Grace-
Grace woke up in Billy's arms, his sent of Camel's and coulonge drifted towards her nose as a breeze came through the window. One of his arms were wrapped around her waist as her back laid against his chest, She laid on his other arm using it as a pillow. His head was rested against her shoulder his warm breath tingeling her neck as he breathed in a steady beat. Gently, she moved out of his grasp careful not to wake him.
Setting her feet on the cold hardwood floor she lightly stood and examined his room in which she had never laid eyes on for all the years she had known him.
A simple white room with cream colored curtians swaying with the wind as another breeze filled the room. He had an oval mirror hung on the wall infront of the bed and a dark wodden dresser below it. On the dresser was a comb and scattered packs of empty Camel boxes, bottle caps and a few cans of hair grease. She couldn't help but crack a smile at the room. Shirts and blue jeans with a couple of boxers covered the floor. The bed was medium sized and cream colored sheets and two white pillows to match the room.
Grace stood and creeped out the door, she found her way to the kitchen and grabbed a few eggs from the fridge and some bacon. Heating up the stove she placed a flat iron skillet on the burner and a little butter and began to fry the eggs. When she was done she put on the bacon and Vern Tessio came running into the kitchen.
Grace couldn't help but laugh at the young boy as he grabbed a plate and some bread loading his plate with eggs and she place hot bacon on his plate.
"Thanks Grace, Billy hasn't cooked since my folks left two days ago." He said happily stuffing his mouth with bacon and eggs.
Grace poured a glass of milk and set it infront of him, then made herself a small plate "Well what have you been eating this whole time Verno?" She asked
"Just some leftovers in the fridge and some ceral." He gulped down the milk and Grace laughed as he looked up with a white milk moustache on his upper lip.
They both finished and Grace turned on the radio as 'Chances are by Johnny Mathis' came on.
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Grace started to sway to the music and Vern watched with a smile.
Then Billy came down the stairs and Vern's smile got wider as Billy came up behind Grace and he took his hand in hers and they started to slowly dance in a small circle both of their eyes closed and Grace laid her head on his older brother's shoulder.
Vern knew that Billy and Connie Pelerimo were dating but he knew even if she saw them dancing Billy wouldn't care.
Vern left the room and krept out of the door and left to go find Chris.
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I was dancing to the music and was about to ask Vern to dance with me but I felt a rough hand take mine and a hand rest on my hip. I opened my eyes to see Billy, I rested my head on his shoulder as we danced slowly.
"Guess you feel you'll always be
The one and only one for me
And if you think you could
Well, chances are your chances are awfully good
Chances are you believe the stars
That fill the skies are in my eyes
Guess you feel you'll always be
The one and only one for me
And if you think you could
Well, chances are your chances are awfully good
The chances are your chances are awfully good"
We slowly broke apart and I couldn't help but smile at Billy "Thank you Billy, I havn't felt like that in a while."
He gave a confused look "Like what?"
I led him to the kitchen and fixed him a plate and sat down "Peaceful, I guess not havin to worry about anything in a while."
He ate and we listened to music play for a while, Then the fimilar roar of an engine before the Cobras came rushing in.
"Hey Gracie how ya been?" Charlie asked sitting beside me
I laughed "Good Charlie, So guys what are we doing today?"
Ace leaned on the counter "Let's go hangout in the feild while were here."
They all headed out and Grace sat on the deep blue buggy while Ace sat on the side of the faded yellow buggy and cleaned the engine with a cloth. Fuzzy one of the new boys who had been one of the two boys spoke for the first time. His cousin was the other boy named Paul who sat on the top on of the yellow buggy. Eyeball was standing beside Grace on the blue buggy. Charlie sat on a stool and Billy laid on the hood of the blue buggy.
Eyeball lit a Camel and blew smoke into the air and handed it to Grace who took a slow drag and handed it back to him.
"Anyone up for mailbox baseball later?" She asked
They all agreed and Ace turned on the radio "Let's Rock" came on and Grace bobbed her head to the music.
Then static came on and the announcer came on "We interupt this program for breaking news, A twelve year old named Ray Brower has been missing for 16 hours. If anyone has any information please call your local sheriff and report it. This young boy had brown hair and blue eyes he is about 5'3 and was last seen wearing blue jeans and a striped shirt with black converse. Please if you have any information please call. Now back to your program."
"Oh my gosh" Grace gasped "What do you think happened to him?"
Billy scoffed "Who cares probly ran away for all I care."
Grace smacked his arm "Billy you shut your trap! What if it were Vern out there?"
Billy rolled his eyes "Like I care"
Grace smacked the back of his head hard and huffed "Your such a jerk!"
Billy rubbed his head and glared at her before turning and staring hard at the ground.
"They'll find 'em Gracie" Eyeball tried
Grace smiled "I hope they do, he's probably scared to death."
"If he ain't dead already" Ace said to the group
A silence filled the air and Grace jumped down from the buggy "Anyone want something to drink?"
"Just grab a few beers and cola's." Billy told her
She rolled her eyes but follow his orders and went back to the house and grabbed the she got back she set them down and someone picked her up swinging her over their shoulder. The boys laughed as Grace began to pound one his back whoever it was.
"You put me down right now!" She demanded noticing the person was heading towards the pond.
"Don't you DARE!" She screamed before she was thrown into the awaiting water below.
She swam to the surface and her face turned bright red "BILLY TESSIO I"M GONNA KILL YOU!" She shreiked
Billy laughed " I'd like to see you try Gracie"
Her eyes narrowed "Fine" She went under the water and swam over to the deck and quietly bobbed below it as Billy started to freak out.
"Grace come on it's not funny anymore come back up!" He yelled to the water which was as calm as could be.
"Gracie! Come on it was a joke!" He tried as a silence filled the air
"Grace?" He stepped to the edge and took off his shoes and belt
"Gracie!" He jumped into the water and Grace pulled herself onto the deck and sat down smiling.
Billy came back up and turned seeing her on the deck "You little trickster!"
She laughed "Now were even!"
Then Eyeball and Charlie helped her up and they walked back to the house.
Billy had given her one of his Mom's old dresses, which was pink with white pokadots. She hated the color but it was dry at least. Dropping her dress to the floor in a damp thud, she looked around 's room to make sure none of the boys were watching as she changed. Sliding on a dry pair of panties Billy had from when his cousin Jessie stayed last summer. She slipped on one of Jessie's bra's and buttoned up the dress. She had to admit it was very short but she was taller then was back then. It came down to her mid-thigh and it hugged her curves gently showing them off. She looked into the mirror and for once really looked at herself. The bruise was healing but staring back at her was a beautiful girl instead of the ugly one she saw at home. She brown hair was already curly and ended at she shoulder blades. Her baby blue eyes shined with amusment and her small nose, her lips were full and pink. Her lightly tanned skin and long legs with curves in all the right places. She wasn't too flat chested either which was why most of the girls at school teased her she was a 34 B-cup and they never let her live it down but she was skinny they had to give her that. She sighed and slipped on a pair of Jessie's silver sandels.
She stepped out from the room and walked into the room full of boys. When she walked in the boys all went silent. She looked at Ace, his eyes scanning every curve and then slowly his eyes making their way to her legs. He looked at her face and about all the other boys did the same.
She gave a nervous smile "What?"
Ace sipped his beer and patted his lap. Grace bit her lip and slowly made her way over to him before sitting on his lap. He snaked his arm around her waist and she leaned back into his chest. All the boys knew what he was doing and so did Grace. By making this small gesture and Grace unwillingly accepting he was claiming her as his. As if she were a shiny new car. She was his and once Ace Merril set his mind on something there was no stopping him. She would learn to love him and if she didn't he would only make her life a living hell. Ace had showed the gang he had claimed Grace and they all knew it.