The Long Way Home (6 page)

Charlotte got to the living room and saw Mike he was staring at Jill's saltwater fish tank.

"Don't tap on the glass it scares them." Charlotte was honestly concerned for the fish.

"Oh, I'm sorry I just thought that one was dead, only because it wasn't moving." Mike said pointing to a sea snail.

"No silly it's supposed to be like that." Charlotte was uncertain.

Jill was watching all of this from the hall and realized that they really were meant for each other.

"Can we go I'm starving?" Jill said interrupting them.

"Yeah let's take my car. I thought of this great place. It serves Japanese food right in front of you and they don't even card you when you order the hot sake." Mike was excited now.

They all got in Mike's SUV and ate at this surprisingly nice Japanese food restaurant in Glendale. Jill managed to get Charlotte right next to Mike the whole night. They laughed and Jill saw that Mike was falling for Charlotte; Jill knew it was only a matter of time and maybe a little pointing in the right direction. Jill had all that worked out. She knew her plan would go into effect as soon as they left here and got out of public view.

They finished eating and Mike was taking them over to Grey's house. Mike was determined to get Grey together with Jill; he knew he could do it he just didn't totally know how he was going to do it. He did know one thing and that was that he had to get them together and that if he could do that then he had it set.

Mike was pulling up Grey's long driveway and was thinking about the fact that he didn't understand why he liked Charlotte so much she wasn't anything like Gina. That was it; she wasn't anything like Gina, meaning that Gina was mean, condescending and just down right bitchy most of the time. Mike liked her and he knew it, he just didn't want to break the promise that he made with Jill. Jill had specifically told him not to try anything but he wasn't sure if that included Charlotte. He hoped that he could get this straightened out so he decided that when the time was right he was going to ask Jill about it. The only problem was that he had no idea how he would be able to tell when the time was right. He knew it would come to him, things always seemed to.

The last time that Jill had been to Grey's house she didn't really see it only because it was darker and there was a lot more people there. When Jill walked in she was in awe over the place it was gorgeous she had never seen anything like it. She recognized the house as being done in a post modern style. It had a huge foyer that had two beautiful spiral stair cases that lead up to the second floor. As she walked in to the living room she could see the beautiful night sky line of down town Los Angeles from the enormous windows surrounding the room. She was so enamored with the place that she didn't say anything to anyone for at least fifteen minutes.

Grey had been watching her from the second floor as she came in and it hit him like a ton of bricks. He was in love with her and he knew that there was nothing he could do about it. He decided to try and talk to her.

"Do you want to sit down I was just about to make something to drink, do you want anything?" Grey asked politely.

Jill snapped out of it. "Yeah that would be nice. You know I just realized that I know you and Mike are good friends, but this is the first time that I have seen you since the party." Jill didn't know why but she couldn't figure out how come she hadn't ever seen Grey at school.

"I don't hang out much around school I generally just come home and listen to music. Or when Mike comes over we practice in the basement." Grey was heading towards the kitchen now. Jill had sat next to Mike and Charlotte in the living room. Mike got up and went to the kitchen with Grey. Mike started to make a gin and tonic for himself. The two of them were looking at the girls from the kitchen.

"Grey I really like Charlotte a lot and I think that she likes me too. I just don't know. What do you think I should do?" Mike was worried he hadn't asked anyone out in a long time and was afraid that he was going to be a little rusty. He knew that Grey would lead him in the right direction.

"Well, if you think that she likes you, you should get her alone and see what happens. If she likes you, you'll know. She probably just as nervous as you, so don't worry about it." Grey was trying to be helpful. The two boys walked back to the living room with the drinks and sat down. Mike sat down right next to Charlotte who was sitting across from Jill. Grey sat near Jill but far enough away so not to be noticeable. Grey looked at Jill and saw that she was still admiring the house.

"Would you like me to give you a full tour of the place?" Grey was trying to find something to talk to Jill about.

"Sure, but what about those two?" Jill nodded to Mike and Charlotte who were now in their own little world. They were talking to each other like there was no one else in the world.

"From the looks of it I don't think that we have to worry about it. It looks like we will only be getting in the way of them if anything." Grey was right, Mike and Charlotte were talking up a storm about trees, one of Mikes favorite subjects.

"Just follow me and we'll start upstairs." Grey said encouragingly.

Grey led her upstairs and decided to start in his fathers study. As they walked in he could see Jill's eyes light up at the sight of all the books.

"Wow, I have never seen anything like this. Have you read any of these?" Jill was starting to wonder about Grey. She was starting to like him, he seemed so mysterious.

"Not all of them. I mainly come in here to be alone or to listen to music. See over there in the corner that is mine and my fathers music collection." Grey said. It was a good thing that Jill was so into her surroundings otherwise she would have noticed that all of Grey's attention was on her.

Down stairs when Grey and Jill left, Charlotte came alive. "Finally I thought that they would never leave." Mike was confused by her abrupt change.

"What do you mean?" Mike didn't know what was going on.

"I have been trying to get you alone for a while now. I want to tell you something, but if I tell you, you have to promise not to laugh. Okay?" Charlotte didn't know what she was doing but she knew that she had to do some thing.

"I promise I won't laugh, go ahead." Mike was scared he didn't know what was happening and he really like laughing.

"Ever since we first got coffee together, I have been thinking about you. I don't really know what I was thinking I was just thinking at first. But now I know why I was thinking so much. The only thing is, I don't know what you have been thinking, and I was afraid that if you knew what I was thinking then you would probably start thinking something else. Do you see what I am saying?" Charlotte asked hopefully.

Mike got a little lost with all the thinking but he thought that he understood. He didn't laugh he was too busy with all the thinking.

"Yeah, so basically what you are telling me is that you have been thinking about me. That's a good thing right?" Now all of a sudden Mike knew what she was thinking. He knew now was a bad time to laugh.

"Well, I was thinking that maybe you liked me or something. I know that sounds dumb and if you never want to talk to me again that's fine. But I just want to say before you dump me that I think you are one of the nicest, funniest, coolest guys I have ever met." Charlotte was so happy that she managed to say that. She had never done anything like that... ever.

Back upstairs Jill was going through some of the books that Grey had shown her.

"I just want to tell you one thing. And that is that ever since I saw you at the party I have not been able to get you out of my head. Look I know that you don't know me and that I probably don't know you, but I know when I am in love and I am afraid to say that I am in love with you." Grey was just laying his heart out hoping that Jill wouldn't trample on it. There was a long silence before Jill said anything. She was taken off guard she knew he was good looking and seemed nice but he really didn't know him.

"You're right you don't know me, and I don't know you." Jill started for the door. She was angry. She stopped midway and said "How dare you, how dare try to pass me off to one of your friends then try to 'pick up' on me. Did you ever think that maybe I should be let in on your little plans? At least Mike had the decency to tell me what was really going on. Now I don't believe either of you." Jill was pissed now and almost out the door. All she wanted was a normal life but it seemed that all the people that she knew were trying desperately to make it abnormal.

"Wait! I know I didn't know what I was doing but I do now. I know that the feelings I have for you are real. I'm sorry. This started on the wrong foot. Let me start over again, please I know that I must have taken you by surprise but when I saw you tonight I was hoping that I wasn't in love with you. Please let me start over again." Grey was holding on to his last string. He knew that he couldn't let her walk out; he knew he would never see her again if she did. Jill didn't even want to be near him but for whatever stupid reason she decided to hear him out. She stood not saying a word. Grey walked up to her.

"Hello, I'm Grey, I'm an idiot, and I don't know what to say most of the time. I know that you are friends with Charlotte and that you have been hanging out with Mike. I know that you play volleyball; I know that you like parties and I know that you look wonderful in blue. I know that you think that I am an asshole and I know that you're wondering why you stopped to listen to me. I know that when you smile it makes me feel like I never have before. I know now that when you are even near me I can't think straight. I know that if you walk out that door I will never see you again. I know that if you did that I could never live with myself again knowing that I upset you. I also know that somewhere just somewhere you may have thought of me at least once. I also know that if you give me a chance I can make this all up to you and really get to know you. I know that I will like whatever I find. I also know that I have already lost your trust and I am sorry for that." Grey was looking in her eyes to see her answer before she said it. He covered his heart and prepared for the worst.

"You're right. I have thought of you, I do like you, I think that what you did for Mike was one of the sweetest things. You're right about my trust, you have lost it." Jill didn't know where this was going anymore she was confused and didn't know whether she should slap him or just start crying. She hated him for starting this too fast she wasn't ready to feel these things. She wasn't ready to have him to pour his heart out. Why couldn't this just be normal, why did she have to like him? Why did she find him so interesting and so charming? Why couldn't she just start a relationship normally? She wanted something like this to happen slowly, with time, so that she could take everything carefully. Before she could finish her thought he caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. She felt her bones turn to liquid and her blood to quicksilver. She almost lost he balance no one she ever dated ever did that. In his eyes she saw only compassion and understanding. He leaned over and kissed her hard, a kiss that went down to her toes. She tried to push him away but her attempt was halfhearted and weak. She felt him caress the small of her back; he stopped and looked into her eyes. She was flustered now.

"I am sorry I don't know what happened. I should go now I don't think that I could make a fool of myself one more time." Grey backed away scared.

"I'll have Mike take you home. I shouldn't have done that I'm sorry I didn't mean to offend you." Grey was the one walking out now. Jill was in such shock she didn't see him leave. She just stood there frozen.

Jill ran down stairs to find him only he wasn't there. She found Mike and Charlotte making out on the couch in the living room. She asked them if they had seen Grey. They told her that he just walked out and that Mike was to take them home. She ran outside and she saw his car leaving down the long driveway. She just started crying, there were too many feelings rushing too fast she wasn't ready for this. Who the hell did he think he was doing something like that, telling her that he loved her? He didn't even know her! And besides that who the hell kisses someone then runs off? She ran to Mike's car and just sat alone for awhile crying to herself.

All of a sudden there was knock on the window she looked up and it was Grey. He got in from the passenger side; they sat there for a long time not saying anything. He honestly didn't know what to say but he knew that he needed to be near her now.

"It's badminton." Jill said her throat still clinched and dry from crying.

"What? What are talking about?" Grey said.

"I don't play volleyball; the game you saw me playing is called badminton." Jill said not knowing what else to say.

"Oh, I just saw the net and thought volley ball."

It was nearly midnight when Mike and Charlotte stopped making out and talking. They realized that they both saw Jill and Grey leave but they hadn't seen them come back inside. With a bit of concern Charlotte said, "I think that we should go and look for them maybe they are in trouble or something." Mike was worried too.

"Yeah let's check outside." Mike got up off the couch and headed for the door making ninja like moves to the door. Charlotte was right behind him minus the moves.

They got outside and didn't see anything out of the ordinary. Charlotte was still worried the last time she saw Jill she seemed upset. The two of them were about to go inside when Mike had an idea. "Maybe they are in Grey's car." They headed to where Grey's car was parked and they looked inside. They didn't see anything then Charlotte said, "I think they may have gone to your car, look. It looks like someone is in there." Mike looked towards his SUV and saw that there were two distinct figures in there he couldn't make them out though. He ninja'd up to the car and looked in he saw Grey and Jill talking. Mike decided to knock so as not to interrupt. The two inside jumped and glared at Mike. Grey got out of the car and said. "What the hell are you doing trying to scare the life out of me? I nearly had a heart attack when you did that."