Catching my Breath

Chapter 4~ Naptime

 "Oh my god, Kitty, I'm so tired and we have only been driving for 12 hours. I think the next town we should get a room. I do love Colorado though. It's so beautiful. I think we should call the fam and let them know we are ok, too. Eat, sleep then hit the road again, whaddya say Kitty," Grayson mumbled out loud while rubbing her tired eyes.

 Looking at her puppy she saw that he was passed out and snoring peacefully," I swear if I could sleep like you and ride shotgun I would be a happy girl. You my friend have it so easy. I keep seeing those deep penetrating eyes of that arrogant ass. Ya know the one who carried me in. He was such a prick. Acted like he was a mafia boss or something. I cant help but think there is something familiar about him. Its like I know him, but I don't. Strange I know. Whats stranger is having a full blown conversation with a dog who is totally sleeping. I'm totally bored outta my mind, road tipping by yourself is so not cool. But I better get used to this since this is gonna be our life for a little bit. Maybe we should just head straight to Maine. Why the hell do I feel the need to drive to Cali anyways. I mean really. We should just head to our new home. My little cabin in the woods. All this James Bond shit is a bit ridiculous, but my gut tells me to run and hide. Who the hell am I running from? Makes no sense to me. I wish I had answers. Something is there but the again there's nothing. Its like I'm pounding my head into a brick wall. And another thing what was all those shocky tingly things I got when that ass touched me. Strange is apparently my new middle name, Kitty. Well its gotta be since your a pissing ass little shit and I named you Kitty, when there are perfectly cute doggy names out there."

 Kitty lets little small barks back at Grayson either telling her to shut up for waking him or agreeing with her she decided to take it as he was agreeing with her.

 "Hell Yeah, next sixty miles a motel! We are sleeping in a bed so soon, food, pee, shower and sleep. In that order Kitty. Ima get a shit ton of sleep. I can not wait!" She sings at the top of her lungs excited with the prospect of having a bed soon.

Cranking on the radio Grayson starts singing along to the radio not thinking about anything other than getting to a nice soft bed. Not even noticing her phone ringing.

 "Damn it that girl isn't answering her phone, Betty. I told her to keep it on if I needed to talk to her," Grandpa shakes his head.

 "Bob, just text her and let her know what's happening. Tell her to call you when she can. You know Grayson has that damn radio blasting, plus she never answers her phone. Did you leave a message or hang up, dear? You have to get with the age, dear," Betty his wife says.

 "You know I don't know anything about texting I'm a 65 year old man. Why should I text should notice my call or like a normal person and pick you the damn phone when someone calls. That's normal. todays technology has corrupted people in a bad way!" He yells frustrated.

 "It's fine Bob. I will have Annabeth text Grayson and tell her about our early morning visitor. So calm down, there is no need to yell. You know very well that Grayson can take care of herself. The girl graduated high school at 16 moved out so she could be on her own and has aced two years of college with a 4.0 g.p.a. And do not forget all the times she has cheated death. She has an incredible guardian angel or angels considering how stubborn she is. She gets that from your side for sure because my side is all sugar and spice not stubborn bull headedness like yours, mister. so calm down," Betty reassured her husband's fears.

 "I know your right, Betty, but there is something off about that Tristan boy, pounding on our door at 6am is disturbing as it is. Not to mention he does not know our girl at all. You know he just moved here with his buddies only two days ago. So what's the connection? Why does he want our Grayson so much. There is something he isn't telling us. I'm gonna call Sheriff Combs and have him do a background check on him. I don't know if we should fear the boy or be happy he is worried over Grayson. Nobody else in this town cares for our girl but a stranger from nowhere is concerned. Something just doesn't add up Betty," sighing he sits down in his worn comfy recliner resting his weary bones.

 "Bob, sweetie, please go lay down for a minute, it's been a long night and you have been up for most of it. I'll wake you when we hear from Grayson," she says adoringly to her husband while contemplating everything that has happened is Grayson's short life.

 Betty thought of her Grayson, remembering her as a small child so full of love, smiling at her with a mouth full of cookies, helping her in the kitchen every night with dinner then pleading her grams to let her do the dishes. She was a bright caring child always wanting to help. The only thing that grams couldn't understand is why no one else saw the real Grayson, why everyone called her the 'Ice Queen', that wasn't Grayson at all. Yes she could be a little stand offish but she was shy. Yes she held herself back from people, but that had to do with her parents death it had to be. Yes her sisters were more the outgoing bubbly girls. Grayson had substance. She had depth. She had inner strength something that was needed if you were going to succeed in life. Life was cruel to Grayson but she persevered.She moved on. Grayson needed someone to love her the way she deserved to be loved. Grams hoped that it would be this mystery neighbor Tristan. She could see the utter fear in the mans eyes when he was told she was gone. The pain in the grey orbs about brought her to her knees. She would give her grand-daughter this. She would give her Grayson something to hold onto. She would give her hope for love. With her mind made up she grabbed her cell phone and called the number the young man gave to them in case they heard from Grayson.

 Dialing quickly before she changed her mind or got caught,"Hello, is this Tristan? This is Gray's grandmother. I think you should know that I love my Grayson very much but there is something about you, that makes me want to help you find her. You need to understand that she more than what she seems or what people say she is. She's not cold-hearted. She loves deeply if you can get into her heart. Hello?'

 "I'm here. I know that she isn't anything but what you say she is. I know she will love deeply if given the chance. I believe you. Do you know where she is. There isn't much time she is in tremendous danger. She is being hunted. There is a crazy man out there that is trying to cause her as much pain as possible. I cant explain it all without you thinking I'm completely insane but I'm telling you this right here and now that I would never harm Grayson, she is my destiny my soul, my other half," Tristan breathes out.

 "Well I do not know what you are talking about but I do know she is in danger and that her life is short, from all the freak accidents that have been occurring in her life its only a matter a time before she is taking from us for good. And I can not stand by and let her go. So I will keep you informed of where she is. We are still waiting for her to answer Annabeth's text. I will text you when I know something. Do not call me ever. My husband would be furious if he found out. He thinks there is something you are not telling us. And I'm sure there is so much more to the story but that can wait till later," not waiting for a response she hangs up quickly.

 Hope bloomed in Tristan's chest, someone was on his side, someone was pulling for his ever after. He closed his eyes and prayed that this would be his time.