I'll Meet You There

Chapter 6

Ally's parents decided to make her therapist Monday nights, so that's where she was headed. It was within walking distance, plus it helped with her physical therapy. She was listening to music, she liked it loud but it wasn't loud enough to block out Griffin.

"Hey!" He called.

Ally stopped walking and took out her headphones. He was literally running to her. Once he got to her, he stood with one hand on his knee, the other reaching out.

"Just...give...me....a...second...please." He said between breaths. Once he had caught his breath, he motioned for them to start walking again. Ally didn't know what to make of it, but he didn't seem like a threat and it was in the direction of the therapist so she went with it.

"What are you listening to?" He asked.

"Artic Monkeys." Ally said.

"Have you ever seen them in concert?"

"No, but I'd love to."

"They're great, I'll take you sometime."

But it was then that Ally stopped the conversation because Griffin had pulled out a cigarette pack.

"Do you plan on smoking one?" She asked, one eyebrow raised.

Outside of school she had more confidence. She didn't have an audience she had to impress and Ally liked that.

"Yes I do." Griffin said, with a grin that was worth a million dollars. He promptly took out a lighter and lit the cigarette. He had an air of arrogance that seemed to come naturally.

Ally shook her head slightly with disproval.

"Please tell me you're not going to lecture me about how bad smoking is, lung cancer or how much my life is worth." He said, in a tone that said he's had all three lectures before.

"Not anymore." Ally said under her breath.

"Stop." Griffin said, sticking his hand out in front of them, "I realize smoking is bad. But I enjoy it. Why should I stop doing something because someone else thinks it's bad? I know my life is worth something, but I'd rather it filled with experiences and mistakes than directions and rules."

Ally was speechless so Griffin continued, "Some people are just alive but not living. Their lives are run by fear. I don't want to be one of those people."

"Do you want to know what I think?" Ally asked.

"Yes." He said it like it depended on the world.

" Something happened to you, that made you want to live more recklessly. I don't know what but it was something. But no matter what it was, it's not worth dying for. Life is for the living. And something amazing is going to happen one of these days, don't you want to see it?" Ally didn't know how to stop, so she just did. She knew she was rambling but she didn't care.

"God. You are something." Was all Griffin said after.

They stayed standing until Griffin threw the cigarette on the ground, stamping it out.

"I'll quit. For you." He said.

"Really?"

"No. But I won't smoke for the rest of the day."

"Fair enough."

And then they continued walking. This gave Ally a chance to look at Griffin again. His hair was a little out of place from the running but he didn't bother fixing it. Maybe he knows it looks good, no matter how it looks, Ally thought.

Over his shirt he was wearing a black jacket that seemed to make his eyes look brighter.

"Where are you headed?" he asked, breaking her out of her trance.

Ally wasn't sure she wanted to tell Griffin she was going to a therapist, but decided to anyways. He just nodded his head as a response. He didn't ask why she was, or if she was okay. In a way she was glad, but on the other hand, did he not care?

Finally they got to the therapist's office.

"This is my stop." Ally said.

"Okay." Was all he said.

Ally went to turn around.

"My name's Griffin." He said, surprising Ally.

"Ally."

"I know." And with that he turned around and walked the way they just came. For some reason, she couldn't stop smiling as she went into the office.