Fall From Grace(30)

“Ugh.  That bad, huh?”

I nodded.  “Not everyone is a Conner!  Do you remember Harry McAllen in tenth grade?  How we all dared you to kiss him at Traci’s party.  And when you did, he vomited from drinking the wine coolers we snuck in right, into your...”

“OKAY!  Okay,” she cut me off, waving her hands in front of her.  “Don’t remind me of that!  Okay, I understand.  But, Grace I just think that you are wasting your life by waiting for something that isn’t...”

“Real?” I looked up at her.  “He’s real Lea. He’s more real to me than you are standing right in front of me.”

She sighed.  “Okay, Grace.  I get the point.”  She opened the door, and turned to look at me again, “But, can’t you just think of it as practice for when Mr. Wonderful shows up?  Really Grace, what if he’s not the same person when you find him?”

My expression must have been bad, because she immediately apologized and ran to hug me.  “I’m sorry, Grace, I just don’t want you to waste your life.”  She walked out of my room not even able to look at me again and closing the door behind her.

I reached for the knob to go after her, but I stopped when I heard voices in the hallway.  “Is she okay?” a mumbled voice asked.

“She’s better than anybody I know. She just wants to alone, literally,” Lea answered the voice.  I couldn’t tell who she was speaking to, but really why would I care?

Lea couldn’t understand; why would she?  How could she?  All she knows is this.  She can never comprehend what it is I have seen, felt, and have branded on my soul.

I needed to run to clear my head, thoughts of me leaving here for good were seeping into my skin.  It would be so easy.

I changed into my sweats and laced up my sneakers.  I walked through the house trying not to be noticed.  The last thing that I needed was someone following me, but no one was around and whispers were coming from Lea’s room.  Relief flooded through me, a lone run.

I dashed through the streets making my way into Central Park.  I started on one of the loops, but I stopped when I saw a familiar figure sitting on one of the park benches.  His white jacket reflected in the moonlight, making him look more angelic than was needed.

“Gabriel,” I greeted him.  “I was just thinking about you.”

He patted the bench and motioned for me to sit down.  When I sat down, he grabbed my hands.  The warmth radiating off him was almost sublime.

“Hmm.  I find myself thinking of you too.  Why were you thinking of me?”

“I’m so tired, Gabriel.”

“I know.  You’re on the right path, though.”  Did he mean Tucker?  He smiled rubbing his index finger along my knuckles.  It was a strange gesture for him, he’d always gone out of his way not to touch me, and now every time he saw me, he made sure there was some sort of subtle physical contact before he left.

“Gabriel, I really need to...”

“I wish that I could do more,” he cut me off with a kiss to my forehead.  “I wish I could do so much more for you.”  Once again, he was gone, leaving me alone sitting on a cold park bench.  I clasped my hands together and tried to hold onto the warmth that still lingered on my skin from Gabriel’s touch.



Chapter 6

I woke up the next morning to Conner and Lea singing a duet in the shower.  Laughing, I padded my way into the kitchen in my fluffy bear slippers.  In my opinion, Conner was definitely living here now, and they sounded so happy.