Steph's pov
I woke up, looking right into the suns harsh rays. My eyes shut instantaneously, in shock, and I squinted. I got up slowly, and remembered where I was. Then I noticed Gerard beside me, still sleeping. I stretched and looked around to see nobody was there. I was really itchy from all the mud caked onto my skin. Rubbing took a lot off, but I could really use a shower. Gerard slowly woke up, and grabbed my shoulder to pull him up. He rubbed his eyes and shielded them from the bright rays from the sun.
"Good Morning." I said. He smiled.
"Good Morning." He said, in a whisper. I guess he had lost his voice. Right after that he went into a brief fit of coughing. I then spotted a hose in the middle of the backyard.
"Gerard, we should wash the crud off us, and get you inside. You sound sick." I said. He got up, and we walked over to the hose. I went first and scrubbed all the dried mud off of me, and out of my hair. Then Gerard did the same. I turned the hose off, after that and we went inside. I went upstairs into Gerard's room to get my bag, so I can put some cleaner clothes on. I entered and my bag was gone. I looked around for it, and realized the girls must have taken it as joke.
"Very funny Abby! I'm going to kick your ass." I said to myself. Gerard laughed.
"Steph. You can grab some of my clothes if you need some. Feel free to take a shower. It's right there." Gerard said, in his hoarse voice. I went into his drawers and got a pair of his shorts and a Madonna T-shirt. I took a belt too, and went downstairs. Gerard looked at me and the water he was drinking came flying out of his mouth.
"Holy shit. I thought that was me for a second there." Gerard said. I crossed my arms.
"Is that supposed to be insulting. Cause that hurt." I said, pointing to my heart.
"No, I just…I was going to wear that today." Gerard said. I laughed.
"I look better in it though." I said. He nodded.
"You do." He said, biting his lip. It made me blush, remembering I was flirting.
"Can you give me a ride? I'll get my bag later." I said.
"Why can't you get it now?" He asked.
"Abby took it." I said. Gerard nodded.
"Alright, let's go." He said. We went out towards his car, and he started the ignition. Five minutes later, we were back and I stepped out of the car, when Gerard grabbed my shoulder.
"Steph. Meet me here at 6:30. Kay?" He demanded. I shook my head.
"I can't. I have to bee somewhere." I said.
"Where?"
"I got a new job. I always loved to dance. Since I was 10, I have done ballet and jazz. Yesterday I quit at Gary's and I found this place that I'm renting out with my friend, to teach dance. Tonight, we got to start fixing the place up." I said. Gerard nodded.
"Well, can I come see the place?" He asked. I nodded.
"Meet me here at 5:30." I said. He nodded and then drove off. I smiled and walked towards my apartment.
Gerard's pov
I drove back home, remembering what had happened last night.
Had she forgotten? Or was she waiting for me to ask her out?
Either way, I was going to ask her out. Tonight. I can't keep hiding the way I feel from the world forever. At least she knows. But I just want to have someone. So I can be happy again. I kept driving, until I pulled into the driveway. I pulled the keys out of the beaten up Subaru and saw Frank, Abby, Jenny and Mikey approach me.
"Where did you to go? Did you go home with Steph?" Abby said. I laughed.
"No. Steph fell asleep behind a tree. I went inside and was so tired that I went to bed." I said. Jenny crossed her arms.
"Abby went upstairs to take Steph's bag, and you weren't in bed." Jenny rebutted. I tried to hide my blush and frowned.
"I was having a fag. Why are you always assuming that I'm doing something with Steph. Leave us alone. We are friends, and until further notice, it's going to stay that way. And I am capable of handling my own love life, thank you very much." I said.
"Oh, by the way, I don't think Steph likes to kiss smokers." Abby said.
"Well, that's funny because-" I cut myself off realizing it was a trap, "I don't care!" I said walking past them.
"I bet you do." Jenny said and they both laughed.
LATER…
5:15
Shit, time to go.
I was supposed to meet Steph in 15 minutes. I hopped into my car and drove to her apartment. When I got there, I was right on time. I felt the palms of my hands sweat as she got into the car.
"Let's go." She said. I nodded and drove off, following her directions. I couldn't believe how nervous I was.
"How did you find this place?" I asked as we pulled into the small driveway in the back. She got out and smiled.
"Chelsea found it. She came up with the idea. We're going to teach here. She'll teach jazz, since she's better at that, and I'll teach ballet." She said. I nodded and took her hand as we walked into the building. We walked in, and saw Chelsea had already started.
"Hey, what took so long? Oh, you brought someone with you. He can help us." She said, as she threw as smock at Steph and I. Steph pulled hers over her head.
"You can help us out, if you want." Steph said. I nodded and pulled the smock over my head.
"Steph, we are so lucky that this place has enough space. I got a guy to come in and put up walls, so we can organize rooms." Chelsea said. Steph looked shocked.
"Already? With beams and everything?" She asked. Chelsea nodded. The hugged each other and jumped up and down like two teenagers about to meet Justin Timberlake. I shook my head at them and started to paint.
Girls…
They finally started to paint with me and then we moved from room to room. Kari came to help us and brought her friends from work with her. We talked a bit about Shon and the funeral arrangements, and got back to work. There was now six of us and we got the job done fast. We finally finished and Chelsea showed us what each room was going to be.
"This room here will be a change room, and another one across the hall. These big rooms are for dance. One is for ballet, and one is for jazz. This huge room here is where will have performances, since there is another entrance from the street that leads right into here, after the lobby of course. The chairs along the outside of the holes in the walls are where they can view there kid dance, which we will install one sided windows there. And that's about it." Chelsea said. We all went around cleaning up and Chelsea left Steph with one more job.
"Can you find some wallpaper of dancers to put around the building? That would be really cool." Chelsea asked. Steph nodded and patted her friend on the back as she walked out the door.
"Don't worry Shelly. I got it covered." She said.
"Are you staying here a bit?" Chelsea asked. She nodded. Then the mass of people left and it was just Steph and I in one of the dance rooms.
"I could do it." I said, out loud to Steph. She turned around.
"Sorry?" She asked.
"I could paint little dancers everywhere. It would be easy." I said.
"Cool. That would be so helpful." Steph said. I walked out of the room to grab some paper. Steph was tinkering with the radio to find a good station. I got some paper and headed back into the room. I drew for a bit while Steph filled out paperwork. I finally came up with a design I was happy with and showed it to Steph around the time she got back to finding a radio station.
"That's so good. It's perfect." Steph said.
"I can paint it on by hand if you like." I said.
"I'd love that. Thanks so much Gee." She said. Then she tuned the radio until we heard Stand By Me.
"There's a decent song." She said.
"I like this song. It's good." Gerard said. Then Steph stood up.
"Then dance with me." Steph said. I shook my head, but she took my hand and pulled me to my feet. Then she put her arms around my shoulders.
When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we'll see
No I won't be afraid, no I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
I looked into Steph's eyes. She smiled and we kept dancing as I thought.
Should I ask now? Or later? NOW YOU FOOL!
I sighed.
Here it goes.
Steph's pov
"Steph?" Gerard asked.
"Hm?" I muttered as I closed my eyes and let the song take me away.
"Wanna be my girlfriend?" He asked. I stopped dancing. He looked at me and said, "What's the matter?"
"Nothing, I… Yes. I'd love to." I said. Gerard grinned and we continued dancing to what was left of the song, and the sweet moment ended. Although I wanted it to last forever, it ended there. Then Gerard kissed me on the lips, making my knees go weak. We broke apart and grabbed our stuff. It was 11:30 and I had a lot of work to do. Plus, Gerard had work in the morning. So we got into his car, and we drove towards my apartment.
"Gerard?" I asked.
"Yeah?" He replied. I sighed.
"Can we keep this to ourselves? Just for awhile. I think it would be better that way." I said. He nodded.
"I agree. I won't tell anyone." He said as we approached my building. I stepped out of the car and headed towards the door, when someone grabbed my hand. I jumped and turned around. It was Gerard grinning, which was quickly replaced with a worried look.
"I didn't mean to scare you. You just forgot to give me a kiss goodnight." Gerard said. I smiled and pecked him on the lips. Of course he had to deepen it. How does a guy like Gerard suddenly become romantic, I don't know. But he left me asking for more. He smiled and let go of my hands. I stood there, dumbfounded. He laughed.
"Goodnight." Gerard said smiling and he turned around. I smiled and when he was out of site I laughed a bit. Then I finally walked inside.