Emador- I laughed while writing Janny. You should introduce your roommate to the glories of Miracle fanfics so she can get in on the fun!
Strangexbutxtrue- I am so glad you liked those lines. I enjoy writing a bit of comedy. Glad you're still reading the story and like the pairing.
Meadow567- I just knew that it was a situation Herb would comment on. Also, you're advice worked great. Hope you enjoy the chappie.
Lia06- (33/2+7 I guess age differences aren't that big a deal to me because my parents are 14 years apart. I hope you keep reading and don't get discouraged.
I hope the reviews of last chapter are not going to become a permanent thing. I would hate to think that interest has waned that much in the course of one chapter. I am going to keep writing and hope interest picks up. I do have some loyal fans and I love them! I miss my old fans! See you on the flip side! Peace and Love!
Sunday, September
I was sitting alone in my apartment listening to Johnny Cash sing 'Sunday Morning Coming Down'. It was quiet around campus. Everybody was sleeping off the parties of the night before and such. Craig had called last night saying he would stop by around 12:30 today but was kind of vague. He had spent Saturday with Herb reviewing films of other teams. I spent my Saturday shopping for Halloween decorations. A few of the boys had been going to watch 'The Godfather' in Verchota's room. Ramsey and Strobel went out of their way to invite me, but I didn't really like the movie.
As the record played on, I sorted through the decorations I had bought, planning to decorate the first few days of October. It wasn't the same shopping without Craig, but I imagine he would've been bored out of his mind shopping for decorations.
Part of me still wondered exactly what attracted me to Craig in the first place. But at the same time, the past week I had felt happier and more secure than I had in awhile. I felt safe with Craig, although in the back of my mind were nagging questions and feelings of uneasiness.
There was a knock at my door. I laid down the felt pumpkins I was holding and went to the door.
"Who is it?" I called out.
"It's me, open the door." Craig called back.
I opened the door. Craig walked in my apartment, stopping to kiss my cheek.
"What are you doing in here?" Craig asked, seeing pumpkins, bats, spiders, ghosts, witches, etc scattered all over my couch and floor.
"Just sorting through what I bought yesterday." I shrugged.
"Why do you have Johnny Cash turned up so loud?" Craig asked turning the music volume down.
"I listen to that song a lot on Sunday's……its how I feel sometimes." I explained.
"You wish you were stoned?" Craig asked.
I shrugged. "So what did you want to do today?" I asked.
"I have a surprise for you." Craig smiled. "Grab your keys, and let' go."
I shoved my apartment keys in my pockets and let Craig lead the way.
"Where are we going?" I asked as we walked down the hall.
"Right now, to my car….there is something I need to get." Craig said. "Just relax, I promise its nothing bad."
We walked out to the parking lot and Craig opened the passenger side of his car. In the seat was a brown paper bag and a blanket. Craig reached in and grabbed both items and shut the car door.
"It's a nice warm day. Let's head to commons." Craig said.
"You still haven't told me what we're doing?" I said, but followed Craig when he took my hand.
"It's Sunday around noon, if you were home in Qualla, what would you be doing?" Craig asked me.
"Getting ready to watch the NASCAR race down at Malone's Bar?" I answered, not sure where Craig was going with the conversation.
"No, you'd just be getting out of church, right?" Craig said as we walked around the Science Hall and started out to the commons (a grassy area with trees, a few benches flower gardens, etc).
"Oh…maybe. I haven't gone to church much in the past 6 years." I said.
"But last week you did tell me that you missed dinner on the ground after church." Craig said.
"Yes, I do. I miss the good food, the games the kids played, being with the community. It was a great way to pass a Sunday afternoon when you weren't watching Richard Petty." I said.
"It does sound nice. And I know you've been a little homesick lately, so today you get to go home a little bit." Craig said as we left the sidewalk and walked across the grass.
"I am not sure I follow you." I said.
Craig stopped under a large tree and let go of my hand. He set down the bag and spread open the blanket under the tree.
"You said you missed Sunday dinner on the ground. Well here you go. I even brought the fried chicken." Craig smiled.
Suddenly it all made sense. "Craig that is……I don't know what to say." I said. I suddenly felt like crying. I was a little homesick and it was such a sweet thing to do for me.
"Kylah, you okay?" Craig asked.
"Yes, I am just so happy. No one has ever done something nice for me before." I said and hugged him.
"It's not that big a deal. I just wanted to spend the day with you." Craig smiled. "We should eat before the food gets cold."
We sat down on the blanket and Craig opened the brown paper bag.
"What'd you get to eat?" I asked him.
"I bought all the dinner on the ground foods I could remember you talking about." Craig said.
"You bought it? You didn't cook it?" I smiled.
"My cooking isn't fit to feed death row prisoners." Craig laughed. "But I did make the sweet tea because I was afraid no one else could get it sweet enough to suit you. Your sweet tea could kill lemons."
"What else did you bring?" I asked.
Craig reached into the bag and started pulling out items. "Fried chicken, potato salad, garden salad, corn on the cob, and apple pie."
"That all sounds so good." I said and reached for a paper plate.
"Yeah, luckily the deli was open this morning." Craig smiled.
"If I eat like this too much, I'll need Doc to put me on a diet." I giggled.
"Well you've done fine eating like this at home." Craig said.
The sun was shining bright as I started filling up my plate with food.
"So why don't you go to church much anymore?" Craig asked.
"I don't have faith anymore." I said.
Craig looked like he wanted to say something but kept quiet.
"At least the weather is good for this." I said.
"That's true. It's usually chilly here by now according to Herb, but we might as well enjoy the warm weather while we have it." Craig said.
"How cold does it get here in the winter?" I asked.
"I am not sure. I know in Detroit winter is a long cold time that seems never ending." Craig said.
"We don't get much snow, some in the mountains, but our winters are pretty mild." I said. "I don't know about this extreme cold of Minnesota I have heard so much about."
"I am sure you'll be okay." Craig said. "I am used to it."
"You were born into it. But you'd be out of place on a Carolina 4th of July." I laughed.
"Hey it gets hot in Detroit." Craig protested.
"Nothing like we get at home I'm sure." I giggled.
"Your apartment looks like you found a lot of nice stuff for Halloween?" Craig asked.
"Yeah, I can't wait to decorate." I said.
"Is Halloween something you just started celebrating since quitting church?" Craig asked.
"No, I've always celebrated Halloween. Why?"
"Well, I know lots of strict religions don't believe in Halloween." Craig answered.
"Oh no, nothing like that. My family always taught me that Halloween was a harvest festival and just a time for fun. There was never anything satanic about it at home." I replied.
We ate in companionable silence. The food was good, not quite like home, but still good. With students starting to come into the commons and different activities going on, I could almost pretend I was back home.
"Kylah, you're a million miles away." Craig interrupted my thoughts.
"Oh sorry. I was just deep in thought." I said.
Craig smiled and leaned over and kissed me. It was soft and sweet, but I was still unsure of exactly how I was supposed to kiss him. I am sure it made me awkward.
"Kylah, don't take this the wrong way, but do I make you uncomfortable. Every time I kiss you……I enjoy it but you seem a little tense." Craig said.
"It's just…I am not sure how to kiss you." I said.
"What? Do I kiss different from other guys?"
"No, its not that…..it's just well, I've only dated guys my own age and I know what to expect from them." I tried to explain.
"And what do you expect from me?" Craig looked confused.
"Well, I don't know. I mean…..well you're going to be different than a guy 22 or 23." I said. Craig still looked confused. "Its like…..well even though you're just in your 30's, you're well beyond the age of sitting on the couch and making out. And you're much more……'experienced' than guys my age…..with the exception of Verchota."
Craig smiled. "I am content with whatever you're comfortable with. Just because I'm older and more 'experienced' doesn't mean that I am going to try something you're not ready for. And who told you I was past the age of making out?" Craig winked.
"Well no one, but….I don't like the thought of getting you…..you know and then not…following through." I finished, sure I was blushing.
Craig started laughing. "Kylah, you have nothing to worry about. So I take a few cold showers…won't be the first time. I'd probably be taking cold showers no matter who I was dating….but especially with you." Craig laughed.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked.
"You're beautiful and have a nice figure……you're very sexy." Craig said. "And you're so cute when you blush."
"But I don't want you to feel like you're not getting anything out of the relationship." I said.
"Kylah, don't worry. If I ever have a concern of any kind, I will talk to you about it. But I would never back you into a corner or try forcing you to do something. I am happy just being with you." Craig smiled.
(TPPOV)
"Look there is Kylah and Craig." Silk pointed out. Some of the boys were walking across campus to the rec center to play pool and grab lunch.
"They must be having a picnic." Verchota said.
"She looks so happy." Bah said.
"That's the happiest I've seen her look since before the night of the nightmare." Buzz said.
"Alright, Coach Craig is getting some tonight!" Janny cheered.
"Thanks for putting that image in out heads." Buzz said sarcastically.
"I hope they know what they're doing." Bah said.
"They look like they're having fun. They're laughing and smiling." Rizzo said.
"I wonder if he bought condoms before this date." Verchota said.
"I am sure if he didn't, you have plenty he can borrow." Jimmy rolled his eyes.
"Now I am depressed. My coach is getting more than me." Verchota said.
"How do you know what he's getting?" Silk asked.
Across the commons Kylah leaned over and kissed Craig.
"I wonder if there is tongue involved." Verchota asked.
"Can we go?" Buzz asked.
"Yeah, I'm hungry and we shouldn't spy on them." Silk said.
"Come on, we want to watch the game and I don't want to be here if hands start wondering under clothes." Bah said.
"I wonder if coach has got to cop a feel yet." Janny asked.
"Will you stop already? We don't need to hear that." Mac said.
"Let's go." Jimmy said and the boys started walking again.
"I think they make a cute couple." Rizzo said.
"I still wanna know what we do if we ever hear them screwing?" Janny said.
"Not this again." Mac groaned.
"We ignore them and give them privacy." Ramsey said.
"Oh Craig…." Janny started in the high voice again.
"Shut up Janny!" Buzz interrupted.
(FPPOV)
"Craig, this has been a wonderful day. I can't thank you enough." I said.
"It was no problem. I enjoy spending time with you." Craig said.
"But you made me feel at home. I had a great time." I said.
"We should do something Tuesday or Wednesday night. Go out to dinner or go see a movie." Craig said as we started to clean up.
"That sounds great. I'll have to make you dinner again soon." I said.
I gathered up the blanket and we started walking back across campus.
"We got a few more games coming up soon." Craig said.
"I know. I am really looking forward to them. But I hate the thought of flying again." I said.
"You did great last time." Craig said.
"It wasn't easy." I said.
"Well look at the bright side, most of the team would volunteer to be captured before they'd let terrorists take you." Craig winked.
I laughed. "I'm so glad we spent today together. It's been so much fun."
"Me too. And I am so glad I'm with you." Craig said and took my hand.