You Found Me
Chapter 9 – The Question.
I plopped myself down on the steps at lunch time with a apple in my hands, tossing it side to side, not sure whether to eat it now or late? I'm starving. I haven't eaten anything for awhile now and my head is hurting slightly from a headache. A bunch of girls pass me to go outside with some food from the cafeteria and oh my goodness, it smells so damn wonderful. I want to chase after them and beg like a cute puppy with big brown eyes, so they'll give me some. Instead of looking like the craziest person in school I bite the inside of my cheek, forcing myself to stop thinking about the mouth-watering food. But it's difficult when my stomach grumbles like a roaring lion in a zoo. The sound almost temps me into eating my apple but… I know I need to save it for later.
"You going to eat that?" A very familiar voice makes me smile; reminding me of the first time he asked me that not so long ago. I glance up to see Caleb leaning against the banister of the stairs with a huge ear to ear grin sitting on his face.
"Eventually," I reply, saying the same thing I did last time.
His grin only got bigger. Caleb stepped up one step before sinking himself down next to me. "So," He said unzipping his bag and pulling something out. "Randomly, my Dad told me to give you this. Apparently, he can read minds. He probably thinks he's Edward bloody Cullen."
I laugh. Taking a black box from him, I skim my eyes over the package to see it's a Blackberry cell phone. HOLY MO! This isn't what I would have liked. Food would have been a better surprise.
"Jesus," Caleb says, running his knuckles down my cheek. "You were serious about the hole phobia of phones. You've gone really pale Holly."
"I'm not scared of it… Just making a call, that's what scares the bejesus out of me."
"Like I said, we can take it slow. I've already added my digits into it so I'm at a click of a button and you can text me whenever you like too."
"Okay…"
"But if you're not ready…"
"Give me a little time, I don't even know how this thing works," I said taking the Blackberry out of the box.
Caleb tried his best to explain how this device works. To me everything looks jumbled and I've found out that I'm probably the slowest person to type on a phone in school – how embarrassing.
After a short while, Caleb invited me to meet his friends in the cafeteria hall. He reached down for my hand and guided me through the crowds of people to his usual table. His hands are warm compared to my cold ones. He must think I'm a freak. Maybe, if he mentions it I could blame it on working at the ice rink. Yeah, that would work. Or maybe I could just let go of his hand? No. I want to be holding his hand. They're warm and I finally feel cared about for the first damn time in my life. So I remain holding hands with him right until we get to the table and all of his friends notice.
"Now something definitely is going on between the two of you," Damien said, I remember his as one of the hotties. At that, my cheeks flush red. Can't they remove their eyes away from me now…Please.
"Are you together now, like an item?" Aimee says, focusing her entire attention on to Caleb. She likes him! I can see the jealous streak in her. But I'm sure as hell know they can see the streak of embarrassment that has got to be written all over me right now.
"We're not actually," Caleb says. He squeezes my hand once before releasing go and for some reason I want to stamp my foot into the floor and demand him to hold my hand. I like his hand being in mine. It felt comfortable and right.
Caleb sits down and he looks over his shoulder to me before patting the seat next to him, wanting me to join him. If they keep questioning me I'm gonna run as fast as my little legs will let me.
"Grow some balls man!" Charlie said, slamming his fist into the table, making a statement. "Ask her out already!"
Matt leans closer to me, his cologne of rich spices make me want to throw up but I manage it. "He drools over you, y'know."
I smirk smears over my features as my stomach rolls.
All of a sudden, I hear a beep and a vibration in my pocket where the cell phone is. I take it out and look at it. A message pops up onto the screen and I know it's from Caleb.
It reads = Tomorrow, we're sticking to the stairs. X
I laugh quietly to myself before glance up at Caleb and nod my head; glad to know he still wants to spend time with me. ME… of all people. He wants to share his time with the girl with the broken glasses. I don't understand why. There are other girls that don't go around with broken glasses or look like a complete scruff. They're more beautiful than me with their perfect hair and glamorous nail art work that I'll never afford. Most of them have more time on their hands too and don't have a little Brother to look after. Wouldn't he rather be with someone like Aimee? She's pretty and perfect and could probably offer him more. Why me?
I don't catch what Damien says but Caleb responds with, "Shall I ask her now then?"
Ask me what? I'm confused. I shouldn't have drifted off into my own little world.
"How romantic you are!" Aimee says with a catty tone to her voice as she leans on her arm and plays with her food. Then I'm sudden pulled back into the conversation and where we're at and I feel my cheek practically glowing like Rudolph the reindeer's nose.
Charlie's laughter echoes. "I don't think public humiliation is her thing." He reaches over the table and pinches my red cheek. "Do you darling?"
. . .
After staying out of trouble for the rest of my lessons, I headed to the ice rink, got changed into my uniform and got my skates on. My stomach has healed a lot and it feels much better so I can go and skate on the slippery ice. I borrow Josh's pulling gloves again and after I slip them on, I see Caleb trying to attempt getting on the ice all by himself.
I smile and cross my arms over my chest, watching him from my distance where I stand in the centre of the rink. He's holding on for dear life as he hovers one of his boots over the ice, preparing to step on. I can see he's concentrating hard not to much up and embarrass himself in front of me.
It doesn't take him long to chicken out.
People started to hover behind him so he lets them pass and they get on the ice effortlessly and gracefully skate around the rink. His mouth hangs wide open whilst he watches them. Hair falls in front of his bright gray eyes just before they peek up in my direction. His eyes meet mine and he begins to glare at me. I'm finding this situation so damn funny, I cannot stop laughing. "Are you just going to stand there?" He calls over to me.
"I might do," I say teasingly. "The show is pretty hilarious from here!" I wait a moment before skating over to him and offering my arm for his support. "Come on then clumsy…" He looks down at the ice with fear swallowing in his eyes. He hooks his arm through mine and I feel the killer grip on my arm. Bloody hell bells! "If your ass falls on my face, like in elementary I'm going to kick your ass right where the sun don't shine." Caleb's eyes go wide. "I thought I'd let you know what the consequences would be if your butt happens to fall near my face.
"I thought you liked my ass, why would you want to hurt it?"
"I do like…" I say taking a cheeky glance of his backside. He has a good backside. "Really like."
"Hey!" He says nudging into me, pulling my gaze away. "Let's focus on the subject of me getting on the damn ice."
"What!" I object. "The subject of this conversation is on looking at you buns and well; you've got pretty hot buns from where I am standing and how can you refuse me not to look." I smile and flutter my eyelashes at him.
Caleb laughs before shaking his head, letting his hair falling into his eyes which I hoped hadn't happened because I just want to remove it out of his way. Being so close to Caleb is hard. He makes me feel things that no one has. An anxious expression crosses his face as he looks down at the ice. "I'm not sure I want to learn how to ice skate anymore..."his voice uncertain.
I put my teacher's hat on. "It's not that bad once you've mastered the balance thing. It took me a good few tries. We've all been in your shoes. Just forget everyone around and trust me."
"I do trust you."
"Good. And…If you do happen to slip down, I'll be here to catch you." He still looks uneasy so I use force instead. "Get your fabulous ass on the ice before I pull you on and give up on my end of the agreement too."
Caleb earned a golden star for doing so well on his first actual lesson and I found him one in my boss' office. He said he'll take it home to show his Mummy and that had made me chuckle. Some of his mates did show up during our lesson and I told him to ignore their comments and to concentrate on me and his feet which he did. I'm actually really proud of him.
I had expected Caleb to have gone home but I find him waiting outside the staff room door. His beautiful gray eyes glowed and his lips tug up into a heart-warming smile. Butterflies start swimming in my lower belly and I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from doing something stupid, which will embarrass me forever.
"Hey," I said walking over to him, where he's leant against a wall, watching my every movement. "You waited."
"Of course I did," Caleb says. "Now come here." Caleb grabs my wrist and pulls me closer to him. In the swift movement I wasn't prepared for, I accidently slammed against him. He steadied my weight and held me close to him, welcoming the feel of his hands on my hips. I flush immediately, realising that my hands are on his chest. Should I move them? Yes. I better had. I remove them quickly, feeling extremely odd just having my arms at my side. So I embrace the moment and wrap my arms around him. It's not often that I get to hug anyone apart from Rex. So I am going to enjoy every damn second of it.
After a short while I glance up at Caleb and find him watching me with those beautiful eyes of his. He leans forwards and I feel his lips pressing against my head. "I don't want to rush what we have Holly… I really do like you…"
"And I really like you and your buns…" Making a joke at this time probably isn't the right idea but it's helping me relax from the knot tightening any further in my belly. Caleb leans in, kissing my head again. I wished he would just kiss me on the lips already.
Maybe I should be the one to make the first move. But say if I ruin everything or if I do it wrong? I haven't even had my first kiss yet. Say if… I do it wrong and he rethinks everything and decides I'm not what he's looking for.
But I'm surprised by Caleb leaning forward, his lips inching closer to mine. His lips hover near mine, not quite touching but I can feel his breath against mine. My bottom lip pulls open slightly as my stomach clenches tightly from all the nerves racing through me. It's finally going to happen. My first ever kiss.
"Holly!" Someone bursts our bubble. Fuck!
Jointly, we both sigh in disappointment and I pull back and look over my shoulder.
"Sorry, did I interrupt something," Josh teases. His grin is big and cheesy. I can't believe Josh has ruined our moment. I want to strangle him. I loosen my hands from Caleb and he does the same to me. When I don't say anything Josh continues, "Can I get those gloves back?"
No you bloody can't you dickhead. "Sure." I get them from my pocket and toss them at him. I've got to get myself a pair. When I get paid from Christian I'm going to treat myself, for once. Holy shit! Christian is waiting for me. I turn to look at Caleb. "I'm sorry, I've got to be somewhere. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Answer your phone later…" Caleb says.
It's not going to be that easy!
With a ride from Sawyer, we head over to Mr Grey's spectacular building. It's so beautiful. Sawyer parks the car, opens my door and shows me right to Christian's office door. "You can go straight in Holly, Mr Grey is expecting you," A lady says at reception with beautiful curly blonde hair.
I nod my head and enter the office. WOW! The view! It pauses and takes everything in. The buildings are so beautiful from here. It's just… Wow. I haven't seen Seattle like this before. "Amazing, isn't it?" Christian's voice appears close and I don't have the slightest clue where he is because my eyes are so focus in front of me.
"Yes… it is," I manage to form words which I didn't think I would.
Removing my eyes away, not that I want to, I look at my new boss. He's wearing a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, his tie is perfectly done and he's wearing black pants with shiny shoes. I don't scrub up so well. "Thank you for the phone that was very generous of you."
"Caleb mentioned you don't like handling phone calls when I gave it to him today. But I'm not going to push you into something you don't want to do Holly. I just need you to have one just in case I'm out of the office on business or if you need to let me know you're too ill for work. But you can do that through texting or emailing me. I'm sure Caleb will help you with that."
Working for Christian and alongside Olivia was great to be honest. They took their time with me and helped me when I didn't understand something. I'm helping Olivia in the reception area organising things like Caleb's 16th birthday. Google was my best friend. I'd find awesome things like bands and I asked Olivia to phone them. We worked well together. When Mr Grey had a meeting with Mr Howard, I made coffee and tried not to get it all down me. I kept seeing my hands trembling with the tray and I kept repeating in my head to focus and not think about my nerves. Somehow, I escaped any disastrous accidents with spilling the coffee. If Caleb had to do this, I'm sure he'd muck it up and accidently pour the hot liquid all over Mr Howard.
Every time I think about Caleb, I get all gooey inside and I lose my train of thought and now I'm helping organising his birthday party.
I shared a car with Christian and we spoke about the care of Rex whilst I'm working. I had to lie again about Julia working late and he seemed to buy it. He knew Rex was my responsibility and he offered, kindly to pay the Mr and Mrs Ravin's for looking after him every day of the week and we'd either pick him up or Mrs Ravin's will drop him off. That's one thing I have to worry less about.
After Rex told us about his day and was excited he's have more play time with his best friend Zeke, we arrived at our apartment. "Thank you for your hard work today Holly, I appreciate it."
"No, thank you… You saved me from a horrible place and I don't know how I can repay you for this."
"There is no need Holly, I see the smile on my Sons face and that's all I ask for."
Rex walked up ahead of me on the stairs but he stopped in the middle of the second set. He turns around and he looked at me. "What Christian said, in the car about seeing his Son happy, was that about Caleb and you."
I shrug my shoulders and continued to walk pass my Brother.
Rex captures my arm. His eyes had a hint of confusion in them. "Does that mean you are Boyfriend and Girlfriend now?" He asked curiously, cocking his brow in the air.
"Not yet…"
He started to get excited. His face beamed with a smile. "You will though, won't you? I like Caleb and Phoebe and Theo."
"The way things are going Rex, I think so." I couldn't ignore the butterflies in my more. When I see Caleb next I'm going to give him my first ever kiss and if I muck up and doesn't like it then I'll always be hiding on the stairs.
Later in the evening, I sat at the coffee table with candles glowing for light, doing my homework. Mr Reeves will be so proud if he could see me right now. I had a few distractions from Rex because he is still up and he's playing with Panda, throwing a soft ball for her to collect and bring back. It's been nice to be able to spend the night with my Brother and Panda. At least I can go and get some normal sleep like normal people. I don't even need to walk Panda at stupid O'clock which is very nice. I must thank Christian again.
A knock came at the door. My eyes shot to Rex and his to mine. "Are we expecting someone?" he asked where he sat on the couch with crossed legs.
I shook my head. "No." The knock came again and it was a little louder than before. I hope it doesn't wake Julia up. She's fast asleep in her room. The smell and bottle's of alcohol in her room made me think it had knocked her out. I still checked to see if she was breathing and she was.
The knock came again. Rex tosses a cushion at me. "Answer it then pussy cat."
I laughed. Whoever it is isn't going to leave. I stand up and cross to the front door peeping through the small peep hole. A huge grin brighten my face, if only it could have brighten up the room to see. "Stay there Rex." I say before opening the door and slipping out to Caleb in the hallway.
"Hey you, what are you doing here?" I asked, closing the door behind me so he couldn't see the mess of the flat with no electric or heat.
"Hey," He said in a sexy smooth voice. "I-um-missed you and forgot to tell you something. Well actually ask you something."
"Oh yeah, what's that then?" I asked curiously, bracing myself against the door and leaning with my foot on the wood.
Caleb stepped closer; his cologne swept me from underneath my feet. Boy. The guy smells amazingly delicious. He's going to have to step back if he doesn't want me to bite him. He smells that good.
Caleb dared a step closer to me and rested his hand against my head on the door, making his cologne smell stronger than before. Oh damn. I bite my lower lip, chewing on it in the most unattractive way possible to get my attention to focus off his scent, his beautiful body, hovering over me and the tremble I so badly want to stop face through me.
Slowly and without a flicker of nerves, Caleb reached up and touched my cheek, that instantly glows and I feel my embarrassment increasing. But I couldn't tear my eyes away from his, they're so inviting.
A shiver travelled through me and I know any second now I'm about to lose it. Christ!
Caleb brushes his thumb underneath my tired eyes as he inches himself closer and parting his lips. They hover in front of mine for a moment, inviting me to kiss him first but I didn't want to push him just in case this is all in my head. With his soft lips, they brush along mine before slowly and gently pressing into mine, making me open against his.
Within seconds our mouths crash into one another's and I find myself running my fingers through his silky hair. The nerves somehow disappeared and every little doubt seemed to scurry away. Caleb obviously is enjoying himself or else he would be pulling back and away from me. But he isn't. He's forcing me closer, running his hands over my body and sliding his tongue into my mouth. He's so sweet and I can taste mint. He must have brushed his teeth beforehand.
When Caleb finally found the strength to pull away, we both stared at one another, panting like two crazy animals. His eyes held desire and I hoped mine showed that too.
"I've been wanting to do that for some time," Caleb admits.
My cheeks burn to the max and I can no longer look at him as the embarrassment take over me. I've been wanting to do that too, but I couldn't find the confidence within me to tell him that. Instead, I decided to tease him. "Was that your question? To ask if you could kiss me because I think you just stole it."
A thick chuckle came from him which made me go weak at the knees. If Caleb wasn't holding onto my waist I'm sure I would be on the floor right now. "Part of my questions," Caleb says. Gently, he raised his thumb and ran it over my heated cheek. "My actually question is 'will you go out with me?' I can't stand another day without being with you Holly. But if that's jumping in the deep then I completely understa-"
"Shut up and kiss me!"
I think I made my answer quite clear for the last few minutes as we made out by the front door to my apartment.
"Caleb," I felt nervous again because I needed to tell him. "I haven't done…Can we just take things slow though. I don't want to rush us and I have my Brother to think about too."
"We can take it a slow as you like." That's all I needed to know from Caleb Grey.
Caleb had to go home and I promised I'd text him when I got into bed. He tried to get me to call him but that was an instant no reply. After another deep kiss, he walked down the stairs and I had to hold myself up. I felt the struggle instantly and my legs suddenly went weak. I slipped down to the floor and smiled. I smiled so hard my lips and cheeks started to burn from pain.
Caleb Grey is going out with me! I wanted to shout it from the top of my lungs but I couldn't Julia would have my throat. Thinking of her, I decided I'd better stop hanging in the hallway and return to my Brother and Panda to see if they're okay.
When I returned, still with a smile on my face, Rex looked up at me with a quizzing expression. "Who's making you smile like a crazy person, Hols?"
"No one," I said biting my lips, trying to stop the smile from beaming from my lips as I settled on the couch with my Brother.
"Someone has. Who was it?" He questioned again. "Let me guess. Caleb?"
"Nope…" I said in an innocent tone.
"You're rubbish at lying Hols!" God I hope not.
"And you need to keep you little beak out."
"What did he want?"
I knew how to cringe my Brother out. "He wanted a sloppy, wet, lip smacking kiss."
"Gross Hols!" Rex said covering his ears with his tiny hands which made me laugh.
A/N - Hope everyone had a nice Christmas and New Year! Review let me know what you think and if you've got any ideas my brain isn't working as it usually is with ideas. :)
