I'll Meet You There

Chapter 8

Griffin's driving could only be described by one word. Fast. Ally quickly forgot her pride and wrapped her arms around Griffin's waist. When she did this, she felt his body shake and she realized he was laughing. After a while when she got used to the stops and turns she was aware of how close she was to him. She could feel his muscles beneath his clothes, and the warmth radiating from, his body. She could smell his cologne, it was all intoxicating.

It was too soon when they got to the physical therapist office.

"I'll wait out here for you." Griffin said, getting off the motorcycle.

Ally went to talk but was having trouble getting the helmet off.

"Let me." Griffin said, smirking.

Ally decided he smirked too much for his own good. He fingers found the buckle and pulled it off with ease. Her hair fell out in all directions. Griffin took a piece of hair and tucked it behind her ear. Ally sucked in a breath, afraid to move. But then some dog started barking and the moment was over.

Griffin cleared his throat, "You're here, I'll leave it to you and wait."

Ally nodded and got off the bike, walking towards the building.

Ally's coach was a young guy with the name Jace. He was good looking but not Ally's type. After their time had finished up, Jace walked Ally out. Like Griffin said, he was waiting. Once Griffin saw them, Ally noticed him sizing up Jace.

"Okay, I'll see you next week Ally." Jace said, turning back and going inside.

"Okay, thanks." Ally said, waving.

"Who's that?" Griffin said, still looking at Jace's back.

"My physical therapy coach." Ally said, taking the helmet from the seat.

Griffin didn't say anything. After a moment, Ally asked where they were going.

"My house." Was all he said, getting back on his motorcycle and starting it up.

"You're house?" Ally said, completely taken back.

"Is something wrong?" Griffin asked, getting impatient.

"I barely know you." Ally said, protesting.

Griffin rolled his eyes.

"Look, do you want to get the assignment done or not?" He asked.

Ally bit her lip, not knowing what to say. Griffin sighed and held out his hands.

"Come here." He said.

Ally walked towards him, he grabbed her hands.

"I'm not going to hurt you Ally, I promise." He said, looking into her eyes.

"Okay." Ally said, getting on his bike, wrapping her arms around his waist.

"This is your house?" Ally asked with wonder.

"Yup." Griffin said.

When they had gotten to his house, he had parked inside the garage and brought them into the house. It opened up with high ceilings. The kitchen was huge and it was connected into a dining room. They went upstairs to his room which was on the third floor. Ally didn't know what to expect Griffin's room to look like, she had an idea but was caught totally off guard when he opened the door.

The walls were painted black, not pitch black though, night black. And there were polaroid pictures covering everywhere. Some were strung, held up by clothes pins over his bed. Some were just taped to the wall. There was no overhead light, just a few lamps on tables. There was a bay window, overlooking the street but it was covered by floor length drapes. His bed was in the corner with a duvet thrown on top. Next to his desk, there was a vinyl record player. Ally loved records. Everything in this room was so Griffin.

Ally walked over to the record player, Griffin didn't say anything so it seemed he was okay with it. She lightly trailed her hands on it, admiring it.

"I've always wanted one." Ally said, turning to Griffin who was looking at her. Not judging though, just looking.

"You can borrow it if you ever want." He said.

Ally's eyes widened but she didn't say anything. She then took the time to look at the photos. They were beautiful. Some were coloured, others were black and white. She found one on the floor that had fell, and picked it up. It was a blurred photo of a fair. It was taken from above - maybe the ferris wheel - and it was timeless. The colours blurred together and you could feel the laughter.

"That's one of my favourites." Griffin said.

"You're a great photographer Griffin." Ally said, placing it back on the wall.

"Thanks, I picked it up from my mom." He said, but when he said it, there was a sadness in his voice.

"Should we start on the assignment?" Was all Ally asked.

"Yeah, sounds good." Griffin said, walking to his desk to get some paper.

They settled on the ground, beside each other, knee to knee. It was a comfortable silence.

"I have a proposition." Griffin said.

"Okay, what is it?" Ally asked, finishing her sentence on paper.

"Mondays and Thursdays I'll drive you to your therapist and physical therapy appointments, and then after we can come here and work on the assignment." For once, Griffin sounded unsure and vulnerable.

"I'd like that, thanks." Ally said, hoping she wouldn't say the wrong thing.

She didn't think she did though, because Griffin smiled to himself. Before she could stop staring, Griffin caught her.

"Why are you always looking at me Ally?" Griffin asked, putting down what he was doing.

"I'm trying to figure you out." Ally said, surprised she told the truth.

"That's an impossible task, the pieces of me are too broken." Griffin said, he sounded like a poet. But Ally knew he meant it because he wouldn't look into her eyes after that.