Page 92 of Heart of Gold
Yeah, Grayson pisses me off, but he’s still someone I used to love. He was there for me when all the stuff went down with my mom. It didn’t end well after that, but when I was at my lowest point, he was there. Sure, he knew the truth about what happened and lied to me for years, but that’s something he has to live with. Whether I want it to or not, my mind flashes back to a time when everything between Grayson and I wasn’t a total trainwreck.
“I can’t believe you are going to the stadium,” Ava says as I wait for Remi to pick me up outside. “Gavin’s right, you know. He’s only doing this to prove a point.”
I shake my head, “Okay but what if he isn’t?”
“It’s not your problem!”
I turn around and see Gavin walking toward me with his keys in hand, he looks pissed. “Where are you going?”
“Home.” He quips. “I’m not gonna sit back and watch you go to him. It’s a fucking joke and you know it.”
I can hear the hurt in his voice. He thinks I’m choosing Grayson over him, even though that’s not what this is. That’s what it feels like to him.
“It’s not that I’m choosing him,” I say, trying my best to chase him on the crutches. “Gavin, wait!”
He turns back toward me, “Just go, Quinn. It’s hard enough watching you fall for this shit.”
I watch as he walks away, and I feel pain. Worse than the pain I’m feeling in my ankle.
This really is a top ten worst day ever.
I feel tears burn my eyes as I watch his truck disappear. “I really thought he’d understand.”
Ava crosses her arms, “Gavin is the best guy I know, but when it comes to protecting you… golden retriever boy is gone.”
Remi pulls up against the curb, and Ava helps me in his car before sliding into the back seat. Not a single one of us says a word on the mile drive across campus to the stadium. There’s a few cars parked outside, but the first one I notice is Grayson’s.
When we get to the stadium it takes two guys to carry me to the top of the stairs where the press box sits. I stare at the wrought iron ladder bolted to the side, wondering how I’m going to get up there.
There are a few guys sitting in the stands near the press box but they all have somber looks on their faces, which worries me. I turn back to Remi, and whisper, “Call the cops. Just in case.”
He nods in understanding and I put both of my hands on the ladder.
“Quinn, this is crazy. Your ankle has twelve stitches in it, there’s no way you can make it up there.” Ava whines. “He’s hurt you enough.”
Remington, being the mediator that he his, pulls Ava aside to talk to her. Knowing that if she causes a scene it might only make things imminently worse. For everyone here.
I place my good foot on the first step and use all of my upper body strength, which isn’t much, to pull myself to the second bar without using my right foot. I repeat this until my head breaches the top of the building and I see Grayson, his feet dangling over the edge.
By now I’ve used up all my energy and I huff, “Can you help me?”
His head shoots over in my direction, and his eyes go wide. “Quinn,” he acts surprised. “What are you?—”
“Save it,” I spit. “Get over here and pull me up.”
He stumbles getting up and I look behind him to the empty liquor bottle. “Nevermind,” I say. “Sit the fuck down.”
I take a couple more breaths, and I try again to pull myself up another bar, but my foot slips. I catch myself with my bad one and wince, it fucking hurts.
“Quinn!” Ava gasps from below me, and Remi moves to the base of the ladder in case I fall. Like he could catch me.
I make it to the top and crawl my way up and over the ledge now blowing out ragged breaths of relief. “Mother fucker.”
“Quinn, I’m so sorry.” Grayson slurs from across the roof, but I have no energy left to cross the distance between us. I’m not even sure I want to.
“I never meant to hurt you tonight, you have to believe that. Right?”
I don’t immediately respond which causes him to become desperate, “Quinny, please tell me you don’t think I would hurt you.”
