Jason seemed to care a lot about his brother. When I told him why I was there, he rushed inside at once to see if Ethan had any major injury.
That's so cute.
Don't you think?
Today's day passed by quickly. It was totally drama free.
Ave and I decided to car pool and it was my turn today, so I waited for Ave in the parking. Noah came with her to drop her off. Call it what you want, but I feel this guy genuinely loves Ave. I may sound stupid, but sometimes when you see love... You just know if it'll last. And their love is giving me all positive signals.
I soon dropped Ave at her place and rushed back to my house.
We had to leave for arcade in an hour.
When I reached home, mom welcomed me with a smile.
" Hey Gigi! How was your day?"
" Great."
Yeah.. my mom calls me Gigi.
Why?
I have no idea.
But who cares. It sounds cool. So I'm not complaining.
" Mom, where's Dad ?"
" Let's see if you can guess."
We heard rustling from somewhere in the house, and that told me the answer.
" He's in my room again isn't he?"
" Bingo!"
Mom laughed and followed me to my room.
The room wasn't messed up, and that's a relief. Dad seemed to be searching for something in every corner of my room. He then opened my closet and took out some of my purse. He emptied them one by one on the bed.
Mess..
" Dad? What are you doing?"
Dad looked at me and Mom with surprise,
" Why don't you have a taser in your bag?"
My eyebrows knit in confusion,
" Why would I have a taser in my bag?"
" Well, what if someone tries to attack you?, Or worse, kidnap you? You have to be prepared for everything!"
" Don't you think it'd be a bit, odd?"
" I think you are right there. Who carries a taser. How about a gun? Your aim is nice too."
" ........no."
" Grace, you have to keep either of them. You agreed to this. ' we settle down to a place, and you take All the safety measures I tell you to.'"
" No. It was, ' we settle down to a place, and I take all the safety measures a normal girl does.' and taser is not normal dad."
" Then take the gun"
" Not happening, dad "
" It's for your own safety, Grace.."
" I don't need this level of safety Dad."
Mom could see that this was going nowhere, so she interrupted,
" Okay now, calm down both of you. Gigi, who are you going to the arcade with honey?"
" There'll be me, Ave, Jason, Noah, Abby and Kyle."
Abby is a friend of Ave. She is in school press with her and she takes her job very seriously. I don't believe that there's any gossip she isn't aware of. She's a tiny bean, with brunnet curls and she wears glasses. She's the wholesome definition of cute.
Kyle is an athlete. He's the pun king of our group. I met him, some eight hours ago and I can very well understand why he has this title. He always wears a baseball cap, and that suits him.
And yes, Abby and Kyle are official.
Mom continued looking at dad,
" See Steve, there's an entire group. No one's gonna attack all six of them. You can relax now."
Dad squeezed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. He sat on my bed and rubbed his face.
Mom nodded at me and left the room.
" Do you know why I'm so worried about you Grace?"
" Because I'm your daughter?"
" It's because I didn't know I could love your mother the way I do, until you were born. I'll be honest with you Grace. No one's perfect. Everyone needs a support system, and you are ours."
Dad never talks to me this way. Something surely is bothering him, and that kind of scares me. But I can't appear weak in front of him, so I gave him a hug to relax us both.
" Nothing's going to happen dad. Abby's going to pick me and Ave up. We'll meet others at the arcade. We'll play some games and will be back by nine. No loopholes."
When the hug ended, dad left with a smile. He didn't say a word but something tells me he has something in his mind.
Abby came on time with Ave in the backseat. I got inside the car and fished through my purse for my phone. Then I finally got the opportunity to see what dad was planning.
There was a small can of pepper spray with a note, which read,
" This is normal."
I, without any doubt, own the most caring dad, this world has ever seen.
We reached the arcade and saw the boys waiting on their bikes.
The arcade turned out to be really fun. I did feel like a third wheel at times, with the two power couples around. But turns out Jason isn't that much of a creep.
Fine.. he isn't a creep at all.
Time passed by and soon it was eight thirty. Others decided to go for pizza but I knew I couldn't.
" Sorry, but I have to reach home by nine."
" Grace! You cannot say no to a pizza!"
Ave gasped dramatically.
" I can drop you."
Jason said taking out his keys from his jacket's pocket.
" No, it's fine. I'll just call a cab."
" Don't be ridiculous. There's no way your dad is letting you out next time, if you go home alone."
Well. Jason does have a point there.
" Grace, are your parents really Steve and Rachel Holland?"
Abby asked fixing her glasses.
" I don't see a reason to lie about it."
" Wow, so can your parents give us an interview? Or, can I write an article about them?"
" I'll let you know."
" Great!"
This is the level of seriousness Abby has.
We left the arcade and went to the parking. Jason sat on his bike. I followed and placed my hands on his shoulders.
" Girls hold me this way."
He said as he slid my hands from his sides and wrapped them around himself.
I pulled my hands away with a smirk.
" I can still book a cab you know?"
" It was worth a shot."
He replied with a smirk as well and we soon left.
" Your house is huge."
Jason said as he parked outside my house.
My house can provide shelter to three families at least.
We have three bedrooms in the ground floor and six in the first floor, and that's excluding the other rooms such as mom and dad's office, library, and others. Our garage is equally big.
But when I compare it to the Reyes' mansion I saw yesterday, it doesn't excited me that much.
I got down from the bike and waited for Jason to leave, but he didn't move a muscle.
I surely sounded rude, but I asked anyway,
" So, are you leaving or not?"
" This is the part where the girl says thank you and kisses the guy..."
I gave him a hearty laugh and expected him to understand the answer. Luckily, he understood.
He left and I went inside my house.
Two days have passed since we went to the arcade.
I'm enjoying most part of my highschool life. I attended classes, I've got an entire group of great friends, Jason does behaves like a jerk sometimes, but that is controllable.
I walked inside the cafeteria with Abby and Ave, and I got the hint that good days are coming to an end.
A furious Natalie approached us with her minions, flipping their hairs.
" Didn't I warned you about this?"
She said as she stood in front of me with hands on her hips.
" I'm sorry?"
I replied, though I had no idea what she was talking about.
A small crowd started forming around us.
Jason, Noah and Kyle came close to our side. Jason appeared uncomfortable with all this. Where as Noah kept munching on his fries and Kyle was busy with his smoothie.
Natalie pointed a finger towards me as she said,
" I told you to stay away from me, yet you were hanging out publicly with my boyfriend. Is this what your mommy taught you? To be a hooker?"
My blood boiled.
" Get lost Natalie! No one's interested in your trash here."
Ave said as she tried to take my side, but Natalie ignored her.
I looked at Jason and found him staring at a distance, as if he still isn't sure who's side he wants to take.
Natalie kept talking and it didn't took too long for my patience to wither.
I took a random person's spaghetti and threw it at Natalie's face.
That was enough to shut her mouth, or open, as she was shocked by my reaction.
I swear I wouldn't have done it if she hasn't involved my parents.
The entire cafeteria was quite.
Natalie's parasites rushed across the room to bring her tissues, but she stopped them with her hand's single gesture and stomped out of the cafeteria.
" Pasta la Vista , Nats."
Kyle said, giving her a little salute.
We all turned around slowly to see Kyle, as he kept drinking his smoothie with a smirk.
" You are Soo lucky that you are good looking, Kyle."
Abby said as she walked to our usual table.
Noah too hugged Ave by her shoulders and left with her to the table.
At last when Jason decided to come my way, I pushed passed him and went outside the cafeteria.
He tried talking to me twice or thrice, but then understood it was of no use.
The only thing I hate about this school is that it's even more complicated than the catacombs. One path leading to so many places and so many paths having a dead end.
I've been lost here once, and I think I'll have to make that twice now.
I should have been in the parking fifteen minutes ago. I wildly looked in all directions for any familiar alley, but couldn't find one.
I accidentally walked to a couple making out. The girl had her arms all over the guy and the guy was slowly sliding his hands under her shirt. The couple was none other than, Jason and Natalie.
I immediately turned around. I've had enough drama for the day. But my sudden movement made my footsteps louder, and I soon found Jason following me, calling my name. I took an aimless turn, but finally saw the exit. But Mr. Sports star hear was quicker than me.
He pulled me by my elbow and made me face him. I won't lie, it hurt. A lot.
He shouted at my face,
" What the hell is wrong with you?"
" You've been acting like a lousy piece of trash the entire day and you are asking what's wrong with me?"
" I thought you were okay with me kissing other girls!"
" And I still don't care who you make out with. But you won't even take a stand for me! How the hell do you expect me to trust you in a relationship when I can't even trust you as a friend?"
" So what? You are rejecting me now?"
He said as he came closer to me. I could feel his breath on my face. I tried getting out of his hold but failed.
A shadow passed across his face which I've never seen before. His words gave a chill to my spine.
" I've waited long enough, I won't wait anymore. Don't expect me to stay by your side forever just anticipating for your approval. I'm free to do whatever I want."
He left my hand , turned around and walked away.
I walked back to the parking lot with a worried expression.
Ave got the hint of what had happened and she drove us to 'cafe connect'. Thankfully, no one seemed to remember me.
Ava asked me explain what had happened and I did. Right from finding out about, who the mysterious Corvette owner was, to what had happened a few minutes ago.
Ave, being herself, gasped in astonishment.
" You met Ethan Reyes? Ethan Ace Reyes? He's like, one of the most eligible bachelor of this state!"
" Should I tell Noah about this excitement of yours ?"
" Oh please. You should see his excitement when he talks about Nadia Normandy. But on a serious note, give Jason some time Grace. I know he's acting like a jerk now, but as far as I know him, he'll come around with time."
" I don't know Ave. The look he had on his face, it appeared so real. It was like, that's the real him, and all these days he has been lying to us."
" The decision is up to you. I'd just say don't think too much about it."
After that, the conversation was light.
I had already told Mom that I'd be late and that was a good idea.
Ave eats a lot if I compare her to her size. By the time we left it was around seven thirty.
When we were walking towards our car, two guys came out of nowhere and blocked our path. They had baggy red eyes and it appeared as if they were drugged. They looked our age, but definitely not friendly.
Ava visibly tensed beside me.
" Do you girls need a ride back home?"
" No we are good."
I said and tried to Leave with Ave, but they lift us by our waists and covered our mouths with their hands. They dragged us to the dark back streets.
I was in a bad situation. But the worst part was that I couldn't locate Ave.
The guy pinned me to a wall, which I consider his biggest mistake. I kicked his naval region and he crumbled down. I ran into the deeper alley and found the guy pushing Ave inside his car.
I tried sprinting towards her, but the guy from earlier had recovered and he stopped me.
He tried to hold me still and I tried to kill him.... Or at least make him unconscious.
My mind was racing with ideas to resolve all this but nothing affective came up. The pepper spray dad gave me was long lost in the parking, from where they took us.
There was a thunderous slap from where Ave was struggling earlier. Me and my abductor, both were shocked. I took this opportunity to knock him out cold. The blow I gave him, will surely leave a bruise on my fist and his face.
I turned around and found Noah protectively hugging a heavily sobbing Ave. They stood beside the unconscious body of Ava's captor. Noah gently stroked her back to calm her down.
We left Ava's car there. Noah gave both of us a lift back home.
On our way I learned that the guy who was after me, was from our school. He's name is Hayden. He is teammates with Jason and Noah. I don't remember seeing him in the campus that much but I surely won't forget his face from today. His bronze eyes gave him even more predatory appearance.
Noah wasn't sure about the second guy, who attacked Ave. But the look he had on his face clearly told me that he'll find out.
I reached home and went straight to my room. It's good that my room's on the ground floor. There's no way I'll be telling Mom or Dad about this.
Next morning, I acted like nothing happened. I took my car and went to school. Ave said she'll be coming with Noah.
When I went to my class, to my usual seat, I found an envelope in the desk.
It gave me really weird vibes.
There weren't too many people in the class, so I opened it there.
It read,
" BEWARE HOLLAND.
TIME TO PAY OLD DEBTS,
THE GAME WILL NOW BEGIN."