Everything Has Changed

Chapter Five: For Sale

The pic on the side is of Gracelyn (Alexis Ren) in the bathing suit she was wearing in this chapter

Chapter Five: For Sale

He took me to a store and helped me pick out a bikini. A yellow one that makes me look tan. We bought a beach blanket and he ditched his shirt in my Dad's truck. I put on my bikini and left my clothes, and now we're walking side by side to the beach.

He's not saying much and I don't really understand why, but I let him think on it.

He turns right and soon enough the pavement turns to hot white sand. He walks with me to the most secluded spot on the beach and I help him lie out the blanket.

He's the first to sit down, his knees bent and his arms resting on his knees.

I sit next to him with my legs crossed, watching the large waves wash up on shore and then retreat back to the ocean.

My alarm starts going off again, so I silence it and call my Dad. It's almost completely dark out now.

"Checking in." I say when he answers.

"Are you with Danny?" He asks.

"Yes."

"Alright." He says. "Okay bye."

"Bye."

We hang up and I fall into a comfortable silence with my best friend.

"Gracie, the second time your Mom choked you and your Dad decided to get a divorce, I never thought it was going to happen. I thought he was going to just force you to not be home if she was home until you turned eighteen and then let you fend for yourself. She's been cruel to you for years and it took him seeing her trying to kill you to make him leave her. He should have gotten you out of there the moment she raised her hand to you the first time, but he didn't."

I look at him and wait for him to keep talking.

"So when you got a job, I got one too, and I was saving up a lot of money. I was going to get emancipated and move back to Maryland."

"You hate Maryland."

"But I love you, Gracie. You're my best friend in the whole wide world and she almost killed you. She..." he cuts off and I see his jaw clench from the street lights casting a glow on his face. "She tried to fucking kill you. She choked you until you passed out. I was beside myself when I found out. I cried myself to sleep that night. I wanted to protect you but I couldn't. I was going nuts. Then he got divorced and you started having nightmares, and I know you thought I didn't know, but my your Dad told my Dad and I had my ear pressed to their bedroom door. I wanted to sleep on the phone with you so I could wake you up and when I tried to, you wouldn't wake up because your phone wasn't loud enough. I've felt like there's a glass wall keeping me from helping you, and I was going insane. Crazy, Grace. And then you walked into the fucking beach store and I almost pissed myself because for once in your goddamn life, you were safe, and now you're staying and you don't have to worry about your Mom showing up. Now you have your wish. Your biggest worry is a sunburn or grades. You can have a normal teenage life, and when you feel low...I want you to come over. Don't call me, don't text me, come over, or call me and I'll come to you, because you don't have to be alone anymore. I'm here now, and I'm not leaving. Ever."

And I realize he's right.

I'm free.

My eyes fill with tears and I look up at the sky. Stars litter it. I can hear the laughter of nearby children, the ocean crashing against the shore, and the reflection of the moon on the water is mesmerizing.