Without You

He attempted not to smile. He turned to me, pointed, and looked back at Grace. “Well, your…friend?”

I nodded and smiled.

“Your friend here said Grace, so I just assumed it was your name.”

Grace quickly responded, “Yep, it is, and yes, I’m totally fine. It was my fault. I was rushing, and I didn’t see you coming out of the door.”

“So, it’s kind of both our faults then really.”

Grace giggled.

Oh. My. God. Grace giggled.

“I guess so. Uh…well, we have to…we need to get going,” she stammered.

He looked at me, and I reached my hand out.

“Alex Mathews. Thanks for knocking her down and helping her up.”

Grace glared at me.

Oh hell…I just made myself sound stupid.

“Hi, Alex. Noah Ewing.”

He turned and stuck his hand out toward Grace.

“Grace Johnson. Again, I’m really sorry,” she said.

The way Noah smiled at Grace caused her to blush, and Grace didn’t normally blush.

“Right…well, it was nice meeting you, Noah.” Grace began walking off.

I stood there and watched Noah staring at her.

“Bye, Noah,” I said before following after Grace.

“Um…bye, Alex. See ya around, Grace.”

Grace threw up her hand and waved it quickly. She didn’t stop walking until we finally reached my car. I walked around to the driver’s side and unlocked the door.

When we got inside, she turned her whole body toward me as she glared at me. “We drove all this way, and you’re just leaving?”

My heart dropped to my stomach. For a few brief minutes, I had forgotten what I had just seen. “He was with another girl. Did you not see them together, Grace?”

“I saw him talking to a girl. I saw the girl hug him and quickly peck him on the lips. That’s all I saw.”

I shook my head and laughed. “I saw him reach for her face, and then he talked to her like they were in a deep conversation. Then, she hugged him and kissed him. Doesn’t matter if the kiss was quick or not. She kissed him on the lips, and they hugged. He’s moved on.”

Grace turned and stared out the front window. “If my memory is right, I remember Will walking up on something that wasn’t what it seemed.”

I glanced at Grace before I turned on the car and pulled out onto the street. “It doesn’t matter. He hasn’t returned a single text or call. Clearly, he wants nothing to do with me right now. Maybe it’s for the best. Maybe we both just need time to think.”

Grace let out a gruff laugh. “Okay, sure. You without Will though…is going to be pure hell for both of us.”

Grace put her headphones on, and she didn’t utter a word to me the whole drive back to Austin. I glanced down at my phone and tried to decide if I should send Will one more text.

Two hours later, I sat on my bed, staring at my phone. I jumped when it pinged.

Daddy: How are you, darling?

Me: Good.

Daddy: Have you talked to Will yet?

Me: No. Maybe you were right. I think I need to spend some time learning who I am.

Daddy: Alex, you need to listen to your heart, not my words.

Me: I know. It’s just…I went to A&M, Daddy. Will was with a girl.

Daddy: Situations like that can be deceiving, Alexandra. You should know this better than anyone.

Me: I know. Grace said the same thing. I just need some time to think.

Daddy: I love you, baby girl. Call us this week, okay?

Me: I will. I love you, too, Daddy. Bye.

I decided to change and go for a run. I slipped on my sneakers and turned on my music. I was feeling so homesick after going home for Thanksgiving and not having Will to talk to. Plus, Grace was clearly pissed off at me for leaving and not talking to Will. I felt like I was totally alone. I pulled up a picture of Banjo and made it my screensaver.

Maybe a good run in the cold air will help clear my head.

I sat on the window seat and stared out the window while Grace went on and on about going home for Christmas.

Every now and then, I’d throw in an, “Oh, I know,” or, “I’m so excited, too,” and, “I can’t wait to see everyone.”

Grace put her hand on my shoulder. “Have you talked to Libby?”

I nodded my head and felt the tears burning in my eyes. “She said Will won’t let her even mention my name. If she tries to talk about me, he just gets up and leaves.”

Grace let out a sigh. “Yeah, Luke said the same thing. He also told me that he didn’t think Will was dating anyone, Alex. He said he goes to class, comes back to the room, and pretty much just studies and runs. I told Luke you’ve taken up running, too.”