MISSING TIME.

FACING TIME

CHAPTER SIX: FACING TIME.

Val looked at Grayson, worried about how he would react. But what she saw was indifference, as he turned back to his meal and took a bit of the burger.

Val let out her breath she didn't know she was holding. She looked at Amy who was placing an order to go, wondering what she was doing with takeout from a sloppy diner.

Then looked at Grayson,

"This was your spot wasn't it?" Val asked Grayson who looked at her confused.

Then he followed her eyes to that were on Amy and realized what she meant.

"Yeah, but that was a long time ago," Grayson answered as he chewed on his fries.

Val looked at Amy and could see what Grayson saw in her. She had light brown hair and stood at 5'4ft with limpid black eyes that shone with her smile. She was simply beautiful.

"Did you ever meet up with her, and ask why she did what she did?" Val asked Grayson.

"Nope, lost interest. Did think a lot about it in juvie but after I left never saw the point." Grayson said as he waved to the old waitress who nodded in understanding.

Val felt an itch that she wanted to scratch and she knew the source of it. Grayson somehow wanted to do something anything, but looking at him he didn't seem like someone who would gain satisfaction from another's misfortune.

Val sighed aloud,

"Grayson Reacher, you confound me. I want to take you apart and figure out how you work." She said to Grayson who chuckled.

"Here is your pie hon, careful it piping hot." The old waitress had at some point arrived at their table and was setting down two servings of their specialty pie with a professional smile.

Val smiled back at her and thanked her. After the waitress left she pushed the pie to Grayson and just watched him devour it in silence.

Both Val and Grayson had settled into a comfortable silence when an approaching footfall broke that silence.

"Excuse me, but are you Valentina Lopez?" a sweet voice spoke causing both Val and Grayson to look up.

To Val's shock, it was Amy, who they had just been talking about. She wondered what she wanted from her and if she had recognized Grayson.

"Yeah," Val responded.

"Oh, I'm Amy Dale we went to the same high school although I think I was two grades above you. Valentina right? Sister of Miguel Lopez? Gina always talks about you" Amy said with a large smile.

Valentina was confused for a moment but when she heard Gina's name she flared,

"Te refieres a eso estúpido..." Val said almost cussing but Grayson grabbed her hands and shook her.

Val caught herself and then cleared her throat before starting over, not caring if Amy noticed her slip-up.

If she did Amy never showed it on her face. But turned to Grayson,

"Hello, haven't seen you around town, are you new?" Amy asked Grayson who just shook his head and refused to respond.

"What Did Gina say about me I hope nothing bad or weird I hope." Asked with a small chuckle.

"Nothing of the sort she had very high praises of you," Amy said with a smile.

Grayson watched this exchange without care and continued to dig into his pie.

Val quickly made some small talk with Amy that flew over Grayson's head.

"Are you here about your brother? Heard what happened to him, is he going to be okay been trying Gina's cell for a while but haven't been able to get through." Amy said with worry.

"He's fine, Gina is fine also at least when I left the hospital," Val said.

"Okay it's been lovely meeting you," Amy said as she motioned to leave but stopped and looked at Grayson.

"Have we met somewhere? To be honest you look familiar to me, I just can't place where I saw you." Amy said to Grayson who just smiled back at her and responded,

"I just have one of those faces, I'm Grayson Reacher. Nice to meet you" Grayson said to Amy.

Amy nodded in acknowledgment and walked away after picking up her takeout.

"Why didn't you just come clean? Who knows maybe Bathe feels regret about her past actions. Maybe she would apologize to you and seek out your forgiveness." Vall said to Grayson who just gave her an odd look.

"So what! Tell her hello I'm your old friend who you helped frame for r**e. Nah I don't think so. I don't want to be framed a second time." Grayson said.

"I don't understand you," Val said I. Resignation.

"Ok I'll make it simple, I hate stress. Anything that could stress me I do away with it." Grayson explained. Then stood up and walked out of the booth.

After a few steps he paused, noticing that Val was still sitting in the booth Grayson motioned for her to get up.

Val caught herself as she looked at the table and found that Grayson had finished eating at some point.

"Now I know why you grew so tall," Val jokes as she walks out of the booth.

"Don't forget, you're buying." Grayson reminded Val who gave him an evil eye and went to the counter while Grayson stepped out of the diner and walked towards his truck.

A while later the passenger door of his truck opens up and Val lets herself in. Grayson started the truck and pulled out of the parking lot.

"Be straight with me, no lingering feelings whatsoever?" Val asked for a confirmation from Grayson.

Grayson chuckled, his eyes on the road,

"Let's just say time wore me down, what do expect from me? Do you want me to run about trying to explain myself to people who don't care one bit if you're alive or dead? For what exactly to satisfy so sick thought that they would apologize for the misunderstanding and everything would be alright?" Grayson spoke in an even tone.

"I'm not sure what to expect but this is not it, you sound like you are okay but I know you aren't. There is a pain within you that you have learned to ignore, this will haunt you." Val said to Grayson.

She had no idea why she was suddenly invested in Grayson's life. She just knew she wanted to be there for him.

"Give it a rest, it's history." Grayson took his eyes off the road to look at Val with a curious gaze.

Yes, the events of those years were like hit iron to flesh, but over time he had learned to live with it.

When he remembered those events he used to have an angry outburst, He broke a lot of things.

But the year's hand made him hone those reactions, he wanted to hurt them by disappearing and hoping that they would realize their mistake and search for him never to find him.

But those were childish thoughts. Now he had moved on all that remained was the nightmares.

Grayson wondered how Val knew that those events haunted his dreams.

"Gracias por el pensamiento, fue agradable compartir parte de mi dolor contigo. Valentina" Grayson said softly before turning his eyes back to the road.