Page 82 of Love Is…?

“I am about to have a very intense relationship with a shower when I get back,” Tessa said, joining in with her own mournful mischief.

Suddenly, Hira, Justine, Kirralee, and India rushed over.

“Hi Tessa. I know you’re about to leave, but can we borrow Grace for a minute?” India asked breathlessly, while the other three girls nodded in unison, like synchronised bobbleheads on a dashboard. Tessa blinked, then looked at Grace.

“Sure. I can wait. In fact, I’ll start taking stuff over to Marina,” Tessa said.

Grace smiled, then was absorbed by the other four into a tight huddle, which managed to shuffle, like a rugby scrum, a short distance away. Tessa bent to grab her bag, watching the group with an affectionate smile. Then she paused because Grace had suddenly stiffened. The huddle offriends pressed closer, heads down, thoroughly engaged with whatever was happening in the middle of the group. Hira, the most extroverted of the group, lifted her hands and gestured somewhat emphatically, her face stony. Tessa squinted. Something had happened. Something not good.

Feeling torn between rushing over to comfort Grace or holding back to let Grace share whatever the news was, the decision was made for her when Grace hugged each of her friends tightly, then turned to walk back to Tessa.

Grace’s face was closed as she grabbed her backpack, hoisted it over her shoulder, and strode off down the driveway to the waiting SUV. Tessa scrambled to collect her own gear.

“Grace!” Tessa picked up her pace, because, even at fifteen, Grace’s height gave her a distinct speed advantage. “Grace!”

Tessa tossed her bag into the boot next to Grace’s, then clambered into the backseat, and stared at the side of Grace’s head.

“Grace, what happened?” Tessa asked softly, in the quiet of the car.

There was a silence, then slowly Grace lifted her head, her eyes brimming with tears.

“Michael put my poem on TikTok,” she said, the tears now falling freely. Tessa reached across the seat to hold Grace’s hand.

“I don’t understand.”

Grace hiccupped, a sound that broke Tessa’s heart. “Do you have TikTok, Tessa?”

Tessa nodded. “Yes. I don’t really use it except to get sensible recipes and for updates on the Matildas.”

“Open it.” Grace sniffed sadly.

Tessa fumbled for her phone, found the app, and poked the icon, instantly assaulted by videos of South Korean teenagers dancing in malls. She looked up expectantly and Grace nodded,then ground her fingertips into her eyelids as if to excavate every tear and dash it away.

“Search #GraceTaylorLovePoem. Look for the MichaelAokOk account,” she said behind her hands.

Tessa quickly followed the instructions. Suddenly, there was Michael, his head hovering in front of an enlarged version of Grace’s poem plastered on the green screen behind him. She slid the volume up.

With carnival-style music playing in the background, Michael gleefully explained how pathetic the poem was and how he’d successfully convinced Grace Taylor, the one and only daughter of mega-star Abigail Taylor, that somehow she had a chance with him, and wasn’t it funny how she’d written a love poem and completely fallen for the hoax.

Tessa gasped, pausing the video so it wouldn’t loop, then peered at Grace.

“Oh, God, Grace. I’m so sorry. This is… What a fucking douche canoe!”

Grace huffed through her tears. “Yeah. That’s a pretty good description.” She sniffed, and ran her fingers under her eyes. “I can’t believe I was so stupid.”

Tessa undid her seatbelt, ignored Marina’s quick glance in the rear view mirror, and scooted across the seat. She enveloped Grace in a hug. “You are not stupid. You are a gorgeous soul and you give your heart to those you believe will care for it. Michael took advantage of that.” She pushed on Grace’s shoulders, holding her so their eyes met. “He took advantage of the fact that you are a magical unicorn.”

Grace snorted.

“I’m serious. You are incredible. You’re innocent on purpose, which doesnotmean you’re naive. You choose to be fascinated with the world, you choose to eschew all the idiocy of social media, you choose to be in love with joy, and Michael mockedthat. Mocked you. Hestompedon all that is you.” Tessa growled. “I want to fire him into the sun.”

After a moment, Grace took a deep breath and gave Tessa a wobbly smile. “Thanks.” Then her face crumpled again. “Oh God, what about Mum and Sam? They’ll be devastated. I’ve embarrassed Mum and that’s the one thing I said I’d never do. One of the reasons I don’t do social media.”

Tessa, still clutching Grace’s shoulders, intensified her gaze. “I know, but you didn’t do this. Michael did. Your mum and Sam will not be embarrassed at all. They will be upset because you’re upset, okay?” She released Grace’s shoulders, only to sweep up the girl’s hands. “I imagine Sam will want to assist me in canon-firing.”

The wobbly smile reappeared. “Mum will probably light the fuse.”

The driveway gate slid open, and Marina drove down into the garage under the house. She turned off the engine, then turned in her seat.

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