She felt so torn as Gregory easily loaded the trunk into the back of the van.  Cara was excited to get settled in to her home for the next year, but the excitement was tempered significantly now that her time with Gregory was cut short.  She felt like she’d known him forever, despite the nervous anticipation that bubbled up inside her every time she looked at him.  He was so easy to talk to, and disarmingly charming.<br/><br/>She was tossing her cardigan into the front seat when she heard him call out for her to wait -<em>as if she’d leave without saying good-bye</em>!  Cara turned back towards him, a rueful look on her face.  But as she opened her mouth to speak, he surprised her, taking her hand in his own and handing her something -<em>his phone number</em>, apparently.  Once again, she felt her cheeks redden, although it<em>would</em>save her from the embarrassment of having to seek him out where he worked, in front of all the other dockworkers.<br/><br/>Gregory’s next comment, as he lifted her hand to his lips, left her entirely speechless.  Cara could only nod, mutely, as he looked into her eyes and smiled.  She squeezed his hand and returned the smile, as well as she could manage in her current state.<br/><br/>Meredith stayed quiet as Cara climbed into the front seat.  Gregory had stepped back from the door as the lorry shifted into gear, but Cara put a hand on Meredith’s arm, begging her to stop the vehicle. “No, wait.  Don’t go yet!” She leaned out the window, the height of the lorry bringing her face up nearly to Gregory’s.  “Hey, I didn’t get a chance to thank you.” Her heart was pounding as she gave him a quick, light kiss on his cheek, before falling back into her seat. Cara gave him a shy glance. “Thank you, Gregory McClellan, for the warm welcome.”  She lifted a hand and waved as Meredith pulled back out onto the road.<br/><br/>She watched him in the mirror until Meredith started to talk - “That your boyfriend?”  Cara turned then, startled and more than a little embarrassed.  “Uh, no,” she replied with a smile. “Well, not<em>yet</em>.”  The woman driving was several years older than Cara, with long, blonde hair pulled back in a messy ponytail, and warm, friendly brown eyes. She had a smirk on her face her she looked sideways at Cara.<br/><br/>“You know, when I come in from the airport, I usually just give the the luggage guys a couple of<em>Euros</em>.”  Meredith looked back at the road and shrugged.  “Maybe I’ll try your way next time, looks a hell of a lot more fun.  Anyway, welcome to Scotland. I’m Meredith Banks. I’ll be here through next spring, working on my thesis with Gordon.  You’re in High School, huh? Or, whatever it is they call it in Ireland.”<br/><br/>Cara grinned and nodded.  She liked Meredith already.<br/><br/>“Anyway, sorry again about the wait - although you look like you made the best of it,” Meredith went on, her lips twisting back into a smirk.  “We’ll be at the house soon, and get you settled in.  Don’t worry, we’re close enough to the main part of Gairloch that you can walk there.  And we’re not heading out into the field for about a week, so you’ll have plenty of time to see<em>Romeo</em>again. “