Everything Happens for a Reason

Chapter 6

I stuck the key in the front door and staggered inside, tripping over my five inch heels. 

“Where have you been?” my mom asked, descending from the dark kitchen in nothing but her robe and bunny slippers.

“I was at the party and then I dropped the girls off at their houses. Sorry I’m late...”

“You have your phone for a reason!”

“It was dead.”

“You are so irresponsible sometimes.”

“Mom, I’m sorry okay. I’m like forty five minutes late... Chill.”

“I will not “chill,” Grace.... I just don’t want to lose you. You’re all I have left.”

I could understand where my mom was coming from. “Mom, it’s okay. I understand, but please, trust me, alright?”

“Okay, Gracie. I’m sorry,” she said, wiping a tear from her eye, “Get to bed. It’s late.”

“Night, Mom,” I said giving her a hug before I walked into my bedroom. 

Taking off my heels, I collapsed onto my bed. It had been a long night, and I was certainly not a partier. 

I grabbed my phone charger off my desk and sat down on my bed again while I plugged my phone into its charger. As it came to life again, I saw the little yellow envelope in the bottom left hand corner of my phone. I opened a message from an unknown number:

hey grace. wish something had happened at the party tonight. c u in a few. - guess who?

Okay, I was confused and a little freaked out. I pulled my hair into a messy bun to get it out of my face, and looked around. What did this message mean? They’d see me in a few? The message was sent five minutes before I turned my phone on. 

As if on cue something hit my window. I jumped up from my bed and peered outside. There was Max standing outside my window. 

I unlocked my window and opened it. “Are you crazy?” I half whispered half shouted so my mom wouldn’t hear me.

“Maybe,” he said, shrugging. “Come down.”

“No!” 

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“My mom will kill me. Literally.”

“Grace.”

“What!?”

“Come down.”

“You-” I heard my door open. Before closing my window I quickly beckoned Max to hide. My mom walked in. 

“Grace. Who are you talking to?”

“Uh, no one, Mom. Are you hearing things?”

“No, I don’t think so... Why are you standing near your window?”

“I was... hot.”

“Fine. Whatever, Grace. I’m going to bed, so whoever you’re talking to on the phone, just don’t bother me.” 

Ha, she thought I was on the phone. “Will do, Mom. Have a nice sleep and a good day at work tomorrow if I don’t see you because I’m planning on sleeping in.”

“Okay. Goodnight.”

“Night,” she said, leaving.

As soon as I was sure she was gone, I opened the window. 

“You coming?” Max called.

“Yes. Now shut up about it before I change my mind.”

Luckily there was a tree next to my window. Grabbing my converse, I slipped them on and grabbed a tree branch. I inched my way down the tree, praying to God that I wouldn’t fall. 

“Grace, come on. It’ll be morning before you’re down,” Max complained.

“I’m coming,” I snapped.

About four feet off the ground my foot slipped. And then I was on the ground. Max was staring at me. Nope, he hadn’t caught me like in the movies. Instead he was staring at me with a smug look on his face. 

He extended his hand out to help me and I took it, while rubbing the back of my sore head with my other hand. 

“You okay?” he asked. 

“Yeah,” I said once I was on my feet. I brushed off the back of my black jeans and pulled up my tank top because I noticed Max staring. “So what do you want?” I asked.

“You.”

“Shut up, smart ass,” I said, hitting his arm.

“I just thought we could get to know each other better. Maybe you’d realize that I’m not “evil.”

“I don’t think you’re evil, Max.”

“Then we’re off to a good start.” 

Max and I walked together in silence for most of the time, brushing shoulders every once in a while. Once we got to a bench, we sat down together.

“You know, I didn’t rob that pharmacy.” Somehow I knew he didn’t.

“I believe you.... My dad left.”

“What?” he said in his sexy English accent.

“My dad left my mom and brother and I three years ago. Then my brother died. The same day.” I tried to hold back tears. I hadn’t ever talked about this to anyone.

“Grace, I’m so sorry.” Then my tears flowed. Max wrapped his arm around me and pulled me closer to him. I rested my head against his shoulder. I let his presence calm me down. He stroked my head and whispered in my ear, “It’ll be okay.”

Then the rain came. I was somewhat glad because Max couldn’t see the difference between the rain drops and my tears. 

We started walking again. Max grabbed my hand and we continued in silence. Then he kissed me. A gentle kiss. He didn’t take advantage of me or anything. He was just nice about it. 

“Max?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you,” I said, staring into his crystal clear green eyes. 

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so.... what do you think??? do you like Max or not? comment and vote =) ~Lucie