Chapter 1

1

Grace

"Grace?"

My legs quiver in protest as I balance myself in a kneel between the garage and the garbage dumpsters. The smoke from marijuana that rolls out the open windows of the house hangs in the humid night air like a heavy cloud.

"Grace, are you hiding from me?"

Please don't let him find me.

I remember when I was five years old and I used to pretend if I closed my eyes tightly enough, my brother wouldn't discover me during our many games of hide and seek.

I move my head cautiously from around the side of the dumpster— just enough to catch a quick glimpse of him on the patio. He has a drink in each hand. I jerk my head back so I don't give away my hiding spot. I close my eyes as tightly as I can and hope upon hope that he won't find me back here.

I hold my breath and listen to the sounds of my own heartbeat pound in my head.

Please don't come over here. Please.

The screen door slams. "Cop cars out front," a female voice exclaims. "Make a run for it." I crane my neck to listen.

Heavy footfalls scurry out to the patio and a squeaking gate makes itself known as partygoers flee the area.

I release the breath I've been holding. My muscles are weak, and my legs shake. I'm not sure how much longer I can hold this stance. Not only that, but the pungent odor of rotten trash permeates my nose.

I just need to stay here until the police leave and I can get back to the dorm.

A bright light shines under the dumpster. "I'll check back here."

Shit.

I close my eyes as tightly as I can.

If I close my eyes, he can't see me.

The light from the cop's bright flashlight illuminates my hiding place. "Come out from behind the dumpster."

Maybe there's more than one dumpster. Maybe there's more than one evader. It's possible.

"I see you back there. Red shoes. Come out."

A quick peek confirms my footwear selection.

Dammit.

As I clutch my purse, I step out from behind the dumpster to two police officers. I squint as the bright light from the cop's flashlight practically blinds me.

Oh my gosh. I'm so going to jail.

"Step over here to the car, miss. Do you have any ID on you?"

I swallow hard. "In my purse," I squeak. I start to reach inside my oversized handbag, but the officer stops me.

"Whoa there. Let's set the purse on the hood of my car here."

"Am I under arrest?'

"No, we just want to talk to you." The officer pulls a small pad of paper from his pocket. "What's your name?"

"Grace O'Leary."

"Date of birth?"

I give him my birthdate and he walks away and enters a nearby cruiser. The second officer continues with the questions.

More cruisers pull up on the street as officers hurry to the front door of the house.

At least the officer puts the flashlight down so I can see his face. Looks to be about forty, clean-shaven and his nametag reads Bauer. He looks like a decent guy.

"What're you doing here tonight?" Bauer asks.

I lick my lips. "A few girls from my economics class told me about a party tonight. I don't know them that well, but they're nice girls."

I shouldn't have come here tonight with the answer from the lucky eight ball. ‘Cannot predict now' is not a sign of a good evening.

I point to the house. "I was here, but this party was definitely not for me. First of all, those girls weren't here, and this party had people who looked a lot older than college."

Officer Bauer taps a pen to his mouth.

Is he trying to hide his grin?

"Some guy was trying to get me to drink something, but my brother always said, ‘never drink anything unless you actually see it being made.'"

The other officer joins us. "No record."

"Do you mind if we take a look in your bag?"

I shrug. "No."

Officer Bauer dumps the contents of my purse onto the hood of his cruiser. He opens my wallet, removes my ID, and hands it to the second officer. Officer number two shines the flashlight on my driver's license and looks at me.

"What's your address?"

"I live in the girl's dorm on campus… Hamilton, but my license has my address from back home in Livingston." I rub my hands on my jean shorts. "My address is 1632 Greenville Way."

Both officers begin to sort through my belongings.

Bauer picks up a pink zippered bag. "Oh, what do we have here?"

He unzips the bag and pulls out the items one at a time— two tubes of lipstick, a wand of mascara, eye shadow, and a stick of gum.

Gum? Ewww. . . how long has that been in there?

He holds up a clear plastic sandwich bag and shines the flashlight on it. "What's in here?"

"Fortunes."

"Fortunes?"

"Yeah, you know, like from fortune cookies?" I yawn. "Every time I go to Mr. King's on Main Street for an egg roll, I always save the fortune from my cookie. I've heard they bring good luck."

Officer Bauer holds up my yellow rubber duck and raises his eyebrows.

"For luck." I hug myself. "His name is Lucky."

"Lucky?"

"He helps calm me with tests. You know, like lucky ducky."

"Lucky ducky." He chuckles. He turns to the other officer. "Hear that, Gomez? The duck is lucky."

Gomez smirks. "And this?"

"A garden gnome," I reply. "Garden gnomes are known to watch over the house and keep the occupants safe. Since I don't have a house, I just keep him in my purse."

Gomez chuckles. "A lucky duck and a lucky gnome."

Bauer purses his lips. "What's in here?" He holds up a second cosmetic case with pink flowers.

I bite my bottom lip. "I'd prefer you not open that one."

The officers glance at one another. Bauer slides the zipper open and dumps the contents onto the hood of his cruiser. Three tampons and a sanitary pad tumble out.

"Tampons," I say softly.

Gomez shakes his head and gathers the items. He puts everything back into my bag. "You go straight back to your dorm, you understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"We don't want to see you at this house again, got it?"

"I understand."

"By the way, what address did those classmates of yours give you for the party tonight?"

I reach into the pocket of my shorts and unfold the paper. "1600 College Row."

Officer Gomez points behind him. "You missed your target by two blocks."

"Be more careful in the future, okay?" Officer Bauer hands me my purse.

I nod. "I will."

"Be safe, young lady."

They join the other officers gathered in the yard.

I walk as fast as I can and head toward my dorm.

It's late and every step to my dorm is excruciating— like my body is weighed down with concrete blocks. I want nothing more than to slide into my bed and sleep until noon tomorrow. Thank goodness tomorrow is Saturday. No classes.

Hopefully, my crazy roommate Devyn isn't up to her usual weekend shenanigans.

Ugh.

Every Friday, her boyfriend drives two hours to spend the weekend with her. They sleep in a bed a mere fifteen feet from my bed and go at it most of the night. Most weekends I end up sleeping on a hard sofa in the dorm's commons area.

My mouth is like cotton when I finally reach my building. I press my hand to my chest when I'm finally in front of my dorm room. I tap on the door.

"Come in," Devyn says.

I gingerly open the door and slip in. Devyn and her boyfriend are in her bed under the covers with a small table lamp illuminating the area.

"Hey, Grace. Would you mind sleeping out there tonight so Paul and I can be alone?"

My pulse speeds up as I grit my teeth. "Really, Devyn? Really ?"

"What?" Devyn feigns innocence.

I cross my arms over my chest and let out a breath. "You know what? I'm outta here."

I grab an overnight bag from my closet, throw in enough clothes for the weekend and leave Devyn and Paul in my dorm. I slam the door on my way out.

I'll walk to Miles' house. He always has my back.

On my way to my brother's house, I dial Lucy's number and cross my fingers she'll answer.

Lucy and I have been friends since middle school. Besides being my best friend, she's the person you aspire to be. She's not only nice to everyone, but she always manages to find the good— not only in people, but in situations. She's the glass half full kind of girl. We got to know each other in seventh grade biology, and we were permanently attached at the hip thereafter.

Lucy answers on the third ring.

"Hey Grace." I can hear the smile in her voice.

"What's up?"

"Just writing a paper. What about you?"

"Well, it's been quite the evening."

Lucy laughs and it warms my soul. I miss my bestie.

"Oh yeah? What happened?"

I give Lucy the details of my evening in the crack house, my run-in with the cops, Devyn, and the walk to my brother's house.

"Oh no, Grace!" Lucy chuckles. "Leave it to you to find such shenanigans."

"Shenanigans seems to find me ."

"That is true. Hey, how are things there?"

I shrug. "Okay, I guess. It's been a challenge to get to a few of my classes on time. How are things at Bishop?"

"Okay, but I miss you… I wish you were here."

I sigh. "Me too."

We're quiet for a moment.

"I miss your face," I say as I check for cars and cross the street.

"Same."

"I better let you get back to your paper."

"Okay. Talk soon."

We end the call.

I wanted nothing more than to go to Bishop College with my best friend, but as usual, my mom and my brother practically made my decision for me. All I can do now is try to make the best of Tennessee U.