Chapter Twenty One

I ran a finger along Mohawk's back, cooed and smiled before placing him back in his page. Grey looked up from the project and asked me how the family counseling went.

"Horrible thank you."

"Will it get better?"

"Yes, I think it will." I closed the frog's cage and smiled at Grey. He smiled back, one of those soft, warm smiles. I felt the blood rising to my cheeks and turned away, confused. I gingerly ran a finger along the side of my face. I couldn't honestly like a boy, like like him.

He stood up, putting away a pair of scissors as he did so. I pushed away any romantic feelings I had and walked him down the steps and out the door. The sun had set went I waved goodbye.

I went back upstairs, said goodnight to my mother and brushed my teeth. My father was still at work.

I snuggled, smiling, comfortable, into the thick duvet. The warm swallowed me, and I let myself fall into the bed, into the lure of the blankets, the Closing my eyes, the cozy moment of climbing into bed overwhelmed me. Smiling to myself, I tried to push away the thought of Grey's smile. I couldn't.

I went to sleep that night thinking about a boy different from the one I had spent many years dreaming about.