The Love Story that was Never Told

Those Family Meals

"Hey mom." I walk into my house after talking with Jacob. The surprising chat I had with him actually went well.

"Hey Grace, anything new to report?" She says, rinsing some lettuce in the sink. Zack is sitting on the couch, texting. Kids and their smart phones.

"Well not really." I lie. I can't let mom know what I had seen. She would be furious, after all she practically already knows I'm in love with Ben.

"Pfft, liar." I hear Zack scoff from the living room.

"What's that punk? You got something to say?" I charge at him, my hands outstretched for his neck.

"Mom! Grace has gone crazy again!" He says, rushing away from me. I snatch his phone from his hand and hold it behind my back. Zack being almost 13 has technically grown so much taller than me that it hurts my pride. Oh well, what can you do?

"Grace, give Zack his phone back." She is holding a spatula directly at my face. I give it back, and receive a look from Zack. I return it, as if we were kids again. My mom places the bowls of lettuce on the table and we automatically move to sit down at the 2 chairs out of 3. When my mom is done mixing the cake she had been baking she sits down in between Zack and I and we munch on our salad in silence. Ever since dad had died, our family meals had been silent. Whenever someone would try to break the repeated silence, it would just get 10x more awkward. This was what it had become, and probably what it would always will be. When I clear my plate, I stand up and rinse it off. I put it in the dishwasher and go to my room. As soon as I get the door shut I fall against the bed and sigh. Across the side yard is Ben's room. He's not in there now, but he will be eventually. I sigh again. Brooke and Ben, it's enough to my heart burst into a million fractals. My phone beeps, and I grab it from my pocket. The text is from Clara, and it's one of those mass text messages.

"What did ur parents say?" Clara's message said, there had already been some responses from Landon and Alex. But none from Ben or Brooke. They're probably together right now, I think bitterly. I text back to Clara.

"I'm going to be there." She responds in almost 2 seconds flat.

"What about Ben or Brooke?" I sit in silence. I could act like nothing happened, or I can be the good friend. But I don't ever want to be the bad friend. So I text back to Clara saying,

"Idk.. theyll say." I can't say I'll ever forgive Brooke, but all I can say is.. I will fight for Ben.