Chapter 7 is here!

Enjoy!

This chapter was Beta'd by: Anna Mae 2243


The drive back to the apartment was agreeably quiet.

I could definitely tell that Ichigo's siblings approved of me, even if the dark haired one didn't say much to me. But who wouldn't like me? I'm 28 years old, in the prime of my life, I have a great job with lots of benefits, nothing on my criminal record, a Master's degree and I can cook.

Why yes, I am the shit.

But I wonder if Ichigo's dad would approve of me? Parents are always different; they tend to be a bit more critical when judging potential others. But I'm so damn flawless what is there to judge?

Maybe the fact that I've never been in a long term relationship?

But that's not my fault! It's not my fault I was constantly dumped within the first week! It's not my fault I like to be clingy and know where my significant other is 24/7! Not my fault I get jealous easily and overreact! Not my fault that I want to hold on to my partner and NEVER let go!

What's wrong with that?

I gripped the steering wheel as I chanced a glance at Ichigo. He was busy looking through my CD collection to find something to play. Surprisingly, Ich and I have very different tastes in music. I'm more of a hard-rock kind of guy while Ichigo enjoys acoustic and that weird indie music.

Ichigo finally settled on popping in my Staind Live in Mohegan Sun CD. Nice choice Ich.

"I saw these guys in concert last year. They were pretty good. Aaron Lewis can really rock a crowd." Ichigo said while looking out his window.

"Really? Didn't peg you for a Staind fan Ich. Thought you were all into your weird emo music." I said with a crooked smile as I turned down our street.

"I can like hard rock too! I don't only listen to alternative music. And it's not emo either! It's just different."

"Isn't that what all emo people say? I'm not weird, I'm just different? Are you misunderstood Ich?" I asked with mocking sympathy as I turned to look at him.

"Man fuck you, you-SHIT!" Ichigo jumped and yelled, looking ahead.

A sleek looking vehicle nearly hit the front of my car as it whipped out of our parking lot with lightning speed down the street.

"Jesus Christ! That fucker nearly hit me!" I said; slamming on my brakes and turning around in my seat to look for the maniac that almost hit the front of my car.

Ichigo was looking behind as well with a stunned look on his face.

"No fucking way…." Ichigo whispered to himself.

"What was that Ich?"

"N-nothing. Probably just some lazy ass that's late for work." Ichigo mumbled while rubbing his arm.

"Starrk should have one of those speed bump things put in if tenants are going to pull this shit." I said as I pulled into the parking and parked the car in my usual spot.

"Like you're one to talk. I saw you peel outta here the other day like a madman. Where were you headed off to in such a hurry anyways?" Ichigo asked with skeptical curiosity as we got out of the car.

"I was late for a get together I was having with my friend Nnoitra from work." I said quickly as we walked up to the building. Technically I'm not lying.

"Oh so you were late for date?" Ichigo said slyly while trying his best to hide a smirk.

"What! No it wasn't a date! It was a friendly get together!" I stopped and sputtered at Ichigo.

"Heh relax Grim I'm just fucking with ya. Though you were pretty quick to deny it was a date." Ichigo said with a condescending smile as he walked into the building.

I tried to regain my composure as I followed in after him. Damn you Ichigo! It was NOT a date! But even if Ich thought it was on a date, he's acting awfully smooth.

Like he's not jealous as all.

Unless….he's using this nonchalance as a way of hiding how unbearably jealous he is!

I bet underneath that cool surface he is just fuming. Wondering how my date went and if I enjoyed myself. Ha! That poor fool. Getting jealous over nothing. You needn't worry Ich, you're still the only one for me.

"So I guess I'll see you at the pool tomorrow. You'll be there at 3:30 p.m. right?" I asked Ich as we climbed the steps to my floor.

"Yup. I might run a little late if I can't skip my last class. If that happens then I'll show up around 4:30 p.m. instead." Ich said as we stood in the 2nd floor hallway in front of my apartment door.

"Could you text me if you're gonna be late?" I asked thinking this is the perfect moment to finally get Ich's cellphone number.

I noticed Ichigo hesitated for a second before he sighed and reached into his pocket.

"Yeah just a sec. I'll give you my number."

I pulled my own phone out of my back pocket and put Ich's number into my contacts. Yes! Finally!

"Alright then, I'll see you tomorrow Ich!" I yelled to him as I walked into my apartment and closed the door.

"Mmmm. I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow. I want to see Ich in his swim trunks. Not to mention show off my own bod to him." I said to myself as I walked into the kitchen and grabbed a beer from the fridge.

Pantera was taking her usual nap on the couch, her body lying on its side and her fluffy tail tucked around herself.

"I'll have to tell her about lunch with Ich's sisters when she gets up." I said to myself as I walked up to the TV to turn on my x-box.

Just then I noticed the blinking red light on my phone. Wonder who left a message?

"I swear if it's Starrk asking me about the fucking pool thing again….." I trailed off angrily as I pushed the play button on the machine.

You have 38 new messages

First message:

"WHY WON'T YOU ANSWER YOUR FUCKING PHONE!"

Beep

"Please answer me Grimmy, I wanna talk to youuuuuu!"

Beep

"Let's go out dancing tonight!"

Beep

"Are you ignoring me?"

Beep

"Grimmy! I'm getting tired of YOUR FUCKING ANSWERING MACHINE!"

Beep

"PICK UP YOUR GODDAMN PHONE!"

Beep

"I'm sorry for yelling Grim. It's just been a long day. Come on! I just wanna talk with you!"

Beep

"Or are you with that other person…."

Beep

"I'll PUT A BULLET IN YOUR FUCKING SKULL GRIMMJOW!"

Beep

"Call me!"

Beep

I checked the caller ID. All of the missed calls were from that same number. God that voice. I've never heard anyone sound so bat-shit insane before.

I immediately picked up the phone and dialed up Nnoi's number.

'Ring'

"Hang on a second babe…Hello?"

"NNOITRA! WHY THE FUCK DID YOU GIVE NEL MY FUCKING NUMBER!"

"AAH! Jesus Grimm, tone it down a notch. Nearly blew my fucking eardrum…."

"Nnoi! I'm fucking serious! Why did you give her my number! She's been calling my number nonstop and leaving me crazy voice mails!"

"I'm sorry dude! After you dipped out, Nel was really upset and Hime said I should give her your number so she could ask you why you left without saying anything. Why did you suddenly slip out man? Ya know you're not getting those tickets now."

"Fuck the tickets! I left because she's a crazy bitch. She fucking flipped a tit when I tried to tell her that it wasn't a date and that I was already trying to ask out someone else."

"Well I think any chick would take offence to that from someone they're having dinner with."

"But it was the truth! And then she freaked out and threatened to put a fork in my eye and she kept asking me a billion questions and did I mention that she THREATNED TO PUT A FORK IN MY FUCKING EYE!"

"Ok Grim, take a breath there. I'll talk to Hime and ask her to tell Nel to stop calling you. Alright?"

"Ok fine."

"Alright, I'll talk to you at work on Monday."

"Bye."

'CLICK'

…..

"Fuck what a mess…."


"No I don't, I have no idea how my brother could have gotten a hold of your number Ichigo." My friend Rukia said over the phone while I rinsed out a bowl in the sink.

"I just don't want him trying to get a hold of me. I don't know why he's even bothering." I said with much disdain.

"I don't blame you Ichigo. Frankly I'd have to come over there and kick your ass if you did want to get a hold of him."

I chuckled at that. And I totally believe you would Rukia.

I scooped some mac-n-cheese into my rinsed out bowl and sat down on the couch. I waited for the noodles to cool off before I took a bite of the cheesy goodness.

And yes I did just recently eat. What? I'm a dude, we eat a lot. Bite me.

"Do you know why he's even trying to contact me? I mean with the last message he left it sounds like he wants to get back together or something."

"I know him and Shuuhei have been having problems lately."

"Oh that's nice. I'm having problems with the guy I cheated on you with, so can we get back together? Cause you know, you're my fallback guy and all." I said with my perfect Byakuya impersonation.

I heard Rukia laugh over the phone before she responded.

"Shut up Ichigo, you're nobody's fallback guy. Any person would be lucky to have you as their boyfriend."

Except Byakuya I guess.

"And fuck Byakuya! He's an asshole!" Rukia yelled into the phone as if reading my mind.

"I know he is Rukia." I said with a sad smile as I took a big bite out of my meal.

"Then just ignore him. I don't know what he's trying to pull but it can't be anything good. Don't worry; if he continues to pester you I'll have a talk with him. And by that I mean I'll kick his scrawny little white ass!"

"Ha! Is that any way to talk about your brother?" I asked with heavy sarcasm.

"We're not even related Ichigo. And thank god for that. So what's this I hear about you having a crush on Papa smurf?"

Dammit Renji! You have such a big mouth.

"I don't have a crush on anyone. But the person you are referring to is one of the tenants here at my new apartment. I guess you could say we're friends, but that's it!" I said trying to convince her I wasn't crushing on anyone.

"So what's his name? What does he look like? Come on tell me the whole scoop!" Rukia asked excitedly, like she just found out about the latest gossip.

"His name's Grimmjow. He's kinda big I suppose. He's gotta at least be 6 feet and maybe 200 pounds. And he's pretty built. I guess he's worked in construction his whole life so he built up a good muscle mass. I don't know how old he is but I think he's a bit older than me since he says he's got a Master's degree. He also has a weird thing for cats, like he can tell you everything there is to know about them. And he's a really good cook too." I said while playing with my food.

"Why don't you ask him out?"

"Rukia!"

"I'm serious Ich; you gotta get back into the dating scene sooner or later. And now you've got this guy that really likes you and you're not going for it! What's up?"

"I don't know Rukia. I think I'm just sort of hesitant to start dating again because of all the shit that happened with Byakuya. I mean it's not that I don't like Grim or anything, it's just that Byakuya kinda through me off my game ya know?"

"I know Ich. But that's no reason to not give this new guy a chance."

"But he's kind of a weirdo Rukia." I said with a chuckle and a curved smile.

"Oh and like your one to talk! Mr. I-have-a-thousand-conspiricies-on-why-the-government-is-out-to-get-me!"

"Hey I only bring those up when I've had too many hemp chocolates!"

"Ya know speaking of crushes did you hear about Orihime's new man? Rukia asked shrewdly.

"No I haven't had a chance to talk to her since Shiro's last party. So who's this new guy?"

"Well from what I've seen, Hime has got him totally whipped! It's hilarious! Mainly because when I first met him he came off as a rude smartass. But as soon as Hime showed up he was all over her with love and affection."

"What a pansy." I said through bites of cheesy noodles.

"Haha! I know right?" I heard Rukia laugh over the phone. It's been too long since we've had a chance to just talk.

"Hey you haven't seen my new apartment yet have you? Why don't you come over this weekend so we can hang out?"

"I'd love too! I'm free this Sunday after 5:00 p.m.; I'll rent a movie so we can watch it together and hang out. Should I bring any booze or are you good?"

"No I picked up some butterscotch schnapps the other day. I have some cream soda too so we can have Butterbeer and eat popcorn. I'll order us some food too so it'd all good."

"Great! I was thinking of renting…." I heard Rukia pause on the phone before I heard her talking to someone else over the phone.

'No, it's not him…..I'm trying to talk to Hime…..I'm not lying!...Get the fuck out of my room!...Hey! Give me that you asshole!...

"Ichigo I need to talk to yo-"

I hung up the phone as soon as I heard his voice.

Why can't that asshole just leave me the fuck alone!

I walked back into the kitchen and set my dirty bowl in the sink. The sound of running water was a nice distraction from the migraine that was forming in my head. I put both my hands on the kitchen counter and leaned on them with my head facing down, something I always did when I was having a bad headache.

"Fuck what a mess…"


Mmm and so the plot thickens…..sort of.

Review and let me know what you thought of this chapter.

Also quick question, how do you guys like the length of these chapters? Are they too short, too long or just right?

Let me know!

Until next time.

mcpidy