Broken

| 28 | Finally

Finally.

~*~

I walk into Lindsey's house and everyone greets me with big yells with their drinks raised. I throw my head back with laughter. These people never cease to amaze me.

"I'm praying there's no alcohol in those red cups." I say as I walk further into the house.

"I make no promises." says Parker as he chugs the last of whatever is in his cup.

Lindsey starts laughing and lays a hand on my shoulder and leans down next to my ear.

"It's sparkling water and lime juice. He thinks he's drunk." I can't even hide my laughter right now with that one. Leave it to Lindsey to have fake alcohol at a party just to watch people fake being drunk.

"So, what's the plan for tonight?" I ask after the laughter has died down.

"Well, I was thinking movie watching, talking, playing games. I don't really know. I just wanted us all here together." says Lindsey as she leans up against her staircase.

"A movie sounds good." I say and she squeals like a happy child. She rushes to the living room and everyone follows her. Except Tyler.

"Are you gonna come in?" I ask him, and he takes a deep breath and I watch as he starts to get all jittery.

"Um, yeah.. In a minute."

"Tyler, are you ok?"

"Fine." He just played the me card. He's not ok, but he's gonna say he is even though he's not. So this is what it must've felt like to him all of the times I said I was fine. I would hate me if I were him.

~*~

The movie is in. Of course Tyler and Lindsey both suggested a scary movie. Tyler loves to se me scared and Lindsey is just a lunatic.

The movie starts to get too intense, so I excuse myself to go get some water in her kitchen in the other room.

I make my way down the hall and right into their dining room, and straight through a small opening to the kitchen. I go to my plastic cup and fill it up with water from the tap. Just as I'm about to take a sip, I jump, nearly spilling my water, when I see Tyler standing in the opening, staring at me.

"Grace, we have to talk." he says to me but I just shake my head.

"No we don't. We need to get back to the movie."

"You hate scary movies. That's why you got up." he pushes back making me want to scream. I wish he would just let it go.

"Well I like this one, so excuse me, I'm going back in." I say as I try to go to the living room, but he blocks my way. I give him a dirty look and cross my arms.

"Move, Tyler."

"No, Grace." he says as he mocks my voice.

"Are you trying to make me mad? Because trust me, you are doing an amazing job at doing just that."

"Grace, I'm gonna need to you to shut up for a minute and give me some of your time. There is a problem here."

"There's no problem, Tyler." I say feeling my heart race in my chest.

"Yes there is! Why won't you admit that?"

"Because there's nothing to admit." I tell him, but he looks me straight in the eyes and I know he's calling my bull right now.

"That's a load of crap and you know it."

"Alright fine, maybe it is, but I don't want to talk about it." I feel my palms become sweaty and I try to ignore all of the nerves building inside of me.