amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me

-ghost- · Mar 12th 2019

booker andrew harris//15

Booker was almost in shock when he saw the tears brimming in Grace's eyes. He wondered if she wasn't used to being treated like this, but he believed that she deserved nothing less.

When she told him it was beautiful, he resisted the urge to lift an eyebrow at her. It had been rushed, so it wasn't exactly his best work. But she loved it and that was all that mattered.

"Here. You can keep it." He said as he reached for the notebook. He then ripped the page out and handed it to her with a small smile. He felt sort of like a poet in the old days; one that used to write sonnets for their lovers or when they were courting a lady. Sometimes he wished life was that simple - that you fell in love with someone and you both lived happily ever after.

He once again thought of a pet name for her. Sweetheart? No, that would make him sound too motherly. His brows knitted together in thought as he searched his brain for cute names. He could call her 'my love', but that sounded a bit too formal.

"Well aren't you going to let us read it?" Jed looked between Grace and Booker and then at the torn out page.

"I don't want to." Rae said as she flipped a page in her manga.

"Why? Do you think that your japanese comic is more interesting?" Jed teased her and began to poke her cheek, but she swatted him away.

"It is a manga. And no, I just don't want to pressure him into doing something he doesn't want to do. If he wants to show it to me, then I will read it. If not, then so be it." She sounded annoyed with him, but the way she looked at him showed how in love she was.

"Yeah, whatever." Jed slumped back in his chair and looked bored, as usual.

He then looked around at each of them and finally said, "I need a cigarette."

When Jed rose form his seat, he looked down at Rae expectantly. She didn't even glance in his direction.

"Aren't you coming?" Jed placed his hands on the back of her seat and leaned onto it. He looked over her head and down at her manga.

She closed it with a slam and quietly said, "I keep telling you to quit those things. I am not going to have you die early of cancer and leave me widowed and alone. Did you know that more than four hundred and eighty thousand americans each year are killed by smoking those things? Not to mention those of us who are exposed to secondhand smoke."

Jed nodded like it was very interesting before grinning from ear to ear. "Well I'm never going to quit smoking, not even for my girl. Coming or not?"

"How romantic." Rae rolled her eyes before shoving her manga back into her book bag and standing from her seat.

The two of them waved at Booker and Grace before walking out of the cafeteria doors and into the parking lot.

Booker ran a hand through his thick, messy hair and told Grace, "We have been trying to get him to quit for a while now. As you can see, we have yet to get through to him."

It was then that he noticed the four course meal she had brought for lunch. "Wow. That looks delicious."

He then glanced at his own ham and cheese sandwich with raised eyebrows, as if looking at his lunch choices in a whole new perspective.

pip! · Mar 13th 2019

^{❝ GRACE LYNN MARYWEATHER ❞}

^{fifteen | feminine | freshman | heterosexual | pregnant | single}

*:･ﾟ✦ Grace lifted her gaze from the poem, her electric eyes shimmering. Her pink lips were parted softly as she took in a sharp breath. Her face was relaxed, as was her body. She had the type of beauty that poets and artists would write about in the Renaissance. She had a shyness to her and wasn't as in your face as some other girls her age. Her touch was gentle and loving, making you feel as if she was floating on air. She smelled of wildflowers and sweet rain. Her pale skin resembled porcelain but not in a fragile way. In the soft, almost perfect way. Grace's dark hair was straighter than most girls but it cascaded down her back effortlessly nonetheless. The beauty was unaware of her own beauty and how truly loved she deserved to be. She was a light in this dismal world, seeming to carry hope for those who didn't have any left in them. In another life, she would have been a loved woman. Adored by everyone who met her, entranced by her beauty. She would dance in the city square in the small kingdom, a breathtaking smile on her face as her head fell back in an endearing laugh. She would capture the eye of every man she met, wishing to hold her close to their own body at night. Her red dress would hug her figure and the skirt would flay out as she danced, as if it was a dancing flame. Her arms would raise above her head, reaching toward the sun and craving the warmth on her face forever. But this was not this lifetime. This lifetime, she was a young beauty who had been betrayed by the man she had grown to love. And now she was doomed to never be with him again but to carry his child and watch him be happy with another woman. It was one of the most torturous things imaginable.

Grace's smile faltered when Booker reached for the notebook and ripped the page out, handing it to her. Her electric gaze was filled with shock and a bright blush rose to her cheeks. "I couldn't possibly, you wrote it. I can't take it from you." Grace spoke with a gentle voice, her brows settling into a soft frown. Before she could say anything more, his friend spoke up. She bit the inside of her cheek, feeling a pang of guilt. These were his friends and he wouldn't let them read his poems but he let her? She made a soft grimace at the thought. Then, the beauty watched the couple bicker and she felt a small smile curl onto her lips. They reminded her of her Moms, which was refreshing. Her Moms adored each other and filled their home with nothing but happiness and acceptance but they still bickered and poked fun at each other. She found it cute. Grace then lowered her gaze when Rae had mentioned Jed leaving her widowed. She knew her Moms had never been romantically interested in her real father but she still felt the connection to him. Her Moms loved her dad and she knew they would never stop and his loss would never be easier, even over the years. Grace then lifted her gaze and waved as they walked away together. At Booker's words, she turned her attention to him. She still held a small frown on her face, a certain seriousness in her tone when it came to cigarettes or anything else someone knew was harmful for them, but did it anyway. "Hopefully you'll get through to him. Smoking is no joke." Grace said with a soft laugh but it wasn't one of joy. It was more like a serious and stern tone. She frowned deeper and began picking at the nail polish on her fingernails. Grace then looked back up at her suitor, smiling softly at his comment on the food she had brought for lunch. She sat up in her chair and pushed the container with Chicken Cordon Bleu closer to him with a quirked brow. "Want some? One of my Moms is a gourmet chef. She used to work with Chef Ramsay when she was younger. " Grace said with a smile, taking a bite out of her rice container.

-ghost- · Mar 13th 2019

booker andrew harris//15

When she pushed the gourmet food toward him and told him that her mom was a chef, his mouth watered. It looked very tasty and not at all like it belonged in a school cafeteria.

"I don't know. My taste buds might go into shock if I do." He said while shaking his head. He didn't feel like she should be allowed to eat something so delicious.

At his own home, they had a personal chef. He just always made his own lunch and preferred it that way. He liked to think of himself at least somewhat independent.

Deciding to take her up on her offer, he took a small bite of the chicken and instantly his mouth burst with flavor.

"Wow." He said after chewing his food and swallowing. "That is amazing."

He wondered if Grace could cook like that. He wouldn't mind having something that she had cooked for him. He would cherish anything that she made for him. Even if she just picked up a rock off the ground and handed it to him, he would keep it forever.

For the rest of the lunch period, they talked and laughed and smiled. Booker was glad that she was sitting at the geek table with him and that she didn't mind. He thought that she was great and he was very lucky to know her. He was glad that he asked her out even when the voice in his head kept telling him that he would be rejected.

When the bell rang and lunch was over, they waved good-bye to each other and left for class. For the rest of the school day, Booker doodled her name in his notebook. He thought that may be a little girly, but he didn't think hat should be frowned upon. He wasn't a fan of toxic masculinity or the standards that society had put on both genders.

As soon as the last bell rang, he grabbed his stuff and practically ran toward the orchestra hall. When he got there, students were beginning to leave, but he didn't see Grace anywhere.

Eddie passed him by and he stopped him. The guy was sort of scary, but hopefully he wouldn't punch him for just asking a question.

"Do you know where Grace is?" He asked, hoping he would know. His was the only face he recognized there.

"Grace? Who's Grace?" Eddie looked confused, but his eye twitched like some sort of nervous tick.

Booker wondered why he was acting like he didn't know her. Or maybe he didn't know the name of any girl, he just saw their face or their body. He probably only paid attention to them when he was taking their clothes off.

"Forget it." Booker said before moving to the other side of the hall. He couldn't remember if she said to meet there or at her locker. Hopefully he picked the right place. Curse his forgetfulness.

/sorry this is so short, the next one will be longer//

pip! · Mar 13th 2019

^{❝ GRACE LYNN MARYWEATHER ❞}

^{fifteen | feminine | freshman | heterosexual | pregnant | single}

*:･ﾟ✦ Grace was glad to have spent lunch with Booker, glad to get to know him more. The young girl went through the rest of her day, it becoming a blur for her. She took notes and payed attention in class but she daydreamed about her date with Booker that night. She smiled gently at the thought, biting her bottom lip nervously. She was in a dreamy state, humming and doodling in her notebook all day. She imagined how her future with Booker could be. She know it seemed way too fast but something about him brought out something inside of her. She felt she had known him her whole life and she felt comfortable around him. She almost forgot about the child growing inside of her until she saw Eddie in the hall, talking to Mavis. Her happiness faltered as she saw him smiling at her and the way he looked at her made her heart hurt. She shoved through the crowd and pushed into her last class, orchestra. She sniffled, her hands resting on her stomach. She exhaled, motivating herself to push him out of her mind. She blinked and approached her conductor, smiling softly at him before grabbing her instrument. Her cello. She had been playing since she was a kid and she never wanted to stop playing. She sat down and began to play with the orchestra as class began. She played and played until she nearly forgot about all of her problems. She got lost in the music, as if it drowned out all of her sorrows. The sorrows of losing her dad, being bullied her entire life, being treated less than just because she was partially deaf, the heartbreak Eddie had done to her and now, she was pregnant with Eddie's child.

Grace watched as the class began to scatter as it grew nearer to the end of the school day. She continued to play, her electric gaze on the notes she was playing. She moved her fingers delicately, looking like a swan doing an intricate dance as she moved. She heard the bell ring, signalling the end of the day. But, she continued to play. She wanted to be perfect. More than perfect. She wanted to make her dad proud, even if he wasn't alive to see her. The thought made her eyes well with tears but she blinked them away quickly with a sniffle. Grace focused on playing, glancing up every once in a while as people began to leave after packing up. She had already told her Moms she was staying after school because she was going on a date and they were nothing but supportive. She smiled softly at the thought. She just wondered if they would be as supportive as they were now after finding out she was pregnant. She bit down on the inside of her cheek, focusing on the music. Before long, she lost herself in the music once more and looked stunning doing so. She became passionate about her song, playing loudly and a bright smile curling onto her face.

-ghost- · Mar 19th 2019

booker andrew harris//15

Booker stood outside of orchestra room; leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. He was alone in the hall and he was beginning to worry. He was chewing on his nails which left them raw and bloody. It was a nervous habit he was still trying to break.

He wondered if he was allowed inside of the classroom, just to check to see if she was even in there. He wasn't sure if it was worth the risk. It was a logical fear considering the band geeks would kick anyone unworthy who dared enter in the bum.

Then Booker decided that he looked like a moron just standing there, so he took in a deep breath and walked down the hall, turned the corner, and slowly pushed the door open.

Instantly, his ears were blessed with the beauty that was the music Grace was creating. He knew it was her right away because she was the only one still in the room. Her back was to him, so she must have had no idea that she wasn't alone.

Booker took a few tentative steps toward her, the door closing silently behind him, but then stopped. He decided that he wanted to listen to her play, that the date could wait.

So he listened to her create music - leaning against one of those cheap plastic chairs and staring at the back of her head rather dreamily. He let his thoughts trail off into the future. He thought about her going to school for music, as she should. He would encourage her to follow her dream of course. He'd follow that girl across the world if she wanted him to.

Booker always thought that he had good music taste - from Cage The Elephant to We The Kings. But he had never experienced the beauty of, well, whatever instrument she was playing. He wasn't well versed in the different ones; the only one he knew really was the violin.

He had been thinking about this, watching her in wonder, when he leaned too hard on the chair. In a matter of seconds, the chair scooted forward with an awful screech and Booker had stumbled, flailing around in an attempt to catch himself, but ultimately landed on his ass. There was a loud but sort of deep clink as the back of his head on another chair.

Booker sat up quickly and turned to look at Grace. The music had stopped and she was now staring at him. He began to blush with embarrassment, but then he realized that she was giggling. It wasn't the sort of laughter that meant she was making fun of him, but rather trying to laugh with him. So Booker started to laugh too while he stood up. He brushed himself off and tried to ignore the burning sensation on the back of his head. He was pretty sure it was going to leave a bruise.

"That was beautiful. Is that the violin?" He was probably wrong since he really had no clue. He could only hope that she wasn't offended by his ignorance. She would have to school him on this topic sometime.

pip! · Mar 19th 2019

^{❝ GRACE LYNN MARYWEATHER ❞}

^{fifteen | feminine | freshman | heterosexual | pregnant | single}

*:･ﾟ✦ Grace had lost herself in the music, not paying attention to the world around her. Everything seemed to melt together and become a blur. She leaned into the music she played, feeling as if it was the thing keeping her alive. She felt as if she was dancing on the notes she was playing, a smile wide on her face. Grace hadn't noticed that Booker had come into the room and seemed to be in her own world. She imagined how big her stomach would get with her baby. Would she have a girl? Would she have a boy? Oh God, what if she had twins? Grace pushed away that thought as she shoved herself back into her music. She imagined what her child would look like. Would he or she look more like her? Or more like Eddie? She pondered on this thought with a soft smile, reading the music as if it easier to read than English. Suddenly, her music stopped suddenly when she heard a loud screech. She jumped, almost losing her grip on her violin. She spun her head around, her heart thundering against her chest. She saw that Booker had fallen onto the floor, she assumed from leaning too far forward in his chair. She winced as his head hit another chair with a loud thud and then her lips curled into a stunning smile. He was clumsier than her, which she didn't think was possible. That was when she erupted into giggles. Her giggles were sweet, not malicious in any way. She just found it adorable that he was hilariously more clumsy than she was. When he began to laugh as well, her cheeks began to blush a soft pink shade. She set down her cello in it's case, as well as her bow. She left her music out, knowing she would actually pack everything up once she checked on Booker. She watched him brush himself off as she stood, walking over to him. She stood in front of him, a motherly concern in her eyes.

"Are you alright? You're not bleeding, right?" Grace asked with worry in her voice, her electric gaze looking over his body. He seemed to be fine but she could tell his head was bothering him. He would most likely have a bruise on him bum from the fall but at the moment, she was more concerned for his head. At his words, her lips curled into a bright smile. She let out a sweet giggle and shook her head, her hair bouncing. "No, it's a cello. I'll have to show you what each different instrument looks like and sounds like." Grace said as she brushed the hair from his face, concerned about his head still. She was worried he might have suffered an concussion and if that was the case, she wanted him to make it home safe and they could reschedule their date.

-ghost- · Mar 19th 2019

booker andrew harris//15

Booker shook his head quickly, seeing the doubt in her eyes. Nothing was going to keep him from their date, not even a concussion if he had one.

"No, I'm fine. I didn't hit my head that hard, really." He smiled that toothy smile of his. He hoped it was convincing enough. He was resisting the urge not to rub the back of his tingling head.

When she called the instrument a cello, he nodded as if he had known that all along. "Oh, yeah. A cello."

The two then just sort of stood there and smiled at each other.

"Well, we best get going. We want to be able to take our time enjoying the gourmet food before we have to go to the game." He said it in a joking manner, but the diner did actually have pretty good food. He used to go there a lot with his mom. He still went sometimes when he was feeling nostalgic. But now he would be making more happy memories there.

"My driver can drop you off at home first if you wanted to change. And I am totally willing to meet the parents." He was mostly afraid to meet her father. He pictured him as a tough man with muscled arms, hoary gruff, and to be over six feet tall. When they shook hands, he was almost certain that his strong grip would break his fingers. He would make no promises that he wouldn't faint if her father raised his voice at him.

Shuddering at the thought, he decided to mentally smack himself. He could not be a coward. He was going to have to meet her family eventually. He hoped to be part of it someday, after all.

As she packed her stuff together, he watched her with quiet admiration. She was just such a beautiful person. How could you not stare?

When she was finished, she walked past him toward the door and he got a whiff of her scent. It was sort of like vanilla and cinnamon, in his opinion. Very sweet and very strong. He wondered if she used bath bombs or whatever smelly things girls used in the tub. He knew it wasn't perfume, he would have been able to tell, so he wondered how she got to smelling so good.

When they found the limo in the parking lot and seated themselves in the back, he sat close to her and was very aware of how close their hands were. He started to wonder if he should hold hers or if that was too soon.

He was also still trying to find a pet name for her. Maybe 'honey'? No, that sounded sort of like it was backhanded. He had only ever heard someone call someone else that when they were being sassy.

pip! · Mar 19th 2019

^{❝ GRACE LYNN MARYWEATHER ❞}

^{fifteen | feminine | freshman | heterosexual | pregnant | single}

*:･ﾟ✦ Grace was still uncertain of how his head felt. He seemed to be in pain but was brushing it off. She couldn't tell if it was to impress her or make sure their date went on as continued. She decided to leave it alone and just make sure to remind him to ice it later on, not wanting him to be hurt. She already felt protective of him and she wasn't sure why. Seeing his toothy smile, her concerned gaze turned to one of amusement. She let out a sweet giggle, really comfortable in his company and feeling as if she could truly be herself. Her electric gaze met his as he mentioned her cello, acting as if he had known that that had been what it was called all along. The young girl smiled widely and shook her head, amused by him. When he spoke up after a small moment of silence, her hand moved to brush her hair from her face, brushing some of her bangs behind her ear. Her eyes met his when he mentioned the diner and she let out another sweet giggle at his joke. The diner wasn't a five star restaurant but they never had bad food. It was a pretty nice diner for such a small town, if she was being honest. Her father would always take her and her twin brother to the diner, goofing off with them and playing on the kid's menu with them. He's play tick tac toe with his children but he would always let them win. She smiled softly at the memory, a hint of sadness in her eyes. Booker mentioned that his driver could take her home to change and she looked down at her paint covered clothes, laughing softly. She was grateful he had offered, inclined to take him up on his offer. She looked up at him as he mentioned that he was willing to meet her parents and her smile slightly faltered. She was sure once he realized who her Moms were, he wouldn't want to be around her anymore. Most of the town already looked down on her for being partially deaf but being a daughter of two lesbians? It was as if she was the anti-christ in this town. Grace chuckled nervously, looking down at the ground. She bit down on her bottom lip, ripping at the sensitive skin until she tasted the coppery taste of her own blood in her mouth. She winced slightly at the pain.

"If by parents you mean my two Moms, then sure. And my twin brother." Grace spoke, lifting her gaze to meet his. She ran a hand through her hair, family obviously being a sore subject for her. It wasn't that she was ashamed of her family. It was that everyone in this damned town was ashamed of her family. And she especially hated the people in this town for saying her father dying was a mercy killing. Grace clenched her jaw at the memory, still wanting to beat those church women's heads in. "My real dad is dead. He was a donor for my Moms since they were best friends. But uh, everyone in this stupid town is thankful he's dead so he doesn't have the burden of two children being raised by two Moms on his back." Grace spoke in a slightly bitter tone, not pointing her anger at Booker but at the people who judged her and her family. She brushed her hair over her shoulder and walked over to her cello, packing up her music and shutting her case. She placed her cello in the orchestra instrument area and she set her music folder in its small cubbie. She then walked over to Booker, slinging her backpack over her shoulder. Grace walked beside Booker as they reached the parking lot. She climbed inside the limo, thankful she was being taken home to change. She glanced out of the window, her electric eyes clouded. Grace lifted her hand to pick at her lip, her anxiety obviously getting to her. And how the town perceived her family also deeply upset her. She clenched her jaw, sniffling. She watched the trees fly by and she glanced over at Booker. She felt guilty for lashing at him like she had so she turned to face him, picking at her nails and looking down at her hands. "Look, I'm sorry about snapping. Everyone in this town is just so quick to judge, especially with my family. And I don't want you to be scared off by what the rest of the town has to say." Grace murmured, her gaze lifting to meet his as she finished speaking.

-ghost- · Mar 20th 2019

booker andrew harris//15

Booker hadn't exactly planned for her to become angry and lash out - whether it be directed at him or not. He was in such a state of shock that he just didn't speak at all. He didn't realize that this cute little ray of sunshine could turn into a raging ball of fury.

So after she packed her stuff and they were in the limo, he stayed very quiet. He was partly scared to have her lash out again, partly trying to figure out the right words to say.

So he just sorta stared out of his window at the school parking lot. A few dozen students were outside just hanging out - just joking around and generally having a good time. He wished he could smile like they were, but he had this sort of sense of foreboding. He wasn't exactly sure where it was coming from. It was probably because the girl beside him was flaming with rage. One couldn't blame him if he couldn't exactly relax.

As they left the school parking lot, he went to cloud watching. He tried to make out shapes in the cotton balls in the lovat sky while trying to think of a way to fix this situation he had caused.

Then she spoke up and his head whipped toward her. She apologized and he was quick to respond, "No, no need to apologize. I'm the one who should be sorry. I just assumed and I shouldn't have."

Booker hoped she didn't think he was mad at her. He really didn't think he could be and if he were it would probably only last about ten minutes. He didn't think that Grace was capable of doing something unforgivable.

He had heard about a girl having lesbian parents, but he never knew it was his Grace. He was starting to realize that there was a lot he didn't know about her.

"I'm not a bigot like most of the religious freaks in town. I'm not even christian, not really. I'm sort of an agnostic. So I don't worship any benevolent being that may or may not be outraged by you having two 'sinful' mothers. I really don't mind. Parents are parents. Their sexuality shouldn't be what matters, but the way they love and raise their kids. And quite frankly, from what I can tell, your moms have raised a very intelligent, talented, stunning girl."

He smiled at her and for a moment he wanted to kiss her. But it wasn't the right time or place. He didn't want their first kiss to be in the back of a limo while his driver could hear everything. His driver, Benji, would be sure to tell his dad and that would be very embarrassing.

Finally, they reached Grace's house. As Benji parked, Booker couldn't help but feel that sense of foreboding again. She may not have some big, scary father but two moms were just as scary.

His throat seemed to close up, so when he spoke his throat was scratchy, "Did you want me to come in?"

He couldn't hide how nervous he was, no matter what. It showed in his facial expression and he couldn't exactly hide that. He was never a very good liar.

pip! · Mar 20th 2019

^{❝ GRACE LYNN MARYWEATHER ❞}

^{fifteen | feminine | freshman | heterosexual | pregnant | single}

*:･ﾟ✦ Grace giggled softly, seeing how quickly he had whipped his head around. She smiled small, her electric gaze shimmering in the dim light. Hearing his words, she was overcome with relief. She was glad to see he wasn't angry at her for lashing out at him. At this point, it was just instinct for her when someone brought up her family. She wasn't sure why. Probably because being raised in a small town like this began to take a toll on the open-minded girl. Even in the smallest ways. She was appreciative of Booker's sweetness and his forgiveness, reminding herself to thank him later. Her gaze met his for a moment, the two of them sharing a moment. They gazed at each other softly, as if they both of them were the only two people left in the world. Grace smiled softly at the thought. She thought she would have more fun than she would care to admit if she and Booker were the last people in the world. Grace's ears perked as he began to speak once more, speaking about his religious beliefs and how he felt about Grace's Moms. She felt a smile curl onto her pink lips, totally agreeing with the small speech he made. How a parent feels shouldn't reflect on their child. Love is love, you can't help who you love. Like her twin brother, Greggie. Grace was the only person he had come out to, he was gay. But she knew in this town, they would blame her Moms for her brother being gay. Which made her sick to her stomach. Hearing his compliment at the end of his statement, her cheeks burned into a bright red color. She shyly looked down, playing with the ends of her straight dark brown hair. She let a small giggle escape her lips, shaking her head gently as her lips curled into a bright smile. She was shy and bashful because of his comment, not realizing how true his words were.

Then they arrived at her home. Grace climbed out of the limo, slipping her backpack around her shoulders. She stood on the sidewalk outside of her home, bending slightly to peak into the limo. She giggled at his nervous expression and even more terrified words. She brushed some of her dark hair behind her ear, her eyes shimmering in the afternoon light. She shook her head, not wanting to give the poor boy a heart attack. "You don't have to. I'm just gonna run inside and change. It's totally up to you." Grace said in a soft tone, her voice clearly expression that either option was totally okay. A kind smile curled onto her lips.

-ghost- · Mar 31st 2019

booker andrew harris//15

Booker shook his head quickly before puffing out his chest. He decided that he was going to be a man. He would have to meet them eventually and first impressions counted. They would be his mothers in law one day, after all.

"No, I'll come in with you. I can wait downstairs while you change." Booker told her as he moved to step out of the limo.

Turning around, he waved at Benji who parked the vehicle. Booker then turned back around and headed up the front steps with Grace.

He thought about holding her hand, but he wasn't sure. He also thought about more pet name for her, but none seemed to stand out. Kitten? No, that was cute but it didn't fit.

As they reached the front door, Booker paused in his steps. He readjusted his sweater and checked to see if there were any stains. He then brushed his fingers through his hair and realized that he would need to get a haircut soon. He wondered if he looked presentable enough and not like he just rolled out of bed.

"What if they don't like me?" He asked her, clearly fearful of that concept. His blue-green eyes were wide and watching the door like his worst nightmare was behind it.

He began to over analyze, as he so often did. Would he need to shake their hands? Would he need to greet them formally or casually? What was he supposed to call them? What if they asked who he was? How would he answer that? Did he say that he was just a friend or her boyfriend? He didn't really know if they were official yet. He really hoped they would be after today. He just had to not mess it up.

Looking back toward Grace, he offered a small, nervous smile. He was now the one hoping for reassurance.

Finally, he walked up to the door and gulped. It looked like it had a red tint, like maybe it was made of brazil wood. He then decided that her moms must have been pretty well off. Not as wealthy as his family, but still. Not that it mattered. She could live in a box and he wouldn't see her any differently. Though he would offer her a place to stay, of course.

Now that he thought about it, he would actually really enjoy having her live with him. It got pretty lonely in such a big house with just him and his dad was often away at work.

Looking back toward Grace, he nodded.

//sorry its short, i didn't have much to write//

pip! · Apr 1st 2019

^{❝ GRACE LYNN MARYWEATHER ❞}

^{fifteen | feminine | freshman | heterosexual | pregnant | single}

*:･ﾟ✦ Grace smiled as he seemed to have burst of courage. She was glad to see that he had. She could use some back up. She knew her Moms and how they would react when they saw Grace bring in a boy. The young girl nearly rolled her eyes at the thought. She loved her Moms but they tended to be very overbearing. When Booker moved to step out of the limo, she stepped off to the side. She smiled over at him, her electric gaze shimmering with happiness. She wasn't sure why but she was so excited to have Booker meet her Moms. She could really see her and Booker working out and she really liked him so far. Grace felt her heart flutter at the mere anticipation. She nodded her head toward the house as she begin to make her ascent to reach the front door. She flipped her hair over her shoulder and looked over at Booker, her cheeks glowing a natural pink color. "Okay so my birth mother is fully deaf. So just make sure you look at her so she can read your lips. And don't be afraid to be expressive when you speak. It helps her understand the tone behind your words. She's the one with dark curly hair and her name is Delia." Grace explained as she slowly climbed the steps, not wanting him to go into the house fully unaware of what was going to happen. "My other mom is able to fully hear so if you get stuck, my other mom can translate with sign language. Her name is Kourtney and she's the one with short blonde hair. She's the gourmet chef that worked with Gordon Ramsey. My birth mom is an attorney." Grace spoke as if she was stating facts, very informative and her tone seemed to tell him to remember all of this. She knew it would get him bonus points if he remembered all of this since it would show her Moms that he cared and wasn't just a boy trying to get in her pants. Which Grace knew Booker wasn't like that. She could just tell. Grace turned her head to Booker as he spoke and she smiled softly. She walked back over to him, her gaze soft and caring. "They're gonna love you. Don't worry. As long as you are yourself, there won't be any problems." A sweet smile curled onto her pink lips as she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.

Grace turned her gaze back to the front door as she climbed up the steps and stood in front of her front door. She looked over at Booker, seeing his worried expression. She could practically see the scenarios playing out from behind his eyes. She grabbed his shoulders gently and faced him to her. Her electric gaze searched his before speaking. "They like handshakes but they would also be fine with a hug. They would prefer to be called Ma'am or Mrs. Maryweather. Whichever works. And if they ask, which I know they will, just tell them that you asked me on a date tonight but we aren't official yet. But, we are talking and you could be by boyfriend." Grace said with a sweet tone and then a smile at her last words. She nodded and then took her hands off of his shoulders. She turned and grabbed the door handle, twisting it and pushing the door open. She walked inside and kept the door open for Booker to walk in after her. "Moms, I'm home! I have someone I want you to meet." Grace called out and before long, she could hear the clicking of heels. Her mother, Kourtney emerged from the kitchen with a smile that could melt any heart. Kourtney was the embodiment of a human teddy bear. She was endlessly caring and sweet and motherly and Grace adored her for all of it. Kourtney squealed and hugged her daughter, making the two of them sway. She hugged her like this every day, as if she hadn't seen her in years. Grace didn't mind. She could never get enough of the warm hugs. Kourtney broke from the embrace and her green gaze fell on Booker. "Oh wow, a boy!" Kourtney said in a shocked tone and Grace groaned, elbowing her mom. "Moooomma, stop it." Grace grumbled, a bright blush rising to her cheeks and Kourtney just giggled. "Who is this handsome young boy?" Kourtney asked with a bright and happy gaze. Grace groaned, rubbing her arm, obviously embarrassed. "Momma, this is Booker. My date to the football game tonight and the after party. Booker, this is my Mom Kourtney." Grace introduced the two of them and before Booker could hold his hand out for her to shake, Kourtney reached forward and pulled Booker into a warm hug. "My Gracie has a date! And a handsome one at that! How adorable!" Kourtney squealed and Grace just face palmed, shaking her head.

-ghost- · Apr 5th 2019

booker andrew harris//15

When the door opened and the two of them walked into the house, the first thing Booker did was trip over his own feet. He stumbled, but luckily was able to catch himself. He then blushed brightly at how clumsy he was. Grace didn't seem to notice and was calling out to her moms.

Booker's heart was racing as he waited for one or both of her parents to walk around the corner. He tried to remember everything she had said about them. One was a gourmet chef, one was an attorney. One was deaf, one wasn't. He hoped he could remember which was which.

Then a woman walked around the corner with a motherly smile. She hugged Grace tightly and they swayed together which made Booker smile. Then her mom noticed him and he gulped nervously. Her mom spoke very kindly and Grace seemed to be honest about their date - not at all embarrassed. He then remembered how she said they could possibly be boyfriend and girlfriend after tonight and it made him blush again.

When her mom, Kourtney, walked over toward him, he reached his hand out to shake hers. "Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Maryweather."

Though instead of taking his hand, she pulled him in for a warm hug. It was a mom hug, for sure. She squeezed him tightly, the way his own mom used to, and for a moment his eyes welled with tears at the thought.

When she pulled away, he wasn't expecting her to call him handsome and to be so excited about him taking her daughter on a date. It caused him to offer a bashful smile.

Then remembering his manners, he stood up straighter and told the woman, "I promise to bring her home before curfew and to be a proper gentlemen the entire time."

After he spoke, he was then acutely aware of how he looked. He seemed to be a bit under dressed for a date and his hair had grown out a bit too long. He wondered if he looked like a slob. He really hoped that they didn't think he wasn't good enough for their daughter.

It was then that he recalled what Grace had said about her mom, Kourtney.

"You're the gourmet chef, right?" He asked, pointing a finger toward the woman and smiling broadly. "Grace sat with me at lunch and try some of her chicken. I forgot what it was called, but it was amazing. I had no idea food could taste that good."

He wasn't meaning to suck up to her or anything, he really did enjoy her cooking. It was so good that he wasn't sure he could ever taste other food the same way again. Just tasting her cooking made him feel like he had always had poor taste and just now realized it.

pip! · Apr 5th 2019

^{❝ GRACE LYNN MARYWEATHER ❞}

^{fifteen | feminine | freshman | heterosexual | pregnant | single}

*:･ﾟ✦ Grace laughed loudly when Booker had mentioned her curfew and Kourtney playfully shoved her daughter, a bright smile on her lips. "Grace doesn't have a curfew, we trust her. But we appreciate the sentiment." Kourtney said, her voice as sweet as honey. Grace turned her head as she heard footsteps coming down the stairs at a quick and clumsy rate. She could already tell it was her brother without even seeing his face. He was always the more clumsy of the two, and that was saying something. Gregory came around the corner of the stairs with a bright smile but it faltered when he saw Booker standing by his sister. He narrowed his eyes at the male and stepped beside his twin sister, almost protectively. Grace rolled her eyes and shoved her brother, narrowing her eyes at him as he looked back at her with a hard stare. She signed to him, "Be nice. He asked me on a date. I like him." And Gregory just rolled his eyes before making a gagging sound. Grace scoffed and shoved him playfully. Gregory smiled a goofy smile and stuck his tongue out at his twin. But his tone changed when he turned to face Booker again. He narrowed his eyes and lifted two fingers to his eyes and then pointed them at Booker, silently saying he was watching him. Grace face palmed as Gregory sauntered off to the kitchen. Grace laughed and looked at Booker with a sparkle in her electric gaze. "That's my twin brother, Gregory. Ignore him, he's harmless." Grace said as she shook her head. Kourtney simply chuckled at her children and turned to Gregory as he snuck around for a snack. She signed to him, "There's some cheese balls I made earlier in the fridge." Gregory smiled and proceeded to pull open the fridge with a triumphant chuckle. Grace rolled her eyes and turned her head when she heard heels clicking down the hall. She hadn't realized her Mom had been working in her home office and she saw the stress from work clear in her face. She rubbed her temples as she came around the corner, her dark curls bouncing. Kourtney was busy rambling about her cooking skills to Booker and didn't notice her wife approaching. Delia opened her eyes and her hazel eyes widened when she saw a teenage boy next to her Grace. She looked at her daughter in confusion and Grace sighed, signing to her Mom. "Mom, this is Booker. He asked me on a date and we're going to the football game and then the after party." And Delia nodded slowly and cautiously studied Booker. That was when Kourtney noticed her wife's presence. The blonde mother smiled brightly and pulled her wife in for a hug and then Delia looked Booker up and down. He seemed nice enough but Delia was overprotective over her children.

Before anyone could say anything more, Grace spoke up. "I'm gonna go change. Don't kill him while I'm gone." Grace said, narrowing her eyes at her birth mother. Delia rolled her eyes and chuckled lowly, holding up her hands in surrender. Grace quirked a brow at her Mom before shaking her head and jogging up the stairs and into her room. She stripped her dirty clothes off and threw them into the hamper, searching through her closet. She groaned, not finding anything cute enough to have her first date in. Kourtney smiled at Booker and guided him into the kitchen. "Are you hungry at all? We can give you a little snack before your date!" Kourtney said happily and Delia and Gregory stood off to the side, silently watching and studying Booker in a protective manner. Grace groaned as she ran all over her room. She brushed her teeth quickly and even her hair, pulling it back with small clips. Grace scrambled over to her dresser and slipped on a strapless bra before slipping on one of her favorite dresses. Grace huffed ans rushed over to her mirror, fluffing out her hair. She blinked at her reflection, smiling softly. She giggled and did a twirl, unable to contain her joy. She put on some mascara and some lip gloss before slipping on some wedges. Grace looked at herself once more in the mirror, straightening out her dress. She smiled softly, feeling her confidence in herself slowly begin to increase. She grabbed a simple brown leather purse and then pulled open her door. She inhaled shakily, trying to calm her racing heart. She blinked, smiling widely. She was going on her first date. She could hardly believe it. She started coming down the stairs and she heard scrambling from the kitchen and she assumed everyone was coming to see what she looked like. She came to the bottom of the stairs and her electric gaze met Booker's as she rounded the corner. A bright blush rose to her cheeks and she shyly looked at the ground for a moment, playing with the ends of her dress. Kourtney gasped loudly and clasped her hands together. Tears pooled her eyes and Delia sighed, pulling her wife in for an embrace. Grace looked up at Booker, a soft smile on her lips. "It's not too much?" Grace asked in a soft voice.

-ghost- · Apr 5th 2019

booker andrew harris//15

Booker had to admit, he was pretty lost.

First Grace's brother, which he had no idea existed, entered the conversation. He presumed that he was deaf because Grace was signing to him and he didn't speak at all. Though he did offer suspicious, narrowed eyes in his direction. He seemed pretty overprotective over his sister. Booker just swallowed thickly in response.

Then Grace's other mom entered the room and seemed to be giving him the same questioning looks as her brother had. She didn't seem very fond of the idea of her daughter going on a date either.

He wanted to introduce himself, but everything was happening so fast. And a lot of people were signing which he had no idea what they were saying. He felt sort of awkward during the entire situation. He could feel the energy building up within the room they were all in. He wasn't used to being around such a large family. For so long, it had just been him and his dad. He thought that Grace was lucky to have this many people care about her.

Then Grace went upstairs; leaving him alone with everyone. Luckily Kourtney was very kind and welcoming and lead him into the kitchen. She then asked if he wanted anything to eat.

"No thank you. We are going out to dinner before the game. I don't want to ruin my appetite." Booker smiled back at her politely. They then all stood there in silence for a few seconds. He could hear that the television was on in the other room - he thought it might have been the news.

"You have a lovely home." He commented while looking around. The kitchen was quaint, but he thought it was nice. It just felt so homey compared to his mansion.

For a moment, he wondered if they knew who his father was. What with owning an entire chain of restaurants and everything. He was pretty big with the locals.

He kept noticing that Delia and Gregory were offering him cold looks, so he was grateful for Kourtney and her eagerness to get to know him. She was going on about her cooking skills again and he pretended to listen. Honestly, he couldn't keep up. She used a bunch of words he didn't know, so he just nodded along.

It was then that they heard Grace walking down the stairs. They all turned and waited expectantly. Then she came into view and their breath was taken away.

Booker just sort of stood there in a state of shock for a moment before realizing he must have looked like an idiot.

Walking up to her, he stuttered for a moment before clearing his throat. "You look... Wow. I- I have no words."

His cheeks became a bright red and he rubbed at the back of his neck. He then smiled down at her. Even with her wedges, she was still short as heck.

"You look beautiful."

pip! · Apr 5th 2019

^{❝ GRACE LYNN MARYWEATHER ❞}

^{fifteen | feminine | freshman | heterosexual | pregnant | single}

*:･ﾟ✦ Grace blushed brightly at Booker's words and looked down shyly, some loose bangs calling over her face. She looked up at Booker through her lashes and a soft smile curled on her lips. "Thank you." She spoke in a soft voice. Grace then moved to hug her Moms and then approached her brother. He made a grimace and she snickered and pulled him into a choke hold and ruffled his hair. Gregory laughed loudly but it sounded off, which would jar most people. But Grace loved when her brother laughed. It made her feel warm inside. She liked hearing him laugh or even her Mom. She knew it was difficult for them since they felt self conscious about speaking. But Grace adored every little moment she got. She released her brother and smiled at him. He nudged her and she did the same back before they gave each other a fist bump. "Bye, Moms! Bye, Greggie. Love you guys." Grace signed and spoke as she turned to her family. She smiled at them and blew them kisses before turning to Booker. She giggled softly and then motioned for him to head toward the door first. She walked after him and she heard her Mom Kourtney yelling at them to be safe and that she was always a call away. Grace smiled softly at the thought, loving that she always had someone to watch out for her. She walked down the porch steps and was soon walking beside Booker, her wedges making soft thumps on the concrete. "That wasn't too bad right?" Grace said with a bright smile as she playfully nudged Booker. She approached the limo and climbed inside, pulling her dress under her so she didn't flash anyone. She crossed one leg over the other once she sat down and she pulled her hair to the side. Grace blinked as she gently laid her hand over her slightly swollen stomach. She had almost forgotten that she was carrying a baby inside of her, Eddie's baby. She frowned. She wondered how Booker would react when he found out. Would he find her disgusting and never want to see her again? She truly hoped not. She really liked him. Grace gazed over at Booker as he climbed into the limo and the ghost of a smile crossed her lips. She watched him, wanting to memorize every little quirk and habit he had.

She looked up at his messy hair, wondering how many times he ran his hands through his hair a day. She smiled softly as she watched his eyes. His eyes were such a brilliant blue, they reminded her of the seas she had seen in South America when she would look online, dreaming of a life far from this small town. She imagined what he would do if she asked him to run away with her. She didn't find her life miserable, that wasn't it. She was just eager to see the world. She wanted to see all of it and learn all that she could. She smiled softly. She liked to imagine that he would say yes and they could explore Rio together or sneak around Dracula's castle and scare each other. Or even sitting around a fire in Ireland and hearing the tales of the Will of the Wisps. She laid her head gently on his shoulder, letting herself stay in that dream for a moment longer. She grabbed his hand softly and intertwined their fingers, smiling small. She sighed softly and continued to imagine the life they could have.

-ghost- · Apr 8th 2019

booker andrew harris//15

Watching Grace hug her family and witnessing all of the love they shared, he couldn't help but envy her. He liked to think he was pretty close to his dad, but he missed his mom. Even having a sibling who could relate to the pain he felt would do, really.

As they left the house, he heard her joke and tried his best to laugh. "Yeah. Not too bad."

Following her into the limo, he sat beside her and glanced in her direction. He noticed the way she was staring at him, so he took the time to stare right back. She really was beautiful. She was small in stature, but filled with so much spirit and wanderlust. Her eyes were electric blue like the sky during a thunderstorm and her hair was messy, but in a cute way. There was also her temper which made him scared to ever cross her. Not that he ever would. He respected her too much to ever deliberately hurt her. She was also sort of the mom fiend and he was sort of the dad friend, so he thought that they fit together pretty well.

He wondered what it would be like when they actually became parents. He imagined having about three kids and at least one boy. He'd want to name their daughter after his mom, of course. He liked to think they'd make great parents - ones who gave their kids freedom but also the right amount of discipline. But they had plenty of time to figure all that out.

When she leaned her head on his shoulder, he sat absolutely still. Or at least as still as he could during such a bumpy ride. And when she clasped her hand in his, he couldn't hide his smile.

When he was a kid, he was pretty pudgy. So he was called dummy and fatty and all sorts of names that damaged a small child's confidence. At one point, during recess, he was corned by a hoard of his bullies. They were making rude remarks and threatening to beat him up. And then this little girl, shorter than anyone else in the entire school, just stood up in front of Booker - pushing herself between him and the bullies. She told them to fight her instead. They all laughed, but the look she gave them sent them all scurrying. Most of them had moved away as the years went on, but they still haunted him. But the girl, his savior, stayed. Ever since then, he had watched her from a distance - too afraid to actually speak to her. He hadn't ever even officially thanked her for saving him that day. He learned her name, Grace, from hearing it in class. That was all he really knew about her and, yet, he was in love with her. And here they were - with her head on his shoulder and their fingers intertwined.

When they finally arrived at the diner, Booker helped Grace out of the limo. He then turned back to Benji and told him, "I'll call you when we're finished."

After Benji drove away, Booker led Grace into the diner. He reached out and took her hand - no longer afraid to do so. They went to sit in the back of the diner in one of the green booths. Most of the diner was green, actually.

Sitting across from each other, Booker handed her a menu and started to look through his own.

"Hungry?" He asked, unsure of what else to say. He was looking over the menu, but he already knew what he wanted.

pip! · Apr 8th 2019

^{❝ GRACE LYNN MARYWEATHER ❞}

^{fifteen | feminine | freshman | heterosexual | pregnant | single}

*:･ﾟ✦ Grace was glad to see that she and Booker could sit in silence and still be perfectly content. She already felt so relaxed and comfortable with him, which was rare for her. She always pushed people away because of her disability and to protect her Moms from getting hurt. You never know how demented a person was until they showed their true colors. Grace looked down at their joined hands and a soft smile curled onto her smile. Having Booker by her side, she felt almost as if she was home. Like he made her feel safe and protected. She decided then that maybe having him in her life wouldn't be that bad, even if she was having Eddie's baby. Even if he didn't want to date her after finding out, they could at least be friends, right? Grace's eyes saddened at the thought of losing anyone in her life due to her mistake with Eddie. She didn't think the baby itself was a mistake. Everything happened for a reason. But she felt as if it had been a mistake for Eddie to be the father. If she had waited a little longer, perhaps Booker could have been the father. Grace grimaced. She couldn't see herself sleeping with Booker as quickly as she had Eddie. Eddie was a womanizer and she knew it would most likely only be that once. But Booker, he was the type of boy a girl would marry. He was the guy she would take things slow with. A few make out sessions here and there but nothing more until they were serious. Grace liked to think that if she had met Booker before Eddie, she could have been that girl. But, that just wasn't the way things worked out. Grace lifted her head off of his shoulder as the limo came to a stop. Booker climbed out and then turned to help her out. She smiled at him and accepted his help, her wedges making a soft crunch on the gravel. She turned her head as the driver drove off and then her electric gaze met Booker's. Before anything could be said, Booker moved to walk inside the diner. She smiled and walked after him, blushing brightly when he grabbed her hand, seeming unafraid now to do so. Grace allowed him to guide her inside and once they were inside, she looked around.

She saw Eddie and her stomach did a flip. He was sitting at a booth with a few other orchestra guys, his arm wrapped around Mavis' shoulders. Her heart fell to her feet at the sight and for a split second, her gaze met Eddie's. But then he quickly looked away to lovingly look at Mavis. Grace clenched her jaw and turned her head, blinking away the tears that brimmed her eyes. She gulped and let Booker guide her to their booth, her dress fitting her curves very well and swaying gently as she walked. She sat down across from Booker and wiped away the tears from her eyes with a sniffle. She hoped he wouldn't notice. She didn't have the energy to explain her Eddie situation. She took the menu from him as he offered her one, the happy sunlight she had been just a moment ago seeming diminished. She looked over the menu as she tried to think about what she wanted. Hearing Booker's words slice through her thoughts, she looked up at him. A soft smile curled onto her lips, obviously trying to hide the pain she was feeling. "Always." Grace said with a soft laugh. She sniffled and looked up as a waitress approached them. She had blonde curly hair and her eyes were a bright green and her cheeks were dotted with freckles. Grace thought she was beautiful and reminded herself to tell the woman that later on. She looked at her name tag as she introduced herself. Hannah. Grace smiled softly at the sight. She liked the sound of that name. Her hand gently laid on her stomach. She would have to start coming up with baby names soon. She was terrified but equally, just as excited to pick out names. Hannah asked them what they would like to drink with a bright smile on her dimples cheeks. Grace smiled back and she thought for a moment. Her instant reaction was chocolate milk but the more she thought on it, she knew she had to start eating healthier for her baby. "I'll just have some ice water with lemon." Grace said, rather reluctantly. She looked over at Booker, her normal self slowly seeming to return as she began to forget Eddie. Her focus was on Booker and her baby, nothing else. She smiled softly at her date, waiting for his response.

-ghost- · Apr 11th 2019

booker andrew harris//15

While Booker glanced over the menu, as if he wasn't going to get the same thing he did every time, he noticed a change in the mood. Grace seemed a bit off and he began to worry that he had offended her somehow. Though he quickly pushed aside the negative thoughts and dismissed her mood as nervousness.

He began to wonder if this was her first date too. He wasn't too sure if there was anything special they were supposed to do, any type of required etiquette. But then he realized that they were comfortable enough around each other that if they messed up, they would just laugh about it later on.

Then his mind wandered over to their future together. He thought about how they would have a summer wedding since he hated the cold. And at this wedding he would mention their first date and how it went. Then they would move into a house, staying in the south since the north had winters far too harsh, and have a few kids and then grand kids. The two of them would keep telling the story of how they met, passing it down so that their love wouldn't be forgotten.

He was pulled from his thoughts when the waitress asked what they wanted to drink. Grace ordered a water with lime and he nodded. "Same here."

The waitress smiled, showing her dimples, before leaving to grab their drinks. As she left, Booker set the menu aside and watched Grace. Their eyes met and he smiled shyly.

"I think I'll get a burger." He said, as if that wasn't the same thing he had every time he visited. They had the best burgers though and just the thought of them made his mouth water.

The waitress brought them their drinks and he thanked her before she left. As he sipped at his ice cold water, he tried to think about what they could talk about. He knew she was good at music and she knew he was good at poetry. Maybe he could bring up how the student council was trying to talk the school board into providing vegan lunch options in the cafeteria. Or maybe ask how she thought the football team was going to do that night.

It was then that he heard whooping and hollering and the banging of fists on a table. His eyes slid over to a booth on the other side of the diner. And lo and behold, there was Eddie - his arm draped over Mavis' shoulders and his expression amused as he watched his friends act like fools.

Booker couldn't help but roll his eyes at them. He wasn't going to let the imbeciles ruin his first date with Grace. But then he noticed how Eddie's gaze kept moving toward the back of Grace's head and he frowned. From the looks of it, it was pretty obvious that he was in love with Grace. He sure hoped not, as he wasn't a fan of competition.

Smiling toward Grace again and told her, "We can get milkshakes too, if you want. The game doesn't start for a while."

pip! · Apr 11th 2019

^{❝ GRACE LYNN MARYWEATHER ❞}

^{fifteen | feminine | freshman | heterosexual | pregnant | single}

*:･ﾟ✦ Grace smiled softly when Booker had asked for the same drink as she had ordered. She gently shook her head, her curls softly bouncing. "You didn't have to order the same drink as me. My stomach is just a bit of a mess right now." Grace said, her voice as smooth as silk. She giggled softly at Booker's coy reaction and she lifted her menu, looking over her options. Just the thought of a bacon burger made her mouth water. She gulped thickly. She had to eat healthier. For her baby. She couldn't allow herself to be selfish. This wasn't just her body anymore. She was sharing it with her baby. She gently rested her hand on her stomach as she thought. Grace hoped for a girl, she had always wanted a girl. She wondered what her nursery would look like. Would she be girly with it or be unisex? Grace thought the theme would have to match how she felt about this baby. She wanted something sweet, like honey. Possibly a Winnie the Pooh theme? She had always adored the books as a child and still binged the movies to this day. Her favorite character had always been Tigger but she adored the friendship Piglet and Pooh had. She felt her smile widen at the thought. She wished for a girl and would daydream of painting her nursery. Grace then wondered what would happen if she had a boy. Would he look like Eddie, or more like her? Grace truly hoped the baby looked more like her. She did not need Eddie to hold one more thing over her head. She sighed, brushing some loose curls behind her ear. She wondered what the theme for his nursery would be, if she did have a boy. Lion King maybe? She liked the idea of Dumbo, actually. She adored the song Baby Mine. Her adoptive mother would sing it to her when she woke from a nightmare. Even these days. Grace found a great comfort in children's movies and children's shows. She could just imagine holding her baby, daughter or son, and singing Baby Mine to them as she rocked them to sleep. Grace felt her heart flutter at the mere thought. She blinked quickly, pulling herself from her own thoughts. She sighed, focusing on her reality in this moment. She was on a date, with Booker. She smiled at him from behind her menu. He was handsome, in an unconventional way. Most wouldn't find him to be the most handsome in the lot but Grace thought he was beautiful, especially his eyes.

Grace blinked as she remembered she was supposed to be looking over the menu. She pursed her lips in thought and flipped her hair over her shoulder. When he said he would have the burger, her electric gaze lifted to meet his. "I think that's a wise choice. I'm not exactly sure what to get." Grace admitted as she set her menu down in front of her. Grace looked up as the waitress gave them their drinks and she smiled softly, thanking her. She squeezed her lemon into her drink and then set her lemon to the side, on an empty napkin. She stirred her ice water before taking a sip. She sighed, happy to feel her queasy stomach calmed. At least a little bit. "I just want it to be healthy. I'm... trying to to lose weight." Grace caught herself quickly before she admitted to Booker that she was pregnant. That wasn't exactly first date small talk. She huffed, a blush rising to her cheeks. She took another sip of her water as she silently looked over the menu, trying to calm her racing heart. Hollering and the banging of fists broke her focus and she jumped, her pulse quickening. Grace sighed, obviously annoyed. She glanced to the side and behind her, seeing that it was Eddie's idiotic friends. Her and Eddie met gazes for a moment and she narrowed her own eyes. She clenched her jaw and her chest rose and fell quickly as his gaze seemed to challenge her. She huffed and turned back around to face Booker, shaking her head. "Meatheads." Grace grumbled under her breath. She sighed, a frown on her brow. Grace lifted her gaze to Booker once more as she slightly slouched in her seat. She saw him smile and she softly returned with her own smile. She laughed softly at his words and pushed herself to sit up more, crossing her legs under the table. She took a sip of her drink and her gaze met Booker's. "This will tell me alot about you. What flavor milkshake do you get?" Grace asked curiously as she leaned forward in her seat, a playful shimmer in her electric gaze as her giggle danced on the still air int the diner.