Back again with Tayler Holder

Chapter 25: fear

"Go long!" I shouted to Bryce as I ran to the other side of the garden as he threw the American football at me. Just as I was about to catch it, the catch was intercepted. Ashton grabbed the ball and started running with it.
"Touchdown!" He shouted as he threw it on the ground.
"You've been here an awful lot." I laughed at him as I gave him a hug.
"Yeah, you guys aren't that bad actually. Besides, Brandon smells." He said as he whispered the last part.
"Hey I can hear you dumbass!" Brandon shouted from the back door. I turned my head to him and walked over as I left Ashton and Bryce playing together.
"Hey friend!" I said as I gave him a hug.
"Ouch, 'friend'." Brandon said as he clutched his chest.
"Shut up!" I said laughing at him.
"You know Ashton really likes you." He said trying not to laugh.
"Who wouldn't? But it doesn't matter...because I've got my eye on someone else." I said as I squeezed past him and into the house. Brandon quickly ran after me.
"What do you mean by that? Who've you got your eye on?" He asked.
"Um...I don't know, I mean it could be anyone, I never said it was you but I'm also not saying that it's not you-"
Brandon interrupted me with a kiss. It lasted quite a while and it wasn't long before he pulled back.
"You talk a lot." He said as his hands rested on my waist.
"What was....that?" I asked confused. There's no way Brandon just kissed me like that.
"Why don't we go out somewhere? We could have dinner together?" He said to me as he looked me in the eye.

The memories of what happened the last time I went out to eat flooded back into my mind. The pain I felt in my leg was instantly remembered. I pushed Brandon off me gently before protesting.
"I...I can't do it. I can't go out." I said as tears welled up in my eyes and my breathing quickened. Brandon quickly noticed how uncomfortable I became. He slowly approached me before pulling me into a hug.
"Hey hey hey, you're ok. I've got you." He said in a soothing way.
"I won't let anything like that happen again. You'll be safe with me I promise. Anyways, if you don't want to go out we can have a night in. Just you and me yeah?" He said as he looked me in the eyes as I had calmed down.
"Yeah. Just us." I said as I realised I would be safe with Brandon.
"Whasssup people!" Zach said as he walked into the kitchen where me and Brandon were stood closely together.
"Um...am I interrupting something?" He asked as he suspiciously looked between the two of us.
"Nah, nah you're good. I'm gonna get going now." I said as I pushed my braids behind my ear and ran towards the stairs.
"Whoa! Slow down soldier!" Vinnie said as I ran into him.
"Where you off to in such a hurry?" He asked me concerned.
"I need your advice." I said as I pulled him up the stairs to my room. I shut the door behind me and pushed him onto my bed.

Brandon's POV:
Zach entered the room and interrupted us.
"Um...am I interrupting something?" He asked as he eyed us both up.
"Nah, nah you're good.I'm gonna get going now." Grace said as she lied and ran towards the stairs. Why would she lie? Did she really not like me?
I watched her as she ran into Vinnie's arms. I noticed the way he looked at her, almost as if he loved her. But there was no way. Right? Grace had promised me that there was nothing going on between the two of them. Just as I was about to dismiss the thought I noticed Grace pull Vinnie up the stairs by his hand and I heard the bang of her bedroom door slamming shut. I walked back to the kitchen with my head hanging low.
"Bro, you good?" Zach asked me noticing my sudden sadness.
"Yeahhh I'm all good.....well I'm not." I said as I sat down next to him.
"It's Grace. Do you think there's something going on between her and Vinnie?" I asked him honestly.
"I mean they are pretty close. I wouldn't be surprised." Zach said as he shrugged his shoulders. Then Bryce and Ashton ran into the kitchen as they wrestled.
"You can't beat me squirt!" Bryce yelled as Ashton giggled.
"Oh my god, my baby!" Zach said dramatically as he ran into the middle of the fight and took on Bryce himself. I walked out towards the front door and quietly tried to leave.
"Where are you going?" I heard Grace say from behind me as she ran down the stairs with a topless Vinnie behind her.
"I know you guys are in love and I wish you all the best." I said as I pulled a fake smile and opened the door.
"WAIT WHAT?" Grace shouted which forced me to turn around.

(Slight flashback)
Grace's POV:
I shut the door and pushed him onto my bed.
"Woah Grace! I thought we called it quits? And you're super pretty but I've kinda moved on." He said scratching his head. I looked at him blankly.
"No! No! No! No! No! I'd NEVER go there with you again. I love you but like we're soooo done. Like so unbelievably done-"
"Ok! I get it! So what's up then?" Vinnie asked.
"Um..Brandon just kissed me....oh and then he asked me out." I explained as I paced around my room.
""Oh my god that's great! What'd you say?" He said as he sat up excited.
"Um...I kinda freaked out and then pulled you up here for some advice. What do I do?" I said as I sat next to him on the bed.
"Well...it's obvious you like him. You should go for it." He said as he nudged me slightly.
"But I don't know if I'm ready. I'm scared Vin." I said  just above a whisper.
"Scared of what?" He asked confused.
"Scared of getting hurt." I said looking him in the eye.
"Brandon wouldn't hurt you. He cares about you." He tried to explain to me. I stood up and headed for the glass of water on my bed side table. I grabbed it before turning around and throwing it at Vinnie.
"Hey! What was that for?!" He said drenched.
"See what I mean? You didn't see it coming. That's how it feels. I'm not ready to be let down and hurt all over again." I said to him as he tried to wring the water out of his t-shirt.
"I'm sure you could've explained that concept without ruining my shirt." He said as he took it off.
"Sorry. Want one of mine?" I said as I opened my wardrobe.
"Nah. It's been a while since I...gave the ladies a gun show." He said as he flexed.
"Shut up." I laughed as I jokingly hit his arm and sat down next to him again.
"No but honestly, you shouldn't have to run from your feelings. You like Brandon a lot so...talk to him." He said seriously.
"You're right, thanks Vinnie." I said as I gave him a hug which he reciprocated.
"It's all good. C'mon let's go." He said as he opened the door for me and I walked out first and down the stairs. I managed to catch Brandon as he was leaving.
"Where are you going?" I asked him. He stopped in his tracks and turned to face me and Vinnie.
"I know you guys are in love and I wish you all the best." He said pulling a fake smile and going back to leave.
"WAIT WHAT?" I shouted at the top of my lungs. A silence fell over the house. Brandon had turned back round to face me. Vinnie slowly walked down the stairs as if not to set off a bomb.
"Well this is awkward." He said before laughing and jogging out to the garden.
"Don't tell me you think there's something going on between me and Vinnie?" I said shocked. Brandon looked at me sheepishly. I marched towards him and grabbed his hand before I pulled him up to my room. I shut the door and turned to him.
"What're you-" I shut Brandon up with a kiss.
"Does it look like I'm in love with Vinnie?" I said after I pulled away.
"Nah...nah it doesn't." He said breathlessly.
"So what was all that about? You pulled him up here and he came down topless?" He said scratching his head. I looked at Brandon and laughed.
"Have you lost your mind? Oh Brandon, you do make me laugh." I said as I was in hysterics. He looked at me puzzled. I walked over to my empty glass and Vinnie's wet top.
"This is why he's topless. And I needed his advice." I said as I sat next to him on my bed.
"About what?" He asked.
"Us. I don't know if I'm ready to get hurt by another guy again." I said looking down.
"Grace, I would never even dream of hurting you. You should've spoken to me about this." He said as he grabbed my hand.
"Yeah...I know. Vin said the same thing." We sat there in silence as he rubbed his thumb gently against my hand.
"What're we doing?" I laughed gently as I looked at him.
"What do you mean?" Brandon asked me.
"Look at us." I said as I held up our conjoined hands.
"This isn't us. We don't act like this. We're meant to make fun of each other and take the piss. None of this romantic lovey dovey stuff." I said as I stared at our hands.
"Well maybe it's time to rewrite the rules of our story." He said as he pecked my lips.
"Yeah. Maybe you're right." I said as I smiled at him.