Serendipity → B.SKARSGÅRD

TWENTY-SIX| friends

HER phone reads 10:43 p.m. and she was starting to grow anxious. She keeps her back to her safely closed front door while she hugs her slouched figure. There's nothing keeping her company but the sounds of crickets and Grace's continuous toe tapping. She lives in a gated house but she'd texted Bill the passcode. For a moment, she starts wondering whether Bill decided he had a better use of his time.

Everything continues to remain silent. Her mind starts running in circles and she can feel a headache coming. She starts questioning whether it was a mistake, and maybe she should've called Bill not just talked to him through Instagram. Grace turns around sharply, her right hand pressed against her front door, the other clutching her cellphone and keys tightly. She asks herself whether she should just open the door and hide under the comforting covers of her bed.

"Hope you didn't change your mind."

She lets out a deep breath, realizing she'd gone seconds holding her breath. A soft smile falls across her lips and she slowly turns around to find her surprise. Bill is at the bottom of the stone steps leading up to where Grace is. She notices his car wasn't parked anywhere near him.

"I thought you might've done that. . .but I'm glad you didn't."

"I couldn't miss an opportunity to see you again, miss Gracie," Bill calls back to her.

"And your car?"

"Left it outside by the gate. .Where can I take you to?"

Grace simply flashes Bill a soft smile then allows herself to fully take in his appearance. It's dark out already but she sees he's dressed in casual attire, his brown hair pushed back, which she knew was because of Bill's habit of running his hands through his hair. He's smiling up at her, a smile so big the corners of his eyes wrinkle and it looks as though he's closed his eyes. However, her attention is quickly caught by three single pink roses wrapped with a white ribbon, which he holds up for her to see.

"Oh, Bill. ." Grace breathes softly.

She sprints down the steps, holding her breath and grinning brightly. Her actions seem to slow for a second but she doesn't allow them to falter. Grace is anticipating reaching Bill, being able to apologize profusely for taking things a bit too far. Once she's feet away, she readies herself then jumps into his open arms, her arms tightly wrapped across his shoulders and her legs around his waist. Bill hugs her tightly and spins her around once but doesn't set her down just yet.

"I'm so sorry, Billy," she whispers.

"Just tell me where to, Gracie," Bill whispers back tenderly.

—

"I was the one that fucked up, you know that right?

Grace looks over at Bill, her eyes scanning every inch of his face to see his reaction. However, all Bill does is give her a half-smile. It's almost like he's telling her not to worry about it. He seems to understand why she would tell him something like that, and why wouldn't he? She just wants to know whether he's upset with her; if he even was in the first place.