A Girl Like Gracie Read online

  “They’re twins,” Elliot answers for me.

  “No way,” a boy says, dropping his fork. It makes a loud sound as it hits the table. “But you look Chinese.”

  “Korean,” Elliot corrects.

  I pull the chopsticks in my purse out to eat with. I don’t want to embarrass myself at school by trying to use a fork.

  “That means Alfie is part Korean too?” the girl asks.

  “Obviously,” Elliot says.

  “Can you speak Korean?” the boy asks.

  “Yes. Both Alfie and I can,” I answer.

  “Say something in Korean,” he says.

  I look at him, then at Elliot. Before either of us can respond, Alfie walks up to the table. He grabs my tray without saying a word and walks it over to his own table. He sits it down beside where he’s sitting and then motions me with his index finger.

  “Joesonghamnida,” I say, apologizing in Korean, then get up. “I guess that is my cue.”

  I walk over and take a seat beside Alfie. I wait for him to say something, but he doesn’t. He just eats.

  Everybody at the table looks at me.

  “Are you two dating or something?” a guy asks.

  “Gross,” Alfie and I say at the same time, and we both laugh.

  Alfie turns away from me. “She’s my sister.”

  “Ah, that explains why Noah was so interested in her,” the guy says, looking at me. “I’m Hunter West, but you can call me West like everybody else.”

  West is tall, like Jace. He has blond hair and dark brown eyes. He’s also tanned, so I guess he spent a lot of time outside this summer, maybe at the beach. I always forget that Americans like to be tan. People probably think I’m really white. Anytime I went to the beach, I always covered myself from head to toe because I didn’t want to get dark.

  “I’m Gracie James,” I say, catching myself before I bow. I don’t want to make Alfie more mad than he already is. I just pick up my chopsticks and start eating again, careful not to slurp anything.

  “Do you have a boyfriend?” West asks.

  I look up in time to see Alfie smack him on the back of the head.

  “Never mind,” he says, rubbing his head.

  Alfie smiles, obviously satisfied.

  “No boyfriend. Just one very protective brother,” I say quietly to myself.

  Jace, who is sitting across from me, smiles. Apparently he heard what I said.

  Alfie turns to look at me. “From now on, you eat here. Got it?”

  “Yes,” I say.

  “Good,” he says, then continues eating.

  Well, at least I don’t have to worry about eating alone.

  So you can punch him?

  At the end of the day, I go to my locker and grab all my books. We don’t have any homework, which is odd, but I figure I can get a head start on studying and maybe work ahead on some assignments. I fill my messenger bag full and sling it over my shoulder. It’s heavy, but not nearly as heavy as my books in Korea were.

  I walk down the hallway towards the exit. On my way out, I pass Noah, who runs up beside me.

  “Let me help you with your bag,” he says. “Those books look heavy.”

  “No thanks,” I say, holding up a hand.

  “I’m sorry. About the whole Yang thing,” Noah says. “I don’t want to get off on the wrong foot with you.”

  “It’s not that. Not really. It’s just… my brother doesn’t like you,” I say. “And to be honest, he doesn’t really like me either. I don’t want to make him mad by talking to you.”

  “Let’s be friends,” he says. “We can be friends in secret.”

  “I don’t know,” I say.

  “You still have my number?”

  I nod.

  “Text me,” he says, then adds, “please.”

  “Maybe,” I say, then turn and walk towards Alfie’s car. When I get out there, both him and Jace are waiting for me.

  “Why is your bag full?” Alfie asks, when he sees me. “Do you already have homework?”

  “No. I just want to get a head start on studying,” I answer. “Most of my classes are advanced ones.”

  I take my bag off my shoulder and start to climb in the back. Jace takes the bag from me and then hands it to me once I’m sitting down in the back.

  “How was your first day?” Jace asks me, as we take off.

  “Okay, I suppose. A little boring,” I say.

  “Did you make any friends?” he asks.

  “Well, I met this guy named Austin Yang in my math class this morning, but Noah ran him off,” I answer, frowning as I think about it. “Austin was sitting by me and Noah made him move so he could sit there.”

  “Is Noah bothering you?” Alfie asks.

  “I can handle him,” I say.

  “Anybody else talk to you?”

  “Nope. Just you guys. And Elliot,” I say. “I am surprised that you guys don’t hang out with Elliot.”

  “We do,” Alfie says. “Sometimes. Everybody in the school is in the same circle, so we all hang out. Except maybe the scholarship kids.”

  “That’s what Austin was,” I say. “He thought I was a scholarship kid for some reason.”

  “Most new students are scholarship kids. People with rich parents usually start there during their freshman year,” Jace says. “He probably just assumed that since you’re a senior that you are there on a scholarship, especially since you were in an advanced class.”

  “Maybe,” I say.

  “Hey, you want to help me with my math?” Jace asks. “I barely passed with a C last year. I need to make good grades this year.”

  “Sure,” I say. “Alfie, you need help too?”

  “No,” he says.

  “Alfie is good at math. He could use help in his English Lit class,” Jace says.

  “I’m a good English tutor,” I say. “I helped my English teacher in Korea. I went to a small school and our English teacher could hardly speak English herself.”

  “I don’t need help,” Alfie says. “I’ll figure it out on my own.”

  What a grouch.

  “I have a question,” I say. Nobody says anything, so I continue. “Why don’t you guys like Noah?”

  “He’s just not a good guy,” Alfie says.

  “I know you say that, but why isn’t he?” I ask. “I mean, he made me mad earlier when he made Austin move, but he apologized for that. I just… I don’t know, I thought it would be nice to have a friend besides the two of you.”

  Alfie stays quiet.

  “Noah has had a lot of girlfriends,” Jace tells me. “Last year, he even stole a girl that Alfie was dating. He never dates a girl long. Never longer than a couple months. The girls always end up heartbroken. You deserve better than that.”

  “You never told me you dated somebody,” I say to Alfie.

  “You never asked,” he replies. “I didn’t know if you dated anybody in Korea either.”

  “I didn’t,” I say.

  “Good,” he says. “When you find a guy you’re interested in, I want to meet him.”

  “So you can punch him?” I ask, in a joking tone.

  Jace and I both laugh. Alfie, after a few seconds, finally laughs with us.

  It feels good to laugh with my brother. It’s been way too long.

  Maybe, just maybe, Alfie is coming along.

  Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

  Later that afternoon, I sit in my room and do some homework. When I pull my English book out of my bag, I notice a folded up piece of paper. It has my name on the front of it, but it’s not my handwriting.

  “Huh. Wonder what this is,” I say.

  I pull the note out and unfold it.

  Gracie,

  If you know what’s good for you, you’ll go back to where you came from. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

  —X

  X? Who would sign a note with just an X?

  For a moment, I think maybe Alfie did, but it’s not his handwriting. But maybe
he got somebody else to write the note for him. I sigh and crinkle up the note, tossing it in the trash. I really thought Alfie and I were getting along better, but it seems like he hates me now just as much as always.

  My phone vibrates on the nightstand, distracting me from my negative thoughts.

  Unknown number: Since you won’t text me, I’m going to text you.

  Me: Who is this?

  Unknown number: I’m hurt. You didn’t save my number to your phone? It’s Noah. Feel free to save my number as Hottie.

  Me: Hi, Noah. I’m ignoring the hottie comment…

  Noah: Aw, I’m hurt. :’( Going to cry now.

  Me: Did you date my brother’s girlfriend?

  Noah: Yes, but in my defense, it’s not my fault she broke up with him for me.

  Me: No wonder my brother hates you so much…

  Noah: It’s water under the bridge.

  Me: According to my brother, that’s definitely not the case. You know, incase his right hook was too subtle.

  Noah: Yeah. I suppose I should apologize for that. You see, I kind of am interested in his sister. And I doubt he’s going to let me take you out on a date at this point.

  Me: DATE? Who said anything about a DATE?

  Noah: I did.

  Me: My answer is NO. N-O. Not happening. Not in a million years. NEVER. EVER. EVER.

  Noah: Wow, don’t spare my feelings.

  Me: Wasn’t planning on it.

  Noah: I don’t think you’d be texting me right now if you weren’t interested.

  Me: Fine then. I won’t text you.

  Noah: Wait!

  Noah: I’m sorry!

  Noah: Just please don’t stop texting me.

  Noah: Please.

  Noah: I have a question. For serious.

  Me: What is your question?

  Noah: Will you answer it?

  Me: Is that your question?

  Noah: You drive on hard bargain. THIS is my question… My dad is getting married again. For, like, the fifth time. This time, it’s to a girl younger than my older sister. And I can’t go to the wedding alone. Will you pretty please go with me? You don’t have to go as my date. Just as a friend.

  Me: We’re friends?

  Noah: YES. Definitely.

  Me: When is it?

  Noah: Saturday. And if you come I will owe you MAJOR. And I will love you forever.

  Me: I don’t want your eternal love. However, I do want a favor. I don’t know what that favor is yet, but when I think of it, you can’t deny me, no matter how ridiculous it is.

  Noah: DEAL! Does that mean you’re coming?

  Me: On one condition.

  Noah: ANYTHING…

  Me: You can’t tell anybody. I don’t want Alfie to find out. It stays between us.

  Noah: Deal.

  Me: Okay. See you tomorrow.

  Noah: Tomorrow :)

  I have a feeling I am going to regret that.

  Friday, August 26

  Mind games.

  My first week at school is over before I know it.

  School is America is certainly a lot different than school in Korea. For one, it’s shorter. I’m used to going to school much longer each day. And two, the classes are much, much easier. I don’t think being first in this school will be a problem at all. In fact, the math class that I’m taking is covering stuff that I learned my first year of high school in Seoul. I would hardly call it an advanced class.

  After school on Friday, Alfie informs me that we’re going to Elliot’s house. Apparently he’s having a party tonight, so we are all going to go hang out and have fun. I like Elliot’s mom, so I definitely don’t mind going over to the Sherwood home.

  When we get there, Patricia Sherwood greets me with a hug.

  “Gracie, you are just too cute,” she says.

  “Thanks,” I say, feeling awkward for doing so.

  “You kids can go on down to the basement. Elliot is already down there,” Patricia says. “Have fun.”

  As I follow them out of the foyer and towards the basement, I feel a little confused.

  “Elliot’s mom is okay with him having female guests over without her supervising?” I ask.

  “She’s supervising,” Alfie says.

  “Yeah, but in Korea we never would be without adults somewhere in mixed company,” I say.

  “Elliot has a party almost every weekend,” Jace says. “His mom trusts him. And we all just do this to have fun.”

  We go down the stairs towards the basement.

  In Korea, we lived on the sixth floor in our apartment building, so we didn’t have a basement. As a kid, I remember living in a house that had a basement, but it was creepy. The floor was concrete, it always leaked, and one time I saw a mouse down there, so I was scared to go. But this basement isn’t at all creepy. In fact, it looks like just another story to the house.

  There is carpet on the floor. It’s a light beige color that you would expect to be stained, but it’s not. I feel weird not taking off my shoes. I don’t know why people don’t take off their shoes in America when they enter a home. It’s strange, but I suppose I’ll get used to it.

  The basement walls are sheetrock and they’re painted red. The ceilings are white, lightening it up a lot. The lights are bright too, and even though there aren’t windows, I don’t feel like I’m in a basement.

  It also isn’t just one big room, like I expected. There is a big area, but there are lots of doors, and I wonder what all is down here.

  Jace sees me looking. “Through there is a theater,” he says, pointing to one of the doors.

  “A theater?” I ask, my mouth open.

  “Yep,” he answers, the points to another door. “Through the two bowling lanes.” He points to another door. “And there is the bathroom. Elliot has a computer room down here too.”

  “Wow,” I say.

  “Elliot is an only child, so he’s spoiled,” he says.

  “I resent that,” Elliot says, coming out of one of the doors. “Hey, guys. Glad you could make it.”

  Elliot, Jace and Alfie start talking about things I don’t understand. While I’m standing there, with nothing to say, I pull out my phone and decide to check my social media or something. As I pull it out of my pocket, I feel it vibrate with a text.

  Noah: What are you doing?

  Me: At Elliot’s house with Jace and Alfie.

  Noah: On my way.

  I read the text again.

  On my way.

  What?

  Why is he on his way?

  Me: Why are you coming?

  He doesn’t respond. But this can’t be good. Alfie hates Noah and this is definitely not going to end well for anybody.

  Since I agreed to go with Noah to his dad’s wedding, we’ve been texting everyday. He’s actually pretty nice. He even apologized to Austin Yang. Only because I asked him to, but he did it. He’s not as bad as I thought he was.

  I keep thinking about Jace and Alfie’s warning, but it doesn’t matter. I’m not interested in Noah like that. We’re just friends, and I like being his friend. He’s the only friends I’ve made at Bayside Academy. None of the girls in school will talk to me. Maybe they just need to warm up to me.

  Just a few minutes later, Noah walks into the basement.

  “Hey, guys,” Noah says to Elliot, Jace and Alfie, then looks at me. “Hey, Gracie.”

  “Sup, Noah,” Elliot says, doing some weird fist bump guy thing with Noah.

  “Just thought I’d stop by. Dad’s got wedding rehearsal tonight and he strictly told me that I’m not allowed to come,” Noah says. “Not after what happened last time.”

  To my surprise, they all laugh, even Alfie.

  “What happened last time?” I ask.

  “Long story,” Noah says. “So what are you guys up to tonight?”

  “Lola and Erica are coming,” Elliot says. “So I figure they will bring a lot of people. It’ll be fun. We’ll just hang out or whatever.”

  “Min
d if I stay?” he asks.

  “You’re always welcome,” Elliot says, then looks at Alfie. “Are you okay if Noah stays?”

  “As long as he keeps his hands off my sister,” Alfie says, now looking at Noah.

  “Where’s the fun in that?” Noah says quietly to me.

  I laugh and everybody turns to me. Thankfully nobody else heard Noah’s comment.

  “I am allowed to talk to her, right?” Noah asks Alfie.

  Alfie frowns. “Dude, we used to be friends. I know how you are. I don’t want you playing your mind games with my sister.”

  “No mind games,” Noah says. “We’re just friends.” He looks at me. “Right, Gracie.”

  I nod my head once. “Friends. Only friends. And even that is pushing it.”

  “See. She won’t fall for my charms,” he says.