Hey guys- I haven't updated in, oh, two years. Haha- what can I say, I never forgot about the story- and I play to keep it up now. I hope you all enjoy it.

Rebellious Natures

Gracie looked down at her watch. It was 4:30. She and Chris had been chatting away and she didn't even notice the time. "Dad will be home soon" she thought to herself. Chris noticed.

"Should you be getting home?" he asked.

"Oh, I see, you wanna get rid of me" Gracie smiled solemnly.

"No, I just don't want you getting in trouble on my behalf" he answered sincerely.

"I know- its okay. I just really don't wanna go home……………" she replied.

"Don't you think you're avoiding the inevitable?"

"I know"

"And that it isn't such a good thing"

"Well," Gracie shrugged, "the inevitable sucks"

"That it does………….wanna walk?" Chris asked.

"Yeah" The two got up and started walking aimlessly through the forested area around the lake. Trying to break the tension, Chris took the opportunity to find out more about Gracie.

"So, uh, did you have any boyfriends in San Diego?"

"Tons" Gracie said, fooling Chris. "Well, I don't believe in monogamy, I mean, why have one good thing when you can have 25?"

"You had 25 boyfriends?" Chris asked, dumbfounded.

"More like sexual slaves- I wasn't that committed" Gracie replied nonchalantly.

"You're so lying!"

"I was wondering when you're light bulb would turn on…….." Gracie teased.

"Gee thanks." Chris said, faking disappointment.

"Oh- you know I'm kidding, right?" Gracie asked, concerned.

Chris held out for a few seconds then grinned, "Yeah, I'm just messing with ya" Gracie gave a huge sigh and pushed him lightly. "Seriously, though- I have the right to know about your past social interactions before I allow you to hang out with my group"

"Ha ha, okay, Mr. Pushy, I've had a couple boyfriends. I don't know, it just never seemed to work out"

"Why, if you don't mind me asking" Chris asked, seriously.

"Well, I just can't be with clingy or possessive guys………..I've had some scary situations before, so I definitely don't want to be in that kind of relationship again"

"Scary situations?"

"Yeah, I was dating this guy, Brian for almost a year. It was a crazy relationship. He just never wanted to let me out of his sight. It kept getting worse and worse, so I broke up with him. After I broke it off, he……..well, it got kinda bad and ugly and we had to go through the whole restraining order thing. Then I met Tim. He was a good guy. But I started noticing the same clinginess in him too. It scared me. Then, my dad told me we were moving……….despite being angry, I was a little relieved." Gracie said slowly as Chris listened intently.

" Wow" Chris said, taking it all in.

"Yeah, every girl has to have some baggage, right?" Gracie smiled. "Besides, I really have learned my lesson about guys"

"I hope I won't have to add to that lesson plan"

"Chris, I can tell you're different. I may be blonde, but I've learned how to read people"

"I don't think you're a dumb blonde at all." Chris offered. Gracie smiled at the compliment.

"What about you- besides you're natural affinity for bachelorhood, why are you single?"

"Well………" Chris said, wondering if he should bring her into his world a little more.

"You can tell me as much as you want, you know. You don't have to open up unless you're okay with that"

"You're too cool to be living here……….seriously" Chris said as he stopped walking, looking in her eyes.

"Well, I think that applies to you, too." Gracie said with a caring smile, resulting in Chris feeling completely open to being honest with her.

"I'm single because of a couple of reasons" Gracie just listened. "………….well, one of them has to do with the girls here. Remember that girl I was telling you about, Heather?"

"Yeah- on the dance team, right?"

"Yeah, well, she didn't just betray Jackie. We had this 'thing' going on during the summer. I really liked her, a lot. And I thought she felt the same way. We didn't have any official commitment to each other, but I thought we were exclusive. Then, the school year started, and she just stopped associating with all of us after she joined the dance team…………she ignored everyone, including me. Then she started dating this guy, Jed, from the football team. He's such an asshole. Then, I don't know, the rest of the school year, I just didn't feel like dating." Chris relayed the story, sounding very despondent.

"I'm sorry Chris. She sounds like a real bitch"

"Yeah well. That's not the only reason I'm single. It has to do with something that I'm not used to talking about, even to Gordie………." Chris said, seemingly getting more and more depressed. Gracie held his hand. "It's about my family. It's a bad situation at home. I'm used to it and I can handle it, but everyone in town judges me for it."

"What is it?" Gracie asked.

"Its my dad. And my brother. You've actually met him- he was with Ace."

"Really?" Gracie said, beginning to understand the gravity of the situation.

"I'm not gonna complain about it- I just thought you should know. You won't have the best reputation if you hang out with me." Chris said, not able to look Gracie in the eyes anymore. Gracie tilted his chin up so that his eyes met hers, then she leaned in, and had her first of many amazing kisses with Christopher Chambers.