I am so sorry about the delay in updating! I went home this weekend for a family party so I was busy and I also got drunk so I couldn't do this story justice and decided to wait. I hope this chapter makes up for it!

Also, there is a line of Italian in here but I don't speak Italian so I used google translate...if it isn't right please someone tell me and I will fix it!

Another fun fact is that I've been watching seasons 13 and 14 of Law and Order: SVU and there are many stars of Graceland that have guest starred on that show. This includes Aaron Tveit!

Disclaimer: I do not own Graceland.

"You look great." Tanner smiled as she walked over to the table and sat across from him.

She smirked and tried to control the wild beating of her heart. "Thanks…you don't look so bad yourself."

He nodded. "Well I try."

She laughed and he just smiled as he watched her eye twinkle and her laugh float around him. He had never experienced anything like it. She shook her head and smiled and Tanner couldn't believe how lucky he had gotten by being able to spend time with her. Even if it was only for a little while, he was still beyond happy that she was sitting across from him, giving him the time of day.

After they had ordered their food, they found that they had no problem keeping up a conversation.

"So I noticed that you're friends with Rina." He said as he sipped his water. "Has she found a good girlfriend yet?"

Hannah stared at him blankly, being shocked but feigning confusion. "Girlfriend? What are you talking about?"

He smirked and shook his head. "Look, it's okay…I know. I've known for a while."

"Tanner…I don't-"a

He nodded. "I've known Rina since we were in preschool together. I've known since middle school. Don't worry…the secret is safe with me."

She eyed him but sighed. "You know Rina?"

"Yep! We were in day care and preschool together and we used to be really good friends. Then middle school came and we drifted apart…but I figured out her secret and I haven't told anyone." He sighed. "When I heard about what her friends did this summer…it's not right. I'm glad you guys are friends, not only so you have a friend but…I'm glad she has one too."

Hannah smiled at him. "That's really sweet, Tanner. You know…you can have more than one friend." She shrugged. "That is just something to think about."

He nodded. "I know. You're right." He was about to speak again when another boy from school came up to their table.

"Tanner! What are you doing here, bro?" he said and Tanner looked up at him.

"I'm on a date, Joe." He said and looked at Hannah. "Hannah this is Joe Powers. He's on the team with me. Joe this is Hannah del Rio."

"You're the new girl, aren't you?" He asked and Hannah had to resist the urge to roll her eyes.

"Yes. I am." She said shortly and glanced at Tanner.

Sensing that he wasn't wanted there, Joe held his hands up. "Okay I get it…I'll go away now. I'll see you at practice tomorrow, Brooks."

He walked away and Hannah looked at her date. "Why do I get the feeling that you two don't get along?"

Tanner sighed. "Oh we get along, I just don't like him. He's annoying, he thinks he is better than everyone, and he does drugs."

Hannah nearly spit out her water and looked at him. "He does? How do you know?"

"He brags about it to the team. I even saw him selling the stuff a few times." Tanner sighed. "I can't believe he hasn't been caught yet."

Hannah nodded, and let that fact sit in her brain so that she could keep an eye out for him and also inform Paige when she got home. Shaking her head, she decided to change the subject.

"So tell me about your family." She said and he chuckled.

"What's there to tell? You already know about them from our homework." He reminded her but she shook her head.

"Those were just the basics! I want to know about them. Tell me." She smirked.

He sighed. "Well you already know that I have two moms. They're great. Mama is from Italy. She moved here when she was a teenager, so our house is full of her traditions and we all speak Italian."

"Say something for me." Hannah challenged him and it was his turn to smile.

"Lei è veramente bella."

She didn't completely understand what he was saying, but she blushed as she did recognize the last word. He winked at her and then continued.

"Well you already know about the twins, Tucker and Tina." He said and she nodded.

"Yeah Tina's in the musical with me." Hannah told him.

"That's right! Congratulations, by the way. Getting the lead…that's insane."

She shrugged. "It's whatever. You know I didn't expect it but it's nice."

He nodded. "Okay so I told you about my family…now tell me about yours."

She hesitated and immediately he mentally smacked himself, remembering their first meeting. "I'm sorry…you don't have to. I know you live with your uncle. That's your business."

She shook her head and sighed. "My parents aren't very good people. They actually aren't really parents at all, in a sense. That's why I came here. I had actually run away but…my uncle found me and took me in. He and his roommates turned their lives around for me…I can't even begin to repay them for that."

"So…" He started and she was confused.

"So…what?"

He laughed. "Tell me about them! They are obviously important to you."

She sighed and nodded. "Well Jakes is just kind of…solitary. He has his set ways of seeing things but he's starting to come around.

"Mike is kind of like a big brother, in a way. He has his own life and everything, but he's part of the group and he's always looking out for you. In the same sense, Paige is like my older sister. She's always there for me and I actually really feel comfortable talking to her about a lot of stuff. I think she and Mike have some kind of crush or secret relationship going, but I'm not sure yet.

"Johnny is just fucking hilarious. He's like a big child, but he knows when to be serious. He's good at breaking the tension and without him I may have run again the first day I was here.

"Charlie is like a mom and a big sister and a friend all in one. She's always looking out for everyone and caring for them…" Hannah looked down. "She's cared for me more than my own mother has and it's really nice to have someone like that again."

Tanner sensed her pain so he leaned across the table and grabbed her hand. "What about your uncle? What is he like?"

Hannah gave him a small smile. "My Uncle Paul is great. You know he's my godfather, but no one ever really thought he would be raising me like he is now. Just like Charlie, he is more my father than my biological one ever was. He's always been someone I can talk to, and I'm so glad I found him again. I don't know where I'd be if he hadn't taken me in."

"Well it sounds like you have a great family." He smiled at her. "And you're here now, which is the important thing." Then he paused. "You know I was actually surprised that you agreed to this. I mean…you've always sort of been standoffish. What changed?"

She nodded and opened her mouth to speak then closed it again. After a moment she tried again. "My ex…he was a bad guy. He, uh…he hit me and wasn't very nice verbally either." She felt his hand tighten around her own and wasn't even sure he realized it. "That's actually why I'm here. But anyway…I'm just trying to move on and find a way to be me without worrying again." Then she chuckled. "I can't believe I just told you that. I mean…I haven't even been able to tell my family until just recently."

He nodded. "We can go as slow as you want. It's up to you. All I know is that I want us to do this again…and again…and again. I really like you, Hannah."

She bit her lip and smiled. "You wanna hear a secret? I really like you too."

He grinned this time and it was only when their food came that they realized that they'd been holding hands for a while and had to intention of stopping.

…

After the sky had grown dark and they finished their dinner, Tanner escorted her for a walk down the beach as they spoke about everything and anything. It had been a long time since she had felt this way about someone, and she decided to let go of her fear and just roll with it, letting it take her wherever it could.

"So where are you thinking of going to school next year?" She asked as they walked in the sand, her hand tightly held in his with her shoes in his other hand.

"I just found out that I got a scholarship to UCLA for football." He said with a proud smirk. "I'm happy. I won't have to go too far away but I still get to do what I love."

She smiled and leaned her head on his shoulder. "That's great, Tanner!"

He nodded and chuckled. "Have you given it any thought? I mean with your brains…you could probably get in wherever you wanted to."

She shrugged. "I don't know. I mean I just had a major life change and I'm still sort of adjusting to that."

"That's understandable." He said and let himself take in this moment with her hand in his and her warmth next to him. "Do you at least know what you might want to do?"

She smiled and sighed. "You know I never really gave it much thought…but I think I'm starting to figure it out."

They walked a little farther down the beach and listened to the waves crashing against each other. When it grew a little darker, he sighed and turned to her. "It's getting late…do you need a ride home?"

She smiled as she heard the voices firsts, then saw four familiar people finishing up a game of Frisbee. "Actually, that's my house."

He looked up, then back at her. "I guess this is goodnight then?"

She sensed his awkward hesitation and was glad she wasn't alone in that feeling. They weren't sure exactly how to end the date as they knew she wanted to go slow and her family was right there, but they were being pulled by the urge to kiss each other regardless.

"Yeah I guess it is." She said and took her shoes from him. "Thanks again. I had fun tonight. We'll definitely have to do this again."

He nodded and smiled. "I will see you in class, then?"

She chuckled and sighed. "Yes you will." She hugged him. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight Hannah."

She watched as he turned and walked away and then went over to the group, who had now noticed her presence. "What are you guys still doing out here?"

Mike turned to her. "The better question is how was your date?"

She sighed and smiled. "So you guys found out."

Johnny nodded. "Yo it wasn't that hard to figure out. You rushed us out and then Jakes saw Rina sneaking away and figured you had to be hiding in the car somewhere."

Hannah shrugged and smirked. "You got me. And it was great. He's really nice and I actually opened up to him which is unusual."

Paige and Charlie were about to speak when Hannah saw everyone look up and suddenly someone was spinning her around. Before her brain has any time to process she was in the middle of a kiss and she gave in. When it ended she stared up at him in shock and her heart stop.

He just grinned and turned to the rest of the group. "Hi, I'm Tanner. Have a good night."

Then he turned and walked away, leaving Hannah speechless in the sand.

"Oh look at you!" Johnny chuckled. "Just wait until Briggs hears about this."