4. Change

I woke up stiffly to the smell of bacon and eggs, "Mom-" I started, cutting off when I realized. This was going to be a really long and difficult day. I stretched and got out of bed, and inhaled and exhaled a couple of times, only allowing a few tears to slip away while I walked down the cold stairs.

"Morning!" a cheerful voice greeted me as I walked into the retro style kitchen, "I made you some breakfast, I hope you like it…I'm not much of a cook." She placed the food in front of me. It smelled simply amazing.

"Thank you Alice, you really didn't have to do that." I said and took a bite of toast.

"Psh, no problem," she exclaimed, changing the channel on the small TV from Food Network to the morning news. A story flashed about a car wreck that happened the night before, Alice quickly turned the TV off all together. I lost my appetite.

"Listen Grace, I know this is so hard on you. I just wanted to let you know that I'm completely taking care of everything. You don't have to worry about a single thing," she reassured, pouring me a glass of orange juice.

"Thank you, I wouldn't know where to begin." I pushed the food around on my plate. Just then the phone rang and Alice handed it to me.

"Hello?" I asked into the receiver.

Riley's broken voice blurted out words a mile a minute "GRACE! Oh my god, my mom just found out what happened. I'm sorry! Oh, Grace I really am. Is there anything I can do? Do you need to stay at my house? You know you're always welcomed here! I just cant believe this happened! Grace I'm so sorry!" Her words were muffled from the tears and sobs you could hear over the line.

"Riley, thanks. But I'm okay. Actually, my sister showed up here last night and I guess she's taking care of me right now," I tried explaining. Alice was sitting up on the countertop intently listening.

"I nnever knew you hhad a sister," she sobbed.

"Yeah, neither did I," I truthfully stated. "Listen, it's a long story. But, I'm gonna be heading out of town to move in with her…There's really no point in staying here any longer, it just hurts too much," the tears started swelling up in my eyes, threatening to burst through. Alice put her chilly hand on my shoulder.

"O-oh, I unndersstand," she sobbed, "If you nneed me, I'm only a secondd away."

"Thanks. You're a great friend," I told her and hung up the phone and allowed the tears to flow.

"Baby sister," Alice said softly, stroking my hair, "Don't cry. She's in a better place now. She wouldn't want you to be upset. She loves you."

"I know." I cried into her shoulder, "It's just that everything's going to change now, isn't it?"

"…yes" she said, "Yes it will."


A/N: Shortest of them all, I know I know. But i'll make up for that later, dont worry ;)