Over Again

She liked it. Thank God, she liked it. I felt so relieved, because I thought she wouldn't like it. But thank God, she did.

We let each other go, and I sighed. "I'm sorry we forgot," I said. She shakes her head, sitting down on the wooden floor, still looking at the spray paintings I made of her.

"So, where's your girlfriend's paintings? I'd love to see those," she said. The weird thing is, she sounded fine. No bitterness or something was in her voice. It was genuine.

"She doesn't have one," I mumbled. She looks back at me, and because I was still standing, I put my hands in my pockets.

"Why not? She's your girlfriend, after all. And I want to see what she looks like." I dug my hands deeper down in my pockets, feeling embarrassed.

"I-I just haven't gotten to it...I guess. What does it matter, anyway?" Gracie shrugged.

"I don't know. It's just that...you haven't talked to me about her. I don't even know her name. But...you've done this for me." She spreads her her hands around the room. "It kind of seems like...you care more about your best friend than your own girlfriend."

"That's not true," I say immediately.

"Than how come I don't know who she is?" Gracie's voice was rising now, as well as mine.

"Because I'd like to keep my famous life away from my regular life," I shout and immediately regret it. "No, no I shouldn't have-"

"No, Zayn. You're right. But you will never be regular. you're the same stuck up rich boy I thought you were when you came back to Bradford." She drops the sketch pad rushes to the door, opening it. I followed her out.

"Gracie," I yelled after her. "Come back, please!" I ran through the basement, hot on her trail. I grabbed her wrist. "Please, I can't lose you again, Gracie."

I knew I was pleading, but I seriously can't lose her. Not again. Gracie grabbed her wrist back. "You already have." She scowls at me before turning her back, an walking out if the basement. I hear the front door close, and I realize she's gone.

Again.

Notes