Suddenly

Fraying Friendship

By the time two weeks had passed since the day Grace had found her new apartment, she and Ayla had moved into the comfortable new home. It was small, but Grace was confident it would work for the two of them.

She had made a conscious effort to get her life back in order. She had found a doctor for the pregnancy, started communicating with her old manager, in attempts to find some work to get her by. She had finally come clean to Joan about the baby. Of course she had been disappointed that Grace would hide something of that importance from her, but she made changes accordingly to the divorce papers.

The only thing that still bothered her, Josh had yet to respond to the divorce. He only had one more week before their 30 day period was up. It made her nervous. She had been expecting explosions, not silence.

Knowing her husband, he was planning something.

"This is a nice place." Mamrie mused as she and Grace sat on the small grey couch Grace had bought for the place. She just had the meager necessaries for now, but she planned to go shopping as soon as everything was worked out. "But are you sure it was the best decision to sign a year lease?"

Mamrie had tried to subtly talk Grace out of the apartment since the beginning. She felt like a horrible friend, but Josh's threat still rang in her head. She was torn.

The blonde rolled her eyes. She was holding a nursing Ayla, who played with her mother's long hair as she ate.

"It's all for her Mames" she said with conviction. She was not sure why Mamrie had been acting so strange since the apartment had come about. It was very off putting to feel like her friend wasn't supportive. Mamrie had been so supportive when she first arrived back in LA.

The redhead ran a nervous hand through her hair. She hated this. Yes, she was so proud of Grace for everything, but now with the days quickly dwindling down to nothing, she was getting more and more afraid.

"Are you regretting helping me?" Grace's voice was small. She had the question swirling in her head for days, it was driving her crazy.

Mamrie gave her a crumpled look. It was confusing.

"No, honey, I am proud. I just don't want you to rush things. What if you want to go back to New York?"

Grace was shocked. Why was Mamrie even thinking that?

"What do you mean? Why would I go back?" Her voice had taken a a slightly higher pitch as she got upset. Ayla grunted angrily the tension.

Mamrie didn't know what to say. She felt like the worst person on the earth.

"Maybe you should go?" Grace stood from the couch. She hefted Ayla to her shoulder.

"Grace."

"No!" Grace snapped, startling the nearly asleep girl in her arms. She let out a low whine.  "I don't know what has gotten into you, but I thought I could expect you of all people to be supportive."

In typical Grace fashion, once the words left her mouth, Grace shut down completely.

Mamrie felt sick. This was not what she wanted for her friendship. Damn Josh and his threats. She was just terrified that Grace or one of the kids would be hurt.

While she didn't want to leave, she knew Grace. And knew it best to remove herself while the blonde had time to cool down. She had seen many times how Grace would react when pushed too far, especially in the passing weeks due to pregnancy hormones. Yes. The best decision would be to leave for a little while.

-----------------------------------------

Grace did little after Mamrie had left. She put Ayla down for a nap and just lost herself in her thoughts. Her first, anxiety ruled thought was that her friends were finally getting tired of her. Hannah had been 'busy' most of the days since she had moved into the apartment and had barely visited or returned phone calls. When she did come over, she focused on Ayla.

It hurt.

It was a nervous hurt that filled her chest with a pain she couldn't quite explain and fanned the flames of her anxiety.

She had made the decision to go off her medications during her pregnancy the first time. Then, with breastfeeding, she had been worried about the medicines effecting her daughter. She had spent the last few years wrestling with that anxiety. Somehow, even through everything, she had done well. Yes, there were still panic attacks and bouts of depression, but she worked through everything for the betterment of her children.

Now, for the first time, she didn't know if she could stop the soul punching hopelessness that was setting up a home in her body.

She made a huge mistake.

She should have just stayed with Josh, after all, it looked like they deserved one another.

She wasn't quite sure when the tears started. All she could do was stand in her tiny kitchen, one arm across her abdomen, as it holding herself together, the other clapped over her mouth, attempting to stifle the loud sobs coming from her mouth.

Damn this whole situation!

She doesn't remember grasping for her phone, or dialing Hannah's number.

The next thing she know, is that her best friend has let herself into the apartment and is holding Grace tightly against herself, trying her best to hold the fraying taller girl together.

Grace sobbed for what seemed like forever, she could not form words, Hannah didn't need them. She just needed to be here for Grace. Her heart broke to think that she had not been here for her in the last couple weeks. She had not been able to separate her feelings for Grace from her friendship and she had come close to losing both.

She held the woman until she exhaustively began to slump against her.

"Come on, Gracie, let's get you to bed." Hannah whispered.

With half lidded eyes, Grace looked up at her friend. "Aylie?"

Hannah gave her a soft smile. "I've got her, I'm not going anywhere."

A/N Sorry for the delay! I am on vacation now and will hopefully renew my inspiration in this story and write plenty more chapters over the next week!

If you haven't, check out my other story!