4

                                    

                                          
Once everyone is finished we clear away the plates and boxes and all squeeze onto the sofas. I'm sat between Ethan and Grayson- Ethan has his arm around my shoulders and I lean my head on his shoulder. 
                          
"So what movie should we watch?" My father exclaims as the talentless 'talent' show comes to an end. Ethan looks at his phone- it's 8:30pm. He also checks several texts that he's recieved. 2 from Scarlett, 12 from the football team's group chat and 1 from his mom. He looks at his mom's first.
                          
'Hey Eth, I'm assuming that you're at Tara's :) is Gray with you? He didn't come back home?' She wrote. Ethan replies with 'don't worry, he's fine :) we're having pizza and movie night at Tara's. Might be back a bit late :)' 
                          
"What about transformers?" I ask Dad. I know that's Chase's favourite plus I don't even mind it so it's a win for the both of us. Chase immediately starts jumping up and down, running to the DVD rack and picking out the first ever transformers movie. He pushes it into the DVD player and hits play on the box. I look back at Ethan's phone- I probably shouldn't be reading his texts but no one ever texts me so he's the only contact with the outside world that I have on weekends. Ethan bursts out laughing, trying to hide his phone from me but I see it anyway. It's a message from one of the 'jocks' in school. It's about me. 'I still don't get why you hang out with that nerd girl that you're so attached to. She looks like something I'd draw with my left hand. And I can't even draw with my right..'
                          
What the heck? Just because I'm not the prettiest girl in school means that I'm good for nothing? He doesn't even know me. Plus, that insult was the lamest thing I've ever heard in my life.
                          
"You gonna stick up for me or what?" I ask Ethan. He stops laughing immediately and gives me puppy dog eyes.
                          
"It's just a joke T" Ethan shrugs "It's funny" 
                          
"I don't find it very funny" I shrug back. I don't care that some randomer thinks I'm ugly but for Ethan to not stick up for me like that? I thought we we're best friends. 
                          
"Here" Grayson says handing me his phone "Say whatever you wanna say to them. I don't care" I take it from him and read the whole conversation. One message catches my eye. 'Dude back off, she's his best friend for a reason. Just cause she's ugly as shit doesn't mean that she isn't a nice person' Grayson just backed me up. Well kinda- minus the 'ugly as shit' part. 
                          
"It's cool" I shrug giving the device back. It's almost as if he wanted me to see what he'd said to those baffoons. I shrug it off pulling a blanket over myself and settling into the couch to watch the movie.
                          
--
                          
Midway through the film and Grayson has already covered himself over with half of my blanket. I feel a hand rest on my thigh. My left thigh. Grayson's side. I look to him but he's too engrossed in the movie to notice. What is going on with this boy today? I cough slightly to get his attention. He looks to me with a look in his eyes that I can't read.
                          
"You good?" He whispers as so not to disturb my family. I nod with a confused look on my face and slowly turn back to the TV. I shift in my seat just incase he thought my leg was part of the chair but his hand doesn't move. This isn't a big deal. Forget about it. 
                          
--
                          
Once the movie has finished, my parents declare that it's time for them and Chase to go to bed. It's about 10 o'clock and they 'have to get up early in the morning'. The twins also agree that they should get going back home because we have school tomorrow. I walk them out and Ethan hugs me goodbye before starting off towards his house. Grayson doesn't leave the porch straight away. 
                          
"By the way, I don't think you're ugly as shit- I just didn't want the guys to tease me" He states stood with his back to me, watching his brother progress down my drive way. "Goodnight Tara" He says before walking away. I raise my eyebrow at his peculiar behaviour before shutting the door and running upstairs to my bedroom. I change into one of Ethan's old shirts and climb into bed. I pull out my phone and text my only other friend from school.