A/N: I want to thank you all for your lovely reviews and for sticking with me. I make up for the long wait with a double update. I also wanted to wish you all a Merry (belated) Christmas, belated Happy Holidays, and belated Happy New Year! It's been a crazy couple of weeks, but I got these chapters done, and I hope you guys like them, because I do. Enjoy it!
Also, I want to give a HUGE THANK YOU to RainbowFluffBall for favoriting and following this story. Hope you enjoy these next installments!
G.R.A.C.E. G.R.A.C.E. G.R.A.C.E.
Emily: If I can't force you to review when I want, then what's the point of us being best friends? Lol, jk. Anyway, I got the idea for James' date jar from some website, but the ring was my own idea. I came up with it when I was browsing through etsy for a charm bracelet idea. Haha, I don't know. It was so random! I love my Disney one, but Caty's not a Disney fan, and I actually like the idea of Caty's bracelet, I'd like something like that. Yup, I based her love of Christmas after mine. I'm so crazy about Christmas! I know we always said we would, and we will. It's a must! I literally could not think of another name. I'm thinking of changing some chapter names again. Okay, a threat is not as scary if you repeat it over and over again. And now you can beta these chapters. I think the next one will make you and your little Alyssa/James loving heart happy.
Misa: It was a long wait, but it was another double update, so hopefully that made up for it! I went online and looked for a list of good gift ideas and certain gifts on the list helped me come up with Josh and Jake's gifts. James' gift to Alyssa came from the list. Good catch about Good Will. That's exactly right. I'm sure everyone knows Ellie's secret by now, and these two chapters confirm it, so I'll tell you, no, Bree does not know what's going on. It is fantastical, but it's something I planned from the beginning, so I had to put it in. You'll see what happens with Gabi and Josh in this chapter. I think you'll be happy. Hope you enjoy the chapter!
SilvenArrow: Thank you! I hope these chapters are just as fun to read. Josh is good at picking fights, there's no denying that. I like Lili more and more as I write more about her. Gabi's Truth or Dare tradition is actually something my cousins and I do at Thanksgiving. Both sides of my family get together and there are so many people, and it's a lot of fun. And just like with Gabi, the game always ends because someone gets hurt or someone breaks something. And yes, Bree refuses to give her clothes to Good Will so she can give them to Ellie. Nice catch. It took some time to come up with some of the gift ideas for Alyssa, James, Rae, and Jake, so I'm glad people liked them. Josh and Gabi's relationship develops further in this chapter, and yes, eventually Gabi and her father will talk about all this. Hope you like these two chapters!
G.R.A.C.E. G.R.A.C.E. G.R.A.C.E.
Caty grinned when she heard Alessia Cara's Here come on the radio when she switched the station from Z100 to PLJ.
"Oh this one is great," she said to Brian, who was driving.
Brian grinned as well, giving her a sideways look.
They both heard Alessia sing, "Oh oh oh here, oh oh oh here, oh oh oh/I ask myself what am I doing here?"
"Then why'd you come?" Brian wondered.
"Instead of wondering, maybe you should go home," Caty added.
"And I can't wait till we can break up outta here," Alessia continued.
"Just leave already!" Brian cried.
Both burst out laughing. They were quiet for a few seconds until they heard the lines, "But honestly, I'd rather be/Somewhere with my people/we can kick it and just listen/to some music with the message (like we usually do)."
"Oh, you listen to music with messages?" Caty asked, feigning surprise.
"Must be messages of what happens with you're drunk or stoned," Brian said.
"Cuz otherwise you wouldn't be making money off a song about you not knowing why you're at a party," Caty finished.
They both cracked up again and let the song finish. Caty leaned back in her seat and smiled to herself. Her first date with Brian had gone really well, and Christmas Eve had gone even better. However, the next time they'd gone out, the night before school started, Brian stuttered every few minutes, Caty blushed all the time, and the conversation was really awkward. Even though Caty had tried, she couldn't think of what to say to him at school after their first date, so she continued to have Gabi whisper in her ear-or rather, speak in her mind. When they went on their second date though, Caty was on her own, and neither knew what to say.
Brian's seventeenth birthday was January 2nd, so he drove them around. On the way home, Brian was messing with the radio. When Caty heard the song Girl on Fire, she asked him to keep it. She loved that song. She, Nina, and Misha always used it to pump themselves up before a big test or presentation.
At first, there was just an awkward air around them. Then they heard Alicia Keys sing, "This girl is on fire!"
Brian, not realizing how much the song meant to Caty, tried to make a joke by saying, "Someone better put it out!"
"What?" Caty had asked.
"The fire…someone better put it out," Brian said, unable to quit.
Caty frowned before realizing he was trying to make a joke, and giggled quietly.
Brian smiled, a little more relaxed. When Alicia sang, "Oh we got our head in the clouds/and we're not coming down," Brian was at it again.
"Probably because they don't have enough oxygen up there."
"But then they'd probably come down anyway," Caty said, smirking, though he couldn't see that in the dark. "They'd just be dead."
Both laughed as Alicia sung, "She's walking on fire!"
"That must hurt," Brian said, and they both cracked up.
Even though the date was almost over at that point, they were much more comfortable. Brian walked her to the door, and this time he gave her a kiss, and she actually enjoyed it. They'd gone out a third time on January 8th, the first Friday since school restarted. They were much more comfortable, and they made fun of all the songs on the radio. Since then, that had been their tradition whenever they drove anywhere. That particular date had been memorable since Brian had officially asked Caty to be his girlfriend and she'd agreed.
Here ended just as Brian pulled into the parking lot of Empire, the restaurant they were going to that day. It was Valentine's Day, and Caty had never celebrated it before. She'd never been in a relationship during Valentine's Day.
The morning did not start out great. At first, it was normal. Caty walked in to see Jake give Rae earrings that matched the ring her gave her for Christmas and James give Alyssa earrings that matched her guardian necklace. It seemed obvious that Jake and James had gotten their presents together. Caty walked up to the group to greet them. Ellie joined them, fuming. Adam had given Jade a necklace with a silver heard shaped pendant. Half the heart was crystal studded.
Caty laughed along with Alyssa at Ellie's attitude. They couldn't really sympathize because, as they'd told Ellie several times before, Adam would be hers, except she said no.
Then Misha and Nina had dragged Caty to Debate Team practice even though they'd just finished and won a meet the previous day and they usually didn't have practice the day after a meet. She realized the reason they'd dragged her there when Brian walked up to her with a bouquet of roses.
"I know irises are your favorite, but I already got you irises, and I figured these would be the next best thing, but if you don't like them-"
"They're beautiful," Caty breathed, and they really were. She loved them.
"I have something else for you too," Brian had told her. "But I'd like to take you out tonight and give it to you then, if you're not busy."
"I'm not busy," Caty said.
Hay Lin had given Team GRACE Valentine's Day off and Misha and Nina heard that "tutor circle" was cancelled, they'd helped her clear her schedule in case Brian asked her out for that night.
"Great. I'll pick you up a 6?"
"Sounds good."
All of that should've made Caty happy, but while she walked up to her locker and opened it, with the roses in her hands, Tony had showed up with a bouquet of his own. Irises.
He looked shocked at the roses and asked Caty who they were from. Immediately, Lili's warning about how Tony would eventually figure out Caty was dating Brian came back to her. Caty told Tony that Brian had given her the roses and when he asked her why, she explained that she and Brian were together.
Tony was shocked, and seemed disappointed, but congratulated her and told her he hoped Brian made her happy. He also told her to tell him if Brian ever hurt her. Caty gave him a strained smile. Although her heart was beating out of her chest as she blushed at Tony's protectiveness, she felt bad because she knew in the end, she would be the one that hurt Brian. Then Tony gave her the irises, wished her a happy Valentine's Day, and walked away. That brought Caty's mood completely down because she spent the rest of the day wondering how different things would be if she was dating Tony, the guy she actually liked.
The baby was due any day now, and Iris was on bed rest. All Iris and Jeremy could talk about was the baby, and Caty couldn't stand it, so she spent most of her days at different friends' houses. It was an unspoken agreement that Gabi and Caty would go over to Alyssa's house on days that Caty and Brian had a date, and Gabi would help Caty get ready in Alyssa's room.
The three of them had gotten very close. Caty and Alyssa were the only people who knew Sienna was the one that gave Gabi the phone case, not Ariel, and were the only people who knew the conversation Josh and Gabi had in Gabi's car after Christmas. Usually Gabi would tell Bree that stuff. Alyssa and Gabi were the only ones who knew that Caty opened Audrey's letter and what it said, even though she originally thought once she opened the letter, Nina would be the one she'd tell. Gabi and Caty were the only ones who knew about the conversation Taranee and Alyssa had after Christmas. Alyssa hadn't even told Rae that.
Caty had been feeling down about Tony for most of the day, but when Brian picked her up, her mood started to lift. He told her he wanted to take her to Empire, which was a new restaurant that opened a few months ago in Star City. It was sort of fancy, with tables both outside and in, long windows overlooking the ocean, and food of many different cultures. However, it wasn't too expensive. Caty was really excited because she'd wanted to go there ever since Iris and Jeremy, who went there when it first opened, told her about it.
Then Brian turned on the radio so they could start their song game, and Caty instantly felt better.
As usual, once Brian stopped the car, he rushed out so he could open Caty's door for her. She shivered instantly. It was really cold out, typical for February, but Gabi wouldn't let her wear something warm. Instead she picked out a tan, spaghetti strapped dress from Bree's clothes, a pair of tan sandals that Alyssa owned that went perfectly with the dress, and gave her a cream wrap that Gabi herself brought over to wear with it. It didn't protect from the cold at all, but Gabi said it was the best she was getting.
Conversation came easy during dinner. The first few minutes were spent debating over what to get. Caty liked to get a small meal and splurge on dessert. Brian liked to order several appetizers as a meal. He also liked to splurge on dessert, so they often got two desserts and shared both.
The food did not disappoint. Caty tried a bite of all four appetizers Brian had ordered. He didn't like the siriacha shrimp at all, and Caty, who loved it, got to eat the rest. They had a long conversation centering on their mutual favorite show, Once Upon A Time. It was Misha and Nina that got Caty into it, and Brian's sister got him into it.
After that conversation, Brian mentioned how it was cool to have a sister because she could help give Caty new interests. Caty said that all the upsides of having a sibling came much later in life, and she did not want a baby in the house. Then she changed the subject and told Brian about Audrey and the letter.
"Did you read it?" Brian asked.
"Yeah."
"What did it say?"
"Just that she didn't want to give me up, but she couldn't keep me and she couldn't tell me why, but she hopes one day we can reunite, but we can't right now. She said she's happy I'm friends with Alyssa because the two of us were supposed to grow up together, and she says she's sorry I'll never get to know my dad. She told me my real name was supposed to be Alessia Cook, as a variation of Alyssa, and she told me everything Alyssa told her about me. She says she wants to keep in contact, but we can't do that either, and then she's sorry she had to give me up. She also said she never meant for my parents to be Iris and Jeremy; that my grandparents were supposed to be my real parents. She told me that Iris was best friends with her sister. She didn't know about how crazy my Aunt Dawn and Aunt Alexia were, she just knew Mom was well behaved and sweet, so she thought what better people to leave me with than the people who raised her? But she's glad Iris and Jeremy are good parents. She said she loves me and thinks about me every day and can't wait until the day she can see me again."
"But why can't she see you now?"
"Well, she didn't tell me in the letter, but she told Alyssa that the reason she couldn't keep me was because she and my bio-dad were in danger and I would be too, if I stayed with them. And she can't reunite with me for the same reason."
"What kind of danger?"
"I'm not sure," Caty said shrugging. "I'm not even sure if I believe her. But it's okay, because honestly, I don't actually want to see her."
"Why not?"
Caty shrugged, but gave him a definitive answer. "Maybe she is in danger, but if she's lying about that, then I don't know why she'd give me up unless she didn't want me. She had a great support system in Alyssa's parents, money because of her job plus whatever my bio-dad had made playing basketball, which was a lot according to the contracts we found online, and a pretty nice house. She lived in one of those big houses on Pillar Drive. She could support me in every way."
"Then she must be in danger, because otherwise, she wouldn't have just given you up. Why wouldn't she want you? You're smart and capable-"
"But I was a baby. I mean, I was four when she gave me up, but still not old enough to show her how smart and capable I was. Maybe she was just tired of dealing with me."
Brian opened his mouth to protest, but Caty didn't let him.
"It's okay. I don't care. Or at least…I didn't. I love my mom and dad, and until this whole pregnancy thing, I didn't really care that my bio-parents gave me up. It's only now, because of Catherine, that I'm feeling a little insecure and unloved."
Before Brian could respond, their waiter took away their empty plates and gave them dessert menus.
Caty was delighted to see they had a whole page of cheesecake options. Cheesecake was a favorite of hers and Iris, but while Iris preferred chocolate cheesecake, Caty's favorite was strawberry. Brian knew that's what she would order the minute he saw it. He ordered a mini lava cake and they shared both, as usual, reveling in every bite.
They asked their waiter for the check half an hour later. While they waited, Brian took gave her the small bag he'd brought in to the restaurant. "The present I promised," he said.
"Brian, you shouldn't have. The flowers and this dinner were enough, and besides, I didn't get you anything," Caty said.
She wanted to get Brian something from Valentine's Day, but after the Christmas disaster (Brian got her a charm bracelets she loved so much that she wore it every day while she'd gotten Brian a rather ugly scarf that he couldn't wear anyway since it was made of wool, which he was allergic to), she wasn't sure what to get, and decided against getting anything at all. She didn't realize until that morning that she should've specified to Brian that they shouldn't do presents for Valentine's Day.
"I wanted to," Brian said. "I was actually shopping with Brianna, helping her get Christmas presents when she suggested this for my Christmas present to you. I already bought you the charm bracelet, so I decided I'd buy it and wait til the next special occasion. I thought about waiting until your birthday, but I couldn't sit on this any longer. Plus, it seemed to make more sense for Valentine's Day than your birthday."
Caty's curiosity was officially piqued. Their waiter dropped off their check. Brian grabbed it immediately so that Caty couldn't even see and offer to pay, put his credit card in the envelope, then looked at her expectantly.
Caty took out the tissue paper and pulled out a small velvet box. She opened it to reveal a gorgeous necklace. A delicate silver chain with a pendant of two linked silver hearts. Inside one heart was the letter C, and inside the other was the letter B. Both letters were crystal studded.
"Oh, wow," Caty breathed, not sure what else to say.
"Do you like it? Like I said, my sister picked it out. I'm not good at romantic gifts, but I figured she'd know best. I showed your friends too. Nina loved the necklace, but she wasn't sure if you'd like it. Misha was sure you wouldn't."
In actuality, Caty loved it, though she understood why her friends were skeptical. This was not usually the kind of thing Caty would like. She wasn't much for jewelry, and she always made fun of heart shaped pendants. But she found herself fighting the urge to fling herself onto Brian and kiss him senseless, humiliating them both.
"I love it," Caty declared. She took it out of the box and made a move to put it on before remembering Tony.
Right. She did love the necklace and it was sweet of Brian to get it for her, but she didn't like him. She liked Tony. And Lili told Caty that Tony liked her too, which he sort of proved by giving her the irises and looking disappointed when he found out Caty was dating. If she wore this, then it would affirm to Tony that she was really taken and she would never have a chance with him. The application for the internship was due the first week of April, just after Sheffiled's Sadie Hawkins dance. She'd be able to break up with him right after, and maybe Tony would ask her to prom. So she had to make up a lie about why she couldn't wear even though she, for some reason, really wanted to.
"But I can't wear it because…it's…fake!"
"Huh?"
"It's not real silver, is it?"
"No, it's just some cheap metal."
"That's what I thought. I love it, but I'm allergic to fake metals. I can only wear silver, gold, and platinum."
This was true. Caty was allergic to fake metal. Her ears got really red and started to bleed if she wore fake earrings for more than one day. In seventh grade, when she and Tony had first gotten together, he gave her a necklace made of nickel. It was a really pretty pendant that spelled out 'Caty', but she'd given it back when they broke up, and realized she'd developed a rash where the fake metal had touched her bare skin. A trip to the doctor confirmed it was the fake metal. She couldn't wear fake metals for more than day every few weeks.
"Oh…like my bracelet? That's silver."
"Yeah, and that's why I can wear your bracelet," Caty agreed.
"I'm so sorry Caty, I didn't know," Brian apologized.
"That's okay. It really is sweet Brian, I love it so much. I can wear it every now and then. I'll wear it on our dates."
Brian smiled and nodded.
The waiter took the envelope for Brian and brought back the card and receipt within a few seconds. Brian wrote down a tip and signed, and the two left. Even though Brian seemed fine, Caty felt really awkward since she basically rejected Brian's present. However, Brian immediately turned the radio on and the song Hotline Bling by Drake came on. Both smiled at each other before Brian started the car. This was the perfect song to start their game.
G.R.A.C.E. G.R.A.C.E. G.R.A.C.E.
The next day was Tuesday, and Gabi and Josh walked down into The Silver Dragon basement to find Cara and Chris in a screaming match.
"What's going on there?" Gabi asked Alyssa, who was telling Rae and Sage about her latest art project.
"Carter Hall asked Cara to the Valentine's Day Dance, and Chris found out and isn't letting her go. He's threatening to tell Eric, who'll definitely shut it down since Carter is three years older than Cara, unless Cara tells Carter that she can't go with him herself tomorrow."
"Can't Hay Lin vouch for Cara?" Gabi asked.
"Hay Lin will agree with Eric," Alyssa said.
"What's Chris's deal anyway?"
"He thinks Carter's too old for Cara," Rae said, answering for Alyssa.
"He is! Three years is a lot of years," Josh broke in.
"Wow, mathematician here," Gabi said sarcastically, making Alyssa and Rae laugh. "Anyway, I personally think brothers shouldn't get a say in who their sister dates."
"What makes you say that?" Alyssa asked, linking herself to Gabi and Rae. "Michael doesn't want you to go out with Josh even after he got Michael back together with Ariel?"
"He's still convinced Josh won't treat me right, but after that conversation about how hard it is for him to be nice, I get it. He'll be nice if we're in a relationship…right?"
"Oh definitely. He was nice to Rae because he liked her, and even when he got over her, he continued being nice because it was habit. And he was nice to me. He can be nice," Alyssa assured her.
"Wait, what conversation?" Rae asked. "It's hard for Josh to be nice?"
"It's nothing you need to concern yourself with New Girl," Gabi sighed.
Rae bristled, but before she could say anything, Ellie came downstairs complaining about Adam taking Jade to the Valentine's Day Dance.
"It's bad enough he had to go give her his Valentine's Day present in front of me yesterday, but he officially asked her to the dance in front of me today."
"In front of you on purpose or in front of you because you're always creeping on them, trying to spy?" Gabi asked.
"I'm not creeping on them!" Ellie said, basically confirming Gabi's suspicions.
"Why isn't the Valentine's Day Dance over? Shouldn't it have been last Friday instead of this one, to make it closer to the real date?" Rae asked.
"The Valentine's Day Dance is always the Friday after Valentine's Day, or the Friday of, if Valentine's Day is on a Friday," Alyssa said, shrugging. "Are you and Jake going?"
"Yeah. You and James?"
"Yup. This way we won't have to go to the next one."
"That's the same reason I agreed to go," Rae said.
With James signing up for Dance Committee for every dance and Jake being on Student Council, meaning he took part in organizing the dance, both weren't thrilled that their girlfriends didn't want to attend the Hollidazzle Dance. The girls agreed they'd go to half the dances held that year. The dance after Valentine's Day was the Sadie Hawkins in March, and neither wanted to go that. Then there was junior prom in the last week of May, which both girls did want to go to and the End of the Year Ball the last week of June which they were going to skip.
"You want to sleepover after?"
"Sounds good. Want to double to dinner before?" Rae asked.
"Yeah, sounds great. Can we go to Empire? Caty went with Brian yesterday and said it was amazing."
"Oh definitely! Mom took one of her clients there last month and raved about it. I've been dying to go," Rae said.
"Dying to go where?" James asked as he joined them.
"Empire. Can we go to dinner there with Rae and Jake before the dance on Friday?"
"Yeah. Caty told me today in AP Government that it was amazing. I want to check it out."
"I love how we're always in agreement," Alyssa cooed.
"I wish Adam and I were in agreement about the fact that he shouldn't date Jade," Ellie said.
"But Friday's our date night. So are we going to push it to Saturday this week?" Alyssa asked, ignoring the air guardian.
"That's what I was thinking," James said.
"Agreement again," Alyssa smiled. Then she gave James and a kiss.
"You guys make me sick," Ellie huffed.
"Me too," Josh muttered so only Gabi could hear.
Hay Lin came downstairs then, followed by Caty, and they started training. Cara and Chris were supposed to double team Gabi while the other girls worked on teletransportation, but they were so mad at each other that they ended up ignoring Gabi and tried to destroy each other before Gabi thought they were getting to violent and got Hay Lin involved. Hay Lin broke them up and asked them to explain. Neither said anything, but the next morning, Carter would tell Ellie he and Cara weren't going to the dance together and ask Ellie to go with him, as friends.
Hay Lin told Chris and Cara to go back home and not come back until they cooled off. Neither returned to practice. Hay Lin had the rest carry on as if nothing had happened.
"That was pretty wild with Chris and Cara," Gabi said as she drove herself and Josh home that evening.
"Well, she's fourteen. She shouldn't be going out with a seventeen year old guy anyway."
"It was one dance, and what right does Chris have to dictate who she goes out with anyway?"
"Are you saying if Michael told you that you can't go out with a specific guy, you wouldn't listen?"
"I wouldn't like it."
"But you would listen."
"Because my dad would never say it. He's not enough of a parent. Michael takes care of me, so I listen to him. But he wouldn't try to dictate my life, and Chris and Cara aren't the same. Cara has two parents that care about her."
"Your dad cares about you!"
"Let's not talk about that," Gabi said. "Are you hungry?"
"A little bit, yeah."
"Let's get ice cream!"
"Too cold. Let's get coffee."
"Coffee is not a substitute for food. How about fries?"
"Too many calories."
"What are you, a cheerleader?"
"I'm saying this for your benefit."
"I'm not afraid of a few calories Josh."
"Then let's get pizza."
"Too greasy."
"And fries aren't?"
"How about milkshakes."
"Again, too cold. Let's do donuts."
"Now that's definitely too many calories. Oooh, how about pie?"
"I've never had pie."
"You're missing out."
"Then let's get some," Josh said with a smile that made Gabi's heart skip a beat. Ever since that intense conversation in Gabi's car, Josh had been nice to her. He was honest and friendly. Things were getting back to the way they used to be; the friendship they had before the paper messed things up.
Gabi drove them to the nearest diner, and they ordered a slice of apple pie and a slice of cherry to go since Gabi didn't want to sit in the diner.
"Okay, which one should I try?" Josh asked when they were seated at the island at the Shay's house.
"Apple is my favorite," Gabi said. "It's the sweetest in my opinion."
Josh shrugged and took a bite. "It's too sweet," he decided.
"Then try the cherry."
Josh took a bite of that as well and cringed. "Oh, this is terrible! I'm having apple!"
Gabi laughed and took the cherry for herself, watching the door as she ate.
"I don't know how things work here on Earth," Josh began, his tone joking, "but on Meridian doors don't usually move, so we don't watch them."
Gabi rolled her eyes. "I just get worried when Luc's not home before me."
"Doesn't he have karate today?"
"Yeah."
"And his friend's mom is driving him home, right?"
"Yes, but still. Michael's always taken care of me and I've always taken care of Luc. That's how it's always been. So yeah, I worry like a mother, because he hasn't got a real one."
"I'm not criticizing, but I don't think even a mother would worry about her 11-year-old son when he's with the mother of his friend."
"An over-protective sister would," Gabi declared, but took her eyes off the door.
The pair finished their pie in ten minutes, but stayed at the island for almost an hour, talking. Gabi liked that they were getting their old friendship back, but she wanted more, and she knew the only way to make that happen was to push Josh.
"Can I ask you something?" she asked, interrupting his story about how he reacted when Julia and Jilly were first born.
"You just did," Josh replied, smirking.
"Funny," Gabi said airily. She hesitated for a moment, then said, "You always say you're really good at reading people, so I know you know that I like you. Like…as more than friends."
Josh chewed on the inside of his mouth before replying, "Yeah, I do."
"Well, I didn't say anything because I knew you liked Rae-"
"But I don't anymore," Josh said quickly, then looked sorry he said it.
"I know," Gabi said. "But then there was the issue of Sage."
Josh rolled his eyes. "Did everyone know that Sage liked me?"
"Everyone besides you apparently," Gabi said with a laugh. "But on Christmas, Sage told me if I wanted to be with you and you wanted to be with me, then it was okay. She'd be happy for us."
"Oh," Josh said, not sure what else to say.
"I'm not going to presume to know you or your thought process or your feelings, but everyone keeps saying that you do like me, and you're just resisting for some reason."
"Oh," Josh repeated.
"And if you don't like me, that's okay. But for a while there, you even resisted being my friend. So what's going on Josh? How do you feel about me and why were you working so hard to make us enemies?"
Josh let out a breath. He was hoping this talk would never come, but he should've known better. He stared determinedly at his empty plate, not sure what he should say.
"I asked you something similar once before," Gabi said. "And I told you to be honest with me. So I'm asking you that again. Just be honest with me."
Josh closed his eyes and sighed. "I like you. And I think you know that."
"You're right, I do. What I don't know is why you keep fighting it. I'm right here. Why can't we just be together?"
"I like you Gabi. But I can't like you."
"Why not?"
"Because!"
"Because is a word Josh, not a reason!"
"I know!"
"So then give me what I'm looking for. All I need is a reason Josh. One reason. One honest reason."
"Because you drive me crazy Gabi!"
"Oh," Gabi said, hurt.
"You and I have only known each other for five months and already we've had so many ups and downs. We went from fighting all the time to really good friends to me hating you to becoming friends again to me making you my enemy to friends yet again. Sometimes you make me so angry I want to pull my hair out. But other times…"
"Yeah?" Gabi asked, leaning forward.
"Other times you show me that you're this amazing person. I look at you and I'm blown away. I think about you and it puts a smile on my face. When you look at me, my heart goes crazy. You remember how you described Ariel? How you said when she looks at you, you feel special? Well, that's how make me feel. Like I'm special."
Gabi blushed. "That's a good thing though, isn't it?"
"I don't know. When I first got here, I thought I liked Rae. It was kind of the way it happened with my father. When he first met the guardians, he thought he liked Will, but then he ended up having a crush on my mother a few weeks later."
"How long did it take you to like me?" Gabi asked.
"I don't know. I didn't know it right away. But when I first admitted to myself that I liked you, it was at Alyssa's birthday party."
"And you picked a fight with me and told me you hated me the day after," Gabi said softly.
Josh nodded. "Like I said, I thought I liked Rae. She's funny, helpful, loyal, and take charge. All the traits I wanted in a girl. And we were friends. We had fun together. It was so…easy. Then there was you. It was easy for us too, once we became friends, but at first, we fought constantly. And after the paper, when I thought it was you, I hated you, not just because you did that to Rae, but because I thought you were better than that and you proved you weren't and I felt stupid for falling for you act. And then I realized it wasn't you and we became friends again. And I realized you had all the traits I looked for in a girl too, and then you kissed me and I knew you were the one I liked, not Rae. But…"
"But?"
"But it wasn't as easy with you. I managed to always be nice to Rae. I managed to open up to Rae. It wasn't the same with you. I couldn't be as nice or open."
"Why?"
"Because Rae was always the same. She was always nice to me, she never made me mad. You did. You sparked all kinds of emotions in me and I knew if we got together, it wouldn't all be smooth sailing."
"This isn't going to be easy Josh. It's not supposed to be. But why would that make you not even want to try?"
"It scared me Gabi. I've never felt so many things for one person all at once. You can do so many things to me. You can drive me crazy in both a good and bad way. And you make me second guess everything."
"I do?"
"Yeah. I have to watch myself around you. Am I being too much of a jerk or too nice? Am I being too open or not open enough? Is what I'm doing something you'll like or hate? And even after I made an enemy out of you, I still had all these thoughts. I thought, by telling you I hate you, you'll lose interest in me, but it didn't take me long to figure out I couldn't lose interest in you."
Gabi blushed even deeper.
"And you make me a better person. I'm more honest because of you, and more accepting. And even though you didn't like the other guardians at first, the way you are with Bree taught me the values of friendship."
"I did all that?"
"You did."
Now Gabi was smiling. "Then I really don't see the problem. I like you for you. And you, for some bizarre reason, like me for me. You make me a better person, and I make you a better person too. We both want to be with each other. Why can't you just take the plunge?"
"I'm not that person. I take risks for my land and for my queen, but otherwise, I'm not impulsive or a risk taker. I have to think about all my decisions."
"You can't think about this one Josh, you have to just do it. I get what you're saying. You're scared because you've never felt this way before, right?"
Josh nodded.
"Well, everything you're telling me about how I drive you crazy in a good and bad way, about how I have all the traits you look for in a girl, about how you've never felt so many things for one person…I feel all that too. I've never felt this way before either, but I know it's a good thing. It's a risk yes, but I'm willing to take it. Are you?"
"I don't know. I don't think I am."
Unable to stop herself, Gabi leaned forward and kissed him. He responded immediately. When she pulled back, he looked disappointed.
"How about now?" she whispered.
"I…I don't…"
"It's okay," Gabi said, giving Josh a smile. "All I asked for was honestly. Not a relationship. I didn't ask you for anything more than an answer, and I got that."
"But-"
"No, listen. If you're not ready, I'm not going to force anything. I like you. I am all in with you. If you're ever ready to be all in with me…well, you know where I live. You live in the same place."
Josh gave her a half smile. She gave him a bright smile back, put her plate in the sink, and walked into her room. She was a little upset that Josh couldn't take the plunge, but at the same time, she now knew he liked her, and how could she be unhappy about that? She wanted a relationship with him, and hopefully she'd get one. But she knew he needed to be ready, and she was okay with that. She could wait.
G.R.A.C.E. G.R.A.C.E. G.R.A.C.E.
"I mean," Phoebe Chester continued Wednesday at lunch, making Caty and Misha sigh, "I'm still writing '2015' as the year when I date my papers instead of '2016.' And when I talked to some of my friends, they said the same thing. So I thought it would be fascinating to write a story on how even the simplest of habits are hard to shake."
"Really? Fascinating?" Misha asked, as if she were really curious, making Nina giggled quietly as she waited for her friends to finish up this conversation.
"Oh yes, definitely," Phoebe said, not noticing Misha's sarcasm. "Because, think about it. When-"
"Thank you Phoebe, we'll take your idea into consideration and get back to you," Caty broke in. "Just give us until next week to think about it."
Phoebe nodded, gave them a smile, then headed over to her own friends. Misha, Nina, and Caty walked into the Mock Trial classroom where the team was having a lunchtime practice.
"She is the dullest girl I've ever had the displeasure of knowing," Misha groaned.
"I know!" Caty agreed fervently. "The only thing duller than her is that pitch. I mean really, habits are hard to shake? Why would we put that in the paper?"
Nina giggled. "I thought the whole thing was kind of amusing."
"Only because you're not editor-in-chief and don't have to be cordial and take her seriously," Misha informed her.
Caty nodded as the three girls put their stuff down on one of the tables in the front. An iHome was set up on the table, with an iPod hooked up to it. Music always played in the Mock Trial classroom as they waited for everyone to arrive. Jason Derulo's Ridin Solo was the current song playing.
"I'm so sorry that it didn't work out," he sang, "I'm moving on…"
"Then maybe he should actually move on instead of singing about it," Caty joked.
"What?" Misha asked as she and Nina regarded Caty with a confused look.
Caty flushed. "Uh, nothing, never mind."
The three girls gathered their notes and were going over them when Brian walked over and greeted Caty with a kiss. He'd gotten a lot braver since their Valentine's Day date a couple of nights ago. The pre-chorus of the song started again. Jason sang, "I'm so sorry that it didn't work out/I'm moving on…"
"Then maybe he should actually move on instead of singing about it," Brian said.
Caty laughed, glad someone understood.
Nina and Misha stared at Brian, then Caty, shocked. Did their best friend have a private joke with her fake boyfriend? And was that real delight on her face?
Lili walked into the room before they could pull Caty aside and ask her about this.
"Caty!" she cried, running over to where the group was. "Aunt Iris is in the hospital!"
"Is she okay?" Caty asked, wondering why, if her mother was in the hospital, Lili was smiling like a mad man.
"Better than. I mean, she's in a lot of pain, but it's because she's in labor."
"What?!" Misha and Nina cried as Brian's mouth dropped open. Caty looked like she got the wind knocked out of her.
"Catherine's coming," Lili said. "And the doctor says everything looks okay, so the placental abruption might not affect her as much as we originally thought. Isn't that great? Uncle Jeremy got both of us permission to go meet them at the hospital. You're going to get to meet your new sister soon!"
"We can't drive," was all Caty could think of to say.
"I can get one of Varsity cheerleaders to drive of us. They're all allowed to borrow Traci's car as long as they ask."
"That'll take too long. I'll drive you," Brian said, stepping forward. "I got here early so I got a pretty good spot."
"Um…yeah. Yeah, okay," Caty said, still in shock.
"We'll come too, if that's okay," Nina offered.
Caty nodded. She really did want her best friends there with her.
Brian told his friends where he was headed. They all packed up and made a move to leave.
"Hey! Where do you think you're going?" Sheila Breslin asked when she noticed.
"None of your business nerd!" Lili snapped. "Uh, no offense," she added, looking at her cousin and her cousin's friends.
Sheila rolled her eyes, as if Lili wasn't even worth her time, and said, "We have a Mock Trial semi-final match against Crawford next Monday."
"Stuff it Shelia," Misha said.
Nina and Lili both laughed as the five walked out the door. Caty sat in the passenger seat of Brian's car, while the other girls climbed into the back.
"How long does labor typically last?" Nina asked.
"Active labor is typically between three to five hours," Lili, who was well informed thanks to the birth of her sisters and brothers, said. "But it can take up to 18 hours. On average, it's eight hours, and since Aunt Iris is a first time mother, it shouldn't take too long."
Caty gave Lili a mournful look.
"Not that she is a first time mother," Lili said quickly. "I just mean this is her first time giving birth. Why?"
"I just want to make sure we'll get there in time. But it's only a half hour ride at the most. How long has she been in labor?"
"According to my mom, her contractions are still only ten minutes apart, and they're only lasting for a few seconds. Active labor doesn't start until they're two to five minutes apart and last for a full minute. We have time."
Caty sighed and stared straight ahead. The radio was on softly, and the song was #Selfie by The Chainsmokers. Caty knew Brian didn't switch the station because this song hadn't come on the radio while they were in the car together, and there were so many different ways to make fun of this song, but Caty didn't even want to play their game right now.
"Are you okay?" Brian asked halfway through the drive, taking her hand. Lili was listening to music and Nina and Misha were talking-or rather, badmouthing-Sheila Breslin.
"Sure. I mean, I'm not the one in the hospital, am I?"
"That's not what I meant," Brain said, his voice gentle. "Tell me how you feel."
"I don't know how I feel. We all knew this baby was coming. And we all knew it would be in February. But I'm still shocked."
"I know you haven't felt any better about her arrival since our first date, when you told me how much you didn't really want a sister. But she's here. You gotta let go of those feelings of resentment. Can you do that?"
"I have to, don't I?"
"It's not letting go if you do it because you have to. You can take your time. But you can't let it show."
"And I won't," Caty said. Brian squeezed her hand and she took a calming breath.
Brian held Caty's hand for the rest of the drive. Caty's heart beat faster, not because of the baby, but because one of the things she found attractive in every guy is when they drove-specifically turned-with one hand.
When the group got to the hospital, Lili used the text her mother sent her to direct them to Iris's room. Dawn was outside, waiting to meet them. She explained that Iris was okay, but the doctors had decided, because of the placental abruption, the doctors had decided to do a C-section for the baby's sake. Jeremy was in the delivery room with her.
Catherine Lewis was born two hours later, at 3 p.m. She was a good height of 18.75", but she weighed in at only 4lbs. That was the effect of the placental abruption. However, the doctors said, although she would most likely be underweight most of her life, she was healthy in all other aspects, and would be just fine.
Caty was relieved when she first heard that news. Rae was underweight, and had been for all her life as well, but she was fine too. Caty hadn't killed or hurt her sister…at least, not permanently.
It was another hour after Catherine's birth was announced that Caty finally got to see her. While Dawn stayed with Iris, Jeremy took Caty and Lili to the hospital nursery. He told Nina, Misha, and Brian they could come, but the three of them decided this was a family thing, and after making sure Caty was alright, left.
Jeremy pointed out which one was Catherine, but while Lili cooed about how cute not just Catherine, but all the babies in the nursery were, Caty was unimpressed. Catherine was just a little, red, pruney faced thing. In fact, when you compared her head to the rest of her, she looked sort of like a blowfish. There wasn't anything cute about her.
Dawn and Jeremy both wanted to stay with Iris, who wasn't allowed to go home right away, so Jeremy drove Caty and Lili to Lili's house, so Caty wouldn't be alone. Caty reminded him that her grandparents were at the house-sleeping in her room-but didn't fight too hard because she'd be more comfortable with Lili anyway.
It was two days later when Iris got to come home, Catherine in her arms. She put Catherine down in her crib and went to her own room to get some sleep. Caty peered over the top of the crib. Catherine's face with a little less red and pruney, but still resembled a blowfish. Catherine woke up almost immediately. It was Caty's grandmother who picked her up, and when Catherine calmed down, coaxed Caty into holding her.
She had a few wisps of blond hair like Jeremy, and her eyes were ocean blue like Iris's. She was going to be very pretty, and not at all blowfish like, when she got older. And, Caty couldn't help thinking, nothing like me.
She didn't expect Catherine to resemble her in the least…or at least, she shouldn't have. They weren't related. But, even though she wouldn't admit it, Caty imagined, and even hoped, that maybe Catherine would have her bright blue eyes or her long eyelashes, or her dimples.
"Isn't she lovely?" her grandmother whispered lovingly.
"She's so…tiny," Caty said in a small voice. "Even for a baby."
"Yes, the placental abruption took its toll. But thank the Lord it wasn't worse," her grandmother responded.
Caty nodded slowly. She willed the baby to cause an abruption. Could she will the baby to grow? Probably not. That sounded more like magic than mind control.
Caty tried to avoid looking at or holding the baby after that. It just made her feel terrible. She would've preferred to ignore the baby altogether, but her constant crying ruled out that possibility.
Caty began sleeping over at Nina's house every time something important was happening at school. She slept over Sunday night before their Mock Trial competition in which Caty was the defense lawyer (and she, and Sheffield by extension) won. She slept over Tuesday so she could study for her big AP Government test on Wednesday. This worked out well for two weeks, but then Iris demanded her home, saying they all had to deal with the baby, and she needed Caty around the house to help out.
For the first three weeks since Catherine had come home, most people called her "the baby." Finally, one day, while Iris was rocking Catherine to sleep and Caty was dusting the furniture in the nursery, Iris said, "I think it's time to come up for a nickname for your sister, don't you?"
"What do you mean?" Caty asked, knowing exactly what Iris meant.
"Well, Catherine's a mouthful. We should think of something shorter to call her."
"Like what?"
"Well, I'd been playing around with the name ever since I decided and I finally settled on one, but I'd like your opinion."
Caty nodded, fearing the worst. This would be where Iris would announce she wanted the call the baby-her real baby-Cathy or Cat, or something even closer to Caty's own name, like Cate. So that Iris would feel like she didn't waste her favorite baby name on a baby that wasn't really hers.
"Rin," Iris said.
Caty looked her mother, dumbfounded. "What?"
"R-I-N, Rin," her mother said. "I thought it was cute, but if you don't like it-"
"No Mom, it's great," Caty said quickly. "I'm just surprised, that's all. It's not really all that common."
"That's what I like it about it."
"I just thought you'd call her something like Cathy or even Cate."
"But that's practically your name. I wouldn't do that to you."
Caty smiled for what felt like the first time since her sister was born. "Rin. I like it Mom. And I think she will too, once she's old enough."
Iris beamed at Caty, and Caty didn't feel so bad.
It was a week before Caty's birthday when Ellie and Sage, the two of her friends who were most excited about the baby, begged to come over and see her. Caty agreed they could come home with her that day and the three could head to guardian practice together afterwards.
"She's beautiful," Sage said as the three of them leaned over the crib.
"So cute," Ellie agreed.
"Well her face isn't red and pruney anymore," Caty said. "But I still think she looks like a blowfish."
Ellie laughed and stuffed her face in a pillow so it wouldn't wake Catherine.
"A what?" Sage asked, confused.
"Never mind," Caty said with a smile.
The two girls spent a few minutes cooing over how adorable the nursery was when Catherine woke up and began to cry. Caty sighed. She was the only one in the house, meaning she was the one who had to calm her down.
Caty picked her up and rocked her the way she'd seen Iris do. "Don't cry Rin, everything's okay," she whispered.
It took Caty a few minutes, but Rin calmed down and went back to sleep. Caty put her back in her crib and the girls slipped out of the room.
"What did you call her?" Ellie asked as they headed to the kitchen.
"Rin. Oh yeah, I guess I forgot to tell you. Mom chose Rin as her nickname."
"Then I guess you can't call her 'Miss. Practically Has My Name' anymore, can you?" Ellie teased.
"Shut up," Caty mumbled, making both Ellie and Sage laugh lightly.
Iris and Caty's grandparents came home an hour later. Iris went to Rin's crib immediately. She started to cry.
Iris came back into the kitchen.
"What's wrong with her now?" Caty asked with an eye roll.
Iris rolled her eyes too, at Caty's attitude. "She's hungry. Can you watch her while I prepare her bottle?"
"She's a month old Mom, what do you think she's going to do, attempt to break out of her crib?" Caty asked, but headed to the nursery, Ellie and Sage following closely behind.
Caty looked at Rin. "You're a noisy baby, aren't you?"
Rin stopped crying and looked at Caty almost curiously.
"Everyone thinks you're cute," Caty continued, "but I know you're more of a sea creature."
Rin lifted one tiny hand towards her sister and her face resembled a smile.
"She's smiling!" Ellie cried, delighted.
"Technically, babies can't smile until they're three months old," Sage said.
"So what would you call that?" Ellie asked.
"Gas," Caty replied flatly.
Ellie rolled her eyes, and Sage gasped. "Oh my god Caty, look!"
Ellie and Caty turned to look at Rin and saw, to their immense surprise, a pink bubble was forming from her fingertips. When it was large enough, it enveloped Rin.
"What is that?" Caty asked, terrified.
"It's a force field," Sage said. "Watch." She put her hand out and the pink bubble forced it back.
"Whoa," Ellie said.
"But how did she do that?"
"Remember the conversation we had with Hay Lin? How she said Will's brother had magic? Maybe your sister does too," Ellie said.
"Not maybe. Definitely," Sage said.
"Well that's great, but my mom is going to freak out if she sees Rin inside a force field. We have to get her out."
"Nothing can penetrate a force field. That's the point. The only way to break it is for Rin to want to or for her to get so tired or unfocused that she can't keep it up."
"Okay, then let's break her concentration," Caty said. She reached up and spun Rin's dragon mobile. Rin looked up at the colors that started flashing and almost immediately, the force field vanished.
"Thank God," Caty breathed. "But that can't keep happening."
"Yeah," Ellie agreed. "Who knows when she's going to exhibit magic again? What if she's in your mother's lap one minute and growing guardian wings and flying the next?
"So, what do we do?" Caty asked.
"Don't worry," Sage said. "Taranee probably has a suppressing root we can use to suppress her powers. Mom told me they had to ask for some from the Oracle to suppress William's powers."
Caty nodded. "I'll go over there after guardian practice today. Anyone want to come?"
"I will," Ellie and Sage said in unison.
"Thanks. Now, speaking of practice, we should probably get going."
"Or, are you going somewhere?" Iris asked, coming in with Rin's bottle.
"Yeah, tutor circle. And I might go to Alyssa's for dinner."
"Alright honey, just don't be home too late," Iris said. "Nice to see you girls again," she said to Ellie and Sage.
"So, we should probably tell Rae the prophecy started," Ellie said when they were out the door.
"It has?" Caty asked.
"Uh, yeah. 'A child of magic two shall birth,' remember? That's probably Rin," Ellie said in her best 'duh' voice, reveling in the fact that she realized something before Caty did.
"My sister is in the prophecy? Great," Caty said.
"It shouldn't be too important," Sage soothed. "The next line is 'Child of Lightning, beware the Daughter of Earth.' It has nothing to do with Rin."
"But for the line to be in the prophecy at all, it has to mean something," Caty said logically.
"We'll talk to Rae and the others. Hay Lin might be able to figure it out," Sage said.
Caty nodded, but she only had one thought in her head now. Rin's very existence is more important than anyone originally thought. And Caty almost killed her.
G.R.A.C.E. G.R.A.C.E. G.R.A.C.E.
Caty knew she shouldn't be walking to anyone's house in the dark, especially not Ellie's. Ellie lived farther away from her than any of her friends and she lived in a shady neighborhood. But Ellie was also the one Caty really wanted to see.
The previous day, she was horrified at herself for almost killing Rin. But it turns out Caty could only feel bad for so long before Rin's constant crying that kept her up all night got too much for her. Now it was 9 o'clock Thursday night, and she just needed to get away.
At first, she wanted to see Nina, Alyssa, or Gabi. No one really approved of her feelings on her sister, but at least Nina, Alyssa, and Gabi would pretend to be sympathetic. But then she realized she didn't want to talk or even complain about her sister. She wanted to get her mind off it. She needed someone who could distract her, cheer her up. She needed someone who could always instantly put a smile on her face and that was Ellie.
When she got to Ellie's door, she rang the doorbell. No one opened the door, and she didn't hear the faint sound a doorbell would make from the other side, so Caty figured it must still be broken. Before she could raise her hand to knock, she heard yelling from inside. This time however, she could make it out.
First was a female's voice. She sounded a lot like Ellie, but was definitely older.
"Do you think it's okay for you to talk to me like that?" she screeched. "Whether or not I clean dishes in my own house it my business!"
"I'm sorry," a girl's voice said insistently. Ellie!
"Shut up!" the other voice snapped harshly.
For a second, Caty couldn't hear anything, but then there was a grunt from the woman, like she was gathering power, and then a scream from Ellie.
"Shut your mouth! I don't need the neighbors to hear your pathetic screams of pain you pitiful girl!" the woman yelled.
Caty gasped, then started to bang on the door. Immediately, both voices ceased.
Caty heard footsteps, but no one opened the door. She stayed out there for a couple of minutes. Even if no one was going to let her in, she wanted to make sure Ellie was okay. There were no more voices, so Caty figured it was over for now. She knew she was right!
Caty knocked again, but still no answer, so she did the only thing she could think of: she went outside and climbed up the fire escape.
To Caty's dismay, Ellie's curtains were drawn, so she couldn't see inside. She banged her fist on the window in frustration, not realizing Ellie would hear. Ellie shrieked in fright and opened the curtains. When she first saw Caty, she wore an expression of shock, but it soon turned into one of anger. Her face disappeared from the window, and a minute later, she was outside, wearing her pajamas, a jacket, and bunny slippers.
"Caty, what the hell are you doing?" Ellie demanded.
"Um…" Caty noticed she had some small twigs stuck in her hair from the three she was leaning against. "Looking for some new hair accessories?"
Ellie groaned. "How could you possibly justify spying on me again?"
"That's a pretty smart sounding sentence," Caty said. Her weak attempt at humor.
"God Caty, what is your problem?" Ellie cried.
"My problem?" Caty asked, suddenly angry. "The only one here with a problem is you. This happens every day, doesn't it? You come home to this. You always act like everything's okay, like you're so brave and you have everything together, but you can't even stand up for yourself!"
"I honestly have no idea what you're talking about."
"No, you honestly don't know what honesty is! You're being abused Ellie!" Caty cried. "You get hit and yelled at for stupid things that aren't even your fault and you won't do a damn thing about it!"
"Why do you care so much Caty? This is my fucking problem! Mine. So let me deal with it."
"You're not dealing with it! And I care because I'm your friend. I care about you and I'm…well, I'm not Alyssa."
"Alyssa was a better friend than you. At least she didn't sneak around my house after dark trying to see whatever it is you were trying to see. Were you the one banging on my door?"
"Yes, because I knew you were hurt. Why can't you admit what's going on?"
"Because nothing is going on! I'm fine Caty. Take my word for it."
Caty groaned in frustration and ran down the fire escape so she was facing Ellie. "I can't!"
"Well then that's your problem. Maybe you should deal with that instead of butting into my life," Ellie replied, turning around and walking away.
"Ellie, stop!"
Ellie stopped dead. Caty ran towards her and turned around so she could see Ellie's face, which had a nasty bruise on it.
"Don't use your creepy magic on me," Ellie spat.
Caty realized she had stopped Ellie accidentally, and normally, she wouldn't apologized, but this time, she was thinking it wasn't such a bad thing. She even contemplated using her mind control to get Ellie to admit her mother was abusing her, but then her morals kicked in.
It wouldn't be right. She didn't want to force Ellie to admit it. She wanted Ellie to admit it because she trusted Caty. Besides, forcing her wouldn't help the situation any. She could just deny it all later, and then where would they be?
"Ellie, I just want to help you.
"I don't want help. I definitely don't want your help. How many times do I have to say it? I don't need you or Gabi or Alyssa trying to insert yourselves in my life."
"But Ellie-"
"No! Caty, just go home!"
Caty bit her lip to keep from crying and nodded. She wanted to do something, but what was she supposed to do when Ellie wouldn't say anything?
She remembered a moment from her childhood when she was still living with her grandparents. Aunt Dawn had called after getting arrested again. Caty's grandfather had gone to get her. Her grandmother turned to Caty and said, "You're probably too young to understand this, but I'll tell you anyway. You can't help someone who won't help themselves."
Caty was too young to understand it, but she never forgot it. And it rang completely true.
"Okay," she said. "But I'm here, if you need me." Caty walked away before remembering something. She turned back to Ellie. "Oh, and uh, you can move now."
Ellie sighed in relief and walked back into the building, never once looking back.
G.R.A.C.E. G.R.A.C.E. G.R.A.C.E.
Ellie was officially not talking to Caty, which made Gabi stand with Caty in solidarity and officially not talk to Ellie. Caty clearly told Alyssa what had happened, because all Alyssa wanted to talk about was Ellie needing to tell someone, which meant Ellie was officially avoiding Alyssa. In short, Ellie was rapidly losing friends, meaning she needed to do something that she admittedly should've done a long time ago. So Friday, while the drama club was sitting in their club room eagerly awaiting their drama advisor's announcement of who would play what part in Les Mis, their Spring Musical, Ellie walked up to Adam, who was sitting with a few of guy friends and Jade, and asked him if they could talk.
Adam and Jade exchanged looks, but then Adam nodded. He removed his right arm from around Jade's shoulders, got up, and followed the brunette out.
"What's up?" he asked.
"Well…I wanted to apologize."
"Apologize?" Adam repeated.
"Yeah. To you and Jade, but I thought I'd do it separately so both you can air out your griefness if you have any."
"Our what? You mean grievances?"
"If you say so," Ellie agreed.
Adam's face showed the tiniest hints of a smile before his expression became nonexistent again.
"I was being stupid and, like you said, a brat. Of course you have the right to move on and like someone else, because I never did like you back. You're my best friend, but I don't have a right to you or anything. I wasn't sure if you and Jade would last, but that wasn't something I should've said. I should've supported you, and now I see you do make each other happy. I mean, it's been three months, and that's the longest relationship Jade has ever kept."
Adam laughed. "Yeah, she has a tendency of scaring guys off with her temper."
"But she didn't scare you off because you're used to it. You guys are friends and you make a good couple. So if you guys are happy, then I support you."
"Really?"
"Absolutely."
Adam grinned and threw his arm around Ellie. "Good, because I miss us all hanging out together. You've basically been hogging Milly and Sage. And I missed my best friend."
Ellie grinned back, comfortable and happy in the familiar feeling of Adam's arm around her. "I missed mine too…wait, you did mean me, right?"
"Please. Why would I declare you my best friend when Sage is around?"
"You're a jerk! I have no idea what Jade sees in you."
"Oh you love me," Adam teased as they walked back into the classroom.
"Yeah," Ellie agreed, and for the first time ever, she wondered if she meant she loved him as just a friend.
G.R.A.C.E. G.R.A.C.E. G.R.A.C.E.
"Everything but people!" Josh cried as he and Gabi arrived at guardian practice that afternoon. Ellie was texting Carter what time to pick her up for the dance, Chris was brooding about something, Sage and Cara were sparring, Caty and Rae were talking about some test they took that day, and Alyssa and James were whispering about something, pausing every now and then to kiss, but everyone looked up when Josh spoke. "All I wanted was one art class where we paint everything but people, and what's our next project? Portraits!"
"What's the big deal?" Rae asked. "You're good at people."
"That's what Gabi said too," Josh said. "Why isn't anyone on my side?"
"I'm on your side," Chris said darkly. "This project sucks."
"I bet I know who you got," Alyssa giggled. Then she looked at Ellie, whose eyes went wide.
"No. Please no!" she cried.
"Yes," Chris confirmed, making Ellie groan and pretend faint. Sage giggled.
"Not a laughing matter," Ellie warned as she picked herself up.
"What's going on?" Rae asked.
"The honors art class got assigned portraits today," Alyssa explained. "And drama club finished their Spring Musical auditions yesterday and found out who plays what part today. And since there are as many big roles in their musical as there are student sin the honors art class, each of the artists have to do a portrait of one the actors dressed as their character."
"Oh, what's the musical?" Cara asked.
"Les Miserables," Ellie answered. "And to think I was excited up until this point."
"Wait, I'm still confused. What's the problem?" Gabi asked.
"Well, we don't get to choose who we paint. We picked names out of a hat. I think Chris got Ellie," Alyssa said.
Chris nodded his confirmation, and everyone began to laugh.
"Not funny!" Ellie insisted.
"So who are you playing?" James asked.
"Eponine. And Sage is Cosette, Jade is Fantine, Adam is Valjean-"
"Oh who cares?" Gabi cut in, even though she technically wasn't speaking to Ellie. "Sage, who is playing your Marius?"
"Logan Benson," Sage said.
"Oh, he's so hot!" Caty cried.
"And that's who I get to paint," Josh said, rolling his eyes.
"Who'd you get Lyssa?" Chris asked.
"Oh, actually I haven't looked yet. I hope I get you Sage."
"If you get Sage, trade with me," Chris said. "If you get anyone else, trade with me."
"Are you okay with that El?" Alyssa asked.
Ellie nodded slowly, even though she knew if Alyssa traded with Chris, she knew what their conversation would be about.
Alyssa unfolded a piece of paper and her face darkened. "I'll let you choose if you want to trade or not," she said to Chris. "I got Adam."
"Ouch," James said.
"Times a million," Alyssa added.
"I would trade Lyssa," Chris said, "but I think I might actually punch him in the face. It's just safer for me to stick with Ellie."
An awkward air set around the room. Alyssa blushed at what Chris said, knowing he meant he'd punch Adam in the face for abandoning Alyssa, but he wouldn't punch Ellie because he wouldn't hit a girl, James looked unsettled that another boy made his girlfriend blush, and Caty, Gabi, and Ellie locked eyes, 'punch him the face' reminding them of what was going on with Ellie.
Everyone noticed this new air, though not sure what brought it on. Luckily, Hay Lin came downstairs at that moment, calming everyone down.
"Okay, so before we start, I want to say, I'm sorry Caty, but I still don't know what your sister's significance in the prophecy could be."
"That's okay," Caty said.
"Are you using the suppressant root?" Rae asked.
Caty nodded. "Taranee helped me grind the root into powder and she said I just have to put a quarter of a teaspoon in Rin's bottle once a month. I put it in yesterday, so we should be good until April."
Hay Lin nodded, happy.
"Okay. Then I've got something for all of you." She took out a little sack from her Silver Dragon apron. "In here is Kandrakaran Life Powder."
"And that would be?" Gabi asked.
"Something to help you sustain life. We don't know if Angel is going to switch sides or not. Here is what we do know: when you became guardians, Kandrakar became the source of everything for you. Not just your power, but your life. If the Heart is destroyed, you die, unless you have life powder from the origin of existence."
"Isn't the origin of our existence Earth?" Alyssa asked.
"Not anymore. There is life powder on every realm, and Earth life powder would help to sustain James, and the Regents, and former guardians. But current guardians need life powder from Kandrakar, just like Meridianites like Sage and Josh need life powder from Meridian. I got this for you guys in case the Heart does break."
"Wow. Thanks Hay Lin. But shouldn't every member of the team have some?" Rae asked, as leader like as ever.
"Life powder is hard to come by. The Oracle only gave me some after I told him about Ellie's dream, and only enough for a one time use, so if the Heart accidentally breaks, and your life powder gets used, the next time it breaks, you're on your own."
"Meaning…?" Caty asked slowly.
"Well…no heart, no guardians," Hay Lin said solemnly.
"So how do we use it?" Alyssa asked.
"Well normally you'd have to carry it around, but with Sage's help, I can infuse the powder into the necklaces you made for GRACE so you'll always have it. Just make sure to wear the necklaces all the time and not lose them."
"That should be easy. We only take them off when we shower," Caty said.
The other girls nodded. Even Gabi loved the necklace.
Sage infused the powder into the pendants, and the team started practice.
G.R.A.C.E. G.R.A.C.E. G.R.A.C.E.
"Do you want me to just take a picture of you?" Alyssa asked Adam the following Monday. "That way, we don't have to meet at all."
"Please take a picture of me!" Ellie begged Chris.
The Studio III and Drama III classes took place during the same period, so the art students joined the drama students in their classroom to start work on the portrait pieces. Some of the actors in the musical were in the lower or higher level drama classes, and the art students assigned to paint them were going to have to meet them at another time, and stayed in the studio to wowithrk on an art project they had to do simultaneously to the portrait project.
Alyssa still wasn't speaking to Josh, but when he and Chris came into the studio that day, before the students left for the drama room, she heard Josh tell Chris that he was going to take a picture of Logan in his costume today, and just work off the picture since he and Logan weren't friends and didn't really want to spend time on this. Apparently, a lot of pairs who weren't friends were doing the same thing. Alyssa decided she'd ask Adam if she could take a picture of him and do the same thing. He and Ellie were chatting when she and Chris set up their easels in front of them, and next to each other.
"We're mature young adults. There's no reason we can't be civil towards one another," Adam replied.
"Seriously?" Alyssa asked. "You want to come meet me after school and pose for me?"
"Why not?"
"Because I don't like you, that's why not!" Alyssa cried.
"Lyssa!" Ellie cried.
"Oh, don't even start Ellie. You just begged Chris to take a picture of you because you hate him."
"Yeah, but you just told my best friend you don't like him," Ellie protested.
"And you tell my close friend you hate him practically every day," Alyssa shot back.
"Okay, you have a point," Ellie conceded, rolling her eyes good-naturedly. Alyssa gave her a playful smile back.
"So, picture?" Alyssa asked. "Or do you really want to torture me?"
"I didn't realize it was such torture working with me," Adam said, although if he was at all hurt by that comment, he didn't show it. "Look, I'd rather pose for this portrait than do certain other things after school, okay? So you'd be doing me a favor."
"Oh, well then that changes everything! Now that you told me I'd be doing you a favor, it makes me want to do it so much more," Alyssa said sarcastically.
Ellie laughed into her palm and Chris hid a smile. Adam looked surprised. This was the most sarcastic Alyssa had ever been since she became friends with Rae, and Adam didn't know the sarcastic Alyssa at all.
"If you do this for me, I'll buy you one book for every hour we had to be together. I won't restrict you either. They can be any price."
Alyssa's eyes lit up. "Okay, I guess we can do this," she said.
"Well, unlike Alyssa, you can't buy me with books. So you taking a picture or what?" Ellie asked.
"You could probably buy her with sheet music or something," Alyssa said.
"He doesn't need to. He doesn't want to spend any time with me either."
"No, I don't," Chris agreed. "But Mom was in this class when she went to Sheffield, and remembered this was around the same time her Studio III class did portraits of the musical actors. When she found we were partners, and remembered we hated each other, she insisted we work together. Apparently, people had the picture idea in her class too. Now we have to work in the basement every day before…my shift."
Alyssa guessed by the way Chris said, 'my shift' he meant guardian training. Hay Lin probably wanted Chris and Ellie to do the project for real so that it would be easier for them to work together on missions and in battle.
"And what if we don't?" Ellie challenged.
Chris looked at Alyssa and she understood. Concentrating hard, Alyssa set up a mental link between the three of them.
"So what if you don't?" Alyssa asked.
"If we don't, Mom won't teach you about lucid dreaming."
"You want to learn about lucid dreaming El?" Alyssa asked, surprised.
"Well, Hay Lin said her grandmother taught her about lucid dreaming, so whenever Hay Lin had a vision, she knew it was a vision and was aware of her surroundings and what was real and what was not, and could even control it to some extent. Like, her guardian powers worked and she could use them to control the vision, like go invisible to possibly get a look at who's talking if she has a vision of a conversation but can't see who's talking."
"So is that a yes to working for real, or do you still want me to take a picture?"
"Fine, let's do it," Ellie sighed.
"El?" Adam asked, clearly wondering why Chris, Alyssa, and Ellie were standing around staring at each other, not saying a word, but still seemingly having a conversation.
"I'll come over today after rehearsal," Ellie said to Chris.
"You will?" Adam asked incredulously. "But why? What reign does his mother have over you?"
Ellie knew she couldn't use the tutor circle excuse because that only explained why she hung around Chris, not Hay Lin. But Ellie didn't call herself an actress for nothing.
"Hay Lin is a great martial artist. She's my karate teacher, and she's training me for free. If I don't at least try to get along with Chris though, she won't be too enthusiastic about teaching me."
"Why are you learning karate?"
"You hear all the rumors about my neighborhood. Most of them aren't just rumors. My training is helping me feel safe. It was sort of your idea."
Adam nodded. He had suggested on several occasions that Ellie should look into getting self-defense training because of all of the muggings and other things that took place in Ellie's neighborhood. Ellie always said that between tuition for both her brothers and the cost of raising her, her family just couldn't swing it. They had no money to pay for extra things like self-defense lessons (and if they did, Ellie would choose voice lessons or an acting coach instead). If someone was actually teaching Ellie for free, then who was he to stand in the way?
"Do you want Alyssa and I to come over and work with you guys in…what was it, a basement?"
"The Silver Dragon basement," Ellie said. "And yeah, if you and Lyss don't mind."
"I don't mind," Alyssa said. Working alongside Chris while Ellie was there would make it a lot more bearable to paint Adam. Besides, the three of them needed to be there eventually for guardian training anyway.
"And of course I don't," Adam said.
"Chris? You okay with this?" Alyssa asked, knowing Chris probably wouldn't be too thrilled at the idea of not just Ellie, but also Adam, in his basement.
"Yeah. At least you'll be there," Chris said. Alyssa smiled.
"Okay, so today after rehearsal?" Adam asked.
"Yeah," Chris replied as cordially as he could. He knew this was going to be one hell of a project.
G.R.A.C.E. G.R.A.C.E. G.R.A.C.E.
A/N: I hope you guys liked it. I wanted to tell you guys a couple of things. First, I just made up what Caty's dress looked like, instead of googling a dress, and couldn't find one on google that matched closely enough with what I imagined, so even though a bunch of you PM me, thanking me for the links, I did not post a link for Caty's dress. Also, I tried to match the dates and days perfectly, but I realized too late that Valentine's Day is on a Sunday, and didn't want to change anything.