"It's not to late to escape," Tyler whispers In my ear.

I stare at the girls who sat in front of us. Janessa munches on her fries, Terra sipps her drink looking around awkwardly, and Brooke sat there looking down. Even I didn't know what to do.

"So Grace you still haven't introduced us to your-" Janessa pauses, "friend."

Tyler stiffens next to me. He doesn't like them. I wonder if he's going to say something or if I have to get myself out of this situation. He stays quiet, guess I'm going to have to get myself out of this situation.

"A friend from school," I answer leaning forward and grabbing my drink.

"Just a friend," Janessa raises her eyebrows, while dipping her French fry in ketchup.

"Nessa drop it," Terra talks for the first time my eyes snap towards her.

Bite your tongue Grace. I chant over and over again in my head. Don't say anything. Just stay quiet. Don't start anything it's fine. I first clench my teeth then my fists.

Tyler places a hand over my clenched fist, "I think we should get going."

"Why? We just got here stay," Lacie turns around in their booth.

"Let them go," Terra steps in.

Tyler stands up and offers me his hand, "let's go Grace."

I gladly take it. This whole time Brooke sits there saying nothing. Just watched as the scene unfolds before her. I didn't even get a 'hi'? That irks me.

"Before I leave, Brooke can I talk to you outside?" Wait did that just come out my mouth? I didn't just say that. Please tell me I didn't.

"She doesn't have to go anywhere with you. She's not yours," Terra speaks for her. Brooke looks at Terra not knowing what to say her mouth opened and closed like a fish.

"Last I checked Brooklyn is her own person, and she can make choices for herself. Now if you'd kindly move so she can get out of the booth," I looked Terra straight in the eye.

What happened to my bestfriend?

"Grace let's just go," Tyler yanked on my wrist.

"Brooklyn?" I looked at her.

"Short yourself out first then we'll talk," she doesn't even bother to look me in the eye.

"What?" I asked her.

"You heard me."

"You know what. Fuck you-" I didn't get say anything else before Tyler threw me over his shoulder and hauled me out before I could throw any hands.

"What the fuck was that?!" Tyler put me down. He is furious.

"You should have just let me give them a piece of my mind!" I throw my hands up in the air.

"You need to cool off. Fuck, we both need to cool off," Tyler sigs and pulls out a cigarette and lights it.

I slap his should, "give me."

"You could say please," he speaks with the cigarette still in his mouth.

I yank it out and take a hit. Even though I fucking hate cigarettes I needed it to cool down.

"Let's go," he sighs and walks over to his bike.

I let him finish the rest of the cigarette then hop on and we ride off back to his house. We're both still kind of heated when we get to his house. We don't say a word to each other as we walk inside.

Tyler went to the kitchen while I went upstairs to his room and threw myself on the bed. What a day. The fact that's it's only one doesn't help the situation any.

My phone rings from my back pocket. Sighing I pull it out. Checking the color ID it's an unknown number. I still answer with a, "hello?"

"Hello? Grace?"

I abruptly sit up. That voice. I hadn't heard it since I was fourteen.

"I know you probably don't want to hear from me, but I'm in town. Your aunt and Callie are meeting me at five for dinner. I'd be more than happy if you joined us," he stopped talking.

I didn't know what to say. Well other than, "how did you get my number?"

"Trace gave it to me. Said it would be better if I asked."

Tyler walked in with a bowel of grapes. He curiously looked at me; reading my expression he knew something was up.

"Look I appreciate this call, but I don't think I will be attending this dinner."

He sighs, "I understand Grace, but there are some thing to talk about."

"I don't think we have anything to talk about."

"That's where you are wrong."

My face began to heat up, "no. I'm 18, I'm an adult. Last time I checked you had no hold on me even when I wasn't an adult."

"Come to dinner Grace, I will send you the address. Don't be stubborn." With that he hung up.

Tyler looked up at me, "who was that?"

I looked over at him, "that was my father."

Tyler had the same reaction as I did, "wait, for real?"

"Yes, he wants me to go to dinner."

"Well are you going?"

I shake my head, "of course not."

"Are you sure about that?"

🥱🥱❣️❣️🌪🌪

"I can't believe I'm doing this," I fixed the top of my silk shirt making sure it's folded down.

"You'll be fine. Call or text me if you need anything."

I nod my head, "thank you Tyler."

"No need to thank me. Now get in there. I can pick you back up after if you want."

I nod my head and the car door opens. I swear Tyler's driver is like a mind reader. Getting off the car I take one more glance back and walk inside the restaurant.

Taking one step inside the restaurant I felt under dressed.

"Reservations?" An old guy stood at a podium wearing a full tux with white gloves.

I nod my head and look around. Callie and mom should be here by now.

"I believe she is with me." A man comes up from behind me.

I turn to greet him, "hellos father."

He curtly nods his head, "Grace. Nice to see again." He gives the guy his name and we are escorted to a table in the back.

This place is way to fancy for my liking. Candles lit every table since the place was already know of dark, the men wore some type of suits, and the table spread was so fancy I'm glad I was forced to take etiquette classes when I was younger.

"Trace, Callie!" He greeted my sister and mom as we sat down. Well while I sat down. He went around the table giving them a hug.

"Nice to see you again John."

"Well I guess we should get this dinner started," he lightly clapped while smiling.

"What do you want?" I ask straight up.

"Grace, please manners," Trace lightly scolds me.

"Sissy, daddy's going to let me live with him!"

My eyes snapped to Callie. Trace looks down at her like she wasn't supposed to say anything yet and my father sighs.

"So this was what is all about? Your taking Callie back after all this time? What changed?" I shake my head.

The waiter came over and took our drink orders. The poor guy could probably feel the raging tensions.

"Grace hear me out-" I didn't let him finish.

"No, I'm done hearing you out! You can't just keep on coming in and out of our lives like that. Callie doesn't deserve to be abandoned again."

"Abandoned?" She asks.

I shake my head, "you decided to let Trace have full custody over us. She has taken over the role of being both parents for years. Not to mention she has done a very good job. Don't ruin Callies life by taking her away from the only mother she's ever known." Standing up I walk away.

They call after me, but I can't right now. Yet again my life is in shambles.