As Jeff stared at his logo design and recalled the rejection Grace had so ungracefully meted out, his anger grew.  Who did she think she was anyway?  Could she boast of having accomplished anything in her short life?  No.  She was a pretty bunny, buttering up the executives, drumming up business; but, as soon as the business was ready to talk details, get down to specifics, she couldn’t handle it.  She turned it over to someone who could, she….. 

The train he was waiting for pulled to a stop and also stopped this particular train of thought.  Jeff jumped aboard and found an empty seat.  Seated across from him was a very attractive young woman.  Jeff watched her, trying not to appear obvious about it.  The more he looked at the woman, the more he thought she looked like Grace.  Same long brown hair, same nose, same color eyes.  She was wearing tennis shoes, Converse All Stars, high top, to be exact.  Jeff noticed that one of them was untied and the laces had come out of the top three or four rings leaving two very long laces laying on the floor.  Dangerous, that, he thought.

Jeff leaned forward and got the woman’s attention.  He smiled and pointed down at her shoe laces.  She tried to ignore him at first.  Guys were always hitting on her on the subway.  Finally, though, she understood and looked down at her shoes.  She looked back up at Jeff and smiled.  She smiled at me, Jeff thought, she actually smiled at me.

“I didn’t want to intrude,” he said, “but, I couldn’t bear to see you maybe trip on those laces and maybe mess up that beautiful face.”  ****, I’ve gone too far, his mind warned.

Her smiled grew brighter as she leaned over to tie her shoe.  Finished, she sat back up and said, “Oh, I really appreciate it.  I’m such a klutz I probably would have broken my neck!”  She laughed.

Jeff loved her laugh.  He was feeling good.  He was feeling bold.  He noticed the seat next to her was empty.  Pointing at the seat he asked, “Would you mind if I moved over to that seat?”

“Sure, go ahead.”  Jeff quickly moved across the aisle and when he was seated she said, “I get so bored on these trains, it’s nice to have someone to talk to that isn’t trying to hit me up, you know?”

“Yeah.  I imagine you get hit on quite a bit, huh?”

“All the time.  It’s depressing.  No one really wants to know me.  It’s almost always a “hey, hello, how are you, do you want to ****?”

Momentarily shocked at her choice of words, Jeff quickly caught himself and inwardly laughed.  He liked this girl.

“Well, you’re safe with me,” he replied.  “I was really concerned about your shoe laces and well, to be honest I’m so inexperienced at hitting on pretty women that I don’t even attempt it.”  He laughed and she joined him.  “My name is Jeff, by the way.”

“Grace.  Grace Williams.”

 Jeff hoped that his shock at hearing her name didn’t register on his face.  Holy ****, how could this be?  She looks enough like Grace to be Grace and damned if she isn’t Grace! 

He recovered quickly and said, “I know another girl named Grace.  She’s not at all like you, though.”

“Really?  Well, you don’t know me.  Maybe we are a lot alike.” 

“No.  No, I’m sure you’re not.  The Grace that I know is a bitch.  Sorry, but it’s the truth.  She’s an egotistical, gold grubbing….oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…..”

Grace patted him on the knee.  “That’s okay.  I know several women like her and I don’t like them either.  I bet she dumped on you, huh?  You asked her out and she wouldn’t give you the time of day.  Probably even hung the phone up in your ear, I bet.”

Jeff couldn’t keep his jaw from dropping.  How in the hell…? “I…I… well, yeah, it was something like that,” he managed to stammer.

“Yeah, I thought so and that’s why I’m here, Jeff.”

Jeff felt his eyes bulge.  He knew he was staring but couldn’t help it.  What did she just say? 

“Uh…I’m sorry….did you just say what I thought you said?  You planned to meet me?  What…..”

“Yeah, Jeff.  It’s pretty simple, really.  You got **** on by this bitch.  You’re a really cool guy.  Lots of people are envious of your talent but this woman, she **** on you.  Right?  Am I right, Jeff?”

“Well, I wouldn’t exactly say that she…****…..on me.  I mean….”

Grace patted him on the knee again and then she leaned toward Jeff and covered his mouth with her own.  Her tongue forced its way past his lips and Jeff immediately reacted with his own until a regular little tongue of war was raging between them.

A little breathless Grace broke the kiss but didn’t pull back far.  She stroked Jeff along the side of his face and whispered, “That kiss sealed our deal, Jeff.  I’m so glad.  Now, let’s get off at the next exit.  It’s only a block away from Grace’s house.”

Surprised, Jeff stammered, “What deal?….why…would we……”

“Well, Jeff, I thought you knew?  We’re going to kill that self righteous bitch!”