I feel a jacket drape over my face as it covers me from the world, but I can still see my surroundings. The smell of fabric softener is strong as if he had just washed it. I feel his gentle tug as he guides me to the motorcycle without another word, away from everyone. He hands me the strawberry helmet and I don't speak as I put it on and hold out his jacket.

"Wear it," is all he says. I don't argue and put it on, because at the moment, it was comforting and all I wanted was comfort. He doesn't say anything when I wrap my arms around him and lean my head on his back as he drives away. The truth was, I knew why I had freaked out. I wasn't lying when I said I didn't like the attention because it always isn't good. I had a feeling Grayson understood that which is why he was feeling guilty. He unknowingly fed me on a silver platter.

"I met Jace," I say, and can feel his muscles tense underneath my hands. "What did he do to you?" I got no response, which was expected.

We drive in silence after that, until I see my house coming into view. There was a lamppost out front, lighting the way of my doorsteps. He stops his motorcycle and turns it off, now the only light was the lamppost that didn't hide our faces.

"I was reckless in my action and-" before he finishes his words, I find myself giving him a hug.

"It wasn't your fault," I whispered.

I pull away as he nervously moves his hair to the side. "I- um-" he clears his throat. "What did Jace say?"

"Will you answer my questions if I answer yours?" I say, finally finding a way for me to get some answers.

"What do you want to know," he says as he pulls out a cigarette.

"Why do you hate Abacus? Why do you hate Jace? You make it a point to hate people, don't you?"

He looks at me and rolls his eyes. "I'll answer the last one, but not the first one."

I narrow my eyes and shrug, "shoot."

"I'm only telling you this because it's for your own good. Stay away from Jace." He looks at me just like Gina had. There was no smile hiding behind his words. "He sells drugs. He's the reason I got into boxing, he used me to make himself some money. Back then, I used to take dives just for him to make an easy buck. But back then, I didn't care. He got me the drugs I needed so I helped him get the money he needed."

I look at him unfazed and ask, "that's it?"

He smiles, "you wanted more?"

"I thought you were going to tell me he was in a local gang and could have us killed in minutes."

"He's not in a gang but he won't hesitate to kill." I nod my head. "So now tell me what happened tonight?"

"Jace just introduced himself," I shrug.

Grayson gives me a deadpan look, "you tricked me."

"No. I wanted information, you wanted information, I traded."

"You tricked me."

I smile, "tell you what. I'll tell you the reason I don't like being the center of attention."

He contemplates this, "okay."

"I freaked out because the more people know you, the more they know about your life." I give a big sigh at what I'm about to say next. "When my dad died, everyone would stare at me, until it became unbearable. I didn't want them to, because their stares told me they knew about me. They didn't know me, but they knew about me."

Grayson stays silent for a moment as he keeps puffing out clouds of smoke. "I get it," he finally says, "they did the same to me."

"Your dad died?"

"He was killed-" another drag, "but the stares were there long before. It's the price for being born so handsome." He gives me a cheeky smile.

"And here I thought we were becoming friends," I say in exasperation.

He laughs, "I think we are too." I give him a smile in acknowledgment. "But I wasn't lying. I get attention for a lot of different reasons, so much that I just embraced it."

I watch as the side of his forehead trickles blood, making me realize how self-centered I was being. I got so caught up in my issues that I forgot he had just been in a fight. "Want to come inside?" He raises an eyebrow and I gently push his shoulder. "To treat your wounds."

"Won't your mom be mad if you bring a guy at midnight." My eyes widened.

"It's past midnight? My parents are going to kill me." I see him give me a side glance of confusion. "My mom remarried a couple of years back." He nods now. "Well, if I'm already dead meat, I might as well help the injured before. That is unless it is too embarrassing having me stitch you up-" Grayson is already headed for the side of the house. "We can take the front door," I tell him.

"Where you'll definitely get caught?"

I mull this over, "side window it is." We walk to the side and I watch as Grayson starts climbing the small railing. I follow behind him, trying not to get caught in the vines around it. We end up on top of the small balcony of my room and I slide the door open.

"Very secure," he says with sarcasm.

"I thought I would be home, so my apologies I didn't activate my locking system." I give him a fake smile which he returns. I slowly walk inside and turn the light on.

The footsteps came quickly. I pushed Grayson into the bathroom as my room door burst open. My Mom comes in with rollers on her hair and a pink bathrobe, holding a pancake roller in her hand. "Amelia Genevy Lockheart, what are you doing out this late in the hour without so much as a call or text? Do you think we could sleep? We got home and you were gone, we waited and waited but nothing. Then your father said, let's give her until midnight because the neighbors saw that you willingly got into a broken down car with a girl. 'What if the broken down car broke' is what your father said but I reminded him you had a phone and could call."

"Sweetheart," came my father with a pair of black pajamas and flour on his face, a plate of pancakes in his hand. "Let's calm down. She's home now and must be hungry." He turns to me, "are you hungry?" I nod my head and he gives me the plate.

"They didn't even feed you," my mother is about to go on another tangent before my father places his arm on her.

"Let's take three deep breaths. We made the pancakes in case she hadn't eaten, remember."

My mother nods and turns to me. "Who were you with?"

"I was with some new friends." My mother's ear perked up. I fake yawn at the moment, "but I'm really sleepy now."

"We are too but we stayed up waiting for you." I stop yawning and pierce my lips. "I want to meet these new friends. Invite them over. We can do a movie night and dinner. Okay, great. It's settled. Tell them to pick a day and we will do it."

"Goodnight Amelia," my father says as my mother leans on his shoulder mumbling about what she will make. I huff in relief and rush to lock the door before going to Grayson. I see him in the bathroom looking through my medicine cabin and stare at him.

"I was looking for a first aid kit," he shrugs. I roll my eyes and open another cabinet.

"Sit." He listens and sits down. I wet a piece of gauze and started cleaning his scratches, applying cream and a bandaid.

"A minions bandaid?" he asks sardonically.

"Sorry, I'm fresh out of biker gang-related bandaids," I respond equally as sardonic.

He laughs. "Your family seems nice."

"Yea. Oh- they made pancakes." I run to my room to grab the plate and enter with Grayson shirtless. I gulp a little but my eyes are instantly drawn to his bruise.

"The guy really kicks hard," Grayson says and grabs the plate of pancakes from my arm. I grab some cream and apply it to the side, blowing air on it. From the corner of my eyes, I can see Grayson intently watching me and shudder. He places his hand on my wrist, making me look up at him. "Thank you," he whispers close to my ear. I'm unable to speak and just nod. He turns my hand around and we both look at my barely tainted palm but he brings my hands to the sink and starts washing off the blood. He then dries them as I silently watch. When he's done patting them dry, he grabs the cream and places it before wrapping my hand in bandages. "You must have been worried."

I shake my head, unable to speak. He smiles at me. "I'll be heading out and just so you know, I'm not embarrassed by you tutoring me. I'm embarrassed I need a tutor." He pauses, "but I'm glad it's you." I watch him walk out the door and through the glass sliding door. I can hear his engine roar and sit down on the toilet seat with a sigh. I place my hand on my chest and look at the wrapping, my heart pounding slightly more than usual. Touching it slightly, I fan myself thinking of the small tingles being sent through my body.

Well, this was new.

>>>>>>>>>

Even I'm falling in love, anyone else?  (I'm screaming at my cringy self.) 

I do wonder, will she end up with Grayson or Abacus? Choices. Choices. Choices

Should we start with a Team Abacus or Team Grayson? 

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