"TETTIGONIID"

"What is that?"

Kristen jumps as the question comes from her left. "How are you so quiet?" She could have sworn she was alone in the apartment.

"Don't deflect, what are you watching?"

"It's the Scripps National Spelling Bee." She slumped down in the sofa, a little embarrassed at having been caught indulging in one of her favorite pastimes.

"On ESPN?" Jubal's eyebrows were up near his hairline.

"Some people consider this a sport." She said defensively.

"TAUROKATHAPSIA"

"No way that's an actual word!" He quickly sat down next to Kristen and watched as the young competitor correctly spelled the seemingly impossible word. "What the hell?" He remarked in wonder.

"Doesn't your kid do spelling bee's?" Kristen asked absently.

"Yeah, but with words that I know." He was still focused on the T.V.

"CHOUMOELLIER"

Kristen tries to angle her tablet so he can't see what she's doing. She quickly marks her choice and turns her attention back to the screen just in time to see her choice pop up on the screen. "Yes!"

"Are you spelling along with them?"

"…...maybe?" She turns her tablet so he can see where she is indeed following along online.

He lets out a warm chuckle and spreads a hand out along the back of the couch. She tries not to shiver as his thumb brushes the side of her neck.

They watch the next few rounds together, each trying to outdo the other.

"URFIRNIS"

Kristen knows her heart rate picks up as she feels his thumb apply a little bit of pressure against her neck, "How long does this usually last?"

"Umm" She has to stop and get her thoughts together. "Normally it doesn't go past 12 or 13 rounds, but the kids this year are awesome." She presses back slightly against his hand, almost moaning when he gets the hint and starts lightly massaging her neck. "Why?"

"No reason" his voice is light and teasing, "just that it's almost 11 and I'm about ready for B-E-D."

She smacks his hand away, ignoring his laughter. "Just for that, I'm staying up to watch the rest, I don't care how long it takes.

"ODYLIC"

True to her word, she stubbornly stays up until the historic 20th round. It's only after the last word has been spelled correctly that she turns off the T.V and stands up to stretch. The competition had gone for an unprecedented 4 hours and she had sat and watched the entire thing.

Without a word to the man still lounging on the couch, she turns to head into the bedroom. He was right in one regard, it was late, and they had work in the morning.

She got ready for bed, knowing that Jubal was taking care of ensuring the place was locked up for the night. When she emerged from the bathroom, he was sitting against the headboard, deeply engrossed with something on his tablet.

"Do you know how much money these kids earn for winning?" He points to the screen incredulously, "Jesus Christ, I wonder if it's too late to get my kid started. I could kiss paying for college goodbye."

"Well, I hate to break it to you, but you're way behind the curve if you start now. I started-" she broke off, feeling her face heat up in embarrassment at accidentally outing herself. "Shut up." She dove under the covers and turned off the light on her side of the bed.

The bed shifts as Jubal leans over to place the tablet on the bedside table while trying to hide his laughter. He turns off his light as well, then slides down to gather her in his arms. "You were one of those kids who reminded the teacher of the homework, weren't you?"

"I told you that was one time!" She swats at him. "You were probably the cool guy who never even did his homework." She accuses, flipping around to face him in time to see his face become shadowed.

"Guilty as charged." She's sure he meant it to sound breezy, but his face is saying something else entirely.

"What?" It's rare that Jubal gets this serious about anything that's not work, or his kid, or their burgeoning relationship.

He ran a hand up and down her back, "I wasn't the nicest person in high school. I was a spoiled rich kid who was used to getting what I wanted."

Kristen repositions herself so she's half laying on him and wraps arm around his torso, "I'm sure you couldn't've been the bad."

He barks out a laugh, "When the girl I liked told me that she had been trying to fix me up with some new student that transferred to our school that year, I got so pissed that I left her on the side of the road, even after I manipulated events in order to drive her home."

Kristen was speechless, "Well damn. Did you ever apologize?"

He shakes his head, "Even better, I started dating her arch rival just to get back at her."

"Wow. You were a dick." She poked his side.

"When I started getting sober and doing the whole apology bit, I looked her up and apologized." He revealed.

"I hope she made you work for it." Kristen may be half in love with the man laying next to her, but that was no reason to sweep what he did under the table.

"Cher is a good person. She accepted my apology and I still get a Christmas card from her and Josh every year." His hand ran along her back to settle on what was becoming its favorite resting place on her hip.

"Her name was Cher?" Kristen asked disbelievingly.

"L.A. rich kids." He reminder her.

"Gotcha."

There was silence and she was drifting off until Jubal nudged her gently, "Hey, back to the whole spelling bee thing, do you really think it's too late to start?"

"G-O T-O S-L-E-E-P."