Grace
"You're really leaving then?"
Ryan pulls away from me. "We have to get back home. I have to get back to work. Don't worry we're coming back for your graduation."
"That's a long time from now."
He smiles. "It'll be here before you know it."
My eyes start to water. "I need my brother. My friends are all mad at me." I wipe my eyes. "And besides Shane hates me. He hates me."
"Grace this is exactly why you don't need me. I'll be here for you even if I'm not here, here. But you don't need me to get out of this. You're growing up. Fight for what you want. It's now or never."
"Ready to go honey?" Pepper asks
Ryan nods.
"Bye Grace!" Pepper pecks a quick kiss on my cheek. "We'll see you soon."
"Goodbye Pepper" I reply
"The cars all set" my dad walks behind Ryan and claps him on the back. My mother is beside him with the baby.
"Safe travels." I say
My parents quickly say goodbye to Ryan and Pepper. I crowd the baby with kisses before Pepper settles him in the car seat.
I stand with my parents as Ryan backs out of the driveway. We wave to each other andthen they're gone.
"Looks like it's just us." My dad says "who's hungry?"
~|~
I don't go to school. Not today. I did go all last week even after what happened. People mostly avoided me although some smiled to me I guess to encourage me to keep going and others just talked behind my back.
Sarah isn't talking to me either. She thinks I made a mistake. She's right I did. I regret breaking up with Shane. I love him, but what Shane and I did to Camille is unforgivable. I would hate me too if I was Camille. After the whole incident, I walked home. I haven't seen Shane since. It's not because I don't want to see him but it's because he doesn't want to see me.
I have called and texted him many times. I've already lost count. Somehow during school he has managed to avoid me. He doesn't want to talk to me or even see me. I broke his heart.
And now I'm lying on my bed because it seems like the only other person who I can trust or can actually tolerate me right now has left.
"Grace?" My mother taps the door.
I roll off the bed and walk to the door. She has a purse and cellphone in hand.
"Hey sweetheart, your dad and I are going out to dinner. Do you want to come?"
I shake my head. "No. Sorry mom I'd rather stay home I'm not feeling the greatest."
She touches my forehead. "We can stay home-"
I grab her hand and hold it in mine. "No mom. Go. You and dad deserve to have a night out. I'll be fine."
"Are you sure? Maybe you could come with us? We could stop and get you some medicine."
"Mom I'll be fine. Go with dad."
She sighs and smoothes my hair down. "Alright. If you need me, call me."
"I will. Have fun."
She walks away and I go back to my bed. I lay under. It's not until I hear the car start and then leave that I fall asleep.
~|~
I wake up crying. I sit up. It's dark in my room besides the moonlight shining through my window. I check the time. It's midnight. I turn my nightside light on. There's a cup of water and medicine by my nightstand. That means my mom must have came into my room when they got home.
I press my palms to my eyes. I had a dream about Shane. We were together. I take a deep breath and let it out to try to relax. I grab the cup of water and chug it.
I can't do this anymore. It's not fair to both of us. I have to see him and I really don't care if he doesn't want to see me because I'm gonna see him wether he likes it or not.
I slip a sweatshirt on along with sweatpants. I grab my phone that was delivered the day of the incident and slip it in my pocket. Shane gave it to Ryan and then he left.
I shut my light off and slowly open my bedroom door. I shut it behind me then tiptoe down the hall. I make it to the stairs then stop and listen. Light snoring reaches my ears. I walk as quietly as I can down the stairs and through the front door.
As soon as I get outside I look at the stars and take in the deep cool air. I can do this. I tell myself. I can do this.
I feel sick and my hands are shaking. I try taking deep breaths, but it really doesn't help. I'm nervous. It takes me almost half an hour but I make it. I stand outside Shane's house. I hope nobody sees me because I probably look like a total stalker.
I send him a text and wait about five minutes. Nothing. He's not gonna respond. I try to be quiet as I walk through his backyard. I find his window and notice shadows of light reflect off it. He's still awake.
I look around to see if they're anything I can use to get his attention. I spy some shoes by the back door and hurry to them I think they're his dads.
I return to my spot and take aim. I better not mess up. With as good as aim as I can manage I throw the shoe. A loud smack echoes in the darkness as I hit my mark.
My heart pounds as I wait. His room fills with light and the curtains are drawn back. And there he is. My Shane. I wave at him to come down. He watches me for a second before he shuts the curtains. Another second. His light turn off.
I hug myself and wait. I wait for two minutes then four. Shit. He really doesn't want to see me. He's finally done with me. Shit. I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from crying.
I turn and start walking. I'm about three to five feet away from his house when a light is turned on and a door is shut.
I quickly spin and my breath catches in my throat. Shane stands barefoot in black sweatpants and a grey hoodie by the door. His blond hair is a mess. Then there are his eyes. His beautiful ocean eyes are filled with pain. Pain that I caused.
~|~
Shane
I watch her. She's waiting for me to come outside. I don't think I can. I've hurt her enough and to be honest she's hurt me too. We've hurt each other. I told her I would stay away and I have. It's what she wanted.
She hugs herself still waiting for me. I shouldn't go. I shouldn't be seeing her. Finally realizing I'm not going down there she starts walking away. Good. I've avoided her all this last week. Why should it be any different now?
She moves farther away. A sudden feeling of need and want run through my body. Fuck. I run a hand through my hair. Im gonna regret this.
I flick the outside light on and step outside. She spins around to face me. Our eyes meet.
We stand in silence.
What am I doing? She told me she didn't love me anymore. Yet here I am. Standing in front of her.
"You came" she states
"What are you doing here Grace?" I shove my hands in my pockets. "It's late"
She takes a step towards me. "I came to see you and I came to talk."
"What do you want to talk about? Do you want to talk about how you told me you didn't love me anymore? Or maybe you want to talk about Camille and how I supposedly played both of you?"
She winces.
An apology is at the tip of my tongue. Instead I stare at her and don't say anything.
"Okay I deserve that. I deserve every bad thing you're thinking right now." She moves closer. "But I also know that you need to hear the truth. I am so tired of all this drama. I'm just not gonna hold back anymore."
I stare at her confused. "What are you talking about Grace?"
She stops right in front of me. So I take a step back. I can't be this close to her. She hurt me. And even though that happened all I want to do is grab her and hold her to me. If she steps any closer I'm afraid I'll do just that.
She watches me. "I lied to you. I told you I didn't love you anymore. But that's not true. Because I do love you. I love you so much it hurts."
I move backwards until my back is against the door. "Grace. . .please don't do this to me. Please just leave."
She wipes her eyes. "No. I came all this way here for you and you're gonna listen to me?"
Frustrated I tug my hair. "Grace. Just go home."
"No"
"Yes"
"No"
"Yes, goddamit." I walk right up to her and grab her arm. "You're leaving. It's late." I drag her to the front yard. "Where's your car?"
She pulls her arm away from my grasp "I walked here."
Anger courses through my body. "You walked here? Are you crazy?"
"I don't need a lecture" Our gaze meets. " it looks like I wasted my time anyway."
She proceeds to walk away from me but I stop her. "Oh no you don't. I'm taking you home. There's no way you're walking."
We move to my car. It's locked.
"I'm gonna run in and get the keys. Don't you dare move."I warn.
I shuffle inside, into my room and collect the keys. I leave a note for my parents incase they wake up. I hope they don't. I'm gonna take her home and then I'm gonna drive back here. Nothings gonna happen. I have to let her go.