The Nace story continued....

Chapter 6

Nick POV

It's been a whole month since the last time I️ talked to Grace. Or yelled at Grace I guess I should say. I still see her around every once in a while. She's usually doing something at her house or I just see her at school. I even noticed that Brenda has been giving her a hard time at school. I should have stepped in whenever I saw it happening but Grace was still mad at me and I didn't want to risk it. I also noticed that she and Noah haven't been hanging out together much recently. But hey that's none of my business. Right now I️ just needed to try and get some sleep, go to bed. But I️ couldn't. I️ wasn't tired. I️ decided to go grab a glass of water from downstairs instead. As I️ was walking to the kitchen I️ noticed Grace through the window. She was leaving her house, slowly closing the door behind her. It looked like she was sneaking out. Where is she going? I️ quickly set down my glass of water and started to follow her. After a while of walking and quietly following I️ hid behind a car, as I️ watched her make her way into the cafe. It was 11 at night what would she be doing here? I️ made my way across the street and into the cafe. When I️ entered, the place was empty, no sign of Grace or anyone else. Then I️ heard voices. Two female voices. Grace and... was that Stephanie? I️ followed the sound to find Grace and Stephanie standing in the kitchen and talking. I️ hid behind a counter so that I️ was hidden but could still hear.
"And you're sure you're okay with me throwing it here? I️ just thought it would be such a perfect place." Grace asked.
"Of course! I'm so excited I've never thrown a wedding reception before." Stephanie exclaimed.
Wedding reception? For who Sam and Cassie?
What was Grace doing?
Then being the clumsy idiot I️ am, I fell backwards, hitting my head on the chair next to me, making a loud bang that echoed through the air.
"What was that?" Stephanie asked concerned.
I️ heard footsteps coming in my direction. I️ started to crawl around the counter but stopped at the presence of two feet in front of me. I️ looked up to see Grace's confused and slightly annoyed face staring down at me.
"Nick what are you doing here? Were you following me?" She asked.
"No... I️ mean yes... I️ mean, I️ was just trying to see where you were going this late at night." I️ stuttered.
"And why would you care?" She asked folding her arms across her chest.
"I️ just wanted to make sure you were okay."
"Ok well I'm fine so you can go home now."
"It's okay I'll wait and walk you home."
"I'm not going to be done for a while Nick, go home." She demanded.
"Um actually I️ need to head home and get some sleep, I've got an early morning tomorrow. You two can head home I'll close up shop." Stefanie offered.
"No we can keep working, Nick can go home."
"Sorry Grace but I️ need to go home, you two go, I'll close up."
"Thank you" I️ said to Stefanie
Then Grace and I️ headed out of the store and started to walk home.

It was silent for a minute before I️ decided to speak up.
"So what WERE you doing at the cafe this late at night?"
"Oh ya of course you'd like to know."
"Ya I️ would. So are you gonna tell me?"
"I'm helping create a wedding reception for my mom and Sam."
"Wow Grace that's really cool of you."
"Really? Or am I️ still only caring about myself?" She said sharply.
"Grace I️ didn't mean what I️ said. I️ was just angry and confused about everything."
Grace stopped walking and looked at me.
"That's not an excuse Nick. What you said really hurt. And you didn't bother to think how it might make me feel."
"I️ know and I'm really sorry about that.... Look Grace I️ really want us to be friends again. I️ miss having you around and I'm tired of fighting. Can't we please just put the past behind us?"
She didn't reply she just kept moving her eyes around as if she couldn't find a point to look at.
"Friends?" I️ said holding my hand out.
After a long and awkward pause she met my hand with hers.
"Just not enemies." She stated.
Maybe it wasn't exactly what I️ was hoping for but I️ couldn't help but smile.
I️ had Grace back in my life.