MISSING TIME.

REACHING OUT

CHAPTER FOUR: REACHING OUT.

Val, walked out of the room in a huff, but as she reached the elevator she let out a sigh of relief, knowing that her silly big brother was doing okay made her thankful.

She pressed the button for the lobby after she entered the elevator, and her thoughts slowly shifted to Grayson, although she wouldn't admit it she was smitten when she saw him for the first time and angry when he refused the arranged date.

When she found out who he was she always felt herself to be better than he was and made sure he knew it. Thinking that the reason he turned down a date with her was because he knew his place.

Call felt ashamed of her past actions, and angry that Grayson never defended himself.

As the elevator reached bathe lobby she walked out and headed out the door but paused as she saw that Mrs Craymore was manning the front desk.

She walked towards her and waved to get her attention.

"Sorry, do you have Arnold's number? A friend of mine has been trying to contact him." Val said as she gave Mrs Craymore her sweetest smile.

Mrs Craymore's eyes got cold for a bit as she shook her head in denial,

"Troublesome boy that one, change his number so I haven't heard from him. Is something wrong?" Mrs. Craymore said before asking Val.

"No, not at all. They were friends so he was just curious about him, thank you, and have a nice day." Val said then walked out of the hospital.

The cold wind blew by making Val pull her coat tighter as she looked for where she parked her car, her search made her notice Grayson's truck with him still inside.

She abandoned her search for her car and walked towards Grayson's truck.

She approached bathe driver's side and knocked on the window making Grayson look up then she pointed to the passenger side and walked towards it.

She pulled at the door and found it not open meaning that Grayson got her signal. She opened the door and jumped in.

"Is something wrong?" Grayson asked as he looked at Val in the face.

Val responded in kind, as she tried to get a read of Grayson but all she could get was just concern for her,

"No, I wanted to talk to you," she said as she turned to face the windscreen.

"What about?" Grayson asked as he turned up the heater to warm Val up.

"Why didn't you say anything, I mean I get it why it's your personal experience but I still don't get it." Val started.

"What do you mean?" Grayson asked confused.

"Miguel told me about what happened and how you were framed," Val answered as she turned to look Grayson in the eye not wanting to miss anything.

Grayson sighed in resignation,

"Miguel, well should have seen that coming. He never could hold his tongue around you."

"And?" Val pressed.

"And?" Grayson responded not interested in opening old scars.

"Tell me everything, I want to know everything," Val said with a bit too much enthusiasm.

"Not sure about that," Grayson said wondering what he could do to get out of this situation.

But when he looked into Val's eyes, he felt something, he didn't know what but he felt she would listen.

And seeing that she was not leaving his car anytime soon he smiled and started the truck.

"What are you doing? Hey, where are you taking me?" Val asked as she watched Grayson pull the truck out of the parking lot.

"Well, it going to take a while and I don't think I can open up on an empty stomach," Grayson spoke with a laugh.

"So, where are we eating? Do you even know any watering spots around here?" Val chirped up.

Grayson smiled,

"I'm going to my favorite place, Abby's." He said.

"Eww, no that place is a health hazard. How are you sure that it hasn't closed down." Val exclaimed with disgust.

"The owner, Abby. I send her a present every year on her birthday." Grayson explains.

After a few minutes, Grayson pulled into the parking lot of the dinner.

Both he and Val came down And walked into the diner that time seemed to have forgotten.

The diner had quite a few patrons some of who turned to the door as Grayson and Val stepped past the doorway.

"Not quite the place for a date young man, the " old customer said with a chuckle.

Grayson turned to look at Val and his heart skipped a beat, and he thought he saw a blush coming on her face.

"Don't mind Sam, always with his jokes, now what can I get you lovebirds?" An old lady in used red waitress clothes came up to both Grayson and Val with a smile and spoke.

The whole diner roared in Laughter, while Grayson was Sure Val was blushing.

Grayson reached out and grabbed Val's hands, pulling her closer to him he smiled warmly at the older lady and placed his order.

"I'll take a burger with fries and milkshake, oh, and your specialty pie to top it off. Val hon, what of you?" Grayson said to Val with a smirk and a wink.

Val turned to him not expecting this side of Grayson which she had never seen before. And felt the need the rise up to the challenge.

"Babe, I don't care what we eat as long as it's just you and me," Val said with a coquettish voice and the most beautiful smile. That made Grayson lose himself in her eyes.

"Son, earth to you, young man." The customer Sam's voice shook Grayson out of his stupor, and that was when he realized that he had been unresponsive for a while.

He coughed and ignored the chuckles that came around the diner.

He flashed the old waitress a smile and told her,

"Double my order please."

The old waitress nodded with a smile.

Grayson pulled Val to a secluded booth and they both sat across from each other.

It took a while for both of them to notice that they were both still holding hands. Neither of them wanted to be the first to let go. And they both felt comfortable.

"What was all that about?" Val hissed, as she finally couldn't care and pulled her hands out of Grayson's.

For some reason, her hands felt empty.

"Sorry but I just wanted to see you squirm, you want to dig Into my scars, I want to see you squirm. But I have to say, Babe?" Grayson said with a laugh.

Val laughed as well, then the laugh turned into a smile as both of them settled into silence.

"Are we going to wait for your order?" Val asked as placed a fierce gaze on Grayson.

Grayson shook his head knowing that Val was in the professional mode.

"Why are you so curious about it?" Grayson asked.

"Well you can't blame me, I've defended scumbags who have done their best to Play the system, any little wrong will be fought for tooth and nail. But here you are, injustice has been done to you but you do Sean to care. I'm just curious what going on in your head and why how you came not to care." Val said before leaning backward with her arms crossed.

"Well okay, it's not that big of a deal."" Grayson said as he gathered himself to start.

"Here's your order, two burgers, two milkshakes and I'll hold your specialty pie till you're done." The old waitress jumped in with a tray filled with food.