Gracie

Chapter 21 - Past Returns

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Liam's POV:

Since the tour had resumed Gracie shut down completely. She didn't communicate in any way, she just sat and gazed into a world none existence. If the lads weren't telling me of their concerns then Amelia would, as the teacher she told me numerous of times:

"I can't gain Gracie's attention. She stares blankly at any work I hand out. Liam I'm afraid I'm failing to help Gracie."

I wasn't even sure if she would come out her daze but I reassured Amelia over and over again:

"She will get use to you and things will look up."

But as the third week rolled by she continued to be the same shut out girl. Amelia was really distressed by it so I decided to sit in on a lesson. I climbed the tour bus. Gracie was slumped on her knees, hidden in the corner. She didn't even notice we were present.

I watched Amelia continuously say Gracie's name after each question but Gracie never moved or acknowledge Amelia. I knew Gracie had a hard life and she struggled around new people, but her behaviour was rude. I put my foot down, I shouted

"GRACIE"

Her eyes darted to mine, tears fell

"Don- don't hurt me" she pleaded.

"Gracie come here now please" I said less harshly.

She stood to her feet, head hung low. She walked slowly over. She stood directly in front me, tears were streaming down her pale cheeks. I rose to my feet she jumped back, pleading more

"P-please please"

She couldn't finish the sentence with fear I was going to hurt her. I would never hurt Gracie but shouting grabbed her attention.

"Sit at the table please" I ordered.

She shuffled along the bus and took a seat. Amelia took the seat opposite Gracie. Amelia again tried to teach Gracie but her attention had yet again gone.

Amelia suggested

"Why don't we go and visit Bellevue arts museum?"

Gracie shook her head, but I insisted.

I called Paul and asked him to find Steve, he was the girls soul bodyguard since Paul rejoined the tour. (Steve was the bodyguard who stood in for Paul while he was away.)

Gracie refused to go, kicking and screaming, she won the battle as she hid under the parked up bus.

Amelia's POV:

Gracie was a disturbed girl who I wanted to help but I couldn't reach her, after the previous day where she hid under the bus I still couldn't grab her attention so I decided I would do art, art was something Gracie did, even when she was off in her world. I had to find a computer store before I started our lesson because I had to email an update on Gracie, I asked Steve to watch over Gracie while I was gone; he had no rejections. I left Gracie hiding in the bathroom. What I came back to I could never had prepared for.