A/N – Hello! I'm Beth and this is my first proper story. I'm not claiming to be a writing genius at all, but I do have a passion for it, and I'd love to share some of my ideas with you! I often wonder what could have happened if Rich had died instead of Grace, and here is my take on what 'could have' happened. I have 10 chapters planned for this story, but if this chapter is anything to go by, they might spiral out of hand. Sometimes Grace might seem a bit AU, just like Rich did in the series after Grace dies.

Anyway! All mistakes are mine all mine, and if you leave reviews I'll give you hugs (and probably read any fanfic you have, as my favourites are a bit slow at updating!)

Disclaimer – Obviously, I own nothing!

Chapter One

Grace sighed, looking into the mirror. Sometimes she'd look and forget. She'd expect to see Rich behind her. His cheeky grin, putting his hands on her waist and smiling. She'd smile back up at him, realizing how perfect her life was, how perfect he was. As it was, he wouldn't. He couldn't. Grace ran her hands through her hair and imagined it was him. She closed her eyes for a second and it almost worked. The song she had first put sneakily on his iPod was playing softly in the background, and with her eyes closed, she couldn't keep the flashback at bay.

'Grace, what the fuck is this shit?'
Grace giggled as he turned around and frowned at her. He was only wearing his jeans and a t-shirt, they were at his house lying on his bed. His eyes looked sleepy, and she couldn't resist the smile that pushed up her lips.

'Your eyelashes they act as cloaks, for your telescope eyes.'

'Seriously Grace, what is this shit?' he propped himself up onto his elbow and looked down at her, still frowning, softer than before though. She caught his eyes and grinned, widening her eyes.

'I thought you'd like it Richey, don't you?' she did the puppy dog eyes that she knew he couldn't resist.

Grace put her hands out, stroking down the side of Richs chest.
He went to turn around to change the song, and then caught her by surprise by spinning round, pulling her down onto the bed by her hips, and kissing her.

'I love you Grace Violet' he whispered, sending chills down her spine.

She'd caught him listening to it on one of their joint free periods one day, and she hadn't let him live it down. She smiled as she remembered that day, and then it quickly slipped. It fell quickly. Grace mentally kicked herself for forgetting for a second. How could she forget that the love of her life was gone?

She took a good look in the mirror. Her curly dark hair was scraped back into a ponytail, but her hair was so frizzy it stuck out in all directions. He had dark circles under her eyes, and several spots under her skin. She had lost weight as well, and it didn't suit her. Her clothes draped her, making her tiny frame look even smaller and her cheeks were hollowed round her huge deep eyes. She hadn't eaten properly in weeks, she had no appetite.

It had been a month. One short month since Richard had died. Her true love, the Romeo to her Juliet. She hadn't slept properly, eaten properly, or spoken to anyone properly since it happened. Her Dad was the main person she couldn't even look at. He'd lied to her, telling her that Rich had gotten better and that his parents had taken him away from college to get away from everything and the memories of what Franky did.

''Too many bad memories' he said to me sweetie. He said he couldn't stay after what that girl did. His parents wanted him to go and get better away from all of this, I'm sorry, but he's gone.'

Grace looked up at her father, not wanting to believe her Richard had left her without saying goodbye.

'He wouldn't.'

'Oh, but he has Gracey. I'm so sorry, I tried to tell him to come and tell you, but he wouldn't let me.'

Her father hadn't allowed to see Rich in hospital, and kept her away from her friends, even going as far as taking her phone and laptop from her. She knew something was going on, she knew Rich wouldn't leave her without so much as a goodbye, but she had no-one telling her any different.

Then one day, her father went out, and Mini being Mini had came to her house and started throwing pebbles at her window. The same way he used to. For a second, Grace had thought it was him coming to say bye to her.
She ran to the window.

'Richey?' she had guessed something was wrong as she opened the window. Mini was looking up at her, wearing her fur coat and black jeans. It was nearly dusk, the sun had set, but the sky was still a light, inky blue. Minis face looked surprised.

'Gracey, let me up?' she shouted, sounding unsure of herself.

Grace felt her heart slip when she realized it was Mini, but she needed contact with the outside world, so she ran downstairs and let her best friend in.

'Sit down Gracey.' She had said softly.

'You need to sit down.' She knew, Grace could tell that Mini knew she had been lied too. She came round and sat next to Grace on the stairs.

'What's going on Mini, tell me.'

'Honey, I don't know what you've been told, but you know he's gone right?' Mini put her hands over Graces, her eyes welling up.

'Of course I do, do you know where? Dad won't tell me anything.'Mini looked up at her, surprised.

'What?'

'Well, I know he's moved away, after what happened, but I don't know why he didn't come and say goodbye, Mini, why didn't he say goodbye?'

'Oh Gracey, he's lying to you.'

'Wait, who?' Grace slipped her hands around Minis and held them.

'Your Dad honey.'

'About what Mini.' Mini suddenly looked very grave.

'Honey, Rich has gone, forever.' She looked up at Grace.

'Yeah, but he could come back, right?' Grace already had her suspicions, but she didn't want to know what was coming.

'No, Grace.. he's dead?'

She'd collapsed. Crying until there were no tears left. She hadn't spoken to her Dad, but he knew what had happened. She guessed Mini or Liv had told him. He should have told her. He should have let her know, he should have let her see him.
David hadn't actually spoken properly to Grace, he'd said 'I'm so sorry.' Many times, but Grace knew he didn't mean it. He lied to her, over and over, and if it wasn't for her friends, he would have gotten away with it. Her Mum had tried to tell Grace why she hadn't told her. She didn't listen.

'Grace, Mini and Liv are here!' her father shouted up the stairs. She didn't reply, she knew that they'd come up anyway, they always did.

Sure enough, there was a quick knock at her door, and she heard Liv whisper at Mini to 'just go in.' They did. The door creaked open, and Grace sensed, rather than saw, the two of them come into her room.

'Hey sweetie.' Liv.

'How are you doing Gracey?' Mini.

It took them five more attempts each at a conversation starter to give up. They included 'Babes, you look terrible.' And, the more offensive, 'maybe you should speak to your Dad Grace.'

She didn't answer any of them, she didn't want to. She didn't have to.

Liv sat down next to Grace on her bed, the bed her and Rich used to share, and put her arm around Grace.

'Look, Gracey, he's not coming back. But me and Mins are here now, and we both love you, we both want you to come through this.' She said in a soft voice. In contrast, Grace burst,

'I don't care Liv, I don't fucking care about any of this. It hurts okay, it really fucking hurts that he will never be here again. You two aren't in love and you never have been, so don't you dare say things like that when you have no fucking idea!' Grace shocked herself, she never shouted. She saw a funny look pass across Minis face at her words.
She carried on when neither of them stopped her.

'Franky has fucked off with Nick, and I hate them, I hate them! It was all because of them that he's not here with me where he should be! And that bastard Matty who was driving, he fucked off as well, and now they've left me and I'm just here and he's not and neither are they. Just, fuck off! Why are you here? Why are you even here, I don't want you, I want him!'

She had tears streaming down her face and she didn't care what they thought off her, she was just so angry at everything.

They left together, trying to act as if everything was normal.