Saving Grace

Chapter 3

Anna's gasp caught the room at a silent moment, and all eyes turned to stare. But seeing nothing out of the ordinary, they went back to their lunch. Grace wished she could go back to hers, but she wasn't sure she would eat what was in front of her if she were dying of starvation.

"Oh, Grace, I'm so sorry. I had no idea. Is he okay?" Surprisingly, Anna kept her voice low. She knew what kind of pain Grace must be enduring. The affection she had for her brother was envious by all in town. 

In response, Grace shook her head and shrugged her shoulders. Then she pushed her tray to the side and thumped her head onto the table. Her brunette hair fell, shielding her from the look of sympathy Anna was probably shooting her. 

It wasn't that she didn't appreciate her friend's compassion and empathy for the situation, she did. It was that she didn't want to be here, trying to forget about her brother, and wishing that she were there with him. 

The bell rang, chiming that it was time for the students to rush back to classes that none of them really cared to go to. Grace didn't lift her head. She left it laying on the cool surface of the blue table, absorbing the calm that she got from having cold plastic pressed against her hot forehead. 

Anna's chair scraped against the floor, as she stood and slid into the chair that was next to Grace. By now, the cafeteria was almost empty. Anna wrapped her arm around her friend's shoulder, and squeezed. "It'll be OK, Grace. He'll be OK." Anna stood, forcing Grace to lift her head and meet her gaze. "I'll see you at practice, OK? You can ride home with me." That being said, Anna sauntered off to her next class. Leaving Grace thanking the heavens for giving her Anna as a friend.

Through the rest of her classes, Grace faked paying attention. Staring at the teacher as they rambled on, but not really hearing a word they had to say, Grace was worn out by the time the final bell rang. Add the fact that she hadn't had a decent meal the entire day, and her pale face and sluggish movements made sense. 

Trailing behind the cheer team, she followed the peppy girls out to the track where they proceeded to stretch and gossip. Grace went through the motions, but didn't join in the rituals. Instead, she stared at the boys who ran on the football field, watching as they played flag football, while waiting on their coach. 

Looking up, she noticed her coach tugging a bag of supplies towards them. Standing, she ignored the looks from the girls and jogged over to assist her. 

Coach Rommey stopped when she caught Grace coming towards her. Shooting her a slight smile, she allowed Grace to pull the bag from her grip and work their way towards the team. The silence was unbearable for her coach. She stopped Grace mid-way to the team. "I have to be honest, Grace. I didn't expect to see you today." When Grace just stared at her blankly, she continued, "when Matt came home and told me what had happened, well... I... I thought you would go with your family. Considering how close the two of you are." 

"They wouldn't let me," Grace murmured, then maneuvered around her coach to take the equipment to the team. Sam Rommey could only watch as Grace dragged the bag to the team. The team instantly ambushed her, crowding Grace as they rushed to get their pom poms and begin practice. The sooner they began, the earlier they would get to leave. 

That was how most of the cheerleaders felt. They weren't on the team to cheer on their school. They were on the team for the glory that cheerleaders got, the perks that came with the title. As a flyer, Grace had to rely on these overeager girls to catch her if she were to fall. Luckily, Anna and Hannah were at the base.

 Practice dragged on as the girls practiced with the enthusiasm of a team that hadn't won in years, and knew this year wouldn't be any different. Why they felt that way, Grace didn't understand. The football boys worked hard and managed to do well every year. 

When Coach finally got fed up, with the constant chatter about irrelevant items and complaints about the workout they were attempting, she dismissed them in a huff and stomped off, leaving the cheer equipment scattered about the field and the team bustling to pick up their supplies, so they could leave. Anna and Grace hung back, collecting the missed pom poms and watching Hannah rush away without a word to anyone. 

"She must really be hurting," Anna inquired, cocking her head to the side as they watched Hannah bustle towards the parking lot. Grace nodded in response, eager to get home and then to the hospital. 

Anna moved quickly, tossing the extra streamers in the closet and then nearly sprinting out to the car with Grace on her heels. Dark clouds loomed overhead. They almost didn't make it to the car before the clouds opened up, spilling down heavy teardrops. 

"That was close," Anna murmured, ever the talkative one. Grace, once again, nodded. "You're not talking much. Are you OK?" 

"Yeah, I just want to get home," replied Grace, who was watching the batting of the windshield wipers swipe at the rain swiftly. 

"I can speed if you want," Anna smirked, pressing her foot against the gas. Her laughter bubbled about the car as her friend's eyes got wide, and she pressed her hands against the dash. It was a cruel joke but a joke nonetheless. One that Grace got right away, well as soon as Anna pulled back. 

"Thanks," Grace smiled, noticing what her friend was trying to do. Lighten the mood on such a dreary day, who could ask for a better friend?

When they pulled into the driveway, Grace bustled out of the car, pulling her hood up over her head. Yanking her bag onto her shoulder, she waved goodbye to Anna as she sprinted up the sidewalk and onto the porch. A honk caused Grace to turn before she entered the house. Anna waved from the car, even from where Grace stood she could see the beautiful smile that lit up Anna's face. Waving back, Grace turned and entered the house.

The darkness shocked her. She expected someone, anyone, to be home to take her up to the hospital. Flipping on the foyer light, she tossed her muddy tennis shoes onto the mat and padded in her socks towards the kitchen. 

Stuffing her backpack on the counter top and dropping her cheer bag on the floor, she made her way towards the fridge, wondering what she would do in the time it took her parents to come get her. Pouring herself a glass of milk, she almost dropped the cup when the phone rang on the hook. Setting the jug back in the fridge, and placing her cup on the counter, she padded over to the phone, taking it off the machine and placing it against her ear.

"Rochester residence," she said, "this is Grace speaking."

"Grace, honey," her father began, "I'm sorry but we won't be coming to get you tonight. The storm is rolling in bad, and we just won't be able to make it home. If you need anything, call Ms. Cormyer down the street."

Grace thought about protesting, but knew it would do no good. Sighing she replied, "OK, Dad, I understand."

"How was your day, honey?" He asked, like he couldn't have guessed.

"Uneventful." She replied, hating that she wished it weren't the truth. 

"Glad to hear," he responded. "Grace, I gotta go. Your mother is giving me that look. Love you." 

"Love you too." Placing the phone back on the hook, she sighed. Then realizing it didn't help, she screamed and punched the wall. The blood that poured from her knuckles was almost frightening. 

Sadly, almost frightening her was all the punch succeeded at doing.