Joni

I sit not so comfortably in Mr. Grey's office, I am painfully aware that I am only in my sleep clothes and that just makes it more awkward. I take a deep breath and try to power forward remembering what my father taught me, strike first and lead the conversation.

"Mr. Grey" I begin. "I entered Teddy's room minutes prior to you walking in. I am very thankful to you and your wife for letting me spends thanksgiving here and I wouldn't want to do anything to undermine that."

"Forgive me if I don't exactly believe that" he says stoically. "What I walked in on was anything, but respect for my house and the rules I clearly outlined." I take deep breath and steel myself for my next move.

"It was all Teddy's fault" I say blatantly throwing my boyfriend under the buss. I don't want to do this I truly don't, but I need Teddy's parents to like me. Phoebe told me her dad felt rubbed the wrong way after the lunch and although I don't truly care about his opinion I know Teddy does and what is important to him is important to me.

"Wow, would you mind taking the knife out of my back when you get the chance?" he whispers angrily at me.

"I am sorry, but it is" I say glancing at him. He'll be fine, they have to love him, they don't have to like me. "I cannot help it if you are a sexual deviant."

"Me? You molested my thirteen year old cousin" he scoffs.

"I thought she was you…" I retort realizing my mistake at the last second.

"She?" he asks arching his eyebrow at me.

"I may have groped Emma also" I admit. "But in my defense it is crazy cold in this house and my body was simply seeking the warmth it has grown accustomed to. You have conditioned me to sleep next to you; this is entirely your fault."

"My fault?" he exclaims. "I put you in the guest room, hell I literally tucked you in to bed, and you passed out before I could even get a kiss goodnight."

"Enough" Mr. Grey says shaking his head. "Joni, I believe my wife is starting preparations for tonight you should go help her." I nod, rising from my seat. I give Teddy a sympathetic glance before leaving his office. It isn't until I am in the dark hallway that I realize that not only do I not know where I am, but I left my glasses in my room so I am not even one-hundred percent sure I can find my way.

I walk while hugging the wall until I am met with a figure.

"Are you lost?" asks a solemn and I recognize the voice of the man in the suit.

"That depends; will you torture me again if I say yes?" I retort sarcastically.

"I was simply following instructions" he says with a slight smile.

"Your methods messed with my sleep" I inform him.

"Sorry about that" he says before turning to walk away. I panic slightly and grab on to his suit.

"If you just so happen to pass the kitchen I would not be opposed" I say quietly as I follow behind him while grasping firmly on to the tail of his jacket.

"Theodore told me you have trouble seeing in dark places" he informs me.

"What else did he tell you about me?" I ask and I cannot stop the smile.

"That you need slightly more attention than the average person" he says and I feel him chuckle through his back.

"I was home schooled all my life" I tell him honestly. "My mom didn't want my mind to be molded and conformed to singular sets of social norms, her words not mine. I loved it, but there were also some draw backs. The eye exams and physicals that are usually required for school weren't required by her. It wasn't until we lived in Germany that we found out that my eye sight is trash."

"How old were you?" he asks quietly.

"Nine" I say slowly. "I was so amazed when I got my first pair of glasses. They were thick and awkward, but man could I see. I would stare at things for hours. Everything that was once a blob of colors were so defined, I was so amazed."

"There are steps in front of you" I scrunched my face because I thought we were headed to the kitchen. "I will take you to your glasses, the sun hasn't risen fully yet so this side of the house is still slightly dark."

"That is very kind of you, but I can see the stairs" I laugh lightly. "I can see just not as defined, I see shapes and colors and I can mostly make them out, but when it's dark like now it becomes harder."

"No need to explain" he says softly opening the door to the room Teddy placed me in last night. I move swiftly across the room to the night stand where my glasses are. I sigh deeply when I put them on and can see clear again. "That's a lot better" I say smiling only to turn around and see that I am alone. Smooth. I change into the warmest clothing I have which is my hiking gear and quickly realize I don't have any formal clothing for dinner. I leave my room and head down the hall to Phoebe's.

"Hey" I say sticking my hand through her cracked door. "Can I come in?"

"Sure" Ava calls.

"I hate to ask this, but can I barrow a dress for dinner?" I ask entering the room. Ava is sprawled across the bed.

"I am sure she wouldn't mind" she says lowering her phone. "There are some casual dresses in her closet."

"Thanks" I say entering the closet. It is bigger than my bedroom at my apartment and filled with more clothes than I have ever owned. I brush my fingers across the more formal gowns as I make my way to the casual dresses.

"Joni is in your closet barrowing a dress" I hear Ava say as a door closes.

"That's fine" Phoebe says.

"Thanks" I yell as I return to my objective. I find a simple green A-line dress that I know will make my topaz eyes seem more mysterious. As I pull the dress off the rack I feel it snag on something on the wall behind it. I move the dresses and see that the wall behind the rack has a few picture tacked onto it. They are of Phoebe and am African-American girl hugging and holding hands. I take one with only the girl, she is smiling shyly at the camera off the wall and walk into the room.

"Is this your girlfriend?" I ask holding the dress as I show her the picture.

"YOU TOLD HER?" the two cousins shout at the same time. Ava jumps off the bed and slams the door shut.

"I didn't tell her I swear" Ava says.

"Well I didn't tell her and you are the only other person who knows" Phoebe growls.

"No one told me" I say slowly confused by their response.

"Well, how else did you know?" Phoebe asks crossing her arms.

"I thought it was obvious" I answer honestly. "All of the places you want to visit are couple driven, but you only talk about bringing your "friend" Eliza and every time I bring up boys you seem disinterested."

"My family doesn't even know" Phoebe admits sagging on to her bed. Ava arched her eyebrow at her. "Well, except for Ava. Please don't tell Teddy."

"Of course not" I vow moving to sit next to her. "I don't think he will have a problem with it, but it is completely up to you when or if to share that information with him."

"Thank you Joni" she says hugging me.

At least I did something right today…