FicWad

"Once in a while you laugh harder than you've ever before."

I sat alone, secluded in a part of the park. A family of 4 passed by, I stared past them. Grace slowly approached me, she seemed to be holding something back. My eyes traveled up to hers and I saw regret and confusion behind her beautiful orbs.

"Hi," She said with a small smile.

"Hey," I shifted in my seat, she sat next to me, "I know what you must be thinking, but then again, I don't..." I trailed off, I rubbed my face, "I guess what I'm trying to say is... when I met you again in the hospital I felt better for once."

She looked at me, she seemed so awkward. Her confusion rose from the depth of her and she didn't know what to take of me.

"You make me feel, b-b," I was more than a whisper to her, "better."

"I," she stopped, "I don't know what to say, Spencer, I don't know if I can help you with this cloud of darkness... I'm no cure for a rainy day."

I felt my expression droop slightly, I didn't want her to feel like my shrink...just a friend. I recrossed my legs, a couple walked by and looked at us then went back to there world.

"But," she refrained, "I'll be a good friend to you, that's the only thing I know to do."

I smiled, this is what I needed from her. My hand slowly moved closer to her, but I didn't touch her, I didn't dare. Grace was like a gem to me, a beautiful crystal that many men died to try and possess. I would fall victom to that if I surely let it happen.

To fall in love again was something I couldn't fathom, not after Hayley and surely not after what had happened between us... the way I neglected her. So many voices singing the same tune, I knew it wasn't my fault, or did I. Everyday I had to challenge those thoughts, to get back on tract.

"What are you thinking stranger," Grace spoke softly.

I shook my head. My knew habit was to drift off into thought, not that I hadn't before... it was just so more intense, my mind and my body were so separated yet together at the same point in time.

"It's nothing," I lied.

Grace shifted back into the bench and sat closer to me because of her movement. Our shoulders pressed tightly together. We watched the light as static as it was midday, it danced for us, playing off our skin and the ground. Caught by the trees it became even warmer in the shade, Grace slowly turned her head to look at me, I looked back.

"Happy birthday," she smiled and handed me a small card.

"Thank you, you didn't have to really," I opened the small card, I read the inscription allowed, "In case your wondering how I know you're birth date, I was in your class. Here's to not getting younger," I had to laugh, I looked up from the card, "Don't worry, haha, I remember yours you know."

"Oh," she said with wit.

"October 9th," I smiled, she nodded and I tucked the card in my pocket.

We sat in silence again, I felt happy, I looked out around the park again, it was so peaceful.

"Listen," Grace mummbled, "My friend, his band has a gig tonight, I thought I could bring you to get you out of the house, something small. But then I realized if I asked you it would look like I'd want you to help promote and I--."

"I'd love to go," I interuppted, "I don't think people will recognize me... not like they recognized Brendon...," I trailed off hitting my own nerve.

I felt my chest grow in weight, and uncomfortable feeling that I felt I had to breath deeply to sooth myself. Grace placed her hand on mine and clutched it tightly, I looked down at our hands, I admired this.

"So," I said quickly, trying to hide my true emotions, "When are you picking me up?"