Love Gracie

Chapter Three

The dance lesson passed by - slowly. Very slowly. We were learning a new hip hop routine, hip hop has never been my personal favourite style, but I think I did okay. Although I could tell the cover teacher kept trying her best to find some faults in what I was doing. Typical, you mess up on one audition and some random teacher happens to find out and hate you for it.

It was now the end of the day, I tried to get changed as slowly as possible. I really didn't want to go home and have to admit how badly I've done. What would they think of me? Would they be ashamed. Then I remembered. I'm supposed to be going to Hannah's house today. My eyes looked over to the other side of the changing rooms, where she was half in her dance stuff, and half school uniform whilst chatting away to Becky and a few other of the 'popular girls'. I awkwardly shuffled my feet over towards them. All their heads darted up towards me, sarcastic smiles whipped on everyone's faces apart from Hannah, who looked kind of annoyed.

I heard Becky mutter something to Charlotte who was next to her, and they both laughed. It was about me. "Er, Hannah... Can I speak to you for a second please?" I spoke quietly.

She sighed slightly, before turning back to her new group of friends and smiling. "Be back soon, wait for me yeah?"

We walked just outside the changing rooms, before stopping. "I was just w-"

"Oh Grace! You will never guess what.. When I did my performance, the judges said they were super impressed and they had never seen anyone as great as me before!" she bragged. Honestly? I don't believe that's the entire truth. I admit she's good, really good. But I can't see a judge telling her she's the best in the world.

"Oh, really... Th-That's great" I smiled, fakely. It upsets me that my supposed best friend hasn't bothered to check I'm alright after my little episode earlier, and all she has to say is brag about how perfect she was.

"Yeah, I'm glad.. You know how important those auditions are" she looked me up and down.

I felt my face redden, more with embarrassment than anger. "Anyway.. I'm guessing I'm still coming to yours then tonight?"

"Oh yeah, about that.. I kind of have other plans. Sorry" she replied, the tone in her voice told me she had a problem with me.

"Oh...Ok-" I began.

"You ready, Hann?" Becky said, completely interrupting. "Oh. Unless you're busy with her?" she smirked.

"No, I'm looking forward to our plans" Hannah smiled. "C'mon, let's get back to mine"

They all barged past me, leaving me alone again. Why? Why do I deserve this? Why why why?! I knew nobody was going to be home till 5, and I don't have a key as I wasn't expecting to need one. Then that same feeling came again, I felt like I wasn't breathing and a wave of hotness had came over me, my knees felt wobbly, as if I was about to collapse. I was gasping for breathe, and gripping onto the wall.

"Are you alright? What's wrong?" A boy's voice said, I couldn't see who it was though as my sight was all a blur.

I felt soft and warm finger tips wipe tears away from my cheek, that's when I realised I was crying. It was the boy I saw earlier.

"Hey, it's okay. Stay calm" his hand was on my shoulder, and him staring straight into my eyes.

For some reason, I was struggling not to get lost in his dazzling blue orbs. They made me feel calm, they reminded me of the sea which I guess was very relaxing. Then I realised I was staring.

"I-I... Sorry" I said croakily.

"You don't have to apologise," he smiled charmingly, revealing his perfectly white teeth. "What happened just then?"

"I-I don't know" I admitted, after taking a deep breathe. "It's happened twice today, once before my dance exam and again just then"

"Oh..." it looked like some kind of realisation hit him. "You're Grace?"

"Yeah... I am Grace?" I replied, questioningly.

"Right. Um.. a group of girls were talking about what happened at lunch. I overheard them, they speak loud enough" he rolled his eyes.

"Everyone knows.." I sighed, face palming myself.

"Hey, don't worry. Nothing to be ashamed of. Is it a panic attack or something? It kind of looked like that to me" his voice was soothing and made me feel so much calmer and happier, it was like it reassured me everything would be okay - but why? I hardly know him.

"A panic attack?" I repeated, for him to return a nod. I never really thought of it being anything like that. If I'm honest, I'm not entirely sure what a panic attack is like. We all know how it's used almost as a phrase to exaggerate things, but I never actually thought about it happening to me. "I'm not sure"

"Maybe keep a log of it? So you remember what happened and when" he suggested, his smile made my tummy feel kind of strange. I don't know what feeling it was, but it was strange.

"Yeah, I think I will. Thank you" I smiled, beginning to get up off the floor.

Before I could, he had already jumped up and lent out his hand to me. I stared at it for a moment, his hands looked big and warm, and his skin looked lovely and smooth. Gladly, I reached my arm up so my hand fitted into his. I felt my cheeks blush. I have to be honest, I don't exactly have a history for holding hands with cute boys. The closest I've ever been to a boyfriend is Tommy Clark in year 5, and his mum told him to stay away from girls so he wouldn't even hug me. That only lasted about a week anyway.

"I'll walk you home" he spoke, our hands still entwined.

"Nobody's at home and I don't have a key. I was meant to be going to my friends, but she kinda ditched me" I sighed.

A frown spread across his face, it was either confusion or annoyance. I'm not sure which, but one thing I am sure of is that I want to get to know this boy more.