Tides of grace

Underneath the surface

The days that followed felt like a slow march forward, each moment filled with uncertainty and unspoken words. The group had found a fragile truce-there were no outright confrontations, but the air between Sarah, Kiara, and Grace was still thick with tension. Yet, despite the unresolved conflict, Grace couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope. She could feel the shift-a softening of attitudes, a flicker of trust slowly being rebuilt.

Still, that feeling of being stuck between two worlds remained.

One afternoon, Grace found herself walking down to the beach alone. The sky was a wash of golds and oranges, the sun just beginning to dip below the horizon. She always found peace here, near the water. It was the one place where she could breathe, where the noise of her thoughts would quiet just enough for her to find some clarity.

She didn't expect anyone to follow her, but after a few minutes of silence, she heard footsteps crunching along the sand behind her. It was JJ.

"Didn't expect to find you out here," he said, his voice light, but there was an undercurrent of concern in his tone. "Everything okay?"

Grace didn't immediately answer. She let the sound of the waves fill the space between them, taking her time to collect her thoughts. Finally, she turned to face him. "I don't know, JJ. I'm still trying to figure things out."

He raised an eyebrow. "You're talking about the whole 'who's mad at who' thing?"

Grace nodded, biting her lip. "Yeah. I just... I hate that it feels like there's so much unsaid. Like I'm always walking on eggshells around Sarah and Kiara. I never meant for any of this to happen."

JJ looked at her for a long time, his expression softening. He sat down on the sand next to her, not saying anything at first. Grace felt the weight of his gaze, but it wasn't the usual teasing or playful look she was used to. It was more vulnerable, like he was letting down his guard just for a moment.

"You know," JJ began, his voice quieter than usual, "Sarah and Kiara... they're not easy to read. They care about you, though. Maybe they're just figuring out how to balance everything. It's like we're all caught in this weird middle ground between the Pogues and the Kooks. It's not simple."

Grace sighed, feeling a knot tighten in her chest. "I know. I just... I wish I could make everyone happy. I don't want to be the reason there's tension between you guys."

JJ gave a small chuckle, but there was no humor in it. "Trust me, you're not the problem. None of us are. But it's hard, right? With everything being so messy. Especially when no one knows where they stand."

Grace turned her gaze out to the horizon, watching as the last rays of sunlight reflected off the ocean. "Yeah," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's hard to feel like you're in the right place when everything's so uncertain. I'm trying not to make waves, but I can't help feeling like everything is about to break apart."

JJ was quiet for a long time. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and steady. "Grace, you don't have to figure it all out alone. You don't have to carry it by yourself. We're all here for you, whether it's the boys or Sarah or Kiara. We're in this together, even when it feels like we're not."

Grace looked at him, really looked at him for the first time in days. There was a sincerity in his eyes, a depth that she hadn't seen before. It was strange how JJ, the one who had always been the carefree troublemaker, could suddenly feel like the person she could rely on the most.

"Thanks, JJ," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "I really needed to hear that."

He smiled, the mischievous twinkle returning to his eyes. "Anytime. And, you know, if it ever gets too much, I'm always up for a distraction. A little bit of trouble is always a good way to clear your head, right?"

Grace couldn't help but laugh, the sound lighter than it had been in days. "You're impossible," she teased, nudging him with her shoulder.

"Hey, that's what friends are for," JJ said, flashing her that infamous grin.

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