In A Hail Of Bullets

Astrid's P.O.V Time Lapse>>>>>>>>>> One month later. Homeless Support Centre. I'd spent a lot of time with the guys. Apparently, Gerard had sorted a apartment out for Jasper. That surprised me. He'd tried nearly every day to convince me to move in with him. I refused. He hasn't made any more moves on me. To be honest, I wish he would. But I'm also scared. He may be a friend now, but he's still a celebrity. We'd all gone out a lot. Restaurants, bowling even arcades to play video games. They were actually fun to be with. I'd met the wives too. Bob's wife, Caitlyn is so sweet. Ray's wife, Christa is as awesome as Ray is. Mikey's girlfriend, Kristin is so lovely. And Frank's wife, Jamia is so kind and caring. We've become pretty close. When it's just me and the girls, I'm myself. Well a more exciting, open person. When the guy's are around, I'm back to the quiet, withdrawn person I've always been. I hug Bob a lot. Caitlyn doesn't complain. She knows I feel safe around him. She also knows how I feel about Gerard. All the girls do. Bob knows too. But they've all promised not to say anything to him. But each day it gets harder and harder to be around him. I know I have to do something about it. I have to stop seeing him. It's the only way. But it hurts to think about that. I'm just locking up the centre when Gerard walks towards me. "Hey." He says. "Finished for the day?" I put the keys in my pocket and looked at him. "Yes." He smiles. "Can we go for a coffee? I would like to talk to you." I give him a shy smile. "Okay." He leads me to the nearest Starbucks. He orders and pays for two lattes then leads us to sit in a secluded corner. We sit in silence for a few minutes. Then he sighs. " Okay." He says, looking at his hand on his takeaway coffee cup. "I don't know how to say this and I'm pretty nervous. So please don't interrupt." He looks up at me. I nod for him to carry on. "Okay." He mutters. "I can't stop thinking about you. I can't stop thinking about that kiss. I'm actually jealous that you hug Bob. I'm jealous that you have a laugh with Frank. I'm jealous that you listen to Mikey. I'm jealous that you play games with Ray. I'm jealous of how close you are with the girls. I really want all that to be with me." He sighs. I can't breathe. Oh my god. Gerard's P.O.V I watch for a reaction throughout my entire confession. Then I decide to just go for it. "I'm hoping your not going to run when I say this. But..." I check for a reaction. "But....I love you, Astrid. So fucking much. I've loved you since the first day I saw you. And I know I sound like I'm still at school. But....Will you be my girlfriend? We can take it slow and...." "Yes." "....And just date. You know, like going to the movies and stuff...." "Yes." "....No...err....other things until your ready. I won't ever pressure you. I could never..."I get cut off when she pulls my hair and seals her lips to mine. I'm shocked at first, but soon wrap my arms around her slim waist and kiss back. My heads swimming as she pulls back and looks down at me with a shy smile. "I...I'm kinda....scared." She admitted. "B...but y....yes." I smile, happily at her. 'Yes? Really?" I ask. She bites her bottom lip and nods. She looks petrified. I stroke her cheek. "Honey, you don't have to be afraid with me." I gently pulled her to sit on my knees and rested my forehead on hers. "I promise you that I will never deliberately hurt you. I could never hurt you. Always remember that. I love you so fucking much." She sighs. "I...I know y...you w...wouldn't h...hurt me." She looked so sad again. "I c...can't tell y...you why I...I'm like I a...am n...not just yet. St...still h...hurts." "No, no, no, baby." I said as I cupped her cheeks. "There's no rush. No pressure. It's entirely up to you if you want to tell me. You don't ever have to tell me if that's what you want. All I care about is you and your happiness and wellbeing. If you decide to eventually tell me, I'll listen. But I won't ever force you to say or do anything. I promise. Well I might try extremely hard to get you to do or say something. But only in fun. No means no, baby." She smiled. "M..maybe you should a...ask Bob." She said, quietly. "W..we should st...start as we m...mean to go on. O..one day I will t...tell you m...myself. But t...there shouldn't b...be any s...secrets." I frowned. "Are you sure, baby?" I asked. "I can wait till your ready." She shook her head. "N...no secrets." She insisted. "S...secrets h...hurt people." She held her hand out. "Ph...phone." I reached into my pocket and handed her my phone. She frowned as she scrolled down to Bob. I watched as she pressed dial and raised the phone to her ear. "B...Bob, it's A...Astrid." She smiled. "N..no. I...I'm okay. M...meet me a...at St....Starbucks b...by work?" Pause. "O...okay. B...bye." She hung up, Then passed me the phone. "O...on the w...way." She sighed, then rested her head on my shoulder. I wrapped my arms around her. "I want you to know that it's not too late." I told her. "If you change your mind about Bob telling me or.....us. I won't be mad. I'll be upset. But not mad. Never mad at you." She sat up and looked at me. "Y...you want t...to ch...change your m...mind?" She looked worried and upset. I kissed her, briefly. "Never, baby." She smiled. "G...good." She smirked. "I'd h...have set B...Bob on y...you." I laughed and hugged her. Bob arrived ten minutes later. He smiled when he saw Astrid sat on my knee with her head on my shoulder. "Finally." He laughed as he sat down, coffee in hand. Astrid rushed over and hugged him. Then she went back to sitting on me. "So." Bob started. "What's up?" Astrid sat up, not moving off my knees. "I w...want you to t...tell G.....Gerard what I t...told you."

Notes

Love as always. xxx