Everything Has Changed

Chapter Twenty Nine: Rules

Chapter Twenty Nine: Rules

I slept for a few hours and then woke up before the sun came up. I was just on edge knowing Mom was somewhere in the house. I stayed in my room, even when I had to pee, because I was scared to go out there. What if only my Mom was awake?

So I hid in my room and scrolled through Facebook on my laptop.

When I heard more than one voice, I exited and went pee and brushed my teeth. Nana made french toast and breakfast was quiet. I tried to shut myself back in my room, but Nana asked me if I would stay out where they can see me because they never get to see me.

I told her I was going to shower and then I would come out afterwards, so that's what I did.

Now I'm standing at the front window, watching the snow plow go down Nana's street.

There's snow all over Ocean, and I think she looks beautiful.

There's a lot of snow on the driveway too, probably a couple of inches.

"Hey kiddo, your Dad's on the phone." Grandad says.

I turn from the window to my grandfather, taking the phone from him.

"Hello?" I ask.

"Hey." Dad says. "The airports are cleared. I'm flying out in about three hours, and Danny isn't coming, because he has school...and so do you."

I look down.

"Okay."

We're both quiet for a second, and then he sighs.

"You scared the hell out of me, Grace. I just-" he cuts off. "You sneak out all the time, and how do I know you're not skipping classes? Before I brought you around Danny, you never did any of this."

"Don't blame this on him." I say. "This has nothing to do with him."

"Then why are you sneaking out?" He presses.

"Can we just talk about this later?" I ask, trying to keep myself calm.

"Whatever. We leave for home today. I'm having cameras installed so you can't sneak out. I'm sick of this shit, Gracelyn. You're a beautiful seventeen year old and one day you're going to sneak out and on your way to your car, some guy is going to catch you and he's going to do whatever he wants with you, and you've been through enough. Your grades are slipping, you haven't applied for any colleges or scholarships-" he cuts off. "There will be changes made."

"Fine." I say. "But leave Danny out of it, Dad. Please."

"No, he's most definitely going to be in this." He says. "I have to go get ready to leave, but don't leave their property unless you're with one of them."

"Okay." I say.

"Alright, bye Grace. I love you."

"Yeah, love you too." I grumble.

I hand the phone back to Grandad, and he starts talking to my Dad again.

*****

Grandad took me to Walmart in his truck so we could get oil and an oil filter for my car.

When we got home, he had me pull Ocean into the garage and made me do the oil change myself.

When I finished it, he made me update the sticker and clean under the hood of my car. He threw out the license plate I got from the garage sale and watched as I screwed my plate back on.