Page 51 of Fall From Grace

Grace age 16

Noah age 17

I should have known. I should have trusted what I felt. The splash of red across her freckled cheeks always told me the truth, just like it is telling me now. Grace is my girl, not Dustin’s.

She’s never been anyone else’s but mine.

N.P.

I stepped off the bus with Tiffany and Sara, pulling my spankies out of my butt crack. I was giddy with excitement that I’d get to see Noah play tonight. Talking on the phone with him every night only made me miss him more. I hated that we lived in different counties.

I decided I’d tell him I broke up with Dustin recently and say it casually, ya know, like I wasn’t hoping he’d realize my body andIwere waiting to get back in touch with him.

It was cold today so we wore our purple long sleeves underneath our uniforms which were also purple and gold. GO PIRATES!

“Someone’s excited,” Tiffany said, nudging my shoulder.

Sara leaned in and waggled her brows. “I wonder why?”

I shoved them both away and started scanning the football field. We were too far away to make out anyone.

“Let’s beat these little shits tonight,” Dustin yelled, stepping off the bus and looking my way like he hoped I heard him. The others shared his enthusiasm.

“Make us proud, boys,” Sara yelled.

“What?” Dustin pinned his dark eyes on me. “No good luck kiss or are you saving it for the other team?”

“Like Noah needs luck,” I couldn’t help but say as I turned and headed for the field. “But good luck, boys!”

“Grace?” Noah’s voice spooked me enough that I jumped. He wasn’t even on the field. Lance and Jack were with him. I looked back at everyone staring at us… How much had he heard? He shook his head at me. “You’re so jumpy.” My eyes slid over him. “It’s a shame you have to cheer for the losing team.” He smirked at me.

“Ready to lose tonight, Noah?” Dustin yelled.

Noah lifted his head and smiled. “Ready to lose the best thing you got?”

Lance and Jack started singing, “Ooohhh.”

The blood had rushed to my face because while those two were laughing about it, Dustin and everyone looked slightly confused. Dustin turned to me, taking in my expression before he smirked. “Ah, does he still—Does that mean I’m still in the running, Grace?”

I caught Noah’s expression when I turned, now he was confused.

Tiffany and Sara looked stunned before they both started laughing. “You’re not referring to Grace, are you?” Sara asked me. “They’re not even together anymore.”

Noah’s eyes zeroed in on me. “I’ve been meaning to tell you,” I stammered.

Tiffany laughed. “Grace broke up with him the night we played you guys last month.”

“Tiffany!” I hissed.

“What?” She winked. “He should know.” She turned to Sara who also looked pleased.

“Maybe she didn’t want to,” Dustin jumped in. He grinned at me before he stepped onto the field with a few of our other boys.

“Come on, boys!” Noah’s coach, I assumed, yelled at them.

I looked at Noah. “Um, Noah?”

He turned away and headed to the field without so much as a glance my way. My heart sunk. “I can’t believe you haven’t told him yet,” Sara said as we started walking towards the bleachers where some of our squad already was.

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