Author's Note: Wow, it's been a long time, but I'm finally updating, by request of LushBaby (so I'm expecting a review from you! LOL). If anyone reading this reads any of my other fics and cares to see one of them updated, let me know. I'm a procrastinator, and I need motivation to get going on these things. Anyhoo, enough blabbing. Enjoy!
"G-Grace," Luke stuttered. He couldn't believe she was actually going to go through with it. Surely that was a good sign. But it could also mean that she just wanted to say that she didn't want to have anything to do with him. That wouldn't be so good.
"Yeah, it's me," she responded, then turned to Joan. "Would you mind? We don't need an audience."
Joan gave her a thumbs up and backed out of the room, joining Adam outside and closing the front door.
Grace watched Joan leave and turned back to Luke as soon as the door clicked. "So, your sister and Rove are convinced we're meant to be or something, so I'm supposed to tell you that before I leave. And now that I've told you, I think that gives me sufficient reason to get out of here. Bye." She turned to go, but Luke grabbed her arm before she could take a step. She swirled around, rolling her eyes at him.
"I think you know we're not done talking," he said softly.
Grace blew out a breath, plopping down on the couch. "Okay, so we're not done talking. What am I supposed to say? I'm not your normal girl. I don't do talking. At least not the kind of talking that involves relationships and commitment. You know that. I don't know what to tell you."
"You could tell me that we have a chance," Luke responded. "It's plausible, you know. We're both intellectual, concerned human beings, and since I'm a male and you're a female, the biology of it makes perfect sense." Grace started laughing. "What? What's that laugh supposed to mean?"
"Relax, Freud, I just think that you're overdoing things a bit," Grace answered him. "The next thing I know, you're going to be presenting pie charts and statistics to me about the productivity of couples with above average intelligence."
"You have an above average IQ?" Luke asked incredulously.
"Yes, jackass," she said. "Haven't you noticed anything from your constant eyeing of me?"
"Well," Luke started, pondering her question for a bit, "no. I just saw you as someone who was hell-bent on bringing down the entire educational system of the free world. You seem like someone who's all for democracy, yet all you do is fight the system. I really don't get you sometimes, Grace. What is so wrong with our country that you have to start a protest every 5 minutes?"
Grace shook her head at him. "Maybe it's different for you. Your dad's a cop, after all. That's gotta have some effect on the way you look at things."
"Of course it does," Luke agreed. "But that doesn't mean I agree with everything he does. And the law enforcement system of America has nothing to do with our educational system. You're just avoiding answering me."
Grace rolled her eyes. "God, you're starting to sound like a shrink. Maybe I just feel that the majority of the country is uneducated imbesols and it's up to us to change that."
Luke narrowed his eyebrows at her. "Us? We're supposed to completely reinvent the entire educational process of the United States all by ourselves? That's asking a lot, Grace. That's like asking Joan to get an A in history. It's impossible. It'll never work. Forget it." He threw his hands up, frustrated.
Grace looked at him incredulously. "I didn't mean 'us,' as in 'Grace and Luke,' I meant 'us,' as in 'people in our general age group.' Once again, you fail to impress me with your too literal translations of every word I say." Luke suddenly sputtered out a burst of laughter, causing Grace to look at him even more strangely. "Dude, what are you on tonight?"
Luke smiled. "It's just hitting me now. We're talking. Actually talking. We've been talking all day. This totally blows my mind. I never thought you'd give me the time of day, let alone have a relationship with me."
"Whoa, dude, you're starting to sound a little stalkerish," Grace interrupted him. "I mean, I get the whole 'science geek that doesn't really talk to girls' thing, but usually your type goes for the supermodel type because you like trying to attain the unattainable. I don't exactly fit into that category."
"True, I could've been like Friedman and obsessed over every female within 5 feet, but I didn't want to resort to stupid crushes," Luke admitted. "I wanted a challenge, and that's part of the reason I chose to pursue you."
"Wait a minute, Einstein," Grace broke in. "You thought I was unattainable, and that's why you went after me?"
Luke shook his head. "You're making me sound bad. I do want to have a relationship with you, I just never thought it'd actually happen, so now I'm at a loss for what to do next."
Grace looked down at her hands and mumbled, "I know just how you feel." Luke looked over at her and saw, for the first time since he had known her, a Grace that was insecure, unsure of what to do next, and - most surprising - scared.
He gingerly reached out and touched a hand to hers. She slowly moved her hand to clasp his and raised her eyes to his. It was then that he saw the tears of uncertainty rolling down her cheeks.
Luke couldn't contain his surprise. "Grace," he whispered, the shock apparent in his voice.
Grace impatiently wiped away the remaining tears on her face. "Stop gawking at me. It's not like you've never seen someone cry before."
Luke looked taken aback. "No, it's just that I've never seen you cry before. It's kind of nice."
Grace glared at him. "I'm glad you find my pain amusing."
"That's not what I meant," he assured her. "I just meant that it's nice to see you show some emotion other than hate and rage. I didn't know you had this kind of side to you."
"Well, now you saw it," Grace announced, pushing herself off the couch and walking towards the kitchen. "But don't count on seeing it again. I just let my guard down, which was apparently not the smartest thing to do."
Luke stood up and followed her to the kitchen. "Why? Why was it so stupid to show someone that you do have a vulnerable side?" Grace ignored the question, choosing to pick up an apple instead. Luke reached over and snatched it away from her, slamming it on the countertop. "Answer the question, Grace."
Grace looked over at him, slightly surprised by his boldness. "Do you think I want everyone thinking I've been putting on a false front all this time? I don't want people to see this side of me." She started walking back towards the living room, but Luke grabbed her shoulder and turned her around to face him.
"Grace, if you show people this side, then maybe more people will see in you what Joan and Adam and I see in you. You aren't really the tough as nails chick everyone thinks you are."
"Okay, boy wonder, let me get a few things straight with you," Grace interrupted him. "One, I know what I want. You can't tell me what's going through my mind. Got it?" Luke was following along with wide eyes, and nodded blankly at her question. "Two, I don't even care what those Abercrombie wannabes think of me. I will do only things that I want to do. And finally, I am not, nor do I approve of the word, a chick."
"Is that it?" Luke asked warily.
"Yes. Is that satisfactory to you?" She raised an eyebrow at him.
"Sure," Luke stammered.
"Good. Let' s make out."
Luke looked flabbergasted. "But - but my parents could come home any minute and catch us. I really don't think you want that to happen."
"What's going to happen - your dad'll decide to arrest me for sexual assault?" Grace asked sarcastically.
Luke leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, "Are you planning on getting violent?"
"I will if you continue to ask completely ridiculous and insulting questions," Grace answered, tempted to slap him for being a moron. "Are we on?" Luke still looked unsure, so Grace rolled her eyes and grabbed him by the front of his shirt, laying a big kiss on him and thus loosening him up a bit. Luke responded by bracing her head, deepening the kiss, and pushing her down onto the couch.
Just as they landed on the couch, the front door opened.
"Oh my God," the person at the door commented.
Luke quickly raised his head at the person's voice. "Hi, Mom."