I hate being a triplet. I especially hate being the oldest triplet. My mom says its cool but it's not. I am always worrying about them, being the oldest means I do everything first. I know what is supposed to happen to them because it's what's happening to me. I will do everything to stop them from having to do the same things I do. I have to, somehow. Being 3 minutes older means way more than it should.
-G

Grant is a triplet?! That makes no sense. Why wouldn't he tell me something like that? It's such a strange secret to keep. This whole time I thought his only sibling was Eli. I am baffled and I am angry. He's been lying to me for years. I have so many questions; do he and his siblings get along, how haven't I met them, where are they? I was not expecting to find a secret on the first page of Grant's diary. If this was page one, I don't even want to think about what I'd find at the end. Do I even want to know anymore? I force myself to take deep breath and keep in mind that there may be a reason behind Grant's closed lips.

Vanessa comes into the room combing through her wet hair. "So, did Grant pee his pants in front of the entire class or what?"

I collect myself. "I haven't gotten to that part yet, I only read the first page."

Her eyebrow lifts as she looks me over. "Then why do you look like you've seen a ghost?"

This simple question sends me down another spiral. Do I tell her? It's not my business to tell, but how can I keep this from someone I'm so close with? I'm mad at Grant, I can't help but feel protective of him at the same time. I bite my bottom lip so hard that I get brought back to the moment by the warm red fluid coating my lip and stinging mildly.

"Grant is a triplet." When you trust someone completely like I trust V, you can lose control of your mouth. The words were out of my mouth before I knew it. Once I realize what I've said I'm happy that I did. It's nice to have someone else involved in all of this. If I get into a tough spot, I know Vanessa knows what's going on and will be able to help.

The exaggerated look of Vanessa's mouth almost makes me laugh, but I don't. "A triplet?!" She whispers as if someone can hear her and it's not just us in the room. This confirms I've made the right choice, my secret is safe with V. "No freaking way!"

I nod in affirmative. "Yeah, first page and I find out he's a triplet."

"Did he say where and who his triplet siblings are?"

"No, maybe he'll mention them more, but right now I'm not sure."

"Are you going to ask him about this?" She unintentionally puffs her lips out in concentration in an adorable way. She always lightens the mood.

I smile. "No, I don't want him to know that I'm doing this until I learn what the real danger is. Being a triplet is huge, but it doesn't tell me why he's been acting so strange lately."

"That's going to be difficult." She points out. "You see him all the time, it's going to kill you not to confront him about all this. Especially as you learn more of his secrets and we all know there's more."

I direct a finger towards her. "That's where you're going to help me. I'll talk to you about it to get it off my chest and then I'll be able to act normally around him."

"That may actually help?" She says it as if it's a question. 

My phone rings, cutting us off. A sense of panic fills me as I see Grant's name. Am I ready to talk to him? Grant's timing is frustratingly perfect, as always.

I realize I have no choice. "Grant?"

His voice comforts me even though I'm nervous to talk to him. I instantly want to hug him, which I kind of hate myself for in the moment.. "Hey Rinnie, how is Vanessa?"

I smile at Vanessa. "She's okay, she's sad but we've been loving hanging out. How's Alec?"

He sounds sad. "A wreck honestly. He will only talk about her and refuses to leave the bedroom unless he has to pee."

My heart aches for Alec. "I think they'll be okay. They just need to talk to each other and work things out."

"Yeah, we need to parent trap these two." He sighs. "In other news, I have a court hearing for Prince tomorrow."

"Huh?"

"His so-called biological parents are abusive drug dealers, and they want him back." His voice is cold, something I'm not used to. "I'm testifying against them. There's no way I'm letting that happen."

I don't even need to think about my response. "What time should I be ready?"

A small laugh comes through the line. "I can pick you up at 8am."

"I'll be waiting outside for you. Do you still think Prince is Grayson's?"

"I think he might be, but Grayson is so adamant he's not that it's confusing."

"The least we can do is protect him until we find out."

"I love you, Rinnie."

Those words anger me because I can no longer be mad at him for lying to me.  All I can do is say weakly, "I miss you." I stunned myself by not saying I love you. I'm not sure what made me say I miss you instead. I miss him but don't I also love him? Why am I so confused about my feeling towards Grant? I hang up the phone and lay it down quickly as if it's a spider crawling up my arm.

Vanessa is fantastic at reading people. She picks up on my mood before my phone touches the counter. "What is it?"

There's no point in lying. "Do you think I'm in love with Grant?"

She laughs. "Do you not think you're in love with Grant?"

I slouch down, feeling guilty. "I should know, shouldn't I?"

Vanessa just smiles. "You do."

"Right now, I'm not sure what I feel." I lean against the wall for support. "I couldn't say I love you to him."

I watch her face as she processes this news. "You're confused because you're reading his diary and feeling like he's a whole new person. You loved who you thought he was, but you don't know enough about the new him to know if you love that person."

She's right. She's always right. A knot forms in my stomach when I realize what I'm doing. "V, I'm so sorry, I want to talk about you. How are you feeling? Grant said Alec is a mess without you."

Vanessa gives me a soft smile and turns away. "It's okay, I understand why you're talking about you and Grant right now and honestly I don't mind the distraction from my problems." Her eyes darken as she speaks. "It feels like Alec stole half of my heart and now I'm just walking around as half a person which is pathetic. Grant said Alec's a wreck?"

"I'm so sorry you're going through this, I love you!" I meet her eyes with sincerity in mine. "Yeah, apparently he won't shut up about you or do anything but pee."

"You better know you love me. "She chuckles. "Good, that's exactly what I want him to be doing right now."

I smirk. "Should I have Grant send pictures of Alec looking miserable?"

"Honestly, I think I'd love that." We simultaneously slide further down the wall. "Men suck."

"I couldn't agree with you more."

She turns her head towards me. "What did Grant call to talk to you about?"

I barely remembered what I agreed to do tomorrow. "He has a court hearing tomorrow to testify against Prince's crappy biological parents."

"Tomorrow?! That's so quick it seems impossible."

I press my back further into the hard wall. "I guess he must've pleaded it was an emergency or something."

She tsks in disapproval. "You don't ask enough questions Z."

"I know." I sigh, disappointed in myself.

"So, is he trying to get custody of Prince?" She plays with her hair, a nervous tick of hers.

I sigh again, more dramatically this time. "I don't think so?"

Vanessa laughs and bumps her shoulder into me. "Girl!" She smirks. "You need an outfit for tomorrow and I need retail therapy, lets go!"