The Loner and Her

Chapter Nineteen : Still

As the two of them lay in bed, very late into the afternoon that Sunday, one would think after the mind-blowing kiss that things would be awkward between them.

Well, it is. A lot, actually. But they're both too tired to care as Griffin had pulled her into the bedroom, laid her down, wrapped his big strong arms around her, and the two dozed off into a deep slumber.

Gia's the first one to wake. Her eyes are wide as they roam around the small, and oddly plain bedroom. Nothing covers the beige walls and all there is, is a desk in the corner with a computer on top.

She turns to face Griffin, his arms still wrapped around her. Gia can't help but smile at the sight of him asleep. She laughs at how serious he looks when sleeping, as if something will attack him during.

At the sound of her giggle, he cracks open one eye. "Babe, please, it's early. Go back to sleep."

She laughs again as she looks over at the clock on the wall, "Griffin, it's three in the afternoon. We slept all day."

He doesn't even both to look surprised. "Oh, well. We needed it."

She rolls her eyes, "Yeah, but now we're going to be up all night again!"

He shrugs, "What's new?"

He has a point, she thinks quietly to herself.

"Did your mom call at all? Is she worried that you didn't answer any of her calls?" He asks, worriedly.

Gia shakes her head, "No phone call. Remember, she was up all night, plus at six in the morning had to drive to Manhattan, I'm more than positive that she's still asleep right now, as well."

He sighs, "That's right...Did the police call at all?"

She shakes her head, "Nope."

"I feel so...defenseless," he mumbles.

"Why?"

He glares slightly, "You know why. I just...I don't want you to ever be in danger again. I just want you to always be okay...."

Gia smiles bitterly at that, "That's not life, Griffin. Life is...unexpected. Especially, when you're a Mob Boss' granddaughter."

"What if you and your mom changed your names? Your identity?"

Gia scoffs, "And then what? Move across the country and never speak to my family ever again? And leave you? No, thank you."

"It's for your own good- "

"Stop!" Gia shouts, her voice rising. She pulls herself out of his large bed. "You don't understand the situation. You-You- You can't just automatically suspect that you know what's best for me- "

He gets out of bed, too, "I don't- "

She rolls her eyes, "Yes, you do. Don't lie. So, what? Now you think that, because we kissed that you suddenly have this control over me- "

"Giuliana, wait a second- "

"That you can manipulate my life. That you know it so well- "

"Wait! I'm just trying to help- "

"Well, it's not working, because I'm f*****g scared!"

A heavy silence fills the room. Neither say a word.

Gia lets a couple tears stroll down her cheeks. Her head begins to pound slightly in her head.

"I'm sorry," she apologizes, trying not to break down in front of him again, "I'm just so confused and I want answers and I'm scared. I could have died or something, who knows!"

He silently walks around the front of the bed, and takes a long step towards her. He wraps his around around her fragile body. "It's okay, Giules. I want answers, too. But, most important, I want you to be safe."

Her face scrunched up, and she looks as if she's holding back a terrible sob, "My- My- " she stutters, "My uncle wasn't safe."

Griffin looks down at her, confused, "What?"

She sniffs, "My Uncle Carmine. He died three years ago. He-He was murdered. Be-Because of the mob. I-I- " she lets out a strangled sob.

He holds her tighter. "Shh," he tries soothing her.

She keeps shaking her head, "I was there. I saw it happened. The man...The man who killed him...he had no remorse. He looked my uncle dead in the eyes and shot him," she sniffs again, "There was so much blood, Grif. I...I screamed. All I remember is my screams. My aunt dialed nine-one-one and then more screams." Her eyes are closed. "He died right there and the man- that murderer- he just- he just walked away."

"Baby, shh, please. I f*****g hate seeing you cry."

She cries harder into his chest, and he simply lets her. While, lovingly using his palm to brush the back of her head.

Gia isn't scared she'd end up like her uncle. Of course, everyone fears death in some way, but she's more afraid of what she'll leave behind.  The thought that she'll leave Griffin...and the thought that he could end up like her, scares the living crap out of her.

Or worse. He can get hurt, too.

•••

Around five o'clock is when the two of them finally leave the bedroom and enter the kitchen. They still have not talked about the night before and their passionate kiss.

Griffin turns his attention to Gia as she sits herself on a bar stool at his kitchen counter, "What do you want to eat?"

She shrugs in response, "What do you have to make?"

"Umm," he mumbles in thought as he goes over to his refrigerator and takes a look. "There's a carton of milk, string-cheese, left over pizza from last night, and a half of a turkey sandwich from Subway."

Gia blinks, "I thought you go crazy on grocery shopping."

Griffin scoffs as he grabs the box of pizza out of the fridge. "I go to the store a lot for the Prescott's."

Gia scowls, "Why?"

He shrugs, "Him and Lexie treat me like the twisted male version Cinderella." He laughs at his own joke.

Gia smirks, "Who's your fairy godmother?"

"Your mother."

Her eyebrows raise in surprise, "My mom? Rosa Moretti? How is she yours fair godmother?" She laughs lightly.

When he places the box on the stove, opening up to show half of a large pepperoni pizza, he says, "Well, because of her, I met my prince, of course," he laughs really hard, a twinkle in his eye.

She goes along with the joke, "That's King Gia, to you." She walks over to him, and watches as he pulls paper plates out of the cupboards above the stove.

"How many slices would you care for, your majesty?" Griffin says.

"Three. I'm starving." She admits. He gives the three slices to her and she adds, "Thanks, Princess."

He turns his head towards her, and without warning, catches her lips with his own. Her heart beat quickens and she gasps so loudly at his attack, his tongue is able to make his way into her mouth.

Her hands reach up to touch his cheeks, her fingers tips barely touching. His hands grip her hips, holding her still, as if he's afraid she'd run away.

Their mouths move in sync with one another. Gia caught on quickly- this being only her second kiss and all- and was able to follow Griffin's movements.

Eventually, they both need to breathe at some point and Griffin lets her go to catch his breath. His breathing is short and hallow. He looks down at the small girl in front of him, looking completely amazed.

"You're so beautiful." He uses his hand to move some of her hair out of her face.

She gulps, "Griffin, what does this all mean?"

He almost laughs, "Isn't it obvious? I like you, Giules."

She can't help but frown, "But...Maybe you're just confused."

He lets go of her and takes a good look at her. His eyes narrow, "Confused? How so?"

She shrugs, "I'm a girl and we're friends. So, automatically you're going to think that you're attractive to me- "

Griffin's face turns from awestruck to one of cold and harsh in almost seconds. He takes a step back, "If this is your way of rejecting me- "

Her jaw drops, "Rejecting you? How- What- Why would I reject you?"

He huffs, "I don't know, maybe you don't feel the same way- "

Gia rolls her eyes, "Of course, I do! I don't just kiss guys I don't like for no reason!"

He almost smirks, "Exactly."

She lets out a breath. Her eyes widen as she looks at Griffin with such wonder and curiosity.

"I've never had a boyfriend," she tells him, "I don't know how to do...any of this."

"Giuliana Fitzpatrick, I like you, so, so much." He takes her left hand in his own.

She finally smiles, "I like you, too, Griffin Kane."

He leans in and peck her lips once, "Now you're stuck with me, Babe."

And she'd have it no other way.