Page 11 of B-Side

"It wasn't good enough if you didn't know I did it," she said.

"What wasn't good enough?" he asked, looking confused. "Our Kiss?"

"No, Alec. Don't call it that. I'm talking about the slap. The slap wasn't good enough if you didn't know it was a slap."

"Oh, because the kiss was really good," he said.

Grace scowled and let out an impatient sigh. "Just close your eyes and let me get this stuff off your face. And don't do that again."

"You kissed me back for a second, though."

"I did it because I wasn't expecting you to do that. I did it by instinct."

"But you did it. And then you slapped me."

"You deserved the slap," she said. "You did not ask my permission to do that. And, plus, you said it didn't even hurt. I barely even did it. But I hope it was enough to let you know I'm serious. Don't do that again, Alec. I don't go around kissing guys who aren't my boyfriend, and I've already explained that there is no way you would ever, ever, ever be my boyfriend again."

She smiled and spoke lightheartedly, but her words cut him like a knife. It felt like something literally stabbed his heart. He made a pained face at her.

"Did I hurt you?" she asked, pulling away the alcohol wipe.

"No. Grace. Please. Please just talk to me."

She studied his face. "You don't even know what you're asking right now," she said.

"Let me take you to dinner."

"There's no need for that."

"Well, there is a need to eat."

"Yeah, but there's no need for us to do it together."

"Maybe, but it could be fun. Didn't you ever go to dinner with someone because it would be fun?"

"It probably would be fun, honestly, Alec. But I think I'll pass. Thank you, though."

"Please, Grace."

She stared at him. She had given him short glances up until now, but this time she stared at him like she wanted him to take her seriously. She peered at him with a sincere expression. "Alec, no thank you. Just tell yourself that the only reason you want to do it is because I am saying no."

"Geez, Grace, why are you being so jaded?"

"I'm not. I'm seriously trying to help you. No offense, but I really do think that the only reason you're asking me to dinner is because I'm acting like I don't want to go. If you would have come in this tent and I was all over you, I'm sure you'd run the other way."

"No, I wouldn't," he said.

She gave him a patient smile. "I'm still the same person I was in high school, Alec. I'm still strict like I was back then. I'm not what you're used to in a girl. It's a waste of time for us to draw this out any longer than, you know, just having a passing conversation."

She finished wiping his face with the disconnected clinical approach of a nurse with her patient. This was not the real Grace. She had barriers in place, and Alec had been the one who forced her to put them there. He had no one to blame but himself. He took a deep breath and made one last attempt.

"All I'm asking is to sit down across from you at a table at a restaurant, Grace, and eat a meal with you."

He was still sitting in the chair and she leaned over, hovering over him, cleaning the last bits of glue off of his chin. He held still, watching her while his heart raced. She concentrated as she finished. Her face was near his.

"Please," he whispered. "Please see me again."

She took a slow, even breath. "Alec, I have a weakness for you," she said. "I know it's just dinner to you, but I'm the type of person who would get my mind set on other things, and—"

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