Okay, so I have a plan for this story! But I am uncertain as to how far to take it. I don't want to over do it on the intensity…but I don't want to bore you guys! So…I am going to make this a filler chapter and I encourage you guys to review and tell me if you think I should go ahead with an intense idea! I'm not going to give you guys specifics, but it involves a life threatening situation…
Oh, and I do not own Secret Life of the American Teenager!
Chapter 8
Grace couldn't help but smile at the sight of her best friends embracing. Normally PDA grossed her out quite a bit, but in this case it was beyond relieving to see. Grace rested her palm over her heart and breathed out heavily. Despite her soaking wet condition, Grace couldn't be happier.
She practically skipped to her locker, removing the textbook for her first class. When she shut the locker her eyes locked with the boy on the other side. "Grace," Ricky acknowledged.
"Ricky," she nodded back. "I believe a congratulations is in order."
His smile twisted into a smirk. "Not yet." Ricky's grin widened. "I'm going to have a little fun first." He spun around, walking down the hallway.
Grace rushed to keep up with him. "What do you mean?"
Ricky shrugged, "she hasn't told me anything about it yet. So I don't know anything."
"Ricky," Grace cautioned. "You have to tell her you know." He came to a complete halt.
"You told me and I thank you for it," he nodded. "But, I know nothing until she wants me to." He held up an accusing finger at her, "And you aren't going to say a word to Amy about me knowing."
"But," Grace started. Ricky held up his hands silencing her words. He pulled an imaginary zipper across his amused lips and vanished down the hallway. Grace's face scrunched up in frustration. Not again.
Ben pressed his shaking hands against his jeans. No one noticed his odd behavior due to the huge exam that had been placed on each desk. But, while most students were freaking out about their grade point average, he had more devastating concerns.
He quickly jotted down random answers and turned in the paper. The other students looked at him nervously and the teacher was completely shocked. But, he couldn't handle sitting next to Amy any longer. He quickly excused himself and found escape in the empty halls.
She had taken everything from him. His heart, his hope, and his joy. She shredded every last ounce of his hope with the single acceptance of another man. What did Ricky have that he didn't? The ability to create a healthy kid. The looks to melt a girl in seconds. The strength to keep a stable relationship. Should he go on?
Ben knocked his forehead against the closest locker and sighed deeply. "Having troubles?" a taunting voice that haunted his life inquired. "I know something that will fix your problems right up."
"Leave me alone Adrian," he groaned against the maroon locker. "Don't you have other guys to screw with?"
"Hey," she began roughly. "I don't have to put up with this. It's not my fault."
Ben turned away from the locker, his eyes red with anger. "Not your fault!" he said fiercly. "It's all your fault! If you hadn't destroyed Mercy's memory I wouldn't have been so upset that night! If you hadn't gotten your ass too drunk to drive I wouldn't have been driving that night!"
Adrian's' already ready huge eyes widened and tears threatened to fall, but she held a strong composure and whisked herself into the girls bathroom. Ben shook his head in her direction and rushed out of the school.
Grace fumbled to get a good grasp on her books and they all crashed to the floor. She dropped to her knees, starting to stack them up when two very capable hands joined her. Jack collected all of her books and helped her up with the other arm.
"You okay there?" he asked with an amused smile.
Grace nodded and with a grateful smile took her books from him. "Thanks."
"So have you thought about it?" Jack asked.
"I have," she said, her smile frozen in place. When she made no move to respond, he gave her an expectant look.
"And?"
Grace bit her lip. He had written her a long letter on every detail about her he admired. It went from the basic things, such as her smile and laugh, to the complex details, such as the many memories of their first confirmation. But, now, it wasn't about the past. She had to move forward, and she still hadn't decided if she wanted to move forward with him.
"And I have come to the decision, that I have no decision."
He wrinkled his forehead. "Well does that mean you don't want to be my date for the party this weekend?"
"Maybe," Grace said with a contemplating smile. She spun around and exited the school, a wide smirk declaring ownership of her most recently stressed out self.
Ricky couldn't help it. He had a plan to break her and it got him even more excited as time passed. Amy exited her classroom and without looking ran directly into him. "Maybe you really should watch where you're going," he said with a laugh.
"Well maybe you shouldn't stand right outside of doorways," Amy countered, brushing back her hair with her fingers.
He slipped his arm around her shoulder and they began walking for the parkinglot. "So do you want to go with me to the party this weekend?" he asked, for once not offering to carry her books.
"I guess so," she replied casually.
A smile crept onto his face, "Great! We can have your parents watch John and we can finally do all the things normal teenagers get the chance to do."
"Things?" Amy asked. "What sort of things?"
"You know," Ricky replied. "Alcohol." He winked at her.
She shrugged his arm off as they neared the car. "I'm not really into getting drunk now that we have John." She reasoned. "It just doesn't feel right."
"Amy, Amy, Amy," Ricky shook his head. "He will be at his grandparents. There is no reason you should feel guilty for having some fun." He laughed lightly. "Is there?"
Amy bit her lip, and shook her head. "Nope. No reason at all." She swallowed hard. Ricky started the car, it wouldn't be long before she gave up and told him. And he was very excited to be playing such a game.