Broken Pieces, L. S. [brene brown rising strong .txt] 📗

Stephanie snarled.

I chose to keep quiet and wait for her brother to speak up.

“Liz Williams, nice name huh? By the way I am Dylan, Dylan Grayson,”

I sighed in disappointment cause he didn’t even react on what I said, instead he kept on hitting on me.

“Mr. Grayson, I believe you are here to represent your parents in regards with the attitude of Stephanie towards her schoolmates,” I said disregarding what he just said.

He put his arms on his chest, just like what he did earlier at the cab.

“Well, pardon my spoiled brat little sister if she is overusing her power as the leader of this school,” he said, I silently smiled because at last he is saying something sensible.

“Dylan!” Stephanie growled.

“It concerns us because it seems like the hierarchy is getting out of control for this generation,” I sighted.

He nodded.

“I think I might have some ideas on how can we keep things under control,”

“Well, I am glad to hear your thoughts Mr. Grayson,”

“How about over dinner?”

I sighed and shook my head. Just when I thought we were having a sensible conversation, he just showed me what a total jerk he is.

Chapter Fifteen

“Hey Beautiful!”

The Parent-Teacher Association assembly just finished a couple of minutes ago and I was gathering everything that I have used in hosting the said meeting when Dylan Grayson came to me wearing a gray suit.

This guy has been constantly following me around ever since we meteach other three days ago. He has been consistently attending all the school functions concerning his sister Stephanie. I wondered why because one of the teachers in this school said that he never attended one before. I don’t like to think it was because of me but its hard not to.

“Mr. Grayson,” I said acknowledging his presence.

He smiled and put his hands on the pocket of his pants.

“Why so formal, call me Dylan,” he uttered.

“Okay, Dylan,” I said

Then I turned my back on him with my things on my hand and started to make my way out of the auditorium. I glanced on my wristwatch, it’s past 5 pm and I should go home.

The assembly went well than I expected, majority of the parents understood the point of the guidance council in regards with over using the given power to the chosen Queen.

“So did you like the flowers I sent you?”

I didn’t know he followed me down the hallway. Ever since our meeting three days I have also been getting flowers delivered to my office every morning. They are beautiful flowers so putting them in the trash would be cruel.

“Why do you sent me flowers every day?” I asked back as I continue to walk.

“Well, I like you and I want to date you,” he answered straight forward.

I just shook my head. He was arrogant and acted like a complete jerk to me three days ago and he wants to date me?

“You gotta be kidding me,” I whispered.

I opened the door of my office and I knew he was going to follow me inside so I stopped at the door and turned to face him. I am already being teased by my colleagues and if someone sees us in the office, even though we’re not doing anything will only make them teased me more. I have been living normally for the past six years and I plan on continuing that, I don’t need an arrogant good looking jerk take that away from me. Dating is the last thing on my mind.

“Only authorized personnel allowed inside,” I said to him with a blank expression on my face.

“How about let’s have dinner? My treat.” He offered.

I shook my head. He’s just unbelievable.

“Why are you doing this?” I asked.

I really couldn’t contain myself from asking him what the hell he wants from me because from the looks of him, he’s not the kind of guy who would settle with one girl. I know the likes of him. I have learned to see the different kind of guys for the past six years I lived alone. He’s not the first guy who wanted to play me, I didn’t fall for it before, and I will definitely not fall for it now.

He leaned on the wall, his side on me.

“Well, I thought I made it clear with the flowers I have sent you,” he said. “I like you Liz,”

I took a deep breath. He said the like word again. Why does he keeps on using that word to me? And why is he calling me by my first name?

“Dylan, I don’t have time to play around with you, I know that the kind of guys like you are not going to take girls like me seriously, so please just look for another girl you can play with, please,”

He stood straight and looked at me straight in the eyes.

“It hurts that you think that little of me,” he said, “It’s odd for a guidance counselor like you on how quickly you judge other people,”

I swallowed the lump in my throat, suddenly I don’t know how to response to him. Did I judge him? Was I wrong?

“I was just basing my judgement on how you act towards me, you stole the cab I have waited for thirty minutes the first time we saw each other, you acted a complete jerk after I told you I was running late,” I muttered with conviction.

I lick his lips and smiled at me a little.

“I didn’t tell you but I hailed the cab before you did,” he said. “I was also running late for my appointment with you, I was really trying to make a good impression because my sister told me that you are kinda tough to deal with, our parents are a little neglectful of us, all they care about was the family business, their social status and their children not to disappoint them, no wonder Stephanie acts the way she does cause she’s trying to get our parents attention,” he added. “So yes, I admit I was a bit of an ass that time but I was just trying not to disappoint my sister the way our parents usually does.”

Guilt started building in my chest. He was right, I was too quick to judge him. I never knew that Stephanie is going through like that or him for that matter.

“I know I come out as playful and sometimes an ass, but I am sincere when I told you I like you, and if you don’t want anything to do with, that’s okay, I am not going to force you and I won’t bother you anymore.” He said. “Have a nice day,” he added and he turned his back on me.

He started walking away and I suddenly didn’t know what to do or say. I felt bad cause I was mean to him from the very moment he went towards me until the very minute he turned his back on me.

“Dylan, wait-“

He stopped but didn’t turn around to face me.

“I didn’t mean to judge you. I’m sorry,” I mumbled looking down. “And dinner would be nice,” I swallowed.

What am I doing agreeing to have dinner with him? Yeah, he said he isn’t a player but why did I believe him so fast? Am I going to date him? Of course not!

I watched him walked his way back to where I was standing.

“I’d like that,” he said smiling.

“I’ll go with you as friends, okay?” I clarified.

He nodded.

“I’ll wait in the car,”

“Okay.”

He walks towards the hallway and I went inside my office sighing. What the hell did I get myself into?

 

Dylan brought me to a Thai restaurant in 2nd Avenue called Up Thai, I’ve never been to that place before although I have passed by the sidewalks of 2nd Avenue in the past.

The place is nice and cozy, the walls are made of brick designed in different continents of the world. There are colorful lanterns hanging and the wooden chairs and tables accentuated the Thailand theme of the place.

“I am hoping of getting to know you more,” Dylan said as we settled ourselves on our seats.

He chose to sit at the corner part of the restaurant. A waiter came up to us and handed us the menu. I’ve only tried Thai food once, it was a bit spicy on my taste so I never tried it again but Dylan persuaded me to try it with him, I didn’t know but my instinct just trusted him.

I let Dylan order for us, the waiter took note of it and went to the counter.

“There is really nothing to know about me,” I said avoiding his gaze.

When the court granted my petition to change my name, Dr. Sullivan and I came up with the idea of changing my childhood life. Liz Williams lost her parents in a car crash at an early age so she grew up with her foster family in New Jersey. Her foster father died when she was in high school while her foster mother moved to England after she gone off to college.

“I know you don’t know me Liz, and I seem like a player to you but I would like to change that,” he said. “I hope you will give me a chance,”

I looked down. I felt the sincerity on his tone but I feel strange, maybe because it was the first in six years that I let someone take me out for a dinner. This is the first time since I ran away from California that I let a guy sweet talk me and I don’t know how to react about it. I don’t have any plans of dating him or lead him on.

“Dylan, I am not really looking for a relationship,” I said.

He nodded and sip on his glass of water.

“Bad break up?” he asked.

I wasn’t sure how to respond.

“Sort of,” I answered.

He took a deep breath.

“Well, I am not rushing things, I’m fine being friends for now,”

“Okay,”

Our food was delivered to us and we ate while we talk about him, he told me that his profession is photography and he owns a gallery in Brooklyn. His parents were against it because they would like him to take over their multi-billion dollar company. He lives in a hotel room at The Palace and Stephanie stays with him sometimes. He’s the same age as I am and he graduated at Yale University with the master’s degree in business but later on focused on his passion. He played football in high school and college and he never had a serious relationship, though his mother often introduced her to high society women but none of them catches his interests. All in all he’s a bit interesting.

After our dinner his car service drove me to my apartment.

“I had a good time,” I said genuinely. “Thanks for the treat,”

We were still inside the car.

“My pleasure,” he said. “I hope we can do this again,”

“Maybe,” I shrugged. “Be safe Dylan,”

“I will, good night Liz,”

“Goodnight,”

He kissed me on my cheek before I got off the car. I thought it was going to be awkward but it wasn’t at all.

 

 

The next day, I woke up before my alarm because I didn’t sleep well the previous night. I was anxious, rolling to my bed, left and right. I can’t get Dylan out of my mind. Our