Just Friends

Chapter Six

"Your.. Your Gay..?"
I stutter out. I could feel my heart thumping louder in my chest. I had only just met Rose and now I'm feeling.. Attracted to her..?
Feeling confused I said nothing.
"Grace, I'm sorry, I should of told you when we first met." I could feel the pain in Roses vioce.
"Grace!" Mum called my name.
"I have to go." I told Rose.
"Oh.. OK, I'll text you later..Grace?"
I hung up.

"Yeah?" I said as I walked in the living room. Jake was sitting on the couch, I sat down next to him and faced my parents opposite us.
"So, Aunt Maddie called us and.. She wants us to go up to Scotland andd visit Grandma. She hasn't been well and you know Grandma, she's getting old and quite frail now.." mum said.
I felt the lump in my throat grow. I loved Grammy Soph with all my heart. She'd always been there for me.
But lately she hasn't t be well, it's like each day she gets worse and worse. I push my conversation with Rose out of my mind and focus on what my parents where saying.

"So your father and I are going to go up on Thursday. Of course you don't have to come if you don't want to. What with school and everything. I'm sure we could arrange something."

For the first time in awhile I could see how tired my parents had become. Mum had bags under her eyes and dad barley talked anymore. He was always working. Jane tensed up beside me.
"We can go." I said. I needed to clear my head anyway, maybe getting out the country could be good.
"Same. I'll go too." Jake spoke up.
Mum smiled gratefully.
"You don't have too guys." Dad says.
Jake nods, "Were coming, right Grace?"
"Right."

The next day was Tuesday. When I walked into school the next morning alone I could feel everyones eyes on me again.
I sighed and rushed to my locker. Dread filling my body. I reached it quickly and entered the code, just as-
"Hey Grace."
-Josh..
I ignored him and opened the metal door.
"Ignoring me huh?" He grabbed my ponytail again and tugged my backward. It hurt like hell and I could see my vision clouding.
"Where's your little friend?" He snarls. I shiver and say nothing.
I'm tugged back one more time before he shoves my head into the locker. Tears cloud my already cloudy vision and to my horror I can feel blood dripping down my nose. I lay on the floor in silence. There are a few gasps and people around me aren't sure Wether or not they should help.
Thats when I hear Jake.

"Grace!?" He tells down the corridor. From where I am I can see him and Rose running down the hall toward me. Rose has a look of determination and horror on her face. I grit my teeth through the pain of my pounding headache. I shift my gaze over to my older brother. His face is filled with anger. For a second i feel better knowing that there here but then pictures of Jake and Josh fighting each other and every ounce of reassurence I had disintegrates.

I feel Rose sit next to my head. She grabs my hand and takes a tissue to press against my nose.
"What's your problem?!" Jake yells.
Rose turns her eyes to meet mine. There full of worry and hurt. She pushes the tissue further, making me wince. My nose hurts slightly. The rest if the morning was a blur. I do remember the principal coming and breaking up The fight. I also remember Rose helping me to the nurses office. I remember her hand finding mine and giving it squeeze.

I'm given the rest of the day off so I go home to start packing. The sun beams through my paper thin curtains and ruffles the papers I have on my desk.

Some of them are things for school. Essays I need done even though we just got back from summer break. Schools like that. Loading you up until you finally cave in. Then loading you up again. I don't have a problem with homework like some people. It's gives me something to focus on when I'm bored.
My suitcase is filled to the brim with items of clothing I probably won't wear. It's cold in Scotland so I pack an extra wooly jumper. It's the one I got last winter when mum took me shopping. The suitcase is so full I have to sit on it to zip it up. When I wheel it downstairs I hear a key in the lock. My heart jumps out of my chest when Jake walks in, looking enraged.
"Why didn't you tell me?" He asked. His voice firm. I shuffled my feet and shrugged.
"Is this becuase of last summer?" He asked me. I nodded.

He sighed and ran his fingers through his brown hair.
"Were going to have to tell someone. Grace you could've gotten seriously hurt. How long has this been going on?"
"Awhile.." I whisper.
"Grace, what else has he done." He damanded more then asked.
"Thats really it. Pull my hair. Push me over.." I trailed off. That wasn't all but I didnt want to get Jake more angry then he already was.

He stared into my eyes for awhile
Searching for something. Finally he moves on.
"Mum will be home in ten," he says before trudging up the stairs.

.......

The next day Jake stuck to me like glue. He walked me to class and waited until it was over so he could walk me to my next one. I saw Rose once in the halls. She smiled at me and I gave her a small wave in return.
We saw Josh once. He smirked at me and Jane swore at him. Thankfully that was all he did and I managed to get through the day without any struggle.

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

Yay!!!! So the next two chapters will be Grace on holiday, I know, not much action or romance there sorry. Than s for reading. Also, school just started again so I may be updating not as regularly so I apologise for that. I'll try my best.
Bye guys ❤️