Instigators

Chapter E L E V E N

Grace's POV

My parents were home when I woke up that morning. My mother surprised me with breakfast in bed.

"Happy Friday!" she smiled. She opened up my windows and clapped her hands together. It was too early in the morning for this, especially for a Friday.

"Mom, I've missed you and all but it's Friday morning." I groaned.

"Honey, you still have school to get to." She shook my shoulders. There was no point in trying to resist.

I reluctantly got up and stretched. My back cracked a few times and my mom giggled from the sound.

"I won't be here for long. I'm leaving tomorrow to go to Maryland." She frowned.

"Well, we'll find time to be together." I smiled, trying to bring light to the situation.

It's not like we weren't used to her being gone all the time. Our grandma basically raised us until we were old enough to be home alone.

"Your dad will be here until Wednesday, so you guys can spend some time with him too."

I nodded, "Okay, well I'm going to shower."

"I've been meaning to ask you... how have you been since everything?" she said hesitantly.

My body froze. I knew exactly what she was talking about, and she knew I didn't like to talk about it.

"I'm fine." I squeezed my hands together.

"Have you told her?"

I shook my head silently. I was praying she would drop the topic.

"They haven't wondered where you were for a month last summer?" she seemed disappointed.

"I told them we were in Europe." I admitted. Of course I wouldn't tell the truth.

"You need to tell the truth." She said quietly as she walked to my door. I didn't move until she was out.

I blinked away my tears and went to shower. She was right, though. I did need to tell her, but I was too scared to. One day, hopefully, I'd be able to muster up the courage to do so. Until then, I'd pretend nothing ever happened.

I put on my school uniform, and took the breakfast tray downstairs so I could eat outside.

My dad was sitting in the living room, watching a movie on Netflix. I leaned over to peck his cheek.

"Good morning, sunshine. You'd better pick up your pace so you're not late to school."

As if I would ever be late to school. My brother is the one who'd be late or just not go at all.

As planned, I sat on the deck under the umbrella. I hadn't been out there in a while because it's usually so hot.

Just to my dismay, Tario came out and sat with me.

"We need new chairs for the deck." He said, examining how old they looked. The one I was sitting in looked worn, but it still felt really comfortable. It reminded me of a cloud.

I nodded, trying to convey that I wasn't in the mood for a conversation.

"I want to ask Tiana to go on a date with me. Do you know what she likes?" he asked randomly. That explains why he decided to be in the same general area as me.

"I can tell you that she doesn't like you." I smirked.

"I'm serious. And if she didn't like me, then why'd she make out with me yesterday?" he stole a piece of my bacon and bit into it.