Twirling the peach rosebud against her cheek, Grace smiled up at Taylor. Letting out the breath she didn't know she was holding, Grace felt her heart skipping all along the way as he got out to open the door for her. Sliding out from the haven of warm intoxicating leather fragrance, she took his hand and he helped her out.
   Turning to look at him when she stood beside him, Grace smiled. "I missed you. I'm glad about tonight."
   She turned too fast to look at the front of her house and missed the nervous fidgeting of Taylor's hands, the way that the keys jingled extra in his trembling palm. He smiled shakily, "I'm glad about tonight too."
   She turned to smile at him again, and waited for their date to end on her front porch. Walking slowly, she heard Taylor take in a deep breath.
   Pulling it in through his teeth, to calm his ragged nerves, Taylor tried to put himself under some form of control and tightened his hold on her hand. "Here we are." He murmured quietly to himself.
   Smiling to herself, but up at him, Grace leaned forward some and closed her eyes. Only to then be slightly disappointed when Taylor barely brushed her lips with his.
   Frowning slightly, Grace turned the knob and stepped into her house. She froze when she saw her mom standing in the foyer, waiting.
   She sighed, "Mom, it was fine. Tay and I just went out for a light dinner, and then we walked around some when we got done. That's it. I didn't overdo it or anything." Grace crossed her arms and huffed in irritation.
   Ever since she'd been home all her mother ever did was breathe down her neck wondering what she was doing and making sure that she had everything that she needed.
   And when she wanted to go somewhere, they played twenty questions on where, with whom, and why.
   Tapping her foot and counting to ten, Grace tried to let off some steam. She loved her mom, and knew that she was worried about her, but this was getting ridiculous.
   The clock chime was her savior. Smiling a 100-watt smile, Grace leaned over quickly and pecked her mom's cheek. "Goodnight, Mom. Say goodnight to daddy for me when he gets in."
   Racing up to her room, Grace fingered the delicate flower in her hand. The stem felt a little waxy, and the petals were made of cloth, but none the less, she loved the texture. Knowing that she would save it in her treasure box, she closed her bedroom door behind her and went over to kneel beside her bed.
   Reaching her hand underneath, she felt around until she passed over her disregarded shoes and found her treasure box's smooth surface.    Frowning again, Grace took out that second rose and examined it next to the one Taylor had just given her.
   Her frown deepened when she finally realized why it bothered it. They were the same. Not just in color or texture, but made by the same company.
   Picking up the identical treasures and the envelope, Grace sat up and moved to lie in her bed to try and understand this.
   Ripping open the letter and yanking out the loose-leaf paper, Grace read with determination, anxious to get to the bottom of these tiny questions.
   Once she finished reading, down to the last letter and punctuation, all the way to the signature. Grace felt her world spiral downward, then felt a burning anger sing through her.
   Images flashed rapidly in her head. Like a silent movie playing on fast forward of past events.
   Taylor cheating, playing her. Emma wanting to retort and playing Isaac. Her learning the trade from Emma and moving in with her. Their jobs at the bar, her waitressing and Emma stripping. The party, and Brent… a guy she'd seen around Isaac when she was with Zac. The rape. Oh, God…
   Doubling over, Grace ran for the bathroom down the hall from her room. She could feel it happening all over again. The slaps and punches, the pulling and scratching, and then the violation.
   Retching violently, Grace tried to calm down but the hysteria bubbled in her throat while her stomach was emptying itself.
   Once she was able to lean back, and not feel as if her stomach was on a roller coaster ride all by itself, Grace stripped then dragged herself into the bathtub and turned the taps. The water was cold at first, but pushing the 'H' handle all the way down she felt it warm up then burn with a vengeance.
   Unable to pull herself up into a standing position, Grace laid there in the tub letting the hot water scald her skin. Trying to wash the feel and scent off her.