She leaned against the headboard , her gaze touching everything in the room. The AC was cooling the environment and her eyes were glued to the picture right in front of her. .of him holding a degree and giving the camera his smashing smile. .she discovered his smile lit up his sharp features more . .so much that heart beat spiked up and she had to look away. .but then her gaze fell on the shields captured in the glass box . . .it was obvious.
She was in his room.
The door busrt open and Astrid peeked in.
"Is everything okay?"
"Y-yes. I-i can't sleep here."
Astrid smiled ,"Aww! Hails put you in Ethan's room, didn't she?"
Darkness fell on Grace's face at his name.
"I can't sleep here." Grace said in a soft voice .
"Thank God Ethan isn't home or he would have died seeing you. .and killed himself for not meeting you. "Astrid grinned not knowing she was peppering salt on her wounds.
Grace just smiled. .a wounded smile.
×××××××
He let the rain get him.
Sitting under the open sky , he watched the entire lawn turn glossy and full of rich life. The second he saw the rain , he had grabbed a chair and sat under the beautiful darkening sky. .sometimes the rain would turn harsh but he didn't budge. .
"Unrequited love is like a graveyard. .you sit beside it and keep mourning it . .keep mourning all the things that never happened but it did in your head. ."
Ethan had read this out to him one day in mock. And then Van had with utter belief told him right away there was no such thing as unrequited love . .
And now he was feeling it . .
The graveyard of unrequited love.
××××××××
To Grace , his smile seemed to be mocking . . jesting at how her life had turned out all because he decided to abandoned her. .
Getting her assignment done for her online class , Jess watched her beautiful face carefully.
Grace was back home. . . to her dull and lifeless house. She didn't say a word about Aron to Van and Jess kept reminding her , he will have the upper hand if she didn't tell someone to take care of him.
"You know , I wish you get this strong headed guy so he can just-just protect you from slimy men." Jess sighed , laying on the bed.
And unknowingly , she hurt Grace because her words cut deep to her heart . .it had been six months for him to dump her like she was nothing.
She bit her lower lip.
"I don't need anyone."
The truth was. .everyone had loved her even Hailey. She had taken her out to shop and eat. She had gone as far as taking her address and promised her to visit soon. Hailey had graciously invited her for a sleep over but she had to decline knowing well Ethan would be home at night . .if she stayed then what was going to happen after Ethan arrived?
Her heart clenched , as his hard voice rang in her ears. .
She would never forget that.
Ever.
×××××××××
Van was busy typing on his laptop when Ethan came in , his cheerful eyes stoned as he came to stand in front of him , his arms crossed and his handsome face stern.
"What?" Van looked up at him.
"I wish I could kill Hailey and shoot you in the head." Ethan bit out.
Van tried to smile knowing well how hard headed Ethan could get.
"Ethan, let it go." He said calmly.
"What the fuck do you mean by that? It's obvious you two are made for each other and frankly speaking my sister is a bitch and only you can handle her-,"
"She doesn't want it Ethan. . for God sake...." Van stressed shutting the laptop.
"Keep saying that. I don't believe it for a second."
All Van could do was sigh when Ethan stormed out.
×××××××
The next day Hailey broke the news. Todd's parents wanted to visit and meet the family , they loved Hailey.
Matilda had listened to her and asked her one thing right away.
"You have to make sure Grace is present too."
"What? But how? Won't Ethan fly off the handle?" Hailey asked , a little fear in her voice.
"And who said he has to know who Grace is? He has never laid his eyes on her." Matilda's eyes shone.
The entire plan clicked in Hailey's head.
"Yeah. .who said he has to know her?" Hailey couldn't wait for the entire scene to fold...
Matilda had told everyone to keep Grace's real identify a secret and the gang had agreed to it.
"Let's see how he responds." Mark Young had smirked liking the entire plan from top to bottom.
×××××××
Van had been the one to call her and asked her to pack because Matilda wasn't going to leave her so soon. Jess had watched her pack and she didn't get any satisfied answer until Van had dropped in.
Jess elbowed her.
"You didn't tell me this gorgeous ass visits you!" She hissed seeing him step out of the car.
"He's like a brother ." Grace said not in the mood to go with him , she was slowly drifting away from them . .and now she felt ashamed for all the thoughts filtering in her heart.
Everyone at the household was so nice and loving. .but the love she needed was nowhere. .
She wanted out.
Van had noticed her silence as he drove.
"Is everything alright?" He asked in the most gentle manner and she wished with all her heart she could say yes. .but...
"Yes. Just tired is all." She smiled lying and he nodded . .she had suspicion he didn't believe her one bit.
No one would.
××××××××
YOU ARE READING
Cursed Love (Raw#2)
RomanceCover by @Nattkuznetsov The Young house is filled with love to the brim. Hailey Young has a love-no! Only hate relationship with the "foster" kid Van Buren , a boy her father brought home one night. . .and the fact he's handsome didn't help either...