advising me about Payton said I should try a new tactic to get his attention, and it worked. Yet, it took me to change my look and acting unimpressed to do so. Thanks to Selena for helping me, he finally realizes who I am. The big question was, did I want him to notice me now?

I walked back to my dorm room and went inside to find Britt still unpacking.

“You’re not done yet?” I asked her.

She sighed, “Patton called, so I talked to him.”

“You don’t sound happy,” I mentioned.

“Well, he’s there, and I’m here. We got close over the summer. What if he finds another girl before anything else happens?” She asked me.

“From what you told me, he doesn’t strike me as the person who takes an interest in someone that easy,” I reminded her.

She looked at me, confused. But then again, Britt worried nothing would happen before it even started.

“How were you getting your books?” She asked.

“I ran into Payton. We exchanged words. I walked away,” I said as her expression changed to surprise.

“Wait. What?” Britt asked.

“Yeah, he apologized and talk to me. I realized it was because I didn’t give him the time of day,” I told her as her mouth dropped open.

“Isn’t that what you’ve wanted, for him to notice you?” She asked me.

I thought about it, then said, “I did, but not anymore. I don’t want someone that notices me after I change my look. I want a guy to see me for me, and he never did that. Payton may have other girls falling at his feet, but I’m not that girl anymore. I deserve someone who always sees me, with or without makeup and clothes.”

She looked at me and knew how I felt. For years, I pined for Payton Gray, and he couldn’t care less. Now, it was time to stop pining and find someone who saw me. I deserved that and more. It was time for a new Chapter in my life.