"Remind me never to see a romantic comedy with Sandra Bullock ever again…….." Ayden grimaced as he and Grace walked out of the cinema.
Grace elbowed him gently in the side, causing Ayden to scowl in fake pain.
"It wasn't that bad" Grace smiled as she continued to walk, ignoring Ayden who had stopped to clutch his stomach in mock pain- he ran up to her, shooting her a side ways sarcastic glare.
Grace let out a small laugh, "ok, so it was mind numbingly boring and predictable!" she smiled.
Ayden agreed with a small nod, "well……..it wasn't ALL that bad", he added, after a moment.
Grace shot him a quick, curious look; "yeah?" she asked.
"Yeah- I mean……..the company was pretty good" Ayden stared straight ahead, ignoring Grace's dancing eyes as they stared at his face.
GRACE company……..that's me……..right?
"Yeah, it was" she agreed, tucking a piece of loose hair behind her ear- as she did so, a tingle ran through her spine, as she remembered Eli's strong hand swiping the same piece of hair……….she shivered slightly.
"You cold?" Ayden asked, noticing Grace's slight quiver.
Grace looked down at her feet for a moment, pushing Eli's strong hands out of her mind- she turned to Ayden; "A bit" she said, in a small voice.
He raised a hand, placing it gently on her shoulder, urging her to stop walking.
Grace brought her arms to cross her chest tightly, waiting as Ayden peeled off his brown chord jacket- he placed it around her shoulders, the warmth instantly swept over her body- and all thoughts of Eli swiftly left her thoughts.
"Thankyou" Grace murmured, and they started walking again, in silence; until they reached Ayden's blue, beaten up Honda.
Grace slowly got in, and smoothed out the creases in her jeans as she waited for Ayden to start the car up.
GRACE this is the part where I get to know the inner depths of his soul…….right?
"Ayden-" Grace began, not turning to look at him as she spoke.
"Mmm?" Ayden asked, as he pulled out of the car park.
"Can I ask you………stuff?"
Ayden turned to look quickly at Grace for a moment; "want kind of………stuff?" he asked, slightly amused.
Grace gave a faint smile- "Well…….. I want to get to know you" Grace turned to him, not realizing that he was already throwing her a quick glance- their eyes locked for an instant.
"Ask away" Ayden said, almost in a whisper.
"Family?" Grace asked, smiling to herself as she felt her cheeks blush.
"Mum, dad and one older brother called Michael"
"Friends?"
"Ah……… I have lots of them………but close friends would have to be David Griden and Scott Hilton"
"Scott Hilton?" Grace asked, a little shocked.
Ayden turned to her, raising a quirky eyebrow; "what's wrong with Scott?"
"Nothing………it's just………I heard that he had an affair with Ms. Madison last year" Grace's cheeks turned a scarlet red as the words poured out her mouth.
"Ah……rumours………" Ayden replied.
"So, not true?"
There was a long silence in the car, as Grace awaited Ayden's answer- and once she realized he wasn't about to give her one……her jaw fell, and she playfully punched him in the arm.
"No way!" she said, in total shock.
Ayden flashed her a quick smile……"Didn't take you as that kind of chick" was all he said.
"What kind of chick?"
"The kind that would believe stupid rumours" he replied, and Grace's smile vanished.
"Sorry………it's just………well, you know," she answered quickly.
"No, I don't-" Ayden said calmly.
"Its not that I BELIEVE them….. I just……..absorb them" Grace fidgeted in her seat, "Believe me…….. I have had a fair share of rumours passed around about me!"
"Like what- you had sex with the entire football team?" Ayden joked.
Grace fidgeted some more in her seat……and Ayden felt the tension rising.
"I know," he said simply.
"You know what?" Grace asked, a little surprised.
"I heard the rumour about you and Eli last year" Ayden said, quietly.
"And about you and Mr. Dimini" he added.
"Dimitri" Grace corrected, a little too hastily.
Ayden flashed her a curious glance…….."I knew they weren't true" he said, in a hushed whisper that made Grace's entire body tingle with longing.
GRACE he knows.
Grace smiled, and there was a comfortable silence in the blue Honda.
"Dream job?" she asked- interrupting the still.
"Poet" Ayden replied, "and you?" he added.
"Journalist"
Ayden nodded……….."I can see you doing that," he said kindly.
GRACE he can see me…….smiling giddily into the camera
