The Nace story continued....

Chapter 4

Nick POV

I️ was headed home. Just thinking about what to do for the rest of the day. I️ don't have Grace or Courtney to hang out with anymore. I️ really do need some guy friends. And what was happening at school? Was that Courtney with Amber and Brenda? Why was she with them?

That's when I️ heard the noise. It was Grace, and Noah. They were laughing. And then I️ saw them, outside of Grace's house, hugging each other and kissing, talking. God how could he stand her. I️ made my way inside as quickly as I️ could so that I could get away from the love fest. As I️ slammed the door behind me I️ realized I️ was not alone in the house. In front of me, Sam and Cassie stood as if they had been waiting for me for a while.

"Hey... what" I️ started.
"Nick why don't you come on in and grab a seat at the table." My dad said
"I'm going to go grab Grace" said Carrie, then she happily headed out the door.
"Am I️ in trouble or something?" I️ asked as I️ sat down at the table
"No not at all, Cassie and I️ just have some news to share with you two."

News? What news?

Then Cassie and Grace came in and joined us. Grace took a seat on the other side of the table and didn't even bother to look at me. Cassie joined my father up front looking more excited than ever.

"What is it? What do you have to tell us?" Grace cheerfully asked, still no glance towards me.
"Well, the other night, at the party, we had some news to share with you..." Sam started then looking at Cassie. They both looked as if the would explode with happiness. Then in a split second, Cassie's hand was in the air, fingers wiggling. But only one finger caught my attention. I️ knew Grace had already figured it out when she screamed a loud cheerful scream.
"You're getting married!" Grace exclaimed.
They all went around hugging and celebrating.
"And you and Nick are going to be brother and sister!" Cassie stated, sending everyone into silence. Grace's face dropped. She went from overly excited to what seemed to be a mixture of sadness and anger. She gave her mom a big hug.
"I'm happy for you mom" she told Cassie, then headed out the door.
"What was that about?" She asked confused.
"It was about Nick" Sam replied.
"Me? That was not my fault" I️ denied.
"I️ never said it was your fault, but that doesn't mean it wasn't about you." He widely stated.

What did he mean by that?

"Nick just go and talk with grace." Sam kindly ordered.
"Why? I️ didn't do anything! She's just being dramatic!" I️ protested.
They both just gave me a disappointed look before speaking again.
"I️ really hope you to can overcome your differences soon, it'll be hard as a family if we don't all get along." Cassie stated
Family? Not to be rude but we are not a family. Sure they may be in love but that doesn't make Cassie my mom and that definitely doesn't make Grace my sister. With all of my frustration I️ went upstairs to my room where I️ would then spend the next few hours of my life doing absolutely nothing.

It was 8 pm. I️ was just lying in my bed thinking about what my life was going to be like once Sam and Cassie were married. Boy did it look bad. And then my thoughts were interrupted by a distant bouncing sound. It kind of sounded like a ball bouncing. Was someone playing basketball on my court? I️ quickly raced downstairs to see if it was my dad.
"Dad?" I️ called out.
Silence.
Maybe it was just him?
I️ went over to the window to check. When I️ pulled the curtains over to the side I️ was surprised at what I️ saw.
It was Grace.
Grace was playing basketball.
On my court.
Why?
I️ didn't know if I️ should go out there and talk to her or not. I'm mean, why was I️ even mad at her still? Me and Courtney are chill, we're friends. In a way Grace did kinda help. But she still seems mad at me. I️ don't know maybe it's not the best choice. But before I️ knew it I️ was opening the front door and taking a step out into the cold air.

I️ walked out to the base of the hoop as Grace kept angrily throwing and bouncing.
"What do you want Nick?" She angrily asked, still throwing and bouncing.
"I️ don't know. Can we talk?"
"I️ have nothing to say to you." Still throwing and bouncing.
"Well I️ have something to say to you."
Her shot missed and came down for me to catch it. I️ held the ball waiting for a response, but it never came. So I️ spoke,
"Look Grace I'm sorry about the other night."
She just stared at me with that same angry looking expression.
"I️ shouldn't have blamed you for something that I️ was too afraid to do. You were just helping out."
There was a long silence before she finally spoke.
"Can I️ have my ball back now?" She said holding her hands our.
I️ tosses her the ball, so annoyed that she wouldn't apologize back. I️ mean I️ told her I️ was sorry.
"What's wrong with you?" I️ asked.
"I'm trying to make things right between us by apologizing for something that wasn't even my fault and here you are ignoring everything I️ say." I️ said angrily.
"Seriously? My fault? I️ wasn't trying to do anything I️ was just trying to do something you didn't have the courage to do." She protested.
"What? Breaking up with Courtney? Were you really just trying to help out or were you just trying to get her out of the picture?" I️ asked
"What? Why would I️ be trying to get her out of the picture?"
"Maybe because you were jealous of how much time we spent together. Maybe you were just mad because I️ was spending more time with Courtney instead of you." I️ yelled, the anger still fuming inside of me. Grace's face turned bright red.
"Now you're just sounding like Amber and Brenda." She stated
"What so it's true then? You just broke me up with Courtney because you were jealous of me?"
"No Nick I️ was just trying to help you!"
"Help me or help yourself? Because it seems like everything you do is just to help yourself."
"That is not true and you know it."
"But it is true Grace! Everything that you do isn't for others it's for yourself and yourself only! You don't care about other people you only care about yourself! I️ mean our parents are getting married, and all you could think about was what it meant for yourself!"
That's when I️ saw the tears in her eyes, and I️ realized what I️ had done. She threw the basketball at me and headed into her house.
What had I️ done?