7. Remember This
REMEMBER THIS
ALEXIA
T he segment of Hollywood News is talking about Jazzlyn being seen with rapper, Egon Paine.
She’s probably just his eye candy. But she is gorgeous. I mean, she's skinny with glowing skin, long legs, and perfect blonde hair that’s always voluminous. No one could outshine her.
Grayson reaches for the remote and changes the TV station to the radio, turning it up, and I realize they are playing one of his band's songs.
“Really, your own song?” I say while crossing my arms.
“I thought my band was your favorite,” he replies.
“It is. Just seems a little egotistical to play your own song,” I reply.
“I’m not egotistical, I’m confident. There’s a difference,” he says.
“What’s your favorite song of ours?” He raises a brow.
“The one.”
“Charlie would love to hear that. I wrote it with him,” Grayson tells me.
“Really? I would've never guessed Charlie wrote that,” I reply. Charlie is known for always making jokes, I didn’t think he’d write something so serious and emotional. Grayson lets out a laugh. That was mildly cute.
“Yeah, he doesn’t like to say it, but he didn’t know how to express his feelings for Scarlett, so I was like if I had to express my feelings, I would write a song for someone. I would say this, and I started writing the song and he added in parts, so we dedicated it to our ‘ones’ which he had already, and I thought I found mine, but ya know,” Grayson explains.
“That’s sweet. I think I like the song more now,” I comment.
“Why is that?” he asks.
“Because now it has a meaning behind it,” I answer.
“ Aw , you two get a room,” Astrid cuts in and now I want to bash her across the head.
The Santa Monica pier was something I never thought I’d get to see in person. Or at least something I never thought I’d see with the Grayson Archer and Noah Sterling.
“Where would you ladies like to start?” Noah asks us once we are out of the limo.
“I think we should start off at the arcade.” Astrid twists her hair, flirting. Lord, help me.
“We can play some friendly arcade games,” Noah says.
“I’ll be on your team!” Lia says to Noah and Astrid glares at her.
“To the arcade,” Grayson says and turns to go that way.
The Playland Arcade is not that packed today, but it is a Monday afternoon. “Basketball relay first?” I suggest.
“I’m winning this,” Grayson announces.
“You wish,” I reply. I’m a competitor and there is no way he’s winning.
“In case you didn’t know, I played basketball all my years in school, and I still play for fun and training. I got skills,” he says. Trust me, I know. I also know his number was thirty-four, but I’d never tell him that. I like to do research, plus I love everything about The MorningStars. In all fairness, I know all the basketball numbers of The MorningStars. I even know what number Emerson and her sisters had in volleyball.
“Okay then, let’s play, Popstar,” I say and grab his hand pulling him toward the basketball game.
“First, I am not a popstar, I’m a rockstar,” Grayson says.
“Really doesn’t seem like it, Popstar, ” I say, pouting at him.
“Really? Mocking me? Now I have to beat you,” Grayson says as Noah comes over with arcade tickets. Grayson inserts enough tickets for the game and presses the start button.
“Okay, start,” I say and pick up a basketball. We both throw and throw at the net, making baskets over and over again till the buzzer goes off.
It comes out tied.
Unfortunately.
“Who knew you could play so well?” Grayson says.
“Thanks, my dad taught me,” I say.
“He’s a great teacher,” Grayson replies. For a moment I feel something, and I want to tell a story about how it all started, but that only lasted for one moment before I remember he’s also a traitor.
“We’re going on the carousel next,” Lia says, breaking the feeling. Thank God.
We leave the arcade without playing anymore games to head for the carousel. “I love a good merry-go-round,” Astrid says.
“Let's go then, ladies.” Noah locks his arms with Lia and Astrid and escorts them to the ride while me and Grayson trail along behind them. We all get on horses beside each other.
“I can’t believe I’m on this thing,” Grayson says, rolling his eyes.
“Believe it because you are,” I tell him.
“After this, we’re going on the Power Plunge ride,” Grayson says.
That sounds really fun,” I agree.
“Next move decided,” Noah says. He’s such an agreeable person but then again, he’s here to make our day great.
The ride begins and we ride around. I mainly look at the view around me. I just want to take it all in before it’s over. I may never get to see it again.
“What’s your favorite TV show?” Grayson asks suddenly and I turn to him.
“ Grey’s Anatomy ,” I reply way too quickly, Grayson smirks at the irony.
“That drama show about doctors.” Noah laughs.
“It’s an amazing, emotional show,” I defend.
“Sure, it is,” Grayson replies sarcastically.
“It is!” I exclaim.
“We prefer more romantic television,” Astrid says, pulling Noah’s attention to her.
While they talk, I look around.
After the carousel, Lia and Astrid take a bathroom break while Noah, Grayson and I go on Power Plunge before playing Mini Golf, which was Lia’s choice, and eating at Seaside on The Pier was Astrid’s choice. Which was actually a good one. It’s a sandwich shop and was light enough so it didn’t destroy our stomachs after all the rides and still filled us. I picked dessert, and chose snow cones, which the boys are getting for us.
I’m standing on one of the piers, looking at water, while Astrid and Lia talk by one of the stores as I wait. I just needed time alone to decompress from socializing. It’s about five p.m. now and everything is still so bright and lively out here. California would be a great place to live, I’ve never been so far from South Carolina. I think I love it out here. I’d love it better if Faith was here and I was doing cheer.
“Here. One grape and blue raspberry snow cone. Just what you wanted,” Grayson says, holding it out for me. His tone is slightly annoyed. I know I was very specific, but he doesn’t have to be annoyed. While he has coconut. All the same flavor. Boring.
Noah comes over with Lia and Astrid, both holding their sour apple flavored cone and they take a seat at the table next to me. Well, if they are going to be this close, I guess I should sit too. I sit across from them and Noah and Grayson sit beside me.
“Did you enjoy your day?” Grayson asks.
“It was perfect,” Astrid replies.
“Wonderful.” Noah nods. I spot out the corner of my eye Grayson pulling his phone out and slipping it back in his pocket.
“Excuse me.” He gets up and leaves the table. I turn around, watching him, and he tosses his snow cone away as he leaves. Must really be someone he doesn’t want to speak to.
“What’s going on?” I turn around and look at Noah.
“I wouldn’t worry,” he answers. I’m slightly worried, more curious considering what happened only last night.
“Aaliyah, tell me, how did you come up with the inspiration behind your song? It truly impressed us all,” Noah says, changing the topic.
A worried look spreads on Lia’s face, and she looks over to Astrid for help. That’s strange and it only reminds me of the night I met Grayson.
“Just came out of me.” Lia smiles slightly before stuffing her mouth with the flavored ice.
“Really, because you’ve never written music,” I say, drawing everyone to look at me.
“It was a lucky first time,” Lia shrugs. Her face is a little blushed, meaning she’s lying. Now I definitely know something is up.
“Really. That’s so Interesting. You hate when I play the music I wrote or rant about it.”
“Lexi, maybe stop being so bitter and accept you lost,” Astrid inserts.
“Sorry about that,” Grayson says, coming back over to us.
“Is everything okay?” I ask.
“Yeah, it’s fine. Let’s get you girls home. Your day with us is about to end and we have a time to be back,” Grayson says.
On the way back, Grayson isn’t the somewhat fun and bearable Grayson anymore, he’s just existing and tense. It reminds me of what it was like when things went down with my mom and dad before Stephan and Aaliyah came into Mom’s life. What happened with Griffin really destroyed our family. Sometimes, things are still just as chaotic as they were before.
I guess we both have issues.