Niall's POV:

"She what?" I breathed into the phone.

"Harry told Louis that Grace and him live near each other." Holland spoke quickly, "So they've totes been together this break. Not fair, I want to see her!" 

I frowned a little.  Harry gets to see Grace after these sad couple of weeks.  Of course they're together again.  Why wouldn't I expect that.  I think I deserve to see her again after crying so much.  

"Oh, well my.. brother needs me.. See ya Holland."

I hang up the phone and lean back against the frame of my bed.  

Shit.   

I have absolutely nothing to do this Christmas break.  I'm not exaggerating the word 'nothing'.  There's nothing without her.  There's nothing back at home.  There's nothing at Brookwood anymore.  There's just nothing.  

Opening up the notes on my phone I get lost in constant typing of my fingers.  Random lines and things about Grace take over.  If I can't do anything else, might as well write my thoughts.  I look at her letter on my side table and read over it again.  Somethings coming to me.  I don't know how - but it is.  I have so much alone time recently.

"Niall we're making cookies!" My mom knocks on my door.  

"I'll.. I'll be down in a minute!" I sigh, a little bit startled.

Making Christmas cookies.  That's exactly what I want to do right now, Mom.  Maybe eat the cookies though. . . Lazily, I lock my phone and put everything back where it goes.  I stumble over to my mirror and raise an eyebrow.  My hair is sticking in every direction.  I pat it down and adjust my grey sweatpants.    

"You're in there so much, hun." My mom is standing right outside my door.

"I know." I shrug and start to crave some cookies. 

Grace's POV:

 Harry and Lyssa talk about random shit as I wipe down tables.  Working today at Wings N Rings is a bust.  There's barely anyone so I texted Harry to come up.  I secretly blush looking at him and thought of our make out last night.  Actually, I thought about it a lot last night.  I must have been half drunk on life last night - how did that all happen?  It almost seems like a movie.  

"WHY WAS A GUY TALKING TO YOU ABOUT CHICKEN?" Lyssa cannot stop laughing. 

Harry cracks a smile, "Grace and him formed a close bond, correct?" 

I make a sarcastic nod and wipe off the last dirty table.  That story will never be forgotten, it's so incredibly weird.  Lyssa hops out of the room and talks to someone on the phone.  Okay then. 

"Grace, I have a question." Harry asks while sitting in a booth.  

"Ask away." I grin and fill up two cups with pepsi. 

Once I bring one back for him and sit down, he asks, "Did you know Brookwood puts on a singing show every year?"

I sip my drink and shake my head. 

"Yeah, they do after winter break..." He plays with his lip nervously.  

"I can totally see Chelle randomly doing that.  And actually being good." I joke and mimmick her, "Something like ayyyy turn my swaaag on.." 

Harry laughs at me and doesn't seem to drop the topic, "Could you see me doing it?  Singing in it?" 

"Do you want to?"  

"You didn't answer the question." 

"Obviously you want to." I smirk and Harry's silent.  

Holy shit, he wants to sing in front of everyone at school.  It really doesn't surprise me.  I've stumbled upon him singing multiple times and he's good.  Does he sing a lot when he's alone?  Has anyone told him he's good?  I remember telling him he was good when I heard him in the shower.  So uncomfortable.  

"Okay, I like singing.  I do a lot and everyone only thinks I like football.  I don't want to make a fool of myself so I wanted you to help me." He looks so nervous, Jesus.

"I think that's such a good idea, Harry.  I will definitely help." I smile widely, "Have you ever done anything with singing?"

"Erm..  I never told anyone this but once a week I go to the music room and practice."

"HOLY MOTHER, HOLLAND AND I SAW YOU-" I instantly remember the time we stalked him, "Nevermind that doesn't matter.     What does matter is that this is perfect.  We can practice over break."

"Practice what?" Lyssa pops into the conversation. 

"Him singing." I smirk at Harry, knowing he's embarrassed about it. 

"SING!" 

Harry shrinks in his seat as Lyssa annoys him about singing.  I can feel the pain he's feeling.  When you really don't want to do something but someone like LYSSA is determined to get you to.  

"It's not embarrassing!  I'll sing!" Lyssa rolls her eyes.  

"John doe, I just want the John I know!  Once you put the drinks on hold..  Maybe you can come back home."  

Our eyes widen at Lyssa standing in front of us completely singing.  We can't help but to laugh when she starts dancing too, "Oh-oh, oh-ohhh!" 

In the next chorus she somehow has us both up and singing with her.  Lyssa even turned the song on from her phone.  I would not be doing this if people were here.  I smile when I can hear Harry's obviously better voice singing along.  It didn't blend with ours.  Okay, maybe because he's the only guy voice.  But he's good, he's definately good at singing.  

"Yeah, I've probably had too many things, smashed too many freaks, had too much to dro-...I mean had too much to drink." Harry raps much more slowly than the actual rap.  

"Your voice is too slow!" I tease.  

"Damn it, cos my dream was to be a rapper." Harry fake pouts. 

Lyssa makes a weird noise, "That better be a joke mister."

"Drake is my inspiration." He raps horribly, "And I say hell yeah, hell yeah, hell yeah.  Fuckin’ right, fuckin’ right, all right." 

Lyssa covers her ears and walks out like she couldn't handle it.  Me on the other hand, I burst out laughing.  Rapping is not his calling I can tell you that.  Once Lyssa leaves he joins laughing too.  

"I can probaly do better than that, but I've never tried." 

"Let's just stick with the whole singing thing, yeah?" I giggle. 

"Yeah." He nods, "I'll find a song soon and we'll get to work." 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Who's this boy that's always at the restaurant?" My dad smiles as if he knew everything. 

Lyssa and I were putting away our dishes from dinner.  Well, maybe it wasn't dinner anymore being 9 o' clock at night.  I hoped the whole singing thing with Harry wouldn't be put off to the side.  I'd be so excited to know Harry actually sang in front of everything.  

"Harry." I almost forgot he asked a question, "He goes to Brookwood, he just happens to live by us." 

"He goes to Brookwood Academy and lives here.  It's such a far distance." He seems so shocked.   

"Yeah Dad.  He's my good friend." 

"Nothing more?" He teases, "He hasn't kissed you right?" 

"Dad!" I roll my eyes.  He has, and he's an amazing one.  

Lyssa sits there with a smirk on her face.  Oh she knows.  When she notices me looking at her she makes a cupcake face.  I chuckle and look back at my dad pondering. 

"We need to get more into Christmas." He sighs, "How about Lyssa takes you and your friend Christmas shopping tomorrow?" 

First off, we're never into Christmas that much.  Our whole family isn't all together during the season.  Without that, I can't feel the whole Christmas thing.  Second of all, ..Christmas.. I will need to get presents at one point.  For who?  Christmas isn't too far away.  What have I been spending my time doing?  

"I'm in." Lyss smiles.  

"Me too." I nod and whip out my phone. 

To Harry: 'want to go xmas shopping tmrw? xx -Gracie' 

My dad seems very excited that he made plans for us.  It was non-stop talking about it.  He even said he'll give us both money to use.  Score.  Harry replied that he would love to go.  He also suggested the mall we need to go to which is good.  I'm clueless of stores around here.  

Later on, Lyssa lays on the leather couch downstairs in ridiculous cat pjs.  I'm sprawled out next to her with a grey sweater.  The sweater makes me look like I've gained fifty pounds.  With Vampire Diaries on the tv, and a container of ice cream next to me, it seems as if I'm on my period.  Maybe even going through a recent breakup?  Friendship probs?  But no, this can be pretty regular.  

"BUT DAMON THOUGH!" Lyssa makes a cry and sexual noise at the same time.  

"LITERALLY LET ME LOVE YOU!" I fangirl.  

Ring, ring.

We both scream and scurry for the remote.  IT IS SUCH AN INTENSE PART BUT OF COURSE A PHONE DISTURBED US.  We cursed probably a hundred times while searching for the remote.  Finally Lyssa held it in the air victoriously and paused it.  This could possibly be the 76th Hunger Games.     

"Is that my phone ringing or is it yours?" She asks out of breath.  That's always the question.  

"Mine." I hold my hands up to calm her.  

My stomach drops though when I see Niall's name on the screen.  Is he okay?  Many situations run through my mind during the time span of.. three seconds or so.  But then the ringing stops. Shit, I have to call him back.  

"Jesus, what's got you all spooked." Lyssa snaps in front of my face. 

"Niall called me. . . "

"And you just let it ring?  Call the man back!" She encourages. 

I shakily press 'return call'.  Yeah, we've texted and it's more casual.  But we definitely haven't called.  What if he tells me he has a new girlfriend?  But I've kissed Harry… Would he be mad?  Shut the hell up brain. 

"Heeeello?" His Irish voice answers. 

"Hi." I whisper.  

Lyssa sighs and looks at me funny.  She motions for me to speak up with her hands flailing everywhere. 

"Niall?" I say a bit louder. 

"Oh, sorry are you with someone right now?" Niall sounds slightly different over the phone. 

"Yeah." Why are my answers so simple ugh, "I am." 

There was a short pause, "You can tell Harry I said hi, we can talk another-" 

"Woah, woah what?" I raised an eyebrow, getting Lyssa to seem interested. 

"Don't ya and Harry, um, live near each other or something..?" Niall asked with a soft voice.  

How did he figure that out?  I guess it's not a secret or anything though. 

 "Yes but he's not here now.  It's just my cousin, why'd you call?" 

"Oh, alright." He says relieved, "I've got nothin' to do at my house.  Maura's not making it any more fun either. . . We literally baked cookies for three hours and they all ended up burnt.  

I laughed and pictured that happening.  We made cupcakes together once… 

"Way to go, Niall.  So much for Chef Horan." I teased, making him laugh harder than I thought I would. 

"It's was all Maura's fault!" He yelled quickly.  

  "Just blame the poor woman." I reply but he doesn't say anything, "Where are you right now?" 

Lyssa looks at me in confusion and turns Vampire Diaries back on.  But Vamps didn't seem to matter anymore.  Lyssa motioned me off and I shuffled to another room in the giant basement.  

"Going to a party." He says bluntly.  

"Oh." I bit my lip.  Why the hell did he call me then? 

"I'm joking with you." Niall laughs softly.  

"THANKS." I roll my eyes.  Wow, I'm gullible.

"If you really wanna know, I'm just layin' in me bed." Niall chuckles. 

He probably has grey sweatpants on.  He always wears those at night.

"I'm in a corner in my basement because Lyssa kicked me out." I said in a more depressing tone than it needed to be.

"Sounds like a nice cousin." Niall jokes, "Would ya wanna facetime instead?" 

My eyes widened and I held the phone with my shoulder as I tried to re-do my messy bun.  Shit, I'd love to see him but that'd be hella fine if he couldn't see me.  

"Gracie?" He says my name, "If you're changing or something don't bother." 

I don't have a choice because the notification pops up.  I accept it and thank the lighting that it's a little dark.  After a loading sign, Niall's on my iphone.  His familiar messy hair and white tee shirt.  Maybe it could be like this.  Being just friends and shit.  

The first ten minutes it's Niall messing with his hair and talking about stupid things.  Then it gets to when I stayed with him over the long weekend.  The sad thing is I feel like I'm back home for Winter break.  Not because I moved.  I feel like I'm going to go back and there will be more football games.  More hot chocolate to blow on and more annoying Ella.  

30 minutes later..

"Then Liam.." I tried to hold back my giggles, "..completely walked in on us snogging!" 

Niall burst into hysterics, "He went on a whole rant after ya left.  I was thinkin' he should be a chastity teacher or something!" 

"And the fact people do much worse stuff too." 

"Liam would be scarred and never able to walk out of the room again." Niall continued to joke.  

"Next time we'll just make sure to snog right in his face." I laugh.  Watching him laugh on facetime makes me laugh even more.  

"So.. we're gonna be snogging next time we see him?" Niall raised his eyebrows on the screen.  

"Well it's for an important reason." I shrug innocently.  

Talking about snogging reminds me of last night.  I feel guilty in the pit of my stomach.  I don't want him to find out.  We're not dating, but I would feel hurt if I figured out he kissed Chelle or something. 

But I know one thing after getting close to him again tonight.

It definitely couldn't be like this.  Being just friends and shit. 

_______________________

Authors Note: I'm a little scared if she doesn't end up with ur ship you'll come kill me in my sleep. But every character will end up happy even if it's not how you wanted.  I'll be leaving for Spring Break next Friday. (Florida!) I'll get another update in by then:) 

D e d i c a t i o n : 1. Vote, 2. Comment: just a nice one:)

Love, L e e T o m m o<3