Chapter 43// "No Crescent it's not a book couple it's you"
I was currently washing the dishes and putting them in a pile ready to dry them afterwards. That was until my phone rings.
"Hello" I say leaning my phone against my shoulder as Icontinue to go through the dishes. Why the hell does Daniel use a new plate for every single piece of food he eats?
"Emily are you there?" I sigh in to the phone.
"Cress I don't know how to tell you this. I'm just so excited my ship is finally sailing"
My ears perk up "Oh really what book are you reading, I'll order it on Amazon tonight"
"NO Crescent it's not a book couple it's you"
"Wait what, no more fake dates please"
"So I was talking to Aiden"
"Wait you talk to Aiden" I smile in to the phone. I feel a ship being born.
"NO, maybe yes? That's not the point. So Aiden was out with Conner"
"Aiden and Conner are going out. I didn't see that coming " I was only kidding with her but it made me laugh at how pissed she was getting with me.
"I'm going to murder you through the phone. Aiden told me that Conner thinks you're hot and he likes you," she squeals in to the phone.
"What" I shout out as I drop the plate I was currently soaping in to the sink. Thank god it wasn't broken.
"As in Conner Ryder, the seriously hot bad boy of our school likes me. The football captain"
"Yes!" Emily replies in a really high-pitched voice. "I think you should ask him out. Just shout his name through your window"
I snort "Not a chance"
"Come on use that girl power, show that you are a strong female that can be in charge of the relationship"
There was no chance I was walking up to Conner and asking him to go on a date with me. What if he said no, actually there was no chance he would say yes!
"Bye Emily" I say to her while she was currently listing reasons why I should ask him out. I put the phone on the counter next to me and let out a large breath.
Damn, Conner Ryder likes me!
*
"What about this one?" Winter points at the screen on my Macbook.
"No pink isn't my color it makes me look green" I sigh as Winter lifts a strand of my hair.
"We really need to get your roots down I'm not digging this whole brown to blonde thing" I ignore her though I knew she was right.
"What about this one for you, it's the exact coral blue your looking for it would be perfect for the Christmas dance," I point out. Winter, blue it was always the same.
"I need something more revealing" she shrugs.
Of course she does.
Winter sighs and lies back on my bed. Guys think it was easy picking out a dress. Winter and me had been at it for hours looking for the perfect dress for our final High school Christmas dance.
Lucky for Winter a jock had already asked her to the dance as opposed to me who had no one to go with. I cringe at the memory of going to the Christmas dance with Carter last years. Goes to show first impressions are nothing.
"Did you hear that?" Winter suddenly says sitting up. I give her a confused look.
I raise my eyebrows as I hear a knocking sound on my window.
Only one person used to knock on my window, it reminded me of the day after Aribella threw water on me the next morning he threw rocks at my window then drove me to school.
The memory seemed so distant from now.
Then it hits me, it's probably about a year since that day, it's unbelievable how the time flies and things change.
"It's probably nothing" I say. The idea of it being him made my skin prickle.
That's when it sounds like someone threw a bloody brick at my window. We both jump up in surprise. We look at each other.
It couldn't be him could it?
"Crescent" Winter says, she's thinking the same thing as me.
"Crescent Dawson" A voice calls. Shit.
Winter's blue eyes were wide and her mouth was open "It's not...is it him?"
I mirror her expression. "It sounds like him?" I gulp. I bite at my lip and crack my knuckles. It felt like I couldn't breathe properly and there was no oxygen going to my head for me to think straight.
"Well what are you waiting?"
With that I run out my room and jump down the stairs two at a time. My heartbeat was ringing in my ears and I was actually shaking. Everything was quiet other than the sound of my heavy footsteps.
I open the front door and run outside barefoot, I race around to the corner of the house running along the grass. I could barely see anything seeing as it was pitch black.
As I run along I think, if it is him, then can we fix what happened between us and get over it? Will I take him back? Hell yes!
I stop so suddenly that I nearly trip over myself.
Breathe cress, I tell myself.
I take a step forward when I see the figure standing there. His back was to me, he was tall, slightly taller than I remember and his hair was styled different from what I could see. Swept to the side.
I left out a large breath, unable to form the words in my mouth.
He was back.
"Elliott..."
The figure turns around; his dark hair flips to the side as he moves.
Jack.
I felt like I'd just seen a light at the end of the tunnel that there was hope there was a chance of getting out this dark cloud inside my head then suddenly it was all black again. The light was gone.
I stand there for a moment looking at him blankly. The disappointment in my hear felt like a weight crashing down on me.
And for a second I wanted to slap myself I was so stupid. Elliott really? Why can't I just forget about him?
Once it all sank in, I walk towards Jack and wrap my arm around his neck. It might not be Elliott but it was still Jack, and that was second best.
"Crescent my god, you've grown and what has happened to your hair?"
I felt so much disappointment in my heart but I was so happy to see Jack what has it been 4 years?
"It's so good to see you Jack" Was all I say as I smile at him.
His sky blue eyes search my face as he pulls away. His appearance was so shockingly familiar. It was as though he hadn't changed at all. Just an older version of Elliott.
He was more muscular than Elliott and taller but there was always something about his face that was different. He had that sharp jaw line, those beautiful dimples. Expect his features were softer; his appearance was almost cute as opposed to Elliott, who's every single feature stood out. Everything about that boy drew you closer to him, he looked like trouble.
That's when winter comes running behind me and jumps in to Jack.
"Please tell me you brought Elliott's sorry ass back from New York with you, you're the only one that stupid boy ever listened to" She tells him.
It was true Elliott only ever listened to Jake, his older brother.
He laughs out loud. "No one can make Elliott do anything anymore not even me. I'm here to help my mom out since Elliott pretty much fled this state and I need to have a word with Aaron "
Elliott had Ryan as his half-brother but he also had an older brother who was nearly 4 years older called Jack Grayson. His eyes took after his mom's; they were a light sky blue. Compared to Elliott's who's always were a dark threatening and mysterious blue. Elliott's eyes always contained that glint of mischief, the danger that surrounded him.
Growing up jack used to be the only person who could control Elliott. Jack always stood up for me when Elliott used to torment me. In a way Jack was more of a big brother than Daniel ever was.
That was until he got a scholarship to some fancy university in Australia
He eyes us both looking at our reaction to the name. Aaron.
Winter and me stayed silent not knowing what to say, where do we begin?
"So lets go inside," Winter suggests something smart.
I walk in front, as Winter asks Jake if Kangaroo's are actually real. I loved Winter to bit but really, she has no comment sense whatsoever.
I sit on our white sofa and lift my legs so I can cross them. Taking their dear sweet time they eventually join me.
"Your mom and Daniel not home?" He asks.
"She's working away, she did it she achieved her dream, she created this fashion line with this company and it became a hit and Daniel should be home any second " I explain. Hopefully Daniel wouldn't be drunk.
"How's Aribella?" There was a dull tone to his voice when he said that name. He never liked her; actually he kinda sort of hated the girl.
"We do not speak that devil's name" Winter scorns him. Jack raises a confused eyebrow at her.
"Well I'm going to go make tea" Winter pushes herself up and hums as she goes to the kitchen.
"She still as weird as she used to be" Jack comments.
"Maybe even weirder" I giggle.
He scans the room "I also came back because I have some important news, but I would rather Daniel was here too"
"You and winter still best friends?" he asks. Well... You know we hated each other for a good year or 2. Like despised each other and then by your brother breaking my heart it drew us closer and we're friends again.
"Yeh we're still good friends" I reply as it was easier.
Winter eventually returns and sits between the two of us and it was sort of squished now.
Winter can't seriously like Jake, yeh he's hot and all but he's far too old? I wouldn't ever go for Jack he wasn't my type.
'Then what is your type Cress' I ask myself.
'Elliott' I reply in my head to myself
All of a sudden the front door open and in walks Daniel.
"In walks the devil" Winter mutters under her breath, she shuffles closer to Jack. I knew immediately what she was doing, she didn't like Jack and she was trying to make Daniel jealous.
Daniel's eyes are instantly on Winter and he looks mad or more like jealous until he realizes who was the guy sitting next to her was.
"Jack? Oh fuck it's you Jack" He drops his jacket to the floor and goes up to Jake to bear hug him you know like guys do.
"It's a miracle Daniel you don't look like a wimp anymore, you actually have some muscle" Jack teases my brother, Daniel blushes slightly but not from Jack's comment but Winter's laughter.
Daniel begins to update Jack on what's happened over the past few years. I zone out the conversation as I stare at the soft rug on the floor lost in my thought. If Jack was back then did that really mean Elliott was permanently gone?
"So tell me Crescent Dawson why was it the second you saw me you called out my brother's name. Does he still torment you because see if he does I'll beat his ass up for you" He lets out a throaty laugh. I look up at him and give him a blank look.
What do I say? When Jack left, Elliott and me had gotten in an argument in the tree house and we both fell out. More like he really pissed me off so I pushed him.
I remember the moment too clearly, I remember him clinging on to the tree house for dear life, I had felt sick rise in my throat. I gave him my hand to help him up.
Let me just remind you Elliott is insane, completely that he never thinks before he does something. So instead of Elliott using my help to get back on the deck of the tree house he pulls me down as well as himself to our death.
I remember when we both fell, his arms were wrapped around me and he took the worst part of the fall. It was like he wanted to die or something or he just wanted me to hate him more.
At the same time Daniel and Jack saw what happened. Jack nearly sent Elliott to a mental institute. He believed if Elliott acted like that when we were around 13 years old he would be really rebellious, as he got older and get in a lot of trouble.
"Crescent what's that look for, what did my brother do?" his tones was more serious now. My eyes flicker from Winter to Daniel who both didn't know what to say.
I didn't even know how to describe Elliott's relationship and mine.
"I fell in love with Elliott"
For me, it felt like the Elliott that used to hurt me was another person and that I'd changed too from then.
"Oh god Cress my ears are bleeding. I don't think I heard you right. Please repeat that" He looked stunned.
"I...Elliott and me...we fell in love"
"That can't be true, the week I left you slapped him across the face calling him a variety of different words. You told him to never stand in the same room as you again, then he shoved you really hard and you nearly fell in the fireplace..."
It takes me a moment to remember what he talking about.
"...but he caught me" I finish off his sentence. I remember Elliot grabbing on to my wrist as I was falling backwards and pulled me in to his chest. I was so shocked that I remember letting him hold me. But when realization hit me I pushed him away.
Elliott was always the one who hurt yet he was always the one to make me feel safe again the person who would save me.
"Your fucking with me I don't believe you" Jacks says I didn't really blame him.
"I didn't believe it either at first but it was true. Elliott Grayson dated my sister"
"Dated, that's past tense so what happened. Did he drug you Cress, or some sort of witchcraft to get you to like him? Oh god, are you the reason he left the state. I was shocked when I found he moved away, he swore he'd never live with dad "
Great that made me feel even better.
"I don't know why or how but yeh I actually fell in love with Elliott. That was until the Winter dance, when it all turned out to be a bet, we broke up and he left"
"It was a lot messier than that and it took them forever to get together. Even though they only dated for over a month they may as well have been dating for a whole year before that. It was really sad when they broke up" Winter explains.
"You know what I still don't understand. Did Elliott really love me because for some reason I just feel you can't fake a love like that but who knows maybe Elliott was a really good actor?"
"He wasn't acting, he really did like you, and even a fool could see that" I look at Daniel surprised.
"I can't believe you went out with Elliott. Crescent did you know Elliott was in love with you since he was a kid. That day when he went to that skating competition of yours or so he told me"
I look at him in surprise, if Jake new about that then that meant Elliott was telling the truth. I thought he made up that story.
Maybe it wasn't all for the bet, maybe Elliott did like me.
If only he was honest with me.
If and only if there was a small chance that Elliott did love me then why would he leave?
"Wait you knew" Winter gasps.
"Of course I knew I'm his brother anyway I gave something really important to tell you all"
All eyes were on Jake who actually looked very nervous.
Jake and Elliott always had opposite personalities though they looked alike. Elliott was the troublemaker, the sarcastic one.
Jake was more of the favorite, he was the one who never fucked around with girls, he could sweet talk his way in to anything, and he was the kind one.
But I could never doubt that Elliott was my favorite.
"I'm engaged"
We all sit there open mouthed in shock. He was getting married.
"To who" Daniel asks.
That's when I hear a phone ring, it was Jake's. He looks at the caller and smiles.
"That's her"
The way he was looking right now proved that he definitely liked this girl. What a lucky girl.
"Hey babe" he says in to the phone.
Wait so if Jake were getting married, he would obviously be having a wedding.
Elliott, Elliott, Elliott.
If Elliott's brother is getting married would Elliott be at the wedding?
I wasn't listening to Jake and his fiancés conversation but Daniel was. My brother suddenly stands up.
"WHAT IS SHE 2 YEARS OLDER THAN US?"
Jake looks away from his phone. Even I was wondering what was wrong with Daniel.
"Yeh probably"
"Does she have brown hair, mousey brown" Daniel investigates.
"Eh, I guess"
Daniel really sounded like a stalker right now.
"Oh fuck" Daniel swears.
"I'll call you back Tiffany" Jake tells his Fiancé and puts the phone down.
Tiffany.
I'd only heard that name briefly being mentioned once.
Oh shit.
Author note:
Another Grayson, not making any promises but m sure there are no more secret Grayson's.
Just so you know Jake isn't a main character and isn't going to be I just wanted to add him in.
Oooooh who's tiffany, yes she as been mentioned briefly ONCE in this book. I'm not giving anything else away you'll have t wait a week to find out.
Raise you hands if you thought Elliott returned. Will he come back for the wedding in February (this book is currently in November)
Also how lovely are these book covers:
Also if I'm being honest I don't see Zac Efron as Elliott I see someone else with more angular cheekbones and darker hair. I'll probably change who's playing Elliott soon.