• I slept with weird dreams of the air rushing through my hair and the laughter of Ryder as he spun me in the cart. Of TVs that could talk to you and I complained to it about Ryder not wanting to kiss me. Of actually kissing Ryder. His lips felt so real as they pressed passionately against mine. His tongue running across my bottom lip…

    I came awake frowning and cursing Wal-Mart. Why can’t I just be home? I want to be home! So I don’t have to deal with this jerk! With this sexy, handsome guy who respects me so much he won’t kiss me right. I want to get over it but somehow…I can’t. It sucks! I sat up and saw the lights were still out on this end of the store. I got up and grabbed my pants and slipped them on, then went to find another nice shirt. I never get dismissed like that! Never from any guys! It’s usually me who does the dismissing! I was still steaming from last night as I picked out a dark red t shirt and a black sweater for over it and went into the bathroom to do my routine. After I was finished I was to mad to do anything else. I didn’t want to talk to him or even see him for that matter! I decided, he would have to come to me and apologize.

    I looked around. I want to look like I was busy. Or just doing something! I didn’t feel like painting. My painting had turned out dark, with sharp drags across the paper and wispy black clouds. I had a sudden urge for bubblegum. One that I could pop annoyingly in my mouth. A red one too! I went over to the cash register and looked down. Now…how to open it? I frowned then hit it with my fist. I cried out in pain and banged my foot against the lower half but it only made me madder! Finally, after kicking it more times I got a hammer…I smiled with accomplishment as I walked away with $20s in change, while the cash register sat, its mouth hanging down. It fell to the ground with a loud thud.

    I walked out from the doors and saw how strong the metal door was going around the store. It was very tall and thick. It went out past the second doors so there were still the games and gumball machine out there. I sighed and sat down and leaned against the metal gate that trapped me in Wal-Mart and looked at the small rainbow colored gumballs in the machine. I stuffed all my change in my pockets and they were stuffed so full it started to spill out. I grabbed a hand full of change and put one in the slot. I turned the knob which was very old fashion and out came a green gumball. I frowned. I looked into the clear glass around the gumballs and saw a couple red gumballs but were at the top. This was going to take a while.

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    I had a pile of gumballs on the floor next to me when I heard footsteps coming closer. I ignored them and focused on still trying to get a red gumball. It was half empty now. Ryder came out the opened doors and looked to the left then to the right and fixed his eyes on me. I ignored him and popped another quarter in. Out came a blue one.

    “What the hell are you doing?” Ryder asked with a laugh. He looked good I had to admit. He had on ratty jeans and a white shirt. Something that totally looked nothing like what he would not wear. But apparently it is. It made his black hair stand out.

    “None of your business,” I muttered and put another quarter in. He came over and stood next to me staring down at me. It annoyed me to no end. A yellow came out and I threw it across the small room. It banged against the metal wall. I put another quarter in.

    “Seriously, what are you doing?”

    I growled. “I’m trying to get a red gumball,” I said, annoyed with him. I smelled something and almost smiled but remembered he was watching me.

    He laughed. “You’re kidding right?”

    I turned back up to him sharply. “No! I’m not!”

    He raised an eyebrow. I looked away quickly and got back to work. I didn’t like looking into his eyes. He sighed and sat down beside me. I glanced over at him glaring. He smiled softly. “Listen, I’m sorry. Last night…I just didn’t think…. It’s nothing personal. Really.” I stopped what I was doing and looked down. He was saying sorry. I looked finally at him.

    “Why did you do that?” I asked. He sighed and looked away from me. His jaw clenched a little and his neck pulsed. I wanted to nibble it…

    “I’ve always been that way. Just…I don’t like to get attached to things easily.”

    I frowned. “So now I’m a thing,” I said annoyed again.

    His is eyes got wide then he shook his head. “No! That’s not what I’m calling you.” He growled lowly and it surprised me. “It’s not you. It’s me. It’s just every time I get attached to people, they go away. I don’t like that.” I softened at his words. His eyes looked a little hurt. He was sensitive. Some reason that made me like him even more.

    This was going to sound corny but here goes Ms. Middle School Girl.

    “I’m not going away. Not now and probably not for a while,” I said looking down. I could feel his eyes watching me but I was blushing madly.

    “I thought you didn’t care for anyone’s feelings?”

    I shrugged and finally looked up at him. His eyes were bloomed with gentleness and sweetness. “Things change.”

    He smiled, it made my heart pound inside my chest. Weird! Never did that before! It felt good though…like a thrill. When I thought he was going to stand up he surprised me by leaning forward with his eyes still open and kissed me. I closed my eyes surprised by the feeling. His lips opened with mine and we breathed each other in. But before I could move my hand to lock our lips together he pulled back. I panted as I watched him open his eyes. He sighed and took a quarter from my pocket and stuck in into the machine. He turned the knob and out popped a red gumball. He smirked and put it up to my face.

    I smiled.