Finding A Crazy Person

"Guess what we saw?"

I take in the grin on my friends' faces and ask hesitantly, "What?"

AJ reaches a hand above his head, placing the other on his chest. "God did you well ain't he? Mhmm. Thank you, Jesus."

My face goes red as they laugh. Why is it always me? I'm gonna start coming to school earlier than them to put this off for at least a few hours.

I look around, noticing John and Sarah aren't there. I don't ask since I have a good idea why.

"Don't listen to them, Grace," Amelia says reassuringly. "You're confident. Not a lot of girls our age got that."

I smile at her, grateful.

"Hey! I'm confident." Kim pauses, before adding, "Ninety percent of the time."

"So cheers to Grace, for being sexy and owning it!" Maya shouts, gaining the attention of the other kids in the hallway and sitting around the fountain. She looks down, fiddling with her fingers, uncomfortable with the sudden attention.

I grin widely, walking over to wrap my arms around her, rocking her backward. We fall back onto the rocks embedded in the fountain's foundation with me on top of her. I know I'm probably crushing her but I don't care.

"My back is scrapping!" she shouts, a laugh in her voice.

"You know you love it," I say lowly, licking the shell of her ear

"Eww!" Maya laughs. "Get off, pervert!"

"Gimme kiss." Pulling back, I pucker my lips. She shakes her head, still laughing and turning her head away. "Fine. I'm not getting up till I get one." Of course, I'm kidding... but I legit don't want to get up. I'm comfortable.

"I don't know if I should consider this cheating..."

There are multiple snickers around me. I look over my shoulder to see Arthur with another guy, staring at me. The one guy is looking at me with his eyebrows raised while Arthur stares on in amusement, his hands shoved into his jeans pocket.

"May I help you?" I ask sweetly, blinking.

"Grace," Maya groans.

I look back down at her. "Yeah, I think you're enjoying this a little too much now." She rolls her eyes as I get off of her. I adjust my sweater and pull up my pants once I'm standing. It doesn't matter what I do, it always rides down, especially when I'm going up the stairs.

"I think you need new jeans," Arthur says, smirking in amusement as he watches me pull my jeans up higher.

I look him up and down. "And I think you need bigger shirts." I eye his long-sleeve shirt clinging to his torso, showing off his lean body.

"Why don't you two just fuckin' date! You're getting on my nerves," Kim exclaims, rubbing her temples.

"Bae, calm down." AJ kisses her cheek and wraps an arm around her waist.

Arthur, completely ignoring the outburst, continues to stare at me with a tiny smile. "You look beautiful." He doesn't seem to care that everyone's looking at us and that makes my heart pick up a little.

I try not beam at him and fail. "I am. Thank you."

"Awwww-"

I cut them off with something I just have to say. "My face beat right?" I grin at him. Arthur bows his head, shaking with laughter.

"You just had to ruin it didn't you?" Richard tsks.

I turn to him. "But it is!" I flail my arms dramatically. "Okay, okay, okay," I say quickly, hurriedly standing next to Arthur, under one of the lights, turning my head slowly to the right. As I thought, I get the right reactions.

Next to me, Arthur lets out a low whistle.

"Wow."

"God-tier."

"I can never get my highlight like that."

"Damn, face always beat."

I grin in satisfaction, giving a small curtsey. "Thank you. Thank you."

"Arthur!" I look to my left, peeking at the girl walking over to us with a large smile on her face. "Hi," she says as soon as she's close enough.

Anna... From Frozen. We meet again. My eyes narrow, just a tad.

"What," Kim pauses, pointing at the newcomer, "is that?"

"Babe..." It's supposed to be a scold, but AJ's mouth twitches as he pulls his girlfriend closer.

"I'm just asking," she says casually but knowing her she's probably yanking on Anna-From-Frozen's hair in her head.

"Uh-" she clears her throat, "I'm Anna."

Kimberly makes a 'what the heck' face. "From Frozen?" This might be where my thoughts come from.

Arthur bites down on his bottom lip. Out of nowhere, his arm snakes around my waist and he maneuvers me in front of him so smoothly that I can't do anything but stand there, frozen. I feel him bury his face in my hair, but I feel him laughing and that explains what's happening. As the second pass, I start to relax.

Anna From- I mean Anna's jaw clenches as she watches us. She crosses her arms over her chest. "No, just Anna."

Kimberly leans back, placing a hand on her chest. "Well, Just Anna, if you don't pop, lock, and drop that mothafuckin attitu-"

"Hi. I'm Maya!" Maya cuts Kim off from going into Hulk mode. Anna gives her an easy smile, which Maya returns. Curse her for always being so nice.

"I'm Grace." I hear myself say against my better judgment. Why?! Why do you have to be so nice!? Where did you even get it from! I'm sure it's not from your parents.

Her gaze falls on me and she looks me up and down, not so subtly. I don't really care since I'm used to people checking me out.

"Aren't those a little tight on you?" She points at my jeans.

"This bitch did not..." Kim is getting up from where she's sitting, only to be pulled back onto her boyfriend's lap. AJ keeps his arms around her middle as she struggles to free herself.

I smile at her in all kindness, keeping my eyes on hers as I reply. "Exactly how he likes it." As if to emphasize my words, Arthur reaches his arms around me, resting one hand flat on my stomach and the other on my upper thigh. Around us, there are several suggestive sounds. "It was nice meeting you. "Why don't you get to class? Don't wanna be late on your first day." I blink innocently at her.

She's the definition of mean girl. The way her lips curl in distaste and her eyes go flat before she cuts her gaze away from us and walks away.

"You know I love it when you get all sassy. Why aren't you always like that?" Kim whines.

I stick my nose up and straighten my back. "Because it's not nice and I'm a princess. I handle everything with grace." A grin slips onto my face. "See what I did there?" They all seem to find that hilarious.

**~**

I sit in the overcrowded kitchen with a bottle of water in hand, watching kids dance and fornicating on the walls and couches. They were drinking like there's no tomorrow.

I'm at a party on a Friday night. Kim talked me into coming and I had a why not moment, since I had nothing to do. I was bored out of my mind and my parents went out on a date tonight. So after texting them that I was going out and got a reply saying I should be home by one a.m. (which is code for, leave that house by midnight and find yourself home before one) I was in the streets with my people.

Sitting on a bar stool, I'm surrounded by my friends and acquaintances and am actually enjoying it. As long as I'm around people I know, it doesn't matter where I am or what I'm doing, I'll have fun.

"Hey, I'm going to the bathroom," I tell Kim.

She nods. "Want me to come with?"

I shake my head. I don't want her feeling obligated to me. "Nah, I'm good."

I slide off of the bar stool, subtly slipping away from my group and making my way toward the stairs. The music isn't loud to the point where I feel like I'll lose hearing but it isn't low either. People are actually acting civilized, except for the drunk ones who can't control themselves.

I make my way through the body of people, receiving my usual greetings, only this time, from the tipsy, drunk, and or high. Holding the waistband of my pants, I take the stairs slowly. Since I've been to parties in this house multiple times before, it isn't hard for me to find the bathroom. I take a couple minutes in there, doing my stuff and checking myself out, before leaving.

I'm making my way back downstairs, ignoring the awkward noises coming from behind the doors on either side of me, and bobbing my head to the music. It happens out of nowhere.

All I know is I'm being dragged backward with a hand over my mouth. I struggle to find my footing, flailing from the suddenness of it. I finally steady myself when I'm released into a brightly lit room. The door slams shut and a click echoes. I spin on my heels abruptly, pretty sure my eyes looks as crazed as I feel as I face the psycho.

"Tim, what the heck!" I shout at him. "You think this is funny?" He glares and I think I should be worried.

"My name is Tevin, you bitch!" He hisses at me. My jaw drops and I lean back, flabbergasted. How can he be so rude! "Shut the fuck up and get on the bed." He growls. All this hostile animalistic behavior is probably getting to his head.

I double-double take, blinking rapidly. "Yeah, no. Something must be wrong at home." And I'm not the one to ask him about it so... I check the time on my watch. "I gotta get going. So excuse me..." I trail off, stepping around him.

I don't get very far, because the next second I'm being yanked back. By. My. Hair.

"Didn't you hear what I said, bitch?" His voice was low and slimy, something straight out of the sewer. A second later, there's a sharp slap to my face, making me stumble back, almost falling. It's half from the shock as it is the force. "I told you to get on the fucking bed. This how you like getting treated isn't it?"

He just hit me.

Never in my entire life have I been hit. Not outside of a whooping in my earlier years from the parents. And they never hit me in my face let alone left a bruise there. I can count on one hand how many times my daddy has ever spanked me once on the behind and told me to get out of his face. Another man has never put their hands on me. I won't allow it.

I got up from the floor, my body shaking, and tears welling in my eyes as I scan the room. This can't be real. My body is shaking, I'm so angry. I make my way over to the dresser at the side of the room, ignoring the need to look at my reflection in the mirror. I reach for the pretty vase with its pretty flowers, taking them out to rest on the small wooden table.

"Are you deaf? You think I'm lifting your fat ass up there, huh?" Tim retorts, his voice getting closer to me. "I said," he grips my arm tightly, "Get-"

I turn swiftly, throwing the water out of the vase in his face, then hit him upside his head with it. I watch as he flops to the floor in a pile of broken glass, groaning and holding on to his head. I stoop down, hardly able to stop my trembling. I grip him by his collar, pulling him up roughly. "You must be out of your damn mind." I hiss before bringing my fist up, punching him square in the jaw. He falls limply, his head rolling to the side and probably getting a few cuts in the processs. Disgusted, I barely spare him a glance before stepping over his body and making my way to the door.

Tears roll down my cheeks as I yank it open and speed-walk into the hallway. Freakish, foolish, entitled, rock-headed boys-

I collide with someone. Gasping, my hand immediately shoots up to hold my cheek at the sting that comes with the sudden jolt. I wince as the throbbing gets more intense. My face feels like it's going numb at this point.

"Grace?"

The worried look on John's face is all I need for the waterworks to start. I break down, sobbing uncontrollably. He immediately wraps his arms around me, accepting his fate. Funny enough, he's always been good with that when it mattered. He easily runs his hand up and down my back, saying words I can't hear but I'm sure are supposed to be soothing.

"Hey, hey..." He pulls back and takes my face in his hands. I flinch when he puts too much pressure on my (no doubt already) bruised cheek. Frowning, he leans in close, staring at my face intently, then takes my chin in his hand, turning my face slightly toward the light. His jaw clenches. "Who the fuck did this?" he demands.

His eyes immediately go to the open door I came out of. He lets me go, barging into the room only to stop short after seeing the body on the floor. I hear his loud sigh but don't turn around, mind still reeling. He's back in front of me in no time to wrap his arms around me again.

"Good job," he praises lowly, and if I wasn't so shaken up I probably would've laughed.

I let myself fall into his comfort even though I probably shouldn't. I just need a friend right now.