by Jillian Dodd
“I don’t know. I think maybe he’s drunk.”
“He probably is!” I laugh. “What did he say?”
“He just said cat fight and MEOW. You don’t think Gracie got in a fight, do you? Should we go back?”
A few minutes later, there’s a knock on our hotel room door.
Dallas quickly puts out the joint, while I wave my hands to dissipate the smoke.
“It’s Braxton,” he says, looking through the window. We go inside to see what’s going on.
Braxton is coming through the door with Gracie and Baylor in tow. Gracie’s holding a towel to her cheek.
“What happened!?” Keatyn shrills.
Braxton sniffs the air. “I see you’ve all been having fun while I was babysitting the kids.”
“You weren’t babysitting me,” Gracie says, then she looks directly at Keatyn. “Was he?”
“Do you really think if I thought you needed babysitting I’d leave you with Braxton?”
“Hey!” he says.
Keatyn just grins at him.
“I’m really sorry, baby,” Baylor says to Gracie, causing me to immediately hate him. Because baby?
Dallas must not like it either because he grabs the little piss ant Hawthorne boy by the neck.
“I think we should have a chat,” he says, pulling him out on the deck and telling him to sit.
I follow.
Towering above him, Dallas says, “What the fuck is your deal, son?”
His voice is so authoritative I almost tell him what my deal is.
“I don’t have a deal, sir,” Baylor replies. “I’m sorry Krissy hit Gracie. She was mad at me.”
“Are you fucking her?” Dallas asks him.
“Gracie? What?! No!”
“He means the cheerleader,” I say.
“Oh. Uh, Kinda.”
“Kinda?” Dallas asks, still using his intimidating voice and reminding me of the teachers I had at military school. “Either you are or you aren’t. Or else you just ain’t very good at it. Which is it, boy?”
“Yes, I’ve slept with her. She’s a junior. Pretty. I mean . . .”
“Does Gracie know this?”
He lowers his head and shakes it.
“Why did you ask Gracie to Homecoming? Or was that just bullshit talk that you got caught on?”
He looks up, surprise on his face. “No, sir. I was serious when I asked her. She’s amazing. And she gets me. Gets the pressure of having a last name everyone knows.”
“I see,” Dallas says. “Very well, then. Why don’t you get back inside.”
The second he’s gone through the door, Dallas lies across the couch and giggles. “It’s hard being a hard ass when you’re high.”
“You did good. Reminded me of military school.”
“Do you think he’s telling the truth or do you think he knew we were high and could lie to us?”
I pull the door open and holler for my brother. “Braxton, get out here.”
Keatyn follows him onto the deck, waving her hand in front of her face to make sure the smoke is gone.
“Tell us what really happened,” Dallas says, sitting back up on the couch.
“Well, Gracie and Baylor—cool kid, by the way—were sitting by the fire. Chilling. Snuggling. Then Gracie went to get a beer—”
“Did you stop her?” Keatyn asks. “She’s fourteen!”
Braxton slings his arm around her. “Keatyn, baby, if she’s going to Eastbrooke, she’s gonna have a beer occasionally. You did.”
“I know, but . . .”
“Anyway,” Braxton continues. “That’s when the girl walked up and said something bitchy to her and Gracie said something back and the girl punched her.”
“What did she say?”
“That she’d been sleeping with Baylor.”
“Oh,” Keatyn says, holding her stomach. “I should be easier on her. I know how that hurts.”
“Gracie’s a good kid, Keatyn. And she didn’t take her shit. She told her that she didn’t have to sleep with him to get a date. That’s when she got pissed and hit her. But, it was Braxton to the rescue! I grabbed Gracie and pulled her away. And now we are here.”
“What did Baylor do?”
“He was mortified. Which should say something about his character, because I would have been fucking thrilled if two chicks were fighting over me.”
“I just don’t want her to lose herself in a boy,” Keatyn says.
Something inside me clicks.
“Did I do that?” I ask them. “With Ariela?”
“Um, well, uh . . .” Keatyn stammers. “You two were attached at the hip.”
“More like the dick,” Dallas chuckles. “I used to say she had your dick on a leash.”
Keatyn swats Dallas. “Be nice.”
Dallas giggles. “Hey, just being honest.”
She turns to me. “But if we’re being honest, we did call you Rileyella as if you were one person. Other than our Sunday morning powwows, you were rarely apart.”
“Isn’t that what monogamy is all about?” I ask.
“Consumed and monogamy aren’t the same thing. But everyone thought you were the perfect couple. Everyone was so excited when you won Prom King and Queen.”
“You can’t really talk,” I say to Keatyn. “You and Aiden are the perfect couple.”
“No, we’re not. Aiden and I are happy but our relationship has always been plagued with imperfection. I think that’s part of what makes it special. We have so many personal interests that could tear us apart. The worst was after college when he and Logan played pro soccer. He was traveling more that I was.”
“I clearly remember the two of you sneaking off at parties in high school and beyond.”
“Sure, we’d sneak off, but we’d have some quick fun then come back. You and Ariela never came back.”
“Ever,” Dallas emphasizes.
“You never know what path life is going to lead you down,” Braxton says, philosophically. “But that’s the fun part. Enjoying the ride, right?”
“Maybe you and Ariela needed this time apart, Riley,” Keatyn adds. “Maybe you needed to grow stronger as individuals. Maybe if she would have come to California, you wouldn’t be as successful as you are now.”
“You might be right about that,” I say thoughtfully. “Although, I think I was more wrapped up in my dream for us than I was in our reality. You know how fans want Aiden’s point of view? His side of the story? That’s what I wish I had. I wish I could read her journal from back then, so I could understand what I missed. Understand what she was going through. Was I so wrapped up in my dream that I ignored hers? I’ve rehashed it over and over in my head, wondered what I should have done differently.”
“Riley, the problem with you and Ariela is your story is left untold. You need to know the ending.”
“Do you agree with Keatyn’s assessment?’ I ask Dallas.
“I think the better question is can you handle the ending? Whatever it is.”
“I’m not sure, but I do know one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“That I don’t know what I’d do without the two of you in my life. Those nights at Stocktons. Our epic parties. The stupid shit we did. It’s amazing to me how those nights formed the basis for our long friendship.”
Keatyn leans over and hugs me while Dallas says, “I’ll drink to that. In fact, I think we should.”
He goes inside then comes back out with four glasses on a tray. “Scotch for the men, sparkling water for the lady.”
“Wait,” Braxton says, “Why is Keatyn drinking water?”
Keatyn just smiles at him as we clink our glasses together and say, “To lifelong friendships.”
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11TH
Hotel Suite - Connecticut
GRACIE
I’m lying in bed, listening to Keatyn talk to Aiden, pretending I’m still asleep. When she hangs up, I roll over and snuggle into her shoulder. “I don’t have a dres
s to wear for the dance.”
“You didn’t bring a dress?”
“I did, but it’s a long gown. Baylor was talking about gowns and I thought that’s what they wore, but that was just for Homecoming Court last night. The girls are wearing short dresses for the dance. Really, it’s just like it was in the movie. Short dress for the dance, then club clothes for the after party.”
“You should’ve asked me, Gracie, I would have told you.”
“I decided at the last minute to come.”
“Why?”
I let out a long sigh in lieu of an answer. Because the answer is so complicated.
“Let me guess,” she says. “It has to do with Brady.”
I roll my eyes at the sound of his name. “Sort of.”
“Why don’t you tell me what happened. Maybe I can help.”
“No,” I say, shaking my head. “It’s embarrassing.”
“Gracie, you know you can tell me anything. I won’t freak out like Mom will.”
“That’s for sure. Mom caught Brady and I making out and about had a fit. You’d think it’d be Dad, but Mom’s gotten all uptight lately.”
“Sounds like Ivery is having some trouble, huh?”
“Yeah, she’s being stupid. Some of the girls she models with told her if she wanted to make it big, she needs to be skinnier. Told her cocaine and coffee was the way to do it. That’s why she had the cocaine. She’s not doing it. She thinks it’s stupid. But instead of talking to her, Mom freaked out and assumed she is.”
“A lot of times people lie about doing drugs, Gracie. Cocaine is very dangerous and very addictive. I can see why Mom would freak. And if she wasn’t going to use it ever, why didn’t she throw it away?”
“She says she forgot. Hmm, okay, I see what you’re saying, because now you’re making me wonder. But I believe her, just for the record. Mom threw it away, sat us all down, and threatened to bring in a drug dog. Surely, she knows how easy drugs are to get.”
Keatyn closes her eyes tightly.
“I’m never doing them either. We were taught about healthy lifestyles. I’m vegan, most of the time. You think I want to screw up my body with drugs when I won’t even eat a freaking hamburger?”
Keatyn laughs. “Probably not. So back to Brady, did he cheat on you?”
“He couldn’t cheat on me because technically we weren’t going out.”
“You were together all the time.”
“People call that being friends.”
“So you are friends who kiss?”
“Kissed,” I state emphatically. “I will never, ever kiss him again.” I sit up and cross my legs into a pretzel. “If I tell you, do you swear that you won’t tell anyone? Especially not the triplets. They give me enough shit about him as it is.”
“What do they give you shit about?”
“Maybe not shit, just unwanted advice. Avery feels I’m too young to be tied down to one boy. Ivery told me that if I didn’t sleep with him, he’d sleep with someone else. And Emery said I should make it exclusive.”
“I’m confused about that, because I thought you were exclusive.”
“For the last two years, we’ve been best friends. That’s all. But in the last few months, we started holding hands and kissing and stuff. Then he told me he loved me and that he wanted us to do more. That we should be each other’s firsts. And I love him, I mean loved him, but I just . . .” I can’t stop the tears even though I vowed not to cry one more stupid tear over him.
Keatyn takes my hand and pats it. “Did you do it with him?”
“No, I didn’t. I told him I wasn’t ready.”
“Is that what the fight was about?”
“No, he told me he’d wait until I was ready.” Tears keep rolling down my face, which pisses me off. I quickly brush them away. “But he didn’t.”
Keatyn’s eyes get big. “Did he force you?”
“What?! Oh, gosh no. He wouldn’t.” I cover my face with my hands. “He did it with someone else. Guess who? Kylie.”
“But she’s your best friend!”
“Was my best friend.”
“Oh, Gracie,” she says, wrapping me in a hug. “I’m so sorry. When did all this happen? You were together at the movie premiere.”
“After the premiere, I visited Eastbrooke. Brady was being a baby about it. Said he didn’t understand why I couldn’t just go to school with him and Kylie and the rest of our friends. Then when I got home, he complained that I barely texted him while I was here. I explained that I was busy and trying to see what life here would be like. Then he started kissing me, telling me he loved me, that he didn’t want me to leave him, and made me feel guilty for even considering it. Then he told me it was time. That he didn’t want to wait anymore. That if I really loved him, I would do it with him. That he needed to know I loved him.” I stop and take another deep breath. “I was going to, but he wasn’t acting like himself. He was being forceful and it just felt . . . wrong. When I yelled at him and told him to stop, he about started crying. That’s when he told me that he slept with Kylie while I was gone. I told him never to speak to me again.”
“Have you?”
“Nope.”
“And?”
“He keeps texting me, begging me to reply. To come surf with him. Says he misses me. That I’m his best friend. That he’s so sorry. That she doesn’t mean anything to him. But he’s a liar. He’s still hanging out with her. She posted pictures of them together on her Instagram. So, needless to say, even though I don’t give a shit what he does, I’ve been posting a few photos of my own.” I grab my phone and show her a few of my favorites. “Here’s me with the Summer Boys, backstage at one of their concerts. I like this one especially. Jared looks like he’s totally into me.”
Keatyn scrolls through my photos then tilts her head. “There’s not one photo of you and Baylor.”
“There are some on his phone. He made me take a selfie with him before I left.” I blush. “He kissed me on the cheek.”
“Why on the cheek?”
“Because I told him I had a boyfriend at home.”
“When you met Baylor here, were you interested in him?”
“I see where you’re going with this and you’re right. The fact that I had fun with Baylor is also part of why I didn’t sleep with Brady. There’s just something about Baylor. Like when we met. It was weird.”
“Weird how?”
“When I first got here, they set me up with Tiffany, a senior prefect. She was really cool and didn’t let my being famous get in the way of things. Or maybe they told her not to. I’m not sure, but I felt as close to a normal kid as I ever have. Anyway, I sat with her at lunch.” I smirk at her. “And yes, she sits at your table. Imagine how honored I was.”
“Stop teasing me,” she says, laughing.
“Anyway, this boy sits down across from me. Not at the same table, but at the one next to us and since no one is sitting across the table from either one of us, our eyes meet. God, that sounds corny. Our eyes met from across the room. But they did. And I mean, I couldn’t help but notice how cute he was. Dark brown hair, bright blue eyes, and when he smiled at me, it wasn’t like when most people smile at me. Like they recognize me, their eyes get big, and then they smile. He just smiled at me. He wasn’t smiling at Gracelyn Stevens, the actress. He was smiling at Gracie, the girl. I sound ridiculous, don’t I?”
“No, Gracie, you don’t. You know what you felt and you should trust your judgement. Just like you knew it wasn’t right for you to sleep with Brady. So, how did you start talking to him?”
“After lunch, I had to shadow a sophomore guy named Trent, so I could see what my classes would be like. He sits behind Baylor in math. Trent sat at his desk and wasn’t sure where to have me sit because all the desks were full, so I was awkwardly standing there. Baylor stood and offered me his seat. Sounds stupid but it was sort of chivalrous. I was grateful to sit, but was also sad because it meant I wouldn’t get to sit by him. But then I hear
d this horrible screeching noise and when I turned around, Baylor was dragging a chair toward me. We shared his desk and instead of taking notes, he was drawing funny little pictures that made me laugh. When class was almost over, he made this little cartoon of a floppy-eared dog holding up a sign asking for my number. We texted most of the day, and he invited me to hang out with him and his friends that night. When we walked toward the gym, he took my hand in his. I remember the first time Brady held my hand. It was awkward. Like he wasn’t sure if he should. Baylor took my hand in his without question. It was sort of possessive. Which was kinda hot. But at the same time it felt . . . different. Like special different.”
I look up at Keatyn, who is biting her lip, trying not to smile.
“Fine,” I say. “To quote The Keatyn Chronicles movie, My hand felt like it belonged in his forever.”
“Oh, Gracie!”
I roll my eyes at her and grin. “Don’t get all excited. I used to think I would marry Brady. Clearly, I don’t know what the hell I want. Except for a dress.”
“We need to go shopping. Let’s see. If we skipped the tea, left for New York now,” she says, looking up at the sky doing the math in her head. “Hmm. There’s no way we could get there, find a dress, get back, and get you ready. I have a better idea.” She picks her phone up off the bed. “I’m calling Kym.”
“Oh, gosh, don’t do that!” I tell her. Kym is one of my mom’s best friends, as well as her and Keatyn’s long-time stylist.
“Why not?”
“Because she’ll tell Mom everything.”
“What’s there to tell? You’re going to a dance.”
“Yeah, I guess. Fine. I’m desperate.”
“I’ll put her on speaker.”
We hear Kym answer with, “Keatyn, darling, how are you?”
“That depends on how you’re doing finding me a wedding dress on such short notice.”
“I’ll have at least a dozen for you to try next week and a seamstress on site to make any alterations necessary. Are we still meeting at the vineyard on Friday afternoon?” Kym replies.
“Yes, providing all goes well on set this week. So, Kym, what are you doing today?” Keatyn asks casually.
