SavingGrace626

Grace's P.O.V.

After a fun day of mini golf, shopping, watching
movies and spending an hour sitting in the park
"people watching" as Dougie calls it, we both climbed
back into Doug's car and headed back for the club.
"Today was fun" I said, climbing out of the car. He
walked around and took my hand, walking with me to the
fire escape, up the ladder and stairs to my window. "I
had fun too..." he smiled cutely. I loved his smile, it
was contageous. "We should do it more often...." he
suggested...and staring into his eyes, I couldn't do
anything but nod my head. He kissed my forehead and
laced his fingers together, giving me a boost up
through the window. The club would be opening again in
a little over an hour, and my day would be starting all
over again.

So we did. We snuck out again...and again...and again.
To the movies, the park, museums, malls, restaurants,
or even just walking around the city..hand in hand. It
was nice. I got to know even more about Dougie and his
band...the ones that were with him when he first met
me. I kept asking when I could meet them, "Soon...real
soon" he'd kept saying. If they were anything like
Doug, I'm sure i'd love them. After about 2 months of
sneaking out, we headed back to the club just like any
other afternoon- to sneak back in. I climbed out of
the car, staring up at the tall red brick building
infront of me. A shadow caught my eye in a window of
the 4th story. "Dougie.." i said, turning around to
look at him as he walked to catch up with me.. "Yeah?"
he asked, as I turned back to the window..which was
empty. "Uh..never mind.." I said, obviously assuming
my sleepy eyes were playing tricks on me.

I was exhausted, not to mention sick. I had been
working almost every night- 'waitressing', and spent
everyday out on the town with Dougie. I had burned my
candle at both ends and was in need of a good night's
sleep. I snuck in through the bathroom window, bid
Dougie a quick farewell and collapsed onto my bed,
taking a quick nap before work. A short knock on my
door probably about half an hour later, was my wakeup
call. I begrudgingly rolled out of bed and shuffled
down the stairs, through the supply room, the green
hallway and out onto the 'floor', to start getting
tables and chairs ready for customers.

I noticed Mike give me an odd look as I walked past
him, which made my blood freeze. Did he suspect
something? Did he SEE? or...Was I just being
paranoid?... I was too tired to tell the
difference..but not too tired to worry. My breathing
was short and quick as I felt my nerves rise...his
stare burning into my back. Surprisingly, he didn't
say anything to me. He just watched me set up for a
few minutes, walked behind the bar and made a phone
call. Then things were back to normal. Towards the end
of the night, while I waited for Dougie to show
up..just like he always did for a short public visit
downstairs before sneaking out, I laid down on one of
the tables, completely exhausted..convinced I'd just
nap for a few minutes till he
arrived....I....was...so...tired....Yawn.

Dougie's P.O.V.

I walked through the double doors of the club into the
semi-empty room. The lights were dim and most people
had left. The staff was cleaning up, so I started
towards the green hallway- looking around for Grace.
I was stopped with a large hand on my chest. It was
the bouncer Jeff. "Oh..hey man...just looking for
Grace" I said. Jeff was a cool guy, always said hello
when I came in. He WAS pretty massive though, and
after a short nudge with his hand against my chest,
forcing me backwards, I suddenly felt hostility.
"Uh...?" I said, awaiting an explanation. "Mike says
no visitors tonight..." he replied cooly. I furrowed
my eyebrows, confused. "But...its me?" I laughed. He
shook his head. "Sorry...he said no one..." he
repeated, ushering me towards the doors. I frowned but
nodded, thanked him anyways and headed back out to my
car. How odd...

I figured I'd wait till tomorrow afternoon, when
they're setting up again. See if i can try my luck
then, to see Grace. I guess we'd just have to skip our
play time today. I sighed saddened, and climbed into
my car, heading back home for a rest. I was pretty
wiped. I was spending all my time with Grace...and the
hours were not too pleasant.

When I got home, I pressed the play button on my
answering machine, which sounded atleast 10 messages
from Danny Tom and Harry, wondering where I was all
the time. I didn't count how many messages there
were..but there were alot. I soon fell asleep, face
down on my bed, with the messages playing softly in
the backround.

Grace's P.O.V.

KNOCK. I jumped, startled. I sat up and looked around.
I was in my room..and MAN was I confused. I wiped my
face, realizing I had dried drool on my face. I went
to the bathroom and got cleaned up, trying to figure
out why I had no recollection of anything. I remember
deciding to take a nap while I waitied for
Dougie...but thats all I remember. Did he ever show
up? And how did I get in my room? I shrugged and
finished drying my face, walking down stairs and out
onto the floor...feeling much more awake then the day
before. I pulled chairs off the tables and put their
legs back onto the carpeted floor, amongst other
employees working around me.

"Grace!" i heard Mike's voice. I turned around and
raised my eyebrows, walking towards him. "Take these
receipts to your room and spread them out. Organize
them by date and file them okay?" he said, handing me
to HUGE cardboard boxes, which he dropped into my
arms. Begrudgingly, I trudged up to my room and
opened the boxes, which had thousands of receipts in
them and started to organize them by year, then month,
then day..until finally i had stacks...instead of
piles. Three hours later, I caught the clock and
frowned. Poor Doug. I hadn't seen him for a few days.
He probably thinks i'm avoiding him. Sigh.

James's P.O.V.

I came to the club for the first time in a couple of
days, just hanging around and watching everyone set up
while I texted on my phone. There was never really
much for me to do...but the food was awesome...so I
always came around when the cooks were heating up the
kitchen. The french fries were my favorite. And of
course- the free beer! I was mid text, sitting on the
counter when I accidentally dropped my phone under the
counter. "Shit" I said quietly, getting on my hands
and knees and crawling around looking for it.
"RYAN! I'm so glad you could make it" I heard my Uncle
Mike say descretely, half standing behind one of the
freezers. I furrowed my eyebrows...curious. "I just
dont know what else to do with her- so I thought of
you. You'd helped me out in this area before and I
hoped you could help me break her in...ya know..."
Mike continued. I frowned, wondering what he was
talking about but shrugged, going back to looking for
my phone. "YES" I said, finding it, pulling it out
from under the dusty gap between the counter and the
cement floor. I dusted it off and clicked a button,
lighting it up and continuing to text. I walked back
out into the club and grabbed a seat, swinging my legs
over the arm and making myself comfortable.

"Thanks again. She's upstairs, first room on the
right." Mike said quietly as him and another man came
out from the kitchen. I turned in my chair to get a
good look at him. I had never seen him before, but he
was about 30, with sandy brown hair and a scruffy 5
oclock shadow. After they parted their ways, Mike came
over to me and sat at the table I was sitting at.
"Dont break that chair sitting like that" he warned
me. Obediantly, I flipped my legs back over and put
them on the ground. "So you hanging out tonight, or do
you have plans of your own?" Mike started asking,
making conversation as he flipped through a magazine.
I shrugged, "I'lll hang out for a little I guess. See
if anything comes up" I said, going back to my phone.
After a few minutes, the doors opened and I heard Jeff
greet someone. I looked up and it was Dougie! "Hey
Doug!" I called. He came over smiling slightly, his
hands stuffed in his pockets. He kind of reminded me
of a penguin when he did that..but I didn't want to
tell him that. "Sup dude" he said as he approached me.

"Are you here to see Grace?" Mike asked, without
looking up from his magazine. Dougie nodded. Mike
looked up and cleared his throat, "She's got the flu.
Sorry kid, I'd try back tomorrow." Mike said, glancing
at me quickly, before going back to his magazine.
Dougie frowned, "Well couldn't I just peak my head in.
Let her know I came by and all?" he asked in a
desperate attempt to see her. Mike shook his head
though, "No, I'm afraid she's been sleeping for the
past few days. But I'll let her know you came around."
he replied. Dougie nodded and turned, headed gloomily
back towards the door and outside. I thought for a
moment. Didn't Mike just send that man up to Grace's
room? Was something going on? Quickly thinking, I
stated out loud, "Hm. Maybe Dougie wants to do
something tonight. Be right back" I said, as I hopped
out of the chair and ran outside after him. I caught
up with him outside, "DOUGIE. WAIT" I said, running
after him. He turned around, looking a little sad. "I
think somethings up...." I said, before explaining
everything I had heard and seen to Dougie, his eyes
lighted up with concern.

Grace's P.O.V.

I was sitting on the floor, surrounded by receipts
when I heard footsteps in the hallway. I perked up,
praying it was Doug. I hadn't seen him in a
while...and just getting to visit with him for a few
minutes would make me so happy. The footsteps stopped
at my door and the doornob turned as the person opened
the door. I felt the blood rushing through my body.
Dougie always knocked, and I instantly knew it wasn't
him. The door opened, revealing a fairly goodlooking
man..probably in his 30's, with long sandy brown hair.
He came in, looked at me on the floor and turned,
locking the several sets of locks on the inside of my
door. I struggled to swallow and slowly got up,
backing away from him towards the bathroom- my eyes
glued on him. I stopped with my back against the wood
door to the bathroom, my hand on the knob behind my
back. When had finished the 4 or 5 sets of locks on my
door, he walked swiftly over towards me. I turned the
nob and pulled on the door, turning my back on him for
the first time, in order to get into the bathroom. But
with a loud crack, he slammed his body into the wood
door infront of me, pushing it closed again. I opened
my mouth and screamed "HELP" as loud and as high
pitched as I could, but it was short lived as he soon
wrapped his hand around my mouth. "Shhhh" he whispered
in my ear, sending chills down my spine and scared
tears flow to my eyes..

Piczo