Grace's POV

« NOW »

I got late for school.

And that happened because I somehow didn't jerk awake like I usually did (especially since Alice was making it a habit to stop by my house and keep ringing the doorbell like a madman) and kept sleeping away. Which was a bit disconcerting because since when had I started relying on Alice?

I still couldn't understand why she'd chosen to be so nice to me. Offering me car rides whenever I wanted them, being there for me like we were some long-lost friends. It didn't settle well with me. Did she want something in return from me?

I was only left with a total of five minutes before my first class started, and I was a mess. Not like I wasn't a mess every other day. My insides were grumbling in protest as I stumbled out of my house, my bag in one hand and closing the front door with my other one.

The only thing I could've thought of, without wanting to puke my guts out, was a decent cup of coffee. I was actually looking forward to it.

"Hey."

I whipped around so fast that I couldn't really stop knocking my elbow into the person behind me. Who, as I realised a bit belatedly, was Fraser.

"Aw fuck." He groaned, rubbing the side of his stomach.

"Why would you do that?" I hissed. "Why would you creep up on me? For fuck's sake--"

"Geez, I don't remember you being so violent." A small grin overtook his fake hurt expression.

My glare didn't seem to lessen, though. He was the last person I was expecting to see right now. Heck, he was the last person I wanted in Hayward right now.

"Or actually...who am I kidding?" He added. "You've always been like this."

And could I blame him really? Fraser might've been the only guy on this planet who knew how badly my punches hurt when I was pissed. Which I usually was at him.

"I don't have time for this," I told him and turned back around, trying to lock the door as fast as I could. I also wished he'd go away. Because I really, really didn't like him standing so close behind me.

"Ah, that's exactly what I meant to say, Grace." He replied. "I don't have time for this either."

Ignore, I told myself, and leave.

"Alice sent me here. She's ditching school today and she felt guilty." I gave him a look over my shoulder and watched him scrunch his nose. I forced myself to look away. "For not being able to give you a ride to school."

"I can walk." I tried sidestepping him but he blocked my way.

"I know. But we're both already late."

"I can walk, Fraser," I repeated with a glare this time.

His eyes widened a little, hands raised in surrender as if dealing with a three-year-old who was about to throw a massive tantrum. "But I don't want to walk."

Jesus. "I meant, I can fucking walk myself. What's the problem with you anyway?" I exclaimed.

"Oh come on, Gracie. I have a car. And I can give you a ride."

I wished he could see how badly I was on the verge of losing it. I had such a short time left before my class started and he wasn't stepping out of my way.

"I don't want to go with you." I retorted. "I'd rather walk all the way to school than go with you."

"And why would that be?" He asked me, grinning and sliding his hands in his varsity jacket pockets.

I heard a front door opening and closing, a little in the distance. Part of me was so annoyed that I didn't even care to notice who it was.

"Because I hate the mere sight of you. Don't you understand?" My voice came out in a harsh whisper.

Fraser had the nerve to chuckle at that. "Ah, Gracie. I almost forgot." Worse, he even draped an arm around my shoulders. "Some things never change, do they?"

I frowned at him, seriously contemplating whether socking him in the face would really be worth it or not, when his gaze seemed to move onto something behind me. Then his eyes widened a little before the grin came back.

"Some things really don't change." He murmured almost in awe.

I followed his gaze and turned around, a little since his arm was still around me, and I saw Luca. My breath hitched when I saw him already staring at me.

"Lucius!" Fraser shouted over to him and I grimaced. "What a surprise to see you!"

Luca glanced over at Fraser with a seemingly steady expression. "Likewise." He spoke then looked back at me. "I'm trying to get used to seeing people I really don't want to see."

Fraser laughed at that, while my insides seemed to cower away at those words. I watched Luca as he walked away, knowing exactly what he'd meant by those words.

What could I do to make him stop hating me?

"I am a bit taken aback, Gracie." Thankfully, Fraser took off his arm from around my shoulders before I could've done that for him. "Are you two not best pals anymore?"

I readjusted the strap of my bag on my shoulder and carefully avoided his gaze.

"I mean, the last time I was here, you two were like--"

"I have to go," I murmured before sidestepping him. This time he was too surprised to even block my way. And before he could've, I was walking away.

Walking away was definitely better in such situations.

•••••

"Isn't this just beautiful?" Alice gushed.

The shop we were in right now was somewhere downtown. Fortunately enough, it wasn't crowded like the other handful of shops we'd passed. I rubbed my arms under the evening chill, thinking how better it would've been if only I could put on my coat again. But Alice had been insistent that we should take the coats off if we needed to try on the clothes.

I looked over at the dress in her hands--a red, short dress. Way too short to be considered normal. I raised my brows and looked at her, "Why are you looking for dresses again?"

We'd come here to buy decent clothes for me, especially when everything back at home was either too short or too large on me. It seemed though, that we were buying prom dresses now.

"Prom's just around the corner, Grace!" Alice widened her eyes dramatically. "Don't we need to be prepared?"

I didn't quite understand what she meant by just around the corner. School had just started, and I think Alice was losing her mind.

"Hey, and I forgot to say this." She turned towards me. "But I'm sorry for ditching you this morning."

"It wasn't a problem, Alice."

I stuck with the hoodies since they seem to be the only clothes that looked comfortable here.

Alice sighed. "I'm glad Fraser was kind enough to--"

"You should do me a favour." I cut her off, not wanting to frown or sound harsh when that's exactly what I felt from the inside. "And keep your cousin away from me. Please."

She regarded me with a somewhat wounded look. "What do you mean? He was just being nice."

"Look, Alice, it's totally fine if you don't feel like dropping me to school," I said. "I don't mind at all."

"But I felt like I was...letting you down." Her voice dropped down to a whisper.

"That's the point!" I raised my hands in the air, exasperated. "You don't have to feel like you owe me when you don't. You don't have to be so...nice all the time."

Her eyes widened and I saw a brief flash of hurt. And I nearly cussed out loud because fuck, I'd said that all wrong.

"I get it." Her brows furrowed and I saw the red creeping up her neck. "But you don't have to be so mean about it."

I knew that. But I was also exhausted, because I didn't understand this. Alice was still practically a stranger to me and she knew nothing about me. Nothing about the mess my life was. Why did she even want to be my friend?

"There are loads of nicer people out there, Alice, yet you still try to be my friend." I looked at her in disbelief. "Why?"

"Because you're nice." She was still frowning, and it was truly awful to see her frowning when she could've been smiling. Without her usual smile, her eyes looked much bigger, softer, and even kinder. And the mere fact that she was defending me was what made me laugh.

"Are you serious right now?"

She looked away and placed the sparkly red dress back on the hanger. "I'll be waiting outside in my car."

I watched her as she took out her car keys and picked up one of our jackets. Since she was in a rush and probably furious--angry, since I couldn't really imagine Alice being furious with anyone--she picked up my peach-coloured coat instead and headed outside.

I took a deep breath in and then exhaled. Why don't you just go in and destroy everything? I asked myself.

Picking up her black jacket, I pushed aside the hoodies that I'd meant to buy, and followed her out of the shop, past the exit doors and towards the almost empty parking lot.

It took me a moment to spot Alice. Instead, my eyes fell on a sleek black car first, the windows blacked out, which was strangely parked in the abrupt middle of the parking lot. Weird.

I looked over at Alice as she made her way towards her car, shoulders hunched defensively and I felt a new wave of shame wash over me.

Mum would've given me a handful if she could've seen me being so mean to Alice.

Before I could've started catching up with Alice though, I heard a car in the distance coming to life, the slight rumble of its engine barely audible.

I stiffened, my eyes widening when I looked over at the car--the same sleek black car--which was now heading straight towards Alice.

"Fuck. Fuck," I whispered in horror, then screamed, "Alice!"

I didn't need to be told what was about to happen at that exact moment.

"Alice!" I heard my shout and I heard the fear in my voice. It was pretty absurd as if I was a third person standing afar, watching it all unfold.

Alice even turned around to look at me, eyes wide and questioning. But we both were too late to acknowledge what was about to happen right then.

For one blinding second, everything slowed down to the pace of a snail. Alice's eyes widened even more when she noticed the car. She paled, freezing, and I was too far away.

The coat fell from her hands, my peach-coloured coat, and I watched the crash, the car coming at her, a choked sound leaving my lips as I heard the loud thud.

In that split second, a heavy realization dawned upon me.

It wasn't supposed to be her.

It was supposed to be me.