Chapter One

1999

I

The Greys moved next to them two years ago. They have three kids: Elliot, Christian and Mia. Within a week, Christian has been admitted to Darcy's school being that he's the same age as her and she's enlisted to walk with him to school.

Darcy's tried to talk to him multiple times on their way to school but after her first fifty attempts at conversation fizzle out, Darcy gives up and now they just walk along in silence.

Despite the fact that he doesn't talk to her at all, she finds him waiting for her at the front gate of her house every morning before school at 8:05 AM sharp. Her mother often giggles and says that maybe the poor boy has a crush on her and yet is too shy to say so and Darcy doesn't have the heart to tell her that it is the other way around. It's Darcy who has the biggest crush on their neighbor's middle child and is too afraid to tell him.

Today's yet another school morning but it's special as well. It's the first day of their sophomore year and Darcy is so nervous and excited that she breaks her cereal bowl and gets a nasty big milk spot on her new skirt.

It's almost eight o'clock and Christian is going to be here any second so she runs up and changes into another skirt. It's her ninth grade skirt and she's grown quite a bit in the summer so it falls quite above her knees.

She slips on a pair of running shorts beneath the skirt to keep from flashing someone if she has to bend down and runs down the stairs picking up her bag on the way and bursts out of the door into the bright sunshine.

Christian is waiting for her at the front gate and she cannot help but grin at him, she's just so happy to see her.

Christian looks at her, shading his eyes from the sun with his hand, his brows drawing together in puzzlement. She walks towards him and his mouth moves downward in a frown.

'What', Darcy tucks a strand of bright hair behind her ear. Christian just shrugs and begins walking away from her.

Darcy power walks to catch up with him. 'What', she pants, grabbing his shoulder to stop him. He sighs and removes her hand from his shoulder and begins to walk again.

'Christian Grey', Darcy's tone is that of a person who has been pushed to their every limit. 'Why the hell are you being like this?'

Unsurprisingly, Christian doesn't reply and keeps walking. However, instead of shutting up, Darcy decides to let go. It's a new day, a new beginning, she's ready for it, she's ready for her destiny and she is going to change the status quo.

'Why don't you talk to me?' Darcy says. 'We're friends in a way, aren't we? You clearly find me tolerable since you deign to walk beside me for twenty minutes each morning, which is like-'

'I don't tolerate you', Christian says as he turns back to look at her, one eyebrow arched endearingly. 'I happen to like your company and I'm going to break tradition and continue walking to school if you want to stand here and talk all day.'

'Fine Grumpykins', Darcy huffs as she jogs to catch up with him. Christian's eyes flicker downwards for a second and little Darcy leans back on her chair and smirks a little. Christian Grey is a boy, a very quiet, a very different boy but a boy nonetheless. 'At least I got you to admit that you like me.'

Christian doesn't reply. 'I like you too', Darcy continues. 'Though I do think that the verbal communication part could use some work.'

She looks at him out of the corner of her eye and he's smiling. A little but he is .

It's a good morning and Darcy skips a little as she walks.