The ribbon of the book she held before her tickled her skin and she smiled wryly. Sighing, she let the book down on her bed and sighed, pausing to look out of her window and see the first snowfall of the year tenderly drift among the bare trees. She felt at peace in that moment, she felt pure and completely settled and not a care in the world.

But Grace shook out of her daze when she remembered why in the first place she had carried herself up to the attic that cozy, cold afternoon just to rummage through old photo albums and diaries, until she found the book she was looking for. It was a book her mother had been writing in just before she had left Grace and her father. She always knew it was up there-but she never had the courage to go up there and actually find it. She wasn't sure if she wanted to read it, but she knew having it close to her somehow comforted her.

It was mid afternoon on a Saturday, and Mr. Hanlon was busy away at his office in town, working fervently for the Christmas holidays. It was barely December, but Mr. Hanlon liked to keep on top of things. Around the holidays Grace felt even lonelier then usual. She knew sulking around feeling sorry for herself wasn't going to help much, but sometimes it disturbingly made her feel better, like she had something to blame all of her unhappiness on.

And to add on top of all her unwanted angst, Gordie had been acting different, estranged, distanced. She missed him; she hadn't talked to him since lunch at school the previous day. Grace heard rumors about Halle and Gordie, but she refused to believe that something was going on between them. She knew very well that they were friends and hung out often, but that didn't bother her. She trusted Gordie, and they were mature enough to accept the opposite sex as friends. But she couldn't help but become slightly jealous when Gordie walked down the halls with Halle instead of her. She was his girlfriend for crying out loud! But-she didn't know Halle. She trusted Gordie, of course, but could she put the same delicate thing into the hands of Halle Chambers, whose hands had most likely been down every guy at Castle Rock's pants. Grace shuddered at the thought. No, Halle was *not* screwing her boyfriend.

But something seemed to tell her otherwise. She wasn't angry with Gordie, merely upset and lonely. Gordie had all but stopped calling her. Now Grace was always calling him and she didn't mind it, but something was telling her it wasn't right. And part of her was just plain jealous. Of course, out of all the girls Gordie could befriend, he just had to befriend a very pretty girl whose morals happened to be very loose.

Feeling sick with herself and crying out in frustration, she leaned back into her bed and threw her mother's book across the room so it hit her closet doors and mad a soft 'thud' as it hit the floor. Grace had to stop feeling so tense-she needed to loosen up. If Gordie could prance around with girls, so could she!

Just as this thought registered in her mind, her phone rang and she jumped in surprise. She was alone in the house and hadn't heard any noise other than the book falling to the floor. Leaning across her bed to reach the phone which sat on her end table, Grace pressed the phone to her ear.

"Hello?" She asked, hoping it was Gordie.

"Hey Gracie," came a voice which made her smile. It was Gordie! She was so relieved and happy she couldn't stop grinning.

"Thought I'd never hear from you," she murmured into the phone, leaning against her bed post, making herself more comfortable.

"Yeah," Gordie replied. "I've just been-er-really busy."

"Oh," Grace replied, feeling somewhat disturbed. "School project or something?" She didn't want to bluntly bring about her problem. Beating around the bush would do.

Gordie hesitated on the other line. "Uh-something like that. So what are you doing tonight?" He changed the subject quite briskly.

Grace rolled her eyes, but smirked all the same. "Nothing, I guess. Faye's probably with Chris and my dad's in town."

"Great. Want to come by my house?"

"Okay," she replied. "Be there in a bit."

Grace hung up the phone and sighed. She loved Gordie, she really did, but guys could be so aggravating sometimes!

* * *

Gordie's home was quiet when he led Grace through the front entrance and down the hall to the stairs.

"My parents are out," he explained. "To where, I have no idea."

Grace smirked. "Oooh lala," she giggled, brushing her hair behind her ears.

Gordie smiled devilishly and grabbed her hand, pulling her up the stairs with a fairly strong force. Laughing, Grace let herself be pulled up the stairs. When they reached the second floor landing, Gordie heatedly pressed his lips against hers. It sent chills up her spine as he grabbed her hips and brought her closer to him. His tongue teased her lips and when Grace parted her lips slightly, Gordie snuck it in and began to explore her mouth thoroughly. There was so much passion in the kiss, Grace was taken aback. Where did this all come from? Gordie grabbed her legs, and lifted her to him and began to walk to his room. Upon reaching his bed, he laid her on it, trailing his lips down to her neck, and then back up to her mouth, all the while his hands explored her body.

Finally releasing due to lack of oxygen, Gordie and Grace laid there, gasping for breath. Grace looked with questioning eyes.

"Wow," she breathed. "What was that for?"

Gordie smiled shyly. "Cause I loooove you."

Grace giggled. The real reason, however, that Gordie had decided to make out with Grace so was because of what had happened last night at the ice cream parlor. He missed the taste of her lips and he missed her smell. Feeling thoroughly sick with himself when he kissed Halle, he felt he needed to make it up to himself.

He sighed. "Grace...I don't want to lose you, ever."

Grace looked up, worry in her eyes. "You're not going to."

Gordie diverted her gaze for a moment then looked back at her. "I love you, you know that. And I would never, ever mean to hurt you."

Grace nodded. "I know Gordie, I know."

"I'm sorry if I haven't been all there this week," he continued. "I've been- distracted."

Grace sat up on her elbows and arched an eyebrow. "How so?"

Gordie sighed. "A friend of mine's been having a hard home life and they've needed someone to talk to."

Grace looked at Gordie. "Oh...well, okay." Grace clearly wanted to point out that her, too, needed someone to talk to, but decided to not ruin the moment.

Gordie looked anxiously into Grace's eyes and kissed her hard but sweet. He laid her back on his bed and began to move her up farther onto the bed with his body. Grace broke away and looked up into his eyes. Gordie did also. He wanted Grace, wanted her more than just to kiss.

Smiling innocently, Grace seemed to feel the same way. Lifting her arms up she kissed Gordie hard back, this time, while taking off his shirt.

***

Woowoo, Gordie and Grace got some! Hehe Sorry, I love Gordie second best to Chris. So I wanted to have him have his own chapter. : ) But Chris-fans don't fret, next chapter it's all about Chris and Faye and their...erm....'intimateness'. hehe

So hope ya liked it, and review please! They help me a lot.

: ) ! Love and Strawberries, The Good Girl