Bending The Rules

Chapter 10

CH 10

Ana POV

I wasn't sure how I'd be able to answer to Mr. Grey's comment. I just simply couldn't. I heard his implied innuendo, but my brain failed to function enough to respond. What were the odds of bumping into a teacher on a date, especially with a blonde goddess whose lips are written in crimson sin...

How could he overtly say these shocking words to me with that- that woman on his arm? She is flawless and wearing designer clothes that I could not even hazard a guess the cost on. And she has the China doll skin and professionally coiffed hair. I look like someone's poor cousin and I need to get out. Now.

I can't help but look down at my Salvation Army bin finds and Wal-Mart clothes. (When I can afford even those) At school they seemed fine to wear, but here my wardrobe selection is more than perfunctory.

Why the Hell was I unable to say no to Jack? I was able to finally gather the courage to say no to that asshat mom married, but yet I cannot even scrape up the assertion to say no to him. He had been tirelessly persistent until I decided it was easier to just give in. Besides, the alternative was staying home doing nothing but homework. Now I am stuck here in an awkward date seeing Mr. Grey and his woman together.

I now realize how stupid I was to accept this date. I should have listened to that nagging gut feeling from earlier. I should be at home alone instead of being here witnessing this fiasco. His date seemed a little older than him. And why was he there with her and just openly flirted with me? This is a little more than I can endure.

I guess I can take a hint. So he likes older women...

X x X

I could hear his date still talking to him seductively and I couldn't deny the small bit of happiness when it was blatantly obvious that he wasn't paying any attention to her. I chanced a quick glance at him to notice him stealing a glance my way too.

The waiter came, took their order, and then quickly shuffled back to the kitchen.

I glanced again at Mr. Grey and tried to figure out what he could be thinking. Maybe he was just as embarrassed as I was. Maybe he wished we'd leave already so he could focus on his date.

I looked back at Jack and I realized he must have asked me a question because he was expectantly staring, as if waiting for an answer.

"I'm sorry. What was that? I got a little ...distracted."

Jack shook his head, "Nothing. I'm just admiring. You're just so beautiful."

Ugh... How many times had he used that on girls? It didn't sound like he actually meant it, more like it was scripted. "Um... thank you?" It was so hard not to roll my eyes at this feeble attempt. This date is going nowhere fast.

I could have sworn I heard a snort beside us. It is obvious that Mr. Grey and his date were near enough to hear Jack's compliment.

Both Jack and I turned to see it came from Mr. Grey.

His date was looking at him with squinted eyes. "Christian," she warned icily.

"Sorry," he said, laughing a bit more and looking towards me, then back at Jack.

I was convinced that his eyes softened when they landed on me.

"Hyde, it surprises me the way you think Anastasia has to be told how beautiful she is."

I began to blush again, something I was doing way too much of lately. Jack, on the other hand looked like he swallowed an insect. There was a brief flash of unexpressed emotion that crossed Jack's eyes when they flicked to the woman before it faded to a calm mask.