SavingGrace626

Grace's P.O.V.

Yawn. I woke up the next morning as the sun shone
through Dougie's window onto the bed and into my eyes.
I blinked and rubbed them, trying to focus my sight. I
propped myself up against the pillows and looked at
the clock. 11 a.m. I pulled myself out of bed and
decided on some breakfast. I was starving. Atleast I
managed to get some sleep...which come to think of
it...i dont exactly remember how or when I fell
asleep. I still had the pit in my stomach...the kind
you get after crying for a really long time. Hopefully
some food will make me feel better, but i wasn't
counting on it.

"Dougie?" I called as I made my way down the stairs
and into the family room. The couch had pillows and a
blanket thrown on them messily...but no Dougie.
"Doug?" I called again, this time venturing farther
into the kitchen. I was surprised to see a flower and
a piece of paper sitting on the empty kitchen table. I
picked up the yellow rose and held it up to my nose,
breathing in the sweet smell as I opened the folded
piece of paper.

"Morning..Went to the bank.
Back soon.
Look in the oven
<3 Doug"

"Aw" I smiled, glad I was alone in the house as I felt
my cheeks burn red with blush, and I couldn't manage
to stop smiling. I was glad to be with Dougie in his
apartment. I actually felt wanted for a change and
Dougie was a real sweatheart. In the back of my mind
though, I knew Mike would come looking for me-
expecting me to come back as soon as I was okay again.
The last thing I wanted to do was go back to that
place. Suddenly, I was overcome with
depression...despite Dougie's sweet gesture. I sighed
and dropped the flower and note back onto the table,
making my way over to the oven to see what was inside.

Inside was a plate with three chocolate chip pancakes,
a plate with a scrambled egg, and a ladle with warm
maple syrup. I scoffed, my smile returning. He had
done it again...saved me from the depths of
depression. I giggled to myself as I pulled the food
out of the warm oven and put them on a placemat on the
counter..making sure to turn off the oven, which had
been set to "warm" before pouring a glass of orange
juice and pulling up a stool.

Dougie's P.O.V.

My mind was on Grace the entire drive to the bank and
while I was sitting at the teller's desk waiting for
my withdrawal. I couldn't help but hope she woke up
feeling better than the night before. And if not, then
I hoped that the morning surprise I left for her
cheered her up. Needless to say, I didn't get more
than an hour or two of sleep last night..so I had
plenty of time to think of something sweet to do for
her. I couldn't help but sleep when I knew what had
happened to her. It wasn't fair. So if it was the last
thing I'd do, I had to find a way to make it right.

"Here you go Mr. Poynter" said the teller as she
approached me. She reached out and handed me a small
blue and white piece of paper, which I folded and put
into my pocket for save keeping. "Thanks Janet" I
smiled. Janet had been my banker since McFLY became
big and I trusted solely her to take care of my money,
etc. I stood making my way for the door. I hopped in
the car and headed towards Mike's club...hoping things
would go smoothly.

"MIKE!" I yelled, pounding my fist against the glass
front door. Mike came begrudgingly and answered it,
cell phone pressed to his ear....as always. He rolled
his eyes but waved me in to follow him to his office
in the back. The club was abandoned. Maybe it was in
order to lay low, in fear that I had turned the cops
on them...or maybe they just closed early last night.
Either way, all the employees were gone and the place
had already been cleaned spotless...a task that
usually took until mid morning to complete. He flipped
his cellphone closed and sat behind his desk,
stretching his hand out to offer me a seat at the
other side of the desk. I obliged and sat down, lacing
my fingers together on my chest. "What can I do for
you?" he asked, flipping through papers and barely
recognizing my prescence.

"I want to negotiate" I said dryly. He raised his eyes
to me finally and sat back in his chair. "Go ahead" he
prompted me. I took a deep breath. "My terms are
simple. I dont want Grace to ever come back here and I
want you to act like she never exhisted" I said. He
furrowed his eyebrows, deep in thought..contemplating
my offer. "No" he said firmly. I waited, expecting him
to give some kind of demand for his end. "She owes me
a debt.. I cant just let her run off" he returned. I
nodded. "What about the police? I didn't involve them
yet..but its not too late." He scoffed. "Kid. I have
the best goddamn lawyers in this city wrapped around
my finger. I'd skin my ass if you won a case in court
against me." He gave a loud chuckle. I frowned. "Its
still illegal what you did..what you're DOING" I
argued. He shook his head. "What happened yesterday
was none of my concern. You prosecute, I'll say I had
no idea he got up there..." he threatened quietly.
"Dont ruin your life for a girl, Doug" he said. I
laughed at the thought he was trying to give me ADVICE
about how to live my life. I nodded. "Fine" and
reached into my pocket, handing him the piece of paper
I had just recently folded up inside of it.

"Whats this?" he said as he opened it, even though it
was quite evident. "It's a check. I want Grace free.."
I insisted. "This is only half of what she owes" Mike
said, holding the check up for me to see. I nodded, "I
know. Half now, half in two weeks...that is...IF you
agree to never speak, think, or contact Grace again."
I said, making my final offer. He looked at me
sideways. "This is alot of money kid" I thought for a
moment. "I know. But it's my money." He shrugged,
"Okay then" and held out his hand across the desk,
"Youve got a deal."

Grace's P.O.V.

After breakfast and a few reruns of Friends, I heard
the front door unlocking and sat foward in the couch
to see. "Grace?" I heard Dougie's voice as he emerged
from the foyer. "In here" I called. He smiled, kicked
off his shoes and flopped onto the couch next to me.
"How'd you like your surprise this morning?" He asked,
smiling widely. I giggled. "I loved it. It was
perfect. Thank you" I hugged his side as he put one
arm around my shoulders and clicked off the
television.

"Hey. look at me. I have some news" he started. A
little nervous and apprehensive as to what he'd say, I
sat back and stared..wide eyed. "I went to see Mike
today...about you" he started, but I cut him off. "Oh
Dougie! PLEASE! You can't send me back there! I'll do
anything... Tell him I'll work two jobs waitressing if
I have to..in order to pay him back. Or give me a
headstart and I'll run away to Russia or something..
Just PLEASE dont make me go back there" I cried. He
held a finger up to my lips. "SHhhh.." and calmed me
down. "I talked to him, you DONT have to go back. And
he's never going to contact you again... but if he
does..you tell me and I'll take care of it, okay?" he
said, smiling wide, now that he knew it would please
me. It took a minute to sink it. "I...I dont have to
go back?" I asked, shocked. He shook his head.
Happiness overtook me. I jumped onto his lap and
wrapped my arms and legs around him, "OH DOUGIE THANK
YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU" I was so greatful he went and
talked to Mike for me.

After a few minutes of celebrating, I started to think
it over. "But.. I'm confused. He just gave up? Just
like that?" I asked. It didn't seem like Mike. But
Dougie nodded, "I threatened to go to the police...and
he backed off. I guess since James and I were both eye
witnesses, he knew If i brought him to court he could
loose everything.." Dougie explained. "Ohh" I said,
nodding. I guess it made sense. I was still so
greatful for Dougie, which I expressed as I hugged him
tight.

That night for dinner, I made Dougie macaroni and
cheese and pork chops.... cause who DOESNT love
macaroni? And the pork chops were pretty good too.
Something I picked up after watching the cooking
network on tv in the afternoon while Dougie napped
upstairs. I couldn't blame him for wanting to nap.. he
looked exhausted. I remembered last night, and how he
was so supportive, and everything he did for me to
day..and wanted to thank him by having dinner ready
for him when he woke up from his "nap".

"Morning Sunshine!!" I exclaimed in an overly
enthusiastic way, as Dougie walked into the kitchen
still looking half asleep. "MMmm. It smells amazing."
I smiled, "You're probably smelling the crescents. I
made 4 regular butter crescents for dinner and 2
dessert crescents with chocolate inside of them!" I
said proudly. I wanted him to KNOW how thankful I
was...and they always say, a way to a guys heart is
through his stomach! He sat down at one of the kitchen
counter stools and watched as I finished futzing
around. I pulled the pork out of the oven and set it
to cool on the counter, opened the macaroni pot and
stirred the cheese in, then went to the fridge to get
drinks and grabbed two beer cans and put them on the
counter in front of him. He raised his eyebrows. "You
drink?" I shrugged, "Never said I didn't..." While
most of my teenage life I steered away from alcohol,
it wasn't because I had something against it. I had
tasted it before and I liked it, I just never really
had the urge to go out and get rip-roaring drunk....
and then once I was Mike's slave...well...I didn't
have the urge to get drunk AT ALL. But I trusted
Dougie.. drunk OR sober... so I had no hesitations
about having a beer or two with him.

Dinner was relatively quiet. We both sat on opposite
sides of the counter eating. The only noise the
clanking of the silverware and some chirping birds
outside the window. After a few bites, i'd look up to
see how Doug like it. We'd make eye contact only for a
second before breaking it and focusing our attention
elsewhere. It was like this the whole meal....
awkward, yet having a powerful effect of making me
incredibly giddy. I wanted to giggle..laugh.. jump up
and dance. ANYTHING...being with Dougie...having him
stand up for me..made me feel invincible.

After dinner, we took our beers and went and sat on
the couch, the only light coming from the flashing
television as we flipped through for something to
watch. "OOOH. GO BACK!" I yelled as he passed through.
He flipped to the previous channel, airing Forest
Gump. "I swear, Tom Hanks is brilliant" I said to
myself, stealing the remote from Dougie so he couldn't
change it on me...completely hypnotized by the movie.
I had loved it since the first time I saw it in
theaters, and had seen it several hundred times
since... It never got old! Out of the corner of my
eye, I caught Dougie staring at me..seemingly amused.
I blushed. "What?...its a good movie" I said, feeling
somewhat selfconscious. He just laughed and put his
arm around my waist, pulling me closer to him. I
folded my legs underneath me and snuggled up against
him, inhailing his scent which gave my legs goosebumps
and made my head spin. I felt so secure.

Piczo