Learning To Love Him

Thirteen

Isaac's POV

I wake up the next morning half expecting to be alone on the couch, but to my surprise, Nora is sleeping next to me. We must have both fallen asleep here last night, I don't remember. She's even beautiful as she sleeps and I wonder what she's dreaming of. Her cat wanders in to the room eyeing me suspiciously.

I think of everything I'd told her, everything she had seen and here she was. Still here, not running scared. Though I know she is scared, she'll try to hide it.

"Good morning, you're the last person I expected on my couch."

I am startled and Nora wakes up with a start. Her mother is standing in the doorway of the lounge room.

"Mum, I can explain." Nora says groggily.

"I'm sure you can. Breakfast is on the table." Mrs Jones turns and disappears.

"Do you think she's mad?" I ask Nora who still seems out of it.

"No just surprised, what with that whole 'Nora's not even pretty' thing."

"Oh yeah... man that guy was a jerk!" I say and she looks me in the eye and laughs, I laugh with her. I watch her eyes light up and the dimples appear as she smiles at me.

"Come on breakfast is getting cold." She takes my hand and leads me into the kitchen. Her mother is sitting down waiting, she doesn't look mad.

"Mrs Jones, I ah.. I hope we can start fresh." I say nervously but Nora squeezes my hand reassuringly.

"It's not my forgiveness you need, if Nora thinks enough of you to have you here in our home then I'm happy with that." She gestures to a seat and I take it after pulling one out for Nora.

"What time did you get home Mum?"

"The meeting ran late so not until after midnight." Mrs Jones says before looking at me, "So Isaac it's seems Nora's good influence has rubbed off on you."

"She's the best influence." I say glancing in Nora's direction just long enough to see her blush.

"I'm glad to hear that." She stands up after a moment, "You two have fun, I have to get back to work."

Nora is still picking at her pancake so I start picking up plates even though I have no idea where any of this stuff goes in her house.

"So what are we doing today?" Nora says now just playing with the food.

"I have a surprise for you."

"A surprise?"

"Yes so don't ask because I'm not telling you." I say smirking at her.

"Well it wouldn't be a surprise if I knew would it?"

She jumps up and makes an excuse about having to get ready before disappearing upstairs and leaving me with the breakfast mess.

•••••••••••

I drive us up to Griffith Observatory, the view downtown is beautiful. I watch her eyes as she takes it in and wonder what she thinks of me now.

"Do you think you and Vic will ever get along?" She says after a moment. I know she's missing Victoria, they were incredibly close until I came along and ruined that.

"She hates me." I say not looking at Nora.

"She doesn't understand you. You haven't shown her the side of you that is kind, the side you've shown me." Nora looks at me and then away when I try to meet her gaze.

"You punched one of her best friends and almost knocked him out, you forced yourself on her other best friend and to top that off you stole her best friend from her. She just needs time. She's mad at me too."