The Forgotten Past

Chapter 3

I open the front door and then dad comes into my view. Just what I needed right now.

"Gracie where have you been? Who was that boy who just came out of my porch?'' dad asks angrily. "Dad, calm down I'm here now, aren't I? I was at the lake and I bumped into a rock which I didn't see. I couldn't walk on my foot, so he helped me walk here that's all,'' I say and then continue when he doesn't say anything, "you wanted to talk to me? ''

He visibly stiffens at my words.

Weird. He was the one who wanted to talk.

"I- eh- it can wait,'' he says with a slightly shaking voice and then continuous, "let's look at your foot.''

My ankle turned out to be swollen pretty badly, but it could have been worse. Because of my ankle I was stuck home and couldn't go anywhere. It was Fall break and I wanted to go to new places I had been before and take pictures. This way the only reasonable thing I could do was edit my photos and post them on my blog or watch Netflix. My two favorite hobbies.

Dad was at work for the biggest part of the days so that left me and Ava home alone. I didn't have any problems with it and neither did Ava. We kept each other company, laughed and sang, which probably sounded horrible.

Then the doorbell rang. Luckily the song we were singing had just ended, otherwise we wouldn't be able to hear it.

"I'll check it out and you'd better search a new song we can sing,'' I say to Ava and she laughs at me and then replies in a military way, "Yes sir!''

She always knows a way to make me laugh. I love that about her.

I go downstairs carefully because my ankle still hurts a little. I have no idea who it could be at the door. Dad is still at work. And all of my friends are on holiday somewhere outside of Austin and it's pouring rain outside.

When I open the door I see the last thing I expected to see: It's him, the owner of Eddie and Eddie himself.

I get an anxious feeling in my body.

Why is he here?

"Oh, hi- eh what are you doing here? " I say, trying to sound calm but not succeeding at it.

Is this a serial killer situation?

"Hi, I'm sorry to bother you but could I maybe stay at your place for a while? '' He asks

Well this I did not expect.

I stare at him and confusion runs over my whole face which he definitely notices and continuous.

"Okay here is what happened: so I was walking Eddie and I have not brought my keys with me because I never do that and my grandma is playing bingo with her friends outside town. Believe she takes bingo really seriously,'' he says and I can't help the smile on my face, then he goes , "Yeah well I know it sounds ridiculous, but believe me you don't want to interrupt her and bingo.'' He says with a laugh on his lips.

This is getting really weird but I still find it a bit funny.

"Okay, the point is that all of my friends live outside of Austin and it's pouring rain out here and you do kind of owe me,'' he finishes with a smile.

Good point.

Serial killer! Says the back of my mind

He is looking at me with those rich brown eyes waiting for a respond.

I'm pretty much speechless. I'm not saying that it isn't a trustworthy story, but the serial killer thought is still on my mind. And his good looks don't make this a lot easier.

"Well- you can come in, if you are not serial killer'' I say trying to sound funny but it sounds more concerned than I wanted .He laughs and continuous, "don't you think that if I would be a serial killer you would already be dead? And since when do serial killers bring their dogs with them?'' he asks with a smile. I have to admit he does have a point right there.

"Well I don't know. I don't watch CSI or any of those murderous series,'' I say and he laughs at me.

"WHAT?! Have you never seen CSI? Oh you don't know what you're\how much missing! It's awesome,'' he says and I laugh at him. Total fangirl right there. Believe me I'm never going to watch that series.

"I'm Blake Therone by the way. I should have introduced myself first,'' he says, reaches out his hand me and I take it and say, "I'm Grace,'' and then shake it.

When I finally realize that we're still standing in the doorframe I move to the side and gesture him to come inside. He and Eddie come inside and I close the door behind them. I gesture them to go into the living room.

Blake sits down on the couch and Eddie lays politely on the ground next to his feet. "Would you like something to drink?'' I ask. He replies, "If you could put some water into a bowl for Eddie it would be great.''

"Sure''

I return with a bowl of water for Eddie and lay it on the floor next to him. "Thank you,'' says Blake and looks at me and then continuous, ''so you have never seen CSI? It's such a great show how is it possible that you have never seen it?'' he says with a laugh and his eyes are wide looking at me.

"I don't know, I rather watch fantasy series. Something like Once Upon A Time, do you know that one?'' I ask. He's sitting on the other side of the couch with his elbows on his keys leaning forward. "Oh I know that one, but those fairytales are better in books you have to admit,'' he says while still looking at me. "I'm not much of a reader,'' I say.

That caught his attention. "What?! How can you not read books, it's the best thing in the whole world! I can't believe I'm sitting next to a reading muggle! '' he laughs at me.

Reading muggle? What is that?

Confusion runs over my face and when he sees it he continuous, ''please tell me you have read the Harry Potter series or at least seen the movies.'' He says it with such an enthusiasm.

We have a fangirl over there.

"Of course I've seen the movies, they were great but that was quite a long time ago. And I really do not remember the word muggle being mentioned,'' I say because it is true.

He stares at me with surprise and suddenly something different fills his eyes. Hmm, I have the feeling this is going to get interesting.

"Okay we will make a deal. You will read the first book of the Harry Potter series,'' he says while looking at me with his coffee brown eyes, which I find really distracting. Then he continuous, "and I will eh- watch the Once Upon A Time series, or something different. What do you say?'' he asks with a smile on his lips. I'm quite shocked but I do like a challenge. Why not. And clearly he does too.

"Well I like a challenge, but what's in it for me?'' I ask.

Hmm, this is getting interesting. He smiles and then continuous, "you will have to read the first book of the Harry Potter series which is completely amazing! And you will know what the word muggle means because I'm not going to say it, this is too much fun for that,'' he says and suddenly I hear footsteps on the stairs.

That must be Ava.

I have probably been gone longer than I realized.

She comes down the stairs and starts yelling, "Gracie! Where are you, I have found a new song we- '' she doesn't finish her sentence because she sees Blake sitting on our couch and Eddie sleeping next to him. "Oh- hi who are you? '' Ava asks with enthusiasm and curiosity. That I did not expect.

I look at Blake and he's looking at Ava who is standing in the door frame of the kitchen.

"I'm Blake and this is my dog Eddie,'' he says and Ava automatically focuses on Eddie and runs to him while saying, "Aahw what a cute dog! ''

Eddie wakes up due to Ava's yelling and runs with excitement towards her.

"Are you okay with that?'' I quietly ask Blake. He smiles at me and nods his head.