Part 1
I had known that something was up with Grace long before anyone in the family had even had a clue. The gay thing almost made me laugh. It was so obvious that Grace wasn't gay, but even I couldn't pinpoint exactly what was up with her. That is, until I found them in the car.
She was coming home from that gay straight alliance presentation, and I was helping Lily bring in the groceries. I saw Mr. Dimitry's car pull up, but acted like I didn't care that Grace had just come home. After all, she was still mad at me, and I had groceries to carry. However, by the time I came out of the house for a second time, they hadn't moved. I walked over to the car and knocked on the window, eager to know what was going on.
Grace sprang back as if hit by a bolt of lightening. She started mumbling, and then pushed past me to help her mother with the groceries. I stared at Mr. Dimitry, not quite knowing whether I should say something, or act like I didn't see anything. I opted for the former, and, leaning towards him, I forcefully whispered "if you lay a finger on Grace, I will kill you." He looked at me with a sort of amused glare, and drove away. I turned to Grace, who looked troubled, but strangely pleased.
******
I hadn't planned on saying anything to her, but we both got stuck doing the dishes after dinner, and an opportunity presented itself.
"So what's up with that Mr. Dimitry guy?" I asked, and it immediately struck a nerve. She looked at me worriedly, and then looked down just as fast.
"Nothing," she said, concentrating way too hard on the dish she was washing.
"So what did you stay after school so long for anyway?" I asked, even though I already knew the answer.
"I had to present a budget for the Gay-Straight Alliance dance to the vice principal." She said, looking me in the eye, as a sort of challenge.
"Oh, and here I thought you were doing some extra credit," I teased, rolling my tongue on the inside of my cheek, causing her to gasp, but try to cover it up as a cough.
"So how's the bookstore," she asked, obviously trying to get me back. "Your shelving experience coming in handy?"
I swatted at her with a dish towel, and she flicked soapy water at me with her fingers. I threw a sponge at her, and, not to be outdone, she picked up a soaking wet dish rag, but I caught her hands and held them above her head before she had the chance to throw it. Giggling, she brought her eyes to mine, and suddenly the seriousness of our position dawned on us. She dropped the dishtowel, and I lowered her hands down so that my arms were encircling her neck. I wiped a soap bubble off her cheek, and I was shocked at the softness of her skin.
"I asked you to wash the dishes, not the floor," Lily's voice broke us out of our trance, and we both sheepishly looked to the ground. Luckily, she was more amused than mad, and, laughing, she helped us wash the rest of the dishes. Taking a deep breath, I knew what had just happened between me and Grace was the beginning of something to come.
I had known that something was up with Grace long before anyone in the family had even had a clue. The gay thing almost made me laugh. It was so obvious that Grace wasn't gay, but even I couldn't pinpoint exactly what was up with her. That is, until I found them in the car.
She was coming home from that gay straight alliance presentation, and I was helping Lily bring in the groceries. I saw Mr. Dimitry's car pull up, but acted like I didn't care that Grace had just come home. After all, she was still mad at me, and I had groceries to carry. However, by the time I came out of the house for a second time, they hadn't moved. I walked over to the car and knocked on the window, eager to know what was going on.
Grace sprang back as if hit by a bolt of lightening. She started mumbling, and then pushed past me to help her mother with the groceries. I stared at Mr. Dimitry, not quite knowing whether I should say something, or act like I didn't see anything. I opted for the former, and, leaning towards him, I forcefully whispered "if you lay a finger on Grace, I will kill you." He looked at me with a sort of amused glare, and drove away. I turned to Grace, who looked troubled, but strangely pleased.
******
I hadn't planned on saying anything to her, but we both got stuck doing the dishes after dinner, and an opportunity presented itself.
"So what's up with that Mr. Dimitry guy?" I asked, and it immediately struck a nerve. She looked at me worriedly, and then looked down just as fast.
"Nothing," she said, concentrating way too hard on the dish she was washing.
"So what did you stay after school so long for anyway?" I asked, even though I already knew the answer.
"I had to present a budget for the Gay-Straight Alliance dance to the vice principal." She said, looking me in the eye, as a sort of challenge.
"Oh, and here I thought you were doing some extra credit," I teased, rolling my tongue on the inside of my cheek, causing her to gasp, but try to cover it up as a cough.
"So how's the bookstore," she asked, obviously trying to get me back. "Your shelving experience coming in handy?"
I swatted at her with a dish towel, and she flicked soapy water at me with her fingers. I threw a sponge at her, and, not to be outdone, she picked up a soaking wet dish rag, but I caught her hands and held them above her head before she had the chance to throw it. Giggling, she brought her eyes to mine, and suddenly the seriousness of our position dawned on us. She dropped the dishtowel, and I lowered her hands down so that my arms were encircling her neck. I wiped a soap bubble off her cheek, and I was shocked at the softness of her skin.
"I asked you to wash the dishes, not the floor," Lily's voice broke us out of our trance, and we both sheepishly looked to the ground. Luckily, she was more amused than mad, and, laughing, she helped us wash the rest of the dishes. Taking a deep breath, I knew what had just happened between me and Grace was the beginning of something to come.