Trouble Page 4

  “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t have any other choice, and I definitely didn’t know you were living here before I met with Chad at PJ’s. And I’m sorry if I woke you up. There’s not a lot of space in my room. I’ll just wait until I can get to the gym next time.”

  Grace suddenly looks a little guilty, poking at the last few pieces of cereal in her bowl. “No, it’s fine, I don’t mind getting up early, you’ve got to stay fit for football, I get that” Her voice is soft, and I see kindness and maybe some vulnerability in her eyes as she looks up at me. I suddenly feel bad for deliberately annoying her last night.

  “Hey Miller, why did you just take off that time I was driving you home last year? Something I said bothered you and I never worked out what it was” Her eyes widen and her pale face begins to go red. For the first time, I look down and notice she’s only wearing a thin sleeping top, with straps for the shoulders, giving me sa great view as I’m standing from a higher vantage point across the bench. I use the opportunity to train my focus by not looking where I shouldn't be looking.

  “You were interrogating me” she says, her voice suddenly guarded and I sense the conversation will soon be over.

  “I was? That’s not how I remember it? We were just talking and suddenly you take off.” I reply, trying to avoid the inevitability of the incoming argument.

  Grace lifts her face, and her eyes match mine now, showing no sign of nervousness.

  Grace gets up and moves around the bench towards the sink, which is right behind me. I don’t move from where I’m standing, instead, turning around to face her, as she begins washing her bowl and spoon.

  “I’m not stupid Dan, you wanted to get information on my dad, you were being too nice, I wasn’t fooled.” What is this girl on about.. get information? About who? Her dad, Principal Miller? What, does she think I’m working on some evil plan to get revenge over punishment for something that was my fault anyway?

  Grace

  Our toes are almost touching, both of us leaning back against each side of the kitchen, my arms folded across my chest, his hands leaning back on the bench, open and confident. Dan looks thoughtful, as he stares down into my eyes, paralysing my legs and raising my heart beat. I couldn’t move away even if I wanted to.

  'I didn’t mean to pry. I was just curious and I never had any bad intentions, I’m sorry you thought that’s what I was doing. I didn’t think you’d really care about my opinion of all people anyway, Princess Miller.'

  'What is that supposed to mean, “Princess Miller”' I say, making quotation marks with my hands. 'We went to the same school, Dan. Don’t try make it sound like I was some prissy girl who thought I was too good for people. And anyway, I know exactly the type of guy you are. Too cool for everyone who’s not in your little athlete and cheerleader group, too cool for rules, just too cool for school.'

  'I didn’t think I was too cool for school, Grace. Your dad thought I was, maybe. But I didn’t'. A pang of guilt hits me for my choice of words, that is until I look up at Dan's face, who looks pleased with his comment, and I realize that it sounds like I’m making fun of his being expelled.

  'I didn’t mean too cool for school because you were expelled. That came out really bad. Anyway, we are pretty much arguing over ancient history now and I can see us going off on a tangent at any moment'.

  'Sure, Grace. You were making fun of the fact that your dad expelled me. Here I am, little old Dan just trying to make his way through the big bad world with girl like Grace Miller just shooting me down every chance she gets'.

  'Oh please, like anything I could say would ever affect you. You think you’re so above everyone else with your football and everything' I feel myself getting flustered now, and I look at Dan, who has obviously taken serious insult to this comment, which is surprising, considering he didn’t seem phased by the whole being expelled comment before that.

  'Wow, that’s so rich coming from you, Grace. Perfect Grace Miller, who wouldn’t dare talk to someone who doesn’t wear cardigans every day and get straight A’s on all their assignments'. Dan’s face looks like stone, and I’m surprised he took what I said to heart, but still, I barely ever wore cardigans, so how can he even say that?

  'Well I’m talking to you, and you’re barely wearing anything, Dan.' Dan looks down my body, pausing on my chest and thighs.

  'neither are you' he responds mildly, with a smug look of satisfactio on his face, his frustration from a second ago now non-existent. While his stupid smug face chews on a stupid piece of toast.

  I suddenly feel my body going hot, and realize how skimpy my pyjamas actually are. 'You’re such a pervert, Swanson' I say, as I cover my chest with my arms.

  'You said it first Grace' he replies, saying it like a matter of fact, as if he’s saying we have run out of milk. 'Look Grace', he continues, 'I’ve never had a dad, ok. I grew up with my mom and my sister. If I came across as if I was trying to get some dirt, I’m sorry. That wasn’t what I was doing. I was just interested.'

  Wow. It seems like he’s telling the truth. But the truth is, I actually see a bit more to him. For the first time, I see Dan as just a guy, without his reputation, without the history and just as… Dan. I see sincerity. He’s actually told me something personal. 'I didn’t realize. I’m sorry' I say, my brain barely functioning, let alone coming up with something to say to that.

  He gives a slight smile and stands up straight. I notice his bare chest, and defined abs. “It’s cool, anyway, I’d like to actually be able to talk without bickering for a change. You would do me great honour, conversing with me as an equal. I might even put on a cardigan some time” he says, harmless teasing in his voice.

  “Hey, you started it mister” I retort back. he scrunches his eyebrows.

  “what do you mean, when did I start it?” He asks, his voice all honey and innocence.

  “At your football team’s party. I tried to come up and squash our beef and you made me look like an idiot” I say, my voice getting all squeaky.

  He suddenly lets out a loud laugh, flashing his white teeth. “Oh, squash our beef, huh? You not about that thug life, Grace?” Dan laughs.

  “Okay enough, Dan!” I try to sound assertive, but it’s hard when my neck is craned back to meet his eyes, due to our close proximity.

  Dan puts his hand out, signalling to shake my hand, “how about we consider all our beefs squashed, clean slate starting right now?”

  I put my hand in his and let his large grizzly bear-like paw wrap around my much smaller, tiny bear cub paw. His hand is warm, and he holds onto it, waiting for my response. “Ok, deal,” for the first time since yesterday afternoon, I feel hopeful about this whole situation, like we might just get through this without trying to kill each other.

  Chapter 9

  Dan

  Grace lets me use the shower first, as I have an early morning practice, before hitting the library to study. She’s in the living room when I leave the bathroom, with only a towel tied around my waist. I watch her eyes betray her as they drop down to where the towel starts, before looking away and pretending not to notice me. I don’t say anything, and head into my room. By the time I’m packed and ready for the day, Grace is in the shower.

  ◆◆◆

  Training was a little tense. I’m the captain of the team in my second year, and I’m not going to be playing the first game of the season. Jake is sitting with me in the locker room after training, and decides to ask me about my housing situation in front of the whole fucking team.

  Everyone looks over to me, careful curiosity on their faces

  'Didn’t see her, must have worked late.' I say, not wanting to give the other guys the impression that my personal life is something that’s an acceptable topic of conversation. I can’t afford any more set-backs. I’m re-establishing role in the team as a job, not just a sport. I’m no longer here to make friends. I’m here to win games and make my way to the NFL. That’s it. I pick up my bag and leave, making it clear to everyone without a
nother word that my shit is not to be discussed any more.

  I get in a solid 4 hours of study in between classes and finally start to feel on top of the new math class that I’ve enrolled myself in. As I’m walking towards my car, I see a call from Chad on my phone.

  'Chad, what’s up?'

  Chad sounds upbeat, as usual 'hey buddy, how’d you go last night, Grace told me you seemed to settle in ok'.

  'Yeah, all settled, thanks again man. I appreciate it'

  Chad being Chad, he gets straight to the point of the phone call. 'No worries man, look. I have Grace working tonight but the bar has been booked out last minute for some corporate event. Apparently there was water damage at their other place so PJ’s was their plan B. Can you work the bar with Grace?'

  I consider my answer before replying 'I can do that, but I don’t want to make it a regular thing just accepting shifts last minute if you get me, I have a hectic schedule at the moment.'

  'Sure man, of course' Chad replies, 'It won’t be a regular thing, you’re doing me a solid. Anyway man, gotta run. Enjoy your first shift. Grace will show you the ropes.'

  I think about working with Grace on my way back. If Chad told me this yesterday, I would have felt a little more wary, but after our talk this morning I think that we may be cool working together. As I walk through the front door, the first thing I’m met with Grace, sitting on the couch, writing on her laptop.

  'Hey' I call over, walking into my room to drop off my bag. 'hey, I hear you’re going to be working with me tonight, huh?' She doesn’t stop clicking away on her the laptop. I walk over and take a seat next to her, where I am hit with a flowery perfume, and weird rush fills my brain, suddenly making me want to moving a little closer. But I don’t.

  'Yeah, sounds like it. Do you want a lift?'

  At this, Grace shuts her laptop and looks over at me. Her feet propped up on the coffee table. I do the same.

  'Sure, that would be great, thanks.'

  She’s smiling at me, not moving her gaze from my eyes. Her eyes drop a second and study my face, before looking back up. I look down at her cheeks, a slight rose tint to them that never seems to leave. If every girl looked like that, blush makeup would not exist. Her chest rises and falls slowly with her breath.

  'Are you hungry?'

  I ask, breaking the silence between us.

  'I am, and I always end up starving during work so it’s probably a good idea that we eat. Any ideas for food?'

  'You’re in luck, I have just the right ingredients to make the world’s best spaghetti on toast' I say.

  With the empty plates on the coffee table, and Netflix on the tv, because of our plates taking up space, Grace’s pinkie toe lightly brushes the side of my foot whenever she moves. When I feel her toe brush my foot, it’s the only thing my brain registers, the rest of my body suddenly feeling as if it’s experiencing no feeling at all. I purposely move my foot, just a little, to brush her little toe. When our skin makes contact, I see her chest rise quickly out of the corner of my eye. I sneak a glance. Grace’s big eyes are staring intently at the screen, as if How I Met Your Mother isn’t completely hilarious. Before I look back to the tv, a grin spreads across her face.

  'What are you looking at me for Daniel… wait a minute, is your full name Daniel?'

  'It is,' I answer, 'but I prefer Dan. why are you asking?'

  'Just curious Daniel.' She replies, satisfied with this new tidbit of information. I stretch out and turn my body towards Grace.

  'Have I made a mistake telling you my name is actually Daniel?'

  'Depends, only if you don’t like being called Daniel' Grace looks down at my face, as she answers the question, as if studying my reaction.

  'I just told you that, so obviously' I say back.

  'Well' Grace answers, 'I prefer Daniel, and I don’t think my opinion matters any less than yours in this house. Equal rights and all that'.

  I let out a slow breath. 'Well if you put it like that, you may only call me Daniel inside the house, and not outside.' I reply slowly, sure to emphasise inside and outside. 'Anyway, As much fun as I’m having talking about what we are going to call me, I think it’s time I showered and got ready for our first night together.' I finish with a wink, as cheesy as it is, I want to get a reaction.

  'I wouldn’t bother with the shower, you’ll be needing another one after work with all the food and drink and sweat you'll be covered in by the end of your shift'.

  'Says who?' I ask, feigning disgust

  'Says tonight’s shift supervisor, me, so go get ready Daniel.' Grace says.

  I head for the shower, ignoring Grace’s advice.

  ◆◆◆

  'Grace, I’m serious, we need to go. Get in the truck.' I say, holding onto the wheel as Grace stands outside her door with her arms folded.

  'Daniel, I swear to god, you get that spider off the windscreen or we won’t be getting to PJ’s at all tonight.' Narrowed eyes and firm lips let me know that she’s not getting in until I’ve killed the spider.

  Grace clearly means what she’s saying, and I don’t fancy running late for my first shift, even if my supervisor is the reason that we are running late. I step out of the truck and stride around to the passenger’s side of the vehicle. 'It’s the size of a penny, Grace.' I inform her, in a flat voice.

  'well the smaller the spider is the more deadly' she retorts, confidently.

  'You’re thinking of snakes, Grace.' The sigh I receive in response is a long one.

  'please stop arguing with me and remove creature, Daniel' she replies.

  I use my bank card and gently encourage the spider onto it, before safely transferring him to the leaf of a nearby tree. As I’m walking back to the driver’s side, Grace is still standing outside the car, her arms by her sides with her head tilted; a smile on her face with her eyebrows raised that gives me the impression she’s surprised.

  'Grace. Car. Now.' I say, giving her the football captain tone, which is completely ignored.

  'That was nice what you did back there, Daniel.'

  I take a slow turn off our street.

  'We’re outside our house. It’s Dan now. And you’re welcome' I reply, accelerating slowly.

  'Not for helping me. That’s expected, I mean not killing the spider.' Grace says back lightly.

  'Oh, sure' I reply.

  Silence follows, the radio in my car is broken and the little sounds that a car makes when you aren’t listening to music fill the cabin. Squeaking plastic, the sound of the engine, the ticking of the indicator as I turn corners. I’ve never felt noticed the silence inside the truck so intently, before.

  'I heard you were in a fight in your dorm room' the words come, soft and quiet.

  'Yeah, it sucks. What can you do' I say.

  'I heard the fight wasn’t your fault' Grace says, as she looks the other way out the window.

  Grace continues, looking for my explanation. “I chose to fight the guy, nobody made me” I say back.

  I accepted what I chose to do that night, and I’ve continued accepting it. Would I do it the same way again? Probably not, but the guy deserved it regardless.

  'But everyone knows it wasn’t your fault, yet you still get kicked off campus?' Grace says, half stating, half asking.

  'People making these decisions don’t care about the people who are affected by them' I say back, half regretting my reply before I’ve even said the words.

  Grace doesn’t reply, she turns her head and looks out the window, one hand kneading the other, a nervous habit that I’ve noticed she tends to do. We pull into the parking lot behind PJ’s and I know I can’t let us go into a shift together with that being the last thing I say to her.

  'What’s wrong, Grace? Is it what I just said?' I feel stupid for asking, because it’s totally obvious that’s exactly what’s pissed her off.

  'You want to know what’s wrong Swanson?' Grace is suddenly looking at me, not waiting for a reply before going on, 'What’s wrong, is the fact t
hat you are a dick.'

  I throw my hands up in display of defeat 'Well not exactly constructive criticism but you’re not wrong' I concede, not wanting to aggravate her further. With a huff, Grace is out the car before I’ve put it in park.

  I’m watching Grace as she walks between tables, setting napkins for the party. I walk over, and begin to slowly follow her, watching the sway of her ass, as she keeps setting napkins on all the tables.

  'You’re a dick for saying what you said in the car. That was a super dickish thing what you said in the car' Grace repeats, making sure I receive the "I'm a dick" message.

  “I’m sorry alright, I regretted it as soon as I said it. And I never apologise if I don’t mean it.” I say to Grace's back, as she walks behind the bar, and begins slowly unloading the dishwasher before throwing a dish towel at me, signalling to polish the glasses.

  “You can’t just say stuff like that and then apologise and expect everything to be ok. You should try not saying anything in the first place.” Grace replies, her hands working polishing the lasses.

  “You’re right,” I reply, “it wasn’t a fair comment.” I say.

  The front door to the bar opens, and Rachel walks in with another girl. I walk around from behind the bar and embrace her in a bear hug.

  'Your shirt, you left it at mine last weekend after we went swimming' Rachel says, as I take the shirt and throw it behind the bar.

  'Thanks Rach. How’s things with you?'

  'Things with me are….ok' Rachel replies, looking at the ground.

  'You sure?”'I reply, sensing uneasiness in her voice.

  'Uh yeah, maybe a story for another time' Rachel replies, putting on a brave face with a smile. The door opens again, and the first group of the party has arrived.

  'Looks like you’re about to get busy, I’ll leave you guys to it' Rachel says, as she gives Grace a small wave. Grace smiles and waves back, before Rachel and her friend leave, only to have me realize I didn’t hear a word out of her friend.