Grace

Chapter 63

I threw my stuff into the rucksack I'd brought with me without bothering to fold anything. I knew exactly what I'd brought with me and I knew I had everything which didn't explain why I kept looking for things to pack, except maybe to keep moving. Now that they weren't here I was barely able to keep a lid on things. It didn't matter if anyone saw me angry now. The people who wanted to break me weren't here.

"Lost something?" Ben asked.

I put the quilt back in place. "Just checking," I said with a smile and got up.

"You all packed?" Christian asked from the door. "I promised to have you back by curfew and we're late already."

"I am," I said.

"I'm just going to leave my stuff here," Ben said.

"Ok, thanks for the washing," Christian chuckled. "Definitely home. Come on."

I grabbed my bag and we headed down to the car which turned out to be the same one that we'd gone to the market in. To my surprise Christian jumped into the driver's seat and Ben sat next to him. Tang opened my door for me and then climbed into the back. I saw a small frown on his face but he smoothed it out when he realised I was looking at him.

"Ready to go back?" he asked.

"So long as she doesn't talk to Tarq she'll be fine," Ben grinned.

"For that reason alone I cannot wait until his exams are over. We'll have our friend back."

"How bad is he this year?" Christian asked.

"Dad, you don't want to know," Ben said sagely. "But you know how much pressure his Mum puts him under."

Christian shook his head. "I tell you, if I could have a word with that woman..."

"But... why doesn't he study this hard at Christmas?" I asked.

"He tells her that all his exams are this term," Ben said.

"Mean while her girls who can do no wrong can do whatever they like because they have ADHD and she thinks that's better than putting them on the meds they need."

"Jeez," I muttered. "Can I have a word with that woman?"

Ben turned to me and his eyes were huge with excitement. "Could your mum talk to her? She knows about brains, right?"

"I don't know how much she knows about ADHD, but I can certainly ask."

"Good, because they want to learn but can't concentrate enough. Their mother doesn't want them to have the stigma people with ADHD get."

"But most people can't tell someone's got it when they're on the right meds!" I said incredulously. "Why wouldn't she – What kind of mother wouldn't help their kids like that?"

Ben shrugged. "She helps them as best as she can. At least she's there for them and knows what they're doing all the time."

Any protest I might have had sailed out the window. I knew Ben hadn't meant anything by what he said, but it still hurt. It seemed incredibly unfair that Tarq's sisters got all the attention they needed where as I hadn't got any at all. Would it have been different if I'd had ADHD or some other disability? What if I'd nearly died? Would Mum and Dad have realised then?

"Grace, I didn't mean –"

"I know, Ben," I said and forced a smile.

The guys chatted about sports fixtures the rest of the way back, but I sat quietly looking out the window as my city flashed by. It was still light despite it being a little gone nine in the evening and people were still out and about shopping, meeting friends or even just setting off to a performance of some kind. Maybe even to the pub or for a meal out. They were all looking pretty happy if they weren't laughing with their friends.