They Don't Know About Us

Chapter 24

A/N: I know it's not Friday but I finished all my assessment for the term and because I'm so happy about that, I thought I'd write you all a little chapter.

It's in Jake's POV as well c;

Dedicated to Sheila B (thepurplerose) because I don't think I appreciate her as much as I should.

Enjoy ~

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Jake's POV

I could not get the image of Chris' face out of my head. Before you start making weird guesses no, it's not because I'm gay. It's because it was so damn hilarious when he saw what happened to his car.

The fact that Gracie came up with the whole idea too... I loved that even more. I loved her even more.

And it was about time I told her.

I haven't necessarily been hiding my feelings for her, but I did want to wait until she did something to prove that she might feel the same way as I do.

After everything that's happened, after we almost kissed, after the party, after her finally seeing who Chris really is, it feels like I'm allowed to make a move now. That she wouldn't mind.

If it turns out she did mind... well I could wait. I've waited for so long already it wouldn't really change much at all. All that would happen is that things would get more awkward and my unobservant Gracie might become a bit more observant.

The only problem right now is that there's still a Chris problem. I've told Gracie that guys don't necessarily just assume the worst because a girl is avoiding them. Half the time they can be complete jack asses and just say they're probably at that time of month.

I understand I'm a guy too but I'm not that inconsiderate. I would freak out if Gracie started ignoring me.

Where is Gracie anyway?

Walking over to the kitchen I saw that Gracie wasn't there. Which was weird because she always seemed to be eating. She wasn't in the lounge room watching Pretty Little Liars either. That was also strange. She was going on about some new episode the other day...

Then I heard it. A soft vibrating phone coming from her room. I picked up my pace over to her room and saw the most heartbreaking thing I've ever seen.

Gracie was curled up in her bed, a pillow clutched tightly to her chest and tears streaming down her red, puffy cheeks. Her phone was at the edge of her bed, a picture of Chris and her smiling happily, as he tried to call.

"Oh Gracie..." I walked over to her slowly, picking up her phone first to turn it off so that she wouldn't see his calls.

She didn't say anything as I peeled back the sheets and climbed into bed with her, making sure to replace her pillow with me and hold her tightly.

"He didn't deserve you." I told her, rubbing her back slowly.

"You're just saying that." She replied in between sniffles.

"I'm telling you it because it's true." I moved one hand up into her hair, running my fingers through it repeatedly.

"I'm not worth anything." She whispered quietly.

My heart broke even more after she said that but immediately fuelled into anger when I thought more about it.

"Who the heck told you that?" I gritted my teeth together.

"Me."

I moved my fingers under her chin and lifted her head up to face me, pressing our foreheads together.

"Gracie, if people are being mean to you it's because they can't afford you. You're worth too much." I told her.

"I'm not."

"Then who was that trying to call you?" Tears streamed down her face even more and I instantly regretted saying that.

"Hey, shh. It's okay. I'm just trying to show you that you do matter." I continued.

Gracie buried her face in my chest, clutching onto my shirt.

"No." She whispered after a long silence. Then again, it wasn't much of a silnce because she was still sobbing.

My poor baby.

"You know who you really matter to? More than anything else?"

"Who?" She lifted her head slightly to look at me.

"Your mum, and Harley, and Chase, and...uh..." Me.

"Yeah?" She bit her lip slightly.

"This guy in your English class, he's obsessed with you." I quickly blurted out.

"Who?" She laughed slightly.

Just continue whatever the heck I'm doing because it's making her smile.

"Forget his name. Always seem to pass him at lunch though." I continued.

"What about you?" Her eyes seemed to get bigger, her eyelashes batting at me, and her lip she was biting. Heck, I wanted to bite that lip.

No judging. I'm a guy who's been in love with this girl for years. I really badly want to kiss her.

"What about me?" I managed to answer.

"Do I really matter to you?"

My heart started to pick up speed and it all the sudden was getting to hot here being under the covers, so close to her. I knew she could feel my heart beating rapidly and it made me even more nervous.

"More than anything." I whispered. I looked away quickly as soon as I felt my cheeks heat up under her intense gaze.

"Awwww Jake." She cooed, a grin breaking out onto her face.

"Go away." I moaned, rolling away onto my stomach, on her bed.

"But you're so cute." She jumped on top of me so I couldn't get any further away.

The idea of her not wanting me to leave made me smile myself. Even if she was just mucking around.

"Oi you fatty. Get off me." I laughed, pushing her off me.

"You wound me Jake." She dramatically pressed a hand to her heart and fell backwards onto her back.

"Oh I do?" I grinned evilly at her, climbing on top of her before she could get away.

"Woah there Jake. Let's not... let's not act stupidly here. We're all adults." She tried to reason with me.

"Technically we're not. We should still be able to have some fun." I pointed out before tickling her sides.

She started wriggling around, laughing like a maniac.

"Oh my gosh, Jake, please. Stop." She said in between fits of giggles.

"Never." I told her, laughing as well.

We spent the next few hours running after each other around the house. Gracie laughing her head off, smiling unlike before.

This was the smile I'd fallen in love with oh so many years ago.