Chapter 3

Chapter 03

The rest of the week rolled by fast.

I had just stepped out of my class and was walking toward Chris' car in the parking lot. I hopped in as soon as I opened the door.

"How was your day?" Chris asked me.

"Same as every other one." I relaxed into the car seat.

"Here." He handed me a pack of chips.

Takis. They're my absolute favorite.

"Thank you." I said gratefully and tore the pack open.

The pack of chips had already finished when we pulled up on our driveway. We both got down from the car and walked into our house. I lazily kicked off my shoes and joined Chris on our slightly comfortable sofa.

"So, what are your plans for the weekend?" Chris asked.

"Mom said I should come over." I faced him. "You?"

"Um, nothing really." He scratched the back of his neck.

And there goes my conscience.

"You can come with me if that's okay with you, it'll be like the good old days." I smirked, giving his shoulder a gentle nudge.

"Now, how can I say no to that?" He squealed excitedly.

* * * *

"Chris, come on! We're late already." I groaned at him from where I was, resting on the front door and waiting for him.

"In a minute, G!" His voice sang back to me.

I sighed frustratedly.

Chris always took a lot of time getting ready, he could spend an hour and half fixing himself up and I don't really know what for. I didn't even take up to thirty minutes and I'm a girl. I really hated waiting for him. His annoying habit had made me late a lot of times and it was sickening.

"I'm here, I'm here. Sorry, sorry." Chris walked in long strides over to me.

"It's about damn time." I rolled my eyes as I opened the door and got out.

We both got into Chris' car and immediately, we were on the road.

My house was a four hour drive from Santa Clara. My family lived in Los Angeles, California, so I settled in for quite a long ride. I placed my arm on the window sill and looked out the window, taking in the view. I watched as we passed by buildings, trees and people until they were no longer in sight.

Chris sang along to the songs blaring through the radio. We made conversation and talked about every silly little shit we could. You see, that was why Chris was my best friend, apart from the fact that he gets me more than anyone else in the world and he's always there for me whenever I need him, we also always have the best conversations. We could go on and on and on for hours and never run out of things to talk about.

We arrived at my parents house at about 12:53 PM. We got down from the car and headed into the house.

"Aww, Grace darling." My mother engulfed me in a hug.

I hugged her back before I pulled away.

"Christian," Mom hugged him. "So nice to see you again honey, how are you?"

"I'm fine, Miranda." Chris smiled.

I had always loved my mother. I have looked up to her ever since I was a little girl. She's always been an independent woman. She worked in a wealthy and popular company, although she was always busy, she always endeavored to make time for me and my brother. She was a strong woman, yet still so kind and loving. She had a big heart. When Chris' parents threw him out, she felt really sorry for him. She treated Chris as though he was her son.

My mother was also very beautiful, we both had blonde hair and people always told me I looked a lot like her. Everything about her was just so... graceful. I guess that was why she named me Grace, because she saw me as a reflection of herself.

But people always told me that my name was a contradiction of what I really was.

I wanted nothing more than to be like her when I grew up but I wasn't one to kid myself. I knew very well that I was nothing like my mother. I wasn't free spirited, I didn't have a big heart and I wasn't as nice to everyone.

"Hey, look who's back." I heard a familiar voice which would've belonged to none other than my younger brother, Tommy.

I turned in his direction, "Hey champ."

Surprisingly, he hugged me. "I missed you, a little."

I hugged him back, "Told you, you wouldn't survive without me."

He pulled away and faced Chris, "Hey girl."

Chris laughed.

Chris had a very good relationship with my brother, just as he did with my mother. He naturally had that charisma that people couldn't help but be drawn to. He had his own way of expressing kindness to people even when he didn't really have to.

My brother, Tommy, was also like that. So, it made sense that they formed a friendship immediately Chris started living with us back then. I think the fact that Tommy always wanted a brother figure was also a part of it.

"Hey sister." Chris smiled, making his dimples visible.

Tommy laughed also.

Tommy was 15. He was a star quarterback junior at his school. If you let the girls at his school tell it, he was hot and dreamy and he had dated more girls than I can remember. He didn't have white-ish blonde hair like mom and I. His hair was dirty blonde and he had hazel brown eyes. He was one of those little brothers that secretly love and care for you but will never admit it to your face.

"Baby, how was your first week in college?" Mom asked gleefully.

"It was nice, mom." I pressed my lips into a thin line.

Then I saw my father from a distance walking toward us in long and confident strides and my jaw immediately clenched.

"Hey, Grace sweetie." He greeted, smiling.

"Dad." I acknowledged him.

I had never liked my father, and by never, I mean ever. He's always been a self conceited hypocrite. When Chris' parents threw him out and he started to live here, he always made sure Chris felt weird and bad about being gay. He was one person who never made Chris feel at home. He'd always indirectly say how what his parents did to him wasn't wrong and what he'd ever do to Tommy if he found out he was gay. Which was really fucking stupid to me because his best friend swings both ways.

I guess a part of him simply didn't love the idea that his son was forming a friendship with someone who was gay.

Another reason why I strongly disliked him was because my father was shameless. When I was eight, my Mom and Dad would have constant fights about Dad's affairs. My Dad was cheating, at that time he had been cheating for about a year and my mom didn't even know. I felt disgusted by him. I really loathed him because he was the reason my mother cried so many nights.

He was a shitty father and I hated the fact that my mother, even for a second, put up with his nonsense. The day my father hit my mother was the day she decided that she had enough of it and threw him out of the house. It wasn't even up to a year later before he came to my mom, begging for her forgiveness. He claimed he loved her and us and said he was ready to be a good husband and father.

I never for a second believed him, none of us did. But after a month or two of his consistent persuasion, he won my mom over again and he moved back with us. He played the role of good husband and good father and I almost believed before I found out that he was the same bastard, he was still cheating on my mother. And the most disgusting thing was that he wasn't just cheating with one person, but with several women, some young enough to be his daughters.

It was really senseless to me. Wasn't my mother enough for him? If she wasn't, then why didn't he just leave her? What was the point of cheating and constantly hurting the feelings of the one you claim you love? It was pure and utter bullshit. He was a pig. He was a disgusting pig.

I wouldn't say I hate him, I've never hated anyone. But let me just say that if I was eating a whole pot of food and he was involved in an accident, and I was the only one that could help him, I'd finish my food first before I help him.

"How are you? How's college been?" He asked me.

"All good." I bit my bottom lip.

* * * *

My family wasn't exactly billionaire rich, but we were. We had a fairly big house and to me, it was comfortable. We didn't exactly have nannies, butlers or chefs everywhere but we were doing just fine.

I had finished taking a shower and dressed in something comfortable before I plopped down on my queen sized bed. I took out my laptop and was just watching bunch of YouTube videos when a face suddenly flashed through my mind. It had been happening lately, the face and the event were slowly fading away from my memory but the color of his eyes weren't.

The ocean blue eyes of Dean Ryan.

I groaned frustratedly before I opened up G****e and searched 'Dean Ryan' . As the information flashed up, my jaw dropped. He was a billionaire, an actual well known billionaire. At least his parents were.

He was their first and only son and the heir to The Ryan's Empire. I stared at the photos in awe. I stared at his photos in awe. How he looked so different and more professional than the last time I had seen him. His broad face, his broad shoulders, his light skin, his brown hair, his faded pink lips and his ocean blue eyes.

My door flew open and I immediately slammed my laptop shut.

"Dinner's ready, sweetheart." I heard my mom say.

That night, it was like the good ol'days. Everyone was happy, but I couldn't keep myself from scowling at my father every once in a while, especially when he tried to act fake for everyone.

The next morning, we all went out for breakfast. I accompanied Chris to uncle Stanley's that afternoon. We got back to the house and I spent quality time with Mom and Tommy before it was time for Chris and I to go.

We left back for our apartment at about 4:00 PM and we arrived back at about 8:23 PM. I stepped into the house first and I switched on the lights. I took off my jacket and hung it on the coat hanger.

"Ugh, Grace what should we do? This is not how I want to spend my Sunday night." He whined.

"We could go to that bar not too far from here?" I suggested and Chris smiled excitedly, "Only if we both promise not to drink too much. We have school tomorrow."

"Fine." He flashed his charming smile.

"I'm driving." I smirked.

"Whatever jingles your bells G."

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Thanks for reading!

~Chris xx