Stroke chp02
The high school stroke of genius.
We just moved from Montesano to Seattle. The frigging school district demanded I retest to see where I belong. I maxed out the test and won a full ride scholarship to Seattle elite Preparatory High School just past the Farrel-McWhirter Farm Park in Redmond. Where the rich and smart kids go. Dad found a house out nearby in Belridge section of Bellevue.
I bounce to start my first day, freshman Anastasia Steele. College prep advanced placement high school student. For the first time in years, I'm happy, health, and challenged in school. Before mom and #3 kept me home for the last two years. Prisoner, slave, punching bag.
Best of all Chris is nearby in Moorland section of Bellevue just four miles separates us. We should be able to sneak some alone time. Once he stops seeing me as a kid. I'll be thirteen in December. I can't wait for the bus to pick me up for 9-mile ride to school from Belridge.
I skip off the bus to my new school, bright and happy. Immediately, I get singled out. my clothes aren't designer, or boutique, or anything close. Cheap Walmart specials is the best we can afford. The "it" girls sneer at me charity case. I hide my hurt. I've become rather good at that. hiding within myself and books.
I get thru the first four class without incident. Till a JV jock grabs me. dropping my books. I start to struggle. JV lets me go as a big varsity blonde jock toss him away. He stops to help me pickup my books. "HI, I am Elliot Grey. If anyone does that again, you tell me ok. Real men don't touch ladies like that. especial around me."
We rise, I assembly my books, getting hold of myself. Christian brother just saved me. I smile back at him, "Anna Steele, scholarship student." I say. It's been the expect answer all day.
"Yea, dressed like that, pretty obvious. What's your next class?"
"Ommm, Calculus with Bremer?" I say shyly.
"Shit that across the school, you're going to be late." He looks around spotting someone, I feel a tingle in my back. "Christian. Come here." Chris walks up quiet, I can feel the rage beneath the calm. "This is Anna Steele, freshman. She in your advance Math with Bremer. Escort her to class, will you?"
"Sure, this makes us even for the car thing, ok? I'm Christian Grey, his brother. We need to move or we'll be late" he says pointing me out a side door into the quad.
We move un-talking. Moving at a clip, especial since he took my books. We make the class before the bell. I always sit in front. Christian heads to the back with my books. Placing them on a work table, next to him.
"No-one will mess with you now the Grey's are your friends. You tell me or Elliot if any of these spoiled brats harasses you, ok. Besides if you're at this table, we all-stars won't have the lesser peon cheating off our test." Chris speech seem directed at several girls and guys in middle tables near the door. I notice he put heavy insinuations on Elliot name.
He opens his book. I copy opening my book. Happily feeling his hand stroke my thigh. I smirk hiding in my hair. Stroking his hand. The teacher enters, gawks at us. "Nobody sits with me, for long. To unstable." He whispers loudly.
"Well I'll chance since you'll be a gentleman or Elliot will have more than words for you." I loudly whisper back, even the teacher heard that. he calms as the lesson plan unfolds to us. Since no one works with Chris, I'm his lab buddy, collaborator and partner in the class.
Calculus was never this happy or joyful. I dread the minutes about to separate us. The bell rings. We both sit. "Let me see your schedule?" he asks.
Handing it to him, he looks about and grins wide. "We have lunch and last three class together." He rises, I follow him to my locker. "how did you know?"
"It's on the top of your schedule." He smirks at me. we stop by his locker and head to the Cafeteria, I have enough money for a piece of fruit and water. The Scholarship doesn't cover lunch.
Christian places me in line, ordering for both of us. I have a balanced full meal. He pays for both. Escorting me to a far table away from everyone. Within minutes several jock and girls join us. Elliot waltz in with two cheerleaders. Frenching both shamelessly. I get Chris description of him as man-whore.
"hey, no freshman at my table." He barks.
"Well, you appoint me guardian Bro! so she moves? I move. Besides she's in my classes this afternoon. I don't need a repeat of Lakeview again do I?" Chris slams back. Elliot has a pained expression on his face. "ok, she stay's. but no freshman friends. got it Steele?"
"Yes" I meekly say, as Chris foot caress my ankle. Making me happy. We eat. Afterwards he takes our trays to the cleanup window. The blonde tramp in designer top next to me, leans over and whispers. "don't be afraid, Christians gay. He won't hit on you. he doesn't like girls."
I so want to smack her face, kiss him and declare he's mine. All mine. But I don't. because deep down I know what he's written, talk about. How deep we are into this relationship. I smirk at her. "That good to know, I like girls. You're hot, ever. You know played the home team?" she jerks away so fast she falls out of her chair. Christian is looking at me. "she has rainbow issues with us. I loudly whisper. I see Elliot eye brow rise in understanding. If only he really knew.
The classes fly by in the afternoon, the teachers are relieved to have someone work as Chris partner. This means a lot of study time, lots of interactions and even better time to make him see me as ready to dates, touch like couples do.
Xxxxxxxxx
Elliot has practice, So Chris rides the bus with me. We sit in the back, he's the last off, first on if Elliot didn't drive him every morning. By March he'll have a car and license. I can barely wait. Dad's not home from his new job. I start to say something. Chris knocks my shin. "Why don't you come to dinner at my house, we can get a head start on Collins English paper, and Bremer's extra credit assignment?" as the other student leave.
I can read their minds. Super nerd girl, angst bad boy genius talking about super geek studying. I smile inside and pile on before the last one steps off.
"Sure, you can tutor me in Talien's biology." I speak stuttering and suddenly shy to meet his parents.
We speak in front to the driver, Ted. A easy-going guy. He seems worried. Till Chris hands me his cell phone. I call dad and let him speak to Ted. Dad can pick me up a seven, he can use the overtime at the shop. Ted is better, the ride is quicker not having to make my detour.
Xxxxxxxxx
Grey Manor is a colonial neo-revival house on the water of Lake Washington. Just south of the Bay, couple mansion from the point. Landscape hides and enhance the feeling of a Country estate in lake country of England. We bounce up the steps, into a modern interior. Rich but warm and encompassing. I will like being in this cocoon.
We wander into the Kitchen were the House Keeper Mrs. Clairmont is working on dinner. She smiles at us, me. As introductions are made.
Elliot's at football practice. Mia at Dance school, today. His father, the lawyer, is in court till 5, home near 7. Grace, his mother, is due home in an hour.
He shows me his room. Pinning me to the wall. He kisses me like I dream. We are hot and heavy. We break, looking at the clock on the night stand. We head to the media room. Sitting on the floor, go all geek on our school work.
Grace walks in and nearly faints as we are head to head over the book on components of the interior of the frog; I will have to dissect next month. We look up at her loud grasp. She recovers, "Hello? I'm Christian's Mother Grace. You are?"
Before I can answer "This is Anna Steele, she in several of my advance placement classes. She just moved here. Her dad's working late. So, I invited her to dinner." Christian acts all innocent, after that kiss and brief make-out. I don't know how he does it. I see her wanting to believe.
"The Teachers assigned us lab and project partners. Christian is being nice. Him and Elliot saved me today from some bullies looking to haze the new freshman scholarship students." I let the words flow and hum in the small room. I see her eyes light with understanding and compassion. Chris's Angel pop's up, sitting helping us work thru the biology assignment I dread. I nearly puke putting a worm on a fishing hook. Dissecting a frog without hurling will be a milestone in esteem and stomach control.
Elliot bops in with Mia. Stunned I'm here. Christian repeats the half lies. They buy it hook line and sinker. The father is cold, wary but warms as Elliot regales us with my rescue from the JV bully and his coercion of Christian to be my guard. That Elliot forced the contact. The teachers forced the study buddy. That we are trying to be super geek students.
I know that forcing a heavier academic schedule on Chris is allowing his mind to be less stressed. Challenging the brain, focusing on the work, not the past, or problems. Making him calmer. Being an always thinking genius can get out of control in a normal classroom. It works for me too.
At seven thirty on the dot the doorbell rings. Dad's here. Carrick leads him in making introductions. They seem to hit it off. We leave around nine. Grace insists Ray eat. We watch the X-file in the media room. I know the adults are talking about us. Chris sits on the floor next to my knee, I on the sofa, he plays with my feet. A flaw, fatal I'm not sure.
On the way home, Dad talks about making the Grey's my emergency contact, and I'll be riding with the Grey kids to school. It's fine, if I wait at their house for him to pick me up. That Christian has a violent past, and a temper. But I'm his first friend. If only daddy knew the truth. I plan on being his girlfriend and wife in short order. Three years till I claim my man.
I snuggle my secret cell phone listening to Chris tell me the lecture he got on me. but we are happy. We are going to school together, home on the bus. And study in his house or mine till Ray gets home. This year is looking up.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Halloween party is this weekend. We are invited to the country club dance. Christian is going as Sherlock Holmes the BBC 1970 version. I as Irene Adler, the vamping Victorian goddess. We make an antagonist pair. Elliot is going as He-man with his date the cheerleader captain as slave girl. please give me strength to make it thru the night. Everyone is convinced were gay. Even the parents are leaning that way.
If only they knew us. The stolen moments, touches. Kisses in the dark. I have explorer his naked body at the lake. Kissed his pain and scars. We are skipping into the danger zone tonight. I must protect him from people bumping and touching him.
I twirl around the dance floor, like a cherup on up high. We have a few friends in school now, all geek, and super nerds. I have to work hard to keep the "IT" girls from me and Chris
We sneak out side and lay on the green near a sand trap. Watching the stars holding hands. He leans over a kisses me. like a woman should be kissed. We melt into the moment forgetting where we are.
"Cough! Cough!" we break apart to find Elliot looking at us. Strange emotions play about his face.
"Anna, go back inside. Christian and I need to work out some things."
"Go, Anna. I can deal with this." Chris pleas. I stand. Walk up to Elliot. standing my ground. This is my world. My man. I'm not giving up, in or walking away.
"Elliot. you are not my father. Nor are you my guardian. What me and Christian do, are or become is our business. Now you will not tell anyone about us. You are my friend. Christian is my boyfriend. I'm smart enough and old enough to understand and be responsible for my actions. If you betray us. You will never be part of us, ever!" I stare him down.
"Christian! I would like to return to the dance." I state. Shaking in my inner goddess boots. Chris takes my hand, we return to the dance. Elliot is quiet the rest of the evening.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Monday Morning the kids arrive, Elliot has a shiner and Chris a Band-Aid cheek. The battling Grey boys. I remain quiet till Mia is gone. She blabs that Elliot and Christian brawled yesterday morning before church.
That they went in the lake. Carrick in his Sunday church suit had to drag them out. they refuse to say what the fight is about. I know what the fight was about. ME.
"Elliot! I warned you to stay out of this." I say from the back seat.
"Anna. You too young to do this. Period! If telling the parents stops this so be it."
"STOP THE CAR! NOW!" I demand. Elliot pulls over to the side of the road.
"Chris, your shirt!" I must make him understand. Understand what we are to each other.
I take my hand and place it on Christian naked chest. Making him purr in delight, to Elliot's horror, then awe. He has never seen anyone touch his brother's chest, ever. "You see Elliot, this is what we are to each other. Betray us, watch Christian slide back to last summer."
I sit back, relaxing watching his brain process the words, sights and threats. He huffs hard. "Ok, but no sex, nothing past shortstop ok. Your word?"
"Fine, for the year shortstop only." I say as Chris nods. Elliot didn't specify school year, calendar year of fiscal year. Shortstop in very fleeting, I watch Chris gray eyes hood and sparkle at the open question of time and limits.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Elliot behaves but chaperones us at every chance he gets. We are cramping is sex life terribly. Christmas is tomorrow, as we celebrate with the Grey and Trevelyan Families. Dad has moved deep into Carrick circle of friends. They seem happy being buddies. Grace is very happy, matchmaking Dad with ever eligible lady in his age range in the greater Seattle Washington Areas.
Mia lavish cloths and gossip on me, very trying little sister. Christian has been a dream these last few weeks. Skating, walking, just talking as we wander the winter draped trails. I can let the acting expire and just be his girl. I let the soft snow tickle my nose on the ferry ride from Bremerton.
Mia talks Ray into staying the night, he moves our few presents under the Grey tree. We girls whisper and conspire under the blanket in the media room. As the Grinch plays on the screen. Chris is laying on the couch.
I drift awake as he carries me to Mia room and bed. I hug him, kissing his neck. Dreamily tired and happy. He kisses my lips "Sweet dreams of me on Lost Lake. Little one."
I drift to happy dreams. Falling into the future bliss of being Anna Grey. I watch encased in his arms, the rising sun over the mountains and lights wave sears across the waters of the lake, our lake. Lost lake.