Forever And Ever

01. Emery

Four thousand one hundred sixteen. That's how many days Grayson Woods has been tormenting me.

Grayson is Devyn's best friend, which is the main reason I put up with him. He has dark brown fluffy hair and bright blue eyes. And yes, Grayson might be handsome as hell, but he's a complete asshole.

The first time I met him, I had been six years old. I was wearing a Cinderella dress, and Aria had been wearing a Snow White dress. Devyn came home from his first day of second grade with a boy I had never met before. When I asked who he was, Devyn explained that he was the boy he had made friends with, whose name was Grayson. I went up to him to introduce myself. Hi. I'm Emery, I said. He laughed at me and told me I was going to have to try a lot harder if I wanted to impress him.

Impress him. Like that's what I was trying to do. I hadn't even known he was coming over, so how the fuck had I been dressed up to impress him?

I had told him that he was not a very nice boy, but he only laughed harder. After that, I pretty much declared us enemies and only talked to him when I wanted to piss him off.

And now as I stare at Devyn and Grayson, laughing at some stupid joke one of them told, I can't help but think about all of the other times he's been an asshole to me.

"Emery," I hear Aria say impatiently like she's been calling my name for a while.

I turn to face her, giving her a sheepish look, "yeah?"

She sighs and grabs my hand, pulling me around the corner to the spot our friends are talking.

"Dude," Leia says smirking. "You were totally checking out Grayson."

"I was not checking anyone out, you idiot," I snap at her. God, I fucking hate him.

"Of course not, Emery," Rebekah says, biting her lip to keep from laughing. "You were just staring intently at him because you were trying to decide if you should do your homework."

"You're such a bitch," I laugh.

"Watch your language, Emery," Devyn says. Shit. When did he and Grayson move over here? They were just in the kitchen.

"Whatever you say, mom," I murmur.

"Funny," Grayson says, giving me his signature obnoxious expression.

"Okay, listen here, you asshole," I mutter, "nobody asked for your input or your fucking—"

"Emery," Devyn says, rolling his eyes. "Stop cussing. And Grayson, leave her alone. God you two act like fucking children."

"Oh," I snap at him, "so you can cuss, but I can't? Why the fuck is that fair?"

"Emery," Devyn says slowly. "You're my little sister. You don't need to be cussing every time you open your mouth."

"We're only one year apart," I mutter.

"Yeah," Devyn smirks, "but you're still younger."

"Okay but only—"

"And," Aria drags the word out dramatically while grabbing my hand and pulling me in the direction of my room. "We're leaving before one of you kills someone."

She pulls me into my room and once the other three girls are in the room, they close the door.

"And you said I was checking Grayson out," I scoff.

Rebekah, Leia, and Joslyn all start laughing, but Aria just rolls her eyes and mutters, "grow up."

"Never," I say, smiling brightly.