The clock was ticking. Time was running out and Grayson was acutely aware. He was counting down the end of the 248 days with alarm. Every clock or calendar he passed was regarded with panic and anger. It was disconcerting to see him in such a mood, especially disheartening to know that with only few words I could end his misery.

     I heard the chaos long before someone brought it to my attention. Loud chatter and shouting in the hall next to mine, while many hurried to feed their curiosity, I remained planted in front of my locker. Assuming the chaos had nothing to do with me, I retrieved my lunch box and unhurriedly made way towards Grayson's locker. He insisted that we walk to lunch together every day. I was only alarmed when Katie roughly took me by the arm.

     "You need to stop him," she said urgently, dragging me through the crowd of students. I stumbled after her, brows pinched together.

     The focus of the large group still out sight, the loud arguing, excited hoots, and faint grunts told me that I wasn't in for a pleasant surprise.

     Too many questions crossing my mind, I couldn't choose one. Silently, I let Katie pull me along. Eyes wide in a mixture of bewilderment and confusion, I darted my head between her frantic state and the curious bodies she shoved out of the way.

     Managing to force ourselves to the front of the pack, in the middle of the gathered students, I found my group of friends along with Billy Haydn, one of Amanda's ex-boyfriends and few of his hockey buddies. My group arguing with Amanda's male companions, their dispute didn't come as a surprise. I only let my brows shoot into my hairline, jaw nearly falling slack when I spotted the cause of their dispute. Grayson had Lucas Parel, captain of the hockey team, Amanda's current boyfriend, pinned against a locker. Both throwing punches, it was difficult to keep track of their angry movements, but even amid their fury, it was made clear that Grayson had the upper hand. Lucas had taken a greater beating, face swollen and nose trickling with blood. For all I could see, Grayson only had a busted lip, but the fight was rapidly escalating and as stupid as I thought him for getting involved, I didn't want him to face any more injuries.

     "We tried to stop them." Katie met my crazed look. "But we couldn't intervene without starting a bigger fight..."

     To emphasize her statement, Katie looked pointedly at our friends. They were still yelling, but I couldn't make out any of what was said over the multiple voices talking over each other. Though Blake and Jack were arguing as animatedly as the others, they were holding back Shawna and Luke. Across the four, Amanda and a friend were doing a poor job of holding back Billy.

     "Mrs. Straw has a soft spot for Grayson, she'll turn a blind eye. She'll let them off with a warning, but this needs to end before Mrs. Anderson hears of it," Katie added, pushing me lightly in the entangled boys' direction. "Go stop them."

     "Me?"

     What made her think Grayson's stubborn arse would listen to me? I couldn't recall a single argument I had won against him. I'd spent months trying to convince him that I could be trusted to lock my own window, but still he came into my room every night to double check. He was impossible. I was sure today would be no different. Still... Someone had to try something. It seemed I was that unfortunate chosen someone.

     Taking a few steps forward, Billy shot me a warning look, angry yelling soon to be directed my way. I cocked my head.

     "Do you think I want to join them?" I asked ridiculously. Grayson clearly didn't need any help. "I think it would be to your friend's benefit if I manage to separate them."

     "You think you can separate them?" he laughed wryly. His act of nonchalance was failed as he watched me with narrowed eyes. He couldn't be happy with Lucas' current state. They had a reputation to uphold.

     I don't know what overcame me, but I was suddenly confident that I could end this. I would make Grayson listen, if not for his sake, just to spite Billy.

     "Just take care of Lucas when I do separate them," I told him. "I'll handle Grayson."

     Disbelief prominent behind his dark eyes, Billy took a step back. He waved me forward as if to say be my guest. His lack of faith that I would be successful was quite evident, and from the glimmer in his eyes, I suspected he would enjoy my failure. Turning around, I tried to not let his blatant lack of faith shake me.

     "Stop," I tried weakly. Neither Grayson nor Lucas acknowledged my presence. There went my short-lived confidence. Everyone was looking at me now. No pressure.

     I took a step closer, dangerously close to their angry fists.

     "Grayson," I started again, voice slightly louder. "I don't know what's gotten in you, but this has gone far enough. Whatever you're trying to prove, I think your point has been made."

     He still didn't pay me any notice, unfortunately Lucas did. Looking at me through a swollen eye, the blond smirked.

     "And the orphan comes to your rescue," he taunted, teeth bloody. "How sweet. She—"

     He never got to finish his sentence. With a snarl Grayson's fist met the boy's jaw. I winced. It was evident by the Lucas' grimace, that this particular blow had hurt more than the others. Grayson's eyes lethal, I nearly froze, shaken by the intensity of his rage. But I couldn't afford to be distracted. This was getting far out of hand.

     "Grayson, that's enough," I said more firmly.

     Still receiving no desired reaction, I puckered my lips. This was ridiculous. Frustrated, I stepped into the zone of fire, hoping to pull him free.

     That was a mistake. Immediately receiving an elbow to the eye, I recoiled. I heard gasps behind me, no doubt from my friends, and a chuckle from Billy. I don't know whose elbow it had been, and it certainly had not been done intentionally, but it succeeded in angering me. Mrs. Anderson would come running out of her office any time now. I could imagine Claire's furious glare when we'd come home that night; I with a black-eye and Grayson with a busted lip and bruised cheek. If Mrs. Anderson was involved, Grayson's inevitable suspension would surely do no good for his mother's fury.

     I didn't let the blow stop me. With an angry huff, I took another step forward.

     "Grayson Ryder!" I demanded, voice loud and stern. "You need to stop this now!"

     In the motion of releasing his next blow, Grayson hesitated. Finally, he acknowledged my presence. One arm holding the struggling blond against the locker, his other hand, folded into a fist, hovered in the air. Blue eyes momentarily clearing, clarity coming through the burst of rage, remorse flashed across his features... Until Lucas smirked, soon to deliver another provoking remark.

     I didn't let Grayson act on the return of his anger. Grimacing in anticipation, I threw myself between the two. Slamming into Grayson, I forced him away from Lucas. Stumbling from the force of the impact, Grayson caught us both. A hand on my hip and the other under my elbow, he steadied me. No sooner did he catch me was he trying to push me away. Fortunately, Billy had swallowed his pride and taken my suggestion. A furious Lucas was being pulled far away from Grayson's reach.

     "I need to—" Grayson started with a gruff voice. Intense glare still fixed on Lucas, he tried to step around me.

     "No," I said, tightly. Firmly taking hold of his face, I forced his gaze to meet mine. "You need to calm down," I added quietly, no need to speak any louder as we stood nose to nose.

     A startled gasp escaped him and immediately his eyes softened. Breathing ragged, Grayson held my gaze. I watched him relax under my touch, not releasing him until his breathing had evened.

     When his breathing returned to normal and Mrs. Straw began to separate the gathered students, concern flashed across Grayson's features as he lifted his fingers to my eye.

     "You're hurt," he noted.

     His touch so soft and caring, it was difficult not to lean into it. I had to remind myself that I was meant to be angry. I forced myself to flick his hand away.

     "What were you thinking?" I demanded, punching him in the shoulder.

     He didn't respond indignantly as I expected. Instead, his gaze fell to his feet. How was I supposed to stay mad when he did that? Like a puppy that knew it wasn't supposed to pee on the new carpet.

     When he finally raised his gaze, his eyes fell on someone coming up behind me. For a moment I feared Lucas was coming back for round two, but I realised that my favourite pair of blue eyes didn't hold any anger but rather shame. He was as disappointed in himself as Mrs. Straw was with him.

     "Get yourself cleaned-up," she told him. "I'll meet you in my office after class."

     Nodding solemnly, Grayson headed for the bathroom, Jack, and Luke on his heels.

     I joined the girls, waiting outside the bathroom door. As the halls emptied, my thrumming pulse began to slow. Every student eventually left for the cafeteria, likely where they would question Lucas.

     I was glad to be far from the buzzing teenagers. Though I can't say I was thrilled to once again be the victim of my friends' scrutinizing stare. Eyes only bore more deeply when Jack and Luke joined us. Grayson was probably too embarrassed to accept their help.

     "You know the fight was about you," Katie finally commented.

     My shoulders slumped. I had guessed as much when Lucas had called me an orphan to aggravate Grayson, but I had clung to some hope that I was wrong. Of course, I was to blame for this. I was to blame for every misfortune and bad decision Grayson had faced.

     "Aren't you going to go see him?" Blake prodded.

      "He's in the boys' bathroom!"

     "That didn't stop you when he stole your flag a week ago," Blake pointed out.

     "I would have lost the game."

     Katie sighed exasperatedly. "When someone fights in your honor, the decent thing to do is check up on them."

     I cringed. I was no maiden in distress. "I didn't ask him to do that." I would have much preferred if he had not done that.

     I looked towards my other friends for support, but I was met with the same impatient, condescending eyes. Even from Jack. His narrowed green eyes, in particular, made me inhale sharply.

     "Alright! I'll go check on him." I caved. "I would have eventually gone anyways," I grumbled.

     I watched the five walk away, promising to meet them outside in a few minutes. We made the wise decision of agreeing to have lunch on the outdoor picnic tables.

     Approach unusually awkward, cautiously I poked my head in the bathroom. I spotted him instantly, eyes drawn to him like a magnet. Grayson was sat atop the sink countertop, the back of his head rested against the mirror. Eyes shut; lazily he held a towel to his lip. He looked exhausted. His usual perfect posture was slouched; his shoulders slumped and left arm hanging loosely at his side. Hair dishevelled, clothes wrinkled and stained with few drops of blood, it was his eyes that were the most telling. Even shut they revealed pain and exhaustion. Forehead creased and crinkled lines found in the corner fold of his eyes, his ache was evident, but I suspected it wasn't physical. It had nothing to do with swelling bruises or cracked lips. My eyes softened, heart heavy in my chest.

      Without looking up, Grayson knew it was me. He knew me by nothing other than the sound of my tentative steps.

     "I'm sorry," he said.

     "You've no reason to owe me an apology."

     Grayson smiled softly, lips just barely turning upwards. Eyes flicking open, my heart thumped in my chest, drawn to his warm gaze.

     "So, you haven't come here to pick a fight?" he asked quietly, a note of amusement in his tone. "I'm afraid I've had my fair share for the day."

     I smiled wryly.

     "Just came to check up on you," I promised. "I haven't come to argue but I sure hope you don't expect me to give you my sincerest thanks for fighting in my honor. I've not come to bow at your feet with gratitude and fuss over your wounds as Katie seems to think I ought to."

     Grayson laughed, wincing as the action strained the crack in his lip. "I would expect nothing less."

     Smile encouraging the bleeding of his lip, it didn't bother Grayson, but I narrowed my eyes at the swelling corner of his mouth.

     "You're doing it wrong," I bit.

     "What?"

     Attention fixed on my sudden annoyance, the hand at Grayson's lip fell limp. He was barely putting any pressure on it. Before Grayson could protest, I stole the towel from his hand. Turning the tap, I ran the rag under cold water.

     "You're doing it wrong," I repeated.

     Ringing out the towel, I pressed the compress to his lips. His confused protests quieted; blue eyes rose from the hand on his lip to my eyes with an expression that I didn't recognize. It was startling, it quickened my pulse and sparked a shiver down spine. I was increasingly aware of the short distance that separated us, but I couldn't bring myself to care. I saw the signs. I knew I was coming dangerously close to losing myself in my feelings, but I didn't step away. My hand remained pressed to his lips, tentatively studying his face. There was something there, something I desperately wanted to explore.

     Too busy to properly maintain his hair, chestnut locks were the longest they had ever been. Even more unkept as strands stuck out wildly from his scuffle with Lucas, damp curls fell into his eyes. Caught in the moment, instinctively I brushed the strand out of his face. The gesture was far more intimate than I had intended, something I'd never do with just a friend. Mortified, my hand froze. It took everything in me to stop myself from recoiling, only chance at composing myself. Surely doing a poor job of hiding my trembling hands, I replaced the hand on his mouth with his own.

     "Hold it tight," I told him, not daring to meet his eyes.

     I felt his gaze hot on my face, but I didn't look up. I busied myself with taking his other hand and covering his bruised knuckles with an icepack that had been cast-aside. Resting his hand on the countertop, I stepped away as soon as I could without making my uneasiness overtly obvious. Inches turned to feet; I could breathe again.

     Finally daring to meet his eyes, I regretted it instantly. I felt like he could look right through me, hold of his gaze so strong that I felt he was searching for answers past my eyes and deep into my soul. My knees weakened. I supported myself on the counter, in the chance that my knees buckled and completely let go.

     "Thank you," he said softly, in an uncharacteristic quietness.

     He seemed as troubled as I, but I couldn't imagine why.

     Looking anywhere but at Grayson, I searched the room for a thermostat, in preparation of my future complaint that the school bathrooms were too damn hot! Wiping my sweaty palms on my pants, my eyes shifted nervously from Grayson's feet to mine, desperate for a distraction. The silence was overwhelming.

     "Are you sure you're alright?" I finally asked.

     "It's just a few bruises. Nothing that won't heal in a week or two."

     "That's not what I meant." I shook my head. "You're not the fighting type, Grayson. What happened back there?"

     "I don't know," he sighed, shyly scratching the back of his head. "I don't like when people insult my... friends." He was looking at his dangling feet now.

     I sighed, trying to imagine what Lucas could have said to rile Grayson in such a way.

     "We're going to prom together, right?" he interrupted my thoughts. Urgent tone instantly catching my attention. "I mean our whole friend group. But... you and me specifically."

     He was so uncharacteristically shy and vulnerable, that I barely acknowledged his words, instead puzzled by his tone and state.

     "I was not aware..." I tried slowly.

     "You wouldn't agree to go with someone like Lucas, right?"

     "Of course, not," I retorted; brows still furrowed.

     "Good." Grayson breathed a sigh of relief. "I took you to every elementary school dance. I have to take you to prom. It's one of my last chances... I— We need this."

     Baffled by his rambling, I blinked slowly, staring blankly his way. "If it's that important to you, of course, I'll go," I answered softly. "I'm surprised you didn't use the opportunity for a grand, humiliating gesture." I hoped the teasing would lighten the mood.

     "It's not too late. Is that really what you want? Because—"

     "Don't even think about it! You could have asked though... At least make me aware of your plans."

     Despite my joking tone, Grayson watched me seriously. "Will you go to prom with me?"

     I hesitated. The sense of importance that he placed in the few words made me pause. Of course, he was my ideal date. There was no one else I could imagine going with. But we wanted to go together for very different reasons, and I feared it would affect the outcome of our night. An entire day spent practically attached to his hip, dancing and laughing, I was certain the joyful day would be mixed with misery and self-pity. It would be another evening that taunted me with a relationship that I could never have. I didn't even want to imagine what seeing him in a suit would do to me. I could only imagine the night as being the one that confessions spilled, and I ruined everything. In spite of all this.... I nodded. I couldn't say no. Not to him. Not when he was looking at me like that. I would just have to make the best of the few moments we had left until complete devastation.