Scott texted me to come to his house. Something about a visitor? He said Paige is going to be there, too. It's been three days since my breakdown in the hall. My side is temporarily aching from two straight days from crying. Today is the first day I haven't been on my bed with a box of tissues, Paige by my side comforting me , and sobbing. I walk out the door and walk to Scott's house.
"Scott?" I ask, and hear gentle talking in his dining room. I walk in, and they all turn around from something they're looking at, now looking a me. Scot, Stiles, Paige, Lydia, Theo, Hayden, and...Liam. I swallow as I see him. He looks tired, worn, sad. Oh well.
My eyes wander to the center of the room, what they're all looking at. My eyes almost burst out of my sockets and a huge smile cracks across my face.
He's there. Him.
"Bruce!" I exclaim and he smiles.
"You remember me." He stands up and we rush into a hug.
"Bruce?" Liam asks, confused. angry. Ha.
"How? What? Why?" My mind bursts with questions. Bruce laughs.
"Paige told me you were here, I wanted to check up on you." He says and takes me hand.
"So, who is this guy?" Stiles asks and Hayden adds,
"Yeah, he's cute." She looks at Liam. "Uh, sorry." She clears her throat.
"Grace and I go way back. Preschool. We were the best of friends. I mean playdates, field trips, we would sneak to each other's houses late at night-" I nod as Bruce explains.
"Ya know, he introduced me to Phineas and Ferb." I say, nodding.
"Hey, isn't Ferb that Thomas Brodie guy?" stiles adds. I nod.
"Hey, remember those loves letters I would write you?" Bruce asks. Liam almost chokes on this own air.
"L-Love letters? In preschool?" I look at him in confusion. Why does he care? I nod.
"Yeah. It was cute. Very caring of him. Very true to his words." I snap, obviously trying to point out his mistake of telling me he loved me and then go get with Hayden. He sheepishly nods and looks down.
"Now Grace and I only text, we don't see each other that much, but I thought I would surprise her!" Bruce elbows me and I laugh.
Bruce is cute, and very kind, but there is something holding me back from liking him. Maybe it's someone. No. It can't be. I have to get Liam out of my head.
"Grace, can I talk to you for a minute?" Scott nods towards the living room. I nod and we awkwardly walk together.
"Are you sure this is a good idea for him to stay? The dread doctors are out there!" Scott whispers. I look back and see Bruce and Paige laughing over something. I nod.
"I can take care of him. I promise." Scott finally nods. I exhale a breath I didn't know I was holding in.
"So, Bruce, let's go get you settled in at my house." I start to walk to the door but he says something that makes me freeze.
"are you going to tell them?" He sounds concerned, yet firm.
"Bruce, please, not now." They can't know about what has been going on.
"Tell us what?" Stiles pushes.
"Grace?" Scott nudges.
"Oh boy." Paige sounds scared. I haven't turned around. my back is to all of them. Bruce replies,
"She's been having panic attacks." I wince at the last words. The truth has come out. Great.
"What?" Liam sounds shattered.
"Grace you should've told us." Scott urges.
"I'm sorry, Grace. They need to know." bruce sounds sincere. I finally turn around. Stiles is dry mouthed. Paige takes his and.
"Paige, you knew?" Scott asks, Paige nods. I look at all of them in the eye, even Liam. his eyes crush me the most. They are shards of hurt and pain. Pain for me.
I knew Stiles had had panic attacks, and he turned into this possessed fox, so I didn't want to tell anyone because I didn't want anyone to worry about me. Bruce passed me and looks at me in the eye with apology and walks out the door. i'm too frozen to speak. I Back out the door, feet going behind one another, looking a the ground. I feel so embarrassed.
Right before I hit the door, I look at Liam.
I'm sorry.
A voice echoes in my head. Someone was talking to me through my head like Isaac. But it wasn't Isaac's voice.
It was Liam's.
