The Long Way Home (11 page)

Mike came down and was wondering which movie the girls had picked and when the food would be there. He was extremely hungry he figured it was due to the fact that all the food he ate left him violently. He cringed at the thought. He decided not to think about that any more.

"Hey did you guys order the food yet?" Mike was excited for reasons unknown to him.

"Yeah I ordered Chinese food I hope that you like it." Jill was distracted and kept looking towards the stairs anticipating Grey at any moment.

"I love Chinese food, are you kidding it's my favorite it's what ninjas eat. Well that and Mexican food. I hope that you ordered a lot because I could eat a water buffalo I'm so hungry." Mike saw that Jill kept looking at the stairs.

"Don't worry about Grey he always takes a long time to get ready even if it's just to go to bed. He likes to look good, he's weird like that." Mike said.

"Oh I was just wondering what movie he wanted to watch." Jill was nervous. She didn't think it was weird that someone took pride in the way they looked and considering the way Grey looked she could understand.

Mike walked over to Charlotte who was already getting misty at the idea of watching Steal Magnolias.

"Hey what movie did you pick?" Mike said looking over her shoulder she was slightly shorter then him. As he leaned over her to look he could smell her and she smelled good.

"I picked Steal Magnolias. Have you seen it?" Charlotte said looking into Mike's eyes.

"No, I always thought it was one of nature things they make you watch in schools." Mike was lost now in her beauty and didn't know what else to say. He didn't care what the movie was he just liked the idea of sitting next to her for hours.

It was a good thing that Grey came down when he did because Jill was starting to feel odd. For more than one reason too; one because she didn't know what the hell was going to happen with the rest of the night. Two she didn't know how much longer the two "love birds" were going to keep there clothes on by the looks they had on their faces. Lastly she really wanted to be with Grey and test the waters. So when she saw him there was an enormous look of relief on her face. There was a tidal wave of feelings running through her as nebulous as her thoughts.

"Hey there beautiful, what are you looking at?" Grey said with a smile the warmed up the room. To Jill this only confirmed her decision as it could not have been a more perfect thing to say. She tossed her hair and gave him her best girl look.

"Flattery will get you everywhere. And you don't look so bad you're self." He was wearing old Levis and an old Weezer shirt. Jill walked up and gave him a hug that she didn't want to let go of.

"We ordered Chinese food. I hope that you like it. You do like it don't you?" Jill was giddy and was jumping.

"I love it, Mike orders it quite often thank you." Grey was stiff only because he didn't know what was going on and the funny feeling in his stomach was getting worse.

Now Jill was acting exceedingly weird. Grey figured this was for one of two reasons; 1. Jill was hiding something that she didn't want Grey to find out, but he knew now that she wasn't going to break up with him and 2. That Jill had done something that she shouldn't have. All of this grazed through Grey's mind as he surveyed his living room. He saw Mike and Charlotte making out on the couch with a copy of the movie "Steal Magnolias" wedged between them. He assumed that was going to be the movie of choice tonight.

There was an odd tension between Jill and Grey it was pervasive and ominously approaching a point that was going to drive both of them crazy. Like a whip cracking through the air the door bell rang and it gave Jill a start and unnerved Grey. He walked over to the door and opened it there was an elderly Chinese man there. The man was rather wrinkly and stout he had odd grey blue eyes and was smiling at Grey. Grey was not totally sure what to make of this man. But somewhere in the back of his mind he thought that maybe this man was here to cure the odd feeling he has had since the ride back from Magic Mountain.

"Thirty five seventy." The little Chinese man said and thrust the bag at Grey.

"Oh, sorry I wasn't sure why you were here." Grey said handing the man a fifty dollar bill.

"Keep the change." The man seemed very happy with this. He then winked, turned and left.

Whatever uneasy weirdness Grey may have felt before was now gone and a welcome sense of calm fell over him. He took the four plastic bags of food to the coffee table near Mike and Charlotte. Jill was right behind him. Grey began to take everything out of the bags and set them on the table. He had a look that made him look like he was thinking a great many things. Only nothing could be farther from the truth his mind was a blank. He then looked down at the table and decided to get some plates and things from the kitchen.

"I need to get something from the kitchen. Jill can you help me, it looks like the other two are busy." Grey said.

"Sure, I would love to." Jill said as they walked towards the kitchen.

Jill was fumbling through the cupboards looking for plates when Grey came from behind her. He grabbed her and turned her around kiss her. This took Jill by surprise.

"What was that for?" Jill was still in his arms and could sense urgency in him.

"I don't know really I just wanted to. I'm genuinely just happy to be around you, I'm happy that you want to spend time with me. That's all I suppose. That's the only reason that I love you is that you are willing to be with me." Grey was squeezing her gently in his arms. Jill was silent but thought that what he said could not have been more perfect and confirming to her original idea.

"We should get back out there before we have to spray those two out there with the hose." Jill said only not really meaning it. Grey laughed and got the rest of the things. They went back out into the living room. Jill's prediction was right Mike and Charlotte were all over each other on the couch.

"Hey get a room." Grey said jokingly he walked over to the table and handed out the plates and utensils. They all began eating and talking about there day so far. The girls were reenacting the bathroom incident when Grey picked up his fortune cookie. Grey remembered the times when he and Mike would get to the fortune cookie. They would joke about it all the time and add "in bed" to the end of their respective cookies. It was always funny to them in a childish way. Grey opened his cookie and read it. The fortune read "You will receive something unexpected" Grey impulsively added "in bed" to the end and Grey chuckled to himself.

"Hey it's time to watch the movie." Charlotte said and got up and put the movie on. Grey turned down the lights then sat down in the love seat next to Jill to watch the movie. Grey had seen the movie but wasn't sure how Mike would hold up. Grey remembered how hard Mike had cried when they saw The Little Mermaid and Ariel had to go back to the ocean. Grey hoped for the best and put his arm around Jill he had never been happier in his life. Before when Mike had wanted to see the movie Grey had told him it was a nature movie to discourage him from seeing it.

It was nearing the end of the movie and Grey was remembering how Steal Magnolias ended. He began to get a little misty at the thought of it. He didn't really want to cry at the end of this movie like he knew he would, he always did. There was just something about the way Julia Roberts looked in the movie the just robbed him of his good sense.

The movie was reaching the end and Grey was tearing up a bit when all of sudden there was a disturbing sound. It was Mike he was blubbering like a new born child who just had his pacifier stolen. Whatever magic the movie held for Grey was now lost in trying to suppress his laughter. Jill leaned over and whisper in his ear.

"What's happening?" Jill was concerned she had never heard someone Mike's age cry that way.

"Don't worry it will come to pass. You should have seen it when we saw 'Babe.' The children in the theater even tried to make him fell better by telling him it was just a movie. Only it didn't work its better if you just let him cry it out. I try to avoid these sorts of movies with Mike. I was going to say something but I think it's good for Charlotte." Grey whispered back to Jill.

The movie was over and every one in the room was just staring at Mike crying. It was like looking at a car accident at the side of the road everyone knew they shouldn't gawk but at the same time just had to. After a good two minutes Grey got up and walked over to Mike who was calming down now. Grey rubbed his back and consoled him.

"Its all right, everything's going to be all right." Grey said soothingly.

"WHY DID SHE HAVE TO DIE GREY, WHY?!" Mike leaned into Grey's shoulder and let out another huge sob.

"Its okay, Julia Roberts didn't really die it's just a movie." Grey said. Charlotte was still sitting near and was in a state of shock. She couldn't believe that Mike had so much feeling. Charlotte was in love all over again. Jill had to bite her hand to not laugh out loud. This was the funniest thing she had seen yet from Mike.

"I think it would be a good idea if you took him home now he's had a long day. Take him through Hollywood he likes the lights it will make him feel better." Grey said to Charlotte.

"Okay." Charlotte got up and Grey got Mike's keys from him and handed them over to Charlotte.

"It will be better if you drive." Grey said then helped Mike off the couch.

Mike was still crying when Grey and Jill walked them to the SUV. Charlotte got in and they drove away.

"Is he going to be okay?" Jill asked.

"He'll be fine I just don't think Mike was ready for 'Steal Magnolias'. We should have waited till he was older." Jill laughed at Grey's sarcasm.

Once back inside Jill was instantly nervous she knew she had to do something to get things moving in the right direction and she had to do it fast.

"Hey you know... you never finished giving me a tour of your house. We only got to your dad's study." Jill said inquisitively.

"Oh yeah, I completely forgot. Yeah let's go upstairs I'll show you the rest. The next stop on the tour would be my room." Grey said leading her by the hand up the stairs. "Yes!" Jill thought to herself, a step in the right direction.

They got to Grey's room which was done in the same style as the rest of the house only there were all sorts of band posters on the wall. He had two huge book cases on the right side of the wall on the other side of his queen size bed. One of the book cases was full of books in a very neat order. The other was full of CDs that had every type of music that Jill could think of and even then there were some she never heard of. She was looking at the books when she saw a photo album and grabbed it then sat on Grey's bed. He sat next to her and looked them over with her explaining them to her. When they were finished they were looking at each other and Jill saw a longing in Grey's eyes. They were not for lust but it seemed as though he was a bit empty inside. This made her love him more than ever before if that was in fact possible at this point. They sat there looking at each other for awhile.

Grey now knew what it was she wanted it dawned on him with the impact of a freight train. He got nervous and didn't know what to do. Grey got up off the bed hastily and went over to the CDs. He looked at them as if he was trying to find something he scanned through them. Then Jill got up and from behind him she grabbed his hand and led him to garb a Baby Face CD. If Grey had any doubts about what was going to happen they were gone now. Baby Face only meant one thing. Jill took the CD in her hand and whipped around Grey to the CD player she played the CD. With this Grey's nervousness leaped by orders of magnitude. He was feeling dizzy so he decided it was a better idea to sit back down on the bed. Jill turned back facing Grey now, Grey swallowed so hard he nearly choked himself.

"Is there anyway you could give me the rest of the tour later?" Jill said wryly. It took Grey two beats before he could register what she was hinting at.

"Yes, that can defiantly be put on hold." Grey was very matter of fact and it was highly dorky. Jill walked over to him and sat next to him. Grey sat ridged not knowing what to say or do. He didn't really have this in his plans for this evening. Grey was hoping that they could talk and get to know each other a little more. But this wasn't bad either.

Jill leaned over and kissed him and at that moment all of Grey's inhibitions and moral dilemmas were over. He knew this was going to be the best date of his life.

______________

They lay there in Grey's bed legs and hearts entwined. Neither of them said anything they were holding each other. Grey looked over at the clock and it was nearly two am. He wondered if she would stay or if he would have to take her home.

"I have to go soon, if I am not there in the morning my parents will be worried." Jill whispered in his ear. Grey nodded in response, he was at a loss of everything and all words escaped him. Jill wrapped a sheet around her and got up leaving Grey in the bed he didn't move at all.

"I am going to take a shower then we can go." Jill said looking down at him. Again he nodded his reply. After she left Grey started to wonder if he had thrown away his fortune. Jill walked into his immaculate bathroom and was shocked by its beauty. She was even more shocked that she had pulled it off. She was in a way proud of herself she thought for sure that she would choke. She took a long hot shower and when she came out back into the bedrooms she saw the Grey was in the exact same position wide awake.