All Wrong

Chapter Eight Wednesday

Grace

“She was odd today right? Skittery?” I ask my brother over dinner.

“She’s always odd Grace. You read to much into it. Would she tell you if it was a date?” He asks.

I consider this then sigh. My face falling.

“Probably not.”

“Well I mean just let her be for now.”

“That’s what I always do.” I glare at him.

“You can’t force yourself to help her Grace. It’ll only push her away.”

“Your right of course I know that. It’s just hard watching someone I care about go through stuff alone. I don’t understand why she won’t let someone in.”

“You don’t?” He asks stupidly.

“Of course I do. But I mean that’s different. He was a guy.”

“And that means?” He asks.

I roll my eyes and stand up taking my plate to the sink.

“It means that trusting you comes with a price. And trusting me well doesn’t.” I shrug.

“She paid the price.” He sighs.

“Yes Henry. I know.” I grit out.

“Just reminding you. Not everything is black and white like you think.”

“I do not think that!”

“Okay.” He says. But I know it’s just because he doesn’t want to argue. I roll my eyes and stomp to my bedroom. I pace the floor back and fourth.

How dare he think that I don’t know what she went through. I mean I saw it. I heard it. Just because it hasn’t happened to me doesn’t mean anything.

I could have killed Bryce that night. I wanted too but I was in shock because once again I was the last to know. While I was in the kitchen cleaning up after my brothers friends she was being humiliated.

For three weeks she ignored me. Everyone but especially me. Her dad told us to give her space and we did. Hoping she would come back to us and I guess a part of her did. But not all of her.

I always wondered if she blamed me. It was my party. My house. A place she had always felt safe before. And then just like the most sacred thing a girl has, it was taken and twisted and turned into another ugly memory. Just like that. And Bryce didn’t even care. He laughed when she left. Until Gabriella threw her drink all over him. Then he left too. But I’ve never heard him even apologize. I’m not sure he knows how.

I defended him though. Just like I always do. And I know it hurt Syd when I did but what am I supposed to do? He’s dangerous.

I’m hoping to fix that this weekend. She deserves fun. And even though Bryce will be there I’ll make sure she has loads of it.