After my realization, I joined Grace in the kitchen. Together we laughed and made cookies. Flour coated us both, along with eggs and chocolate chips in our hair. As I looked at her, even coated in the mess of flour, I smiled at her. “You are beautiful Grace.” Behind the mess of white, a tint of red appeared on her cheeks. I laughed and pulled her to me, embracing her in a hug. She laughed as she wrapped her arms around me. It put a smile on my face knowing I made her happy. I will earn her love. I know I don’t deserve it, but I want it. I need it. After a few minutes, we pulled away and started cleaning the mess until the cookies were done. With chocolate milk, cookies, Grace, and movies I had the best morning of my life.
I was humming softly as I walked back into the doors of Grace’s house at 9:00 that night. I had run to the grocery store to get some things she needed. I was putting the two bags on the counter when I began to hear a lot of movement upstairs, almost like a struggle. I pulled the gun out of one of the cabinets and silently climbed the stairs. As I got to the top the struggle stopped for a second before it started again. Whimpers came from down the hall. Grace’s room.
Her scream echoed through the house. I ran and ran through the hall but it wasn’t fast enough. A single bullet shot rang out, just as I reached her room. Menacing laughter came from inside. I kicked open the door, gun in hand. Grace sat looking at me wide-eyed, curled up in her blanket. I looked over to see the T.V. playing a movie where the guy with the gun was now jumping out the window. Dropping the gun I put my face in my hands. “Don’t deal with horror movies to well, do you Grace?” I looked up at her sheepish smile as she chuckled.
“I guess not.” I was about to respond until somebody else spoke.
“Whose that babe?” For the first time I noticed someone next to her on the bed. His arm was wrapped tightly around her shoulders. His dirty blonde shaggy hair fell into his green eyes, contrasting against his tan skin. A smirk was worn as his face as he saw the shock on mine. “Just a friend Jeremy. He’s staying with me for a few days.” I looked back at Grace as she answered. “Jeremy this is Jace. Jace this is Jeremy…my boyfriend.”
I froze. The word rolled around in my head, never setting well. Boyfriend. She has a boyfriend. She can’t. Some unknown feeling began to bubble in my stomach. It was as if all the clouds in my head turned dark with a storm. I looked at her again and realized what it was. I was jealous. “Well it’s late sweetheart. I think I should be heading home.” Jeremy spoke as he stood, stretching. He slipped on his flip flops and I gave him a once over. Typical California boy. I watched as he kissed he deeply, and smirked at me when he pulled away. As his shoulder brushed mine walking out of the room, he whispered something. “She’s mine.” I waited until I heard the front door slam shut that I spoke to her.
“You have a boyfriend…” My voice faded off as I found myself not being able to finish my sentence. My eyes traced the lines in the wooden floor. For the first time, I felt helpless. What could I possibly do? Her sniffle brought my head back up. Silent tears ran down her face and I didn’t know what to do. Her eyes were squeezed shut, but the tears still flowed freely. I slowly approached the bed. Kneeling down on it next to her, I wrapped my arms around her slim body. She’s Grace Marks. She doesn’t cry. So why is she…I don’t know. I just don’t know. As I looked down at her again, I couldn’t help myself. I acted on my impulse. I kissed her. Our lips collided and began to move as one. Fireworks shot off inside of me as I held her delicate face in my hands. I licked her bottom lip, asking for entrance. But somehow, this action made her freeze. She tried to push me away, and I went. With tears in her eyes, mussed up hair, and swollen lips she spoke the words that broke my heart. “Go away Jace.”
