Just Give Me A Reason

5. "No, Nothing is as Bad as it Seems"

"Just remember, the important thing to remember is not to undercook chicken, if you have to, burn it before you under cook it."

Emma pushed the chicken in the sauce pan around a bit more before she looked over at Greyson. He was sitting on a stool, his top half leaning on the counter as he watched Emma cook the chicken teriyaki on the skillet. It was the third cooking lesson this week and Emma felt like they hadn't accomplished much. The first cooking lesson she had given Greyson had been simple, or so she thought. She started slow, grilled cheese was probably the easiest dish Emma knew how to make. She had made a sandwich first, showing him what to do and when the cheese was melted and how to brown the bread not burn it. When Greyson had taken over things had gotten much more... chaotic.

He started by leaving the wrappers on the cheese, causing the smell of burnt plastic to fill the poorly ventilated apartment. Emma had made Greyson scrap the plastic death trap and start new. The next attempt, Emma made sure that Greyson left off the plastic. She thought he'd been doing well until she came back from a small bathroom break and found Greyson using a fire extinguisher on an enflamed sandwich. Emma had cooked dinner that night.

Now, Emma looked at Greyson, as he watched what she was doing on the stove intently. She loved how hard he tried to understand, how he tried to replicate what Emma did to the best of his ability, which unfortunately for him, wasn't much.

Emma decided that tonight she would just teach and let him watch, as much as she admired his perseverance she was tired of putting out fires and cleaning up messes, Emma still enjoyed spending time with him though.

"So I was thinking..." Emma started her sentence but abandoned it, mad at herself that she interrupted the comfortable silence that had existed before.

"Thinking what?" Greyson's eyes shifted to Emma and she saw the light and warmth in them and she thought back to her original idea.

"The art gallery that I buy for is having a show in two days and it's a plus one, so I was wondering if you wanted to come?" She turned from Greyson as he thought about his response, she didn't want to see the rejection coming if it was going to. She would rather just hear the rejection than have to feel it, see it in his eyes.

Sebastian hated coming to the art shows that were held every quarter. He hated that Emma had so many people around her that demanded her attention. He hated that Emma wasn't spending every moment of the evening doting on him and making sure that he was happy. Emma eventually told her boss that she couldn't come to the art shows, and it broke her heart. Emma loved seeing all of her hard work pay off, loved watching the art that she picked leave with new owners who were going to enjoy it. When Sebastian and her finally separated Emma was delighted to take her spot back at the art gallery, happy to be among people like her and the art.

"Of course, I'd love to be your plus one, it would be an honor."

Emma sucked in her breath and turned around, she hadn't expected him to say yes. She had asked Greyson in hope that he would go so she could spend more time with him, and she was tired of bringing her sister to the showings.

"You want to come?" Emma asked skeptically.

"Yeah, I want to see where you work, what you are like when you are around art. You light up so much when you talk about it, it's going to be marvelous to see you around all the pieces and other 'art people'." Greyson chuckled at his own personal joke.

"Well okay then, I'll leave your name at the door."

"You mean I'm not allowed to escort you there? Emma, I'm deeply hurt." A feigned look of hurt stretched across Greyson's face, and even though Emma knew that he was kidding she still felt bad for not being able to arrive with him to the art showing.