A/N: Tori asked so I'm double posting. This makes up for if I don't post on this for a week or so. Read, review, and enjoy!
By the way....I really do have a teddy bear called Griffin. I named him Griffin randomly one night with my little sis, who is also a Jumper fangirl. ^^ XD
Chapter Nine
(Tori POV)
Tori walked into her room with Preston following close behind. She quickly grabbed her coat off the bed and motioned for him to sit down. He sat as she hung up her coat in the small closet by the door. She turned and saw Preston pull a small book from his pocket. "You brought it. Good," Tori sat down next to him and took it from his hands, flipping through it.
"Yes," he trailed off. "I did say I would."
Tori fell back and held the book up in front of her face. She read over a page from around the time he first saw her.
…October 15th: Two young women were on board today. First time in a while we've had women aboard since Skull… There names are Tori and Ashley. I didn't talk to them much but Ashley seems nice and Tori's lovely looking. Hopefully we can be friends…
Tori sat up and looked at Preston with big eyes. "That's so sweet so you," she said as she clutched the book to her chest. He gave her a smile and she held the book out to him. "I'm sorry. I won't read anymore," she blushed. "I shouldn't have made you let me read your diary." Tori shook her head as she looked at the floor and her dirty low black heels Ashley made her wear.
She felt a hand enclose over her left one. "It's okay. I said you could," Preston told her. Tori looked up and found him giving her a reassuring smile. "It was only fair."
Tori gave him a small smile. "So you really think I'm lovely?" she asked.
"Well, I…uh…" Preston seemed to be nervous as he searched for his words. Tori noticed him look at her with a strong lingering emotion she couldn't place. He leaned towards her and kissed her on the cheek. With a hint of a nervous expression, he pulled back and looked down at their hands.
Tori felt her face heat up as someone knocked on the door. 'Sounds musical. Must be Ash.' She got up carefully and exhaled, trying to rid of the blush she knew was on her face. Tori opened the door and Ashley was standing there, looking slightly nervous herself.
Ashley opened her mouth to talk but immediately closed it when she noticed Preston over Tori's shoulder. "Um… This a bad time? Sorta needed to talk," she trailed off and scrunched up her face.
Tori looked over her shoulder at Preston. He shot up with a look of surprise. "No no no. It's fine. You two talk. See you in the morning Tori," he said with a lopsided grin as he ducked past them and left the room.
Tori pulled Ashley into the room and shut the door. "What?"
"Snappy, eh? I must've interrupted a moment…" Ashley crossed her arms and bit on her lower lip as if in thought.
Tori huffed, "Kinda of. Anyways!" she glared at Ashley, trying to figure out why she was at her door.
"Oh," Ashley uncrossed her arms. "What should I do? I'm supposed to stay in Jimmy's cabin."
Tori looked at her with narrow eyes. "Um, sleep there? That could be an option."
Ashley sighed. "I know. It's just awkward," her voice quieted as she spoke.
"Awkward? I love awkward situations! You should record it," Tori suggested.
"Perfect. I should screw up the timeline and stuff by bringing a camera." She rolled her eyes and threw her hands up as she spoke. "By the way, do you need anything? I was gunna jump back home for something."
Tori nodded. "Get me a book. Something by Dickens." Ashley gave a nod and disappeared from sight. She returned in seconds with a tattered red hardcover book and small brown teddy bear. Tori glared at her friend. "Seriously? You can bring anything to this era and you choose your bear?"
Ashley tossed the book on Tori's bed and hugged her bear close. "Don't talk about Griffin that way…"
Tori chuckled and picked the book up off the bed. She sat down and opened it. "I'm sorry Griffin," she said sarcastically as she began to scan the cover. "Thanks though."
Ashley gave a nod and put her bear under her arm. "Anytime. I'll get us clothes tomorrow if I can sneak away," she said as she made her way towards the door.
"Right." Tori said, beginning to read her book and barely paying attention. She heard a sigh and a door shut as she began to read her book. 'It was the best of times; it was the worst of times…'
---
(Ashley POV)
Ashley moseyed her way to the cabin she had to share with Jimmy. 'This shall be the death of me.' She held her bear, Griffin, under her chin and close to her chest as she knocked on the door.
Jimmy opened the door, still in his blue button down and black trousers. "You don't' hafta knock. It's your room too, Ashley." He stepped aside and she stepped in, still clutching the bear against her. "Where'd ya find the bear?" Jimmy asked.
Ashley widened her eyes a little. "Oh I had it with me. It was with my jacket. Not that big." She held the bear out, showing him to Jimmy and said, "His name's Griffin."
Jimmy raised an eyebrow. "Griffin? That's an unusual name."
"I like it. It fits," she shrugged. "So where am I sleepin'?"
Jimmy pointed to a bed against a wall in the corner of the cabin. "There. My bed's that one." He pointed to a bed diagonal to the one he said was hers.
'Good. This doesn't require sharing a bed with him.' She let out a sigh of relief. "Okay. You going to sleep now?"
Jimmy bounced down onto his bed. "Maybe. You?"
Ashley looked down at Griffin as she played with his fluffy foot. "Think so. Been a long day. Lots of excitement and work and stuff."
Jimmy gave a nod as he removed his hat and hung it on a hook over his bed. "Well night then. I'll turn off the light." He got up to flick the room light off.
"Um…can you wait to turn it off? I mean, just until I'm asleep?" Ashley asked as she gnawed on her lower lip.
Jimmy looked at her curiously. "Sure, but why?" he sat back down.
Ashley crawled back to the pillow and curled into a ball, her usual sleeping position. "I'm not a big fan of the dark."
Jimmy gave a nod. "Alright. I'll keep it on until you're asleep then." He lay down on his own bed, stretching out on the twin-sized bed. "Good night, Ash."
Ashley smiled at him and hugged Griffin. "G'Night Jimmy," she said in a dreamy voice as she shut her eyes and began to let sleep overtake her.
