Baba laughed as I hugged him. It had been a month since I had last seen my dad. I sniffed as I let go of him.

Okay, fine. It was true. I was a total Daddy's girl. But you had to be, when your father was Aryan Deb. Phil Dunphy had nothing on this guy. I looked over his shoulder to see my mom smiling tearfully as she watched us both. I narrowed my eyes playfully at her.

"So this is the emergency you had to handle? Pick him up from the airport?" i asked her.

"Well we wanted it to be a surprise. We know how much you had been waiting for your father to come home." Mom said, smiling.

I grinned at her while I held my father's hand. I couldn't seeme to let go of him. I hadn't realised how much I had missed him until now.

My father had gone to India, his native country, to visit his family.My father came from a traditional Bengali family settled in the bustling city of Kolkata. Every year my whole family travelled to India to visit them. This year mom and I had to stay behind since Mom had contracted bronchitis a week before we were supposed to leave. Since the tickets had been non-refundable, my dad had decided to go on his own.

"How's Dida and Dadu?" I asked him, using the Bengali word for grandmother and grandfather.

"They are fine. A little sad that you and your mom couldn't visit but they hope you will before you go off to college." He said, lovingly.

"Ma sent me a home made conconction for my lungs to help me with my cough." Mom said with an adoring smile.

My father's family had been a little hesitant at first when they had found out that my dad wanted to marry my mother. They had always wanted him to marry a traditional Bengali woman. But the moment they had met mom, all their doubts had disappeared. Mom had taken to the Bengali traditions like a fish. Mom's family had lived beside an Indian family when she was young so she knew a little bit about our customs.

They had gotten married in India in the Bengali way and Mom had personally flown my father's family over to the States so that they could attend the church wedding that Mom and Dad had arranged for the benefit of my maternal grandparents. My parents visited my homeland every year after they got married. My mom was a huge favourite in my father's family and even I had to admit, she looked particularly smashing in a saree. She had started calling my paternal grandparents Ma and Baba as was the tradition.

My parents had encouraged me to learn Hindi, India's national language and Bengali, my father tongue along with English. My relatives in India always found it funny how easily I could switch from an Indian to an American accent.

I looked at my parents and smiled. Their love had grown over the years. They still behaved like teenagers sometimes which was sometimes gross but mostly sweet. And assuring too considering the ridiculous divorce rates in the States.

"Now, tell me about the boy I noticed in the car just now who dropped you off." My father asked sternly, switching from my best friend to a cop.

My mother frowned as she looked at dad. So apparently, only my father had seen Michael.

"That was Michael. He is new in our school and kinda shy so Grace and I decided to take him under our wing. I am also helping him get selected into the Einstein Club." I said, knowing the last statement would tip Michael's scale into the good boy category.

Mom and Dad looked relieved as they realised that Michael was a career oriented guy who could only be a good influence on me. Since I had crossed my sweet sixteen, my parents have been holding their breath for me to enter my teenage angst phase.

"So why didn't you invite him inside? It would have been nice to meet him." My mom turned into the cookie-making homey mother, now that she realised that Michael was more Peter Parker then David McCall.

"No, he had to go home. He had a few errands to run." I answered.

"Well, invite him over sometimes. We are always happy to meet your new friends." Dad said.

"I sure will." I replied, as I hugged Dad again and made my way to my room.

Entering my room, I took out my phone from my pocket and called Grace to make sure she reached home safely. She didn't pick up. I called a few times without any answer. I frowned and called James. He picked up on the first ring.

"Hey mi amigo, whats up?" came the bubbly voice.

"Are you home?" I asked.

"Yeah, i came home like an hour ago. Why?"

"Well, I called Grace and she isn't picking up her phone. I am a little worried. Who did she drop off first?" I enquired.

"She dropped me off first. But don't you worry about her. Girl, the chemistry between those two beautiful people was so hot, I could have boiled an egg in there. I was kinda relieved when she dropped me off. I was feeling like a third wheel. But I did hear Drew asking her out for a cup of coffee. So maybe she is still with him."

I sighed, relieved as I realised she was safe.

"Thanks James. I will call you later, okay? Bye."

"Ciao."

I clicked off my phone and decided to wait for Grace to call me back.

Grace did call me. After three hours. By then i was so worried, that I had a headache. I didn't know Drew. For all I knew, he could be a drug lord or a mafia or worse, a pimp. I mean, Drew did have a ridiculous amount of money. Where did he get them? Maybe this had been his plan all along. Maybe that's why he wanted to drive along with Grace. She could be lying in a ditch somewhere.

Damn it, if anything happened to her, Michael was dead.

Suddenly my phone started ringing with the theme of Sherlock. I jumped up from my bed and ran to my table. I exhaled in relief as I saw Grace's number. I clicked it on.

Before Grace could say anything, I started screaming, "What the hell is wrong with you? Do you know how worried I was?One call was all you needed to tell me you were safe." I was breathing heavily after my rant.

There was silence from the other end for a few minutes.

"I love you too?" came the guilty reply.

"Where were you Grace? I was so scared something had happened to you. None of us know Drew that well. And I have been making excuses to your mom for an hour. According to me, you have been pooping for the last hour. I am pretty sure she thinks you have a problem. " I had calmed down a bit by now.

"I am so sorry I didn't call you Rebel. Its just that, the time seemed to fly away so fast. I couldn't believe it was so late when I looked at my cell. I saw mom and your missed calls and immediately called you both."

"What did you tell your mom? Did you go along with my poop story?" I asked.

"Well, since the first thing she asked when I took her call was if I had diahrea, I kinda figured out what you said." Grace said dryly.

"Well, where are you now?" i asked.

"I am in the bathroom of the cafe we had coffee in. Its crowded out there so I decided to come in here to call."

"Okay, so how was the date?" I asked, since now after the worry had worn off, I was getting into my tell-me-everything-that-happened mode.

"Oh Rebel it was amazing!!!!! It was so magical. But I am not discussing it over the phone. It's too important for that. I am coming over. I told mom I was staying with you tonight so we can discuss everything that happened when I get there." She said excitedly.

"Okay, I will see you when you get here." I replied, laughing. I hung up and sat down on my bed as I realised that this might be a huge change in our life.

For as long as I could remember, it had been Grace and me. Grace had never dated in her life and I obviously hadn't either. So we always had each other. When James had entered our lives, I had been a little jealous when he used to monopolize her time. But then I realised, he was like one of the girls.

But Drew was a totally different story. If Grace and he dated, she wouldn't have much time for me. They would hang out more. Her cell would be switched off more often when they were out. Movie nights would include Drew.

I smiled sadly as I started getting an ache somewhere in my chest. Grace was moving on with her life and that meant there would be someone else she would run off to when she was hurt. I closed my eyes as I pictured my life without Grace in it every single moment. It would be a bleak life indeed.

I woke up to find someone's hand wrapped around me. I opened my eyes to see Grace sleeping. I tried to slowly move her arm around me so that I could get up. The movement woke her up and she opened her eyes groggily.

"Hey sleepyhead." I grinned.

"Really? You were the one sleeping. I just closed my eyes for one minute." She replied. Her groggy voice said otherwise.

I glanced at the watch to see that I had been sleeping for two hours.

"When did you get in?" I said as i headed to the bathroom.

"Half hour ago. I chatted with Mr Deb for a few minutes. I came in here and saw you were sleeping so I decided to rest my eyes for a bit." She replied yawning.

"Adonis wear you out did he?" I said,cheekily as I came out of the bathroom.

I deflected the pillow that was thrown my way.

"So how was it?" I asked, sitting in my bed.

"Ooohhh Rebel." Saying this, Grace lied back on the bed with a dreamy look on her face.

"I am guessing, it went okay then." I grinned.

"Okay? It was amazing. We went to a little cafe. It seemed pretty expensive considering the clientele . And the menu was in French. Our table was on the terrace, overlooking the river. It was so romantic."

"Wow, an expensive restaurant for an unofficial date. Where is he gonna take you for your official date? Paris?"

Grace's only answer was a sigh.

"What did you two do all this time?"

"Talk."

"About what?"

"Everything under the moon. He told me about his parents. His father owns a major company that deals with computer and electronics."

That explained the money.

"He is taking a break after graduating from college. He loves dogs. His favourite band is the Beatles. And he loves his brother more then anything in this world."

Wow. It seemed they had gotten pretty chummy over the date.

"He asked me out again on Friday. He told me it was a surprise." She squealed.

I smiled at her enthusiasm although the previous ache was back. It was starting.

"I am really happy for you, Grace." I said.

She looked at me smiling but it disappeared when she stared closely at me. I avoided her glance but she knew me too well.

"What's wrong? Why do you look so sad?" she asked, sitting up straighter.

I stood up from the bed and walking to my dressing table.

"Nothing. I am still a little sleepy that's all. Your snoring woke me up." I answered.

I felt Grace approaching me. She took my hand in hers and looked me in the eye and said

"You know, you are everything to me right? Just because I am dating, doesn't mean I am going to leave you. Its Grace and Rebel against the world. Good looking, drool worthy boys are not going to change that. If anyone ever hurts me, you are the one I am calling. And who is going to kick Drew's ass if he ever hurts me? Who is going to watch silly soppy chick flicks with me?"

"From what I have seen of the Larson brothers, Drew would be escatic to watch chick flicks with you. They have a weird fascination with that genre." I sniffed as I said.

"Hey girls, dinner is ready." My mom said as she peeked into the room. She frowned as she saw us misty eyed. She entered further into the room.

"What is it? Why are you girls crying?" she said, worried.

"Rebel is suffering from a little separation anxiety." Grace said, patting my shoulder.

"Does this have anything to do with the gorgeous young man who walked you home?"

Grace blushed prettily. I looked at her questioningly.

"Yes, Grace went out for a cup of coffee with Michael's brother Drew." I replied, answering my mother's question.

"Your Michael?" mom asked. Grace snickered.

"He is not my Michael. But yes, the same Michael." I grunted.

"Well you girls do know that if Grace dates Drew and you date Michael, you both are going to be sister-in-law." Mom said.

"MOM!!" I yelled scandalised. Normal moms suggested you stay away from a guy. My mom? She was pushing me to the altar.

I looked at Grace who was staring at me with a wicked look. No,no,no,no.

"Don't you dare whip up a crazy plan. I will kill you." I warned her threateningly.

"Well,that is a good suggestion that Mrs Deb had. You and I have always dreamed of being sisters-in-law remember?"

"Maybe but that doesn't mean I have to date your boyfriend's brother even though I don't like him that way." I argued.

"Give it time." Grace whispered.

My only answer was walking away.

Soooooo what is the verdict?? Comment below and let me know. Its just spicing up. XOXO