A/N: Hey guys! So I only got one response to my last post. Saying to do whatever was easiest for me. Thank you for putting that into consideration! So I've decided to post the next few chapters in 3 parts each. That way I can update more often. And when my schedule clears up again, I'll go back to posting a chapter every week or so. Again, I'm so sorry you guys had to wait so long, and I reeeaally appreciate the follows and favorites! And btw I LOVE your reviews! They make. My. Day! So please keep it up! And suggest things too! I love feedback, and your ideas on my story! Love love love! ;*
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Chapter 12 Part 1
Mallory's POV
I walked the crowded halls after all of the performances had ended. Everyone was chatting and yelling. It was hard to hear myself think. There were students jumping and bounding about the floor. Everyone was so overjoyed, it was scary.
I pushed my way through the crowds, thinking about why I felt like something was missing today. Our performance went great, there were no injuries. A bit of a dramatic fight between Ben and Tara, but on the plus side, I got to have a heart to heart with Ben. And that is major brownie points in the crush world.
I continued through the halls in search of the missing feeling inside. Then I found it.
"Hey Mally, good job tonight." Shawn said, when he saw me coming. He was here alone tonight. Grace was out for another two months. Leaving a blank space in the evening, and Shawn partnerless.
"Hey Shawn! How are you doing?" I asked, as we headed to the exit together.
"Pretty good. My substitute Grace messed us up on the lift, but you know. She did great for only having three days to learn the whole thing."
"Wow, that sucks. How bad do you think this will hurt your chances with the scouts?"
"Well Zach told me that he gave everyone the heads up that Lisa was just a substitute, and to focus on me, or something."
"Huh, well I guess all we can do is wait and see right?" I walked out the door he held open for me, and we made our way to the steps in front of the theater and sat down.
"Looks like it." He slumped over, hanging his blonde head.
"They can't mark you down for your partner's injury can they?"
"Here's hoping." Shawn said. There was a long pause.
"Hey Shawn, can I ask you a question?" I said, breaking the silence.
"Shoot."
"Ok, well I know you were on exchange last year, so you weren't here for all of the Grace drama, but has anyone told you exactly what she did?" I asked curiously.
"Well like you said, I wasn't there, so I don't know the specifics. But from what the guys told me, she was a bit of...a con artist you could say. She conned her way into friendships, and then 'back stabbed everyone' so they tell me."
"Huh..." I though for a moment. "Why hasn't that scared you away? If all your friends are telling you to stay away, why..stay?"
"Why do you stay?" Shawn questioned me back. Causing me to chuckle.
"Nice... Well I have zero reason to trust Grace. Or anyone else here for that matter. I don't doubt that those things are true. But I'd like the chance to meet and get to know Grace myself."
"You took the words right out of my mouth." Shawn teased. I knew he wasn't lying though. He deserved to make his own opinions about Grace too.
"Can I ask you something?" Shawn turned to face me.
"Of course."
"Well I know you're Grace's roommate, so is there any new developments with her injury? I haven't talked to her in a couple of days." Shawn's genuine concern for Grace, warmed my heart. Even though this was the eighth time he had asked me over the past two days.
"Well... Not much has changed, but she was hobbling around today, packing."
"Packing?" He asked in surprise. "For what?"
"She didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"She's going to stay with Miss Raine for a while." I hesitated. I wasn't sure if it was my place to tell him.
"For how long?" The sad teenage boy questioned.
"Just until Miss Raine thinks it's a good idea for her to come back." I said and waited for his response. But I never got one.
We sat in silence for a while. It was so quiet. We were the first ones out the back door. I could hear the muffled chaos going on inside. But it seemed to be getting louder and louder. And too quickly, the silence was gone and the noise and laughter arose into the night. We stood to greet the rest of our group and begin the journey home.
"It's such a nice night!" Tara exclaimed. Avoiding all eye contact with me. "Do you think Zach would let us walk back?"
"We still have a half hour till curfew." Ollie checked his watch. "What do you think Mally? Would he let us?"
"Uh I don't know. But we could ask him." I suggested. And when no one said anything I suggested something else. "Or I could ask him?"
"That works." Ollie said.
Zach was happy to let us go, and we all started back to the academy. Somewhere along the way, I fell behind and observed the group of people. They were obviously really good friends. All of them. Even the ones who claimed not to like one another. And it was clear that they been through so much together. Hard to believe that with what little time they have left, they spend it fighting and blaming each other. You'd think that they'd use this opportunity to make their last year, the best year.
My eyes landed on Shawn. He was in his own little bubble from his spot next to Ollie. I knew how much he cared about Grace. Everyone knew about the hopeless crush he had too. I should have kept my mouth shut, and let Grace tell him. Now he wouldn't be able to see her on a regular basis. None of us would.
My thoughts were interrupted by an Christian's arm draping around my shoulders.
"Right Mally?" Christian asked as he pulled me closer to him. He was obviously having a who-can-get-cockier war with Ben and Ollie.
"What?" I said in a bit of a daze.
"We've totally got a full ride in the bag with that performance. Right?"
"Here's hoping!" I held up two thumbs up.
"Don't need to hope. We got this." He kissed the top of my head, and we walked the rest of the way hand in hand.
When I got to my dorm I tossed my bag onto my bed and sat down on Grace's bare mattress. I just sat still and took it in. After a while I took my pillow and blanket, and curled up on Grace's bottom bunk. And I didn't my first night alone in Sydney.
