The sound of my phone ringing broke through my stupor as I slowly awoke from my slumber. Turning slightly in bed, I tried to locate the device but to no avail. Sighing in relief when the demonic thing stopped ringing.

Luck however wasn't on my side as the thing started up again, blaring out my ringtone.

"Oh for the love of God!" I snapped as I sat up in bed. Rummaging around my sheets, I found my phone and pulled it free before answering it.

"What?"

"Well, a little birdie told me, you had a visitor yesterday," Grace said in a cheery voice.

"I am so not in the mood, Grace," I grumbled.

"Oh come on, Leah."

"Not in the mood."

"Pretty please, just listen," Grace said.

"What do you want?" I groaned. Not in the mood for my best friend's cheery tone or the gossip she wished for me to spill.

"Well, I'm on my way to you right now, and we're going shopping. Plus you need to tell me all about yesterday and who came to drop off your work," she said hurriedly.

"What, no," I grumbled.

"Just get done, Leah," Grace said in a stern tone, before hanging up.

Grumbling at my inability to get in the last word, and at the fact that we were going shopping. I tossed my phone onto my bed before getting out of it. Rubbing my eyes, I stubbed my toe against something hard and cursed the world, as I glanced down to find what it was.

Finding the folder of homework, I grumbled at the thing before grabbing it off the floor and putting it on my desk where it couldn't hurt me. With it safely out of my way, I headed off to get done.

The sight and Grace's mention of it, reminding me of how much work I still had to complete.

Walking into the bathroom, I stopped at the sight of myself in the mirror. The after effects of crying myself to sleep, clearly visible with my slightly puffy red eyes and flushed cheeks. Scowling at the sight, I slowly got done. Brushing my teeth and washing my face before exiting the bathroom and walking right into Devon.

"Holy hell, you look like shit," he said with a chuckle.

Not in the mood for his crap, I grumbled, "Fuck off," before I pushed passed him and headed to my room with his laugh carrying after me.

I slowly searched for some clothes in my closet before getting dressed in a pair of black cargo pants, a white t-shirt and one of Devon's old black hoodies that I had stuffed in the back of my closet. Satisfied with my choice of clothing, I left my hornet's nest of hair alone and headed down to the kitchen to wait for Grace.

Pulling out the box of Coco Pops before grabbing a bowl from the cupboard. I slowly made myself breakfast before sitting down at the island counter to eat. I was halfway done with my cereal when Devon came down and made himself the same thing, and took a seat next to me.

"So last night was something," he commented.

"Yeah."

"You okay?" he asked with a look at me.

"As okay as I'll ever be," I answered with a shrug.

"Good," he said with a small smile. Grabbing our empty bowls, Devon headed over to the sink just as the doorbell rang.

Sluggishly getting up from my seat, I walked towards the door. Stopping in the dining room when I heard voices coming from the foyer by the front door.

"Grace, sweetie. How are you doing?" I heard my mother ask.

I stiffened at the sound of her voice, having thought she wasn't here as always. Listening closely I tried to catch more of their conversation as I stood within the dining room. A place we never used, yet was dolled up as if we did.

"I'm good, Mrs. Mercer," Grace said cheerfully.

"Call me Rhea, sweetie," my mother said and I rolled my eyes, "How is Shelly and Henry?"

"Oh, they're good," Grace answered somewhat awkwardly.

Tired of my mother's fake friendliness, I stepped out of the dining room with a smirk plastered on my face. "Hey Grace," I greeted.

Grace and my mother turned to me, and I watched as Grace's eyes widened at the sight of me. "What happened to you?" she asked with a raised brow.

"Things," I said in a hard tone glancing at my mother. "Come on, I need you to fix this bird's nest on my head," I said with a nod at the stairs before I walked towards it.

Halfway up the stairs, I looked behind me to find Grace looking between me and my mother before she smiled at her and followed behind me. "Bye, Mrs. Mercer," she called.

Walking into the bathroom, Grace gave me a weird look before she focused on me. "What did you do to yourself?" she asked with a raised brow as she began fussing with my hair.

"Can you fix it?" I asked with a raised brow.

"Well yes, but..."

"No buts, if you can fix it. Do so," I said with a serious look at her.

"Fine, but then you owe me," she said with a pointed look at me through the mirror.

"I'm allowing you to drag me out shopping, I think we're even," I said with a bored look at her.

"Whatever," Grace said with a chuckle before she got to work.

Grace took her time to comb out my hair as she chatted away about what I had missed at school for the past two weeks. Going through all the gossip that had traversed the halls of South Side High, along with the rumours about me since I had gone missing again.

"I can't believe they thought up such outrageous crap," I said, shaking my head.

"Hey, don't move. I'm not done," Grace chastised as she pulled my head back in place.

Narrowing my eyes at her in the mirror she smiled at me, as she pulled my hair up into a high ponytail. "Do you think this, or should we do loose with curls?" she asked with a raised brow.

"I'm not your barbie doll, Grace," I said with a hard look at her.

"Oh come on, we haven't done this in years," she pleaded.

"No, I have to go out looking like this, so no," I said.

"Please," Grace pleaded.

"No."

"Please, also who did you get paired with for the chemistry project?" Grace asked, changing the subject as she continued messing with my hair.

"Don't think I don't see what you're doing missy. Make the damn ponytail, and if you have to know, Reid is my partner for the project," I said with a smirk.

"What?" Grace asked with a wide eyed look at me.

"I've been paired with Reid, your boyfriend," I repeated with a frown.

Grace looked at me for a moment before she burst into laughter, "One, it's Alexander or Alex and two, good luck to him," she snickered.

"Hey! I'm not that bad," I scolded.

"Oh but you are," she said, pulling on my hair and making me wince.

"Grace, watch it," I hissed.

"Oh sorry."

Grace messed with my hair a little longer before she finally pulled it up into a ponytail. Not having listened to me, and having curled my hair anyway. With that done, she turned me to face her and pushed my cheeks together with her fingers, causing me to make a fishy face.

"What are you doing?" I mumbled.

"I'm inspecting your face. Your eyes were rather puffy earlier," she said as she looked at me closely; her face inches from mine.

Narrowing my eyes at her, I waited until she let go of my face before moving my jaw from side to side. "I'm fine," I said, "Can we go now?" I asked.

"Hold on," she said, placing her bag on the toilet, she started digging through it. Pulling out all kinds of things before she turned back to me and grabbed my face once more.

Grace slowly worked on my face before she let me see myself in the mirror as she stood with a smile behind me. "Now can we go," she said with a distasteful glance down at my clothes.

"I'm not changing, you've played dress up for long enough now," I said with a pointed look, as I grabbed hold of her arm and pulled her after me.

I shouted into the house that we were leaving, before pulling Grace out the door and closing it behind us. With that we climbed into her car and headed on our way to the mall for our shopping trip. A trip Grace was happy to be on while I wasn't.

* * *       * * *

We walked around the mall for a few hours, as she went in and out of shops with me following behind. A smile was always plastered on her face as she went on her way, nothing seeming to drag her mood down.

"Anyway, as I was saying. Turns out, Amber is dating this college guy and Jenna is jealous. Like so jealous you can literally feel it if you're in that conversation," Grace explained from behind the curtain of the fitting room.

"Well thats..."

"Oh and the boys of the football team have been a nuisance, just because they won their first game last week, they think they own the place. I wish you could have been there to put Brock in his place," Grace carried on before sticking her head out of the curtain, "But in a nice way, you know." she smiled.

"Yeah sure, a nice way," I chuckled, remembering the last time Brock and I had gotten into it. He was the captain of the football team and a complete jackass, who thought he owned the place.

"So what do you think?" Grace asked, as she stepped out of the dressing room.

She wore a light pink floor length dress with sleeves that sat just below the shoulders.Pinching in at the waist and flaring out, the dress made her look slightly taller than her five foot three inches.

"Uhm... you look good," I shrugged.

"Come on, Leah, you can do better than that," Grace said, rolling her eyes.

"What? It suits you, also it makes you look taller. What do you want me to say?" I asked with a sigh as I leaned back on the couch I was sitting on. Grace had brought me to some fancy boutique shop within the mall and she had been trying on dresses for the last twenty minutes.

"That will do," Grace said with a smile, "You really need to work on your compliments though," she huffed before flaring out the bottom of the dress as she turned dramatically around and headed back into the room.

"So, what was that awkward moment at your house all about?" Grace called, once she had disappeared behind the curtain again.

"What awkward moment?"

"Uhm... the one with your mom, duh?" Grace called.

"Oh you know, the usual," I answered dismissively, hoping that she wouldn't push for more answers.

"No, I don't. We've only ever had sleepovers at my house since you moved there, so I don't know Leah," Grace said as she stuck her head out of the dressing room and looked at me.

I stared at her for a long while as I sat there and tried to come up with a reason why I kept her away from my house. Why, we only had sleepovers at her place? I knew the reasons I kept her away but I couldn't voice them. I couldn't let her know how bad life was since we moved, how it had changed so drastically from a loving home to an empty one.

"Because it's dangerous, Grace," I said, looking up at her to see if she believed me. Hoping with all hope that she bought my lie.

Grace looked at me with a raised brow before she disappeared into the dressing room. The silence between us was palpable as I sat there and stared at the cream coloured walls of the boutique. My mind reeled with Grace's question, knowing that on some level she didn't believe a word I said but hoping that she did.

Grace walked out of the dressing room in her normal clothes before she called over an assistant. They chatted for a few minutes before Grace walked towards me with a small smile on her face.

"I know you're hiding something Leah," she said in a stern voice. "Just tell me and maybe I can help."

"Grace you can't..."

"How do you know, you haven't even spoken to me. You haven't..."

"Grace, stop!" I said, raising my voice slightly.

Her eyes widened ever so slightly before she nodded her head. Turning away, Grace grabbed her bag from the couch next to me before storming out of the boutique. Sighing heavily, I watched her go before I slowly got up and followed.

"Grace, wait up, Grace!" I called after her as I walked quickly. "Grace!"

"What Leah?" she asked, spinning around and glaring at me.

"Come on..."

"No, you don't tell me anything anymore. I keep having to guess and try to figure it out. If you would just talk to me, maybe I can..."

"What? Grace, help?" I asked, incredulously. "You think you can help me, help my family. It's broken Grace. We're broken, ever since they took him away, my mom hasn't been my mom. Devon hasn't been Devon and I haven't been me. Our house is broken on the inside and that's why I don't let you sleep over there, that's why we're only ever at your house, because you will ask too many questions. Too many questions I don't want to answer and don't want you to know," I said in a single breath as I shook my head and stepped back.

"But now you know, okay. You know that my mother is a workaholic who doesn't give a shit about her kids, while Devon and I had to become adults far too quickly," I said in a low voice, before turning on my heel. "That tension you saw this morning, it's something that's been there since they took him away, and it got worse when she didn't even come to the hospital, that's what you felt Grace, so now you know," I sighed heavily before walking away.

Grace stood in shocked silence at my words, but I didn't care to hear what she had to say. If she had anything to say, that is, I didn't care to hear her apology or see her pity, so I stuffed my left hand into my pocket and carried on my way.

I would find her when I cooled down or find my own way home, either way, she knew some of the things I liked to keep behind closed doors. She knew more than I wanted her to, but she was my best friend. On some level I should have trusted her with that information, but how could I? How could I entrust her with it when she had that stupid blog?

How could I when she was likely to tell it to the whole world, that the Mercer family had fallen from grace even further than they could. That not only had my father's arrest damaged our reputation, but that my mother wasn't a mother anymore and that Devon and I had to fend for ourselves.

How could I?

On some level I knew Grace wouldn't divulge this information with the world, but neither could she help. She couldn't fix what was broken and irreparable. In no possible way could she help me or fix the rift between me and my mother.

Sighing heavily, I dropped onto a chair on the outskirts of the food court. The bright lights of the different food stalls caught my eye but I was in no mood to go stand in line for something delicious. I watched as people stood in line, as other teens joked with their friends and as families spent time together as they shopped.

My eyes glued to the scene of a father and his daughter as he joked around and tickled her while her mother stood in line for the food. Watching them with a smile on her face. The sight made my heart clench at their happiness, something I lost a long time ago...

"Penny for your thoughts?" a voice said.

Looking up, I found Sean standing before me with two coffee cups in his hand and a smile on his face. His grey gaze burned into mine as I stared up at him in surprise. I was shocked at his presence but too tired to put up my usual façade of nonchalance.

"Too many to mention, Evans," I sighed, and pretended to find the table I sat at interesting.

Placing the cups down on the table, I watched as Sean pulled out the chair across from me and sat down. "You okay?" he asked, before pushing one of the coffee cups towards me.

I looked up to find him still smiling at me, as his eyes sparkled slightly in the light. Kindness shone in them, as I stared into their smoky depths.

"I'm fine," I answered softly.

"It's a hazelnut cappuccino, and I didn't poison it if you're wondering about that," he said with a chuckle as he pushed the cup further in front of me.

"Thanks but I'm fine, and poisoning didn't even cross my mind, just so you know," I replied with a small smile back at him before pushing the cup back towards him.

Surprise crossed Sean's expression for a second at my smile before he smiled back at me. He pushed the coffee back towards me with a smile, before taking a sip of his own cup. "It's a kind gesture, don't think too much into it," he said softly.

Nodding at his words, I wrapped my left hand around the warm cup and pulled it closer. The warmth of it spread through my hand and slightly up my arm as I let out a heavy sigh. "Grace and I got into an argument, but what's new right?" I asked as I glanced up at him.

Surprise once again crossed his face before he nodded, "You two will work it out, you always do," he said and I frowned at his answer.

"And how would you know?" I asked, before remembering his moment with Milena at J's Diner where Milena had given him more information on me than she needed to. "Nevermind," I said, waving at him dismissively.

"Look, I'm sorry for..."

"Don't Sean, you don't need to be sorry. There isn't anything you need to be sorry for except for thinking you can stick your nose into my business," I said with a tired look at him. "Don't apologise and don't pity me. Just stick to your side of the tracks and leave me to mine, okay?"

"But..."

"But nothing, you can't save me. You can't fix me and you definitely can't fix my life," I said with a serious look at him, "This isn't a fairytale story, this isn't a story book, this is life. A goody-two-shoes boy in my life won't make me happy, you can't show me what I'm supposedly missing out in life and you can't change me, so drop it, okay?" I finished, taking a sip from the coffee he handed me. Relishing the taste of the hazelnut flavour that landed on my tastebuds.

I wasn't one who really liked handouts but he was being nice, and for once I was trying not to be rude. For once I was trying to actually have a normal conversation that didn't end up with someone storming off. For once I just wanted to have a normal conversation that didn't turn into a lecture and one that wasn't with someone who knew somewhat about my past.

With someone who wouldn't tiptoe around me and would see me for me, but that was too much to ask for.

Sean and I stared at each other in silence before his phone beeped, and broke the silence we had fallen into. With a small smile at me, he pulled out his phone and checked it. "Uh-" he said in uncertainty as he glanced up at me.

"You have to go," I said with a knowing look at him, as he nodded. "Well then go, Evans. I won't keep you," I said and shooed him away.

With a smile at me, he stood up, "I know this isn't a fairytale, but that doesn't mean I can't help you, even if it's just a little," he said with a serious expression, before he turned and walked away.

I watched as he went, my mind reeling with his words. Watching him closely, my eyes followed him as he walked before they locked onto someone else and stopped. Grace stood within the crowd, her eyes trained on me as she stood there with something in her hand and a small smile on her face.

When her eyes met mine, she started walking towards me. Taking a seat in the chair which Sean had just vacated, Grace placed the box she had in her hand in front of us. "Peace offering," she said with a small smile, opening the box to reveal a dozen assorted donuts.

I smiled at her offering before grabbing a chocolate one and biting into it. Savouring the delicious taste of the donut, I looked at her to find her staring back at me with sadness in her hazel gaze.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know and..."

"And nothing Grace, I didn't want you to know," I said, cutting her off.

"Why?"

Sighing heavily, I looked away from her for a second before meeting her gaze head on, "Because of your blog, because I didn't want you to see how shattered life had become for me, because I didn't want you to feel sorry for me or pity me, because I just wanted you to treat me normally, like your best friend," I said.

Grace looked at me for a long while, hurt flashed in her gaze at the mention of her blog before she started nodding in understanding at the rest of my reasons. "I didn't want you to worry," I said with a small smile.

"Hey, I'm your best friend. It's my job to worry," Grace said with a hard look at me.

"Well that works both ways, but I get it," I said with a sigh.

"So, what is going on with you and Sean, hmmm?" Grace asked, wiggling her eyebrows.

Groaning at her question, which I knew was coming. I stuffed the rest of my donut in my mouth and pretended not to hear her as I chewed slowly.

"Oh come on, don't you dare act like you didn't hear me. I saw you two together. Seemed pretty cozy," she said with a cheeky smile at me.

At her words, I stopped chewing and looked at her wide eyed before I started coughing. Having choked on my donut at her words. Worry coloured Grace's face as I carried on coughing and she came to my side to pat my back.

Heaving in a big breath, once the food was dislodge from my throat, I slowly drank the rest of my now slightly cold coffee. Glaring at Grace, "Nothing about that was cozy, but we had a civilised conversation," I said with a shrug.

"A civilised conversation, Leah you were smiling," Grace said with a light laugh.

"So what?" I asked, looking away from her.

"Seriously, I haven't seen you smile at anyone other than Devon and me in years," Grace said with a serious look, "That my friend is progress," she carried on with a smile.

Scoffing at her words, I rolled my eyes, "I was just being nice, for once," I said dismissively.

"Yeah, nice to Sean Evans," Grace said with a knowing smile. "Don't think I forgot about our little conversation years ago," she said, wiggling her eyebrows.

"That was years ago, and don't you dare bring it up," I threatened with a hard look at her.

"Oh come on, you still like him, don't you?" Grace said with a raised brow in question.

"No," I answered far too quickly, and watched as a knowing smirk crossed her lips.

"You do. Oh my God, you do," Grace squealed, which in turn had many people turning to stare at us.

Glaring at her I sighed, "Grace, I don't. I was just being nice, and that little crush I had then is over. Things have changed drastically, okay?" I said with a hard look at her as I played with my empty coffee cup.

"Fine, but it's still cute. You can't deny that," she said with a smile.

"Fine, plus just so you know. He's the one who dropped off the work I missed," I said with a chuckle, conceding to my best friend's wishes.

Grace's eyes widened at my words as she took in a deep breath of air, "You're kidding right?" she asked and I shook my head in answer. Grace stared at me in wonder as she looked around the food court, before she turned back to me and squealed, "I can't believe it," she breathed out, "That's so freaking cute!"

Laughing at Grace, I leaned back in my seat and watched my best friend with a smile as she started talking once again. We sat there and slowly ate the donuts as we talked like old times, about boys, our crushes, girls in our school and of course, the latest gossip. Other things such as what life brought upon us also came up as we sat there and talked. Once we had finished about half the box, we stood and threw away our trash and went on our way.

Our spontaneous girl's day was a rollercoaster of a day, filled with drama, shopping and donuts. A day Grace and I clearly needed, and one that brought us close again.

* * *        * * *

And that's a wrap for Chapter 18...

Tell me what you think in the comments and don't forget to hit the like button, if you enjoyed the drama.

- Orlaith