Lisa put the last of her shopping into the backseat and reached down to push the driver's seat back into place. She grabbed her latte off the top of the car and slid into the front seat, shutting the door after her. Putting the key in the ignition she turned it, and settled back, sipping at her drink as she waited for the car to warm up.
She checked her watch in the glare from the lights in the mall's parking lot, noting she had roughly a half hour before she needed to pick Greg up. In turn for dropping him off at seven o'clock this morning, he let her borrow his car to get her holiday shopping done. Hanukkah had already passed this year, but since both she and her sister were unable to make it home, their family had decided to exchange gifts when they were home over winter break.
Normally, it would not have taken her so long to shop, but she had decided she wanted to get Greg something for Christmas. She had not been back to his apartment since their study session on Sunday so she had not had the opportunity to snoop through his things – it would have helped her to make a more informed guess about what he liked. During the lunch they had shared before her final test yesterday, she had peppered him with leading questions. He had been suspicious and tight lipped, figuring out immediately what she was trying to do and making it impossible for her to get any clues as to what he might want.
She smiled to herself, thinking about the two items she purchased for him; she thought he would like them and was eager to give them to him. Deciding the car had warmed up long enough; she settled the latte between her legs, backed out of the spot and made her way to the hospital. When she arrived, Greg was standing just inside the entrance doors shifting from foot to foot, his backpack slug over one shoulder. He pushed open the doors as soon as he spied his car and half slid, half jogged down the walkway - a pair of scrubs, a plaid scarf and a light grey beanie all that stood between him and frozen extremities.
Coming to a stop at the curb and putting the car in park, Lisa rolled her eyes at his lack of outerwear as she watched him make his way to the car. She had chided him about it that morning when she was driving him in and he had dismissed her saying he did not need to get bundled up when all he had to do was get to the car. She startled when he opened the driver's door, ordered her to move over and reached down to grab the cup from between her legs. Though she still had her coat on, she did not want to get out and deal with the cold, so she shifted over the console into the passenger's seat. Greg tossed his pack into the backseat and slid into the driver's seat releasing the lever and pushing it back to accommodate his legs before shutting the door.
"Ugh! What the hell is this?" He demanded, choking down the mouthful of liquid he had just consumed and staring petulantly at the cup before turning towards her.
"It's a peppermint latte – you know 'tis the season and all." Lisa responded cheerfully, smirking at him as she reached over and retrieved her drink from him and taking a loud slurping sip.
Greg rolled his eyes, "Yeah. Yeah. So did you eat during your little shopping extravaganza? 'Cause I'm starving." He enquired, putting the car into drive and heading towards the hospital exit.
"No, I haven't eaten since a grabbed a pretzel at the mall." She replied a little surprised that she had not been overcome with hunger since it was seven o'clock at night. "What do you want? It'll be my treat, since you're driving me to the airport in the morning." She asked looking over at him as she readjusted the vents so she could get more heat.
"Chinese." Greg immediately responded, knowing they would deliver and there would be options for both of them. He realised he did not know where he should be headed once he was on the main road that could take them either to her dorm or to his apartment, "I guess we should head to your dorm?" He asked, looking at her briefly, unsure of whether or not she was okay with that.
Since the morning after, Greg had been a bit hesitant with her; it sort of felt like they were in a relationship, but at the same time they were not. Though there had been a little awkwardness on Monday, they were not uncomfortable with each other. In fact, he seemed to touch her more during their lunch and she had been more open with him – there had been some sexual banter it was pretty low key.
Lisa was not sure how she felt about the whole thing herself so she was not making an issue of his reaction, particularly since they were about to take an extended break from each other. She had assumed they would stay at her place – her roommate was gone home already and she had the suite to herself. She told him such and he took the turn towards her dorm.
After helping her take her shopping bags upstairs and making a few snide comments about the amount of stuff she had purchased, Greg told her what he wanted her to order him and decided to take a shower. He usually showered after his shift at the hospital, but today being his last day he had been eager to get out of there.
Lisa placed their order and went into her room to change. She shed her day clothes and thermals in favor of a purple satin night set consisting of shorts and a tank top. It was hot enough in her room that she was comfortable without socks so she decided not to put any on. She put her clothes in the hamper in her closet and pulled down her suitcase from the shelf, sitting it on the floor next to her bureau. Opening the small fridge in her room, she pulled out a couple of bottles of water for herself and Greg and took them into the living room.
It was not until she sat down on the couch that she realised how tired she was. Taking a drink of water, she recapped the bottle and sat it on the table. Then she leaned back into the couch and feel into a light doze. Fifteen minutes later, a ringing phone woke her, and she rose off of the couch, groggy and bleary eyed to answer it.
Greg was still in the shower so Lisa left a note on her whiteboard and grabbed her keys and wallet to go get the food. He still was not back by the time she returned and she let herself in, wiping off the board and hanging the keys on the hook at the door. She crossed the room and dumped the food and her wallet on the coffee table in the seating area. She took out the various containers, sauce packets, napkins, fortune cookies and chopsticks and sat the empty bag on the floor. She had just pulled out a spring roll, when she heard voices just outside her door, followed by a brisk knock.
When she answered, Greg was standing on the other side his bare back to her and his lower half covered in a yellow towel that he held closed at the waist. He was giving Heather, the R.A. on her floor, a dirty look. He turned towards her when he heard the door open, lifting his hand and pointing at her and then back to the R.A.
"Can you tell her that I'm your guest, so that she'll calm down and call off the dogs?" He directed her, returning his glare to the woman standing next to him.
"Lisa, you know this man? You willingly invited him into your room?" Heather asked, her voice conveying both shock and concern as she took in Lisa's rumpled appearance and slightly sluggish state.
Greg gave the woman an incredulous look, "Are you serious? I'm standing here in her towel and you're asking that!" He waved his hand, punctuating his words.
Heather crossed her arms and gave him a challenging look.
"This is absolutely ridiculous." Greg spoke dismissively, giving the girl a once over. "How are you even in college? You obviously don't have any functioning cognitive skills." He said snidely, offended at what she was implying.
The spring roll still in her hand, Lisa stood in the doorway looking back and forth between the two of them dumbfounded, "Uhh..." was all she managed to get out before Heather continued talking over her.
"Don't speak to me that way." Heather huffed, "I have enough sense to listen when I hear people talking about guys like you and it's my responsibility to make sure the students on my floor are safe. I have never seen you here with her, and it's my duty to investigate anything I deem suspicious. That's what I am doing." She finished glaring at him.
"First of all, you don't know me, so you can keep your judgments to yourself. Secondly, there's nothing suspicious about this. You obviously need to get laid and stay out of other people's personal business." Greg spat out, turning and taking a step towards Lisa's room. He was stopped when the Heather's hand shot out and grabbed his upper arm. Greg froze, his eyes icing over as they fixed on the hand that was grasped around him.
"Look at her," Heather intoned lifting her free hand towards Lisa, "She looks drugged and out of." Heather turned her full attention to Lisa and asked slowly, searching her face and body language to make sure she was getting a truthful answer. "Did you invite him here and do you want him to come into your room?"
Heather putting her hand on Greg jarred Lisa from her stupor, "Get your hands off of him." She demanded appalled at what she was seeing. The R.A. complied, but Lisa's eyes widened in shock at what Heather said next and her tone conveyed it, "He wouldn't be here if I hadn't invited him and you have no right to imply what you are. I'm not drugged, I was sleeping. He certainly didn't force his way here; he would never do that to anyone." Lisa finished giving the other woman a pointed look. "I appreciate your concern, but I'm fine. We're fine." She took Greg by the wrist, pulling him into the room and shut the door in Heather's face.
Greg was still stunned by what had just transpired. He was embarrassed for himself, but more so for Lisa. A part of him kneGreg came out of the bedroom ten minutes later. His hair was still damp and he was dressed in a t-shirt and flannel pajama bottoms. He crossed the room and sat down on the couch next to her, avoiding eye contact as he looked through the various containers before locating his Mongolian beef and digging in. Lisa watched him thoughtfully for several minutes as she ate her Szechuan fried tofu and garlic green beans.
When she finished, she sat down the empty container and chopsticks, and turned towards Greg, taking his food from him and setting it next to hers on the table. She shifted towards him, lifting her right leg and working it over his lap as she placed her hands on his shoulders and waited until he looked her in the eye before speaking. Her heart clenched at what she saw in his eyes, "I'm sorry that happened. You didn't deserve that. I trust you and I'm glad you're here. I want you to be here." She voiced sincerely, her fingertips rubbing his shoulders and gently shifting him towards her as she leaned forward to place a soft lingering kiss on his lips.
When they parted, he let his head drop back on the couch and looked at her through half lidded eyes. His hands lifted and traced up her legs to her lower back where he rubbed circles at the base of her spine. "I did deserve it; there are consequences to having a reputation and they aren't all good." He sighed, "You didn't think that highly of me either when we first met." He reminded her. "I just... you don't deserve to have your reputation ruined or your judgment questioned because of me." He finished vehemently, his hands unconsciously tightening on her back.
Lisa was surprised by his protectiveness and anger. She shook her head in negation as she replied, "I'm a big girl. I know that whatever does or doesn't happen with you – with us – there are going to be things said about me. If I didn't think I could handle it and if I didn't think you might be worth it, you wouldn't be here." She admitted, her voice hardening in rebuke and warning.
Greg held her stare for several seconds, breaking contact first as he clenched his jaw and looked away. He moved his hands to her thighs, patting them in a signal, which she heeded, for her to get off of him. He stretched out his legs and looked over at her. She had not moved very far from him and was sitting with her legs pulled up to her chest and her arms wrapped around them. Her chin rested on her knees and she looked at him questioningly waiting to see what he was going to do.
He had become wary of doing anything more with her tonight. When he came over, he had been hesitant, but he was aware a large part of him wanted to be with before she left for break. Now, he needed some time to step back and think about all of this and the consequences it could have for both of them.
He decided not to dwell on it though and looked at his watch, before lifting his hand and resting it on her kneecap, lightly tapping the bare skin. "It's almost nine." He informed her. "Have you packed yet?"
Lisa nodded her head, happy he was not going to retreat from her, "No. I don't have a lot to pack though; I still have a closet full of clothes at home." She told him with a slightly chagrined look.
"Of course you do." He replied rolling his eyes, and shifting to push himself up from the couch. He reached out his hand towards her, "Come on, we need to get you packed and into bed." He urged motioning with his fingers for her to get up.
She let her legs down, and took his hand letting him pull her off the couch. He released her and they moved around the coffee table and walked to the bedroom. Lisa flicked on the light switch and headed towards the bureau. Greg occupied himself with looking at the framed prints, clippings, postcards and photos she had on one wall and above her desk. He smirked inwardly at the one the one proclaiming 'you'll only feel better when it's done'. He sat in the chair at her desk, rummaging through the drawers and playing with her pens and supplies. He was flipping through her word a day calendar, when his attention was caught by pile of mail. He picked it up, swivelling around in the chair and sorting through the letters.
Lisa pulled out the items she was taking with her from her bureau. She had mentally prepared a list so the task went fairly quickly. She dragged the suitcase across the floor to the closet and pulled out a couple of things that she wanted to take home to leave – she needed the space here more. She walked out to the living room to get her shopping bags just as Greg sat down at her desk. She knew he was overly curious – a snoop really – so she hurried up and grabbed her purchases and came back into the room. She sat the bags on the ground next to her suitcase and looked over at Greg just as he swivelled around with a handful of her mail.
"Umm, I can assure you that none of that is addressed to you." She reprimanded him, closing the space between them and snatching the envelopes from him as she gave him a pointed look. "Why are you so nosy?" She asked leaning around him and placing the letters in a neat stack on her desk.
Greg's head lifted at the sound of Lisa's voice and he easily relinquished her mail; there had not been anything interesting in it. He shrugged his shoulders in answer to her question. She moved back over to the bags and bent over, pulling out items and placing them into her suitcase, sorting some of the more fragile things into a bag that she would carry on to the plane with her.
Greg tilted is head, enjoying the view of her ass and the expanse of leg that was left uncovered by her shorts. She really was incredibly hot. He had been with a lot of women of various shapes and sizes, but there was something about her. Her curves, her skin, her hair, her eyes, the way she smelled, the way she tasted – just everything; he was completely drawn to. He felt his arousal start to become evident and pushed himself up from the seat, excusing himself to deal with the leftovers from their meal. Most of the containers were nearly empty, so he just tossed everything into the paper sack and left the two fortune cookies on the table.
He picked up the bag, walked back to Lisa's bedroom and stopped in the doorway. "I'm going to throw this out." He lifted the bag slightly, "You have anything else you want me to take?" He asked.
Lisa was zipping up her suitcase and looked over her shoulder at him to answer his question, "No. I emptied all of the containers yesterday. Thanks." She said, giving him a smile and finished closing the luggage.
Greg propped the front door open with a shoe and walked down the hallway to the small kitchen. He tossed their trash and washed his hands, shaking the excess water and swiping them across his t-shirt as he headed back to her room. He toed the shoe out of the way, shut the door behind him and locked it before going back into the bedroom.
Lisa was sitting on her bed, her feet stretched in front of her, crossed at the ankle and swaying from side to side. She had two packages in her lap; both were wrapped in silver paper and one was larger than the other. Greg paused midway into the room, when he spotted the gifts.
"I got you something for Christmas." She told him with as much nonchalance as she could muster. She hoped that if she did not make a big deal out of it, neither would he.
"I can see that." He inclined his head towards her lap, "But aren't you a Jew?" He retorted, raising his eyebrows and giving her a slight grin in an attempt to cover how suddenly uncomfortable he felt. The only person who got him anything for Christmas was his Mom.
Despite his efforts to hide his discomfort, she could see it in the way he stiffened and hear it in the way he deflected. She ignored it though, giving him a mock snarl, "Yes. I'm Jewish, but you're not. Therefore I'm allowed to acknowledge your holiday just as you would have acknowledged mine." She told him calmly.
"Touché," he rejoined giving her a half smile and turning away from her. "I... I actually got you something too. Not for Christmas, for Hanukkah, even though it's already passed. I..." He stumbled to a stop, locating his bag by the doorway and rummaging through it. He pulled out a small package perfectly wrapped in newspaper. His hand tightened around it, and then he made his way over to the bed offering the gift to her.
Lisa was glad he turned around because she could not contain her shock over the fact that he had gotten her something. She had not expected anything from him, but it was nice to think that he had thought of her. When he turned around she had a full fledged smile on her face and she lifted her hand eagerly taking the package from him. She weighed it in her hands and shook it by her ear, before lowering it and studying the wrapping.
"You're one of those people," he teased, watching her size up his gift as he shifted down to sit next to her.
Lisa gave him a doubtful look, "And you're not?" she accused sitting the gift to the side and handing him the two she had gotten for him.
"You can't open them until Christmas." She instructed, watching as he mirrored her previous actions.
Greg's head shot up at her decree, "Why not? I've been a good boy all year." He whined pouting cutely. "Why don't we just both open them now?" He attempted to negotiate.
Lisa laughed at him; he was like a little boy and she found it adorable, "Because." She answered.
"Because? That's not a reason." He replied annoyed, his face relaying his disgust with her argument.
"Well it's the only reason you're going to get." She responded, standing up and ruffling his hair before leaning down to place a patronising kiss on his forehead.
Greg leaned away when she put her hand in his hair, giving her a petulant look as she straightened from kissing him. "I really don't like you very much right now." He said frowning up at her.
"Sure you don't." Lisa replied her tone indicating she did not believe him. Looking at the clock on the shelf above her bed, she motioned for him to get up us she turned and sashayed out of the room, speaking over her shoulder, "Come on, it's already past ten. I need to brush my teeth and we need to get to bed. My flight leaves at eight thirty, so we need to be out of here by seven at the latest."
Greg stared after her for a moment, then lumbered to his feet calling after her, "Yes, Mistress!"
It was still dark outside when the alarm went off the next morning at six o'clock. Greg groaned, reaching his long arms up and pulling the clock off the shelf, randomly pressing buttons until the annoying high pitch beep ceased. He set the clock on the floor by the bed and burrowed back down into the covers. Lisa stirred, Greg's movements jostling her partially awake and alerting her mind to the fact that she needed to get up. Her body, however, decided it would be a better idea to snuggle up against the warm bulk next to her. She slipped her hands over Greg's stomach, resting her check between his shoulder blades and spooning him as she fell back to sleep.
They were once again brought out of their slumber by the alarm. This time, however, Lisa reached for the clock and turned it off instead of snoozing it. She mentally prepped herself to get out of the bed. Finally rolling away from Greg, she threw back the covers and sat upright.
Greg shifted, spreading himself out and moving into the warm spot left behind by her body.
Lisa moved her legs off the edge and did her morning stretches, before pushing herself upright and padding across the room to turn on a lamp. She moved to the center of her rug where she settled into the first pose of her five minute morning yoga routine. When she had time, she spent a half hour, but she had developed the shortened version for the mornings where she was running late or did not have the energy. She finished up and gathered her bathroom stuff and a towel, snatching up her keys on her way and closing the door behind her.
She came back into the room twenty minutes later and Greg was still sleeping soundly. She knew from previous experience, that he could hop out of bed and be ready to go in a matter of minutes so she let him sleep while she moved her suitcase and the bag she was carrying on to the plane to the front door. She gathered up her purse, making sure she had her driver's license and dumped her keys inside, along with a bottle of water and a granola bar and set them on the table next to the front door.
It was a quarter until seven when she decided it was time to wake up Greg. She walked back into the bedroom, made her way to the bed and turned on the bedside lamp. She kneeled down, straddling his back and nuzzled into him, letting the damp tendrils of her hair slick across his face and neck.
Greg cringed away from the ticklish cold of her hair, shrugging his shoulders up in a protective gesture. "Come on! Get off me!" He whined, pushing back against her chest to dislodge her from his body.
"It's time to get up." She said sweetly, placing a kiss to the back of his neck before rolling off of him towards the wall.
He lifted his hands to rub his eyes, and slanted a grumpy look at her, "You couldn't have just said that?" he asked through a yawn. "What time is it?"
"You've got fifteen minutes." She informed him poking him in the side to nudge him towards getting up.
"Mmh," Greg nodded in acknowledgement. "I'll just lay here for five more minutes."
Lisa's tone grew serious, "Greg, get up. I already let you sleep as long as you could. We need to get going." She ordered.
"Fine." He huffed, throwing the covers off and rolling towards the edge of the bed. Somehow, he had forgotten that her bed was not on a frame and he fell right off the edge to the floor with a solid thump.
"Got Dammit!" He exclaimed rubbing at the back of his head and shooting her a dirty look. "What the hell kind of idiot puts their bed on the ground in the first place?" He demanded.
Lisa reached towards him in a failed attempt to grab him when she saw he was about to roll out of the bed and onto the floor. She jumped a little at the force with which he hit the hard wood, but her sympathy ended at his comment. She returned his look, climbing out of the bed gracefully and stepping over him, "Not the kind who's too stupid to manage to climb out of one properly. I'm going to go warm up the car. You better be down in ten minutes." She informed him as she exited the room.
They arrived at the airport an hour before Lisa's flight. They parked the car in the short term lot and made their way inside to the proper terminal. Check in and security went smoothly and once through, they went to the cafe that Lisa frequented when she flew. They both ordered coffees to go and Greg got two cake donuts, one with strawberry glaze. They stopped at the table with sugars and creams to prepare them the way they preferred and then headed to Lisa's departure gate.
The sun was just rising when they commandeered two seats in front of a row of windows looking out at the tarmac. There were quite a few people there, some clearly students going back home like her, some businessmen and the others various ages – mostly families probably flying home for Christmas. Lisa finished surveying the waiting area, and turned her gaze to Greg. He had been quiet for most of the car ride, talking with her only to get the directions and gate information; at first, the silence was his residual sleepiness, then it became clear he had retreated into himself.
She studied his profile wondering what he was thinking as he stared out at the tarmac. Her eyes traced over the pock mark on the side of his nose, the length of his lashes and lingered thoughtfully at his mouth. She had been so intent on him that she had not registered he was staring at her; when she did she felt a slight flush color her cheeks, partially at being caught, but mostly at the intensity of his gaze.
"I'm going to miss you." He said simply.
Lisa nodded her head in acknowledgement, but did not say anything. She lowered her eyes to her coffee, and lifted it taking a long sip.
Greg bent down and retrieved his bag of donuts, pulling one out and turning his gaze back out the window as he devoured the pastry. He was reaching into the bag for the remaining donut, when Lisa's hand entwined with his free one. He looked down at their hands, lightly tightening his grip as he continued to eat and enjoying the rhythm of her thumb running soothingly back and forth along his palm.
The first boarding call crackled out not too long after he finished eating, but they continued to sit in silence communicating through the pressure and slide of their hands. When the final boarding call was announced, Greg slid his hand out of hers, running his fingers along her palm, and encircling her wrist as he tugged her towards him. His other hand came up and slid around her neck, cupping it tightly as he his lips covered hers. Her mouth opened immediately and she leaned into him, her hands coming up and grasping his t-shirt as her tongue slid over his.
When Greg felt the intensity pick up, he pulled back, ending the kiss, and ran his tongue across lower lip as he stared down at Lisa. She lifted her hands to his face, cupping his cheeks and pressed two short, forceful kisses to his lips. "I'll miss you too." She said emphatically, letting him go and standing quickly to gather her things.
When she had everything, they walked to the gate door, his hand on the small of her back and her shoulder bumping into him. She leaned into him, pressing into his hand, before stepping away to give her ticket to the flight attendant at the gate. They stepped over to the side, she sat down her carry on, and they communicated with their eyes what they were afraid to say or did not want to say out loud.
Lisa closed the distance between them wrapping her arms around Greg in a quick hug and whispered goodbye. She felt his hand run across the back of her head, his fingers pressing into her scalp in their own form of a silent goodbye before they threaded through her hair. She released him, and this time when she stepped back she retrieved her bag and made her way through the door and down the tunnel to her plane.
She turned halfway down the long passageway to look back. She was happy to see that he was still there, but she made a face at him, tempering it with a smile, in response to the fact that he was blatantly staring at her backside before she continued towards the plane. He grinned at her, shrugging as if to say 'can you blame me?' as he crossed his eyes and stuck out his tongue. He tilted his head back to the side, when she turned around and watched her until they closed the door.