I am free

“Hey Jackson.” Grace said to me in a quiet voice. It was just loud enough that only Holly and me could hear it. I couldn’t look up. I didn’t have the fucking balls to look up. Everyone was laughing at her. I gave her a quick head nod but didn’t bring my eyes anywhere near her face.

I felt Holly lean into me closer when Grace said my name. She was obviously staking claim to me as if she had to worry about Grace. I knew that there was an attraction between Grace and me, but I wasn’t about to commit social suicide, at least not in front of anyone.

“Don’t be jealous Holly. It doesn’t suit you.” Ke

“Why the hell would I be jealous? I mean look at her.” Holly spouted as she pointed in Grace’s direction. Her voice rang loudly over the room, and caused u

“Maybe because she doesn’t have to get her blonde hair from a bottle, or maybe it’s because she’s not even wearing makeup and she’s prettier than you’ll ever be.”

I felt Holly’s body tense against mine. She squeezed my thigh hard like she wanted me to step in and say something.

Oh hell no.

She got herself into that mess, and I wasn’t about to start a fight with my sister.

“Grace,” Ke

There was still a smile on her face. Even after the way Holly had spoken to her, and the way everyone else laughed at her. She was still smiling. I felt bad. I felt like the ass hole that Ke

But I didn’t feel bad enough to chase after her and apologize.

Holly turned around to me and gave me the meanest look. I just shrugged my shoulders, and didn’t say another word. I tipped up my glass, and finished off the entire thing.

I left Holly at the table sulking while I walked off to the bathroom. I’d already finished two glasses of whiskey and some nasty shot of something. I was unsteady on my feet. When I made it to the edge of the dance floor I found myself drawn to the blonde by the bar. Looking harder I realized it was Grace. She and Ke

I let out a loud groan and ran my fingers through my hair as I stomped off to the bathroom. There were too many emotions ru

I splashed some cool water on my face from the sink in the bathroom. All I wanted to do was go home. Or go home with Holly. Actually, that plan sounded a lot better.

Stepping out of the bathroom, I started walking back to the table. Well, that was what my intentions were, but I found myself walking straight towards Ke

“Problem?” One of the guys said to me. I bit down hard on my lip to keep myself together. I didn’t like these assholes. Not one, single, bit.

“There’d better not be, seeing as you’re talking to my girls.” I spat out.

Ke

“You know this guy?” The prick asked Ke

“You could say that.” She paused. “He’s my brother.”

I could see the look on the guys face turn from frigid dickhead to sincere schoolboy.

Yep. That’s right buddy. I’m the big bad brother. What are you going to do now?

“He was just leaving.” Ke

I looked over at Grace and saw pain on her face. Was it my fault? She looked kind of sad and she was fidgeting. I probably looked so stupid in front of her.

“Fine,” I yelled out and walked away. I walked away and left them there with those guys even though every part of me didn’t want to.

Grabbing Holly by the wrist, I pulled her close to me.

“Take me to your place.” I said in a low whisper.

“Lead the way.”

13

Grace

I had no idea what just happened, but it scared me a bit. We were just talking to these guys and Jackson made such a scene. He’d obviously had way too much to drink. Ke

Ke

I wanted to laugh at the thought. I wanted to just say grow up, and was glad when Ke

The guys that we’d been talking to seemed not to care. They were very nice. Ke

Well, up until Jackson came to ruin it.

“I’m so sorry about that. He’s very drunk and he gets a little overprotective.”

“It’s okay.” Adam said. He was the tall guy that clearly had his eyes on Ke

His friend Preston was really nice too. He never made jokes or laughed at me. We had real, adult conversation. We talked about his job and how he worked all the time. We also talked about my love for poetry which I never really talked much about before. He loved art and so one subject led to the next. Before I knew it we were laughing and having a great time.