Grace

6. Grace's House

"Well man, I gotta say, congratulations." Adam said to Jordan as the two boys clattered out of social studies after the ending bell. "If it couldn't be me, I'm glad it was you." He clapped Jordan supportively on the back.

"What are you talking about?"

"Dude!" Adam gave Jordan a duh look. "She actually asked you out. That's like, unprecedented among us."

Jordan rolled his eyes and punched Adam with his good hand. "It's not a date, moron. It's a school assignment. Her religion probably doesn't allow dating." He really didn't know about that, but he wanted Adam to shut up.

Adam just shook his head, clearly not buying a word of it. "Whatever you say man, whatever you say." They jogged downstairs in silence. Then Adam spoke again. "So what happened to your nose?"

Jordan moaned. "It's her fault."

"She punched you?!" Adam was bug-eyed.

"No, you blockhead! Dylan stole her backpack and I fought him for it."

Adam looked like his eyes would pop out of his head. "So you rescued the damsel in distress and now she's asking you out and promising to feed you homemade cookies? Dude, she's crazy about you."

"No, she's weird!" Jordan protested. "Like, she prays and stuff and she argued with Mr. Lucas."

Adam waved this off. "Who cares? She's cute, and she likes you. I can't believe you're not excited about it."

Jordan rolled his eyes. It was hopeless trying to argue with his friend. They came downstairs and Jordan caught sight of Grace standing by the main doors. She was chatting with one of her friends. The two girls hugged each other enthusiastically before parting. Then Grace noticed Jordan. She waved to him.

Jordan waved half-heartedly back. Adam gave him a shove from behind. "Good luck dude. Man, I would love to be you right now."

Jordan didn't bother to reply. He hefted his backpack onto his shoulders and marched over to Grace.

She smiled when he got there. "Hey, thanks so much for doing this," she said.

No problem," he answered shortly.

They walked out of the school together. Jordan felt self-conscious, but Grace didn't seem to notice. He told himself to relax. Other guys hung out with girls all the time in high school. He just wasn't used to it himself.

He caught sight of Dylan and his minions lounging by the chain link fence probably doing something illegal. He pulled his hood farther over his head and tried to look inconspicuous.

Grace looked from Jordan to the chain link fence and back again. Understanding dawned on her face.

"Let's move over," she said, leading them through the crowds to the opposite side of the school grounds. Jordan held his breath until they had safely crossed the street and passed the nearby Wal-mart.

"They can't see us anymore," she told him.

Sheepishly Jordan pushed his hood back.

"Has he been bothering you?" she asked.

"You think?" Jordan could barely keep the sarcasm out of his voice.

Grace winced. "And all because of me... Gosh, I'm really sorry."

She looked so honestly remorseful and concerned that Jordan forced himself to shrug it off.