American Dream by Allana Walker

Since the age of 6 Grace McDonald always wanted to be a Broadway star. 

Singing, dancing, acting she didn't care as long as she was on a stage in the Big Apple. 

She wanted that American Dream. 

But when tragedy strikes before she's due to go live out those dreams, it all comes crashing down! 

Will she let this stop her or will she follow her dreams like she always wanted? 

**Some parts of this book contains sensitive subject matters and might be a trigger for some readers** 

***100% of profits will be donated to Cancer Research and Macmillan Cancer Care

Copyright © 2015 Allana Walker

December 8th, 2000

“Come on, guys! We only have a week to get this right!” Mrs McNeill shouts, slamming her hand on the desk. We’ve been trying to get this move right for the past few days but Henry keeps dropping me.

“I’m sorry, Grace.” He looks down. I’ve noticed that since he and I have been paired up, the once over-confident guy is now a stuttering mess. “I just…” he begins, but Mrs McNeill interrupts him.

“One more time from the top.” She stands with her arms folded.

We get through it all perfectly until the lift again. Henry drops me and I fall onto my knees. “Shit, Grace. I’m so sorry.” He crouches down to see if I’m okay.

“I’m fine.” I smile up at him. I never noticed how good-looking he was until now. He’s tall, with dark hair and bright blue eyes. The bell rings, bringing me out of my thoughts.

“You two stay behind. We need to work on this!”

“Can I just phone my dad to let him know?” I ask, standing up. She nods, and I grab my mobile from my bag as the rest of the class leaves.

 ***

“Finally!” Mrs McNeill cheers. I’m still in Henry’s arms, staring into his eyes, and my tummy starts to feel funny. “Well done! I can go home happy now that you two have finally got it!”

I’m getting my bag ready when I feel a presence behind me.

“Um… would you like to go bowling with me at the weekend?” Henry rushes out. I stand there staring at him, letting it sink in that Henry, the most popular guy in school, has asked me out. “Grace?” He waves his hand in front of me.

“Huh?” I blink.

He looks at me expectantly, with one eyebrow lifted. “Will you?”

I nod, not trusting my voice. He looks at me with a beaming smile. “Good. So I’ll pick you up tomorrow night.” Just like that, he’s gone, leaving me gobsmacked and staring at his retreating back.

I walk into the house and I’m instantly hit with the smell of apple crumble baking in the oven. It smells amazing. Connie must be here. I smile to myself. Connie has been in our lives for about a month but it feels like she’s been here forever. She comes here on a Friday and leaves Sunday night. She cooks for us, even though Dad tells her he can do it. She tells him to just sit down and let her cook.

“Hey, sweetie,” she greets me when I slump onto one of the chairs and put my head on the table with a thud. “Bad day?” I can hear the amusement in her voice.

“Actually, no. The most popular boy in school asked me out.” I lift my head.

“Henry Williams?” Dad asks, walking in and kissing Connie’s cheek. I smile at the scene. Dad looks happy, and if he’s happy, I’m happy.

“Yup.” I pop the P. Dad works with Henry’s dad at Grant’s Accountants.

“Henry’s a nice boy.” He sits opposite me as Connie busies herself serving up our tea.

“Mmm.” My mouth waters when she places Spaghetti Bolognese in front of us. “This is amazing,” I say with my mouth full.

“So, Henry. You seem hesitant to go out with him,” Connie says.

“He’s the most popular guy in school. I don’t understand why he’s asking me out and not someone like Charlotte.”

“You watch too much American T.V.” Dad laughs. I stare at him. “What? They give the impression that the most popular guy goes with the most popular girl. It’s not like that over here. If a boy likes you he will ask you out.”

“No, Dad. Over here, if the popular boy asks out a quiet, shy girl like me, it means that the other ‘in’ crowd will be waiting to humiliate the shy person.”

“Henry wouldn’t do that.” Dad shakes his head, adamant that he’s right.

“We’ll find out tomorrow night.” I sigh digging into my tea.

Allana lives in Dundee, Scotland with her husband and two daughters.

She has always had a passion for reading and until a few years ago, started secretly writing. She had always debated sharing it but never had the confidence to do so, until now. In her words; 'Life is too short to regret things we could have done and wishing the should've, would've, could've's.' 

She wants to show not only her dithers but to everyone else, that you can do whatever you want when you put your mind to it.

She loves reading a range of genres, particularly MC, Mafia and romance. 

Other than reading and writing, Allana loves to help out other authors, watching WWE, dancing around the room with her daughters, or at the cinema with her husband. She also loves to bake, it's her stress reliever.