A/N: I would just like to thank you all for your reviews. I understand that many of you want Ana to be stronger, and she will be - never fear! This chapter might provide a little more insight into her grudge, and will be mostly in the past. I hope you all continue to enjoy what I've thought up. Your reviews make it worth it!
Ten Years Prior . . .
One week before the dance.
"Jenny Anderson asked me to the dance Ana." Said Christian. He sat on his back deck, legs hanging over the side.
Ana sat next to him, an iced tea in her hands. Behind them, little Mia ran around in circles playing with her older brother Elliot. It was quite a picturesque day, the sun shining bright over the water. The only thing that could kill her day was Christian telling her someone had asked him out.
She could admit to herself that she liked him, but she knew that dating him would be unrealistic. He had made many strides to becoming more sociable, but the idea of ruining their friendship was enough to make her get over her little crush.
Ana cleared her throat, looking at him from the corner of her eye. His cooper hair was moving slightly in the wind and his grey eyes were settled on the water that lapped against the dock.
"What did you say to her?" She asked lightly, attempting to sound uninterested.
She could hear the grin in his voice when he spoke, "Of course I told her no. I wanted to go with someone else."
Ana had that feeling, the one where her stomach felt like she had just ridden a roller coaster. "Who?" She asked.
"You. You're my best friend.. I hate dances, but you are a girl, and I know that's kind of a girl thing. So I thought maybe you and I could go together. Plus... then I don't have to worry about ... you know." Christian began, raising an hand to indicate the rest of his sentence by waving it over his chest.
She knew what he meant. He didn't have to worry about her touching him, because she understood him.
Night of the dance.
Christian looked down at her fingers intertwined with his. The fear he felt subsided when he saw the slow blush of her cheeks appear. Music pounded still from the hall, but the sound of the water was much more soothing.
"Do you want to dance?" He asked, raising his eyebrows.
Ana turned her head to him, confused. "The music is inside.." She stammered.
He stood either way, grabbing her hand to help her up. "Just... keep your hands on my shoulder. You know where." He murmured, but he didn't need to tell her.
Her fingers touched his shoulders and for a moment he tensed. He felt himself relax though when he placed his hands on her hips. They moved slowly, swaying to the music that they could faintly hear. He kept his eyes on her, though he noted that she kept her own averted.
While his brother Elliot had a steady stream of girlfriends, Christian had never even kissed a girl. It was only now that he felt the urge to do so. Her lips looked soft in the moonlight, and he couldn't help himself when he leaned forward to press his own against them.
He felt Ana melt beneath his kiss, and a moment later he pulled away. Not sure if what he had done was right or wrong, he waited for her reaction.
"I... I don't..." She murmured, but he stopped her by giving her his jaw dropping smile.
"Ana, don't look too much into it. I just figured I wanted you to be my first kiss."
"Holy shit! Little Christian Grey is actually kissing a girl! Its the nerd!" Came a voice, and they both turned to see the captain of the football team. Christian vaguely remembered crashing his party on a drunken binge of his and also punching him in the face.
He felt himself getting red, his temper flaring. "Shut up..." He growled, moving his hands to ball his fists at his side.
"Why? What are you going to do?" The meat head walked closer, flanked by another football player.
"Christian..." Ana murmured, putting a hand on his arm. "Stop. Just walk away. Please..."
Looking at her in her dress, her hair done, her beautiful smile, he felt himself calm slowly. He grabbed her hand, turning to walk away with her, ignoring the yells behind him and feeling like he was finally taking a step in the right direction.
"Annie, what's with this smile of yours? Your face is going to get stuck like that if you don't stop." Ray joked, sitting on the opposite end of the couch.
Together they sat, a bowl of popcorn sitting between them. Ana picked through the popcorn, looking for the chocolate she had thrown in there. The TV played before them, an old Western streaming across the screen.
Since Ana had returned home from the dance, she couldn't rid herself of her smile. The butterflies that had made their way into her stomach fluttered around endlessly.
"Sorry Dad... just had a good time at the dance." She said, curling her legs beneath her.
"Good time... hope not too good since I saw that boy have the same smile."
Ana giggled, shaking her head. She was sure her father was confused at her happiness. The day she had come to live with Ray he had cried for an hour. She had looked broken, her nose still bruised from her current Step-Father's latest temper tantrum.
"Annie... I have to tell you.. it's nice having my little girl back." Ray said, his voice shaking. She was sure when he smiled she saw his eyes glisten.
Moving closer to him, Ana placed her head on Ray's shoulder. "It's nice being back Dad..."
Present Day. . .
Ana dragged the eyeliner pencil over her eyelid, holding the corner tightly. The resulting look was flattering, her blue eyes lined in coal. Christian had sent her a text message with a location of where they could go eat together and of course she was sure it was a place out of her league. Kate had given her a deep plum sheath dress to wear that she accompanied with black stiletto heels.
"So... I don't understand." Kate began, leaning against the door frame of the bathroom. "You are going out with him... again."
"Yes." Ana answered, putting some light pink lip gloss on.
"After how mad you've been with him."
"Kate," She turned, her brown waves falling over one shoulder. "I just need answers, then I can put this to rest, move on with my life and finish writing my book."
Kate stared at her, a small smile on her lips. While Kate was inquisitive, she was never judgmental. "Elliot says he's quite the charmer, so... be careful Steele."
Ana smiled at her, leaning forward to hug her best friend. "There is no way i'm going to be charmed by Christian Grey... again. Speaking of Elliot, what's going on there?"
"Oh nothing..." Her friend said lightly, "Just having a little fun."
But Ana knew it was much more.
The Mile High Club was yet another one of Christian's business ventures. Sitting at the top of Columbia Tower, the restaurant had no rival. Ana had pressed that she meet him there, not wanting to be stranded should she have needed a ride home. After the long ride up seventy-eight floors, she found herself greeted by a hostess that was impeccably dressed.
"I'm here for a party of two. Last name Grey." Ana stated firmly. She noted with interest that the woman's eyes widened perceptibly.
"This way ma'am." The waitress announced as she began walking. Finally stopping at a private booth in the back, she held an arm out. That arm led right to Christian, sitting in a black button down dress shirt and grey slacks. His hair was messy as always, his face clean shaven.
He stood immediately as he lifted his head, waiting until she was seated to take his seat again.
"Ana... you look lovely." He stated after clearing his throat. In front of him was a wine glass, filled with deep red liquid.
From the corner of her eye she could see his body guard, standing with both hands folded in front of him. The thought of needing a body guard, of never having any privacy, made Ana cringe. Long gone was the feisty teenager replaced with a CEO and master of the world.
"I took the liberty of ordering some food for us as well as a glass of wine for you. I hope you like my choices." He said, elbows on the table and fingers interlocked.
Ana placed her napkin in her lap before letting her eyes fall on the man before her. She knew that amount of women that would kill to be sitting where she was, and yet it didn't hold the same appeal for her as it did for him. Of course he was gorgeous, and of course he would be quite the catch.
"Thank you very much. I guess i'll start with my biggest question. Do you know how much you hurt me?" Ana said, narrowing her eyes.
She noted with delight that he sputtered on his wine. Lifting a napkin to dab at the corners of his mouth he watched her, sizing her up. "Yes Ana, I do. I'm very sorry that I had hurt you, but it wasn't intentional."
Wasn't intentional. She frowned at his words, watching as the waitress placed an appetizer of assorted cheeses and breads before them. "It wasn't intentional?" She squeaked. "Accidentally closing the door on someones fingers... that's hurting while being unintentional."
She could tell he was not used to be challenged or spoken to the way she was speaking to him, but she could care less.
"Why don't we start eating? Tell me about yourself... how is your father doing?" Christian asked, effectively changing the conversation.
"Ray is fine. He's been fishing and still hasn't even gone on a date. That I know of." Ana replied, scooping some cheese onto a piece of bread.
Christian grinned at her, taking a bite of his own bread. "What about you Ana? Have you gone on many dates?"
"That's a very inappropriate question to ask Christian... I could ask you the same thing."
"I don't go on dates Ana. I don't... date."
They sat quiet together until the cheese was taken away and replaced with their main dish. She stared at the fish with asparagus that sat before her and frowned. Was she not even enough in his league to know what type of fish she was looking at?
"It's cod..." He mentioned lightly, using his fork to break off a piece.
"What do you do then if you don't go on dates?" She prodded, after letting the white fish slide down her throat. Delicious.
Christian grinned sheepishly at her, his eyes growing dark. She narrowed her own at him, choosing to come back to that question later.
Two more glasses of wine and a delicious Creme Brulee later, Christian leaned back in his chair staring at the woman in front of her.
She hadn't answered his question about any 'dates', and it made him flustered to think she was going out with other men. It had been long since he had been challenged, and although it would generally spark his anger, he also felt intrigued.
"Do you ever miss being the way you used to be?" Ana asked and then motioned around her. "You know, when your life wasn't... this?"
And although he wasn't keen on answering another question, he took a deep breath and responded. "Yes. And no. There are times I miss having my privacy. But I like having money, and I enjoy doing what I do. I don't ever want to be hungry again, and this way I won't."
"Well, you also wouldn't have with Grace and Carrick, but I understand." She replied. "You have a lot of money."
"Yes, I do."
"And to think, I used to buy you ice cream with my allowance." She allowed herself a small smile.
He chuckled, "Next time I'll buy you gourmet ice cream, straight from Italy."
"No. Next time, we do things my way. Cheap beer, and pizza." She then stood, indicating it was time for her to leave.
Christian stood immediately with her, and followed her to the elevators. They stepped inside, and he tried his best to ignore the charge he felt between them.
He cleared his throat, "So there will be a next time?" He said lightly.
"Well yes, because I still need more answers from you."
And he grinned, watching as the elevator doors opened and she sauntered away.