Jo couldn't believe her eyes. Grace was here, her best friend was here, and suddenly everything was okay. Funny how one person can have that kind of effect on another. Trying her best not to dissolve into tears, she clung to her best friend. "Oh, my God, Grace," she said, her voice muffled by the other girl's shoulder.
When Grace let her go, she stepped back and wrapped her arms around her middle. She might be able to act like she was perfectly fine around the people of Colorado Springs, but this girl was a different story and they both knew it. Taking a deep breath, she let it out slowly before she answered her question. "I've been here in Colorado for about a week now," she said as she glanced down at her feet.
Looking back up at Grace, she continued. "I'm so sorry I didn't tell you where I was going. I know I should have called you, but everything was happening so fast and I wasn't thinking clearly." The more she explained herself, the closer she felt to tears she was trying to avoid. Wanting to avoid the reason behind her departure for at least a couple of minutes, she slightly changed the course of the conversation. "How did you find me anyway, did my mom talk to you?"