I KNOW THE END

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August 18th, 2023

THE PARKER RESIDENCE

GRACE

The day started off as any other, but there was something in the air that felt different—something I couldn't quite place. I was getting ready for school when my phone buzzed. It was a text from Alex.

Alex:"Hey, Gracie. Any chance I can come over after school? I wanted to talk about something."

My heart skipped a beat when I read his message. Things had been better between us lately, but this felt different—more serious. I quickly replied.

Me:"Sure, Alex. Come by whenever."

I put my phone down, trying not to overthink it. I had a feeling this conversation was going to change things, but I wasn't sure how.

AFTER SCHOOL

The day dragged on, and by the time I got home, I was a bundle of nerves. I tried to distract myself by doing homework, but I kept glancing at the clock, wondering when Alex would show up.

When the doorbell finally rang, I practically jumped out of my chair. I smoothed down my hair and went to answer the door, taking a deep breath before opening it.

"Hey, Alex," I said, trying to sound casual.

"Hey, Gracie," he replied, smiling softly. He looked a little nervous, which only made me more anxious.

"Come in," I said, stepping aside to let him in. "We can talk in the living room."

He nodded and followed me inside. We sat down on the couch, and there was a brief moment of awkward silence before Alex finally spoke.

"I've been thinking a lot lately," he began, looking me in the eye. "About us... about how things used to be."

"Me too," I admitted, my heart pounding. "I've missed our friendship."

"So have I," he said, his voice softening. "But I think it's more than that, Grace. I think I've missed... you."

The words hung in the air between us, heavy with meaning. I felt my cheeks flush as I realized what he was saying. I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could say anything, Alex leaned in and kissed me.

The kiss was soft and tentative at first, but as I kissed him back, it deepened, becoming more urgent. All the feelings I'd been pushing aside for so long came rushing to the surface, and I found myself lost in the moment.

When we finally pulled apart, we were both breathing heavily, our foreheads resting against each other.

"Alex," I whispered, trying to catch my breath. "What are we doing?"

"I don't know," he admitted, his voice shaky. "But it feels right, doesn't it?"

I nodded, unable to deny the connection between us. Without another word, we kissed again, this time more passionately. As things escalated, I felt a rush of emotions—excitement, nervousness, but most of all, a sense of inevitability. This was something that had been building between us for years, and now it was finally happening.

Before I knew it, we were in my bedroom, the door closed behind us. The world outside faded away as we lost ourselves in each other.

LATER THAT EVENING

Afterward, we lay tangled together in my bed, our breathing slowly returning to normal. I couldn't believe what had just happened, but at the same time, it felt like it was meant to be.

"Are you okay?" Alex asked, his voice gentle as he looked at me.

"Yeah," I replied, smiling softly. "I'm okay."

We lay there in silence for a while, just enjoying each other's presence. But as much as I wanted to stay in that moment forever, I knew we couldn't hide from reality.

"What happens now?" I asked, voicing the question that had been on my mind since we'd kissed.

"I don't know," he said honestly. "But I want to figure it out—with you."

Just then, I heard a noise outside my door. I sat up quickly, pulling the covers around me. "Did you hear that?"

Alex frowned, sitting up as well. "Yeah... maybe it was just the wind."

But as I looked toward the door, I couldn't shake the feeling that something—or someone—had been watching us.

DOWNSTAIRS

LILA

William and I were hanging out in the living room, watching a movie. He had his arm around me, and I couldn't help but feel content. Things had been going so well between us, and I was happy to be spending more time with him.

But then, I heard a noise from upstairs—a faint thud, followed by muffled voices. Curious, I excused myself from William and decided to investigate.

As I crept up the stairs, I heard more noises coming from Grace's room. My heart skipped a beat as I reached the top of the stairs and saw her door slightly ajar.

Peeking inside, I saw something that made my heart stop. Grace and Alex were lying together in bed, clearly having just been... intimate. I quickly ducked back, not wanting to be seen, but I couldn't resist snapping a quick picture with my phone before slipping back downstairs.

My mind was racing as I returned to the living room, trying to process what I'd just seen. Should I tell William? Should I confront Grace? The possibilities swirled in my mind, and I knew that nothing would be the same after this.

MATTHEW

I was at home, trying to focus on homework, but my mind kept drifting to Cleo. The idea of spending time with her alone this weekend made my heart race. I could tell that things between us were changing, and I wasn't sure if I was ready for it or not.

But as much as I tried to concentrate on Cleo, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to happen—something that would affect all of us. I just didn't know what it was yet.

As the night went on, I couldn't shake the sense of foreboding that had settled over me. Whatever it was, I knew it was only a matter of time before it came to light.

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