Chapter 02 – Compressing Thoughts

"Shit." Grace swore as she got mascara on her nose from moving the wand too quickly. She heard Roxy snort behind her.

"Shut up you..." Grace mumbled grinning slightly as she used a face wipe to clean the mascara from her nose. Roxy smiled over at the younger girl, both females were now ready for the party.

"So how many people d'ya reckon will show up tonight?" Grace asked as she checked and double-checked and re-checked her long, perfectly straight black hair in the mirror. Roxy pouted.

"Hmmm...well it's a Friday night as it is, and from the sound of things the pub is already pretty busy. So I'd say it'll be jam packed with pretty much everyone wanting to meet the new Mitchell. Every person you meet on this Square is nosey – perfect for pubs not so much for secrets that always get out though." Grace and Roxy both giggled together as they went downstairs.

Grace could hear the music booming from the disco night they were holding for her return. She felt so special...the fact Ronnie and the family wanted a party/disco to celebrate made her feel so loved it was great. As she entered the pub, the disco lights were shining and changing colours and almost everyone was up and dancing. She noticed that most of the tables and soft chairs had been moved except of course for the corner seats that always looked built in. The pub was big enough for people to dance and a section for anyone who just wanted a drink too.

The young girl turned her head to behind the bar and noticed for the first time, the blonde haired woman. At exactly the same time, the older woman happened to look in her direction. They locked eyes for what seemed like a lifetime. Grace couldn't take in how gorgeous the woman looked. Suzy narrowed her eyes, and folded her arms, which was slightly difficult when she got dressed because of her huge boobs in the push up bra she wore. Her cleavage was so hard not to stare at because it was so deep...and kind of irresistible to not stroke Grace thought sneakily.

Why is she staring at me like that...? Cut it OUT! Okay, I'll look away first then... The blonde woman looked away from Grace, and the young girl managed to shake herself out of the trance she'd been in and move over to Ronnie.

She held back the urge to ask her mother who the woman behind the bar was – somehow she felt inside that later in the evening she'd find out herself.

"Hey honey! Let's get the party started properly!" Ronnie turned down the music and the lights came on back to normal for a minute while Grace stood next to Ronnie on a mini stage.

"Attention, please everyone!" Ronnie tapped her wine glass to make everyone shut it. The pub fell quiet, except for the sounds of rattling bottles from behind the bar. Ronnie glared at Suzy so she stopped what she was doing and leaned over the bar counter instead, staring at Grace. Hoping the girl would look over again, Suzy found she was deliberately making sure she was showing enough of her super-sized cleavage to turn any soul on. Grace glanced in her direction and her eyes flickered in surprise as she saw the older woman's cleavage. Clearing her throat she chose to stare at her feet as a blush appeared on her cheeks. It was only faint, but it didn't go unnoticed and Suzy smirked in a smug victory type of way.

"This party is to say a big welcome home to Grace, my gorgeous daughter!" After the few seconds of stunned silence, the claps started up as everyone welcomed the new Mitchell. Grace grinned and said thank you, then got off the mini stage as Ronnie turned the lights back to disco style and the music loud again. Roxy passed her a glass of vodka as she walked past; Grace took it enthusiastically and downed the drink instantly. She shuddered and made a funny sound of disgust from drinking it too fast, but found herself heading for the bar for a top up.

Suzy snatched her glass from her hand as she came over. Before Grace could say anything, she'd already re-filled her vodka. She shoved the glass back into her hand before quickly finding someone else to serve before the black haired girl could even say thank you. Raising both her eyebrows, Grace shrugged then took the drink properly, sipping this one instead.

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The party was still raving but by now it was around half eleven and Suzy looked 'worn out'. She was doing it on purpose; knowing that Grace cared more than the rest of her family would mean she'd notice how tired she seemed. It turned out that Ronnie helped her plan by accident anyway. Shirley and the other woman who was helping, had gone out the back for their fags and Ronnie had noticed Suzy 'working so hard' on her own. It wasn't that she liked Suzy that made her say it; it was the fact she wanted Grace to get to know the family better.

"Hey Grace, go see if she needs any help." Grace looked up then saw Ronnie meant the woman she'd been eyeing up earlier and felt her blush return swiftly to her pale cheeks. She stood still just looking in the woman's direction as she flicked her hair back and scrubbed the counter.

Ronnie pushed Grace forward slightly after she seemed reluctant and hadn't moved. Grace stumbled forwards until Ronnie had pushed her so much she was a centimetre away from Suzy. She'd stopped scrubbing by now, and was standing with one hand on her hip, smirking at the young girl who managed to act casual.

"Need any help?" Grace asked. The blonde woman raised one eyebrow as she made it very clear she was looking the younger girl up and down. She tipped her head to one side and put her hand on her chin in thought.

"Hmm…I might do." Standing up straight and folding her arms (a common pose for Suzy) she narrowed her eyes at Grace. Grace gulped, feeling the hairs on the back of her neck stand up from the blonde's eyes drilling holes into her skin. Unable to think of anything to say she stood there uncomfortably, shuffling her feet slightly until Suzy broke the short silence.

"Suzy." She put her hand out towards the girl. A blush crept once more onto Grace's cheeks as she took the older woman's outstretched hand.

"G-Grace." She murmured shaking it. The blonde smirked as she took her hand back.

"Yes, I did gather that." Turning, she returned to 'scrubbing the counters' where really she was barely even touching them with the sponge.

"Hey…w-why don't you have a break. Shirley's coming back now."

Suzy stopped scrubbing again and turned back round to gaze at the young girl; she loved making her feel uncomfortable, yet she had no idea why.

"Alright." Placing the sponge in its home, she dried her hands and moved from behind the counter, as she did this, she brushed past Grace whose cheeks burnt red from their slight momentary touch.

"So what shall we do on this break of mine?" Suzy asked casually, tilting her head as her eyes were stuck firmly to Grace's shy face.

"Oh! Um…Well I'm not s-sure…" Grace murmured sheepishly, staring at her feet unable to hold any kind of eye-contact with the intimidating, beautiful woman.

"Helpful." Suzy smirked, her eyes calculating Grace's ever-growing embarrassment. "Something wrong? You're a bit red."

Grace's eyes widened slightly as she heard Suzy's question.

Oh Shit…She can see my blush…damnit…

"N-No not at all! It's just a bit hot in here." She started to fan herself with her hand feeling even more heated on her cheeks from the fact Suzy could see she was embarrassed.

"Well then, let's go outside. Then you can cool off." Winking slightly, Suzy turned and headed for the Pub's double door entrance. Grace blinked slightly; she was un-sure whether or not she'd just seen Suzy wink. Slowly, she turned to follow Suzy like a lap dog.

Taking her jacket, Grace watched as Suzy went outside. She followed her, the cold air washing over her pink face. Closing her eyes she enjoyed the sensation of the cold winter air against her. Suzy watched, raising her eyebrows at the young girl.

"Come on, I'll show you around." Suzy spoke up, making Grace's eyes snap open suddenly.

"Oh…sure okay." Grace murmured unable to stop herself from eyeing up Suzy again.

She's so sexy…Damn…Just looking at her gets me a bit worked up in my lower region…God that's so embarrassing…

Suzy turned around, Grace hadn't even moved down the path. She smirked slightly – Grace's expression was a bit gormless and her mouth was parted slightly.

"Are you coming or are you going to just stand there all night?" She raised her voice so Grace could hear her.

"S-Sorry!" Shaking her head out of her trance, Grace jogged over to Suzy her cheeks flushing bright red for what seemed like the millionth time that evening. Smirking again, Suzy continued to walk slowly down the path her hips swaying a little bit.

Grace found her eyes wandering over the blonde woman again; she looked at the woman's bum and how much she wanted to feel it in her grasp. Her eyes widened at her thoughts, she tore her eyes away from Suzy's behind worried that at any minute she'd dive on her.

"So, how old did you say you were?" Suzy asked curiously, slowing down so Grace was walking exactly beside her rather than a bit behind. The blonde woman couldn't help but gaze at the young girl, for some reason she found her so mysterious…and even though she wasn't gay she thought she was so outstandingly beautiful.

This is so strange…I enjoy making this girl flustered…I don't understand what's going on in my head right now…maybe it's just because I'm pissed at Phil…

"Seventeen." Grace mumbled staring at the floor as the pair walked. "It isn't how it seems. Ronnie isn't stupid; she didn't want to have me." Suzy tilted her head as she listened.

"She tried to get rid of me…but for some reason she changed her mind. She decided to keep me rather than kill me." Grace stopped walking. Suzy stopped too.

"I know you're probably thinking that I have no right to just come waltzing back here, but I felt alone. I had no one else…so I wanted my mom." Suzy took her eyes off Grace, staring in the opposite direction. She had no idea what to say to Grace.

She hated pretty much all of the Mitchells. She hated Peggy with a passion; she found Roxy an annoying slag and Ronnie a pompous bitch. Heck, even sometimes she saw Phil as a fat bald pig…but this girl…she couldn't find anything to hate. Not yet, anyway. This only angered the blonde woman more. For some reason she wanted to hate Grace…because she was seemingly so kind.

"It's none of my business." Was all that Suzy could bring herself to say. She crossed the road and headed for the small park in the centre of the square.

Grace watched her go, before following her. Suzy sat on one of the metal benches, her breath visible from the sharp cold air. She was shivering slightly. Grace reached her and sat beside her.

"Are you cold?" The black haired girl asked.

"Did you guess that when you saw my goose bumps?" Suzy replied sarcastically, crossing her arms.

Grace felt a small smile creep onto her face. She took off her jacket.

"Here." She put it over Suzy's shoulders before blushing furiously and standing up, slowly walking back towards the pub.

She really is a kind person. But what is wrong with me? Why can't I hate her? Ugh…she is making me frustrated…we technically only just met, and yet she seems like she can talk to me about anything… How can someone be so open? After only knowing me a short while?

Suzy let out a long sigh, leaning back on the bench letting her thoughts control her for the moment. She found herself watching Grace's figure heading back to the pub again. She saw the girl rubbing her arms.

She's cold…

Pressing a hand to her temple, Suzy closed her eyes tightly, letting the cold air wash over her. She tried to compress her growing thoughts…but Grace kept returning unwillingly to her mind…