Tides of grace

The tension is rising

As the days passed, Grace found herself caught in a whirlwind she had never expected. Every time she turned around, one of the boys was there. John B. was always the first to greet her in the morning, making sure to ask if she needed a ride or wanted to hang out after school. Pope would occasionally sit next to her at lunch, quietly sharing his thoughts about their homework or his latest discovery on the beach. JJ, well, he was constantly teasing her, making her laugh even when she tried to stay serious.

It was all a little overwhelming.

Grace had always been someone who preferred to keep to herself. But here, with these boys-and even the girls in the group-she felt like she was being pulled in different directions. And the more time she spent with them, the more she realized she didn't mind.

It wasn't just the attention that kept her there; it was their kindness. The way they treated her-like she was important, like she mattered.

However, there were some people who didn't seem so pleased with Grace's growing connection with the boys. Sarah Cameron, always poised and elegant, had started giving Grace cold stares whenever their paths crossed. And then there was Kiara, who had always been kind to Grace, but now seemed to be more distant, as if something was brewing just beneath the surface.

Grace could sense the tension, but she didn't know what to do about it. She had never been one for drama, and she certainly didn't want to come between anyone.

One afternoon, as Grace was sitting on the edge of the dock by the beach, she heard footsteps approaching. It was John B. He sat down beside her without saying a word, just letting the quiet stretch between them.

"You okay?" he asked after a few moments, his tone soft.

Grace nodded, though she wasn't entirely sure if she was. She had a lot of feelings swirling inside her, but she didn't know how to express them. It wasn't in her nature to burden others with her emotions.

John B. seemed to understand, though. He gave her a small smile and nudged her shoulder gently. "You know, if you ever want to talk, I'm here."

Grace looked at him, the sincerity in his eyes making her heart flutter. She didn't know how to respond. The truth was, she had spent so long bottling up her feelings that she wasn't sure how to let them out.

Before she could say anything, she heard someone call out her name.

It was Sarah Cameron, her expression tight and guarded. "Grace, can I talk to you for a second?"

Grace glanced at John B., unsure of what was about to happen. He gave her a small, encouraging nod before standing up and walking away, leaving her with Sarah.

"Hey," Sarah began, her voice sharp. "I just wanted to let you know that I don't appreciate how close you've gotten with John B. and the guys."

Grace blinked, surprised. "What do you mean?"

Sarah crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm just saying-things are getting complicated. You don't want to cause any drama, do you?"

Grace's heart sank. She hadn't intended to cause any problems, but it seemed like no matter what she did, she couldn't avoid it.

"I'm not trying to cause any trouble," Grace replied softly. "I'm just... trying to figure things out."

Sarah didn't say anything more, but the tension in her gaze was enough to make Grace feel like she had just stepped into something much bigger than herself.

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