Snowflakes cling to the sidewalks. In a silver Corolla Nick sits stoically in the driver's seat as Grace remains utterly silent next to him. The asphalt is moist from a recent rain. A block from Grey house she elbows her step-brother.
"Pull over!" She shouts, the first thing that she's said since she met him at the airport.
He eases to the curb. Her door flies open, and she hangs out the side of the car with the belt unbuckled, but still clinging to her. Nick gags, and watches in horror as she vomits on the ground. After a moment she returns to the inside of the vehicle. Nick hands her the bottle of water she's not touched.
"Are you good to go?"
"No. I'm not. I think you should take me back to the airport. It was a mistake coming here."
He furrows his brow, "What do you mean? We are coming home. How is that a mistake?"
"I can't go home right now. I thought I could, but I can't do it."
"I don't understand."
"I can't face my mother."
"Did the two of you have a falling out, or something?"
"No."
"Why can't you face her?"
"Because everything is wrong, Nick. My entire life is falling apart."
"Grace you're perfect. I think you might be feeling overly critical."
"Really?! I am unemployed. I do not have a college degree."
"We're young. You have plenty of time to figure all of that out."
"Except I don't. I have to get my life together."
"What is the rush?"
"What happens in Vegas most certainly does not stay there."
"Again, I'm going to need a little more."
"My friends took me to Las Vegas for a girl's weekend for my twenty first birthday."
"So?"
"I did all of the things. We went to a show, and we drank, and gambled, and I ended up being the biggest loser."
"It's only money."
She shakes her head, "That's not what I'm talking about."
"Wait, what are you saying?"
"I'm pregnant."
"Oh, shit!"
"I wasn't puking because I was panicking. I've been too scared to take a test for weeks. I finally broke down, and I did in the airport bathroom, and I'm freaking out. This is not how I planned my life going. I am supposed to graduate, and then have this big exciting life. Now I don't have any idea what my life is going to look like."
"I don't understand what's happening right now. I'm the screw up. You don't make mistakes. You don't take big risks. How could this happen to you?"
"I blame Jose."
"Cuervo?"
She nearly smiles, "In all seriousness regardless of what contributed to my choices I have to live with them."
"So what do you want me to do? I can drop you off at Abigail's if you want."
She vehemently shakes her head, "No. Don't do that."
"Maybe your mom won't notice."
"Really?!"
"What if I agree to take the heat off you? I mean we just have to get through Christmas eve dinner, then presents, and you can find an excuse to head back to school early."
"What are you planning on telling them?"
"Something they will buy."
"Like what?"
"That I'm flunking out of school."
"Are you?"
He shakes his head, "No, but they will believe it. I'll say I've just been feeling really down since I broke up with my girlfriend."
"Do you have a girlfriend?"
"Not if I broke up with her," he winks.
"It probably won't work."
"Maybe it will at least buy you some time."
"I would appreciate that."
He leans back in his seat, "Grace, what are you going to do?"
She looks out the window for a moment, and then her glance falls upon Nick's face, "It's all I've been able to think about it all day."
"It's okay if you don't know."
"No matter how much I think about the positives, and the negatives I keep landing on the same thing. I am completely terrified. I don't know how to be anyone's mother. I can barely take care of myself. I guess I'm just going to have to change all my plans."
Nick smiles at her, and hugs her. After a moment he lets go.
"Why do you seem so happy? This is horrible news."
"Because that means I get to be cool uncle Nick. I'm excited about that, even if you aren't."
She furrows her brow, "This is so weird. I'm not sure I'm going to get used to you having my back."
"Am I the first person you've told?"
She nods, "And hopefully the last, at least for a while."
"What about the guy responsible?"
She shrugs, "I wouldn't even know how to get in contact with him. The regrettable thing is that he was at a bachelor party, and I'm not sure for whom."
"At least your sabotaging your life plans early on."
"Meaning?"
"You have plenty of time to bounce back. We should get going before we're late. That will definitely tip your mom off that something is wrong."
"You're right."
Grace tries to sneak into Grey house. She's halfway up the stairs when Cassie's voice interrupts her ascent.
"Grace, where are you going?"
Nick stands in the foyer with their luggage. He clears his throat as Grace nervously freezes.
"Grace had a really turbulent flight. I think she was wanting to go upstairs and rest before dinner."
"Yes. Nick is right. I have a bit of a headache."
"I can get you some tea," Cassie offers, "or Tylenol."
"I'm just going to go lie down," she races up the stairs.