SavingGrace626

Grace's P.O.V.

I woke up the next morning alone in Dougie's bed. My
heels were off but I was still wearing my little black
dress from last night. "Shit" I was groggily as I
pulled myself onto the floor and examined my dress. It
was wrinkly, but not ruined. I unzipped it and folded
it on the bed, looking at my reflection in the mirror,
my eyeliner a little smudged- still on my face. I
grabbed a towel and hopped into the shower for a quick
wash. Afterwards, towel wrapped around me... I decided
to see if Dougie was up. He obviously carried me up to
his room last night after I fell asleep on the couch
and I didn't know if he was asleep downstairs
somewhere, eating breakfast, or if he'd gone out. As I
got to the bottom of the stairs and entered into the
family room, I heard voices in the kitchen and
suddenly realized this was a set up for disaster! I
was wearing a towel!!!

I froze about 10 feet from the kitchen door and turned
slowly, so I wouldn't be heard and decided to head
back upstairs before discovering who was visiting.
"well Mike wanted me to tell you its been two weeks
and he expects the other half of that payment- or else
the deals off..." I heard James say. Confused, I
played it over in my head again and again. Just
hearing Mikes name gave me goosebumps..
"Look Doug, I'm your friend and I'll suport you
however much I need to, but are you sure you know what
your doing here?" James asked again. I heard Dougie
scoff in reply, "You dont get it James.. you don't
know her like I know her. I couldn't let her go back
there..."
"So you're willing to risk everything instead?" James
prodded back. "Look, just tell Mike I'll go to the
bank this afternoon. He'll have his money tomorrow..."
Dougie said, "Now lets not talk about this anymore...
tell me about this new band of yours.."

"Oh my God" I mouthed, covering a gasp with my hand. I
quietly raced back up the stairs and closed Dougie's
bedroom door behind me. The puzzle became clear,
Dougie paid Mike off for me. I started breathing
really heavily. I was absolutely freaking out and I
couldn't understsand how this happened? Dougie said
that Mike agreed to leave me alone because he
threatened to go to the police. I paced along the foot
of the bed nervously, trying to work out a solution.
Do I get up the courage and go see Mike for myself?
Ask him to leave Dougie out of this and HOPE that he
doesn't force me to stay again? I knew one thing, I
didn't want Dougie giving up his whole life fortune
for me. I COULDN'T let that happen.

Determined, and with a sudden burst of confidence and
determination, I pulled on jeans and a teeshirt and
began to write Dougie a note....

"Dear Dougie.." I started, my eyes filling up with
tears. I didn't want to do this- if I had it my way
I'd stay with Doug forever, but it had to be done...my
wrong had to be righted. I took a deep breath and
continued writing strong. "These past few weeks have
been the best of my life. While they were a result of
an absolute tradgedy, I could never fully express my
gratitude for everything you have done." My
handwriting started to get messy as my arm started to
shake.

"Having someone to trust and talk to was really
important to me in this stage of my life and you gave
me hope that maybe there are other people out there as
genuine and considerately sweet as you. Having you
there during my toughest, weakest times meant the
world to me- no letter or any form of words will ever
truly represent how grateful I am. But the mess I
found myself in a few weeks ago was just that- My
mess. I don't want you to be the one paying for my
mess.. I just CAN'T let that happen. Please forgive me
for running out like this, God knows I wish we had met
under different circumstances, but then again, maybe
its the circumstances that brought us together. And if
so, I'd have withstanded them for all of eternity,
providing it led me to you. I'm sorry you had to buy
all those clothes for me- I promise that eventually
when I get my feet on the ground I'll send you money
for the ones I've worn- and you should be able to
return the ones I haven't. Your the best friend I've
ever had, and I love you." I took a deep breath and
composed myself as I signed the bottom.

I took one final look at myself in the mirror, forced
myself to be strong and quietly crept downstairs-
through the family room and out the front door. The
boys were talking still in the kitchen, but I dont
think they heard me. I took one final look at the cute
little duplex apartment before pulling the door closed
behind me and running down the sidewalk as fast as I
could- trying to get away before I faltered on my
decision and selfishly changed my mind. After about
two blocks, I stopped running and slowed down to a
fast walk. I kept my hands in my pockets and my head
down, counting the cracks as I walked over them,
thinking of anything except Dougie.

Dougie's P.O.V.

"Did you hear that?" I asked James. He looked up and
glanced at the doorway into the family room from where
he was sitting at the table. "No? Why?" he asked
peculiarly. At this point, I shrugged it off.
"Probably the wind" he joked, looking at me funnily.
"Yeah..probably"...
"I'm surprised Grace isn't up yet" he said, "after all
it IS 11 o'clock." I decided I'd check on her, cause
now that he mentioned it, I was a little surprised not
to have heard her at all this morning, nor seen her in
here looking for breakfast. I mean, last night did run
a little late and we did eat alot, but it had been
almost 12 hours since dinner last night...she MUST be
hungry by now.

I walked out of the kitchen and into the quiet, still
family room. No Grace. Walking up the stairs, I held
my breath just slightly, wondering now if I had heard
correctly, if she went out or something. Either way,
this didn't feel right. I knocked quietly on my
bedroom door and when there was no answer, turned the
nob and opened it enough to peek my head in. The bed
was made, she wasn't in it. Opening the door I walked
further into my quiet room. I looked in my walk-in
closet, wasn't there...nor the bathroom. At this
point, James walked up behind me, a freshly opened
beer in his hand as he took a swig. Then I noticed a
piece of paper on my nightstand. Walking quickly over
to it, my mouth was dry as I picked up the piece of
paper and began rapidly reading it.

My legs grew weak as I got to "I dont want you to be
the one paying for my mess.." I skipped the rest of
the note and my eyes fell upon the last three words.
"James.. she must have heard us this morning..." I
said, scared. She had no money, she'd never make it on
her own and I didn't want to loose her. I was just
praying she didn't go back to James's manipulative
uncle. "Come on we gotta go" I said, speeding past
James asI grabbed a sweatshirt and ran down the
stairs. "Where are we going? What did it say?" James
asked as he trailed along behind me, clueless as ever.

I pulled open the front door and grabbed my car keys
as I handed him the note in my hand. We both raced to
the car as he skimmed the letter, hopping in as I
started the ignition and took off in the direction of
Mike's. After about driving for 5 minutes, we caught
up to her and I saw her walking down the sidewalk with
her head down. I pulled up along side of her and
rolled the window down as I called out to her. Cars
behind me honked as I held up traffic. There must have
been some special sale going on in town, because
traffic was HEAVY. I didn't care about them though, so
I continud crawling behind Grace.

"GRACE!" I called. She didn't respond. "GRACE! GET IN
THE CAR AND WE'LL TALK!" I called again. She shook her
head. "Will you just get in the car?!" I screeched.
She looked up at me at this point, her face streaming
with tears. "Why are you making this so much harder
than it is?" She cried. I felt bad for a second, but
shook it off, "I wont loose you Grace, I can't. For
the first time in a LONG time I feel like my life has
meaning! I've even been able to write songs again with
you around... I want you with me..." I said, my voice
getting quiet as I spoke sincerely.

We crossed from block to block, Grace walking on the
sidewalk and through the crosswalks and I traveling
shortly behind, running a few red lights when I was
sure no one was coming. "Grace just please get in the
car" I begged, "Dont do this... you dont need to do
this"
She turned and looked at me as she continued walking.
"DOUGIE! YOU CAN'T JUST PAY OFF MY PARENT'S DEBTS AND
EXPECT ME TO BE HAPPY WITH IT! You're 18 years old and
you haven't even known me for that long. I cant let
you do that for me! What kind of person would I be if
I accepted something lik-"
"GRACE!!!!!!!" I screamed, my voice cracking. James
gasped loudly as she stepped off the sidewalk
unknowingly and right infront of an oncoming car.

Piczo