The phone was blaring in my ears. I flipped around and shut my eyes tightly concentrating onmy dreamless sleep. After that nightmare, I couldn't close my eyes. Every time I closed my eyes the last thing I saw in the dream kept popping up. I didn't even knew when I fellasleep and now this damn phone was disturbing me. I groaned and picked up the phone.

"Hello", I said in a hoarse tone. "Grace get your lazy ass off the bed right now !!!! ", Eva was shrilling in the other side. Music to my ears.

"Good Morning to you too Eva.", I said sarcastically.

"What?" Confusion was evident in her voice. After a pause Eva spoke again, "Christ Grace!, We were talking about the day out till 1 yesterday night. Today, I call you to ask if you were ready only to find out , you are busy drooling in the pillow. Why can't you just pick up the goddamn phone and not make me call your mother? Why? Just tell me why? ". I was a second close to ask her to talk slowly but I knew better to break hell loose if I do. I could hear her taking deep breathes. "Okay. Here's the deadline. I am giving you exactly 30 minutes and I want you out after. Now, GET READY !!"

"Hey, I'm..". The line went dead.Shit.

Eva Marie Campbell ,a beautiful blonde, perfect structure , a pure soul and mybest friend through summer and winter.Controlling and caring are her traits. She is a member of our school cheer team , almost everyone bully me. She is my shield. She doesn't care who talks bad about being my friend and I am grateful for that. Cool Eva comes when she jabs at my bullies. She lives down my street in a mansion with her family. Did I mention she was controlling.Yeah, she is.

After brushing my teeth and bathing within a record time of 15 minutes .I put onmy favorite jeans and green sweatshirt that doesn't show much of my shape. I tied mywaist length black hair into a bun.

When I went down, I saw my dadin the dinning table reading papers ,mom in the kitchen and my sister, Violet ,in the phone. Weekends are same in our house, Dad reading papers all day for his research, Mom doing her special--that's what she says--pancakes and iced tea. Violettalking to her friends from school for catching up--what changes between Friday afternoon and Saturday Morning ,I don't know. Ever since Violet entered the middle school, the conversation between us became less. She started hanging out with her friends more and one time she told mom that she was embarrassed of me when enquired by mom. They think I don't hear anything that happens inside the house.Wrong.

"Eva called". Mom said while setting the dishes.

"I spoke with her mom". I said plainly.

Right when I took my backpack a car horned in our driveway . I rushed to the car waving my hands. The July weather in Chestertown is never disappointing. Not too humid to enjoy some water time in the lake. We have more visitors during this season as Chestertown is famous for its home made popsicle and Loon lake where water festival takes place around this time of the summer.

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When I reached the car, the two persons I least expected were in the car and Eva was standing outside sulking with her hands crossed across her chest.

"What happened? "I asked confusedly. By the looks of Eva I can clearly see that she didn't like them tagging along. Suddenly a head popped out of the passenger seat causing me a little shriek.

"Grace what are you doing out there? Get in the car , we are going to the lake"

"Jordan? What are you doing in the car and who told you were coming with us? ". I looked at Eva pouting, "You said it will be only us today. Girls day out ? Remember ?".

"I' m sorry Grace. When I parked here, Jordan asked where we were going today. When I told him that we are going to just hang out by the lake, he got in the car saying he will be coming with us". Sometimes, I forget that he lives across the street and has habit of going protective brother over me. Not that I care still sometimes he don't get the idea of private space. Well this is Jordan Owen Smith, my brother from another mother ,school soccer team player, high school senior and my personal body guard. We have know each other from birth. Dad and uncle Smith were best buddies from school days. I sighed and looked at Jordan."Jordan, it is supposed to be only us"

.

"No way in the world I am sending my sweet little Grace alone for the lake and hangout. You know that festival is going on in the town right plus I am B-O-R-E-D".

"I am almost sixteen and trust me that I can handle difficult situations and there is nothing dangerous in attending town festival. We know all the people in the town and why can't you just go practice for your sponsorship and don't even start about my little Grace thing "I whined.

"Get in the car or we are cancelling the hangout ".Jordan said firmly.

I huffed and entered the back of the car with Eva and that's when I saw that deep hazel eyes looking at me through the rearview mirror.

"Hey Grace" . He said with his thick honey voice.

Kill me now..

"Hey Elijah".

Elijah Mathews -Jordan's best buddy, quarterback, blonde, high school senior, loves gaming, the popular guy whom every girl want as her boyfriend, makes best dumplings in the world, goes to gym every Tuesday through Friday. Stalker much. Elijah was my first crush I developed when I was 14.When he started dating ,it broke me .There were countless nights, I cried myself to sleep. He was worth it. Among all the boys I've know he was the most gentle and caring one ever. Though I felt happy seeing him happy, when he shares about his love life with Jordan -- during hangout at his house where I practically live-- there was this tightness in my chest that I couldn't explain. I knew Elijah never saw me as a girl who he could date, but all I could do is HOPE. Last year Elijah broke up with his 3rd girlfriend in 3 years and he is SINGLE now.

"Is that my Double Chocolate Chunkie Brownie!!". Eva asked suddenly through gritted teeth, diverting all our attention towards her. Jordan cocked his eyebrows and smirked.There he goes. "Yes Marie. It is your brownie" said with a wink.

Oh Boy

Two things Eva hated most were, someone eating her chocolate brownie and calling her Marie. Jordan knew where to press her buttons. When I turned towards Eva, her face was red with anger. I could practically see smoke coming from her ears.

*Smack*

I knew that the day was going to be a long one.