Saving Grace

Chapter 13

The party was great, amazing actually. Everyone was getting along. And by everyone, I mean Emma, Tanner, and everyone from LAHS.

I still need to tell Tanner. Turns out Colt heard our whole conversation, including the part when Tanner called himself my boyfriend. And can I tell you, he was mad. We've only dated like 5 days.

I spent at least 20 minutes assuring him that it was just a misunderstanding, that I still hadn't told him about us, and that I would straighten everything out ASAP.

About half of my grade and half of his grade were at my birthday party. I had totally forgotten that Colt was a year older than I was. So I wasn't really expecting juniors.

I decided that I would explain to Tanner after the party. No need to ruin his fun, right? I was practically forced to talk to everyone. But after that people talked about me. These people hardly know me, how are they going to talk about me? Luckily only Jessica, Colt, Emma, and Tanner talked. So that didn't take long.

I had a ginormous table of gifts waiting for me to open. Not until after the party. Everything was for after the party.

Things started to slow down once it got past midnight. People started leaving and I started to be able to relax a little.

But I wanted things to slow down slower. When this party, my party, was over, Tanner would finally know the truth.

How? How will I tell him?

To delay that conversation further, I opened my gifts. Slowly. Very, slowly. I received a beautiful diamond bracelet from Colt, a scrapbook of all of our memories from both Emma and Tanner, a makeup set from Emma, and a clutch purse from Tanner. Along with that, I got tons of money, nail polishes, makeup items, and scarves. Items people give you when they have no idea what to get you.

Now was the time to tell him.

"Tanner. Can I speak to you? Alone."

"Of course, Gracie."

I led us outside. "Tanner there something that I need to say. Before you go." I yawned. I was so tired.

"It can wait until tomorrow. You're tired and need some rest."

He wasn't wrong. But no, this conversation couldn't wait. I just came right out with it. "No Tanner. It can't wait. I need to say this. I need to say..." I started to tear up. "I need to say goodbye."

"Grace. We can say goodbye tomorrow, when I leave California."

"No, not that kind of goodbye. We need to be friends. Just, friends."

He began to understand, I think. "Wha-what do you mean?"

"I love you Tanner. But not that way. This, this can't work. You'll be in Tennessee and I'll be 2,000 miles away. I'm so sorry."

I was full blown crying now. I couldn't do this. I couldn't break Tanner's heart like this. Not after what he's done for me over the years.

"Gracie. Please, what can I do? I-I'll move here, to LA, just-"

"No, Tanner. I-I'm sorry. It's not that you aren't amazing. It's just that, there's someone else."

"It's that Colt kid isn't it?" He was more furious than upset now.

What have I done?

"This has nothing to do with Colt. This has to do with it being time to say goodbye." Lies. "I'm so so so so sorry."

And with that I walked away.