SONG(s) FOR CHAPTER:

♬ Young Blood by Bea Miller ♬

♬ There's A Place For Us by Carrie Underwood ♬

CHAPTER 26

❀ GRACE WALKER ❀

"HOW'S YOUR MOM?" 

Evan shrugged a little with a sad smile on his lips. "Okay, I guess. Todd is still staying with his parents because Frank took matters into his own hands. Apparently, his son has always been... angry."

I scrunched my nose. "I'm sorry, Evan." What else was there to say?

He gave me a look. "I should be apologizing to you considering you had to see, you know... him at his worst."

It was true that I'd never seen such a thing happen before my eyes. It was also true that I had been scared out of my wits and bewildered to no end. When my mom had been into heavy drinking, she had never physically abused either of her kids. There was once when she was really bad, right after Dad died, and she had slapped me over something ridiculous, but that was the first and only time she'd ever laid a hand on me. I couldn't imagine that being a daily thing, especially for poor Paige.

You always hear about child abuse and domestic abuse, but you never really expect such brutality in reality. It just never seems possible for a grown adult to hate their spouse or to hate their children so much that they feel the need to physically harm them. Before meeting Harry, I thought I had gotten the brunt end of the stick, but I hadn't even had a sliver of it. 

"You still going out of town tomorrow to see your family?" Evan's voice snapped me out of my down-spiraling thoughts.

"Yeah," I said. I left out the part of Harry going because every time it came to that subject, the hurt in his eyes just placed more guilt on my shoulders. 

"I hope your family reunion is better than mine."

Without thinking much, I hugged him. It was hard to see a close friend so close to mentally--and physically--collapsing. I hugged him because there were no words to say, no condolences that would mean a thing. I wasn't even sure if a hug would help, but it seemed wiser than sputtering words that held no significance. 

He pulled away and attempted a smile again. "Thanks. Kind of needed one of those."

"The cards will fall where they're supposed to eventually," I told him with a little shrug. "It's the waiting that's most agonizing."

"You should've gone into philosophy," he joked.

After the shift at the hospital and the heartfelt conversation with Evan, I headed back to the apartment to pack for tomorrow. I was anxious to get back home and spend time with family. I was even more so anxious because Harry was going, and relaxation was exactly what that poor man needed. I've been making a list of things I want to do the week we're back home, mostly for his benefit. Anything to keep his mind in a sane place.

Audrey was, once more, attempting to cook. This time it was even more complex--lasagna. She hadn't even known how to layer it, so I took time out of packing to help her. She argued at first, saying, "My cooking is so awesome, even the smoke alarm cheers me on," as if that would've convinced me to let her cook. 

Her lover was coming over tonight for dinner. Needless to say, she was an absolute wreck. She had a shirt on with no pants, half her hair brushed, and only one leg shaved. She hadn't even noticed that one until I pointed it out.

"The things I do for men," she grumbled under her breath, hanging her leg in the sink whilst she ran the razor over her leg. 

I looked at her, half disgusted, half amused. "You know we have a bathroom for a reason, right?"

"I don't have time for bathrooms, Grace. I'll bleach the sink, okay?"

"I'm still not putting dishes or food in there."

"You're dilemma, not mine." She huffed, blowing a strand of wet hair out of her face. She nearly pulled the oven door open after momentarily losing her balance.

"How about I cook and you get ready?" I asked. "We don't have insurance if this place gets burned down."

Audrey kissed my cheek. "Thanks, drama queen."

So I did just that. Dylan showed up hardly thirty minutes later, and Audrey--being exceptionally slow--was still not ready. I tried to make conversation the best I could, but I had things to do, too. It mainly was me talking whilst running around trying to find my suitcase that was miraculously misplaced, and Dylan picking at the lasagna after I slapped his hand twice.

"It just came out of the oven," I told him. "No touch."

He pouted. "But it smells really good."

"Yeah, it tastes good to, but you don't get to know that yet." I pointed my finger at him as a warning just as Audrey came out, fully ready. "Hey, do you know where my suitcase is?"

"How do you misplace a suitcase?" she asked, getting a fork and about to stab the meal I just made. They really were a great couple.

I slapped her hand. "Stop that! It's supposed to cool for ten minutes."

"But I'm hungry now."

"Fine, the next time you need a meal made, go to Dylan's and burn down his house," I said half-teasingly.

Audrey stuck her tongue out at me. "I have your suitcase, by the way."

I gave her a look, not even bothering to ask why she had it before going into her room to retrieve it. After getting it from her closet, I went to my room and finally began shoving outfits into it. Audrey came in a while later to say her and Dylan were going out, so I waved her off before taking a shower and heading straight to bed. 

There was a long week ahead of me.

★ ☆ ★ ☆

"You forgot to buy plane tickets?" Harry laughed, raising his eyebrows at me in amusement.

I huffed, blowing a strand of hair out of my face as I shuffled through my closet. "I've had money saved up to go home, but the plane tickets completely slipped my mind. I never really what true idiocy was until just now."

He leaned against the doorway to my bedroom, folding his arms across his chest. "Grace, since you forgot to get the tickets, I can pay for them." 

It was true he obviously got good money being a professional fighter and all, but independence was a priority for me. God forbid we break up (again) for good, I won't know what it's like paying for my own stuff. I believe in chivalry to a certain degree, but there are times when a person can become too reliant on someone else, and that never ends well.

"No, Harry, it's fine. I've been saving this specifically for this trip," I said.

Knowing he couldn't argue with a determined woman, he sighed in defeat. I panicked a little realizing that I could be too late for a plane ticket and it was getting closer and closer for the plane to leave. It would be at least a fourteen hour drive, and truthfully, I was not up for that when I had money for a quicker ride.

Sensing my stress, Harry wrapped his arms around my waist from behind and kissed my cheek. "Take a breather, love."

Heaving a breath, I closed my eyes and melted into his touch. "I miss them," I murmured. "Just a little anxious about getting there."

I turned to face him and he pressed his lips softly to mine. "I promise, we'll get there."

Giving him a soft smile, I then scrambled to get the rest of my things together. I hugged Audrey goodbye while Harry called the taxi driver that seemed to just love driving him around. We shoved our things in the trunk and piled in the backseat.

The airport hadn't been as crowded as I thought, making it easier to snag one of the few remaining tickets and swiftly weave through security procedures. It was odd, though, when I saw a group of kids--three girls and two boys--heading towards us. Not used to strangers looking so eager whilst practically jogging towards me, I gave Harry a wary nudge before remembering that, duh, Harry was the reason they were coming over in the first place.

It was nice to watch him converse with people who support him. His fans. Still such a weird concept I haven't grasped. He went from the popular boy in school to the popular man in the world. Kind of made my heart swell when I indulged in the thought too long.

Our flight was called, so Harry hurriedly said goodbye in the kindest way possible just as the rush really began to kick in. People started crowding the corridor as if on a routine schedule. He grabbed my hand, pulling me through the growing mass of people and towards our correct terminal.

Once seated on the plane, I prepared for the three hour flight by laying my head on Harry's shoulder and pulling out a joke book. I heard him groan playfully, making me smirk before flipping to the first page. I scanned for a good one before reading it aloud.

"I went to the zoo the other day--"

"God, Grace, please don't."

"--there was only one dog in it. It was shitzu."

Harry's hand slapped his forehead while I laughed harder than necessary. I looked up and could see a smile on his lips, though for some reason, he was against simple yet hysterical jokes. Or at least he wanted me to think he was. I think, deep down, everyone secretly devours small puns and pathetic jokes that hardly make sense. Even if you hate them, you love them.

"I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger... Then it hit me."

"Are you done?"

"I don't trust stairs because they're always up to something."

"Grace Walker, I might have to go find another seat."

"There was a cat with sixteen lives. A four-by-four jeep ran over it, and the cat died."

Harry teasingly stood as if to walk off. I chuckled, grabbing his hand and pulling him back down. He gave me a look, trying his hardest not to laugh. "This nonsense must end," he said.

Biting my bottom lip to try and stifle my own laugh, I mumbled, "My math teacher called me average once... how mean." 

"You are the strangest person I've ever met."

After my laughing fit, I gave the jokes a rest so Harry wouldn't actually get annoyed. Wouldn't want to be that person that just couldn't shut up, though I could keep going just for my own enjoyment. But I wondered...

"Do you still have the pun book I gave you?" I asked him, tucking the joke book away and turning in the seat to look at him.

He frowned some. "Why wouldn't I?"

I smiled. "I don't know. I was just curious." He could've thrown it out when we broke up, but before I even asked, I knew Harry wouldn't have done that. He's not the type to throw away memories, especially the good ones. He's hardly used to having them to begin with, sadly.

The rest of the flight we watched a movie and talked about nothing particular. How my classes would be starting up again soon, what we were going to do once we landed--small things like that. Harry didn't give himself enough credit with socializing skills. If he wanted to, he could keep a conversation going easily. But like me, he mainly chooses to keep to himself.

Pretty soon, we had landed and were already in a taxi on the way home. I could feel the excitement growing inside me as I thought about seeing Mom and Noah again for the first time in months. The last time I visited was last Christmas, and here we were right around the corner from Halloween. Nearly a year with mere phone calls wasn't enough to keep me from missing them.

Not to mention I had yet to see Mom with a bun in her oven.

I sent her a quick text to alert her that we were almost there, and she definitely returned the excitement of me returning by standing on the porch as soon as we pulled up. Being sensitive, I almost felt like I could cry seeing her bright smile and her hand on her bump, that's grown considerably since she announced her pregnancy. She had to be four or five months by now.

Mr. Pell was standing beside her, Noah there as well. I abandoned the taxi and hurried up to them, wrapping my arms around Noah first, then Mom. Mr. Pell gave my shoulder a squeeze, giving me a small smile along with it. Mom was teary when she kissed my forehead, and Noah was rolling his eyes, but gave me another hug nonetheless.

After short greetings, I turned to go help Harry with the luggage but saw Mr. Pell already there helping him. I didn't bother asking if they needed any extra help, because we didn't have that much as it was.

Walking into the house, Mom's pulled pork engulfed me. I inhaled for a long while, the smell of the familiar structure and the smell of homemade cooking enough to comfort me for the longest of days.

"It smells delicious," I told her.

Mom grinned. "It was Noah's idea."

"Good thinking, little brother."

Noah nodded, a smug look on his face. Then he slapped my shoulder, remembering something he clearly forgot to say sooner. "I'm not single anymore."

I gave him a look. "Riley?"

His eyes lit up. "Yeah, finally. It only took me about a year, but she admitted she liked me right before school got out. We even managed to go to prom together."

"Aw!" I ruffled his hair. "Look at you finally getting with the ladies."

Harry and Mr. Pell came in then with bags in hand, and Noah turned to him, a bit shocked. He looked to me, then back to Harry, then back to me. "Wait... you guys are back together again?"

I tilted my head at my mother. "You said you told everyone."

Mom smiled, holding her hands up in defense. "Noah was at a friend's when you called, and it just slipped my mind." 

Noah cut in saying, "Hey, I didn't say I didn't like it. I'm actually on the football team now, so you know. Harry could be like a personal trainer or something."

Harry cheeks tinted a bit red. "It's been a while since I've played, lad."

Noah shrugged. "Then just teach me what you learn in UFC. I bet no one would try and tackle me then if they knew you helped me out."

I pushed him some. "Stop smothering him."

Harry laughed. "Maybe tomorrow, yeah?"

Noah grinned and nodded quickly in agreement.

Mr. Pell clapped his hands, catching everyone's attention. "Right then. Grace, your room has remained untouched, thanks to your mother's considerate side, so it's all yours again."

I smiled and stopped him when he went to carry our bags up. "We can take them up later," I told him. "Thanks, though."

Obviously, couples think alike because Mom was the next to slap her hands together and snag our eyes towards her. "Dinner is ready! How about we all catch up?"

(holy cheese, I feel like I'm always apologizing for updating late, I'm so so so so sorry. this chapter is also more of a filler because since I haven't written in so long, I was just so out of it while writing this. I hope it's okay, though, and I'm going to try my hardest to update tomorrow or Sunday <3

also, unfortunately I succumbed to peer pressure and gotten--yes, you probably didn't guess it, unless you've read my rant book--a snapchat. you can add me: writetospeak : and please don't be offended if I don't add you back. I think I have it set to where everyone can see my stories and there's just so many of you, but I'll try my hardest, I promise <3

ANOTHER ALSO, I have a recommendation book thingy out called "Solutions to Boredom" so if you want some good books to read or songs to listen to or whatever, you can check that out as well <3

ANOTHER, ANOTHER ALSO, my twitter name has been changed to: write2bleed /and instagram has been changed to: writetobleed

sheesh this was a long note, but there was just so much for me to catch you up on. I love you all so so so so much, and please forgive me for the long wait x)