| "It was great, they were a pop group." She walked to her desk and busied herself with the mail for the hundredth time that day. "I wanted to give you something." She met his gaze, and he noticed the fear in her eyes. He quickly pulled the teddy bear from behind his back and watched her eyes soften. "You showed me last night that you trust me. I racked my brain for hours, trying to find a deep, dark secret I could tell you, so that you would know that I trust you, too. I couldn't think of one that could even begin to show you what that meant to me." He paused and noticed her eyebrows were creased with confusion. "So, I got this teddy bear. But you have to understand that this isn't any normal teddy bear. This is a special bear, it represents my trust. I don't mean to tell you this teddy bear is anything in comparison to what you told me, but the promise that comes with it is. The promise to tell you anything, no matter how funny, scary, sad, embarrassing, or harming." He flashed her a convincing smile and handed her the teddy bear as he noticed the tears come to her eyes. "Thank you, you don't know how much this means to me." She stroked the bears soft fur. "I hoped it would so I wouldn't look like a fool carrying around unaccepted trust." He chuckled as he hugged her. "You smell good." "Thanks, I try not to smell bad." She pushed him away playfully then placed her hand on the bear protectively. "What is it strawberries?" "Yeah must be my body wash." She ran a finger over the bear. He took it as a good sign she hadn't let go of the bear yet. "So what is on your agenda for the day?" "I have to edit Bound's CD." She set the bear on her desk. "Do you have to?" He whined playfully as he tugged her sleeve. "Yeah I told them it would be done Monday, and I have a meeting tomorrow." "Do it this weekend." Her head quirked to the side. "I didn't tell you? I am going to Texas this Saturday." "For how long?" He tried to play the whine off as playful but it sounded a little to real. "For a week, I'll be back next Saturday night." She led him into the studio. "Oh." He took a seat next to her. "Then how about dinner tomorrow night?" "Sounds great." She let Bound's music fill the room. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Here you go Angie. They should be in Monday to pick it up." She handed the CD to Angie. "I am going home, I won't be in tomorrow or all of next week." "I know, you act like I am your secretary. I talked you into this trip, remember?" "I know, just wanted to remind you so you weren't sending the cops out looking for me when you didn't see me for a week." She giggled. "You think I would call the cops? I would rejoice." She exposed her tongue. "Hey now, see you next week." She hugged her tightly and heard the sniffles coming from her long time friend. "You talked me into this remember?" "I know, just be careful. I love you." "Love you, too." Then she was gone. Out the door with Justin close behind her in a matter of seconds. "So what are you doing now?" He ran a hand through his hair. "Packing. Care to join me, I know it's not exciting, but you can keep me company." "Ok, I'll follow you." Minutes later they were pulling into her driveway. Justin let his eyes wander over the Victorian style two story, as he walked up to the house. It was a beautiful house, blue stained wood with white trim, and a wrap around porch. Michelle noticed his eyes wandering. "Can you tell I am a Texan?" She joked as she unlocked the door. "Why do you say that?" "Only a Texan would have a porch for summer nights and a lit tennis court." "You have a tennis court?" "Shows how much attention you pay, yeah in the backyard. I got the lights put in because I used to play at night in the summer because of the heat." She pulled a suitcase from her closet and threw it onto the bed. He watched her carefully as she picked her clothes and folded them neatly before depositing them into the suitcase. "So what are you doing in Texas?" "Visiting family, friends, you know?" "Sounds like fun." "Yeah I guess." She ran a hand through her hair and sighed. "You worried?" He caught her eyes with his. "A little I mean I haven't seen them since the funeral. You think they'll think I moved on to fast?" "No I think they will be happy for you. Your parents should want you to move on." "I mean his parents not mine. I am only seeing my mother this trip." "Why not your Dad?" "He's in the Phillipines right now." "He military, too?" "No he likes to travel, and I don't mean vacation. He likes to move around a lot and meet new people. Even when I was younger I remember moving around the city we lived in." "He sounds interesting." The phone on the table next to him began to ring. "Hello?" She said after hitting the speaker phone botton. "Hey I heard you were coming to Texas." A male voice filled the room. "Yeah, Saturday, how'd you know?" "Word gets around. Ecspecially when it involves you." He commented her. "Thanks, so what are you doing?" She blushed. "Planning an evening full of fun for me and you. How about Tuesday?" "I dunno. I am going to be busy." "Michelle you always say that, you have to see me eventually. I only get to talk to you every once in a while. And I am starting to forget your beautiful face. I will come up there if I have to." He threatened playfully. "Ok, Tuesday. I will call you Sunday." "Good, where are you staying while you are down here?" "At a hotel." Justin could tell she was trying to keep the details to herself. He had seen that expression many times. "I figured that much. Which one?" "The Marriot." "Here in Mansfield?" "Yeah you gunna come see me?" She tried to sound happy. "How about you stay in my guest room. It will be cheaper and more comfortable. I will load up on all your favorites." |
| Chapter Nine |