[center][img]http://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjgwLmM3NjFmYS5SM0poWTJWbWRXd2dRVzVuZFdsemFBLCwuMA,,/dancing-barefoot.regular.png[/img]
[img]http://49.media.tumblr.com/80b3453c701afcf71dd3ef69f6716a3d/tumblr_mn71aaZzUA1rie27io1_500.gif[/img]
[b][u]Location:[/u][/b] Verona Clinic → Verona Streets → Wells' House Driveway → Grant's Room(olala~)
[b][u]Interacting With:[/u][/b] Each Other([sub][@Undine][/sub]), Ava, Ellen, and Jack Wells[/center][hr]
[hr]
The small gathering at the park had been uneventful at best; well, that wasn't the complete truth. Alice had met a handful of new people, conversed with friends... It was really nice to be able to wind down and relax after the events of the previous night. The lack of certain people at the park was a sore reminder of their injuries, but Alice was hopeful that everyone would recover in due time. She was half-expecting a monster to rip the ground apart and attack everyone, but fortunately nothing like that happened.

Maybe they were finally done with their streak of dismal luck.

Alice had her father's car, so before everyone parted ways Alice offered people rides. But the prerequisite of walking back to the clinic to pick it up seemed to deter most people--everyone was rather lazy, it seemed. It was getting dark, and it was never a good idea for a small girl walk alone in the dark; especially after a murder, and whatever happened at the party. Grant had been the only one to accompany her, but it was better that way. It felt like she hasn't had a chance to catch up with him for a long time.

[color=FF69B4][b]"So what's been up with you Grant? Heard you were dating Livvie,"[/b][/color] Alice commented as she drove them out of the clinic parking lot. Driving wasn't her favorite thing to do, so she was taking it a bit slow and cautious. Running someone or something over would [i]not[/i] be a joke, especially at a time like this.

Grant's head quickly turned left, facing Alice's own. [color=884dff][b]"Even you heard, Alice?"[/b][/color].He asked, surprised. [color=884dff][b]"I didn't even think anyone noticed us. I mean, both of us fly under the radar, so I figured no one would talk."[/b][/color] He let out somewhat of a laugh.

[color=FF69B4][b]"No one told me,"[/b][/color] Alice chuckled, flickering a mischievous glance at his surprised expression. [color=FF69B4][b]"It was obvious at the party. I'm a wallflower, remember? I notice these things."[/b][/color]

[color=884dff][b]"Oh..,"[/b][/color] Grant's voice suddenly went into a low tune, almost silent. He remained quiet for at least ten seconds, [color=884dff][b]"were we really that obvious? I mean, with all that was going on before the earthquake, it didn't seem like Olivia and I stood out that much."[/b][/color] As he spoke, Grant, inside his mind, was trying to figure out exactly how obvious that they were being.

[color=FF69B4][b]"Mmmm, not too obvious I don't think."[/b][/color] Alice mused quietly as she rounded a corner and paused at a stop sign. She shot a reassuring smile at her friend as she stepped on the gas pedal. [color=FF69B4][b]"I just noticed that you guys seemed... [i]different[/i] than usual, so I thought that I'd ask and see you react. It was just a hunch."[/b][/color]

[color=884dff][b]"Oh, so you didn't.."[/b][/color] It had just dawned on Grant that Alice didn't know about him and Olivia — well, not really, anyways. [color=884dff][b]"Well, I guess the cat's out of the bag now,"[/b][/color] Grant let out a semi-defeated laugh, but most of it was that kind of laugh one does when they are found out or something of the like. All of the talk about him and Olivia made Grant think about his girlfriend and how he hasn't seen her since the night before. Grant didn't want to, but he was getting worried for her and that something might've happened to her.
[hr]
Pretty soon, Alice drove her way into Riveredge. She was always struck by the sheer grandness and luxuriously large mansions of this part of town. As someone who lived on Hillside, Alice was one of the families were were better off. Upper mid-class was nothing to sneeze at. However, Riveredge was some place she couldn't even imagine living in. Some mansions had gates, private swimming pools, large driveways and four stories... It was definitely one of the more beautiful places in Verona for good reason. All of the richest people in Verona were gathered here; Oh look, there's King's house.

Alice knew where Grant lived, she had visited a couple of times. So with relatively no directions from him, she automatically pulled into the large driveway next to the enormous mansion that she still couldn't believe people actually lived in. [color=FF69B4][b]"Well Grant, looks like we're here. Cab fare is about $50 plus tax."[/b][/color]

As they pulled into the spacious, concrete driveway, Grant, even through the limited lighting that the motion censored lights provided, noticed the lack of a certain Red Audi that he took out the night prior. [color=884dff][b]"So, father's not here, huh?"[/b][/color] Grant mused aloud, not particularly paying attention to anything outside his own thoughts. When the car stopped, Grant looked to Alice briefly. [color=844dff][b] "I'm sure I can reimburse you for the gas you used to drop me off - just let me get--"[/b][/color] Before Grant could finish what he was going to say to Alice, Ava was knocking at the window to the passenger side door. Alerted, Grant turned his head around. [color=884dff][b]"Ava!?"[/b][/color] Grant shouted, more scared almost to death than he was surprised.

[color=FF69B4][b]"I didn't mean it!"[/b][/color] Alice quickly protested with a dismissive wave of her hands. [color=FF69B4][b]"Seriously, it wasn't that big of a deal. I don't pay for gas, anyways. This is my dad's car. He can deal with--"[/b][/color] Alice was cut off by Ava and Grant's (rather amusing and exaggerated) surprise. It was surprising to Alice as well, but nothing to be terrified about.

[color=FF69B4][b]"Hey Ava! Just dropping off this guy here. What's up?"[/b][/color]

[color=00aeef][b]"Alice? Alice Malone? Is that you? Wow, haven't seen you since you were a pudgy little thing. You look great, babe."[/b][/color] Always one with clever words, Ava was. [color=00aeef][b]"And thanks, but Grant!"[/b][/color] Ava was getting impatient. Before Grant even had his right foot out on the hard, concrete ground on the parking lot, Ava was tugging at his arm to pull him faster out of the car. 

[color=884dff][b]"Ava, I missed you too, but what's the rush? What couldn't wait a few minutes for me to get inside the house?"[/b][/color] Grant annoyingly asked. He loved his sister, but she could drive everyone crazy sometimes.

[color=00aeef][b]"Fine, if you prefer to spend time with Alice here instead of reading a letter your [i]girlfriend[/i] wrote you, then I [i]guess[/i] I could understand that"[/b][/color] Ava said, waving a rather elegantly-decorated envelope in her right hand in front of Grant's face.
[color=884dff][b]"I got a letter? Why wouldn't she.."[/b][/color]

[color=00aeef][b]"Yes, you got a letter! You got a letter! You got a letter! I wonder what it says?"[/b][/color] Ava snag to the Mail Song from Blues Clues. 

As Grant took the letter from Ava's hands(who had went inside the house), he just looked at it. Looking at its designs. He should be happy that he had a letter from her right? He should be happy that she took the time to decorate it with such intricate designs that it seemed to take forever to make. He should be happy that she thought of him so highly to write him a letter. And yet, Grant couldn't help but feel wary about the contents of this letter. He didn't see Olivia all day today, and no one he asked saw her still be at the clinic where most of the kids from last night were being held at. On top of that, she sent him a letter instead of just being there on his doorstep. All of this didn't set well with Grant and the feeling he had in the pit of his stomach.

Alice had been about to back out of the driveway, but the skeptical look on Grant's face made her pause. Her eyebrows knit together in a concerned frown as she considered why Grant could be so hesitant to open it up. If Alice had gotten a love letter (which, for the record has never really happened), she was sure that she would be eagerly opening it, as carefully as she could with haste. And a letter from her non-existant boyfriend would be even more exciting to rip into. She took her foot off the gas pedal and rolled down the window of the passenger seat. [color=FF69B4][b]"Grant, you okay?"[/b][/color]

When he heard Alice's words of worry, Grant looked over to her, seeing her eyes look at him. [color=884dff][b]"I-I'm not sure. Liv sent me this letter, but.."[/b][/color] Grant's words seemed to be scarce, his eyes looking back at the letter briefly. [color=884dff][b]"I just cant' shake this feeling in my gut that something's horribly wrong with this."[/b][/color] Grant said, looking back at Alice.

[color=FF69B4][b]"I'm sure it's nothing to worry about,"[/b][/color] Alice called back with a hasty smile that she hoped was reassuring. She couldn't blame him though, after everything that had happened over the span of two days, it was only natural that there was paranoia stirring around in Grant's mind. Biting down on her lip, Alice turned the engine off and hopped out of the car to make her way over to Grant. She placed a gentle hand upon his back and patted it gently. The words "Everything will be fine," died upon her lips. Everything wasn't fine, that's just the way it was. Surely Olivia's letter couldn't be that bad? Something help Alice back from empty reassurances though. After a moment of silence and carefully considered her words, Alice finally murmured, [color=FF69B4][b]"You're not going to find out unless you open it."[/b][/color]

When Grant felt the touch of Alice's hand on his back, an instinct in him told the young Wells to meet her gaze. He hadn't noticed it until now, but they had similar shades in their eyes. While Grant's seem to have a slightly darker tone to it, both of their eyes were in the hazel family. For just a brief moment, it seemed like Grant lost his train of thought. He shook his head slightly. [color=884dff][b]"I-I just don't know if you're right."[/b][/color] Grant was uncertain. He again looked down at the letter with unsure eyes.

Upon seeing her friend's eyes waver in indecision, Alice's mouth twisted downwards, unpleased by the fact that there wasn't really anything she could do to help Grant. She quickly tugged the corner of her lip upwards in a half-smile for him though. It wouldn't help if she was moping around as well. She clapped her hand lightly against Grant's back, and spoke in as cheerful of a voice she could muster. [color=FF69B4][b]"Come on, go inside and open it. Whatever it is, it's better than being in agony wondering what's been written. I can go with you if you'd like. Who knows? Maybe we'll laugh at how silly this whole thing is."[/b][/color]

[color=884dff][b]"I would..like that a lot,"[/b][/color] Grant smiled, leading Alice towards the house.When they would step through the front door, it would be like stepping into one of those houses from the famed classic, MTV Cribs. Expensive, interior designs that very well matched the reputation of wealth that Grant's family had. Though he never really cared about it, he didn't mind it so much.

As the door closed behind Alice(Grant held it open for her because he's a gentleman like that), the sound alerted whoever was in the Family Room(that's what Wesley called it). He led them through the foyer, and they were welcomed by Grant's rather snappy Grandmother, Ellen, and his less-than snappy, and more collected Grandfather, Jack. 

[color=yellow][b]"Oh, isn't this a surprise? Grant and a beautiful little flower."[/b][/color] Ellen didn't waste any time to bring in Grant — and Alice — in a rather forced embrace. 

[color=FF69B4][b]"O-oh thank you!?"[/b][/color] Alice gasped softly as she found herself suddenly pressed against Ellen and Grant. She was never adverse to hugs, but this one was rather sudden, unexpected and tight. Alice wasn't quite prepared for this, and she quickly grappled for an appropriate reaction. Her mind was blanking on proper my-friend's-grandmother-suddenly-grabbed-us-both-in-a-hug-and-I-can't-breath etiquette. Nevertheless, her arms automatically attempted to rise to pat Ellen on the back, but they were pressed far too tightly against her sides to do so. Looks like the only thing she could really do was stand there and accept the hug.

[color=silver][b]“Ellen, my dear, you’re suffocating the poor kids.”[/b][/color] Jack said, coming from the Family Room.

[color=yellow][b]“I am?”[/b][/color] Ellen looked at the almost air-deprived faces of Alice and Grant. [color=yellow][b]“Oh, I’m terribly sorry. I just love this boy so much.”[/b][/color] She proceeded to kind of pinch Grant’s cheeks.

[color=884dff][b]“Grandma..”[/b][/color] Grant, embarrassed, tried to get his dear Grandma to stop, but she wouldn’t let up until Jack had to half-force her with gentle eyes.

[color=yellow][b] “So, you must be Olivia? Weird, could’a sworn Grant said you were blonde — and taller.”[/b][/color]

[color=884dff][b]“Grandma, this isn’t Olivia. This is Alice.” [/b][/color]Grant explained to his grandma.

[color=silver][b]“Come now my dear, let us leave Grant to his guest.”[/b][/color] Jack gently motioned his dearest away and to the stairs.  Before he could, however, Grant tugged at his Grandfather’s arm. [color=silver][b]“Yes, my boy?”[/b][/color]

[color=884dff][b]“Do you know where father is, grandfather?”[/b][/color] Grant asked rather urgently, his eyes suggesting as such.

Jack let out a low moan, hinting towards unfortunate news. [color=silver][b]“We will talk about that later when your guest leaves.”[/b][/color] He said, looking away, leading him and Ellen to the stairs, probably to their bedroom most likely.

Grant quickly pondered on what could be so bad that his grandfather couldn’t say right in front of Grant and Alice. A quick shake of his head brought Grant to the matter at hand. [color=884dff][b]“Right, this way.”[/b][/color] Grant led Alice upstairs. It was a spiral staircase that went about fifty steps until they reached the upstairs level. Grant’s room was the second door on the right. It was right next to Ava’s room, who happened to peek her head out as she saw Grant and Alice head into his room. He saw her. She quickly retracted her blonde, curious head, and her door closed.

When they got into his room, Grant let the door naturally close. The confirmation that it had closed was the click the door made. As Grant walked Alice to his room — or rather led her into it — she would see a rather spacious room that had a good amount of yardage(about three or four yards) in-between the space for his computer/study desk and bed. There were four light blue and purple rug underneath any kind of nightstand or desk. One was big, two were of medium size, and one was small. Of course the smaller one was underneath his nightstand, the medium one was under his study desk and his couch that he had in there for just simply lounging(it was across from his tv). The floor was dark red hardwood.

[color=884dff][b]“Sorry if it’s a bit spacious.”[/b][/color] Grant apologized to Alice for the largeness and almost emptiness of his room. He kind of gestured to his couch. “We can sit here if you like.” Grant said.

[color=FF69B4][b]"Did you really just apologize for having too big of a room? Never apologize for that, it's pretty great."[/b][/color] Alice chuckled with a small shake of her head. She glanced around, marveling at how large it really was. Alice's room was fairly large, but she didn't have room for a couch with extra space left over. Rich people truly lived in a different sort of space, didn't they? Alice seated herself on the cushy couch and gave a soft "ooh!" as her weight sunk down into it. She patted the couch cushion next to her and smiled up at Grant expectantly. [color=FF69B4][b]"Ready?"[/b][/color]

Grant couldn't help but smile widely when Alice made that sound as she sat down on the couch in his room. No one who has sat on that couch — least of all a girl — made that exhilarating reaction to a comfy cushion. It definitely lightened up Grant's mood a bit. "Yeah, I guess," Grant shrugged, taking a seat next to Alice.

As he took the envelope in his hand, he was about to run his right index finger through the seal, but then he stopped.

[color=FF69B4][b]"Grant?"[/b][/color] Alice slipped her arm through Grant's and gave it a little squeeze. She leaned over to peer into his face with her wide eyes and a soft smile. [color=FF69B4][b]"You can do it. Whatever happens, I'm here."[/b][/color]
[color=FF69B4][b]"On three?"[/b][/color] Alice prompted gently, sensing how scary this must be for Grant. She rested her chin on Grant's shoulder, resting her upper body against his side. Her free arm also made its way to his arm, patting it a few times reassuringly.

When he felt the touch of her arm lock in with his, the touch of her chin on his shoulder, it all reminded him of Olivia. For whatever reason, Grant smiled, and it seemed that half of the worry he had before was gone. Even though half of it remained, Alice's comforting notions made him feel a lot better.

Grant took in a deep breath, [color=884dff][b]"one,"[/b][/color] and he let it out. 

Alice was watching Grant's reaction carefully as she gave him one more squeeze on the arm. [color=FF69B4][b]"Two." [/b][/color]

Grant smiled. [color=884dff][b]"three."[/b][/color]

And Grant's index finger gently lifted up the seal to Olivia's letter to him. He had to be careful not to rip the letter itself. When he was finally able to get the seal completely up, he pulled out the letter. It seemed to be handwritten. It was written on regular notebook paper. It looked college ruled. 

As he was about to unfold it, there seemed to be a tight knot in Grant's stomach. Nerves were getting to him. He almost wasn't going to completely unfold the paper, but then he remembered that he had ALice by his side. Plus, he came this far, so might as well see it to the end, right? Yes, that's exactly right. So, Grant simply unfolded the letter, and he read it aloud:

[quote=Livvie][indent][color=darkorange][b]Dear Gee,[/b]
I  would like to just start by saying how all the years we have spend  together have been the best moments of my life. Growing up, Loneliness  was a thing I had tried to get myself used to as I had little to no  friends. The day I met you was akin to a rebirth, and it is just like  what it sounds. Getting to meet you and being friends with you was the  second best thing in my life. You were my closest companion, and stuck  with through my high and lows, as I did with yours. You would be there  for me when no one else would. 

We were always there for each other, in times of danger, sadness, happiness or otherwise. I treasured  our friendship and relationship dearly and would never give it up for  anything in the world. The best moment in my life was the very day at  Simone's where we confessed our feelings for each other and kissed for  the very first time. That is a memory that I will definitely treasure  forever, and keep it close to my heart where-ever I go. I will never  forget you nor will I ever forget the countless amount of memories, good  or bad. 

I am writing this to you now in my remaining minutes  before I catch the flight out of the state; it will be mailed and sent  to you soon enough, I'm sure. I just also want you to know that I had no  say in this, but my family would be moving to to stay with my uncle's  family in Las Vegas for good. He is apparently quite the wealthy man and  has welcomed us with open arms, according to my father. 

I think me ending up in the hospital like that after Everett's party scared the hell out of their wits, and they threatened to disown me if I refused  to go, and you know that as much as I love you, I can't do that. They're  my parents, after all. If I've had any other sensible choice, or if my  parents were complete scumballs, I would have been perfectly fine with  them disowning me, but you know them as well, and for a lack of better  words, nice as hell. With that said, I'll never ever forget you, and if  you ever come to Las Vegas, feel free to pay me a visit. I'll leave the  address somewhere below. I hope we meet again.

I'll always miss you.
Farewell and take care, my dearest.[/color]
[/indent][/quote]
[color=884dff][b]"No..no - she can't."[/b][/color] Grant didn't know what to say. He was at a loss for words. 

He gripped the letter tight, almost wrinkling the thin, white paper. He read over the letter three times, trying to figure out if there was some hidden message in it. Liv always liked to do that. In her texts, she had a tendency to throw some hidden message that Grant always caught. But there was nothing. There was no hidden message, no Easter Eggs that she often threw in, no typo, or anything that would hint that this was a joke. Liv didn't do cruel jokes, but Grant thought that, perhaps, she was trying something new. Even people like Liv had to experiment with humor, right? 

[color=884dff][b]"She's just playing with me. That's it. She can't really be gone, right? —" [/b][/color]Grant, almost as if his instinct and refusal to believe the content in the letter, faced Alice's gaze. [color=884dff][b]"—right?" [/b][/color]Grant looked to Alice to tell him that this was all just one really bad prank, and that Olivia — his Olivia — wasn't gone.

[color=FF69B4][b]"I..."[/b][/color] Alice's eyebrows were slanted upwards, with her wide eyes bright with concern and slight shock. She slowly turned her gaze to meet Grant, and her heart lurched at his earnest, expectant eyes. It was pretty unbelievable to her as well. In theory, she knew that there were people who moved away from Verona due to the murders that had happened. Any lost friends weren't very close to Alice, however. And she had never expected anyone to move away [i]now[/i]. A rational part of her mind knew that it was inevitable--who would want to live in a town with a second wave of death and paranoia?

[i]It's an elaborate prank. You'll see Olivia tomorrow, she's just tired and resting now. Everything is fine, was fine, and will be fine.[/i] Oh, Alice wanted to say that out loud so badly. She had to physically press her hand against her mouth to prevent herself from delivering empty promises and reassurances. As much as she wanted to believe that it was all a lie, she knew deep in her heart that it was true. Alice had known Olivia for years. She was one of the most kindhearted girls that Alice had ever met. She wasn't this cruel. [color=FF69B4][b]"G-Grant. Oh Grant, I'm so sorry..."[/b][/color]

[color=884dff][b]"No"[/b][/color], was all that Grant could get out. Through the self-denial that he had in and out of his mind, Grant was refusing to believe this. Through the heavy breathing that soon was following by loud cries, Grant didn't want to believe this. A pain tons worse than his father beating him with a leather belt. This was a pain that exceeded everything that his father had done to the family. It exceeded all of the angst and stress that Grant felt when he couldn't do anything to stand up to his father or say anything to anyone. It felt as if Grant's life was coming and crashing down on him. 

Tears flowed down his rosy cheeks, and Grant couldn't do anything else but let them come in the dozens. He couldn't do try and stop Olivia from leaving. The fact of the matter was that she had already boarded the flight to Las Vegas. She was already gone to live with her uncle, and left Grant. She left him, not even knowing what it would do to him. 

Grant's head fell looking down, the image of the floor in his line of sight. However, that's not what he saw. In the place of his floor, he saw Olivia's face. He simply couldn't hold it in any longer. Sacrificing any supposed "manliness", Grant let out a crying, pain-filled, sadness-riden, shriek that would even make the toughest prisoner in the worst prison in the world feel the pain and shed a tear.

The sight of Grant's tears was enough for tears to well up in Alice's own eyes. She had never been good about not-crying. Even movies that were only slightly sad made her cry if the on-screen character was crying. And now, seeing Grant in such anguish and pain, vocalizing it without words.... Alice didn't stand a chance at holding back her tears. Still, the pain that Grant was feeling was undoubtedly many, many times worse that what she was feeling. Olivia had been her friend, yes. But Olivia had been Grant's [i]girlfriend[/i]. The only person who could possibly comfort Grant at the moment was miles away in Las Vegas. Alice may have promised Grant that she would be here for him, but what could she do? How could she compare to Olivia?

Biting down on her lip hard to distract herself from sobbing, Alice reached over and wrapped her right arm tightly around Grant, gently rubbing his back in soothing circles. Her left arm draped around his chest, clinging loosely to his shoulder. She pressed her cheek into his shoulder and promised herself that she wasn't going to cry. It was a hard promise to keep; every tremor that ran through Grant's body, every ragged breath, every tear that slid down his face threatened her resolve. She had no words, so Alice simply held Grant tightly to remind him that while someone in his life had to leave, he wasn't alone. He would never be alone, not if Alice could help it.