Once I hear the bathroom door close and I know I’m alone, I call. Grace answers on the second ring but I can barely hear her over the loud music she’s playing.

“Are you blasting your stereo again? Didn’t you get in trouble for that last week?”

The volume of the music lowers slightly. “Whatever. I’m already in trouble anyway. Again.”

My heart sinks. “What did you do now?”

There’s an indignant huff on the other end of the line. “I may have gotten in trouble at school for kneeing a dude. In the junk.”

“Ouch. But I’m sure you wouldn’t have done that without a reason. Did this boy put his hands on you?”

This is why I’m so determined to get Grace out of the system. To those people you’re nothing but a number and few people care enough to advocate for you.

I didn’t have anyone to stand for me but I’m determined to be that for Grace.

“Calm down, momma bear. He just popped my bra strap.” She sounds so disgusted that I can actually picture her rolling her eyes.

“Boys still do that? Seriously?” Now that I’m not worried about her being in actual harm’s way, it’s easy to see the absurdity of it.

“This one won’t be doing it again,” she drawls smugly.

“Yeah, I bet. So why did you get in trouble when he did something to you first?”

“Something about not retaliating with violence, blah, blah. I wasn’t really listening to that part.”

“Grace. I’m doing everything I can to get you out of there but you have to behave.”

“I’m behaving. Everyone around me is the problem. So where are you? I called you a bunch of times.”

There’s a loud crunching sound like she’s eating junk food while she’s talking to me. It gives me such a great mental image of her, curled up on her bed snacking while she’s supposed to be grounded. Enjoying herself even when she’s technically in trouble. That’s typical Grace. My little rebel.

“Oh, I’m … not in New York.”

“Where are you then? You never go anywhere.”

I’ve told her about Luke before and she knows that I’ve been crushing on him for years. If I tell her where I am, she’ll know why I’m here. I sigh.

“I’m in Virginia. Visiting Luke.”

“What? You finally got up the nerve to do it? Oh my god this is so exciting! What is he like? Does he like you? Have you kissed him yet?”

Her excitement is contagious and before long I’m giggling like a teenage girl, too. My sister is the only person that brings out this side of me. Other than Luke, that is. I’ve been doing my fair share of giggling around him this past week.

“Slow down. I’m here working with him on a project.”

Grace makes a snorting sound. “Project? Sounds boring. You’ve been talking about this guy for so long I was pretty sure he was your imaginary friend. Now you’re there visiting? Come on Seven, I’m not a baby. I know why you’re really there.”

Even though she can’t see me, I can feel the heat climbing to my face. “We are working on a project, I’ll have you know. He asked me to help him start a technology program for underprivileged kids.”

“Hmm. Well if you’re just working together that must mean he’s not attractive in real life. Bummer.” My pause seems to give her the answer she’s looking for. “Hah, I knew it. He’s hot, isn’t he?”

“He’s very good-looking,” I admit.

“Is he now? Cute for a geeky guy or like really sexy? Because there’s a difference.”

“He’s gorgeous.” I give up trying to play it cool. “Everything I ever imagined and more.”

Grace squeals on the other end of the phone. “Are you at his house? Why are you calling me? You should be doing sexy stuff right now. Then you can tell me all about it!”

“I won’t be telling you anything about that,” I splutter. Grace has always been the bold one and loves mortifying me by asking inappropriate questions. It’s hard to believe she’s seven years younger than I am.

“You’re my big sister. Who else am I going to ask?”

“That’s true. I’d rather you ask me than your friends who will definitely give you bad advice.”

“This is your chance to find out if the online connection can be more than that. Don’t waste it!”

“I’m not wasting anything. I’m just worried about you.”

“Worry about the hottie hacker instead of me. Figure out a way to infiltrate his systems or whatever you nerds call it.”

“Brat.”

“I’m serious, Seven. You always worry about me. Well, now I’m worried about you. You have a chance to hang out with a cool guy who totally gets you and you’re on the phone with me instead. What’s wrong with this picture?”

I lean against the door of the stall, suddenly really depressed. “When did you get so wise? Aren’t you supposed to be a moody teenager who wears too much eye makeup and listens to boy bands?”

“Stop trying to change the subject. I’m serious here. You always take care of me but who takes care of you? Maybe this Luke guy would if you’d let him.”

“I don’t know … He seems to like me too, but you know I’m not good at this kind of thing. Maybe I’m reading it all wrong. He probably has some supermodel girlfriend that I just haven’t run into yet.”

Grace is quiet. Even though I’ve never said it directly, she knows how self-conscious I am about the scar on my face even though she doesn’t know how I got it. That isn’t something I talk about.

“Well, I’ll tell you what. Step one is to stop talking to me and go jump his bones.”

“Grace! I’m pretty sure jumping someone isn’t step one.” But she’s accomplished what she meant to. I’m no longer feeling sad and pitiful.

“If it isn’t step one, it should be. Life is short.”

“Oh the wisdom of fifteen. How I miss it. Go do some homework or contemplate who’s hotter, Harry or Nevin.”

“Wow, Sev. Not that I’m into pop music but at least I can get their names right.”

We’re both still laughing when we hang up.

†

After I splash my face with water, I venture back out onto the dance floor. Now that I’ve calmed down a little, I’m embarrassed by the way I ran out. I just ditched Luke and left him with no explanation. He probably thinks I’m crazy.

Anita isn’t standing by the bar anymore and I don’t see anyone else I recognize. My usual insecurity comes back and I suddenly feel really exposed standing in the middle of the floor by myself. Just when I’m about to turn around and go back to hiding out in the bathroom, I bump into someone.

“Seven?”

I turn at the sound of my name. It’s one of the bridesmaids, a gorgeous girl with brown skin and long curly hair.

“You’re Luke’s girlfriend, right?” Before I have a chance to confirm or deny, she has me by the hand. I follow dumbly as she leads me into the center of a group of chattering women.

“Look who I found girls. It’s Luke’s girlfriend. This is Seven everybody!”

Oh god. Just kill me now. This is exactly like a recurring nightmare I have, being pulled into a big group of people and then having everyone stare at me.

“Hi!”

“Oh it’s nice to meet you!”

I can barely keep up with everyone’s name and I’m hugged more times than I can keep track of. Eventually I end up at a table where the other bridesmaids are sitting and someone pushes a glass of champagne into my hand.

“Hi, I’m Josie. I’m Zack’s girlfriend. Sasha is the one who dragged you over here. She’s engaged to Gabe. And that’s Finn’s wife, Rissa.” She points at a redhead who is talking to Emma.

“My head is spinning.”

Josie laughs. “I know the feeling. Trust me, you’ll get used to it.”

Rissa takes a seat next to me and before I know it, I’m pulled into their conversation about the honeymoon. Rissa gets up to check something and Emma moves closer to me.

“We’re all so thrilled to meet you. Luke is so brilliant and kind of mysterious in a way. None of us even knew he had a girlfriend.”