Chelles POV:

I clutched the phone in shock. There's only one day left to survive here until the break. Yet I get more bad news. I think this month is cursed. Too much bad has happened. I've always hated my aunt, she acted just like my mom. But hearing she is in the hospital because of a car crash is shaking me up a bit. Will she be okay?

"I wanted to tell you, Rochelle. But of course you don't care like usual." My mom hangs up when I don't respond. 

"Mom!" I yelp but she for sure hung up.

My dorm room is silent and I hate it. I hate being alone. I hate not having my best friend anymore. I hate not having the perfect family everyone seems to have. There's only one person left for me. And that's Harry. I grow embarrassed when I start crying. There's no one to even see me though. Why do I have to go through so much? Why me?

"Please come to my dorm." I cry into the phone before I can realize it.

"Fuck, are you okay?" Harry breaths.

"Just come."

"I'll be right there, I promise."

I nod even though he can't see me. Harry's so easy to call, I think he's my emergency number. He's always up late too. It's around midnight and we still have one school day left. That's how I know Harry is genuinely a good person. He has changed so much. I liked him before. Until I gave up on guys with player ways. But he doesn't have that anymore, he doesn't have any of it.

The doorknob rattles and I forgot that I always lock the door. Freely, I wipe my eyes. I always have so much makeup on so I can't do that without smearing it. But it's night so I obviously took it all off. Once the doors unlocked, Harry rushes in.

"Chelle what-"

I grab his cheek so he'll stop questioning me. He does immediately and shifts lightly. When I take my hand off his cheek, he steps a little closer. I always loved his height. Tall guys are incredibly fit.

"My aunt was in a car crash." I tell him quietly, "She's in the hospital right now."

"I'm sorry.. " Harry frowns, "We're all here for you."

When I don't respond he pulls me into his chest. I don't hesitate to wrap my arms around him. He's super warm and familiar. Harry sits us down on the bed and I lean my head onto his shoulder. I wish he would talk about his feelings lately. I want to hear so much but he's not saying anything.

"Why'd you call me?" He asked.

I raised one eyebrow up. What was that supposed to mean?

"Harry." I look at him, "You're my best friend, why wouldn't I?"

"I don't know, I'm glad you did. I just thought you'd call Eleanor or someone."

I was starting to get offended. Can't he just be here and feel okay. Does he feel like he shouldn't or something. I'm getting really confused.

"You used to always hang out in my dorm." I bring up.

"That hasn't happened in a while.." He comments.

"Because you've had other priorities lately." I blurt.

He knows exactly what I mean. We haven't been as close when Grace was on his mind. I'm not meaning this about Grace in any bad way. It's just the truth.

"Don't bring Grace into this." His eyes start to crease.

"Why not?"

"You know I'm missing her."

"Is that why you're not 'comforting' me right now? She's gone Harry, I'm sad too. We all are."

"Yeah but you don't understand." He pushes his palms to the bed and shoots up.

"What the fuck? She was my best friend! Of course I would, that was her bed right over there. She told me everything!"

"Did she tell you she was in love with me?" Harry asks.

"She wasn't." I shake my head.

She always wanted Niall in the end. It wouldn't make any sense for her to love Harry. Could it? 

Harry scoffs, "Why wouldn't she love me?"

"I can see why. You're being a dick right now." I smirk. 

God, I get myself into saying shit I don't mean too frequently. This used to be me all the time. Snapping at people.

"I never, ever was to Gracie. She was the sweetest to me."

"Oh and I'm just so horrible to you?"

Harry opens his mouth and doesn't say anything. Where the hell is this conversation even going? No where fucking good, that's all I know. I point to the door for him to get out and turn my head away from him. I hear the door slam. We're all so messed up lately. 

Even though he's acting like a dick, I knew I would fall for Harry again at one point. I know it's happening.

Harry's POV:

There's no words to explain how messed up I am lately. I don't know what to feel and I sure as hell miss how Brookwood used to be before she left. Now I took it out on Chelle. She hates me at the moment, she was pissing me off too. But that's what she always does.

I realize I can't be a baby and pout in my dorm. I'm not going to bed anytime soon, even though there are classes early tomorrow. My feet find their way back to Chelle's dorm.

"Hi Chelle.. Listen, uh.." I try to find the words. 

"I don't want to talk to you." She turns her back to me and shuts the door.

I slump in the hallway, then barge in. She's going to be so damn stubborn. I guess I don't blame her, I acted like a dick. She's not going to talk so I might as well.

"Please." I beg.

Right when she turns to look at me, I grab her arm. Her dark brown eyes wander everywhere but my face. What can I say.. What can I say..

"Look at me." I snap.

She looks up at me like it was the hardest task ever.

"I shouldn't have acted like that. You needed someone and I acted like a dick. And about the Grace stuff, well.. It's hard for both of us. We need eachother." I surprise myself by my miniature rant.

Chelle just rolls her eyes, "I don't need this Harry."

"Yeah, you do. And I'm so sorry. What do you want me to do?"

Chelle smirks slightly and pushes my chest. God, I am sounding so emotional.

"It's fine Haz. I guess we do need eachother."

"C'mon." She adds.

Chelle wraps her around me into a hug. I raise my eyebrow when a faint blush appears on her cheeks.

I reckon we're the most bipolar friends around.

Grace's POV:

3 days later..

'That's great!  Guess u get a long break from Brookwood now, huh? x-Gracie'

I smile and remember Niall's little house so clearly.  I especially remember the downstairs since that is where I slept.  The last couple of days have slowly gotten better.  Niall and I have been texting like were best friends.  Weird, right?  And I haven't gotten much from Harry... or really anyone.  Something important was probably going on and I shouldn't bother them.  But then I wonder, should I visit them over this break?  They finally got out and Niall just told me he arrived home yesterday!

"If he's not too far away, just go visit him.  You won't stop texting the man!" Lyssa rolls her eyes at me.  

"That's the thing Lyss, he is far away." I sigh, wishing it wasn't true.  

"Damn it, I want to meet him." 

"That would be so fun." I smile, "I wish you could." 

It feels like forever since I've seen my friends.  They feel so ridiciously far away, I hate it.  Each day I'm growing farther and farther apart.  I won't admit it to myself but it's true.  Lyssa and I both turn to the door when it opens.  My dad's home then.  

"I've got pizza." He sings a little.  

Lyssa laughs and I almost crack a smile.  I still hate him, yeah.  He throws his keys down and immediately opens up the pizza.  The beautiful scent of pizza quickly drifts toward me.  I think I'm being lured in by the cheesey-ness.  Since suddenly I'm putting two pieces on a plate.  I cannot wait to eat.  

"How'd you girls feel about today?" My dad makes conversation.  

All three of us sit down at the counter and it's strange.  Very, very strange.  My dad usually stays late at Wings n Rings but I guess not tonight.  Maybe this is a little exciting.  I bounce my leg up and down on the counter chair.  

"Much busier." I say but don't make eye contact. 

"No matter how busy it is, we're the best waitresses in the world." Lyssa says and takes an overly large bite of pizza.

My dad smiles, "You guys are doing great." 

Being a waitress is pretty different from anything I've done.  It's taken my mind off everything.  Then I text Niall after work.  It's the best this situation could get and it can't get that good.  Also the Danny guy is cool, i guess.  We can't talk that much though since it's work.  

"Only one more day you girls have to work this week." He adds.

"Yay, party by myself this weekend." I mumble.

"What?" He asks.

"Nothing."

"One new message from Chelley' popped up on my phone.  I immediately grew curious.  She finally texted me!  When I read the message and it said 'call me' I grew even more curious.   

"Excuse mwa." I say and rush to another room.  

Lyssa won't mind sitting there with my dad.  Well, he does happen to be her uncle and Lyssa talks to anyone.  I hold my phone by my shoulder and close the doors to the giant office.  It keeps buzzing, almost making me think she's not going to pick up.

"Hello?" I say when she answers.

But she doesn't say anything.  

"Hello?" I repeat. 

"Er, you must have noticed I haven't been talking to you.  There's a reason."  Chelle breathes out.  

"Wha-"

"My aunt was in a car crash a couple days ago.  A bad one." Chelle says quietly, "Her funeral was today." 

Truly, I was expecting anything but that.  My heart started aching for her and I squeezed my eyes shut.  Chelle keeps getting more and more stuff thrown in her hard life.  Why do bad things happen to good people?  I really was struggling on what to say.

"Are you- Are you okay?" I frown.  

"I think so, you know I was never close with my family and all.  But Harry came today, he helped a lot." I could hear the sadness in her voice. 

Did the others not come then?  Just Harry?  I definitely would have came.  

"I need to go, we need to talk soon though." Chelle says. 

"If you need anything.. Just call me." I rush. 

"Thanks, love you." 

"Love you too." I reply.  

That was quick.  I take a deep breath but it doesn't really work.  My throat closes up and I start to cry.  I start to cry for my best friend, for her family, and for everything lately.  Nothing can work out, can it?  I hate crying again.  I haven't in a long time.  

With shaking hands, I unlock my phone and desperately scroll through my photos.  I know it's only making it worse, but I need to see him.  His happy smile and messy, blond hair.  A picture of Niall.  I try to picture him comforting me and his warmth instead of the cold winter air outside.   

I hear footsteps and look up to my dad.  His eyes are slightly wide as he sits down next to me.  I forget everything that he's done that's made me mad.  He is my dad.  Even if he made me move, I'm with him..my family.  I cry into his arms and we both don't say a word.  

"You're okay, Grace." He starts whispering.  

I look up and finally say, "I'm sorry.  My friend's aunt passed away.  So much has been going on lately." 

"Don't be sorry." He shakes his head, "I can be here for you if you let me." 

"Yeah?" I whimper. 

"Yes." He nods, "Now come on." 

My dad kisses the top of my head and helps me up.  Knowing Lyssa will ask what's wrong, I tell her right away that I'm okay.  It feels weird knowing I just had that conversation with my dad.  Are things going to change?  Lyssa pulls me to the couch and turns on Vampire Diaries.  I smile and snuggle into her shoulder.  My dad has to leave halfway through because he kept making funny comments.  After giving me a light smile, he left the room. 

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Authors note:

I MISSED YOU NUGGETS SO MUCH...ITS BEEN CRAZY LATELY.  BUT IM BACK SO WHY EXPLAIN EVERYTHING, THINGS MAY START GETTING BETTER IN THE BOOKY;) 

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Love, 

-L e e T o m m o <3