~ ~ ~

Chapter Two: I Think You Have The Wrong Number.

Grace's P.O.V

13/02/2017

Dear Diary,

Today was surprisingly different from my other days at school. Actually, today was different from all of the events that have ever happened at Jacksonville High! Yes, there was abuse, but something different happened. After Nicole had made a scene in the morning, I was leaning against the lockers, as usual, until a boy with bright blue eyes and blonde hair approached me.

I would've never guessed that it would be the player. I mean, out of all people, the player was the one that approached me. What I also found shocking was when he had offered to help me and take me to the nurse's office. Like, when does that ever happen to a girl like me? People would kill to even just get a wave back from the player!

Some people would call me pathetic that I was a little bit happy about Luke even walking in my direction, but they don't understand me and what I'm going through.

After Luke had helped me, and took me to the nurse's office, I never saw him for the rest of the day. And I understood why. He didn't want everyone to come at him because of what he had done, just like what Nicole had done. Luke was only there to help me get to the nurse's office. That's it. He didn't want to get involved in my life and I don't blame him.

I don't know why but I hope tomorrow goes just as today had gone because today wasn't as bad as any other day of the week. I'm just praying that it won't be as terrible as every week because it's really messing me up. All I do is ask myself: Why me? I just have to cross my fingers...

- Grace Leigh Parkinson

Suddenly, I hear Mum call my name. "Grace! Dinner's ready!"

Sighing, I close my diary, placing it on the drawer next to my bed. I throw both legs off of my bed, walking out of my room and down the stairs towards the kitchen. When I enter, I see Mum currently placing the plate of food onto my placemat.

"Where's Dad?" I ask, watching as Mum sits down on the chair next to me, placing her own plate of food on the table. I notice the sad look in her eyes as she looks over at me, but she quickly masks it with a forced smile.

"Working late again." Mum says and I nod, beginning to eat the vegetables on my plate.

Ever since I was young, I always got the vibe from Mum that she loved having everyone at the dinner table. She said that it was the one time that she could get everyone together in one room, but ever since Dad got promoted, he has been working more, much more. Dad says that he tries to come home as quick as he can, but coming home at two in the morning almost every night only makes me continue to doubt his words. And what I find hard is the fact that I know Mum tries her very best to let everything slide, but I know that Dad is cheating on Mum.

Because ever since Dad got promoted, not only has he been working late, but he has also been getting phone calls in the middle of the night from his 'partner' at work. Little did he know, I knew everything from day one.

Dad was in love with another woman.

~ ~ ~

After saying goodnight to Mum, I now lay in my bed, my phone in my hands. I grab the earphones and put them into my ears, beginning to scroll through my playlist. When my eyes land on Phoebe Ryan's song Dead, I breathe out a tired sigh.

"I've made mistakes... been dishonest. Self is strange... did what I wanted."

As the song continues to play, I stare at my ceiling which is covered in glowing stars. I know, I'm such a child.

"I was a fake... I slept just the same. I'm not a saint, no, I'm not a saint."

It's weird how you think about the life that you're living now, and somehow also remember the past. When I was younger, I didn't care about anything. Nothing had bothered me at all, but of course, when I get older, everything had to change.

"Oh, no, it doesn't make sense. Oh, no, I don't understand."

I mean, doesn't everyone think about the time when they were younger? How you wish you could still live the same type of lifestyle as you did back then? Like, we didn't have to worry about what we wore, how we did our hair, or the fact that people were saying things about us? Yeah, life was perfect back then.

"When things are dead, I don't believe that they're for real. I really wish I could tell myself I gotta feel, feel something else instead."

Sometimes, I think that the whole change of events might be a challenge for us. Like, the challenge is made to test us and make us try to push through the obstacles in life which actually makes us stronger. And sometimes, I think that all of this might be a dream and with every obstacle that comes our way, that's their way of telling us to wake up. But if it is a challenge though, I hate it so much. If it is a challenge, why do I have to deal with everything that life throws at me? Why me?

"Cause lately life is like a dream, it's messing with my head. I must be dead."

Suddenly, the 'ping' from my phone pauses my music, and I frown in confusion. Who would be messaging me? I have no friends, and I haven't gave anyone my number except for my parents.

Unknown Number:

Hey, how are you feeling?

I furrow my eyebrows in confusion. I have no idea who this is! Wait, do they know me? Oh God, I have a stalker.

Me:

I think you have the wrong number...

I get a reply almost instantly.

Unknown Number:

This isn't Grace? Oh damn. Sorry.

My eyes widen in horror. My name is Grace! Whoever this is, they know my name. What else does this person know about me? Do they know Mum? Do they know my school life?

Me:

Can I ask who this is?

Unknown Number:

Only if this is Grace.

Me:

It is.

Unknown Number:

Prove it.

How the hell am I suppose to prove that it's actually me? Do I send a picture? Wait, I don't even know who this person is. They might be a murderer! And if I send them my face, they know what I look like! They might come after me and kidnap me in my sleep! Wait... I have an idea.

I exit out of my messages and click onto the sound recorder. Clicking onto the red button, I say in a quiet voice, "Hi, stranger." and quickly press the red button again. I go back onto the messages and send the recording of my voice.

Unknown Number:

Okay, it's you.

Me:

Now, tell me who you are.

Unknown Number:

Guess.

Wait, what kind of game is this person playing? I don't want to play any guessing games because that would be a waste of my time and - wait, is it Nicole? Oh God, what have I done?

Me:

Is this Nicole?

Unknown Number:

I'm a male. We spoke today.

Suddenly, the events from today enter my mind and I realise that I have only talked to one boy. It can't be him, can it?

How did you get my number, Luke?

Unknown Number:

Ding, ding, ding! You got it, Gracie!

Me:

Please don't call me that.

Unknown Number:

Okay, Gracie. Anyway, just a little advice, you shouldn't leave your number on your Facebook information. You don't want random people messaging you at any time of the day, do you?

The sudden urge to reply back with, "Like you." passes through my mind but I push it away. I feel so stupid though. I might as well deactivate my account now because there is no point in having it. All I see is Nicole's posts about me all of the time anyway.

How are you feeling, by the way?

Me:

Good.

Unknown Number:

Great. Just checking up. Goodnight, Gracie.

As if to make me go insane, I feel a small tingling feeling begin in my stomach, making me smile. Instead of getting hate messages, it was only Luke just checking up on me. Well, I guess I was wrong about that boy. He's actually really nice.

Turning my phone off, I place it on the drawer. I wonder if I will talk to him again because I really hope I do.

~ ~ ~