So sorry for the late update. I was so happy with the season finale that I didn't really want to change anything with it at all! But, then I read some new reviews and got back into story mode! Hope you guys like it!

Also, I do not own Secret Life of the American Teenager.

Chapter 9

Without a hope. Without a dream. Without any assistance, any relief. Grace was pressed with more stress than ever. An unending pile of homework and exams crowded every spare minute of her burdened social life.

Jack had come to her the previous night practically demanding a real answer. She apparently hesitated too long. Prolonged this game of hers and ended up losing a date for the evening. I guess playing around only worked for Ricky. That is of course, if it has been working for him lately. She had been too distracted the past few days with end of the year assignments and hadn't had a clear moment to contemplate her next move on the matter. Tell Amy? Or just let it play out?

And then of course, the daunting day was coming. The deadline for reporting a crime. She researched criminal involvement, and according to law journal she found online, Grace had only seven days to tell the police before her statement would become stale and be dismissed completely. And now, she only had three days left to make a statement. But, then what would happen? She would be charged as well for witnessing the mess?

Grace pushed the inevitable date as far from her mind as possible, only to have it rebound and strike her harshly like a rubber band moments later. There was a knock on her bedroom door and she rolled away from her current page of notes, hopping off her bed she opened the door.

"Grace," Tom began. "Adrian is here. To see you." Growing up with her brother, Grace had come to hardly hear the spaces in his voice or the mumble of the occasional words. They didn't become him. He became himself and overtook his voice with his personality.

"Okay," she groaned, dreading to see the friend she could hardly look at.

"Why so down, Sis?" Tom asked, wrapping his arm over her shoulder and giving it a comforting squeeze.

She gave him a hopeless smile. "Just tired," she excused herself. It wasn't a complete lie, she had exhausted herself beyond belief with the stress of academic and social obligations.

Grace carefully stepped down the staircase into a pit of what she assumed to be false politeness. But, little did Grace know of how tired she really was. Tired of holding in the truth. Telling Ricky had done absolutely nothing. He didn't care anymore, Amy was safe. Amy was more than safe. But, Adrian, she did care.

"Grace," Adrian greeted. She was looking out the window into the decadent black sky. Her reflection clearly displayed in the glass. Grace caught the tears welling in Adrian's eyes and anger stemmed inside of her threatening to burst through the carefully stitched seams of her mask.

"What?" she said bitterly.

Adrian turned to face Grace, liquid dripping from her chocolate eyes. "I need a best friend right now."

Grace shrugged. "Well good luck finding one. You almost killed mine!" The words were free of her mouth before she realized what was happening.

Adrian gasped taking a step back. "You too?"

"Me what?" Grace snapped. "Do I know about your little rage fest? About how you nearly ended Amy's life?"

"I didn't mean it!" Adrian quickly blurted. "I had no idea that would happen. I was just so upset about Mercy and Ben. My family was torn apart and I had to sit by and watch her and her family be happy! I was in a dark place."

Grace pressed forward, jabbing her index finger at Adrian. "You still are in a dark place if you only feel bad about yourself!" Grace accused. Thankful her mother had left for the market and Tom was probably in his room: she took the lack of eavesdropping as an open door for shouting. "How dare you slam your car into Amy's! How dare you try to ruin someone elses life in order to feel better about your own!"

Something flashed in Adrian's eyes, but then vanished moments later. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Adrian pleaded, backing up towards the door. "I didn't mean it. And you're right. I'm in a real dark place. And all I came here for was a friend," she choked back more tears. "But I guess I'm all alone."

Ricky smiled to himself as he eyed his printed project. He creased it precisely and set the folded paper on the kitchen counter. He hopped onto the bar stool and lifted his steaming mug of cider. He carefully let his smile fall as the sounds of the shower vanished.

The bathroom door opened, releasing a vast amount of steam into their quaint apartment. Amy walked over to the fridge, the soft scent of flowers just breezing by him. He wasn't certain as to which flower it was, but it was the smoothest, most fragrant one he had ever met. Ricky was at first bothered by Amy using all of the hot water, but he soon got over it once she entered a room. She always managed to smell so amazing right after she got out of the shower straight up til she took a new one. And if Ricky had to take a cold shower for the rest of his life for her, he would.

"What's this?" she asked, breaking up his thoughts and gesturing to the paper on the counter. She placed her glass of chocolate milk smoothly on the counter and unfolded Ricky's ruse.

"Some list Grace dropped off for you. She said it was a list of foods you shouldn't eat with your state," Ricky shrugged. "Whatever that means."

Amy flipped open the paper and scanned the list. Her eyes widened, "Apples, waffles, chocolate, peanut butter, kix-," Amy paused. "This has got to be a joke. These are all of my favorite foods!"

Ricky held out his hand and she handed him the paper. He falsely looked it over. "Well that's weird," Ricky sighed and let it fall softly back to the counter. "It probably means nothing. Grace is probably defective." Ricky joked, planting the word to freak her out. He lifted an apple from the bowl and took a hearty bite, hearing the crisp sound as he chewed it blatantly in front of her. Amy bit her lip and he knew he was getting to her.

He held the bitten apple out to her. Amy shook her head and stomped out of the room. Ricky took another bite of the apple and his grin widened with a new idea.