chapter eight, the cole effect
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For the first time in her life, the house creaked under Grace's footsteps.

With every step she took, the aged wooden boards exhaled, rebounding gradually and emitting a subtle noise as they recoiled.

In her doorway, Grace paused, shifting her weight between her legs, a subtle smile gracing her face along with the sound.

The noise shot up through her leg, finding a resting place in the curve of her chest.

She couldn't recall the last time the house shifted beneath her, and that just made her appreciate the sound even more.

"Someone's at the door!" her father shouted, the words carrying down the hallway.

Cole.

Grace wandered towards the entryway, running her hand over the surface of her sweatshirt.

In a last-minute decision, she chose to wear a crimson sweatshirt with their school name, influenced by her brother.

She discovered it buried in the depths of her closet, practically covered in dust.

Upon reaching the entryway, the front door was propped open, her father and Cole standing somewhat awkwardly.

"Hey," Grace drawled out, flashing a smile at Cole, who responded with one of his own.

Casually placing his hands in his jacket pockets, his head slightly tilted, he said, "I was just introducing myself to your dad."

Grace nodded lightly, her lips thin.

Stepping further into the entryway, she noticed her father clearing his throat. "Well, I hope you two have fun."

Grace grinned, playfully nudging Cole toward the front door. "Will do, love you."

Backing out the front door with a grin on his face, Cole's movement paused on the doorstep as Grace spun around, slowly closing the door behind them.

Before she could shut it completely, her father's voice seeped through the crack of the door. "Love you too. Be safe."

Despite the ache in Grace's heart, she suppressed it, turning to confront Cole, who maintained a smirk on his face.

"What?" she asked, poking him in the chest with her finger, causing him to take a step down. Now, they stood face to face, their heights perfectly matched.

"Your dad's a nice guy," he said, his voice devoid of mockery or teasing.

Grace tilted her head, smiling as she delicately rested her arms on his shoulders, intertwining her fingers behind his head.

"You're not so bad yourself," she said, and Cole leaned into her touch, his eyes softening.

It felt as if the promise of spring was gazing at her, his eyes displaying an array of green hues.

Every look spurred Grace on even further.

A warmth settled in the pit of her stomach, and she suddenly became acutely aware of their closeness on her family's porch.

"We should get going," she drawled out, pulling back her hands.

Cole, sensing her discomfort, nodded slowly, turning around and descending the last couple of steps of the porch.

Grace followed, a warmth kindling in her stomach and tingling across her chest.

Reaching the bottom, Cole smiled, and they started down the driveway, his hands naturally slipping into his pockets.

"I like your sweatshirt," he teased, glancing at her, his hand momentarily leaving his pocket to pinch the crimson fabric. "Very school spirit."

She playfully swatted his hand away, grinning. "Where's yours?" she asked, nodding at his simple blue shirt.

He shrugged, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and pulling her closer. "You're all I need," he said, kissing the top of her head.

Grace rolled her eyes, even though warmth coursed through her body at the sound of his voice. At his touch.

They wandered down the driveway, wrapped in each other's embrace, both wearing light smiles and feeling warmth in their chests.

When they reached the truck, they untangled, and Cole opened the passenger door for Grace. She hopped in, observing as Cole gently closed it behind her.

Naturally, she popped open the compartment, retrieving the CDs and sifting through them.

Cole settled into the driver's seat, starting the engine and then casually placing his arm on the back of Grace's seat.

Gradually, he started backing out of the driveway while Grace opened a CD case and slid it into the console.

The song "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac started playing, and Grace turned up the volume dial, letting the music fill the car.

Cole glanced over at her and smiled.

"We'll be there shortly," he said, rolling down the windows and letting his arm rest outside. "You're only five minutes from the event."

Grace bent her legs up on the seat, letting them rest on the car door. She looked at Cole before turning her gaze out the window.

"Aren't you doing a stand this year?" She asked, letting her hand rest outside the window.

Cole hummed. "Yeah, Walter's Cider."

Grace suppressed a smile, glancing back at Cole, who instinctively looked over, a faint smile appearing on his face.

"I know, I know," he rushed out, tilting his head. "But it's a tradition."

Grace shook her head, smiling. "I didn't say anything," she defended.

"You don't have to say anything," he said, glancing back at the road before her again.

"I know you."

A rush of heat swelled through Grace's body, her skin tinged with red splotches and her cheeks blushing lightly.

She concealed herself behind her hair, gazing out the window, observing as fields transformed into brick buildings and pedestrians.

Cole's laughter blended with the song, adding to the warmth flooding through Grace's body.

They turned down a narrow road, passing cars parked along the sides, with people strolling up and down the sidewalks.

Silver Falls, despite its small population, had always been a bustling town. Hosting annual events, featuring various tourist spots, and renowned for its home-grown peaches.

It was a place that welcomed everyone.

They made another turn, this time into a parking lot. Cole managed to find a spot among the few available, parking the truck.

People were everywhere.

The field teemed with people standing, sitting on benches, waiting in lines, and even running.

The air itself buzzed with child-like laughter and chatter, prompting a smile from Grace.

"You haven't even seen the best of it," Cole remarked, prompting Grace to glance back at him. He flashed her a smile before opening his door and stepping outside the truck.

Grace followed suit, hopping out onto the dirt floor. As she closed her door, Cole came up beside her, grinning even wider than before.

His face lit up with a childish excitement, and Grace adored it.

Effortlessly, Cole and Grace intertwined their fingers, locking hands as they wandered deeper into the field.

They passed a group of children dressed in crimson clothes, their cheeks pink from running. It seemed like a game of tag, with one of them chasing a girl with pigtails.

Grace's heart tugged at a memory, but she pushed it down. Cole must have sensed it, lifting their intertwined hands.

He wrapped his arm around Grace's head so it rested on her shoulders, her hand crossing her chest. Pulling her closer, he flashed her a faint smile, which she responded with her own.

They pressed on, navigating through crowds of people and passing various stands. One in particular caught Grace's eye—a wooden sign with the phrase "Walter's Cider" burned into it.

"Hey," Grace said, tapping Cole on the chest with the back of her hand. She pointed toward the stand, and they began to walk over.

Approaching, they observed George bent over in front of it, as if attempting to fix something with the cart.

"Dad?" Cole asked, and his father peeked up, his forehead sweaty and cheeks flushed.

"Hey!" George exclaimed, wiping his forehead with a cloth. Cole released his hold on Grace and patted George on the back.

"Here, let me do it," he offered, bending down and taking his place.

Slowly standing up, George finally turned his attention to Grace. "How are you?" he asked, a smile on his face.

"I've been good," she said, nodding lightly. "How have you been?"

George took a long sip from a beverage placed off to the side before responding. "Busy. With the farm, the kids, the stand. Katherine and I can't catch a break," he said, half-laughing.

Grace tilted her head and smiled, despite feeling sympathy for them.

"There we go," Cole exclaimed, rising from his spot on the ground. His jeans covered in dirt, he brushed them off with his hands.

George gave him a pat on the shoulder with a wide grin. "Thank you!" he said, bending down to inspect his work.

"Is there anything else I can do?" Cole asked, a smile evident in his words.

George hummed, taking off his hat and scratching his head. "Maybe you can take the first shift?" He suggested with a toothy grin.

Cole nodded lightly, reaching over and pulling Grace toward him by her pocket.

"Yeah, we both can," he said, winking down at Grace before looking up at George.

George smiled. "Are you sure?"

"Of course," Cole assured, genuine in his tone. Taking a step forward, he patted George's shoulder. "I promise, we won't wreck it."

George tilted his head, giving him a skeptical look that made Grace laugh.

"How about you, dear?" he asked, his expression softening as he looked her way.

She moved behind the stand, leaning against it, elbows on the counter. "It's fine. I'd love to help out. Go enjoy some free time."

George's shoulders dropped in relief, and he took another sip from his beverage before speaking.

"Make sure he doesn't mess anything up," he said, nodding his head at Cole, who was assisting someone off to the side.

Grace nodded, smiling. "I promise," she drawled out. With that, George walked away from the stand, a smile plastered on his face.

Grace looked over at Cole, engaged in conversation with a group of girls. They were all wearing Silver Falls attire, some sporting crimson bows in their hair.

They chatted about the football season, and one of them mentioned how they missed having Cole on the team this year.

Grace smiled awkwardly, her tongue poking the corner of her cheek. She wasn't jealous.

Sure, her stomach recoiled at the sound of another girl flirting with him, but she wasn't jealous—She wasn't.

"Hey," Cole said, interrupting her thoughts. He was staring at her, the other girls displayed behind him.

"Meet Grace," he introduced, glancing back at the group, adjusting his stance to include her.

The girls collectively waved, some greeting with hellos, and others offering smiles.

Grace smiled, brushing some hair away from her face. Suddenly, she felt acutely self-aware.

The girls quickly made an excuse to leave, and as they departed, Cole turned to face Grace completely, narrowing his eyes at her.

"What?" she asked, suppressing a smile.

Cole playfully poked her in the chest. "You're jealous," he said, smirking.

Grace rolled her eyes. "I am not."

Cole snagged her by the jean pockets, pulling her close until their bodies were pressed firmly against one another.

Leaning in slowly, he paused just before her lips. "You're the only fan that matters," he said, affirming it with a kiss.

Grace smiled against his lips.

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The event grew busier around noon.

People hustled between stands, gathered in front of the main stage, and the volume reached an all-time high. The auction was about to begin, causing the stand to wind down, but at a gradual pace.

Grace was completing a purchase when she noticed Alex standing off to the side, sporting a blue baseball cap and a straight face.

After handing the customer their bag and expressing gratitude, she turned her attention to Alex as he stepped forward.

"Hey," she said, smiling. "How are you?"

He shrugged, glancing over at Cole, who was engrossed in a conversation with a group of people from school.

"How's it going here?" he asked, glancing between Cole and her. "Any trouble?"

Grace tilted her head, observing the flicker in his gaze. She shouldn't be concerned, but her stomach tightened at his expression.

"No," she said, shaking her head. "Everything's been pretty good, actually."

Alex slowly nodded, his eyes scanning the field as if searching for someone. Grace was about to inquire what was wrong, but Cole interrupted them, separating from the group.

"What's going on?" he asked, leaning against the counter, staring at Alex.

He shook his head, lips thin. "Dad told me I should come over and relieve you guys for a while. Take a shift."

"That sounds great," Grace quickly said, putting her hand on Cole's chest, stopping him from saying anything. "We'd really appreciate it."

Alex gave a small smile, the first genuine one Grace had seen.

"We'll just—"

Before Grace could finish, Cole backed up and took off running toward the stage, leaving without warning. Both Alex and Grace watched as he ascended the stage, grabbing the microphone.

"Bighorns, it's a bit quiet over here at the auction table. How about we crank up the volume?" he suggested, his voice echoing across the field.

He strolled back and forth on the stage. "Come on, this town couldn't cut checks fast enough for the Taylor's new turf."

"Now, we need you to back up your words and support the auditorium renovation project, just like you did for athletics. Sound good?"

The crowd erupted into small cheers, and Grace joined in the applause. Cole caught her eye across the field and flashed a smile.

He continued to speak, and Grace leaned against the counter, observing him for a moment before turning her attention to Alex, whose gaze remained fixed on the ground.

"Hey," she said softly, and he looked up. "Are you okay?"

He exhaled, glancing back at Cole. There was a look in his eyes, as if he could cry and shatter the world with one blink.

"He's not all that," he said. "You know?"

Grace felt her stomach tighten, spiraling out of control. She didn't understand why.

"Nobody is," she said, and Alex looked down at the ground again. "Where's Jackie?"

It felt like he stopped breathing.

"She's probably tired from yesterday," he said, his voice thick. He glanced up again, his gaze fixed on Cole on stage amid the cheering crowd.

Grace's ears started ringing loudly, the sounds of cheers fading as she concentrated on what Alex said next.

"Cole took her to the watering hole, after all."

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━ Authors note!

Shits about to go down.

Vote and comment if you enjoyed!
I love you all. Stay hydrated.