Chapter 35

"Why am I getting the feeling that you don't want me to be seen?"

Jane had waited until after breakfast when the diner was almost empty before she'd gone to get Grace. Mrs. Rose had sent a tray upstairs as she'd promised, and Grace was sprawled on the bed fast asleep when she'd entered the room.

After waking her up and getting her to change into less flashy clothes than what she had on, they left the diner. God help her, she was about to slap the words out of Grace's mouth. The girl wouldn't shut up. Of course, she didn't want her to be seen. That would defeat the entire purpose of running away from her family if she just brought them along with her. She particularly didn't want Sebastian to see Grace. He would start asking questions she didn't have answers to. If he learned enough, who was to say he wouldn't come looking for her when she left Stormbrooke?

"Jane, where are we going and why are you ignoring me?"

"Christ, Grace," She groaned, feeling the need to pull out her hair. "Would you please shut up for just five seconds?"

"Then answer me."

Why, again, had she not left the country? This was all her fault. If she'd left the country like she originally planned, she would've been harder to find and definitely harder to pester. At the moment, there was no telling if their father had figured it out yet.

"I'm going to a wine tasting and I need a dress. Alright? Would you please shut the hell up now?"

"Jesus," Grace mumbled. "What's got your thong in a twist?"

She ignored her. The headache that had been threatening to combust in her head for the past few days felt like it was winning. What was her next step? Should she leave Stormbrooke? She didn't have her passport so she couldn't leave the country. What if she went home and took it or got Grace to do it for her? Where would she go? England? Mexico?

Fuck. Till when? How long was she going to run? She was tired. Physically and emotionally exhausted from all the back and forth. She was tired of running from the inevitable. Sure, she'd managed to escape the wedding but there was nothing stopping her father from fixing a new date. Nothing at all. In every possible way, she was fucked.

"Jane," Claire piped up the minute they entered the store, walking up to them. "It's so good to see you."

Her mood brightened considerably. Claire's smile was contagious. "You too, sweetie. How are you?"

"My mom won't let me out unsupervised and I'm grounded for life but other than that, I'm peachy."

The smile on her face was a bit too wide.

"You can't blame her. It was a frightening incident."

Claire sighed, leading the way further into the shop. "I know. I know."

Jane rubbed her shoulder, smiling. "You'll be fine. Happens to the best of us."

Claire rolled her eyes then stopped when she caught sight of Grace. "Who's this?"

Grace grinned, stretching a hand out. "I'm Grace. Jane's little sister."

"Oh, cool." Claire took the hand with a chuckle, beaming. "I'm Claire. You're around my age, I'm guessing?"

"I should be. How old are you?"

"I'm sixteen."

"Me too."

"Awesome. We should hang out sometime."

"I think so too."

Jane refrained from telling them that might not be possible. If things went the way she predicted, they would be out of here by the end of the week. Still, there was no need to ruin their fun. They seemed excited. Jane knew Grace didn't have any friends her age and it was no surprise given the pedestal their family was placed on. Her sister had always been a sucker for realism. She'd never wanted friends because she wasn't sure if someone liked her for her family's wealth and status. It was why they were so close. At least here, she could be sure Claire liked her and she didn't even know who she really was. The advantages of living in a small town; the outside world was a foreign prospect.

"So, Jane. Is there anything you want? Those new bikinis I was telling you about, maybe?"

"Oh, I would love new bikinis." Grace said, getting distracted by a glittering blue top.

"I was looking for a dress actually." Jane said, following Claire as she walked around a line of clothing.

"Wine tasting or date?"

Everyone really knew everything about everything here. "Wine tasting."

Claire stopped, then turned to her after a few seconds with wide eyes and a mouth that was formed in a very small O. "I have just the thing for you."