So here's the next chapter. Hope you like it. I already know what I want to do for the next chapter so hopefully it'll be longer. I usually don't pre-plan what I'm going to write. I'm hoping to have it out tomorrow night.

Happy reading and please review.

Thank you to all those that have already!

Chapter 4

Stop Following Me

Today was Tuesday and I had been here since Thursday. Sadly I had to take my mom to the airport two days ago and we cried like babies. I miss her ass, but I guess that's part of growing up. Right?

Today I was taking my grandmother into Lakewood. She decided to spring the fact that she 'may' have had a stroke about a month ago. So here I was being the dutiful grandchild and taking her to get a CAT scan. Not to mention she's had a horrible cold the entire time I've been here. It scares me sometimes. I honestly don't know what I'd do without her. I love her to pieces.

Once we got to the office, TVR or something like that, we went inside and waited in the lobby for gram's name to be called.

I leaned over to her. "I'm starving."

"I know me to. I didn't think I'd get this hungry before we got home."

"Well. We didn't really eat much for breakfast." We really hadn't. All I had was a small cup of strawberry yogurt and my cup of tea. I had to down that really quick before we walked out the door. "Want to grab a burger after this?"

"Sounds good to me." She said. I knew it would. There was a Burger King across the street and she had always been a sucker for their Whoppers. When I was little she used to take me to McDonald's so I could get a happy meal and she'd go across the street to get a Whopper.

It didn't take long at all for them to do her scan. Only about fifteen minutes or so. Now we'd have to wait to get the results. That was going to be awhile though because her doctor is on vacation until the end of the month and the clinic wouldn't give her the information over the phone. The only down side to living so far out of town.

So after the appointment we walked next store to the BK. Grandma ordered a Whopper Jr. I got the BK Veggie burger with no onions. We argued for a minute over who would pay and grams won. "You can get it next time." She said.

We sat down in a corner booth to eat our lunch. Grandma leaned in and hooked a thumb over her shoulder. "Please don't let me get my hair-cut like those women over there." I looked up and seen three older women with gray hair so short it almost looked buzzed.

"Don't worry. I would never let you do that." I laughed. She had an appointment at two o'clock today in Tacoma since we were in the general area.

When we were done we headed to said hair salon. It was just a little off-beat place in the Marketplace parking lot. I decided to wait in the car and use her cell to call a few friends.

First on the list was Kat. She told me about her night. She had everyone over and some guy she went to high school with named Jeff. Apparently Jeff couldn't hold his liquor and was getting up in Glover's face for no reason trying to start a fight. The boys then decided it was time to escort him out. She said once he was out front the tripped and smashed his face into the concrete. We chatted for about fifteen minutes before I let her go.

Next I called Carlos. "Hello?"

"Hey. It's me, Alyssa. What have you been up to?"

"Oh hey! I'm good. What number you calling from?"

"My grams cell phone. I haven't got one yet and you can't call out from her house without a calling card. Heard you missed out on an interesting night at Kat's."

He grunted. "Yeah. C.T. was telling me about it this morning. How's Washington treating you?"

"Good. It's been off and on rain though since I've been here. Had to take Grams into town today. Sitting in the car in Tacoma while she gets her hair cut."

"Man. That sounds like a blast." Damn that sarcastic bastard.

"Oh, shut up. You wouldn't be like that if you saw the scenery. It's gorgeous." I looked around at the greenery. It really was amazing to just sit back and look at it. "Oh hey. I forgot to ask you. Do you know a Happy from the Sons up here?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"That asshole was stalking me on the way up here. Ran into him at the Chevron in Weed and then he just happened to stay at the same hotel in Oregon."

"He used to be the VP of the Tacoma charter. He went nomad 'cause his mom's in a hospice down here. Easier for him to visit when he wants."

"Well he's a jerk if you ask me. That or he just rolled out of the wrong side of the…" I stopped mid sentence as there was a knock on my window. "You have got to be kidding me." I mumbled as I seen who it was. I sunk down in my seat as if that would help.

"What's up?" Carlos said.

"Said jerk's ears must have been ringing." I held up my finger signaling to hold on a sec. "I gotta go. You're friend won't stop following me."

"Hey tell him I said hi. And what's your house number so I can call you later."

"Kat has it. Bye." I flipped the phone closed and opened my door. Grabbing my jacket I stepped out into the slight shower and put it on. "Can I help you?"

"Hi." Happy grabbed my arm and pulled me over to the over hang of the small shopping mall.

I shook off his arm and looked him in the eye. "What do you want?"

He shoved his hand in his pocket and pulled out his smokes. Lighting one up he offered it too me. I shook my head. "My grandmother doesn't know I smoked. I'm waiting for her to finish with her hair cut." I gestured to the salon a shop down.

"Oh."

"Look was there anything you wanted because I was nice and warm in the car. Rather not freeze to death out here." It was pretty cold. The rain wasn't helping either because it just made it a moist cold. I was hopping from foot to foot and rubbing my hands together.

"What? You don't want to talk to me?" He asked around his cigarette.

I couldn't believe it. He just wanted to chat? I tried that at the hotel a few days ago and he pretty much wrote me off. Damn broody men. "Seriously? How about this. Why don't you stop following me."

"I ain't following you girl. Your in my town. Remember?" Oh the nerve.

"Listen. I don't like you. Tried to be friendly and obviously that wasn't working for you. What do you want?"

"You're hotter when your mad." He said to me slightly punching my shoulder. I was shocked. Did he really just say that? He was harder to read than Chinese.

"ARG!" I started walking back to the car, but he grabbed my arm.

"Listen. I'm sorry I was a dick the other day. I know you probably don't know many people out here. Take my number." He thrust a piece of paper at me. "Give me a call and we can go do something. We have a lot of parties at the club if you want to get to know some people."

I yanked the paper out of his hand and stalked to the car. I threw a "Thanks" over my should and slammed the door. Thank goodness that's when my grandmother came out and walked to the car as well.

"Who's that young man?" She asked me as she got in.

I shook my head as I started the car. "A pain in my ass."