Gracie left

　　BEN

　　I missed her calls. I missed her mother’s calls, even her brother’s. They must think I’m an asshole. But I’ll rather be called that than given an ultimatum.

　　Olivia pinches me. I fake a groan and she chuckles. She is much better but I am still a bit overprotective.

　　We stop in front of art class, I spare a glance at the empty hallway as if expecting someone to show up. Gracie should be in school today but I haven’t seen her. Not that I was looking. It will be hard to miss her if she was present. She has been the topic for a while. Olivia stares at me for a second, then enters.

　　“Why do you look so sad?” Olivia says once she is seated. I shrug in reply. I am not sad. I am just there. She drags a stool closer for me to sit while she sets her painting tools on the table. “You look like your puppy died.”

　　“I don’t have a puppy.” I don’t like animals.