Ch 3

"Mom, Ima go check on Grace" I say halfway out the kitchen.

"Go ahead sweetie. I'll be keeping Stella company," Mom says, continuing on a conversation with Stella.

Walking up the stairs their voices soften the farther I walk, but the closer I get to Grace's door the louder two other voices become.

"I can't do that," Grace complains from behind the door.

"Why not? It's not that hard," Brad roars back.

"It is! This is too much, I'm in a relationship with you!" Grace's voice cracks "Is that not good enough?"

"NO!" Brad yells.

Making my blood boil, I knock on the door. Acting as if I haven't heard anything.

"Yes?" Grace answers from the other side of the door.

"Just checking where you are. I didn't see you downstairs, are you okay?" I say, trying to interrupt whatever they were arguing about.

I then hear whispers that last for a couple of minutes.

Grace then bursts through the door "Hey, just talking to Brad. Plus, he is not staying. Since his mom called," Grace says in a hostile voice.

"Okay, cool! Bye Brad," I say sarcastically

"Whatever losers," Brad walks pass us

"Watch what you say Brad!" I call out

Brad doesn't turn around or say another word, just keeps walking to the front door.

"What's up with him? Are you sure you're dating a man or a beast," I say watching grace's expressions.

Grace giggles "I don't know"

We head downstairs. Dinner felt normal, not sad or lonely. I had Grace's attention again and I feared how long it would last.

Before heading back home, I hung out in Grace's bedroom like the old times. It felt like it had been a long time since I was last here.

"Okay okay but remember I like pickles more than Kool-Aid," I say laying on the floor eating potato chips.

"I know, but you must try it. One of my friends let me try it," she pauses before finishing "you know what! Let's make it together!"

---

"I like you" in a whisper which is followed by silence. That goes on for what feels like hours "say something" Grace says holding my hands.

Okay, let's go back a few hours before what feels like a dream happened.

"Hey, I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but what the hell was his problem. He should never talk to you like that," I say waving my finger around.

"Yeah, I know. And he never will," Grace says looking me square in my eyes.

"Yeah, he's crap…. Wait what? What does that mean? You guys patched it up?" I say hopping up on the bed.

Tears start to fall from her face. "I'm sorry… I just dumped him," Grace covers her face.

"Wow! You must have cared for him… a lot." I hop closer to her and pull her into a hug, "Don't cry, He's crap anyway."

"It's not that," she says, pushing me away to wipe her eyes. "It's just hard."

"What is?" I say.

"Dating," She grabs a tissue nearby and blows into it.

"Okay? What about it though," I say trying to search her face.

"I never feel full or happy in them," Grace says, lowering her head.

"Makes sense we are still young. It's hard to find THE ONE," I say still trying to figure out what she is saying.

"That's the problem! I believe I already found THE ONE," She giggles, blowing her nose right after "And I think that's why my previous relationships never work."

My heart sinks. "Oh," I say. Who is this person? Which one of her relationships is she talking about?

Giving my best support, I don't show my disappointment. I don't want to hear anymore but what kind of friend would I be to just walk out.

"Are you going to tell me who? Should I help you get together? Why are you telling me this?" I say, my heart racing even faster.

"Sorry, I'm getting excited," I choke up.

"Well, it's embarrassing," Grace says looking to the right side, staring at the lamp on the nightstand.

"It's fine. You know everything embarrassing about me," I say.

"Yeah, and I love them" She pauses "Like I like... you." Grace says staring into my eyes.

----

Everything went black. I don't know if I'm dreaming, dying or just fainting.

"Me?" I say looking around.

"Yes, you don't have to tell me how you feel but it would make me feel better if I knew," Grace says fidgeting with her hair.

"Me?" I felt like a robot, completely blank, just replaying what she said in my head.

Grace grabs my shoulders and shakes me "Hey, are you alright?"

"Me? Woooooow…. Pinch me I must be dreaming..." I say staring off to the distance.

"Gin, you have school tomorrow. You better come home or in a few!"

Mom is always ruining a good moment

"Gin? You hear me?"

I hear mom walking up the stairs.

"I have to go. Thank you. I'll text you later!" I run downstairs ushering Mom to the front door. We get back home with only a few embarrassing moments

"Goodnight love…. You'll have to cook dinner for yourself tomorrow I'm working late" Mom says in a slow exhausted tone.

"That's fine mom. Love you" I say watching mom walk into her room. The second she shuts her door I quickly run to my room and jump on to my bed.

"Crap crap crap" I whisper to myself.

I really said 'Thank you'.... It was a once in a lifetime moment and all I could say was thank you!

I yell into my pillow. Will she even text me back? I breathe in and wish I was ready but it's now or never, I finally have her! I cannot lose her because I'm an idiot.

Grabbing my phone out of my back pocket, scrolling through the messages I finally found her name 3rd in line.

Biting my nails, I send her a text "hey, are you still awake"

Within seconds of messaging her she messages back "Yeah"

Almost choking on my own breathing "Sorry about earlier. You know how mom is" Good excuse maybe she might believe it.

"Yeah but it's kind of like you were happy it happened"

Damn it!

I quickly message back. "No no no. I love you!! I mean I really LIKE you and I'm sooooo happy you feel the same. I've been dreaming about this day for years and I don't know where to start or where we should go from here." Crap, It sounds so stupid! Now I look worse than an idiot.

"Lol" She replies. Hugging my phone. I sigh she likes the idiot me.

Taking in a deep breath "It completely feels like a dream" sending another text "Thank you!"

"Lol sooo what are we now?" Oh god! Is this a trick question? Do I say we are going out or do I play it cool? God why is this so hard!

"Whatever you want" I played it cool, nodding my head.

"Lol Okay I'll think about it. See you in the morning" Grace text. Okay at least that's something right? What if I failed!

"Goodnight" I replied. Before putting my phone on the charger, I relax to the thought of finally doing it and drift off into a deep sleep like I'm sleeping in clouds. Nothing can stop me, besides my panic attacks.