The week after the bonfire felt like the calm before a hurricane. Grace's thoughts churned constantly, and she could feel the group, despite their best efforts, edging toward a breaking point. Every time she looked at one of the boys, she saw the flicker of something deeper than friendship in their eyes. It made her heart race, but it also filled her with dread. How could she keep this from tearing everything apart?
It was Sarah who first pulled her aside the morning after the bonfire. They were sitting on the edge of the dock, the sun glinting off the water as they swung their legs, letting the quiet morning settle around them.
"Grace," Sarah said quietly, "I've been thinking. You need to talk to them. The guys, I mean. I can see what's going on, and I know you're trying to keep everything together, but it's not going to work if you keep pretending it isn't happening."
Grace's breath caught in her throat. She knew Sarah was right. There was too much unspoken between them all, too much hanging in the air. "I don't know how to talk to them," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "What if I ruin everything?"
"You're not going to ruin anything," Sarah reassured her. "But you need to be honest. With them, and with yourself. You can't keep holding onto your feelings without addressing them. You've got to tell them what you want, Grace. Otherwise, it'll just keep eating you alive."
Grace nodded slowly, the weight of her friend's words settling deep in her chest. She wasn't ready, but maybe Sarah was right. Maybe it was time to face it head-on.
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YOU ARE READING
Tides of grace
Fiksi PenggemarIn a world divided by social classes, Grace finds herself caught between the carefree Pogues and the elite Kooks. As she navigates friendships, loyalty, and her own identity, she struggles to fit in while uncovering secrets that could change everyth...
