Read Online In Too Deep by Michelle Kemper Brownlow - Free Book Online

“Please.”
    I nodded and with my hand, I mimicked his sarcastic gesture, coaxing him to continue.
    “These last few weeks, I can’t explain it. I have never been so close to a girl and had so much fun without banging her…”
    I winced.
    “Sorry, that was rude. What I am trying to say is I think about you all the time. I look forward to spending my nights in this greasy hole just so I can be with you. I can’t explain it. You’re a good girl. You make me try to act appropriately without even realizing you’re doing it. I am more guarded because I respect you. That’s never happened before. This feeling is all new to me, but I think I like it. Shit, I sound like a pussy, but…”
    I winced again.
    “Sorry.” He looked at the ground and turned to walk away, but stopped and looked right into my soul. “Could you just do me a favor?”
    “Sure.” Why was my heart all of a sudden hurting for him?
    “Can you just think about giving me a chance? I just want a chance. I know I can make you happy.”
    I nodded. I couldn’t resist him.

Eight
    Sunday, Morning after Noah’s Romantic Plea

    Sunday was a complete blur. I didn’t look at the clock once. I ate a Pop Tart and drank some soda. I slept a lot and cried even more. Monday would bring a new day. Another new chance to be strong and get my shit together.
    Sleep.
    Monday morning I realized putting makeup on while crying was a nearly impossible feat. I gave up after applying some waterproof mascara and blush. I threw my hair into a stubby ponytail and grabbed my backpack. Today was my easy day, only one class, Childhood Development. As I hurried out and locked the door behind me, I heard the ding of the elevator hitting our floor. I squeezed my eyes, hoping it wasn’t Noah again. I took a deep breath and turned around just as Stacy rounded the corner at the end of the hall.
    “Hey.” Her eyebrows raised and her gait slowed. Was she looking at my bloodshot, puffy eyes or the permanent frown carved into my face? Neither could I hide from her, so I just walked toward her.
    “Hey…” She said it slower this time as she dropped her backpack and opened her arms, motioning me into her gaping hug. I couldn’t resist the comfort she was willing to provide, even if it was only for a mere moment before I had to run to class. I never needed her hug as much as I did at that moment.
    “Oh, Stacy.” I crumbled emotionally…again. “He cheated. Noah cheated on me three times in the last year!” Again, my body heaved with sobs. Stacy just held on and rubbed my back. I could almost feel the shockwave run through her. She was in the position poor Jake was in Saturday morning. There was nothing she could say, and she knew it. So she just hugged.
    I stood back, wiped my face with the sleeve of my sweatshirt, and tried to force a smile to thank her for her hug.
    “Gracie, I will kill him. You know this, right?” She stomped her foot and clenched her fists.
    “Stacy, I don’t know how to do this.”
    She rubbed my shoulder and tilted her head. “Me neither. But I’m here however you need me to be. And Jake and Sam are right upstairs. You won’t do this alone.”
    Her devotion to me made me tear up all over again so I could only nod and try to wave away the unshed tears threatening to spill over .
    “I’m gonna be late. Will you be home after your chem lab?”
    “Yep. Running to class as soon as I get the lab reports I forgot to take to Greg’s. But I’ll be back.”
    “‘Kay. I will see you then.”
    Stacy was brilliant. She came to U of T for their amazing science program. We often talked about moving away together after graduation. We would go somewhere that had a well-known university hospital with a competitive research program for her and an opening for a social worker on the pediatric floor for me. But, now all I had to look forward to was the rubber room I would probably be assigned to by graduation.
    She tilted her head again and smiled. I turned and