"Come in."
She opened the door tentatively and found Grayson shirtless and wearing boxers alone.
"Are you done cleaning?"
"Yes, I have finished."
She is flustered because of the lack of clothing, but he doesn't seem to mind.
"Come get these."
She moved closer to his table, and there were books. He looked at her fully, and he was fully aware of her. She had never seen him looking at her like that.
"I need you, Dawn."
Her heart beat faster, she nodded, and her face was red from the fact that he sat there with no shirt.
"Can you go and do this work for me?"
Part of her wanted to refuse, but with how he looked at her, she couldn't say no. She took the books and started to leave his room.
"Dawn."
She turned, and he grinned at her with his million-dollar smile. "I appreciate it."
She nodded hastily in response and went to her room.
After finishing her work, she tackled Grayson's. She would put some notes on the side so that he knew how she had reached those conclusions.
The following day she sat in the classroom and lay on her hands. She felt a nudge and looked up. It was Grayson.
She was shocked, or was she dreaming?
The class was full, and everyone was watching. She shifted uncomfortably, Dawn did not like the attention and prying eyes.
She also did not want enemies at all. With the way some of the girls looked at her, she would have some.
Actually, she took it back, none of them would think that Grayson would be interested in her.
She knew what they thought was very true.
"My books?"
She took them out of her bag and handed them to him.
"You did all the work, right?"
"Yes, I did."
"I knew that something was up."
"As if Grayson would talk to such a loser."
"Maybe we should give our books so that we can get distinctions too."
"Yuck, I don't want her to touch anything that is mine."
"She probably did it for free."
"The desperation is real."
"If Grayson said jump, she would say how high."
Dawn sighed at the whispers. She was used to this, but this time, it was worse because of Grayson.
The following day, they sat in class as the teacher spoke. "I've all of your homework, so you have to look at your marks and reflect upon them. Most of you did badly and I'm disappointed."
The papers were being handed out, "Well done Dawn, pure excellence. and extra marks were given."
"I'm shocked."
She turned, and the teacher was giving Grayson his paper. "You have improved beyond I thought that you would. Keep up the great work."
"And you, Keagan, you need to work on your projects."
Lunch was done, and they were sitting in the classroom, but the teacher had not arrived yet.
"You did a great job."
Dawn turned, and it was Grayson. She did not know if he was talking to her or someone else.
"I'm talking to you, Dawn."
"Thanks."
"What are you two talking about?"
She looked up, and it was Taylor and Gina stood next to her."
Dawn just kept quiet.
"School stuff," Grayson replied.
"What work?" Gina added.
"Nothing that you two would understand."
"Did you just insult us?" Taylor replied
"Obviously."
"Why do you have to be an asshole?" Gina hit back.
"I mean, you're the one that came to us, and no one invited you two. If you are looking for Keagan, just turn a bit."
"Why won't you reply?" this time it was Taylor asking her. She froze a bit.
"She does not want to talk to you."
"How do you know that?" Taylor replied and seemed to be annoyed.
"Leave her alone Taylor."
"Now you're defending her, why her?"
"I can choose and pick as to whom I want to protect."
Protect? Grayson wanted to protect her? That made her heart skip a beat.
"That does not mean you have to be rude to us," Gina added.
"What the fuck is it you two want?"
"I just wanted to talk to you. That is all, Grayson. I come in peace and nothing else."
Grayson knew that Taylor wanted more from him, which is why they had broken up after three months and since then he had not kept any relationship.
"I'm not here to fight. We just wanted in to join the conversation." Taylor replied.
"You would not mind, right?" this time it was Gina, and the question was directed at her.
"No...….not at all."
"Not you two." This time it was Keagan. He had now joined in the conversation.
"We aren't here for you, Keagan." Taylor hit back.
"Who cares? You're disrupting our peace."
"Keagan, knock it off," Gina replied.
It seemed as if Gina had some control over Keagan. His eyes had flickered with emotion, but what type of emotion, she could not figure it out.
"Fine, but you better make it quick, Grayson, and I have something to do."
"Such as?" Taylor replied.
"School work."
"Don't make me laugh. Of all the lies you could have picked, you chose the most stupid and unbelievable one." Gina replied.
"Anything I would have said, you would still think that I'm lying."
"You're an excellent liar Keagan, that is why I don't believe a thing you say. You cheated on me and you did it so well but forgot the part that I can solve everything."
"I knew you would bring our relationship into this."
"It just connects the dots."
"When are you ever going to let it go Gina?"
"For as long as I want."
"I see how it is going to be like."
Dawn was watching all this unfold in front of her. She had never been in a circle like this and also she felt included for some odd reason.
"Of course, typical of you to run away when there is a confrontation."
"How many times should we do this?"
"When you don't run away and you acknowledge my feelings, Keagan."
He scratched the back of his. "Nope, I'm not doing this right now."
"Are you both done?" Grayson asked, wanting to stop whatever was brewing here.
"If we say no?" Taylor replied.
"Then you will have to talk as the two of you. I doubt Dawn wants to talk to you," Grayson replied.
Grayson looked at her. "Do you?"
She shook her head, "No!"
"There you go," Grayson replied to them.
Taylor and Gina left reluctantly, and so did Grayson and Keagan without saying or sparing her a glance.
She breathed out.