"Hmmm. Looks like trouble in paradise," I nudged Trisha. "This just may be easier than I thought."

Trisha groaned. "Come on Alice this is not the time." Her nagging voice was getting on my nerves.

Turning on her getting right up in her face I hissed, "This is the perfect time and if you have a problem with it take your pathetic ass over to the loser's side." She was not going to ruin this chance for me. No one was.

Trisha knew her place and I just reminded her exactly where it was. She was the weak link and the only reason I kept her around was because she was scared of me and even more terrified of being a nobody just like she was back at home. Giving her my back, I looked for my summer's aspiration. I was going to get what I wanted. I always do.

* * *

"Hey. Are you ok?" I asked softly so not to startle him, finally finding him out in the woods. Close enough where we could still hear everyone but still had of privacy. It was almost perfect.

"What do you want, Alice?" Grayson sounded tired.

His back still to me, I stepped in closing the gap. "I can't imagine losing someone I knew. I wouldn't want to be alone in a time like this. I just want to be a friend Grayson. To be your friend." Yeah I was laying it a bit thick but I hoped he was grieving too much to see through it.

"Alice I am really not in the mood to chat." He was starred out towards where the rest were still doing the ridiculous ceremony. His shoulders slumped, hands in his pockets.

Taking the last step, laying a hand on his back I used my softest most sincere voice I could muster up. "Grayson, please let me be here for you. I won't talk if you don't want me too. Everyone needs someone, and the others are with someone they care about...all the others."

He spun around so fast I jumped back a foot. I wasn't sure if it was because I touched him or strongly suggested that Hunter was getting support from someone else, mainly C.J. "Back off," he growled. All his anger pointed right at me.

Yes he did startle me when he all of a sudden moved but I over exaggerated the fear and how upset he just made me. To put the nail in the coffin, and extremely grateful for my acting classes, I thought of the worst thing that has happened in my life and let the tears fall freely. "I'm...I'm sorry. I was just really trying to help. Trying to be a friend." I sniffled, keeping my head down so he could hear me cry but not yet see it.

After a few cursed words were mumbled loud enough under his breath, I barely made out most of them he said, "Don't do that. Come on Alice don't cry. I'm sorry it's just been a rough couple of days."

"It's Ok...I...I'm sorry...I will leave you alone now," My voice broke without any coaxing. I slowly began to turn, my arms wrapped around me, and my shoulders slumped in defeat.

Grayson sighed loudly, "No. No you can stay if you want. But I don't want to talk."

When I looked back at him, he was leaning back against the tree with his hands still in his pockets with his eyes closed. Taking the opportunity while I could I walked up to him resting my head against his chest, our bodies touching from the knees to the top of my head. My hands on his waist I whispered, "I am sorry you are going through this." I left it at that not wanting to push my luck. After a minute and after he did not push me away I felt his arms slowly come around me. Fighting the smile that wanted to spread across my face I nuzzled into his body a little more and stayed quiet.

I had a strong suspicion that it wasn't the loss of the lady that died but the loss of Hunter that weighed heavy on his mind. Seeing her ignore him tonight and seeking support from another guy must have hurt. But that was ok, I was here for him now. I was here to let him know just how a girl was supposed make a guy feel. A real girl, not some wannabe with boobs.