I have managed to get my affairs in order for the week. I have even managed to eat three whole meals during the day, despite my busy schedule. I was proud of myself. And as a reward, I was planning on watching The Bachelor and eating a bowl of my favourite childhood cereal in peace.

It was a perfect end to my week or an ideal way to start my weekend of relaxation. I was planning on buying a book I had been eyeing for some time now. A therapist told me that I should celebrate the smallest of wins at the most unexpected times. That way I wouldn't know when a reward was going to be given to me and I wouldn't get too used to them.

I was excited about the weekend ahead of me, to say the least. But once I was sitting on the couch in my favourite onesie, Nicole and Rosie came from their study time. They were in a hurry, I could see that much. A couple of nights ago we were talking about a party at Alex's place. And I guess now, they were in a rush to get ready for it. It was like a TV show happening in front of my eyes. 

"Aileen, are you sure you don't want to come with us?" Nicole invited me.

"No, I have plans with my TV tonight." I put a spoonful of cereal in my mouth, "But I am happy to help you two get ready."

"Okay, if you say so." Rosie sat next to me, "The boys will be here soon, so would you mind helping me with my makeup?"

I put my bowl of half-eaten cereal on the coffee table and took her brushes. In a couple of minutes, she was ready and her place was soon taken over by Nicole who wanted me to do a smokey eye.

They both looked like they could rule the world tonight, and I was happy for them. Then the doorbell rang. Dylan, Alex and another guy came in.

The other guy was none other than the infamous Grayson, the new accessory to the basketball team and a cousin of Alex. Don't get me wrong, I liked Alex. He was turning out to be good for Rosie. But Grayson had a completely different personality. While Alex was serious and composed, Grayson tended to be funny, unserious and quite frankly immature.

I knew he was a good player, I watched our university basketball games and the speed with which Grayson adapted to the new position on the side was astonishing even to me. However, his cocky demeanour and his carefree attitude was something that rubbed me the wrong way.

"Hey, I am not planning to be third wheeling with all of you tonight, so if you see me with a lady tonight, please let me leave with her," he started talking without anyone even asking him to.

I rolled my eyes.

Rosie giggled, "Sure Gray, it isn't in our interest to interrupt you."

"Thank you, little sis," he petted her on her head, "I just thought to give you a heads up because the last time I was having a good time, Nicole dragged me home."

He turned his cheerful gaze towards Nicole, who was rummaging through her purse.

"Gray, it was five in the morning. We had to go home or we would be late for our lectures." She looked up, "Does anybody know where I left my red lipstick?"

"No," Rosie and I said at the same time.

That was when Grayson's eyes first laid on me. Properly, I mean.

"And who do we have here?" he said as he sat next to me on the couch while the others were talking between themselves.

"Are you going with us? Because if that's the case, then I wouldn't need to worry about being a third wheel."

I blinked a couple of times at his forwardness. 

"Hey, I am Grayson, but everybody calls me Gray." He outstretched his hand and was waiting for me to introduce myself.

"Aileen," I took his hand, waiting for him to let go of it first. However, after some time, I saw that this wasn't his plan. So I let go of it first.

"Aileen," he was trying out my name on his lips. I was sure he would forget it the moment he went out the door.

"Could you tell me how I haven't seen you around here yet? Or are you just visiting?"

"I don't go out much," I shrugged avoiding his gaze and trying to look at what the others were doing.

Grayson was after all a handsome guy and he knew it. I was afraid my cheeks would be turning red, as they did at the smallest interaction with guys, I found attractive. 

"But you are making an exception tonight?" he chuckled. So sure that I would say yes.

I rolled my eyes at the preposition as I asked sarcastically, "Does it seem like it?"

That was when he noticed I was already dressed in a onesie and with a bare face sitting in front of him.

"You could always change?" he tried.

"I am not." I giggled, "I am staying in, Grayson."

His face grimaced, "Oh, don't call me Grayson. That's what my parents use."

"They named you."

"They did, but that doesn't mean I must like the name," his hands went through his hair, family was, from what I had gathered from our small exchange, a sensitive topic for him.

"No, you don't have to," I agreed.

"If you don't want to change, I am sure you're pretty enough to go like that?" he proposed.

I rolled my eyes at the proposition, "Don't you think you'll have more chances at somebody else than me tonight?"

"Yes, I'll definitely have, but that doesn't mean you aren't worth the chase."

"I don't want to be just a chase," I was getting annoyed with him. Who did he think he was, coming in here and just trying to get me to sleep with him?

"Grayson, I am not sleeping with you," I turned my gaze from him so I could watch television.

"Who said anything about sleeping," he huffed.

And I felt my cheeks flush, the warmth getting over me. Was he being serious, didn't he flirt with me just a second ago? Why did I jump to conclusions so quickly?

"You did, just a second ago," I wasn't letting go of my ground.

"I did not," he liked teasing me.

"You did," I rolled my eyes.

"I did not."

"You so did," I almost screamed when the heads of four other people in the room turned towards us.

"Everything okay?" Rosie's eyes were filled with worry for me.

"Yes, everything okay." I answered and then I added, "I am going to look in my room if I have the same shade of lipstick I could lend to Nicole."

Nicole's eyes lit up, "I am coming with you."

As we were looking for the lipstick Nicole spoke, "You know Gray is not such a bad guy once you get to know him."

"I don't want to get to know him. I find him cocky and immature and I would rather not see him again."

"Aileen, you'll need to get to know how to get on with him. He is friends with Dylan and Alex and they're bound to spend some time here. Please, for our sake?" Nicole slowly tried to explain.

"I'll be cordial, I am not a barbarian." I rolled my eyes, "But as for friends, I don't think so. I know guys like him."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Nicole snickered.

"Guys like him have everything in life, every job, every little toy and every girl they like. Some of us have to work for life, others just live life. He belongs to the category of others."

Nicole sighed in defeat, "Aileen don't jump to conclusions like you used to do. Give him a chance, okay?"

"Found it," I exclaimed as I saw a burgundy red lipstick in the drawer.

Nicole took it from my hands, "Thanks, you are a darling."

We made our way towards the living room, where everybody was already heading out.

"See you later," Rosie waved.

"See you." I waved them back before making my way towards the couch and the cereal on the coffee table. It must have become soggy already, I inwardly grunted. 

However, the bowl was empty and I was sure I didn't finish it. He ate my cereal. Grayson ate my fucking cereal. I knew our 'getting along' would be getting harder by the minute we were existing at the same place and at the same time. He ate my cereal after all. What kind of person does that?