Gracie P.O.V

       I walked into the living room to see Dylan and T.J playing poker. "Seriously? This is why you couldn't come pick me up?", I scoffed and walked into my bedroom slamming the door. I heard arguing for a little while until someone came upstairs and knocked on my door. "Come in", I yelled and in walked T.J. I looked up both surprised and confused. "Hey T.J. What's up?", I asked. "Hey, Gracie. I was wondering if you would like to go to the park with me. I figured when you slammed your door that you don't really want to be around Dylan and he's not going with us. Plus walks are calming and I think it could help you calm down", he said calmly. I readily agreed and put on a sweatshirt in case I got cold. I slipped on some flipflops and told him I'd meet him outside. I grabbed my phone and earbuds and slipped out my window. 

He looked at me surprised and I shrugged my shoulders. We started walking and I had one earbud in quietly playing Ember Trio meanwhile T.J. and I talked quietly about random things. Once we got to the park I saw my friends Jayla and Shy. "Jayla! Shy!", I yelled and grabbed T.J's hand dragging him along as I jogged over to them. "Hey, Gracie and... T.J?", Jayla asked. I shrugged my shoulders and joined them on the tire swing. "T.J! Come push us. Pretty please?", I asked him. He shrugged his shoulders and gave us a big push to the right. We started spinning and I giggled having more fun than I can remember having in a long time. T.J smiled at me and after a while, we got dizzy so we stopped. We all walked back to my house and shared a gallon of oreo ice cream among the four of us. 

About half an hour later someone knocked on my door. I opened the door to come face to face with Dylan. "Great! You're just in time to play truth or dare", I said smirking as I led him into the living room. "Alright, guys! We are going to play truth or dare!", I yelled out to them. "I'll go first".  I said and looked Dylan directly in the eye. "Truth or dare Dylan?", I asked him. He glared at me a little before saying, "Truth." "Wimp",  I said and smirked. "Who was your first?", I asked him smirking. He blushed a deep red and said that he had never done it. I smiled and we moved on. We played for a couple hours until Dylan and T.J said that I had to go home. I smiled and said goodbye to everyone before stumbling to the car. On the way to the house, I fell asleep. I slightly awoke when I felt someone pick me up but then went right back to sleep forgetting completely who picked me up. 

I woke up the next morning groggy as hell. I walked downstairs to see and smell bacon and eggs. "Food?", I asked and ran over to Dylan that was making the food. He laughed and handed me a plate piled high. I quickly ate my breakfast and then went upstairs to get changed. I changed into a grey tank top with a black leather jacket and some ripped black skinny jeans. I walked downstairs and grabbed my book bag and was about to walk to my bus stop when Dylan stopped me. "How would you feel about riding with me and the guys this morning?", he asked. "Are you sure? I could always ride with Shy? I mean I don't want the guys to freak out", I told him. "It's fine. I already texted them and they all said that they are cool with it." "Okay." I said and walked outside to wait for the guys to come pick us up. Only a few minutes later the van showed up. Suddenly I got an idea. The van was a plain white color and I really wanted to paint it. I told Dylan my idea and as we got in the car he told the guys my idea. Suprisenly Shaun was the first one to speak up,"I'm down. But if you paint it some girly shit then I'm painting it back to it's original color." I nodded my head and everyone else murmred their agreement besides Nate who just stayed quiet. 

On the ride to school it was quiet except for the low murmur of the radio. As soon as Shaun parked the car and I got out of the car Shy came over to me. She pulled me away from them before I could say goodbye. As we walked into the school she asked me,"So they are more important then me now?" "You know that will never happen Shy. I have something to tell you but you can't tell anyone else okay?" She nodded her head and wrapped her pinky around mine in a pinky promise. "My mom and my sister went on a vacation and left me behind. When Dylan found out about it he told me that I had to live with him." I told her. "He didn't even give you an option?" she asked me. "Nope", I said popping the "p". "Well then." she said and I laughed. She walked me to my first class which is forensics. I waled into the doorway and put my stuff down at my seat. Ass soon as I went to sit down my phone started ringing. I looked down at the caller ID to see that it was my mom.

I hurridly told my teacher that I had to take a phone call and stepped into the hallway. I answered the call and as soon as I said "Hello?" my mom started talking. "What's you worthless piece of shit?" she slurred out. "Mom your drunk and I'm at school. I'll call you later when I get home." I told her. 'Don't you dare-" I cut her off by hanging up the phone. I pulled myself together and walked back into class. "Everything okay?" my teacher asked. I just nodded my head and went back to my seat. After three more classes it was time for lunch. I went to go sit by my friends when someone grabbed my arm. My reflex kicked in and I hurridly elbowed them in the stomach and was ready to punch when I heard a familiar voice say," Stop!" "Dylan?!" I asked loudly. "What the hell were you thinking?" I asked him.

"I'm sorry." he said and I took a deep breath. He must have noticed something was wrong because he instanly asked me "What's wrong?" "My mother called me in first period" I told him. As we walked towards his table I told him what she had said to me. He looked super pissed by the end of it. "I'm gonna kill her" he muttered underneath his breath. "Umm no your not." I told him as we stopped in front of his table. I looked away from Dylan to see Chandler, Nate, Shaun, and T.J. "My bestie! T.J. yelled and quickly ran over to hug me. At that point I couldn't take it anymore. I started sobbing into T.J's shoulder. He quickly hugged me tighter and started rubbing my back whispering reasuring things in my ear trying to calm me down.

After a couple minutes I finally calmed down. I grabbed my book bag and sat in the empty seat next to T.J. I put in one earbud and started playing my mix off of my youtube. I was zoning in and out of reality when all of a sudden I heard my name being said. "What?" I asked T.J patted my head saying to not worry about it. "Oh hell no you don't" I said and took my earbud out. "What were you talking about and why was my name mentioned?" I asked glaring at all of them. Finally Dylan huffed and said annoyed," One of the mexican guys named Justin was talking about you." Before I could ask what about me T.J interrupted me and said,"He was telling his friends that he thinks that your cute but is a little scared of asking you out because you've been hanging out with us." "Wait are you talking about Justin Perez? Because if so let me tell you, that boy is sexy as fuck. Like damn I would hit that any day." I said and the boys just started at me shocked. "What?" I asked them confused. Before anyone could say anything the bell rang signaling the end of lunch. I shrugged my shoulders, grabbed my back pack and put both my earbuds in blasting Porcelain Black. 

I walked down the hallway with my head down per usual when I bumped into someone and stumbled. I was about to fall down when someone caught me. I looked up to see the devil himself. Justin Perez. "Hi." I said and he smiled showing me his pearly white teeth. "Hi." he smiled back and helped me stand back up. For a little we just stood there before he realized he was still holding my hands. I blushed and he scratched the back of his head. "Can I walk you to your class?" he asked me and I nedded my head shyly. Once we got to my sign language class he started stuttering, "Can I maybe, I mean would you like to-" I cut him off saying,"I would love to go on a date with you." Before I even could second guess myself I kissed him on the cheek and quickly walked into the classroom and sat down at me seat. The entire class my leg was bouncing up and down in excitement. I was thinking about what I did over and over again second guessing everything.

 My mind was going crazy,"What if that was too soon? What if he didn't want me to kiss him? What if he didn't want the people at school to know about us? Is there even an us? What if he wants to keep me a secret?" My mind kept overthinking every little thing that I could of done wrong. Eventually the bell rung and I was suprised standing there. When I walked outside my classroom to see Justin standing there. "Can I walk you to your bus?" he asked me. "Actually Dylan and his friends are driving me home but you can most definetly walk me to their car. Are you going to miss your bus if you walk me over there though?" I asked him concerned. "Actually I drive myself to school and home everyday so there's nothing to worry about beautiful." I blushed at the nick name and we started walking. Before I even realized what he was doing my hand was interlocked with his. I smiled widely loving the fact that he didn't want to keep us a secret at school. "If there is an us", my brain added.

As we walked people kept staring at us. I blushed a deep red and kept my head down letting my hair cover my face. All of a sudden he stopped and turned to face me. I looked at him questioning what he was doing when he took my hair and moved behind my ear. "I get that people are looking at us but don't hide your face. You look beautiful. You are beautiful. Don't let people staring get you down." He said and I smiled blushing even harder. We continued to walk and when we got to Shaun's car everyone was there waiting for me. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Dylan's fist clench but I brushed it off and tried not to think about it.

"Give me your phone for a sec" Justin said and I unlocked it and handed it to him. He put his number into my phone and then kissed my cheek really quick saying goodbye. I got in the car and sat next to Dylan. The car ride was pretty quiet except for the music playing in the back round. As soon as we got to Dylan's house he slammed the car door shut and stomped inside the house. I grabbed my things and looked after him confused. I shook it off and followed him inside. Once inside I walked to my "room" and sat down on the bad. I sat there deep in thought as a million thoughts ran through my head. Finally I decided that enough was enough. I quickly packed everything I owned into my book bag and walked out the front door slamming it shut behind me. I took one last look at Dylan's house before starting the walk to my house.

(Dylan's P.O.V)

         As soon as I saw Grace approaching the car I smiled. But then I saw that douche bag Justin was with her. I don't like him. He's known for being a player. Rumors say that once he sleeps with a girl he leaves her for another one. I don't want that to happen to Grace. I clenched my fists and tried not to punch him in the face when he kissed her on the cheek. I got in the car ans didn't say a word to anyone. As soon as Shaun stopped in front of my house I grabbed my things and slammed the car door behind me. I went straight to my room and put my headphones in listening to rap as loud as I could. I must of fallen asleep because when I woke up it was dark out. I took my earbuds out and immedietly knew something was wrong. I heard nothing. It was completely silent in the house. I quickly got up and went to the room I gave to Grace. She was gone along with all of her things. I put on a jacket and quickly walked to her house.

I thanked gound. I thanked god when I saw a light on in her house. I went and knocked on the door. When I didn't get an answer I tried opening the door and was suprised to find it unlocked. As soon as I opened the door I knew something was wrong. I heard crying and ran towards the sound. I came upon a white door. When I tried tom open it but it was locked. And that's when I smelled something metallic. I at once knew it was blood. I pounded on the door but she didn't open the door. Finally I gave up on trying to get her to open the door and decided to just pick the lock instead. I finally got the door open and saw Grace sitting on the bathroom floor curled up into a little ball. Her arm had fresh cuts all over it and there was blood dripping on the floor from her arm. She was whimpering and I rushed to her.

I pulled her to my chest and felt her cry into my t-shirt. I took my jacket off and wrapped it around her as she was shivering. Once she calmed down a little I asked her what happened. As she hiccuped she told me, "My mother called. She was really drunk and angry. S-she told me that she wished I was never born. She called me a mistake and told me that she wished she had an abortion. She told me that she hated me and that I'm a worthless and toxic demon." I instanly felt anger.  How could someone so beautiful and pure be born into such an awful family? I pulled her away from my chest and looked her into her eyes. "You are not a mistake. You are so beautiful and the kindest person I've ever met. Please don't ever let anyone make you think differently." I told her truthfully. All of a sudden I heard her phone ringing. She hurridly wiped her tears and looked at her phone. All of a sudden she smiled. "It's Justin" she said and I nodded and walked out of the bathroom. 

(Grace P.O.V)

         I looked down at my phone and smiled seeing Justin's name. I didn't even notice Dylan walk out of the room as I answered the call. "Hey beautiful. Whatcha doing?" he asked and I answered by saying nothing. I could tell he was nervous but I couldn't understand why. "So there's this party on Friday that my friend is throwing. All my friends really want to meet you so I was wondering if you would want to come with me?" He asked me nervously. I instanly nodded my head before realizing that he couldn't see me. "Yeah I would love to go", I told him and he laughed saying that he would pick me up from my house at six. I texted him Dylan's address before cursing realizing that he didn't know I was living with him.

I texted Shy real quick and she told me that we had to go shopping. I laughed feeling a lot better then looked up and realized Dylan wasn't in the room with me anymore. I walked out just in time to see Dylan paste a smile on his face. I decided to ignore it and started taking his jacket off to give it back to him when he stopped me. "Don't worry about it. Your still shivering." he told me and I nodded my head and thanked him. We walked back to his house to find Shy leaning aganist her car in the driveway. I immediently ran up to her and gave her a hug. "You ready?", she asked me and I told her to give me a second so I could run in and grab my wallet. I turned around to see Dylan holding out his credit card. "Are you sure?", I asked him and he nodded his head turning to Shy to tell her, "Make sure she gets at least three outfits. She needs new clothes." Before I could protest I was being gently pushed towards the passenger door. Grumbling, I got in the car and before I know it we were at Eastgate mall. 

Immeditely Shy shoved me into my least favorite store-Victoria's Secret.  "Shy! What are we doing in here?", I whisper yelled to her. "Oh honey. You wear bra's that are at least three sizes too big which makes it look like you don't have any boobs and you only wear grannie panties. We have to change that." "Fine", I said and let her do her thing as I went to go look at hoodies. After she found a couple things and we paid. We went to Hot Topic. I found a couple band tees that I liked and bought some ripped jeans and a dark red crop top that "If you can't handle this sass you can't handle this ass. We decided that would be my shirt for the party. We also decided on some black sparkly ripped jeans for the party and some high heeled lace up boots. Afterwards we went to the food court to get some food and then drove back to Dylan's house to get ready for the party.