Grace

Chapter 3| Oh So Now You Tell Me

"Yeah and I was like, I don't have a bike." I say through the phone to Claire as I recalled this evening's events. I then quickly adjusted myself on my bed right before Claire replies. "He's trying to put dirt on you."

"I know, and you don't want to even know the worst part about this evening." I mutter as I adjust my phone on my ear.

"Now you have to tell me." She pries.

"Fine." I say, though I was going to tell her anyways.. "They have signed me up for dance nationals, which means I will be extremely busy this summer and there's more."

"How is that bad?" She questions.

"How is that not bad?!" I raise my voice through the phone.

"Okay okay. Wow, my ears are now thrumming." She responds and I hear some rustling in the background. I bite back a grin and quickly apologized for being loud. "It's okay, but this is what I don't get, I thought you liked dancing."

"I did like dancing, until my mom became involved in it." I explain. Ever since I was 6, I would always be dancing to a catchy tune in front of my dad and mom. Then it changed, dad died and mom started becoming involved. First it was concerts at our church, then it was hiring me a professional dance teacher. And now this, signing me up for nationals, which means working harder to qualify to dance with the best of the best. To think I thought regionals were going to be hard.

"That's sucks." She comments. I shrug though she can't see me. I wouldn't expect Claire to understand. She lives with a mother that is almost opposite of mine, her mother never harps on her!

Claire asks, "So I am dying to hear about you and Daniel? Anything...special going on between you two?"

"Eh." I reply as I make a so-so hand movement though she couldn't see me. "He is cute and all, but he is not my type."

"So what is your type?" She asks and I swear she is wiggling her eyebrows as she asked that question. Before I respond more rustling is heard in the background.

"Someone who shares interests with me. Someone who tells me they love me every single day and actually means it. Someone who gets nervous around my parents because he knows he's not perfect. Someone that isn't afraid to call me at midnight to just makes sure I'm okay." I respond as I feel my heart ache. I truly did want someone like that, but deep down, I knew I would never get that.

"So someone opposite of Daniel?" She figures.

"Pretty much." I shrug though she couldn't see me.

"So are you breaking up with Daniel?" She asks and more rustling is heard in the background. I took a moment to adjust myself on my bed so I was under the covers before replying. "Why would you like to know?"

"Just answer the question." She pries and even more rustling is in the background. Suddenly, a gruff voice enters through the phone. "I'm breaking up with you, Ally."

"What?!" I screech and I was pretty sure William could hear me from his office in the basement. "You couldn't tell me you were sleeping with my now ex-boyfriend?!"

"No, it was nothing like that.." Mumbles Claire.

"Sorry Ally." I hear Daniel through the phone. "I like you and all, but we both know that this relationship was set up. I really like Claire, I truly do, but I didn't want to hurt you."

"You know what? I don't care. Be happy and take care of her. I didn't like you anyways," I hang up the phone. I truly wanted our relationship that was set up by William to work out. It seems as though we both weren't happy with how our relationship was.

I let out a small sigh before falling to sleep, I just want to get through this nightmare. Though it seems as though I am not-in-control anymore.

***

"Wake up!" Yells Martha and my eyes shot open at her pitchy voice. With a groan, I attempted to wave her away. It is Sunday, and I need my sleep before I have to perform in front of the church again. "Allison Mary Parker, get your booty to the table now so we can be the first to church."

"Do I have to go?" I question as I reluctantly sit up in my bed.

"You don't have to go." She says and I suddenly feel joyful for once. "But...."

Oh great! Thanks a lot, mother, you're not supposed to get my hopes up and then smack it down with a baseball bat.

"But what?" I dare to ask.

"You need to go to the evening service then." She grins and leaves me as I mutter some choice words. Well, I guess I have to get ready since I doubt I'm going to get any more sleep.

With my wet hair in a bun and fully dressed in my ballet outfit, I grab two pieces of bacon from the table and walk out the door with a few "bye"s from my parents.

In no later than 30 minutes, I was face to face with Mrs. Sankford in her office as she filled out recommendation papers for my auditions. "Just so you know," she says with some venom in her voice. "I am being paid to do this."

"I know." I shrug as I start focusing on her golden Japanese cat that is reported to bring good luck.

"That cat is for good luck." She informs me and I roll my eyes. Obviously, it's not good luck if you are stuck with me.

"Okay there." She hands me a stack of papers. "Bring these to your auditions and it will sure help you embarrass yourself when they ask you to do a twirl."

"Jeez, thanks for your support," I mutter and stuff them in my duffle bag.

"No problem." She replies and glances at the clock. "Wow, it's been two hours. Amazing how fast time flies. Well, I guess you best start practicing your twirls. I will be there in a bit, I have to make a call."

"Okay," I say and dragged my lazy butt to the basement where I stretched before practicing doing a twirl as some classical music played. Sorry, but I am not a big music fan and I am not up to date with any popular songs.

3:00 came fast and I was more than ready to go. My feet were sore from attempting a perfect twirl and my ears were numb from getting yelled at by the annoyed Mrs. Sankford. With my phone in hand, I dial Claire's number as I stood in the chilly air right outside my dance practice place thingy.

In a few rings, she picked up. "Hey, I'm on my way to get you, what's up?"

"Oh thanks," I reply and then started to wonder why she was calling me as she drove. As if she read my thoughts she replied. "I have it on speaker. I'm not that unsafe."

"Oh good." I grin though she couldn't see me.

"I'm 2 minutes away. See you soon!" She hangs up without a goodbye. I shake my head as I stare down at my phone. 10% battery, great, just great. To save a bit more battery I shut it off and looked back up to see Claire's convertible rolling towards me.

"Get in!" She yells cheerfully and I do as she says. Once I get buckled, she hugs me and drives away to an ice cream parlor in town.

"It's been forever!" She exclaims as the wind tangles in her short blonde hair.

"Yeah it has, I'm sorry though. It's just that dance takes up all my time and when I'm not at dance I'm either performing or eating." I apologize.

"It's okay, but I wish we would hang out more." She responds and pulls into the parking lot of Sundae's.

"As do I," I reply and we head in the parlor with our heads up high, well as high as I could with my whole body being sore and all.

A/N: Hi! Thanks for reading a chapter of Grace! Comments and votes would be gladly appreciated!

I dedicate this chapter to a fellow wattpadian that has been very supportive: MelindaGreene4

Stay Graceful! ~K

Edited on October 21st, 2017