-NEW BEGINNING-

Francine's POV

"What happened?" I looked at Grayson and I can't help but to feel nervous, my hands tightly clenched on the hem of my shirt as I looks down before shaking my head.

"If you don't wanna talk about it then it's fine but, at least tell me what's going on." He looked at me with sympathy as I smiled at him a bit.

I'm thankful he's here right now on my side, after Thorn punched him in the face on the cafe I received a friend request on my Facebook account from him and he asked for my number there. I secretly talked to him on phone and after some days he told me that he likes me and that he wants to court me. I told Mom of course and she's so happy for me, saying that I finally have a person that will love me. So I gave Grayson a chance to court me.. he's still not my boyfriend tho, I was planning on inviting him for a dinner when my mom and Matt will come home but, I didn't had the chance.

"I will..don't worry" I muttered meekly then looks at him. He smiled.

Scratching the back of his neck, he spoke,"I have an empty room on my apartment, you can stay there if you want."

"R-Really?" He nodded then gently squeezed my hand on his as he continued to drive after I said 'thanks' to him.

After a moment we reached the apartment that he's saying. We stepped inside the elevator then it moved up to where his room is.

"Wow.. you really love gray no wonder your name is Grayson." I giggled after entering his room and roaming my eyes around as he took my belongings then placed it in my room. The walls are painted gray and white and the interior design is calming, I thought it's messy because no offense but he's kinda the type of guy who just throw off his clothes on the floor then pick it up after some days haha.

"Hey why are you laughing?" He nudged my arm and I jumped in shocked, holding my chest in my hand as I steady my breathing.

"Damn did I startled you that much!?" Grayson panicked as I laughs at him.
For a moment I felt peaceful but..I felt like there's a heavy block that's squeezing my heart to death.

"Are you hungry?" He winks at me then held out his hand for me to hold as I nods at him, we walked together towards his kitchen then he started to cook for me. I'm sitting on the stool while watching him cook as the memories of Thorn cooking for me came across my mind.

I shouldn't think of him anymore but his words are trapped in my mind. He loves me. I have never expected that he loves me.. I'm sure he's just infatuated or something to me tho, I mean.. he can eventually forget about me. Even though he loves me I can't forgive him.. all the things that he did to me I can't forget them all but, why am I feeling heavy for leaving him. The look in his eyes..and his words sounds so true. There's something that I felt when I heard what he said and even now, I can't forget it even if I want to.

"Francine." I looked at him when he snapped his fingers in front of my face. I didn't know I was zoning out that long. He already finished cooking and my tummy growls by the smell of the foods in front of me.

"You okay?" I nodded at him before filling my plate with food. Grayson's still staring at me and I feel uncomfortable. Does he really want to know the truth?

"What really happened Francine? You seemed so tensed when you leave the house." His eyes are looking at me suspiciously and I can't help but to swallow hard.

"Grayson..I-I'm just really bored there..and the house brings back the memories of my mom so I just want to leave and unwind a bit." It's true. Thorns one of my reasons but he doesn't need to know that, right?

"Okay then..I'm really sorry for your lost Francine. I hope I can help you." He placed his hand on the top of my hand then gives it a gentle squeeze as he smiled at me. I smiled back at him reassuringly.

"Gray, giving me a shelter to sleep on is too much already so you don't have to think that you aren't helping me at all because you are that's why, thank you very much. I'm gonna stay here till I have enough money." That's right, I don't plan on staying here forever. He have his own life so does me. I'm gonna find an apartment or a hostel then move out. I can't be a burden to Grayson.

"Francine, you can stay here as much as you want. You're always welcome here you know and if you want money, there's the cafe. Grandma didn't fire you at all to begin with and you didn't quit personally." He's right, Thorn is the one who told them that I quit but I never quit myself nor the owner fired me so I can still go there and work.

Without thinking, I jumped at him then hugged him tightly in happiness, "Thanks a lot Grayson, you've helped me a lot..thank you very much I'm so happy right now."

I felt his arms snaked around my waist, hugging me back tighter but not enough to suffocate me as he kissed my head. "You're always welcome to me, munchkin."
I giggled at the nickname that he gave me.

Maybe, this is a new a chapter of my life and I'll live with it happily, I won't let any problem brings me down nor block my way to my own future. I'm gonna be strong for my mother and for myself.

I hope I can forget Thorn and all of the things that happened between us and I hope that he'll forget me too.

This is a new beginning for me and I hope that everything will be alright along the way.