The Long Way Home (7 page)

"Sorry man, I just thought that maybe we should take the girls home it is getting kind of late and we still have school tomorrow." Mike did feel bad for scaring them. He knew that he was stealth when he put on the ninja moves.

While the guys were talking Charlotte looked at Jill to make sure she was all right she was concerned and didn't know what was happening. Charlotte looked into the car at Jill, she had a smile on her face and Charlotte's fear waned. Jill got out of the car, "Yeah we should go home now my mom is going to kill me. I should have been home an hour ago." Jill was walking over toward Grey. She took his hand and said, "Let's see how it goes. I do like you but you pissed me off, I am giving you a chance to redeem yourself. I hope that you take it; I really think that you are worth it." Jill was looking right in his eyes when she said that. Charlotte was a little confused she didn't know what the hell was going on. All she knew was that she just got Mike to make out with her for the last hour and a half.

"If you don't mind I think it would be best if Mike took us home." Jill said, thinking that it would be best. She couldn't think right around Grey and right now she needed to do a lot of thinking.

"Sure," Grey agreed. "Mike if you don't mind take the girls home and I will see you tomorrow." Grey sounded distant. Mike sure as hell didn't know what was going on but he was sure that Grey would tell him later. He ninja’d over to his car.

"Stop that ninja stuff will you." Grey hated when he did that.

The girls got in the car with Mike and they drove away Grey stood there watching them as they drove off. He stayed until he couldn't see them anymore then went back inside.

He walked up stairs to his room and put some music on. It was times like these that he wished his dad were around to give him advice. His dad seemed to know everything, and always knew the right thing to say when Grey didn't know what to think. Grey took a shower and then went to sleep with plans for tomorrow. He knew that he could call his father but he knew that he had to do this one on his own.

On the drive home it was pretty silent, Jill asked Mike to drop her off at home first. Jill told Charlotte that she would tell her everything tomorrow and not to worry everything was fine.

"I'm glad that you two hit it off." Jill said as she was getting out of the car.

"But Mike, if you break her heart I'll hurt you in ways you don't know." Jill was serious. Mike understood he felt the same way about her with Grey, but he didn't think it was a good time to mention it. Charlotte still confused watched her best friend walk into her house wondering what could have happened tonight between those two.

Mike got to Charlotte's house and stopped the car. "I don't know what went on with those two. I have never seen Grey like that before he seemed; I don't know he seemed different." Mike was concerned.

"I don't know either, but I will find out and let you know." Charlotte was still excited about tonight and everything that happened with Mike, she really liked him. They swapped phone numbers.

"Hey on Friday night after school I want to take you out just the two of us. I want to show you something, and I just want you to know I really do like you. I don't want you to think that I'm just going to dump you, I like you a lot." Mike said seriously he knew that knight of old always had to prove their fidelity and he was going to do just that.

"I like you too. I am really glad this happened." Charlotte was beaming inside and out. Mike got out of the car to walk her to the door. Even though they just made out he was timid to kiss her again so before she went in the door he asked. "Can I kiss you goodnight?"

Charlotte smiled and thought that that was the nicest thing anyone has ever her asked her for. How could she say no?

"Yes." She said under her breath. Mike leaned over and kissed her like he meant it.

"I'll see you tomorrow after school." Mike said. As he turned away to leave he stumbled off the stairs of her porch. He turned around and Charlotte was laughing at him. He waved and got back into his car. On the way home he thought that he should call Grey but by the time he got into his house he decided to wait until tomorrow. He knew that whatever went on, Grey would need time. He only got mad at the ninja moves when his mind was on other things or Mike had done something that really impressed Grey. He knew that he had only use his most practices moves so it wasn't that. Yes Grey needed time.

The first half of school the next day was hell for Jill all she could think about was the night before. She didn't expect Grey to come into the car and say the things he said. She started to replay last night in her head. The time in the car seemed like it happened so long ago. All that he said really was that he wanted to get to know her and that there weren't going to be anymore outbreaks of emotion of anything else until the time was right. He wanted to do things slow he didn't know what had gotten into him. She was skeptical but understanding (it flattered her in a way). She then started to wonder if it had happened at all. She thought about all the other things he said, to her. Why did he tell her about Wanda? Why did he tell her about his dad and how his mom was committed when he was six? Then why did he have to explain to her his plan in setting her up with Mike at the party to get Mike over Gina? All of it made sense now but why did Grey love her? What did he see in her that she couldn't see? Most importantly why did all of the things he told her only make her love him back, and why couldn't she really admit that to herself? Even thinking she made her stomach turn. She was thinking that she was going to see him at school but then she remembered that the only time that she ever saw him was in the last period English.

It was lunch time now and she decided to find Charlotte to explain everything to her. When she saw Charlotte this morning the poor girl was worried sick. Jill was headed to the place where she would always meet Charlotte for lunch, only on the way there she ran into something she didn't expect. Some random guy came up to her and handed her a note the outside said "To: Jill, From: Grey". She looked up to ask the guy where Grey was but he was already gone. She unfolded the note and read it; "I know you don't trust me but I got you something I put it in your locker. Go and see, it reminds me of you so I don't really know why I gave it to you because now I have nothing to think of you by. But I hope that you like it. I will see you in English class and if it's okay I would like to take you out tonight and I promise I won't be an asshole this time. Yours truly Grey."

Jill ran to find Charlotte in the lunch area she grabbed Charlotte by the arm and ran towards her locker.

"What's happening?" Charlotte said. Jill handed over the note and didn't say anything. They got to the locker and Charlotte said, "What in the hell is going on here? What happened last night? Why haven't you told me? Jill you're starting to piss me off." Charlotte was reading the rest of the note then looked up. Jill was holding a baby kitten in her hands; the little thing had a note tied around its neck with a bow. "I hope you like it her name is Tillie I hope you give her a good home. I'll see you in English. Grey." Jill hugged the kitten then looked at Charlotte.

"Where did that come from?" Charlotte said a little confused.

"Grey." Jill was still in shock, and didn't know what to make of all this. She handed over the cat and the card to Charlotte.

"Tillie, what kind of name is Tillie?" Charlotte said cuddling the kitten.

"Where should I put him till school is over? I can't very well carry her around to all my classes." Jill said ignoring Charlotte's question.

"Why don't you put her in your car? She'll be safe in there it's only a couple of hours till schools out and your windows don't roll up all the way anyway. She'll be fine there's plenty of air for little Tillie Willie." Charlotte said being helpful. Jill agreed and they headed for the parking lot, Jill opened the car and was about to put the cat in the front seat when she saw another note and a singe white rose. "I couldn't help myself. I hope I haven't over done it, if I have please forgive me. Grey." Jill couldn't begin to think she was in love with him somehow without even being there Grey had won her over. He made her fell like the only girl in the world. She held back the tear of happiness that girls always seem to have.

The rest of the classes seemed to mover slower than ever the anticipation to get to English class had never been higher. She thought that it would never come. She was one of the first people in the room before class started. She sat so she could see the door, and watched for Grey. He came in and the smile he had when he saw her warmed her from head to toe. He came up and whispered in her ear, "I take it you got the notes. Should I meet you outside or go home and never talk to you again?" Grey knew that he had won her over. He knew he could be an ass and yet cleverly charming.

"Why don't you just meet me after school?" Jill said smiling at him; she was so happy her teeth hurt that she couldn't explain. Grey nodded and went to his seat; he sat knowing that he made the right decision. He knew his dad would be proud of him. After all it was his dad's stories of his own high school days that gave him the ideas.

That day, by the time that Jill had finished class whatever hatred she may have felt was not only gone but completely forgotten. Class ended and Grey came over to Jill while she was still seated.

"Why don't you go home and I will come and pick you up at you're place. Let's say around seven o'clock." Grey said with a smile. He was still a little uncertain as to whether or not she would say yes but he managed to keep it cool.

As he was standing there talking Jill noticed for the first time how dark his eyes were. They were a dark grey not just a normal grey but almost black and capable of sucking the truth right from her. But also so foreboding and yet at the same time able to feel her in every way. His eyes seemed as deep and dark as any ocean. All of this swam through her head in a flash and was yet able to give an intelligible answer.

"Yeah, sure that would be nice." Jill said almost dreamily.

"All right I have to go now I have things that I have to plan for tonight but seven o'clock it is then." Grey said. He turned to leave and was in the hall when Jill returned to earth. She remembered that she did not know where they were going so didn't know what to wear. She ran out to the hall and stopped him. He heard her coming so he stopped and turned before she came through the door. This startled Jill a bit as she wasn't expecting him to be right in front of her.

"Oh-um I had a question. What should I wear? I mean what kind of place am I going to?" Jill was taken by his charm and blushed.

"I am not sure what you should wear. Just wear something you like but make sure you bring that smile of yours." Grey said she was already smiling.

"Oh okay, I think I have something like that." Jill said and was blushing harder. She was so wooed by him that she didn't even realize that she didn't know what she was saying.

Grey turned and left, and if he were Superman that smile of hers would be his kryptonite. Jill didn't know it but if she had asked for anything at that time he would have died getting it for her. Grey meant anything too like a kidney, the cure for cancer, anything.

Jill went back into the class room and gathered her things. She remembered the cat in the car and left quickly.

Jill got to the car and saw the little kitten on the dashboard of her car sleeping gathering rays of sun. She thought of Grey and got in the car she was thinking of what to wear but more so of how Grey looked. He was just slightly taller than her. His hair was sort of a chestnut brown that he cut clean and short but brushed back. It had that old 50's school boy look.

Jill was glad that she didn't have to worry about Charlotte as Mike had already taken her home. Jill had a feeling that she wouldn't have to worry about Charlotte for awhile. Mike was a good guy and now that she had Grey she didn't think that she would have time anyway so it was good all around. She drove home as fast as she could; when she got there and ran to her room threw the cat on her bed and flung open her closet only to come to the conclusion that she had absolutely nothing to wear. This was common.

Grey when he got home walked into his closet and picked a nice charcoal suit from a row of many. He then picked out his shoes, and then decided to go and take a shower. When he got out, got dressed, did his hair and then looked into the mirror and smiled. As he was making sure everything was in the right place, he thought again of his father. He was nervous he just wished his dad could be there to give him some advice on what to do. Not that Grey couldn't do it he just needed someone to give him a pep talk. His dad was good at that.

Grey was ready he left early to go to the restaurant to prepare everything before he would leave to pick up Jill. He had a lot to plan he wanted this to be perfect. He knew that he may have won her over for the time being but he wanted to make up for everything before. It was not even five and he had little time so he decided to take his dad's car (the Porsche). He drove down PCH to his destination; he was nervous but also very excited.

After going through everything in her closet and through every bit of sanity, with great indecision and duress was able to come up with the perfect outfit. She took a shower and then changed. Jill wanted to really impress him; she wanted him to fall over when he saw her. Jill didn't know why she was making this out to be so huge thing but for some reason she was investing every thing she could. She was also putting on her black undergarments they made her fell sexy and secure. She was pulling out all stops she was going to knock his socks off. She finished her makeup and looked at her watch; she had twenty minutes until Grey would come. Her stomach turned with nervousness, she didn't know why but Grey...Grey there was just something about him she couldn't place something mysterious. She knew that this was only because she didn't really know him and there was so much she wanted to know.