Love or a Beautiful Mess // BYE

Chapter 4-Falling on Your Face

Grace's POV

"Did you forgive him?" Riley asks sitting down next to me.

"Nope. But we did agree to not talk about it. And I don't want to talk about it."

"Grace, we have to talk about this. You two have to talk about this. Holding it in is gonna make you grow farther apart. Its gonna make you hate him more," says Connor.

"I don't hate him. Well-no. I hate what he did. I hate what happened. I hate that after 18 months he has this effect on me. I hate that I can't talk to him. I hate that I feel this way about him. I hate that he obviously doesn't feel the same way."

"Oh, honey. I know I just met you 5 minutes ago and I have no idea what the hell happened at that camp. No one talks about exactly what happened. But its been 18 months, and that kid has not shut up about you," Alexis kneels on the floor in front of me. She uncrosses my arms from their position on my chest. "You know they say when you do that, your most likely not going to listen to what people are telling you? But listen to me sweetie. Listen to Connor. He's right. Don't block Toby out. Don't act cold and don't ignore him. That's gonna make you think you hate him. And I bet you Thomas, Sam, and Jada are giving Toby a similar speech at the moment."

*

Toby's POV

"Sam?" The barista calls Sam's name to get some of the drinks. Sam and Thomas get up and walk to the counter. I sit awkwardly and look around while Sam's girlfriend sits across from me, scrolling through twitter and listening to music. That's all she really does.

They return and set the drinks on the table. I start to get up but Thomas's announcement interrupts. "I have to pee." I sit back down and sigh as I pull out my phone. I just wanna get back to the venue.

Me: Is she still there???

Connor: bro chill. shes here and shes not leaving anytime soon. and hurry up with my starbucks!

Me: Thomas is in the bathroom...

Connor: idc LEAVE HIM bring me my coffee!!!

Me: is she crying?

After a minute I give up and conclude that she is. Sam gives me a strange look and cocks his head

"What's wrong with you? You seem to quiet?" I guess his question peaks Jada's interest because she takes her headphones out for once.

"Grace is here."

"GRACE?" Jada yells, then takes in her surroundings. "Sorry. Grace? The Grace?"

"Yeah."

"Well tell me everything. Why? Did she tell you? Did you talk it out? Did you kiss? Are you dating?!"

"My brothers have been talking to her this whole time. This is their second meet up, and they must of convinced her to see me again. No one warned me. She said she didn't want to talk about it."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Jada counters.

"I don't know. I don't want her to be mad at me. I want to respect her. I don't wanna ignore each other."

"Well," Jada starts. "It sounds like you want to talk to her. Don't pressure her though. And you are right, you can't ignore it or it can get worse. I mean, I really don't know what happened between you too, but I can tell that you honestly really have a crush on this girl."

"Like." I correct her.

"What?"

"There's a difference between having a crush and liking someone. I really like her."