Just when FP felt like everything was starting to be alright in the world. The world started shaking beneath him.
He wouldn't exactly say that she had been distant but Grace hadn't been herself with him either. She had been busy with work and he couldn't possible understand how difficult running a business and being in two places was. He was trying hard not to be paranoid about it but he was feeling her pull away, which seemed sudden. Something was wrong.
He knew it was a tall order. What Grace had walked into was an instant family and she was an extremely independent woman, who was in charge of her own life. FP could understand that she could be feeling overwhelmed.
She was welcoming to Jug and nothing was noticeable. She wasn't making drama but FP could feel her pulling away. All he could do was give her space but the last thing that he was going to do was let her run.
Grace was working with Fred at the site for a few days. Doing the business side of things. Something about vendors and something about M.Y.O.B. FP didn't even know what that was but he was sure that it sounded complicated
He was working nights and she was flat out tear herself in two. After all there are two versions of Gracie. FP thought about sleeping at the trailer for a few night but then again, he was never one to run from a problem and he had the feeling that there was a problem.
Grace however loved running from a problem. Sitting across from her brother, keeping herself busy with all the odd jobs that Fred just didn't get the time to do. Telling herself she was helping and avoiding.
"Are you okay?"
She looked up and frowned at her big brother confused at the out of the blue question
"Yeah"
"Gracie, I know that look. Mom used to get it when she felt a storm brewing with Dad"
"They never fought. Our parents were very – Leave it to Beaver"
Apparently that was the way that their mother liked it. No trace of the Southside life. Which Grace didn't understand but then again didn't have too.
"I think I've rushed this whole thing"
"FP?"
"I mean he's great and I would do anything for Jughead. Its not that side of it but now I'm getting comfortable here and its just"
"Riverdale was never for you"
"I'm not looking down on it"
"I know. Sweetheart, your heart and especially your ambition has always been bigger then this place"
"I miss my New York life"
"It's gilded and Riverdale is reality"
"It not my reality"
"Do you want what I think?"
"Yes, please" she said quietly.
In that moment, looking at him with those big eyes. Fred saw her as the six year old, the one that remained in his head whenever he thought of her. His little sister, when she was tiny because in that moment. The adult, the independent woman that she prided herself on being, was vulnerable.
"When you arrived here, you were scared, you were banged up and needing feel safe. Who better than the Serpent King? That's not to say you wouldn't have found each other anyhow. You're both different people now but it may have propelled the situation. You've gone from parties and assistants to a mortgage and affectively, a son"
"Yeah but I love Jug"
"I know but it's a swift shift"
"So what are you saying?"
"You can't figure out what you want by avoiding everything, making yourself busy here"
"That's not what I'm doing"
"Go face your problems, like a big girl"
Grace playfully but forcefully threw a stress ball at her brother before grabbing her things
"See ya" she chuckled
"Thank you"
"Right back at you"
She made it all the way out to her car before her phone rang. It was her second in charge and Grace got a strange feeling in her stomach.
#
It say that Grace's day went to complete crap rapidly would be an understatement. Oddly sitting in a smokey dive bar with only three other people and four whiskeys under her belt, was comforting. She rested her cheek on the bar top, using her arm as a pillow. She shot down another double whiskey like it was water. The front door opened and white light shun in, far too bright for her liking. Grace playfully hissed like a vampire before resting her head on the bar top again.
The person walked over to the bar and shook hands with the bartender Sammy before she felt someone brush her hair out of her face
"Gracie?"
She opened her eyes a crack
"FP" she said excitedly "FP, this is Sammy. The best bartender in the whole world. Sammy, this is FP"
"Yeah Grace, he knows. He called me"
"What? Sammy, that's rude. We were having a lovely time"
"A lot of women say that and don't remember my name in the morning, just like you won't"
"How do you guys know each other?"
"There isn't a bartender in the whole town that doesn't know me, Sweetheart"
"FP. Mr Popular"
FP looked over at Sammy and raised his eyebrow "How many has she had?"
"Five" Sammy answered quickly, before following up "In an hour"
"Jesus" FP whispered to himself "Come on, lets get you home"
"No, I can't leave Sammy here on his little lonesome"
"He's not alone. He has other customers"
"Yes, but I need more alcohol because I can still feel my face"
"And that's bad?"
"Very bad because who wants to feel their face. Not me, that's who"
"Can you feel your legs?"
"Somewhat" she told him quickly "See, I need more. Sammy, another"
"Nope" FP answered before picking her up and tossing her over his shoulder. As he made it halfway to the front door he heard
"Wow, this is not the way I come in. Everything really weird from here"
"At least you're a fun drunk"
"I'm not drunk!" she told them outraged as he walked out the door
"No?" FP laughed "I bet you're asleep halfway home"
"I'll take that bet. Mr Sure Of Himself"
Grace was asleep by the end of the street, just short of snoring.
#
When FP got home a few hours and a few trips later. He opened the door to find her sitting on the stairs, hair messed up, sore head and a little daze
"Hey, Calamity Jane. How are you feeling?"
"There is a hippo on my head" she stopped and thought about what she had just said "And I think I'm still a little drunk"
"Here" he said handing her a Pop's bag and sitting on the step in front of her. She swore she could have smelt the fries from around the corner "Are you going to tell me what happened?"
"Lost three clients today and a hell of a lot of money"
"Its just money"
"Five hundred thousand"
"Holy shit"
"Hench, the whiskey" she chuckled before eating a few fries "Having a foot in each world, isn't working and I don't know how to fix it because you can't be out of the state"
"I'm not meant to be at the clubhouse either but I do that"
"It's completely different, Baby" she said softly "Keller may turn his head about the clubhouse but he would about the other"
"You'll get more clients"
"Maybe" she said defeated
"You're so damn smart. You'll figure it out"
"Everything is so different here"
"I would say I know but I've never really been out this town. I don't think The Pen, counts"
"Hey" she said stroking his cheek "The penitentiary is sexy"
"Yeah, but we've already established that you have issues"
"Shut your pie hole, inmate"
She heard him laughed before he tried to steal her fast food away
"Give me back that burger"
"Noooo. It's mine"
They both playing struggled for the bag before her face change. He could see the sombre thought in her head, rush over her face.
"Hey" he said softly "Where did you just go?"
She went to everything she had said to Fred and how she had been feeling before the booze hit.
"I wasn't a horrible drunk, was I?"
"You were hammered but no, not horrible"
"Listen, I know I've been"
"Distant" he answered for her
"Sorry"
"I'm here for whatever you need. I know you like to be Wonder Woman and not need anybody and I don't know about labels and I don't know, sequins"
"Sequins?"
"Yes but I can help" he stopped "I don't know how but I can figure it out. Okay?"
"Yeah" she told him shoving some fries in her mouth
"How are we not a hundred pounds by now?"
"Well, you what they say, is the best thing for burning calories. Isn't actually suitable for the gym" she said wiggling her eyebrows suggestively
"Oh really?"
"Ask any personal trainer"
"That's your secret?"
"One of many"
He leant up one step to kiss her. "They say that one of the best ways to beat a hangover too"
"Really? How about that?"
"Yeah, so hand me one of those burgers"
"Bet I can work junk food off before you do"
"Oh, challenge accepted Ms Andrews"
She laughed as she practically stuck her face in the fast food bag, before handing him the cheese burger.
#
They hadn't noticed him as he snuck around the back of the house and found a spot outside the kitchen window. He felt a strange sensation of victory, which was growing day by day. Being there without their knowledge. He was starting to know this house better than she did. The best places to hide. The best vantage points. He watched their lives unfold.
She was getting antsy in this small town, just like he knew she would. It was only an amount of time before she'd be worn down and actually listen to what he had to say.
He just had to wait.
So, so sorry it's been so long, My loves. I've been working on my novel. Thank you for sticking by me
xxL
