Author's Note;
Hi guys! Sorry for leaving you all on a little cliffhanger in the pervious chapter, but it had to be done. Anyway, been having a little writer's-block for Chapter 7 - but here we are! The next chapter of 'Timing is Everything'. And I hope you all enjoy it. This chapter will be - for the most part - in a third point of view. So not hate as I'm new to writing in this style. Also, thanks so much to you guys that have Reviewed, Favourited, and Followed my story - it means so much, and also to those of you who read this fic.
Anyway, please continue to Review if you can, they give me great motivation to carry on the story. Also, favourite or follow if you haven't already as they also help me a lot! Thanks! x
"I told you to talk to her, not fuck her!"
Connor hadn't even been through the door for nearly five minutes when Rocco got on his case. Shouting multiple questions such as; 'Did you fuck her?' and 'What the hell took so long?'. Thankfully, his twin brother chose to wait for him to actually settle down onto the run-down couch before confronting him. Then again, Murphy seemed a lot calmer than Rocco. Though Connor knew that his brother - and best friend - knew the deal about him and Grace. Plus, as far as he knew, Murphy liked the girl as well. Though hopefully not in the same way he did.
"Let the man take a breath Roc." Murphy spoke up, inhaling on his cigarette.
"Take a breath?!" The Italian exclaimed, rolling his eyes, "I'm in the middle of a mid-life crisis here and he's out screwing teenagers!"
"I didn' have sex with 'er, alright?!" Connor said loudly, annoyed with the man's bombarding insinuations. He then proceeded to take off his black coat, throwing it down on the rusty old table.
Since leaving their own apartment, and moving out of Donna's, they'd found themselves a small place in an old abandoned building. There were mostly homeless people living there, though that was now what they themselves had become - homeless. Thankfully the building itself hadn't long been abandoned, so it wasn't as run-down as most abandoned buildings in South Boston. The apartment they now lived in - if it could be classed as an apartment - consisted of one bedroom, one bathroom, and a living room/Kitchen. Most of the previous owners' stuff had been left there. They had themselves a couch with multiple tear's, a double bed with only a mattress and a rusty old table in the middle of the living room. The appliances in the kitchen didn't work, though they spent most money buying food from a nearby restaurant or deli.
But it worked for them.
"So, what 'appened then?" Murphy finally spoke the question that'd been plaguing his mind as well as Rocco's.
Connor sighed and grabbed a random beer can from the table. It'd been opened and was half empty - but he didn't care. He needed something to help him explain just what had happened in Grace's apartment just a few hours ago.
~...~...~...Flashback...~...~...~
It'd all gone so well at first. Connor had kissed Grace; The young girl who'd been plaguing his mind far longer than he cared to admit. To him though, she was also the eighteen year-old with the mind-set of a twenty five year-old. She knew and understood things that most girls her age shouldn't have known yet - but it was one of the reasons she appealed to him so much. Plus, he had to admit that she was attractive; Long, thick brown hair that came down to her waist, and doe eyes that made her look so innocent. But she'd also changed. That little flicker of light she held a year back was fading, he could tell. Maybe it'd been leaving her family, or everything she'd gone through over the passed few days - something had effected her. There was something dragging her down. And he had a feeling it was partly his fault - well, his, Murphy's, and Rocco's.
Grace hadn't pulled away from him, not at first. She'd actually reacted rather well to it. Leaning against him even more, even going as far to climb onto his lap to deepen their kiss. But that was when he finally tasted the alcohol on her lips. He knew she didn't like to drink, the only reason she drank with him and Murphy was to stop them nagging. She was the level-headed one of them all. And he kicked himself for not realising it sooner. Her eyes had seemed a little glazed-over when he'd come in but he'd pushed it aside, knowing that talking to her was his first priority. But she'd seen three men get murdered right in front of her, he was stupid to think that she wouldn't turn to some form of pain-relief afterwards.
"Gracie," He muttered, lightly pushing her back with one hand.
The teen looked down at him, eyes full of confusion and slight hurt. She knew he'd wanted this, he'd initiated it so how could he not have wanted it? Maybe it was the alcohol numbing her brain and rational thought, but she had to admit that she'd missed kissing him. Hell, she'd missed him all together. Sure, she'd had a few vodka and soda's during the day - courtesy of her Aunt Belle's liquor stash - but she didn't think it mattered. She knew what she wanted. And right then it was Connor.
"What?" Grace finally asked, her hands resting on his shoulders.
Connor sighed and shook his head, lifting Grace off of his lap and to her former spot. Reasoning with her would be a lot easier if she wasn't sitting right on top of where he wanted her most - There was only so much a man could take, after all.
"'Ow much 'ave ye 'ad taday lass?" He asked, turning to face her.
Grace shrugged in thought, "Not too much. Why?"
"'Ow much is 'not too much'?"
"God Connor," She groaned, rolling her eyes at him. "Who are you? My father? What does it matter?"
"Grace." He said, his tone completely serious. "When did ye start lass?"
Grace sighed to herself. He usually called her 'Gracie'. So, when he said 'Grace' the way he just had, she knew he wasn't messing around. And, while she was annoyed with the interrogation, she replied anyway.
"After the FBI guy came. I haven't had that much, Connor, honest." Her tone came out pleading and she inwardly cursed herself out. It felt as though she was being scolded by a parent. And, though Connor was older than she was, it didn't give him the right to treat her like a little kid - which is how she felt herself being treated in that very moment.
"Does it matter?" She added afterwards, smiling for added reassurance. "I'm not doing this because I'm drunk, Connor."
The twin paused and stared at her. He really wanted to believe her. Really, really, wanted to believe her. Anything to be able to go back to what they were previously so close to doing - but he couldn't. He remembered her once saying that she thought he would do to her what he did to all girls, including her sister; Fucking her and then forgetting her. And, while it may have been his intentions right at the beginning, he now had to admit to himself that he wouldn't have been able to do it now. Not after what they'd put each other through. There was too much. And, though he was beating himself up on the inside, he couldn't have sex with her while she was drunk. He knew her, or at least hoped he did. And, from what he knew, he knew that she'd never forgive herself for sleeping with him so quickly. She wasn't in the right mind-set for it.
"Aye, it does." He finally told her.
Grace's smile fell and a serious expression replaced her previously calming one. "Why? You've done this so many times, Connor. You sleep with so many girls that are as drunk as I am. Why am I any different? Just do it and leave me Connor because that'll make this so much easier." She said, her voice breaking.
That was when he finally understood the girl who'd had his mind boggled since the first day he'd met her. Clearly, she liked him. But, with years of endurance of her slutty-sister, she'd been broken in - relationship wise of course. Grace didn't see any of her relationships working out. She was so good at figuring out the relationships of other people, it seemed, but had trouble figuring out her own. And he had a feeling it scared her. Then again, with what he and his brother were doing now, how else was their relationship - if they could call it that - supposed to turn out? There would be no happy ending for them and he knew it. He also knew that she herself knew it. Plus, she was now main priority for the Italians. She was in danger because of them - well, Rocco if he wanted to point fingers. Grace didn't want to have sex with him because she wanted to, she wanted it so that someone, anyone, could make her temporarily forget just what she was so scared of. He just happened to be the first guy through the door, or window to be specific.
"Because, Gracie, ye won' be able ta handle et." Connor admitted, voice full of sympathy.
Grace paused, repeating the words he'd just said to her. And she had to admit, he was right. If, after what she'd gone through and was told, he slept with her and left her, she'd surely break down. The alcohol she'd consumed seemed to be wearing off a little and now she was starting to see a little sense. Her brain was now overriding her body. And, after some thought, she realised she was now acting like her big sister. Camille had drank her sorrows away too, giving in to any man that gave her the littlest taste of freedom - of getting out. And now she also realised why Camille did it. But, after the drunken-haze and sex-high, what was left? Anger, disappointment, guilt; Probably all three. She'd told herself so many times she wouldn't be Camille, but little did she see that the previous days' occurrences had turned her into the exact person she hated the most.
"I think you should go now." She told him.
Connor nodded in understanding, rising from the couch and looking down at her. "Can ye do me one favour, Gracie?"
"I can."
"Go home, lass."
The teen stuttered," U-Uh, come again?"
He sighed. "Go home, back to yer mam an' dad. Ye'll be safer dere, yer da's a copper right?" She nodded in confirmation. "Ye'll be safe dere. Da Italians, dey'll surely fin' out about ye livin' 'ere soon an' don' wan' ye gettin' hurt Gracie. It won' be for long lass, jus' until dis whole ting blows over." Connor reassured.
"Connor, Belle come's home in two weeks, what am I supposed to tell her?" She asked, finally getting a grip on her words.
"It'll all be over by den, trus' me. Do ye trus' me Gracie?" He asked.
"I wish I didn't," She smiled, though there was no happiness in her expression. "But I do."
Connor chuckled and picked up his coat, throwing it on. "Good. At least yer faith in men isn' completely gone." He joked as he walked towards the front door.
Grace smiled once more, though this one was genuine. He always seemed to cheer her up. "Not yet, anyway."
When they reached the door Grace unlatched it, pulling it open for him to leave her apartment. Connor, however, didn't leave straight away, he merely stood in her hallway, staring at her. It wasn't in a creepy way, she noticed, it was as though he was thinking hard about something and had sort of fazed out.
"Ye promise ye'll go home lass?" He finally spoke up, causing her to flinch slightly.
"I promise." She reluctantly agreed. "And if you guys need to hide out, you can stay here for a bit, just until Belle come's back."
"I may take yer offer on dat Gracie. Thank ye."
"No problem." She shrugged.
Connor paused for a second before finally moving towards her, pulling her into yet another kiss. He wasn't sure how long it'd be before he'd get to do it again, if he ever would get this chance again anyway.
"Bye, Gracie."
And, with that, he walked down the hall and left her alone in her doorway.
Grace sighed and closed her door again, latching it once more before moving towards her couch. She didn't want to go home. She didn't want to see her mom, or her sister, the only person she'd be happy about seeing is her dad. And maybe she'd finally be able to talk to Jade. Being cooped up all alone in an apartment wasn't much help, especially when you were at risk of being attacked by the Italian Mafia. Plus, she'd promised Connor, and she wasn't one to break her promises.
When Grace finally summoned up the courage to pick up the phone, she dialled in a number she hadn't ran in a good few months. But she still knew it off by heart.
"Hello?" A familiar male voice asked, causing tears to rise up in her eyes.
"Hi daddy."
Author's Note;
Sorry if this one seemed so short, it was more of a filler-chapter, but I hope you all enjoyed it none the less. And, again, please remember to review. Thanks!
