Through Lies and Heartache (10 page)

“
Sounds great. I’ll come
over about seven on Thursday, after every one leaves.”

“
Sweet want to do movies and
goodies like we used to?”

“
With the fort?”

“
No. I think that’s
something we should keep for the four of us.”

“
Ok. Don’t get sad now, this
is a girl’s day lets go shopping to.”

“
Sounds good.”

After our spa we decide to get some
lunch. Then hit the mall. It’s seven when she pulls into my
driveway,

“
You gonna stay the night or
you headin home?”

“
Do I get to pick the
movie?”

“
Yeah you can pick the
movie”

Heading up stairs to put my bags in my
room I only bought a new pair of sweats, a hoodie and a few books.
When I get back down stairs she has started the popcorn so I grab
the M & M’s and a bowl when the popcorn is done I sprinkle it
with the M & M’s. Picking up the bowl opening the fridge I grab
two waters while Rori grabs two spoons and two tubs of Gelato out
of the freezer. When I see she’s picked Pitch Perfect I let out a
giggle. The next thing I know someone is shaking me waking up I see
mom standing over me with a smile on her face, looking at what mess
we’ve left we both feel asleep on the couch looking over I see Rori
sprawled out at the other end of the couch still
sleeping.

“
Come on I’ll help you clean
up then we can head to bed it’s just after ten.”

“
Where have you been mama?
Why are you working so late?”

“
Well I’ve been with a
client we’re getting ready for trial.”

Cleaning the mess up and throwing a
blanket over Rori I follow mom up stairs and head to
bed.

Waking up to the sun in my face
groaning I must have forgot to close my curtains. When I roll over
I notice Rori lying next to me.

“
I came up here when your
mom left for work. Why do I feel hung over today? The hardest thing
we had last night was the Lacy Florentines we found hidden in the
pantry.”

“
Ha, I think it was the
Gelato, Popcorn M & M mix, oh and don’t think I didn’t see you
sneak the Hazelnut cookies.” I giggle.

“
Well I couldn’t help it
your mom makes the best cookies ever. I have to head home soon mom
wants to spend time together today.”

“
Well let’s go get some
breakfast before you head home.”

Getting up I head to my closet and hand
her the cloths she leaves here and I change, while I’m brushing my
teeth I realize I’m wearing the sweats and sweater from Ryan’s,
with a sigh I leave while Rori’s brushing her teeth and all that I
head down stairs to finish cleaning up. When she comes down we grab
our purses and head out.

I spend the rest of the day doing
laundry and reading. Mom called to tell me she would pick up dinner
on her way home. She should be home soon so I head down to the
kitchen and clean up a little pulling out plates I set the table,
mom’s walking in the door as I’m grabbing me some water. Sitting
down we have a nice little dinner talking about Rori and I’s
shopping trip and the spa. Heading into the living room we sit down
and watch a TV.

Wednesday I head to the store to get
the rest of the things we need for our dinner tomorrow. I decide
that I want to make the pie and cookies since Rori and I killed the
ones that were in there. While I’m cooking I realize I haven’t run
all week and it feels kind of nice but I kind of want to go maybe
I’ll head up to the hills.

~*~

We’re back to school tomorrow. We only
have three weeks then we get two weeks off for Christmas and New
Year’s. Dad called and wants me to go stay with him for the full
two weeks not just Christmas like I planned but I told him I wanted
to see how things go before I commit for the whole two weeks. It’s
not like we spend all that much time together, but whatever mom has
to work the whole time except for Christmas day and New Year’s Day.
Mom wants me to spend time with dad, we don’t get as much as we’d
like.

Before I know it the next three weeks
have passed and its time for me to pack up some things to go see
dear old dad. Going threw everything into a duffle bag when I get a
text looking over at my phone I see it flashing wondering if its
dad telling me that he has to work and not to bother. Going over
picking it up and see it’s Ryan,

Ryan – You
ready?

Me – Um…

Ryan – We’re riding
together, didn’t you know?

Me – WTF do you
mean?

Ryan – Yeah. I have some
things to do in Boston. Your dad didn’t want you alone.

Me – It’s an HOUR. I think
I’ll be fine.

Ryan – Yeah not gonna
happen. Be ready in 10.

~*~

When Ry pulls up I’m throwing my bag in
the back seat of my car,

“
What the hell
Gracie?”

“
What I told you that I was
driving myself. It’s an hour drive, I’ll be fine.”

I say as he walks up to me opening the
door grabbing my bag,

“
What the hell Ryan. Put it
back!”

“
No you don’t get it, I will
be driving you to your dads.”

“
Why in the world can I not
drive myself?”

“
Your dad asked me to drive.
Now get in my car.”

“
Gah! Fine.”

Getting in the car and slamming the
door.

“
Please don’t take your
anger out on my car.”

“
How about you shut up and
drive. You forced me in here deal with it.”

“
Damn it.”

Turning my head and looking out the
window,

“
Why am I riding with you?
Besides the fact that my dad said I was to ride with
you.”

“
I have a meeting in Boston
and I’ll be spending some time with my dad while I’m there. Your
dad asked if I would drive you up here since I was coming this
way.”

“
Do you ever tell my dad
no?”

“
Do you want to go to a
hotel or to your dads when we get there?”

“
Smooth, real smooth.
Hotel”

I am so pissed off I don’t want to see
my dad yet and I plan to make this a miserable trip, maybe next
time he’ll say no. Not likely but I can hope.

Ten minutes late I finally look at
Ryan, “I have to pee.”

“
Can you hold it? We just
got on the freeway.”

“
Nope, I gotta go
now.”

Heaving a sigh he changes lanes and
gets off the freeway, pulling into the gas station I get out and go
to the bathroom, I may as well go while were here. Washing my hands
I head out to the car.

“
You good? Want to get
anything to eat while we’re here, there are a couple places close
by.”

“
No I think I’m good.” I
smile at him “Thanks for stopping.” Getting back on the road I mess
with the radio which earns me some dirty looks, when I find nothing
but commercials I plug my phone in turning on a random play list
the first song that plays is
Barbie
Girl
I can’t help but laugh even better!
After a while I get bored when I look at the clock I see it’s been
twenty minutes sense my potty break and I decide I’m hungry.
Turning to look at him, when he glances over at me he just shakes
his head no.

“
You don’t even know what I
want, why are you telling me no?”

“
You want to
stop.”

“
Well I’m hungry. If I drove
myself you wouldn’t have to worry about it, now would
you?”

“
Really? If you drove
yourself you wouldn’t be stopping, now would you?”

Just then my stomach growls loudly,
cocking my head and lifting my brow at him.

We’re getting ready to leave the small
diner “You need to go to the bathroom?”

I can’t help but laugh “No I’m
good”

“
Piccolina, please go to the
bathroom before we leave.”

“
Fine I’ll go.” Shaking my
head I get up and go to the bathroom.

Back in the car and on the road…
Looking out the window I feel drowsy leaning my head back I drift
to sleep. Waking to my hair being messed with, turning to look I
notice I’m lying down so I look up to see Ryan looking down with a
small smile.

“
You fell asleep and sort of
fell over, so I laid you down.”

“
Thanks.” I say as I sit up
rubbing my eyes. “What time is it?”

“
Just after one, come on
let’s get a room.”

Chapter Twenty

Ryan

I
couldn’t help but run
my fingers
through her hair as she slept. I can’t stop replaying Halloween
night. I can’t stop thinking about her hands on my skin. Shaking my
head I can’t think about that now. After checking in I grab our
bags in one hand and Gracie’s hand in my other hand and pull her
behind me to the elevator. Neither one of say anything, looking
over at her she looks sleepy. I don’t how I’m going to tell her
about Halloween night, the fact that she’s even looking at me makes
me wonder if she even read the letter I left her. When we get to
the room I see that there is only one bed, I can’t stop my bodies
reaction to the thought of sleeping in the same bed as
her.

“
I’m going to lay down and
take a nap.”

“
Ok, I’m going to go for a
swim while you do.”

I look over at her she’s nods her head.
Grabbing my shorts out of my bag I head to the bathroom to change,
when I come out she’s already asleep. Heading down the pool so that
maybe I can work some of this frustration out of my system before I
have to sleep in the same bed as her. About an hour later I finally
feel relaxed so I head back up to the room. When I get the bed is
empty I feel my heart rate pick up did she tell me she was going to
sleep so that she could leave when I left, did something happen to
her? Oh god I hope she didn’t leave her dad will kill me if
anything happens to her. Just as I reach my phone the bathroom door
opens and there stands Gracie in nothing but a towel. Taking three
long strides to get to her I gently grab her face in my hands
looking in her eyes she looks extremely confused taking a deep
breath and slowly letting in out, “I’m sorry. When I got back you
weren’t in here and there was no sign of you. I didn’t know if you
left or something happened to you.”

“
Why would anything happen
to me?”

Letting out another sigh I can’t stand
to be this close to her and not touch her just touching her makes
me think of Halloween again, slowly leaning in I touch my lips to
hers.

Gracie

When Ryan’s lips touch mine I can’t
help but lean into him, that’s when my dream floods my vision.
Grabbing onto his arms for more support I slowly pull back I can’t
help it. Eyes full of wonder and confusion “I keep having the same
dream over and over I’m not sleeping much from it.”

“
What dream is that
Piccolina?”

“
I keep dreaming that you
and I have been together. It started Halloween night.”

Hanging his head he pulls away, sitting
on the bed with his head in his hands.

“
I had the same dream but
I’ve been having mine for far longer than that. It’s why I didn’t
think too much of it.”“What are you talking about Ry? It was just a
dream.”

Looking up at me with so much guilt in
his eyes.

“
It was a dream right
Ry?”

Shaking his head “No Piccolina it
wasn’t a dream. You have to know I’ve been having these dreams of
us being together for months. I honestly thought it was a dream
like any other night. Until I got home from your house, when I made
my bed I found a small spot of blood on my sheets. That’s when I
knew it wasn’t a dream and I didn’t know how to tell you. I’m
sorry, I really am.”

“
You mean it wasn’t a dream?
We… You… You’ve touched me and I don’t remember it?” I say looking
at my feet. I can’t believe I just said that out loud. Feeling his
hand on my face causes me to look up at him.

“
Ry, I want that
again.”

“
I can’t, it never should
have happened in the first time. You know we can’t be
together.”

“
I want to be able to feel
everything and remember it like it was yesterday. I know that you
don’t do the girlfriend thing, I’m not asking for that. All I’m
asking for is one night. Nothing more.” Even saying the words my
heart is breaking, I have been in love with Ryan most of my life, I
just didn’t know how deep until the dreams started. I’ll let him go
with or without this night but I can’t help wanting this
night.

“
Piccolina we shouldn’t do
this.”

Walking over to him I take his face
into my hands much like he did with me, looking him in the eyes “I
want one night. Please don’t take this from me, if this is all we
are ever able to have.” Leaning in I brush my lips across his, but
not pushing it. If this is something he wants he needs to make that
choice.