Disclaimer: We do not own Ten Inch Hero, but we think Priestly is adorable!

Unwrapping Life

Chapter Two (Written by LadyWallace)

"I'm just not sure what she'd like to do," Priestly admitted as he and Jen started setting up the Grill for the day.

"You said she had a good time last night, right?" Jen asked him, glancing up from the table she was cleaning.

"Yeah," Priestly shrugged. "I guess I'm just worried that she'll get bored. That I'm not…interesting enough."

Jen laughed at that. "Priestly, you're plenty interesting, trust me."

"Well, I used to be, when I had funky hair and metal in my face," he said a bit wryly.

"Is that what this is really about?" Jen asked quietly, heading over to the counter where Priestly was counting out the till for the day.

Priestly shrugged her off. "No, it's just…"

"Come on," Jen put her hands on her hips. "We've been friends for too long, I know when you're lying to me, and I know when you're feeling off, and you are certainly not as happy as you should be for finally getting the girl you've been eyeing ever since she started working here."

Priestly sighed, slamming the register drawer shut. "Alright, maybe it is a little about that. I guess I just don't feel like me anymore. I mean, am I being a total hypocrite?"

"Maybe a little after your whole 'looks don't matter' speech," Jen said honestly. "Did you ever think to ask Tish if she liked your new look?"

Priestly shuffled uncomfortably. "No, I just…I figured this was what she wanted, you know? A clean cut guy; someone you wouldn't be afraid to bring home and meet the parents." He shuddered comically at the very thought of 'meeting the parents' in general.

"Maybe Tish doesn't really know what she wants," Jen said. "Priestly, whether you look clean cut or not, you're still way more of a gentleman than any of those jerks she always went out with before, that alone will make an impression. I think Tish will eventually miss the real you too, you should talk to her."

Priestly shrugged, uncomfortable with the topic. He had thought he was making a sacrifice for a person he genuinely cared about, but maybe he had been on the wrong track the whole time. Changing your appearance was one thing, but what about changing your whole personality? He didn't want to seem superficial, but his piercings and hair, it was part of him, had been for a long time, and yes, part of it was sort of his armor, covering up his personal insecurities, but it had also simply become his personality. He just wasn't himself without it. And maybe that seemed vaguely dependent, but he didn't really care. Part of him wanted to and was willing to do anything for Tish, but the other part of him didn't want to live as someone he wasn't for the rest of his life.

"So," Jen said, smiling, bringing him out of his melancholy. "You were trying to think of something to do on your next date?"

"Yeah," Priestly shook himself. "I know they have horseback riding and parasailing and stuff on the beach, but I didn't know what she'd like to do, or if she would even be interested in any of that."

"Well, parasailing would be exciting," Jen said.

Priestly nodded, shuffling, and ran his hand through his hair. "I guess."

"What?" she asked.

"I don't know, I'm kinda…ya know, not good with heights. It wouldn't exactly be a great date if I was screaming like a little girl."

Jen laughed. "Okay, maybe not that then; at least not so early in your relationship. Horseback riding is pretty romantic. Maybe you could pack a picnic lunch?"

Priestly thought this over. It wasn't as exciting as parasailing, but he had to admit he liked the idea better. "That's true. You think she'd like that?"

"I think she would be happy with whatever you chose for you two to do, Priestly," she smiled.

"Okay, then, I'll look into that."

The two of them chatted a bit more before Trucker got in with a smile as he watched the two young people talking amiably as they set up.

"Good morning," he called. "Priestly, you wanna spill? How'd your date with Tish go?"

"I didn't crash and burn," Priestly said with a shrug and a small smile.

"I was just helping him decide on their next romantic destination," Jen told him with a grin. "Did you know Priestly is afraid of heights?"

"Hey, that was told in confidence," Priestly grumbled, slapping her on the shoulder with his rolled up apron.

Trucker shook his head at their antics. "Well, did you decide?"

"I think I'm going to take her horseback riding on the beach, but that's a secret," Priestly told him with a small smirk.

"She won't hear it from me," Trucker said. "I think she'll enjoy it though. I'm proud of you, Priestly."

Priestly smiled as the older man clapped him on the shoulder. He just wished he could find the confidence to talk to Tish about whether she cared what he looked like or not. Maybe it was partly because he was afraid that if she said she liked him the way he was now, he knew there would never be a chance of going back to the 'old' Priestly. Maybe if he said nothing, he could slowly start to change back to his old look and that would be that. Again, he worried he was being too superficial about it all. Maybe he should just try to start off fresh. He had certainly started fresh before. The only problem was the last time he hadn't liked what had come before. That Priestly had been sad and desperate, so he had put on a new face that made him more confident. He was afraid he would go back to being that person if he continually felt downtrodden with worrying about his appearance. And if that was the case, he could never be the man he truly wanted to be for Tish, because then he would be living a lie. Why was he so conflicted with this?

They started their work day, and when Tish came in later for her shift, Priestly couldn't help but smile when she greeted him with a soft kiss. No matter the conflict he was battling inside, he didn't regret telling her how he truly felt. It was like a little victory for him every time she turned one of those superficial jerks down when they came into the sandwich shop. And then he would give them a look that proudly stated Tish was his and there was nothing they could do about it.

Later, Priestly asked Trucker if he could get the next day off to take Tish on their second date.

"Of course, kiddo," Trucker told him with a grin. "Just be good to my angel."

Priestly grinned. "You know I will."

That night as they were closing down the Grill, Priestly went over to Tish and slipped his arm around her waist from behind, leaning over to kiss her cheek gently. She giggled as his breath tickled her ear slightly. "Priestly, what is it?" she asked.

"Nothing, I just wanted to tell you something."

"What?"

He spun her around. "I was wondering if you'd like to do something tomorrow?"

"Of course," Tish's eyes lit up, her hands coming to rest on Priestly's shoulders. "So, what do you have planned?"

"It's a secret," Priestly said with a cautious smile, hoping she would enjoy what he had planned. "How about we meet on the beach at ten in the morning?"

"Sounds good," Tish told him with a smile and stood on tiptoes to kiss him. "I'll see you then." She started to grab her stuff to leave.

"Oh, and Tish," Priestly called after her. "You should probably wear jeans and boots."

"I'm intrigued," Tish smiled at him and waved. "Goodnight Priestly."

"Goodnight, Tish," he said softly before he too grabbed his bag and drove home.

As soon as Tish got home, she started packing a few things for the next day, and dug a pair of boots out of her closet. She was excited to find out what Priestly had planned for the next day.

But at the same time, she could tell that something was going on with her new boyfriend. There was something different about him, something not quite right, and it didn't help that she always expected to see his old self whenever she looked at him either. It was like she knew he was happy, but he still seemed shy and awkward. Their entire first date, he had been so stiff—up until their walk on the beach and then he had been more like himself. But she was determined to figure out what was bothering him and get the old Priestly back. This relationship had a lot of potential and she really wanted to put in the time to make it work. Priestly wasn't like any of the other men she had ever been with and she was fascinated by him, almost. He was her white knight and she wasn't about to lose him now.

Tish sighed as she changed into her pajamas and climbed into bed. Maybe a second date would help Priestly get over his shyness or whatever this was.

Priestly got home after stopping by the store to pick up some stuff for their picnic the next day. He felt abnormally tired for some reason. Sure, he hadn't slept that well the night before—or the last few nights, really—but he shouldn't feel quite this tired. He also had a nagging headache starting behind his eyes, though that might have just been all the thinking he had done recently. He rubbed at his head as he stuffed the food in the fridge and grabbed the carton of milk to drink from before pouring himself a bowl of cereal as a snack.

He settled down to watch some TV hoping it might keep him from being too nervous about the next day, and by the time he had finished his bowl of cereal, he was starting to feel congested. His throat nasty and his sinuses making it hard to breathe through his nose. Priestly groaned. He had better not be getting sick. Maybe it was just allergies. Hopefully.

He watched a few more minutes of a show, but his exhaustion won out and he fell asleep on the couch, out before he knew what hit him.

To Be Continued…

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