Gracie's POV:
The next morning, I woke up and started to get ready. I didn't know when Justin was planning on picking me up, but I wanted to be prepared.
"Hey Gracie, I'll be right back. I'm going to the store to pick up a few things."
"Okay!" I shouted, continuing to look for something to wear.
I finally decided on a magenta colored dress, with a black sweater top to go over it, and some black converse. I didn't want to appear too dressy.
After I got dressed, I curled my hair, since it was oddly stick straight this morning.
My phone buzzed.
1 New Message
From Justin
I can't make it today…how about tomorrow?
My heart sank just a little.
Oh, alright. That's fine.
I walked over to my dresser and pulled out some sweatpants and a tank top.
If I wasn't going anywhere, then I wasn't going to wear this dress around the house.
I threw on the sweats and slapped my hair up into a bun.
1 New Message
From Justin
Please don't be mad at me.
I raised an eyebrow as I replied.
Why would I be?
I put my phone down and walked downstairs and into the kitchen to get something to eat.
I decided to get some cereal, since I wasn't all that hungry. Then I walked into the living room to watch TV while I ate. Nothing was really on, so I turned to MTV.
"Justin Bieber was caught with Disney star Anna Margaret today, both coming out of a local Dunkin Donuts. There didn't seem to be much going on, but we'll find more of that out later."
My stomach dropped, and I dropped the remote.
So that was his reason for not being able to meet me? I felt really stupid.
How could I have been so dumb? Justin Bieber? Liking me? Now that I thought about it, it didn't even add up.
The way we met was a coincidence, and everything else was just…I don't know what to think of it. Not anymore.
I thought back to yesterday when he kissed me.
That was my first kiss. Wasted. Gone.
I couldn't take that moment back. I shook my head while standing up to put my bowl into the sink in the kitchen.
Cassandra wasn't home, so that meant I couldn't go anywhere until she got back. I wouldn't want to freak her out by not being here when she returned.
I shouldn't be getting so over-worked with that Justin-Anna stuff. Maybe it was just for business…although that would be odd, since Justin doesn't work with Disney.
I shrugged it off and walked back upstairs to my room. My phone was vibrating repeatedly when I walked over to my bed, where I had left it.
5 New Messages
From Justin
I sighed and opened them all.
11:00
I thought you'd be mad because I couldn't pick you up today.
11:05
Hello?
11:10
Gracie?
11:15
Please don't be mad at me! I promise I'll make it up to you.
11:20
I guess you're not talking to me anymore…
I rolled my eyes and dialed his number. He picked up on the second ring.
"Hello? Gracie, I'm so sorry!" Justin said, his voice full of guilt.
"Calm down Justin. It's no big deal. Unless you count ditching me for Anna Margaret a big deal." I said, twirling my hair around my finger.
He was silent for a few seconds. "You heard?"
"Yeah."
"I promise you, we aren't dating. I just met her this morning, and she dragged me to get some coffee. That's all that happened."
I shrugged, even though I knew he couldn't see me. "Whatever. I mean, it's not like I can tell you to stay away from her. I'm not your girlfriend."
He was silent again. "Yeah, right."
"Well I have to go. My sister just got back from the store, and I have to help her."
I hung up before he could get the chance to say anything else, and started my way down my hallway.
Cass wasn't expecting me to be here, so she jumped when I called her name.
"Gracie? I thought you were out with Justin."
"Nope. He ditched me for Anna Margaret. He just called and said he was sorry, and he tried to make it, but it's whatever."
She placed her hands on her hips. "Are you serious? That's crazy! He was totally acting like he was into you yesterday!"
I rolled my eyes and grabbed some bags from her hands. "Yeah, I guess."
"Grace, don't get too upset about this. You should give him another chance."
"I don't give second chances." I replied quickly, without turning around to see her reaction.
I heard her sigh, and walk out to get more bags.
I was putting things away when I felt someone grab the item in my hand, that just so happened to be a can of beans, and place it in the cabinet above me.
"Hey." Justin said, looking at me.
I grabbed another can out of the bag and placed it into the cabinet.
"Hi." He sighed and hopped onto the counter.
"Gracie…" he started.
"Nope, save it. I don't want to hear it."
"I was just going to tell you again that I was sorry. There really wasn't much I could do. She's very demanding."
I shrugged, and walked across the room to throw the empty plastic bag away.
Cass walked into the room and stood next to the counter, opposite Justin.
"Gracie, I told you to give him another chance."
I turned around and looked at my sister. "And I told you that I don't give second chances."
Justin looked hurt, but I ignored him and walked over to the pantry.
"You give me second chances." She said. I could feel her eyes burning through me.
"That's different. You're my sister, and my only source of family left. You can't compare that to this."
"Gracie, you're just being stubborn." Cass said, walking over to me.
"No, I am not."
She grabbed my hand and led me out of the house, and onto the porch.
"What?" I asked, annoyed.
"You're letting something get to you that doesn't need to bother you. Just let it go. It wasn't his fault."
"It wasn't Danni's fault she got kidnapped and killed.But we haven't let it go." I said. I could feel Cass's body stiffen.
"You know that's not what I mean." She said, placing a hand on my shoulder.
I sighed. "I just don't want to be bothered."
"Well, Justin could be a friend to you. Don't mess that up." She said. Then she walked back into the house, and upstairs to her room and closed the door.
She was making me do this alone.
I walked back into the kitchen and found Justin still sitting on the counter, messing with his hands.
He looked up when he heard me walk in.
"You want me to leave now, don't you."
I felt guilty. "No…I was coming to apologize…" I said, trailing off and looking down at the floor.
"You don't need to apologize. I do."
"You have. Twice." I stated, so he wouldn't say it again. "And, it's okay. I understand."
I couldn't bring myself to look at him, but I could feel him staring at me.
Then he hopped off the counter and walked over to me. "I truly am sorry. If you want, we can leave now…"
I tried to smile, but my mind wouldn't let me. "Okay."
So I told Cass that we were leaving, and she quickly made her way down the stairs to see us off and out the door.
Justin opened the passenger side door open for me, and I stepped inside.
Then he jogged to the driver's seat, hopped in, and we pulled off.