Chapter 3
When I got back to the classroom, a beautifully wrapped gift box was already sitting on my desk.
But I felt no urge to open it. I simply tucked it into the back of my desk drawer.
"Aren't you going to open it?" James leaned over his desk, looking puzzled by my reaction.
"You used to be so excited about this. You couldn't even focus in class. You had to open it right away," he said.
I pressed my lips together, unsure how to explain.
Truthfully, the gift never mattered. What I cared about was Emily's friendship.
She worked an entire month to buy me items I could purchase with a single click.
But I never took her gestures for granted. On her birthday, I always returned the favor tenfold.
When stress weighed on her, I held her hand and told her she deserved every good thing.
But now, that friendship had curdled at the edges.
"I'm afraid I'll break it. I'll open it when I get home." I brushed him off with a casual excuse.
James asked no more questions.
When school was over, Mrs. Nolan stood waiting by the gate.
She took my arm, smiling warmly. "We're having a family dinner tonight. Come join us. It has been so long since we shared a meal. I've missed having you around."
The warmth in Mrs. Nolan's tone drew a flicker of sadness from Emily, who stood off to the side.
But she schooled her features into a neutral smile and waved goodbye.
"I'm heading out now. Bye," she said.
"Wait," James called out, almost without thinking.
James instinctively tried to keep Emily from leaving, then hurried to come up with a reason.
"She's Grace's best friend. We always go everywhere together," he said.
"If she's Grace's friend, she should join us for dinner too," Mrs. Nolan said warmly.
When Mrs. Nolan invited her, Emily glanced at me first, hesitation written across her face, as if afraid I would uncover her secret.
But I gave her a reassuring smile and said, "Let's go together."
At the dinner table, Mrs. Nolan kept piling food onto my plate and teasing me between bites.
"Grace, you're looking more and more beautiful these days. Are there a bunch of boys trying to ask you out at school?" she teased.
I hesitated for a beat, then quickly replied, "No."
"That's good. Otherwise, James wouldn't even get a shot," Mrs. Nolan said, finally relaxing.
She breathed out, then jumped right back into teasing me.
She asked, grinning, "So, Grace, what do you think of James? I adore you, honestly. I wish you could be my daughter-in-law."
As soon as she said that, the whole table went quiet.
Emily stared down at her plate, her jaw tight as she hid her expression.
But James, who was usually so gentle, suddenly snapped, "Mom, stop trying to set us up. Grace's got no idea how to respond."
He stepped in for me, but he couldn't help glancing at Emily the whole time.
Mrs. Nolan only gave an awkward smile and didn't say anything else.
The meal ended on a sour, strained note.
On the way home, Emily received a phone call. Her voice went tight with panic.
"I'm on my way back. I'll pay you back, I swear," she said, her voice shaking.
"Please, I'm begging you, don't hurt my mom," she pleaded, desperation thick in her voice.
Seeing her rush home in a panic, I started to follow, but James pulled me back.
He said, "You've got the second official SAT practice exam tomorrow. Don't get mixed up in all that. Her family has carried debt for years. It's nothing new. Let it be."
Hearing that, I had no choice but to look away, and James walked me home.
But when I spotted the gift box peeking out of my bag, guilt twisted in my stomach. I grabbed it and hurried after Emily.
As soon as the elevator reached the second floor, I heard two voices I knew all too well.
"I don't need your help. I can handle this myself." Emily snapped.
"If you could really handle it, would they still be bothering you every single day?" James shot back.
"Emily, when are you going to learn to lean on me instead of keeping everything to yourself?" he said, his voice full of frustration.
I stood frozen in the elevator lobby, numb, staring up at them.
Emily's eyes glistened red as she swiped at her tears, stubborn and proud.
"James, how can I rely on you when you know Grace has feelings for you?" Emily said, her voice trembling.
"I won't pursue the guy she likes. I'll pay you back, okay?" she added, her tone firm.
With that, she turned to close the door.
But James suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her close, holding her tight in his arms.
"But the one I like is you. It's you, and no one else," he said, his voice trembling with emotion.
"Let me go," Emily shouted, pushing at his chest.
The harder Emily tried to break free, the tighter James held her.
Finally, she couldn't fight it anymore and reached out, holding him back.
"But what about Grace? And what about us?" she whispered, her voice trembling.