Our Bruised Bodies | Bradley Bradshaw

ACT TWO - PART THREE

Cheers to you!

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Natasha Trace was a clever woman, right up there on the top of her class with the rest of her friends, the top five always theirs but she made one grave mistake which she came to regret greatly. She happened to mention that she fancied the tall shy looking guy with the big glasses that worked in the cafe at the shopping mall to her friends. Her friends, who sacrificed their next free Saturday to go snooping around as good friends did.

They turned the whole ordeal into something like a little special mission with Javy taking one for the team and pleading with Nat to help him study to which she reluctantly agreed. Dedicating her precious time to Javy and his not existing struggle with aerodynamics, which had the two of them turn the girls living room into a literal classroom, only for Grace to have a good session, before she slipped out of the door, wearing civil clothes for the first time in months. Only to meet Bradley and Jake at half an hour later in the little coffee shop in the shopping mall not far off base.

"What did I miss?" Grace asked as she slipped into the seat next to Bradley, so she could face Jake, sitting on the bench opposite of them and still have an eye on about everyone in the café. The spot the boys choose was pretty good for what they were here to do.

"Nothing much, we just arrived as well." Jake pointed out. "But we happen to be seated in the guy's section." He added, causing Grace to nod, before she reached for the menu and scanning over the options briefly, despite already knowing what she would option for. They had been here before a few times and once she found something she liked, Grace tended to stick to it.

Jake had joked about it once, saying that he was sure that she was that type of person that would never cheat, because she didn't even manage to 'cheat' on her preferred food choice. Grace had only rolled her eyes, she just liked things when they were in order.

"Nat's busy?" Bradley asked her, only for Grace to nod again. "Javy's asking the stupidest questions, I swear. I'm not sure she's buying it for long. He's too obvious. He's keeping that up and she will be on us in a second. One of you guys should have asked her for help on something."

"Why not you?" Jake wanted to know, only for Grace to look up from her menu for a moment to give him a raised eyebrow and neutral but slightly amused look.

"As if she would believe me needing help." Grace pointed out, only for Bradley to snort.

"Just admit it, you want to know just as badly as we do, that's why you're here." Bradshaw challenged her, but Grace would never admit that she wanted to know who that guy was her roommate and friend fancied. That would mean admitting that she did care for her friends and wasn't as frozen and isolated as she always pretended to be. Grace was just careful, checking the guy out to see if he was good or not was a fucking friendship service, Nat should thank her for it.

"Excuse me, I'm here to make sure you guys don't embarrass her in any way. We're just here to take a look and have a milkshake. That's all." Grace answered with a shrug of her shoulder, before glancing at Bradley, who huffed at her antics.

"If you say so." He agreed after another moment of looking at each other, before Bradley moved to kick Jake's foot lightly under the table to alert him of the guy coming over, while Grace was already smiling.

"Are you guys ready to order?" The tall shy looking man with the thick glasses asked friendly, causing Grace's smile to widen further, as she reached for the menu Bradley was holding, only to snatch it away, which he allowed even though, he left his hands how the were, with both of his palms facing upwards for a moment.