**See Part 1 (Chapter 33, for the information)**
Chapter 34: The next phase Part 2
Once father and daughter enjoyed lunch, she drove them back to the UCLA campus, and after getting out, they met at the trunk, where she gave him the keys to his vehicle and they shared a hug with love yous and see you laters before she headed towards her bike while he headed back into the building.
As she got closer to it, a vehicle parked a few empty spots away from her, and while she was getting on it, she heard Mitchell's voice and laugh, so she looked over to see him standing at the passenger side door, talking to a woman in the driver's seat. She watched the easy interaction between them. She shook her head a second later before putting on her gloves, then right before she was putting on her helmet, Mitchell had said goodbye to the woman he was talking to before he turned around while the vehicle pulled out of the parking spot and started driving away.
He smiled as he walked up towards Isabella. "So, this is your bike."
Isabella nodded with a smile. "Yes it is."
"And I guess since it was here while you were out to lunch, your father didn't want you riding it in front of him?"
She shook her head. "No, he didn't want to be worried about me while he was concentrating on his own driving."
Mitchell just nodded in understanding, then he asked after clearing his throat. "So, I was wondering if we can have lunch sometime."
She really wanted to jump at this chance, but a few things were stopping her from saying yes immediately, so she asked, straight out. "And what about your girlfriend?"
He looked a little surprised on the question then smirked. "Straight from the hip, no messing around, huh?"
She shook her head before replying seriously. "Nope, I don't want to, or have time to, play any games."
He nodded before he replied with a smile. "I like that." She smiled in return as he continued. "And I don't have a girlfriend." Isabella raised an eyebrow and he nodded again. "It's true, and who you just saw me with was an ex-girlfriend during our Freshman and Sophomore years, we are strictly friends now."
Even though a part of her was suspicious about that, her new, growing feelings for this man was trumping all other feelings. But there was another thing that was hindering her on saying yes, so she cleared her throat and replied softly, knowing this was when he'll lose interest. "I have finals coming up, so I'm going to be pretty swamped, probably until I graduate."
But he surprised her when he spoke after a second of thinking. "Ok, I'll tell you what, once your finales are over with and after you graduate, I'll host a party in your honor."
She shyly replied. "Thanks, but I'm sorry, I..."
He cuts her off with a knowing look. "Let me guess, party with the family?"
She nodded. "Yeah, it's something we do in our family, all the other graduates have before me, and that's not changing any time soon."
Anther pause before he asked. "Ok, how about dinner later that evening, and before you ask, yes, it can be in a restaurant, with a bunch of people around us."
She couldn't help but chuckle a little, happy he was taking her comfort into consideration, but then she asked with curiosity. "Why are you being so accommodating? I'm surprised you haven't walked away yet."
Looking into her eyes, he was putting on the charm. "There is just something about you, Isabella Grissom. I would like to get to know you better, if you'll let me."
She nodded with a shy smile again. "I'll think about it."
He nodded with a smile. "Alright, I hope to talk to you soon."
After one more nod, Mitchell turned and walked away while Isabella was finally putting her helmet on with a smile, then once she started her bike and started to drive away, she put all her concentration on what she was doing, while a small part of her was a little excited about what was in store for her in the future.
June, 2031
Once the graduation ceremony was over, where both Isabella and Katie did in fact take turns on their Valedictorian speech, much to their parent's, and brother's for that matter, happiness, then instead of going to the park, like they usual did after such an occasion, the whole family, including the usual special guests ones, headed for the beach instead.
About 10 minutes into the party, Jason walked up to the two graduates, who were talking to a few of their friends that wanted to join in some family fun. He smiled at them as he said. "Hi." They smiled back, which their 'girl friends' shyly smiled, mostly because of how good looking he was.
Katie just chuckled while rolling her eyes, not seeing him in that way before she said. "Don't mind them, they are just a little boy crazy."
They gasped while denying it, since they were in front of him, before Jason chuckled slightly before smiling with pride. "Congratulations, Katie."
Katie smiled as they shared a hug. "Thank you, Jason. Not only for your words, but being here today. It really means a lot to me."
While they pulled back, Jason nodded. "Of course, I wouldn't miss it for the world."
Once they were completely out of each other's arms, Katie mentioned. "I'm sorry Madison couldn't be here."
With everybody being so busy with finales, and him at the shop, he hadn't seen the Grissom family since prom night, which also meant since Madison and him broke up.
He nodded and cleared his throat. "Yeah, she uh, she got busy."
Knowing what time of the school year it was, he didn't feel he was lying about that comment one bit, she was known to get stressed out towards the end of the school year.
Katie nodded in understanding before her and the other friends started walking away, leaving Jason and Isabella alone. They looked at one another, immediately feeling a different air between them, and while it was comfortable, it also felt a little intense, but before they could sink further in it, she asked as she was eyeing him after thinking about the tone he was using when he had said Madison got busy. "Are you and Madison ok?"
There was pause, while he was contemplating on telling her today that him and Madison had broken up, then a second later, with his heart racing, he made his decision, a decision he wasn't sure what it would mean to her, if it meant anything to her at all, but knew he had to do it, and if it changed his life either way, so be it. But he had to admit, he was hoping for the positive side of things.
He cleared his throat again and started to say. "Yeah, about that, Madison and..." He was cut off from potentially changing their life's path, when his phone rang.
Then he mentally sighed before giving her a smile. "Excuse me."
Isabella gave him a nod with a smile of her own while he answered his phone after seeing who was calling. "Hi Mr. Hamilton, yes, I can get that done for you today, I'll be right there. Bye."
After ending the call, he looked at Isabella again. "I have to go, a customer."
When the owner, who was an older man, of the mechanic shop, died, and since he didn't have any children of his own, he left Jason the shop after years of showing him that he could handle it.
She was sadden to see him go, but understood. "Ok, thanks for coming."
He smiled with pride at her, probably a little more than he gave Katie. "You're very welcome, and congratulations."
With one more smile between one another, he started walking towards the vehicles so he could leave while Isabella watched him walk away with a sigh.
Since she was thirteen, her thoughts and feelings, even at times when they shouldn't have been, were mostly directed towards him, sometimes they were weaker (Mostly when she had a boyfriend and didn't have time to think about anybody else), and other times they were stronger, but either direction on the spectrum they always lead back to him.
But now it was maybe time to change that. She didn't exactly know right now how to accomplish it, since she's failed all this time, but she knew it was time to move on from her wish of being with him.
And while a part of her felt that something was going on between him and Madison with how he acted, she was sure they'll work it out because they have done it before. They could just be one of those couples who manage to work things out time after time, no matter what.
Before her heart and head went at war once again, her phone vibrates, indicating she had gotten a text message.
She pulls her phone out and smiles at the text she had gotten from Mitchell. 'So, are we on for dinner later?'
There was a pause, then she took a breath before typing. 'Meet you in three hours.'
'Excellent, I'll text you the address of the restaurant.'
'Ok, see you soon.'
'See you soon.'
After taking one more breath, she placed her phone in her pocket before joining her family, ready to embrace something new in her life.
August, 2031
Jason was sitting in his office at the mechanic shop when he heard a motorcycle come in the garage, so he gets up from his office chair, walks to his opened door, and stands in the doorway as he saw the person take their helmet off.
When he noticed it was Isabella, now 17, his heart raced, before he cleared his throat and spoke with a smile. "Hey."
Isabella turned her head and smiled. "Hey."
"So, what do I owe this visit?"
She chuckled as she moved to get off her bike. "Blame it on mom." He raised an eyebrow while she continued with a smile. "She only wants those she trusts to look at my bike."
With them going up to Berkeley in a few days so she could move in her dorm room, Sara wanted to make sure Isabella's bike was in tip top shape for the trip.
Jason chuckled with a nod in understanding, but then he smirked as he walked closer to the bike. "I'm surprised she didn't look at it herself."
He knew one of the reasons why he hardly seen any of the Grissom family, or the other extended family members for that matter, here, was because Sara, and sometimes Warrick, did most of the mechanic work on their vehicles, unless they didn't have time to do it themselves.
She smirked in return. "Oh, believe me, she did...twice." They both chuckled before she finished. "But you know her, she says you can never be too..."
He cuts her off while giving her a warm look. "Careful." As she nodded, he continued a little more softly. "And I have to agree with her."
She shook her head and replied. "Oh come on, not you too, I thought you were all for this?"
He sighed. "I...We all just want you to be safe."
There was a pause while they looked into each other's eyes, but then her phone starts ringing, breaking the moment.
"Excuse me."
He nodded before putting his concentration towards her bike while she answered her phone with a smile as she walked further away from him. "Hi."
While Jason's concentration was on her bike, he couldn't help but divert some of it when he heard her laugh while she was on the phone, and it made him pause with a little frown because after so many years of knowing her and being around her through certain moods, he could tell when she was happy or sad, especially when it evolved a boy, and while he did detect her laugh was towards a boy, there was something different about it, and in that moment he felt he lost his chance, if he even still had a chance to begin with.
He mentally shook his head before his thoughts were further interrupted when he heard her voice. "Is everything good?"
He nodded his head as he stood up a few moments later. "Yep, perfect shape, and mother approved." She started to chuckle then he cringed. "Well, sort of, I guess."
She chuckled again, getting his meaning, then once she was calmed, she asked. "How much do I owe?"
He shook it off. "Nothing, I didn't actually do anything."
She shook her head and pulled some money out of her pocket and handed it to him. "Please, take it, for your time."
He was going to protest again, but her sweet look stopped him, and he nodded with a smile as he took it. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." As she walked closer to her bike, she continued to speak. "Oh, mom wanted me to tell you, you are welcome to come to my going away party tomorrow night."
"Only, if you're ok with it."
She nodded with a smile. "I am ok with it."
"Then I'll be there."
"Cool, see you tomorrow then."
"Yeah, see ya."
She puts her helmet on, lowers the sun shield, starts the motorcycle before driving off while he watched her with a longing sigh.
Three days later
After the Grissom family woke up, which included Bella and William since they spent the night in the downstairs guest room, knowing it was going to be an early morning because today was when Sara and Grissom were driving up to Berkeley with their oldest daughter, they packed up Grissom's vehicle with Isabella's things, had a quick breakfast before they started their goodbyes.
The sisters pulled back with tears in their eyes, then Isabella cupped her younger sister's cheek. "I'm going to miss you. Show UCLA what you're made of, let them know that our brother and father aren't the only Grissoms who can rule that university. I love you."
Katie nodded with a chuckle. "I will, and I love you and I'll miss you too."
They kiss each other's cheeks before Isabella moved next in line, which was Bella, where they shared an emotional goodbye before she stopped in front of her brother, both in tears by now.
Isabella cleared her throat. "I um...I'm..."
William cuts her off as he brings his sister in arms. "I know, Izzie I'm going to miss you and love you too. And if you need me at anytime, all you have to do is call."
She held on to her brother a little longer as she sighed. "I will. Love you."
As they pulled, he nodded, then they all chuckled as they see Andrew running towards the driveway, shouting. "Wait, don't leave yet!"
She turned to her best friend while he was catching his breath. "You almost missed your shot at saying goodbye."
He shook his head with a smile, then he spoke after taking one last deep breath. "Not a chance."
Once he was calm, they looked at one another and sighed before he stepped up and brings her in his arms. "It's going to be different not seeing you everyday. I don't know when the last time we haven't seen each other at least once a day."
"I know." She sighed again, then smirked. "You better not get a new best friend or I'll never forgive you."
He chuckled. "No way, you're the best. Why would I need any one else?"
She smirked again. "You wouldn't."
Sara voice came next. "Honey..."
Isabella nodded as she pulled back from her best friend. "I know mom." She then told him. "You better come and visit."
He smiled with a nod. "And you know I will."
Then William chimed in. "We all will, you aren't getting rid of us, no matter how far you go."
She nodded with a smile as she looked at her siblings, Bella included, then after one more smile at her best friend,
she headed towards her bike while Sara and Grissom said goodbye and see you tomorrow to their other kids since they actually won't be back until tomorrow afternoon since they were going to stop in San Francisco for the evening/night to celebrate the anniversary of them meeting the first time, even if they were a few months early, after leaving Isabella.
Hours later
Once they arrived in the Berkeley area, they had lunch before heading towards the campus, then after seeing where her dorm room was, they started unloading his vehicle and placing Isabella's items in her room.
When they were done, daughter looked at mother and father, all three with sad eyes, not ready to say goodbye, then Grissom cleared his throat and stepped towards his daughter and brings her in his arms.
"I love you Butterfly, so much, and I'm going to miss you. And I really do hope you visit us sometime."
She sniffled, holding back the heavy tears as she whispered. "You know I will. Despite me wanting to have a different scenery, you guys are my world, and I'll visit as much as I can, I promise." She then smirked. "Besides, I'll probably be there so much you'll regret offering me an open end invitation."
They both chuckled as Sara moved closer to her daughter, so Grissom stepped back to let his wife get in her goodbyes to their daughter. "Not a chance, honey, we'll never get tired of seeing our beautiful, amazing, little girl. And don't sigh at that, no matter how old you get, you'll always be our little girl."
Instead of doing what her mother thought she would do, Isabella smiled with a nod, already getting the speech from her father. "I know mom. I love you and I'll miss you too."
"Love you."
A few moments later, mother and daughter pulled back, and after one more hug and kiss from her father, Sara and Grissom headed towards the door and opened it. Sara stepped out first, and before Grissom did, he turned to his daughter and signed. 'Love you' one more time.
She nodded with a smile while she signed. 'Love you' back.
He gave her one more smile before stepping out in the hall, closing the door behind him.
When Isabella was alone, she looked around the double sized room with a sigh, which she should be getting her roommate in the next day or two, then when she was walking towards the bed to make it, there was a knock on the door, so she shook her head with a smile and small chuckle while she walked to it, and as she was opening it, thinking it was her parents, she was speaking. "Mom, dad I'm fi..." She trails off when she noticed it wasn't her parents, then smiled wider. "You're here."
Mitchell Green smiled widely with a nod. "I am, unless you're seeing things."
She moved her hand to touch his, and felt skin, before tugging on it so he would come closer, then as he wrapped his arms around her waist, she whispered. "Nope, definitely not seeing things."
He smiled brightly as he moved forward to kiss her.
Sara, for the most part was holding on to her emotions pretty well in front of her daughter, but when her and Grissom made to his vehicle, she couldn't hold on to them much longer, and Grissom was right there holding/comforting her, while he was also feeling the 'loss' too.
After a few moments, she shook her head, sniffling. "I'm sorr..."
He cuts her off as he kissed her forehead. "Oh, honey, you have nothing to apologize for. This is completely natural."
She took another breath as they pulled back from one another, then he cupped her cheek and ran his thumb up and down it a few times, and while he pulled his hand back, she continued with a sigh. "We just got spoiled with the other two kids staying close to home." Then she smirked. "It just figures the one that is more like me has to leave town."
He chuckled before he brought up a very big positive. "Well, least she didn't move across the country or an ocean."
"Yeah." Then she asked softly, even though she knew he couldn't control what happens in the future when it came to their kids. "Can you promise me you won't let that ever happen?"
Even though he knew that she knew that it would be an impossible task to handle, he still nodded with a smile. "I'll try my very best."
She smiled with watery eyes. "Thank you."
"You're welcome, sweetheart."
After a soft kiss on the lips, he whispered. "Ready?"
She nodded one more time, and once he helped her in the passenger side of the vehicle, he got in the drivers side before taking them towards San Francisco.
Late September, 2031
Katie was sitting in the library working on some homework, and after working on a math problem, she looked up from her work and saw a couple sitting in the corner, making out, and at first she thought it was sweet, but then when it looked like they were devouring each other's face, she cringed and shook her head before looking back down at her homework.
She was a little surprised to hear another voice a moment later. "Some people, huh? Acting like animals."
She chuckled slightly as she looked up to see Andrew standing there with a smile. "Yes, I would very much agree."
"You mind if sit?"
"Go ahead."
"Thank you."
After she nodded, another couple caught her attention, this one less obvious, like they were still sorting out how to act, her guess was that they were long time friends first.
When Andrew could tell Katie was a little distracted, he turned around to see another couple, then he looked at her with a smile and sparkling eyes."Is Ms. Katie bear, getting interested in boys now?"
She shyly smiled at the nickname he used, which was her brother's nickname for her, then she sighed. "You want to know one of the disadvantages of skipping as many grades as I have?" Generally curious, Andrew nodded before she continued. "When it comes to boys, not that I am interested right now mind you, but just in general, I'm too young to date the ones that are in my class, but the ones that are my age I don't feel like I fit with any of them, they aren't...they don't..."
Andrew cuts her off. "Challenge you like you want."
She nodded, then sighed. "Or maybe I'm just being too picky."
He shook his head. "No, don't think you have to settle for just anyone, you should be with someone who makes you feel excited just to be around them, someone who makes you happy, laugh, and cry, but only the good tears (She chuckled at that, making him smile), someone who'll pick you up when you're down, someone who you can build a..."
Katie cuts him off with a raised eyebrow and smirk. "I didn't know you cared about me so much."
He gave her a friendly smile as he replied. "Hey, just because I'm best friends with your sister doesn't mean I don't care about you too."
Katie nodded. "Ok, fair enough."
He nodded in return before continuing with sincerity. "Just promise me, no settling, alright?"
She nodded again with a smile. "I promise."
"Good, besides I have a feeling things will eventually work out for you." He then cleared his throat and finished. "And who knows, a love might come to you that you never saw coming. I heard that it can work in mysterious ways."
"I've heard that too."
They just sat there for several seconds looking at one another before she cleared her throat and asked with a smirk. "So, is there a reason you came here? Or did you come looking for me to talk about my non-existent dating life."
He chuckled slightly before replying. "Yes, there was a reason why I came looking for you, and there is no obligation to saying yes, plus I'll understand if you don't want to with you being in College..."
Katie cuts off his rambling. "What is it?"
After a short pause, he continued. "You see I need help with a subject that I have to keep at a B+ or higher, my mom's rule I might add, or else I can't play baseball this year. And considering this is my Senior year and I'm counting on scouts to see me play, well, I need to play, so..."
She cuts him off once again. "What subject?"
"The one I can't stand, but you excel at."
She nodded with a smile. "Math."
He sighed with a nod. "The very one."
No hesitation, she nodded again. "I would be happy to help."
His smile got brighter. "Really?"
"Yeah." Then she couldn't help but smirk. "I mean now that Isabella's out of town, someone needs to look after you."
Andrew raised an eyebrow with a smirk of his own. "Oh really, is that how it's going to be now?"
"Yep, that's my story and I'm sticking to it."
He chuckled. "Alright." Then he finished with more sincerity. "Well, then I can't ask for a better person to look after me."
When Katie shyly smiled, and while that wasn't the first time he's seen that, a new feeling swept through him as he suddenly thought she looked cute, and even though the thought left as fast as it came, it did give him a little pause.
He mentally shook his head, and just chalked it down to a little glitch, because there was no way he was feeling something for Katie, right?
November 23, 2031
After leaving her parents house, where they were having an anniversary party, Isabella headed for Mitchell's apartment, and once she got there and knocked on the door, he opened it with a smile and moved to the side to let her in, then the minute she did, they started kissing as they were moving their way to the couch, and only after she was laying on her back, and he was above her did they stop kissing enough for her to say. "Well, hello to you too."
"Sorry, I couldn't help myself. It has been over a..."
She sighed as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I know, you don't have to tell me how long its been since we've seen one another."
He leaned down and kissed her lips softly. "A month without this." Then he moved to her cheek. "Or this." Then neck. "Or this."
As they started kissing again, his hand started to move towards the hem of her shirt, but just as he was slipping it under it, her body tensed and she pushed at his shoulder to stop him. "Wait."
He looked at her with concern. "What?"
She shook her head. "I'm sorry..."
He cuts her off as they moved so they were sitting up now. "It's ok. I'm the one that should be sorry, I was pushing it." She was about to open her mouth, but he took her hand and continued. "I don't want you to ever feel uncomfortable, if you're not ready for any of that, then I'll wait."
Feeling a little insecure, a feeling she wasn't use to feeling, she asked softly. "You sure?"
"I am." He kissed her on the forehead before asking. "You want to watch something?"
She took a breath before asking again. "Can you just hold me?"
"Sure."
She moves so she was laying her head against his chest while he placed his arm around her shoulders, and as she sat there, for the first time since she started seeing Mitchell, she was starting to feel the pressure of not moving their relationship to the next level. But it wasn't by him, or at least not entirely, a lot of it was herself feeling that way.
One moment she thinks she's ready, but then they get to alone moments like this and she just freezes up, and while a part of her just wants to push past that fear and get it over with, another part feels that she needed more time. She just hopes waiting doesn't cost her this relationship because she finally felt free from past feelings, and thought this between them could be something amazing.
Once everybody had left the house after enjoying their 24th anniversary together as a family, Sara started to clean up the living room, but was stopped when Grissom walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist while whispering. "Do you have to do that now?"
She smirked while placing the back of her head against his shoulder. "Why, you got a better offer on what I should be doing right now?"
He smiled against her neck. "Well, I haven't had any complaints before."
She smiled as closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of her husband's lips against her skin, then after a few moments, she stepped forward so she was out of his arms, something she missed the moment she was before she took his hand and walked them upstairs.
When they made it to their room, and had stopped in the middle of it, they slowly took the top layer of their clothes off with love in their eyes before this time he took her hand and walked them towards their bed, where they laid down on their sides and just looked at one another for several seconds in silence, then he cupped her cheek, and after seeing the acceptance in her eyes, he moved forward and started kissing her, which she reciprocated immediately before hands were moving all over each other's bodies, and while it was a familiar touch, it still excited them, causing them to take things a little further after he moved so he was above her.
Later, while laying on her side, wearing one of t-shirts while the sheet was up to her waist with a smile on her face, Grissom, now in his boxers, crawled in bed behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, both sighing in content, then he smirked. "So, still no complaints?"
She chuckled as she slid her hand down his arm so she could slip her fingers through his. "None whatsoever."
Using their daughter's words, he smiled. "Cool."
She chuckled then after another sigh as she snuggled in his arm warm embrace, while still feeling loved and protected, she whispered. "I love you."
He tightened his hold on her as he whispered. "And I love you." He then sighed. "24 years, honey."
She smiled with a nod as she ran her thumb up and down his hand. "I know. I almost still can't believe it."
He then smirked. "In a good or bad way?"
She brings his hand up and kissed it before turning in his arms so she was facing him, but they still kept as close as possible, before she cupped his cheek and ran her thumb up and down it while looking at him with love in her eyes. "The best possible way there is."
They started to smile as she leaned forward and started to kiss him, and as things were taking a passionate turn again, she moved so she was on top of him before smirking as she started to kiss his neck. "Now, it's about you."
He just closed his eyes while he enjoyed the feel of his wife's lips on his skin. He'll probably never fully understand how he's been this lucky to have this wonderful woman in his life for this long, but he'll never question it ever again.
March 7, 2032
After meeting/visiting her family at William's and Bella's new place, and before she met them at her childhood home for William's birthday party, Isabella wanted to make one stop first.
She hadn't seen Mitchell since Valentines day, where he took her out to dinner at a nice restaurant before they just walked and talked around the area while holding hands, and for the first time in months, she didn't feel pressure. Not from him or herself, so maybe she thought she was worrying over nothing and should just enjoy the process.
She sighed in content as she got off her bike before she headed for the entrance of the apartment complex with a spring in her step, then after walking up the stairs to the second floor, she turned the corner so she could go to his apartment, but she stopped her feet the minute she saw a woman walking out of his apartment, which it wasn't just any woman either, it was 'the' ex girlfriend.
However, before she freaked out completely and jumped to a specific conclusion, there could have been lots of reasons why she was there. But then again, all the positive thoughts she felt she could have had with the situation, washed away a second later when she saw him, half dressed, stop in his doorway before the two started kissing while their arms were wrapped around one another, not caring if the world saw them.
Now she realized why she didn't feel any type of pressure the last month because he was getting what he needed from someone else, and who knows how long that's been going on.
She stepped back around the corner so she was completely out of view as her heart started racing, and not in a good way, while her breathing was becoming out of control. She closed her eyes to try and calm herself, or at least enough so she could walk away, then that's exactly what she did, never looking back while trying to banish every feeling or thought she ever had of him.
May, 2032
Another school year was coming to a close, especially for the Seniors, which meant that Andrew's tutor lessons with Katie were also coming to a close.
In fact, they had just finished their last session today, and as he was packing up his books, Andrew spoke with sincerity. "I owe you a massive thank you for your help this year."
After he raised his math grade up to an 'A', it stayed in that range throughout the year, never dipping down past an A-.
Katie, now 15, shyly smiled as she shook her head. "It was nothing..."
He cuts her off as he took her hand without thinking. "It wasn't nothing, you took time from your busy schedule, from enjoying being a Freshman in college at that, to help me. You don't know how much that means."
Katie looked down at their hands, and he immediately released it before they shyly looked into each other's eyes, then she cleared her throat and shook her head. "Honestly though, you didn't even need me the last three months."
He shook his head before continuing sadly. "On the contrary, you helped me the last three moths in other ways too, I don't know how I could have handled my grandparents deaths without you."
She smiled, with pride this time. "And I was happy to help, sorry it came down to that, but I'm glad I was there for you."
As they looked into each other's eyes, feelings between them had changed quickly and drastically over the last 8 months, and they could feel them getting even stronger. But they haven't told one another how they felt yet.
He then cleared his throat and asked. "You need a ride somewhere?"
She shook her head with a smile. "No, it's ok. I'm not ready to go home yet, I still have some studying to do."
"Alright, be safe and I'll talk to you later."
"Yeah, later."
After one more smile, Andrew picked up his backpack before walking away while Katie watched him until she could no longer see him, making her sigh as she looked down at her opened books while her heart kept racing, which it had been known to do that for at least the past 6 months, especially when he was near her, and it didn't matter how much she told her heart to stop, so it was safe to say she was falling hard and fast for someone she least expected it to happen towards, which made her smile slightly a second later because that's exactly what he had said could happen.
She mentally shook her head again and tried to concentrate on her last bit of homework, which of course the keyword was 'try' with thoughts of Andrew floating around her.
AN: A few more chapters to go, and you don't want to miss the next one, which if you follow my main one and paid attention to the dates, you'll know what it will be about. Thanks for reading and please review.
