A/N: Hey there everyone! I'm sorry for the delays getting this story up. I really don't know why it's taking me so long, I mean, I have it all but the last chapter written already. But I knew I had to at least post one chapter before I leave tomorrow morning for four days. I promise though that once I get back, I'll have another one up for you! -
and a big thanks to you guys who reviewed! I really love you all. all two of ya. XD nah, jk. but anyway, on with teh chapter:D
Disclaimer: see chapter one
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"There Was Only You and Me"
Chapter III - "To There and Back Again"
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The sunlight pouring into the window was what woke me up the next morning. I blinked a few times to let my eyes focus a bit, and then let me gaze rest on the sleeping figure beside me. Mater was sleeping on his side facing me, his arms loose around my middle. His tousled brown hair hung in his eyes, so I reached over and tucked it behind his ear, and all the while I smiled like an idiot. Memories of the night before ran through my mind, and my heart almost melted on the spot, but I felt myself blush as well. I had never seen it coming… but I was so glad that it did.
For a few minutes, I just laid there looking on at him – my new lover. Oh, it felt incredible to call him that. My smile grew wider as I let my fingers play idly with his hair. Gently though, I didn't want to wake him up. He looked so peaceful…
After a little while more, my body began to grow stuff, and even though I didn't want to, I knew I had to get up.
We were still on the couch, and it was a good thing I had ended up on the outside. It would've been quite difficult to get up off the couch without waking Mater up first. So, reluctantly, I slowly hoisted myself up and away from the warm cushions. And as carefully as possible, I removed his arms from me. I watched as he pulled them closer to himself, mumbling something quietly that I couldn't understand. I smiled again, and bent downward to plant a soft kiss on his forehead. When I pulled away, I looked at him for a few seconds more, and then made my way to the bathroom to start off the day with a shower.
Ten or so minutes later, I opened up the bathroom door to let the steam out. I wore a pair of black jeans, but I didn't bother with a shirt just yet. I always waited until my hair was dry, just because it was a pet peeve of mine when I got my shirt damp with my hair. So at the moment, I had only a towel around my neck.
I walked into the kitchen from the hallway and I stopped to glance into the living room. I le out a small chuckle as I saw that he was still fast asleep on the couch, I never though I would ever call something adorable, but that was the only fitting term for him at that moment.
My stomach growling knocked me out of my reverie. I turned my head to look at the clock and saw that it was already 11:17 am. It was no wonder I was hungry, I was usually finished with breakfast near 8:30 or so every morning. But I guess I slept in because last night must've taken a toll on me.
So I walked over to the fridge and opened it. After looking inside for a few minutes to see what I had, I decided on French toast. I grabbed the needed ingredient, plus a littler extra, figuring that Mater would be hungry too when he woke up.
About ten minutes later as I was dipping two slices o bread into the batter mix, everything suddenly went black. I couldn't see anything.
"Guess who," said his voice from behind me.
I smiled. "G'morning, Mater," I stated casually as I expertly tossed the bread into the frying pan. He pulled his hands away.
"Aww, how'd ya know it was me?" he pouted. I turned to look at him as I drowned another two bread slices in the batter. He had thrown his pants and white undershirt back on.
"Lucky guess," I told him after a few seconds. He sat down at the kitchen table and began fiddling with the pepper shaker.
"Yeah, I figured as much," he replied with a goofy smile. My adoration for him fluttered to life, making me want to go over and hug him. But I didn't think he wanted batter all over him.
"So whattcha makin'?" he then asked. I turned back to the bread and put the last two pieces in the frying pan.
"French toast," I told him as I began emptying the left over batter into the sink drain. "You gonna want any?" I turned my head to look at him.
He smiled. "Are you kiddin'? I love the stuff!" he said excitedly. I laughed. He was so easily pleased.
When the food was done, we sat and ate together at the kitchen table. We talked quite a bit, mostly about the party last night. But it made me think a little. It was so hard to believe that at that party, Mater was just my friend… my best friend. He still was of course, but now he was also so much more. He sat before me, now the most beloved person in my life. And less than a day ago, he wasn't. It was just sorta weird to think about.
Mater was in the middle of telling me about a fiasco that had occurred while he and Guido had been out buying balloons for the party when we heard someone knock on the door. He stopped dead in his sentence, and didn't even look at the door, but just stared at me. I stared back, my heart rate suddenly quickening, and unable to move.
Whoever it was knocked again after a few more seconds. Mater didn't move at all, and it was then that I really felt an appreciation for him. Even though he quite a few screws loose, he seemed to have a good understanding for people's feelings. He understood why it was that I haven't moved to answer the door yet, that what was going on was something to be concerned about as far as everyone else in town was concerned. I hadn't even given that any thought until now.
But I knew I couldn't ignore them, it might arouse even more questions. So I stood up from my chair and began to walk into the living room. I heard Mater get up from behind me, and soon afterward and I felt one of his hands enclose around mine. I stopped for a moment and turned to look at him. He was smiling at me in a reassuring kind of way, and I smiled back. I intertwined my fingers with his, gave his hand a soft squeeze, and kept going toward the door. Once in front of it, I stood still for a moment. The person knocked again, causing me to jump. I heard Mater giggle, and I gave him a warning look. He stifled another laugh, and then motioned for me to open the door. And I felt him pull his hand away from mine just before I did so.
It was Sally. For a moment, we both looked surprised to see each other and didn't say anything. Though I don't know why she would be surprised to see me at my own house…
But after a few seconds, she seemed to recompose herself, and cleared her throat. "Hey Lightning," she said cheerily. "Hey," I replied, nodding my head once in recognition.
Her gaze drifted to Mater beside me. "There you are!" she exclaimed. We looked at her, confused.
"Well," she began. "I noticed that you hadn't opened your junkyard for the day, so I headed over to your house to see if you were okay, like maybe you were sick or something. But your truck wasn't in the driveway, and I just happened to notice it parked here from down the street."
Oh shoot. It would be easy enough explaining why he was here, I've had him over quite a few times. But now there was the subject of why he hadn't opened up his junkyard. Even when he wasn't feeling good, Mater always made sure it was open. I guess with all that happened, it just slipped his mind. And as I turned to glance at him, it looked like I guessed right.
"And I noticed…" Sally continued after a few seconds. "That the driver's side door was left open, too." My gaze snapped back to her, and then over to his truck. She was right, the door was open. He… left it open in a rush to catch me before I went in the house last night.
"And…" Oh god, now what? She moved her hand from behind her back, and I literally felt my heart sink down to my stomach. She was holding Mater's hat. "I came up here to knock and I saw this over there by the window," she explained.
I didn't dare look over at Mater. How was I supposed to explain how that got there as well?
"Oh, well…" I tried my hardest to make it sound like it was no big deal. "That's just uh…"
Mater chuckling from beside me stopped me. "Now ya see, Miss Sally, I was on my way to the junkyard when this mighty strong wind came outta nowhere right as I was goin' past Lightnin's house here. Blew my hat right off my head! It landed here on his porch, and I was in such a rush to get it back, I didn't bother closin' the truck door after I parked."
I turned my head to look at him, completely shocked. He was completely calm, casual as though what he said happened really was true. I couldn't believe it.
"And Lightnin' noticed me pull up I guess, n' he invited me in for some breakfast," he continued. He laughed for a second before going on. "Looks like I just ended up forgettin' about it out here anyway. And I was just about to head back out when you knocked."
I couldn't say anything. All I could do was smile as casually as I could at Sally, and nod in agreement with what he said.
Sally just smiled. "Oh, okay," she stated. "I was just wondering." She handed him his hat, and he placed it back on top of his head.
"I guess I better get goin' then," he stated. I looked over at him, about to ask what he was talking about, but then I realized that he had to leave. For one, he had to go tend to the junkyard, and two, he couldn't tell Sally that he was just about to leave and then stay. I suddenly felt sad, but I could only watch as he went over by the couch and slipped his boots back on and picked up his flannel from the middle of the floor. It was a good thing Sally hadn't been paying attention.
He came back to the door, but before he left, he turned to me. "Thanks for breakfast," he said as if that's all it had been. I knew he didn't mean it, but it still made me feel horrible. But I tried my best to smile and replied with a "no problem." He smiled, and then turned to Sally.
"Do you want a ride back to your house?" he offered. She just smiled and shook her head politely. "No thanks, Mater. I'll walk, I don't mind," she answered.
"Well okay," he replied, and then began walking over to his truck. Sally followed, but stopped when she got to the sidewalk. She turned to Mater, waved goodbye, and then made her way down the street. We both waved back simultaneously until she was out of sight. And then we looked at one another.
"I'll… see you later?" I called out to him tentatively. He smiled.
"Yeah, of course," he replied. And with that, he hopped into his truck and closed the door. But just before he could start the engine, I called his name. He looked back to me through the windshield.
"I…" I started, but then cut off. I wanted to say it to him, but I knew I couldn't go shouting it across kingdom come.
'I love you,' I mouthed to him with a smile.
His smile only grew wider as he then turned his keys in the ignition to start the engine. 'You too,' he mouthed back. And then he backed up out of the driveway, and waved goodbye to me just before driving out of sight.