Array
(
[text] =>

------------------

Dedication: Lapis_Lazuli_Willow for the awesome cover! Thank you!

Recap:

"Mm," I mumbled. "Turn left up here."

"Okay," he said. "Oh and Grace, we probably shouldn't tell anyone about this either. Just in case they assume we... ya know."

"Uh-huh," I mumbled. "Wouldn't want to ruin your reputation."

I just knew he was frowning. "Grace, it's not like that. I'm the Coach."

"I know."

My body felt like lead. I was so exhausted. I could feel sleep tugging at me and I was effortless in preventing it.

Finally, I let the blackness swallow me as I fell into a deep sleep.

-------------------

My head is pounding. My stomach is churning.

What the hell happened last night?

Letting my eyes flutter open, I groan. This isn't good.

"Morning sunshine," a too-cheery voice chirps, making the pounding in my head worse. "How are you feeling?"

Drawing my eyebrows together, slowly, I sit up. Since when did Harvey have muscles like that?

I blink, trying to get my eyes to focus. A shirtless back meets my eyes. Whoever it is, is cooking. It smells delicious, even though all I want to do is puke.

Glancing down, I notice that I'm still in my skimpy Harley Quinn outfit from last night's adventures. Groaning again, I collapse back heavily onto the fold-out lounge.

"What happened?"

The guy turns around and my stomach clenches.

Why the hell am I with Coach Brennon? I glance down at my clothes again, and was immediately relieved as they were all still in the right place.

"This," he says, coming towards me casually. He passes me his phone into my palm and I drag my eyes from his defined chest, to the screen. "Is what happened."

Blinking furiously, forcing my eyes to focus, I stare at the message. Immediately, I am mortified.

Sent at 1:17am from iPhone.

Grace Connaway: Yooo Ash tonne, whats ip! jUst at a party n like was wondering you shuld swing by!! would be soo much fun ! I'm HARLEY QUINN you know like on that movie! Anyway, im heading home soon, wanna give me a lift? im hella hungry . Lets go swimming. I be on Boulevard in 10.

P.S you're kind of a babee

I. Am. Horrified.

Since when did my texting skills become so dismal? I must have been pretty drunk to send something like that. To the Coach, of all people.

He laughs at my expression of pure humiliation. 

"Don't worry, I don't care. It's funny."

"Funny is an interesting word to use," I groan, sliding the phone across the bench. "That's horrible."

Chuckling, he shrugs. He places two pieces of toast in front of me and my stomach growls in hunger.

"Thanks."

Tentatively, I take a bite. About three bites in, I'm sent running to the bathroom. I just made it, before I vomited what felt like my life's consumption of food into his pristine, white sink.

Groaning once more, I lean heavily on the basin. After rinsing my mouth out, I glance in the mirror and flinch.

I no longer have my wig on, and my hair is messily falling around my face. My makeup is smeared and my mascara made me look like I haven't slept for a month.

I am never going to be able to face Coach Brennon after this.

"You okay in there?" he asks, his voice just outside the door.

Emerging from the bathroom, I give him an awkward look. "This is so inappropriate. I'm really sorry."

"It's fine," he says with a wave as we both wander back towards the kitchen. I stare distastefully at the now cold toast in front of me. I push it away, still feeling squeamish. "Last night... you said something."

"Even worse than we've already discussed?" I groan, ignoring his intense stare.

"No, no," he shakes his head. "It's just... do you have parents?"

I blink at him. That wasn't what I was expecting.

"Kind of," I say slowly. "Well, I don't have a father."

"Okay," he says, taking a sip of his protein drink.

"And my mother is a complete work-a-holic. She's a surgeon at the big private hospital so I'm by myself mostly."

He is silent for a few moments. "That must be hard for you."

I roll my eyes. That's the first thing everyone says.

"I'm a big girl, Ashton."

His face is unreadable as he takes another sip. "That explains why you felt you didn't have anyone else to call. What about your boyfriend?"

I blink at him a few times. "What boyfriend?"

He quirks an eyebrow at me and I don't miss the flicker of a smirk that flashed across his mouth.

"The guy you're always walking around school with?"

"Harvey?" I question, shaking my head. "No way, he's my only friend. He's a transfer, so he is actually normal. He was the one who showed me around."

"So you're not dating?" he presses, his eyes never leaving mine.

"No, we're not," I confirm. "Why do you ask?"

He shrugs, fighting to keep the smile off his face. "No reason."

"Right," I say, rolling my eyes. "What have you got planned for today?"

He shrugs again, before spreading the scrambled eggs onto his toast. My stomach clenches and I look away, the smell of the egg making me want to vomit again.

"Not sure yet."

"You want to try and eat something again?" he asks after a few moments of silence. He shoveled his last forkful of egg into his mouth, before placing his cutlery neatly on his plate and pushing it away from him.

I then realised I had been gawking at him.

"No thanks, I'd rather not defile your bathroom a second time," I say easily, leaning back in the stool. "I might head off soon, I've already overstayed my welcome."

"You haven't," he assures me as he grabs my plate and throws the dry bits of toast into the bin. "Stay as long as you want."

"Thanks, but I really need a shower."

"I have a shower."

I pause and raise an eyebrow at him.

Did he want me to stay?

"I don't have any other clothes with me."

"You can wear something of mine."

He is making this hard.

I walk from him, giving myself a moment to gather my thoughts. I swipe at my phone that was lodged between the cushions of the lounge and try to turn it on, before realising it was flat.

"That's okay, thank you though."

Slipping my phone into my back pocket, I bend over and threw my hair into a messy bun on top of my head.

"Okay, I'll drive you," he offers, wiping his hands on a tea towel draped over the oven.

My stomach tightened.

"That's okay."

"Grace," he laughs, coming towards me. He gripped my shoulders, his warm breath fanning my face. I stepped back, not wanting him to experience my post-vomit breath. "I'm trying to help you."

"It's okay, I like walking."

"And I like driving. Besides, you'll probably give people a heart attack if you walk like that down the street. Give me a sec," he says over his shoulder, as he disappears into a room behind him.

I take a second to look around his place. It is surprisingly neat. He must live alone, or have a very quiet roommate. He has smooth, timber floors and high, white ceilings. The apartment is very sleek and modern.

"You ready?" he asks, re-appearing with his keys jingling in his hands.

I force a smile onto my face and begin trailing after him. My palms began to feel clammy as we get closer and closer to his car. I grip my shirt in my hands, trying to rid the sweat that has started to form.

The elevator ride down to the underground parking is awkward and tension-filled. My eyes dart around and I silently thank that we didn't share it with someone else.

As it dinged, telling us we have reached the car park, the doors slide open and a man stood there. He jumps at the sight of me and I hold in a laugh. He gives me an odd look as he shoulders around me and I hear Ashton chuckle under his breath.

It doesn't take us long to reach his park. His car is nice, a recent model BMW. 

I slide into the passenger seat, the new car scent still lingering in it. I usually enjoy the smell but right now, anything felt like it was going to trigger me to round two of vomiting.

"Nice ride," I comment, folding my arms across my chest.

My heart starts to beat faster in my chest as the car rumbled to life.

He shoots me a grin. "Thanks."

My throat felt dry as he reversed out of the underground parking. I hope he didn't notice my anxiety.

In an attempt to act neutral, I turn the volume up on his radio. He glances at me, a smirk on his lips.

"What?"

"Nothing," he smirks again, returning his eyes to the road.

It's a short trip to my house as we apparently don't live too far from each other. I ramble off directions, hoping my voice doesn't sound as strained as it felt. His car pulls to a smooth stop at the edge of my driveway.

"Oh, nice house," he compliments, with a low whistle. "You can tell your mum has a good job."

"Bit wasted on me," I mutter dryly, unbuckling myself. "It's just me so the size of the house is a bit pointless."

"Doesn't mean it's wasted on you if you're the only one who lives there. You deserve nice things."

I give him an awkward look. "Ah, thanks."

"I'll see you at school tomorrow?"

"Sure will."

"Meet me at the pool in the morning. I'll work on your strokes with you."

"Breaststroke?" I smirk.

He rolls his eyes. "Freestyle. Don't forget your tryouts are soon."

"How could I possibly forget that?"

"Oh yeah. Right."

"Thank you for everything, Ashton. I really appreciate it." I say, giving him a smile. He shifts closer to me slightly and I stiffen.

"Anytime, Grace."

Tumbling out of the car, I shut the door behind me. With a wave, I stumble towards my house, feeling slightly breathless.

I just stepped inside, when I met a furious looking Harvey. He had his arms folded and his eyes were narrowed.

"That better not be who I think it is.

-------------------

So, what do you think about her going to the Coach's house?

And why do you think Harvey is so mad about it?

Let me know what you think! Thanks for reading. :)

[text_hash] => e05b3884
)