Chapter 38 Girl's Night
Gracie
I am at Lola’s place for our sleepover. It isn’t something we have managed to do before because I believed that I had to stay home to keep my dad happy. I now realise I don’t have to because if I am there or not, he can’t get to me. He doesn’t own me.
Lola smiles brightly at me. “I am so happy we are finally doing this.”
I return her smile. “Me too! I am sorry it took so long.”
“Gracie, it is okay. I know there is a reason behind it, and one day, maybe you will be ready to tell me that reason. I won’t push.”
“I promise one day I will tell you everything once we are away from here.”
Lola and I are applying to the same colleges. We want to move in together, too, after we are done with high school. I will tell her everything then.
Lola slips her arm around me in a side hug. “I know you will.”
Lola is such an amazing best friend. She knows that even though I don’t tell what is going on right now, I still trust her with my life. My not telling her has nothing to do with her. It is all me.
“Should we get into our PJs and watch our movie?” I suggest.
We are going to watch Never Been Kissed. It is one of our all-time favourite movies. They don’t make movies like it now.
Lola nods. I grab my bag and head to the bathroom to change. My nightwear consists of joggers and one of Ryland’s tees that I stole from him earlier today, covering my arms with a hoodie. I told him, since he is my boyfriend now, that I can take what I please. Ryland was fine with that. I am still trying to get my head around the fact that I have a boyfriend.
“Cute tee,” Lola giggles as I return to the bedroom.
I haven’t told her yet about Rylana and me being official, but I will soon.
“Thank you.” I beam.
We put the duvet and pillows on the floor to sit on and put the movie on. We won’t see much of it because we will end up chatting, but we could play a part in it; we have seen it so many times.
“How was your sleepover last night?” Lola asks and turns to face me.
I was wondering how long it would take for her to ask me about it. I can only tell her so much. I would never tell anyone the things Ryland told me last night.
“It was good. We spent a lot of the night talking.”
Lola raises her brow at me. “Just talking?”
I look at the ground as my cheeks heat. “And some kissing.”
Lola laughs loudly. “Aww, you are blushing, how cute.”
I push her arm playfully. “Stop.”
“Sorry. I have never seen you like this.”
“That is because I have never met anyone like Ryland. It is strange that we have such a strong connection and bond. It isn’t something I have ever felt with someone else before.” I smile.
“Yes, it seems to have been that way since the first time you met.”
I didn’t realise what other people noticed. The outside world can see we are close, but Lola can see the connection we share, too.
“He asked me to be his girlfriend,” I whisper.
Lola grins and claps her hands, excited. “Yay! It is exciting! It is about time the two of you make things official.”
“It is still all a little strange. I am sure I will get used to it with time.”
The conversation flows after that. We talk about her and Ben, Ryland and me. I am enjoying our girl time. I need to do it more often. It feels good to be acting like an average teenager without worrying about anything. We turn our attention back to the movie, but we are halfway through it. It is such a sweet and romantic movie.
Suddenly, we hear a noise. It sounds like a rock against Lola’s bedroom window. Lola and I look at one another, raising our brows.
“What the hell is that?” I ask.
“I have no idea.” As Lola replies, the same sound comes again.
Lola and I nervously got up and went over to the window. We peek between the curtains, and soon our question is answered.
“What are they doing here?” I snicker.
It is none other than Ben and Ryland outside her bedroom window. There is enough light left outside for us to see the two of them looking smug. We glance at each other, roll our eyes and laugh. I don’t know why they are throwing rocks at the window; it isn’t exactly late. It is not even ten. Lola opens the curtains and the window.