The Bad Boy

chapter nineteen

Gracie

I was upset.

I wanted to know where the bruises that's on the body of my sister came from.

I had an thought that Hailee was the one to do it. I mean from the way she was yelling at Ella in the lunch room on Friday, that would probably make everyone suspicious. They looked like the bruises I used to give to her. It made me sick just to look at them. Just to see them on her body again.

Ella Grace was too precious for those bruises. She always has been and she always will be. 

I woke up in the same bed as Kenzie inside of Hailee's house.

Yesterday for Girls Night, we stayed up all night doing girl stuff. We played games, we watched movies, we ate food, we did each other's hair, etc. It was fun but for some reason, I would rather be at my house, in my pajamas and annoying Ella Grace instead.

And I had no clue why. 

I sat up and grabbed my phone to check my messages and social media. I had messages from Ella Grace and Grayson. I checked Ella's first.

I'm going to the store today since we ate all the food in the house already...anything you want in particular? ; 7:13 am 

I shot her a reply.

Could've sworn you just went like last Sunday lol. But um get me some lemon propel water and low calorie s**t thanks  ; 9:03 am 

I then went to Grayson's just to see that it was sent last night. 

I been thinking about getting her some gift cards to that Warm Tropic place and something small. How's that? ; 11:47 pm 

Warm Tropic?  It's Hot Topics stupid but yeah that works. I'm going all out. I found out that Against The Current is coming in like two months, I'm gonna get her tickets to that. I'm gonna buy her two so she can bring that blonde or something. ; 9:05 am 

I closed out the messages and cut off the screen to my iPhone 8 Plus. I glanced over at Kenzie to see her dead asleep with her mouth open. I shook my head and got up, heading downstairs. I stopped outside of the kitchen hearing the voices of Hailee and Aria with the mention of Ella. So I listened. 

"That b***h just makes me so angry." Hailee said. 

"Yeah me too." She went silent. "Do you think that beating is going to be enough?" Aria said.

"Honestly I don't know. Ella is somehow liked by Blake. MY Blake." Hailee said. 

"I honestly don't see how Mariana is friends with that b***h. I'm trying to get her to leave her pathetic ass alone along with that blonde bimbo." Aria said.

"Is it working?" Hailee asked.

"So far, yeah." Aria replied.

"Good." She paused. "I don't see how Gracie and Grayson is related to that. Thank God that the only thing they have in common is their skin tone." Hailee said.

"Yeah. I feel so sorry for them." Aria said.

She feels sorry for me? That b***h is in foster care, how can she feel sorry for me?"

"What if Gracie finds out?" Aria said.

"We can't let her. We can't let her quit the team either. She's the best cheerleader on the team. If we lose her, we lose everything. Imagine; no nationals, no regional's, no competition, horrible pep rallies." Hailee said, sounding seriously scared or concerned. 

"If she's so great then why isn't she captain." Aria scoffed, probably offended.

"Seriously? How would that look? Daddy's the principal and I'm not the cheer captain." Hailee said.

"Oh yeah. True." 

This is f****d up.

And I want revenge. 

I spun around and quickly headed back upstairs. I was three steps in when I heard a nervous voice that belonged to Hailee.

"Gracie? Aren't you coming down for breakfast?"

I hated the sound of her voice now. 

"Yeah, I just forgot my phone upstairs." I said with a fake smile. 

"Oh okay." She said, relief flooding her facial features. 

"Yeah, brb." 

I turned back around and headed back upstairs, entering the room I shared with Kenzie who was now awake and scrolling on her phone. She looked up at she and smiled.

"Morning." She said.

"Hey." 

"What's wrong?" 

She locked her phone and looked at me and I gathered my bags, stuffing s**t back in it.

"I'm leaving before I kill Hailee and Aria." I said with a serious tone.

"Woah what? Okay, guess I'm going too." She said, getting out of the bed and gathering her bags too.

"You don't have to."

"I actually do, you're my ride home."

I laughed.

"Which is why you should've drove yourself."

"Oh shut up." She replied, sitting her bags on the bed. 

"Are you ready?" I asked, grabbing my keys.

"Yeah." 

We left out of the room and headed downstairs and into the kitchen where Hailee, Aria, Mariana and Jasmine sat.

"Leaving so early?" Aria asked. 

"Yeah, something happened to Ella. I have to get home." I said, searching both Hailee and Aria's faces for a reaction and feeling satisfied when worry flashed on them then left.

"What happened? Is she okay?" Mariana asked, genuinely worried.

I didn't miss the annoyance that flashed over Aria's face.

I barely liked Mariana anymore. When she was Ella's friend and showed it, yeah I did. But as soon as I noticed all of her attention has went to the squad and Aria, I barely did. I tolerated her for Ella's sake and the teams.

"I don't know but maybe you should find out. You know since you're her best friend. But wait, you haven't spoken to her and days, so maybe you really aren't." I all but snapped on her.

I shot Aria and Hailee a unnoticeable fake smile and left out of the mansion, heading to my car with a confused Kenzie right on my tail. I put my bags in the back and got in the front, waiting for Kenzie to do the same. I picked up my phone and called Ella. 

Yes Gracie Maie. 

She answered groggily. She must've fell back asleep. 

Kenzie got in the car and I started the engine, steering with my right hand while my left held the phone.

If Mariana calls or texts you, don't pick it up.

I heard her yawn before speaking. 

Why not? 

I will explain everything when I get there. But first, why didn't you tell me that Hailee and Aria were the ones to beat you up. I'm your sister, Ella Grace.

I heard shuffling, which probably meant she was turning over but that thought went out of the window when I heard a male grunt, making me nearly hit a pedestrian on the sidewalk.

Ella Grace, I know there isn't a boy in your room!

I nearly rolled my eyes as I noticed how much I sounded like my mother when it was me and her speaking.

Uh, I-I gotta go. Bye, love you!

I pulled up to a red light with my jaw dropped while Kenzie's eyes were wide. 

"Okay, what the hell was that?" She asked.

"I don't even know, Kenz."