An Address Book Romance

Tre let out an annoyed huff as he glanced over at his restless girlfriend. “Okay you seriously need to chill. How is it that you are way more fidgety than me right now?”

Grace couldn't help but to smirk as she glanced over at Tre. “Is fidgety even a real word?”

“If it isn't it is now.” Tre exclaimed as he stared back at the busy interstate road.

Apparently Grace's hometown was far too small for a decent airport so they had to fly into Houston, Texas airport the night before and stay at a hotel in Houston. Thankfully they'd found a decent hotel suite during the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. They had gone and gotten a rental car this morning and had been on the road since then.

He rolled his eyes as she reached out and flipped on the air conditioner once again. He spoke up frowning. “Okay didn't you just turn on the heat like five minutes ago because you were claiming that it was too cold?”

They had been on the road since seven o'clock this morning and Tre had noticed that Grace had seemed way more than a tiny bit nervous. She had practically been fidgeting all morning. She had gone back and forth between switching on the heater and the air conditioner, she had flipped though at least six different radio stations, and she had gone through quite a few different Cd's until Tre had finally announced that he was taking control over their music choices for the day.

“Well I'm hot now.” she replied as she bent over and grabbed her purse out of the floorboard. She located her pack of cigarettes and a her cheap Bic lighter before she pulled a cigarette out and lit up.

Grace knew that Eleanor would point out that she smelled like an ashtray as soon as she saw her, but she was far too anxious to worry about that right now. She was just hoping that a nicotine fix would calm her down a little.

Tre spoke up as he saw Grace take a long drag off her cigarette out of the corner of his eyes. “How long have you been smoking anyway?”

“Off and on since I was eighteen. I've pretty much quit. I just have one every once in a while, especially when I'm feeling really stressed out.” Grace admitted.

“Hey what do you have to be stressed out over? I'm the one that should be freaking out right now.” Tre pointed out not helping but to let out a nervous chuckle.

She shook her head smiling a little before she took another drag off her cigarette. “I can't help it. My family just drives me crazy sometimes. Especially my aunt. I mean I honestly got a little bit drunk the last time a visited just so I wouldn't be sober enough to care what my aunt had to say.”

“So are you saying that we should stop at at a liquor store and stock up on as much quality booze as we possibly can before we reach your hometown?” Tre asked smirking slightly at the thought of Grace being drunk.

Though he knew she wasn't a big time drinker the few times that he'd seen her drunk had been humorous to say the least. He knew that his girlfriend most defiantly couldn't hold her liquor even if her life depended on it. When she was drunk Grace tended to trip over her own feet and literally talk nonstop.

She couldn't help but to let out a slightly bitter laugh as she heard his suggestion. “No though that does sound pretty tempting. You might want to get completely wasted or stoned before having to face my aunt though.”

“She really can't be that bad Graceful?” Tre said making an attempt to reassure her. Though he didn't really know if his attempts to provide assurance were meant to calm her nerves or his own.

“Oh yes she can be. I hope you can handle being passively insulted, being subjected to mind games, and being interrogated.” She said frowning slightly as she rolled down her window and threw out her half smoked cigarette.

Tre reached out taking her hand in his as soon as she rolled up her window. “I'm sure that I can handle it. Maybe I can use my charms and good looks to win her over huh?”

Grace raised an eyebrow almost tempted to tell him that he shouldn't get his hopes up with that idea, but she decided to just bite her tongue and pretend that Tre was amazing enough to win over her aunt.

She did think that Tre was amazing, probably better than amazing. He really was perfect. Though he could be childish, unreasonable at times, and he tended to live in the moment without ever worrying about the consequences. She could still admit despite all of these things that would have driven her away in the past, she had found herself completely in love with him.

She just hadn't found out a way to tell him that she was in love with him yet. She had been rolling the words around in her head for a week now. Just blurting out an I love you didn't seem to be good enough.

Grace had made a silent promise to herself that she would tell Tre that she loved him by the end of the week though. She just had to figure out the right way to do it.

She gave Tre's hand a gentle squeeze and gave him a soft smile as she tried to convince herself that he was right and that this really would be all okay. That her family would love him and everyone would get along just wonderfully.

The more sensible part of her brain knew that it may not be that easy though. She knew that there would be a couple of fights with her aunt, a few tense conversations, and more than a few awkward moments.

She just hoped that by the end of this week Tre would still be there.

----------------------------------------------

Tre widened his eyes as their rental car pulled up to a large three story gray Victorian style house. He felt his palms began to sweat as he noticed the large sign out front that stated simply: Harper Family Funeral Home, Est. 1894.

It was almost funny how he hadn't really felt way too anxious about this week until he saw that sign in front of Grace's childhood home. He glanced over at Grace saying the only thing that he could manage to work out of his mouth. “This place is pretty big.”

“Yeah this was actually one of the first houses that was built in this town right after town hall, the county jail, and the court house. Generations of my dad's side of the family have lived in this house. The funeral home and chapel area of the house are on the first floor and in the basement. The actual living area is located on the second and the third floor.” Grace pointed out trying to ignore the fact that most of the color had drained out of her boyfriends face.

She had been expecting this reaction. She actually would have been worried if he wasn't freaking out about this at all.

“No offense Graceful but It kind of reminds me of the Addams family.” Tre grumbled not surprised as she rolled her eyes.

“You aren't the first one to say that. Do you know how many kids tried to tease me by calling me Morticia Addams in high school?”

Tre spoke up grinning. “Hey Morticia Addams was pretty hot. You know in a sort of morbid way. I'll gladly be the Gomez Addams to your Morticia Addams any day.”

She snorted slightly as she heard this. “I'm glad to hear that.”

Tre tried to calm his nerves as he helped Grace remove their suitcases from the trunk before they made their way up the porch steps onto the creaky wooden front porch. Grace reached out and rang the doorbell three times only to have it answered by a tall, thin and casually dressed man who looked to be in his very late twenties.

Tre studied the man for a moment taking notice of the fact that he had a three o'clock shadow, shaggy auburn hair, dark brown eyes, and dark framed eye glasses. It quickly hit him that this had to be one of Grace's brothers.

Tre's assumption was proved to be true as the man embraced Grace in an over dramatic hug picking her up. He finally put her down only to have Grace give him a playful shove before she turned to Tre and spoke. “Tre this is my idiot big brother Felix. Felix this is my boyfriend Tre.”

Felix widened his eyes as he spoke up and reached out to shake Tre's hand. “You mean Tre Cool as in the drummer from Green Day?”

Tre shook the younger mans hand not helping but to let his egotistical side show. “Is there any other Tre Cool?”

“Good point nice to meet ya. Daniel's gonna freak you know that right?” Felix asked Grace not hiding the amused tone from his voice.

Grace rolled her eyes as she heard this. The couple followed her brother into the house as she spoke. “Is he home?”

“Nope. Dad and he had to go do a body pick up down at the Miller place. Old man Miller finally kicked the bucket. I heard he choked on a hot dog. It sucks cause dad already has to do a face reconstruction on these two car wreak victims by next week cause the families are insisting on a open casket service.” Felix stated as though this was a perfectly normal conversation to have in front of a man he'd just met.

Tre couldn't help but to notice the chill that ran down his back as he heard this. He was already feeling awkward about the current situation.

Apparently Grace noticed the look on Tre's face since she spoke up. “Hey Felix do you think you could hold off on talking about the deceased in front of someone who isn't use to having to hear about it.”

“Oh yeah. Sorry about that Tre. I kinda forget that not everyone is use to hearing about caskets and such.” Felix stated looking genuinely apologetic.

Tre simply nodded his head as he let his eyes wonder the room grateful to see that everything looked pretty normal so far. They were standing in the entry way and all the doors to any of the other rooms were shut. The only thing he noticed were lots of flower arrangements, lots of boxes of tissues, and a a stack of business cards as well as some individually wrapped peppermints sitting out on a coffee table right beside the front door.

Tre couldn't help but to be grateful as they made their way upstairs to a more familiar looking area. It looked just like any other living room Tre had seen. Two worn down couches, a couple of recliners, a big TV, and a bookshelf packed full of all sorts of books.

Grace spoke up as she glanced around her childhood home not surprised that nothing much had changed. “So are you the only one home?”

“Yeah the wicked aunt of the east and our dear big sister are up at the school with the boys getting ready for the Thanksgiving school play tonight. Tre and you have to attend by the way since our nephews are in it. Vivian went with them with her Ipod literally glued to her ears. You already know where dad and Danny are. Richard is at work as usual. And grandma and the rest of the aunts wont be in until tomorrow night.” Felix pointed out as he plopped down on the sofa.

“So were is your girlfriend anyway? I was looking forward to making fun of you with her. Did she finally kick your sorry butt to the curb?” Grace asked not helping but to smirk at her slob of a brother whom had just shoved some cheese puffs into his mouth. As much as she adored Felix he had the worlds worst junk food habit. He was just lucky he had a fast metabolisim.

“No Lila had to work today. She wont get any time off until Thanksgiving day.” Felix stated as he finally swallowed his cheesy snack.

Felix spoke up again after a few minutes of silence. “So dad says Tre and you are supposed to sleep up in your old bedroom. Believe me you are lucky. Aunt Ruth almost had a heart attack when she found out that you two were going to be able to share a room.”

Grace let out a sigh of relief as she heard this. She had almost feared that her already panicking boyfriend would have to camp out on a sofa. “Well she'll just have to get over it I guess. Come on Tre lets leave Felix to stuff his face.”

Tre took in his surroundings as Grace and he made their way up another flight of stairs. He stopped noticing a ton of photographs lined up on the walls.

“Is this your mom?” Tre asked pointing to one framed photo on the wall. It was of a young women who looked almost exactly like Grace. The same auburn hair, the same heart shaped face, and wide eyes. Only this woman's eyes were a light gray and from what he could see she was wearing a cardigan and a string of pearls.

Grace bit her bottom lip before she spoke up. “Yeah that's her. She never took off those pearls. She was buried in them.”

She stopped to point at another photo. “And that is my parents on their wedding day. My grandmother made my mother's wedding dress.”

Tre studied the photo taking every detail in. The young couple was standing side by side in front of a little white chapel. Grace's father was a handsome man. He was tall with sandy brown hair and dark brown eyes. He was dressed in a proper black suit. Her mother was wearing the same pearl necklace. Her long hair was down and covered with a lace veil. She was wearing a tea length lace gown that was obviously home made.

Tre turned and noticed that Grace was staring at the photo studying it just as much as him. He cleared his throat managing to speak up. “They looked really happy.”

“They were. I mean they were childhood sweethearts. I don't think my dad ever really got over her death. I mean it was so sudden. After she died he just threw himself into his work and he never even tried to date again. He doesn't even like to really talk about her that much. I guess it hurts to think about her.” She said frowning slightly.

She tore her eyes away from the photo before she spoke up. “So are you ready to see my old room?”

“Yeah I'm looking forward to this.”

She ignored his comment as they made they turned to the left making their way past two closed doors before stopping.

She opened the door to reveal a small pretty normal looking room with white walls and dark wood floors.
There was an orange Japanese paper lantern hanging in the corner, one stolen stop sign on the wall over a desk that had one unplugged lava lamp and a jewelry box sitting on it, a wooden butterfly sculpture hanging over the head of the bed, a few photos and a couple of books sitting in a painted orange bookshelf , and a couple of sock monkeys sitting on a twin sized bed.

Tre dumped his suitcase by the closet before he plopped down on the twin bed. He had a feeling that it was going to be a difficult but enjoyable experience for the two of them to try to sleep in this bed. “I'm liking the comforter.”

She rolled her eyes as she spotted her overly bright tie dyed comforter. She had tie dyed it herself when she was about fourteen. “Thanks. I do have colorful taste don't I.”

She plopped down on the bed beside him as she spoke up. “I took most of my things with me when I moved to California. So this is just most of the junk that my dad apparently left in here to remember me by.”

“Well damn I was hoping that I could look through your music collection and point out how my taste in music is so much more superior than yours.” Tre joked causing Grace to laugh slightly.

“Yeah says the man who listens to Duran Duran.” She pointed out causing him to frown.

He spoke up crossing his arms. “You are never going to let me live that one down are you?”

“Probably not. Do you think there's any way I can make it up to you?” She asked in a lowered voice as she leaned over and locked her lips with his.

He laid back and pulled her into another kiss as soon as she began to pull away not helping but to pull her practically on top of him. When they finally pulled away he spoke up “Oh I can think of quite a few ways. That is if you're brave enough and can keep quiet enough for me to let you make it up to me?”

“Are you implying that I can't keep quiet during sex?” She asked raising an eyebrow as she planted another kiss against his lips.

He reached up and tucked her hair behind her ears as he spoke up smirking at her. “I am implying just that. I'm wondering if I can even attempt to get through a sexual encounter with you with out you screaming out Oh my god, oh yes Tre baby, and ah baby please don't stop ever.”

She playfully slapped him on the arm as she spoke up. “Hey in my defense you say quite a bit of Oh Graces, and oh yeses too. Not to mention I've heard you say things that would make a sailor blush.”

“I can't help it if I'm a very verbal person.” He grumbled.

She rolled her eyes locking lips with him once again and moving over completely on top of him to where she was straddling him. She smirked against his lips as he began to run his hands up her shirt. He began to toy with the clasp to her bra almost tempted to unclasp it. She began to rock against him causing him to let out a soft moan as he felt the noticeable friction this was causing.

The couple pulled away from their heated make out session as they heard a knock at the door. Grace practically jumped off of Tre as she rolled over and sat up beside him. She ran her hands through her hair and tried to straighten out her T-shirt.

Tre felt his cheeks flush as he took a quick glance down at his crotch grateful to see that nothing looked out of the ordinary. He would probably drop dead if whoever was on the other side of the door walked in on what they had been doing.

Grace finally spoke up as soon as the couple made themselves look presentable. “Come on in.”

The door opened to reveal a young scrawny girl with long frizzy auburn hair. She was wearing a pair of faded jeans, a light purple blouse, and a pair of black converse sneakers. She gave Tre a shy smile as she ran her hand through her hair. “Hey Grace.”

Grace grinned as she stood up and embraced the girl in a tight hug. “Hey Vivi.”

Grace finally pulled away from the girl before she turned to face Tre. “Tre this is my baby sister Vivi. Vivian this is my boyfriend Tre.”

The little girl gave Tre a shy wave as she began to blush. Grace smirked automatically realizing that the little girl may have a little crush on her big sister's boyfriend.

Tre apparently noticed it to since he grinned and stood up waving back at the girl. “Hey Vivi. Grace has told me a lot of good things about you.”

“Like what?” Vivian asked avoiding eye contact with Tre.

“Well like the fact that you're really smart and that you're on the swim team. Grace says you want to learn to surf” Tre stated giving Grace an amused smile.

“She is smart. She's like a super genius. She's gonna rule the world one day mark my words.” Grace bragged causing Vivian's cheeks to darken even more.

Vivian finally spoke up obviously not completely comfortable with the current conversation being focused on her. “Aunt Ruth wants you downstairs. Eleanor and the kids are still at the school.”

Grace let out a reluctant sigh obviously not looking forward to this part of coming home.

Tre took her hand in his as they followed Vivian down to the living room area that they had been in earlier.

Grace felt her stomach drop as soon as she saw her aunt. The women's dyed red hair was pulled back into a tight bun, she had gotten plump in her later years, she was wearing a plain navy blue dress , a black cardigan, and a pair of black sensible heels.

The women frowned as she saw the couple. Grace cleared her throat trying to be polite even if it killed her. “Aunt Ruth this is my boyfriend Tre.”

Before Tre had a chance to speak Ruth spoke up frowning. “Humph so this is the drummer that your sister told me about. What kind of name is Tre young man?”

Tre cleared his own throat ignoring her somewhat rude comment. He gave her a polite smile as he spoke. “A creative one.”

Ruth raised an eyebrow obviously not impressed with his answer. She looked to Grace as she spoke up in a demanding tone. “We have to be to the school auditorium at six pm for the play. Don't be late for it. You know how bad with keeping track of time you are.”

Grace resisted the urge roll her eyes as she spoke up. “Yes Aunt Ruth.”

Tre felt his stomach drop as he realized that Ruth hated his guts. Oh yeah this wasn't going to be as easy as he thought it was going to be. A week, he just had to survive a week of this. Could he survive it was the question?