It has been a few weeks at the shop and everyone was getting along fine. Lisa made sure to keep the flirting down to a minimum around Priestly.
Piper and Noah have noted that they were going to go for a Summer Vacation with Julia and would be gone for three weeks.
Lisa didn't mind with the shop. Everything was working fine and she needed to keep working to take her mind off of other things. Trucker noticed her working extra hours and helped everyone at the shop with cleaning.
Priestly and Lisa were cleaning shop and Trucker sat at the usual back booth counting tickets and receipts.
Priestly occasionally looked at Lisa with no response from her whatsoever.
"Lisa, come here Angel. I gotta talk to you." Trucker said and motioned her to sit at the booth.
He glared at Priestly to leave them alone, but he stayed in back and kept in earshot.
She eyed him, wondering what was up his sleeve.
"Everything okay, Uncle T?" she asked and slid into the booth.
He took her hands and rubbed circles with his thumbs over her fingers.
"Everything would be better…if you told me what has been bugging you." he said, looking her dead in her eyes, into her soul. He could tell that something was bothering her. Her distance between her and Priestly and her overtime at the shop.
"I don't know what you're taking about, Everything is fine." she stated, but turned her head out of his gaze.
Now he knew she was lying.
"Now look me in the eyes and say that again."
She looked right at him and couldn't keep herself together. her Hands shook in his in fear of what she may reveal.
"What's bugging you Sweetheart?"
"I….I…" She was gonna spill the beans. NO! She couldn't! Her uncle's Safety, Priestly's Safety.
"What Angel?"
"I….I have been very emotional lately about…." No, Don't say his name…She argued with herself. "My mom"
This is her only cover, and she knew she can get away with lying to Trucker about it, since he never pushes her to talk about her mother.
Priestly could hear her emotionally break down, and he felt sorry for her. Here he is, trying to pick her up and she's emotional about a family tragedy. Way to Go Ass Face He said to himself, as he moved outside to take out the trash.
"You know i'm here for you Lisa" Trucker said and collected his tickets. They both got up from the booth and Trucker pulled Lisa into a gently hug.
She needed to calm down. Everything was fine. He wouldn't find her here. He was thousands of miles away.
Priestly came back and saw Lisa slide her fleece over her head.
"so… What are you doing tonight?" he asked, hoping she was free.
"Just gonna be home. Trucker is helping Zo move some stuff into the house."
He pocketed his hands to keep them from shaking, Why did she make him nervous.
"Do you wanna catch a movie? or coffee?"
She smiled, It was a sweet gesture. The fact that she was still scared of starting any relationship couldn't stop her from wanting to hang out with Priestly. He was such a good friend to her.
"How about a walk?" she asked, hoping he would agree.
"Sure."
She hooked her arm around his and they walked toward the empty beach.
About an hour went by and they just talked and talked. She wanted to know everything about Priestly.
"So, Tell me…Why the Get-up?" she asked, taking a seat on the smooth sand. Priestly following afterward.
"What get-up?" he asked. She made clear by moving her hands to his legs.
"A Kelt?"
"What's wrong with my Kelt? I find it rather comfortable." he argued, but it made her laugh really hard. He smiled, Lisa had the best laugh. One that made him feel good inside even if it was about his outfit.
"I have no objection to the Kelt! I just wonder…how you can be so daring. How many men do you see walking around California in a kelt?"
"Well, I just like being an odd ball. If anyone can stand through this, they can…" he stopped here and found her eyes staring at him. He almost lost his train of thought in the icy blue eyes looking back."see the real me."
She loved his honesty. Sure- he was an odd ball, but so was she. No guys really follow a girl in a Nickelodeon Rewind shirt, or enjoy talking about stupid cartoon's and how bad reality TV really is.
"I wouldn't want to see you as anyone else but Priestly… Truthfully" She stated and nodded back to him. She placed her hand in his and squeezed it tight.
It was nice to be this close with someone again. It wasn't like any other date she's been on. She was comfortable to be herself.
"Do you miss Philly?"
She looked at him in almost questioning why? but she smiled like it didn't bother her.
"Sometimes. I miss my old house…. the Flower shop…My Mom…before the accident, everything was the way it should be, carefree. Then from out of nowhere this car came..." she stopped as though the flashback of that night filled her sight.
Flashback
The music was just loud enough to sing to. Lisa and her mother were celebrating a big shopping day and were on their way home. The light was red and the car was fully stopped. Once the light turned green, Lisa moved the car into the intersection and noticed a blinding light from the right side of the car. Metal hit metal and glass flew everywhere. The car flipped over twice and Lisa's head hit the wheel at a fate speed knocking her unconscious before landing upside down in the ditch.
The next sound was of an annoying beeping. She figured it was her alarm clock waking her from a nightmare, but when she opened her eyes she saw her uncle Gordon and her father in view. She was in a hospital, The Beeping noise was her own heartbeat... and That morning was when everything changed...
"She was gone. It was all my fault, I should have seen him coming. If I did, She would still be here and …" her breath was coming in small gasps. She was trying hard not to cry, but it was so hard.
"Hey, shh.. Don't blame yourself." He said and wrapped an arm around her.
In that moment, she looked at him and saw true compassion. Not sympathy, not cocky, not bored, but just caring and comfort.
Even though her eyes grew puffy and red, one eye let a single tear fall and Priestly leaned slowly to her cheek and kissed it away. He looked at her, in hope that the gesture it was not inappropriate.
"Better?" was all he could say at this moment.
She felt safe with him. Everything with the threatening text messages and lying to her uncle was died down when she could see his eyes. She weakly smiled and nodded.
"Come on, Let's get you home." he said, getting up and brushing the sand from his clothes. He pulled her up by her wrist and hugged her close as they walked back to the shop.
Maybe that's what she needed, just friends and family…and maybe even Love.
She was feeling better already, and nothing could stop her feeling like this…
For now anyways…
ok, so I'm terribly sorry about the LONG delay but I Just wanted to thank EVERYONE who has put the story in their favorites and Updated status. You guys make me feel good writing this. PLEASE REVIEW so I can get a clue who is reading and what suggestions you have for the story. Again THANK YOU for the SUPPORT!
LIsaBGReen