A/N: So sorry for the long delays in getting this chapter out! I was touched by a few readers who messaged me asking me if everything was all right. There were delays because I had a lovely child from France stay with me for 3 weeks so I took time off work to show him around my province. Also I am almost done renovations to my kitchen and bathroom. (light grey walls and dark grey floors – is this a pattern? I already have two shades of grey painted in my bedroom...) I should be able to get 11 and 12 out quicker than not! Another urgent spur was from a guest who stated "I know you like to do things slow, but it's been long enough! Please release something soon!" LOL, I agree… I am home today preparing for Thanksgiving Dinner, so on breaks I can finish this chapter up! P.S.: I make a mean pumpkin cheesecake!

But I digress… *smiles*

CH 10

Ana POV

I wasn't sure how I'd be able to answer to Mr. Grey's comment. I just simply couldn't. I heard his implied innuendo, but my brain failed to function enough to respond. What were the odds of bumping into a teacher on a date, especially with a blonde goddess whose lips are written in crimson sin…

How could he overtly say these shocking words to me with that- that woman on his arm? She is flawless and wearing designer clothes that I could not even hazard a guess the cost on. And she has the China doll skin and professionally coiffed hair. I look like someone's poor cousin and I need to get out. Now.

I can't help but look down at my Salvation Army bin finds and Wal-Mart clothes. (When I can afford even those) At school they seemed fine to wear, but here my wardrobe selection is more than perfunctory.

Why the Hell was I unable to say no to Jack? I was able to finally gather the courage to say no to that asshat mom married, but yet I cannot even scrape up the assertion to say no to him. He had been tirelessly persistent until I decided it was easier to just give in. Besides, the alternative was staying home doing nothing but homework. Now I am stuck here in an awkward date seeing Mr. Grey and his woman together.

I now realize how stupid I was to accept this date. I should have listened to that nagging gut feeling from earlier. I should be at home alone instead of being here witnessing this fiasco. His date seemed a little older than him. And why was he there with her and just openly flirted with me? This is a little more than I can endure.

I guess I can take a hint. So he likes older women…

X x X

I could hear his date still talking to him seductively and I couldn't deny the small bit of happiness when it was blatantly obvious that he wasn't paying any attention to her. I chanced a quick glance at him to notice him stealing a glance my way too.

The waiter came, took their order, and then quickly shuffled back to the kitchen.

I glanced again at Mr. Grey and tried to figure out what he could be thinking. Maybe he was just as embarrassed as I was. Maybe he wished we'd leave already so he could focus on his date.

I looked back at Jack and I realized he must have asked me a question because he was expectantly staring, as if waiting for an answer.

"I'm sorry. What was that? I got a little ...distracted."

Jack shook his head, "Nothing. I'm just admiring. You're just so beautiful."

Ugh… How many times had he used that on girls? It didn't sound like he actually meant it, more like it was scripted. "Um… thank you?" It was so hard not to roll my eyes at this feeble attempt. This date is going nowhere fast.

I could have sworn I heard a snort beside us. It is obvious that Mr. Grey and his date were near enough to hear Jack's compliment.

Both Jack and I turned to see it came from Mr. Grey.

His date was looking at him with squinted eyes. "Christian," she warned icily.

"Sorry," he said, laughing a bit more and looking towards me, then back at Jack.

I was convinced that his eyes softened when they landed on me.

"Hyde, it surprises me the way you think Anastasia has to be told how beautiful she is."

I began to blush again, something I was doing way too much of lately. Jack, on the other hand looked like he swallowed an insect. There was a brief flash of unexpressed emotion that crossed Jack's eyes when they flicked to the woman before it faded to a calm mask.

"Christian," his date repeated, this time more forcibly. I took a quick peek at her to see a deep Arctic glare. I was so glad that it was not directed toward me.

Mr. Grey only shrugged and turned lazily back to his date, "I'm only saying I think she can do better."

"Better?" his date raised an eyebrow, talking quieter. Her red-clawed manicure gripping the linen tablecloth betrayed her calm demeanor.

"So he's weirder outside of school? That's unsettling," Jack uttered.

I turned back to him and smiled weakly at his retort. I could tell that he was still reeling from the snide remark that Mr. Grey made. I wanted to hear what else Mr. Grey and his date talked about but they seemed to be only moving their mouths but the sound was muted.

"That was different—" I heard Mr. Grey say, raising his voice a little.

I couldn't listen anymore. I didn't want to pry into their business, especially while they were clearly about to start arguing.

"Okay, this is reaching a whole new level of weird," Jack flouted with a smile as he nodded over to them. It seemed a bit odd that he seemed to find the situation funny. "Maybe we should take the food to go. We can go back to my place and eat."

The chair beside us screeched across the tile and nearly tipped over as Mr. Grey abruptly stood up. "Excuse me," he quavered and walked away stiffly.

Jack eyed Mr. Grey's date and then suggested, "Maybe, I should go ask them to start making everything to go."

I bit my lip, "I don't know… eating at your house… Are you sure your parents won't mind?" I hope he says yes. I really need an excuse to say no without hurting his feelings, even though this date is like a bullet train careening off a cliff.

Jack snorted, "My folks don't give a damn what I do. Besides, I live with an aunt; she's out all afternoon and wouldn't bother us even if she was there."

Seeing the look of uncertainty in my eyes, Jack grumbled, "We'll just be eating Ana; don't tell me Kate's rubbed off on you already. She's such a prude."

What did being a prude have to do with anything? I sucked in a short breath. I want to tell him no, I do not want to go back to your place, Hyde, but of course, I flounder. "I know. I'm not sure if I can… Never mind, I'll go ask for the food." I stood up and headed toward the front counter.

I could feel Mr. Grey's date's eyes on me. I felt the little hairs on my nape pulling away as if her hands were already on me. The cloying looks she gave to Mr. Grey lingered like sticky toffee and I was feeling nauseous. I looked back at the tables and Grey's chair was still empty. Had he left already? If he had, why was she still there?

"Leaving already?" Mr. Grey startled me. His path intercepted mine as I was near the front counter. His hair looked even messier; his face was looking a bit pale, and his frantic eyes too wide.

He looked... scared.

"I- I'm going to ask for the food to go." I stare into his eyes and they are beseeching. I want to explore the depths and understand what he is trying to say. Here is this strong and confident man reduced into a broken and sad child. Here is this man who only a few minutes ago was sitting with a Greek goddess…

"You didn't agree to go to that fool's house did you?" he spat, his grey eyes hardening, and the color returning to his face. His hands were clenching and he was starting to vibrate.

"We're just going to eat," I tried to reassure him, but he saw through my bravado.

"Anastasia Steele, for an almost eighteen year old, you don't seem to know boys very well." He paused and then softly added, "Your naivety astounds me."

Naivety? And how does he know my age?

"Elena and I will be leaving now," he sighed. "You don't have to leave. We're sorry we interrupted your date."

Mr. Grey ran a hand through his hair, making it even more dishevelled. He turned away from me, looking flummoxed.

I feel compelled to make him feel better. It reminded me of long ago when I tried saving a baby bird that was lying beneath a tree. Ray said I couldn't save every fallen robin... I feel the pull to comfort him, but holding him is very inappropriate... "Can I be honest with you?" I whisper and then release the breath I was holding.

His eyes snapped back to me, looking hopeful.

"I didn't really want to come anyway," I confessed. "I wish I could have said what I wanted to him sooner."

Mr. Grey's lips twitched up, "I find that hard to believe. I thought girls your age loved to go out."

"Girls my age; I doubt that you're that much older." I played for acting affronted but my escaping smiled betrayed that.

He rolled his eyes, "Of course. Either way, I thought... high school girls," he corrected, "Like to be taken out to eat."

I thought that over, and I didn't hate it per se; it was flattering to be asked out, but it would be greater if I actually liked the person. "Maybe if it was with someone else..."

"Did you not enjoy your date then?" Mr. Grey hedged, sounding both teasing and hopeful. But maybe I am imagining the last part too.

"It was pretty uncomfortable but then you came."

Mr. Grey's mouth opened a bit, and then he smiled, "And made it even more uncomfortable?"

I grinned, "So much more extraordinarily so."

He laughed softly, (no doubt remembering the topic of my first oral presentation) but it didn't quite reach his eyes. His body seemed a bit more relaxed and the vibrations had stilled.

"But also kinda interesting; too bad you're leaving," I add, biting my lip. I hope I wasn't being too blunt.

"Yeah," he agreed quietly. "Too bad... It really was a nice surprise to see you here Anastasia."

I try to smile again, but I even know it doesn't look real. How can I say goodbye to another fallen robin?

"Christian, you wanted to leave didn't you?" his date called out. She was already standing at the door, her eyes narrowed in on me.

"Yes," he answered, keeping my gaze.

I try to ignore both of their gazes. It was weird to have two people look at me so intently.

"You can go Elena. I don't think you need me to start your car do you?" His voice seemed short and sounded rushed.

Elena clenched her jaw and walked out without another word. Just briefly I swear I saw her and Jack locking eyes in an unspoken moment.

"Well," I stuttered, "I better go and tell Jack we should stay."

Mr. Grey nodded, and began to take a step for the door. "I'll see you at school Anastasia."

I shivered at the way my name rolled off his tongue. I never really liked my name, but now I am really starting to…

"Bye," I paused and slowly turned to walk back to the table.

"Oh—and Anastasia?"

"Yes?"

"You don't have my class tomorrow, but if you need help on any of the homework, you can come to me at anytime. Do you have any open periods? Or maybe before and after school? I hardly go out to lunch, so you can come then too."

I smiled, "Thanks, I'll see." I turned away from him again and walked faster to the table as if it would make my heartbeat go any slower.

X x X

Christian POV

I watched her walk back to Hyde. I felt like it was goodbye, but it isn't quite a goodbye. Was this what jealousy felt like? The fact that I always want to pummel Hyde within an inch of his life to stay away from Ana is becoming all too enticing.

Instead, I try to focus on the hope inside me. Maybe I wasn't the only one who has a heart that clenches every time we see each other.

What Elena said earlier was right, and even though I didn't like that; I wasn't going to deny it any longer. It scared me to be feeling this way, but the thought of not acting on it made me even more scared.

I held my breath and walked out of the restaurant.

If Ana feels even remotely close to what I feel, I'd surely see her tomorrow. I had offered her time whenever she was free. I even said I never really went out for lunch, though this was a white lie I know that I can overlook it just this once.

I hoped she'd be there tomorrow.

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Again I am soooo sorry for the lateness…

p.s.: I made two pumpkin cheesecakes, a lemon meringue pie, and a chocolate pie while editing this!