Lost & Insecure

Twenty-Three - ...A Lifetime to Go

"Well apparently he's been really unhappy over the last month or so." Dana began to explain to Grace, "He says that there's nothing for him here, and that he just doesn't want to be here anymore. I don't know. All I know is he mentioned something about finishing the rest of the school year with our aunt and uncle in New Hampshire." Grace's eyes widened. "Have you talked to Eddie recently? Like, at all? I'm surprised he didn't tell you." Grace violently shook her head no. "Well I would talk to him, dude. I don't think anything is set in stone yet." Dana turned and headed for the bathroom, leaving Grace standing alone once again.

Grace looked back into the office and saw Karen speaking with the assistant principal while Eddie exited the office to grab his things from his locker. Grace nearly tackled Eddie as he rounded the corner. Eddie stumbled back after being caught off guard. "Don't leave!" Grace demanded.

"Grace?" Eddie didn't know what to say.

"You can't leave. You can't go to New Hampshire. You can't just go without saying goodbye." Grace pleaded for Eddie to stay.

"Grace, I don't know what you're-" Eddie looked up and saw Dana making her way back to class. Dana stopped and waited.

Grace was lightly crying into Eddie's shoulder now. "Please Eddie. Just stay."

"Grace-" Eddie had his eyes locked on Dana.

Grace whimpered, "I'm sorry."

Eddie looked at Dana then peeled Grace off of him enough to look at her. He glanced down at the short girl. "Okay. I'm not going anywhere. I promise." Grace smiled and hugged Eddie tighter. Eddie gave into the hug this time. He looked back at Dana who smiled. Eddie mouthed the words "Thank you." towards his cousin who nodded in reply.

Dana continued heading back to class, glancing back once more towards Eddie and Grace. Eddie was smiling to himself as Grace held onto him with everything she had.

"Annnnnddddddddddd..." Dana dragged the word out more than possibly ever necessary, "It's officially winter break!" Dana got out of her car and goofily danced around in a little circle, causing Eddie to laugh at her. Dana turned to Katie who was standing beside her and grabbed her hands. "And I can not wait to spend time with my beautiful, perfect, wonderful, gorgeous, amazing girlfriend tonight." Dana was beaming with excitement. Eddie chuckled slightly at his cousin as he leaned on the side of the car, watching Dana and Katie.

"Girlfriend?" A voice asked from the end of the driveway. Dana, Katie, and Eddie looked at the end of the driveway, shocked to find Katie's mom standing there. Katie pulled her hands away as if Dana was a stove Katie had just burned herself on. "Why Dana, Katie did not inform me that you were a lesbian."

Eddie had to bite his lip to stop himself from laughing. Dana had to take a deep breath before speaking in order to stop herself from being rude to Mrs. Torres. "Well I'm not a lesbian, Mrs. Torres-"

"Please, call me Pam." She sent Dana a fake smile.

"Well, Pam, I'm not a lesbian. I happen to like men and women and anyone who identifies along the spectrum." Dana explained.

"Hm. Well anyway, I just wanted to inform you two kids and your mother of the holiday party which we throw every year at my house. Since my daughter has seemed to be so attached to you two recently, I figured it would be a splendid idea to invite your household over. It starts tomorrow night at seven sharp. Don't be late!" Pam flashed a smile and left, requesting for her daughter to follow her.

"I have to go." Katie's eyes saddened. "I'll call you later." Dana sent Katie a fake smile as Katie left.

Pam waited until she and Katie were inside the house to scold her. "Katie, why on Earth wouldn't you tell me that your new friend is a lesbian?"