• We played pool for a while and when I won the first game I tried not to boast but couldn’t help it. Ryder didn’t seem to mind. He won the rest. 1 game won for Trinity, 4 to Ryder. Pathetic. In my case. I sighed as he won the last game. He smiled at me over the table.

    “Sorry,”

    I shrugged and yawned. “Its fine, I guess. Um, I think I might head to bed or something. I’m really kind of tired.”

    His smile faded a little. “Oh, okay, um do you want to watch a movie before you go to bed?” he asked. I smiled. He wanted me to stay! He did.

    I nodded. “Sure. But this time we can watch something you want.”

    “Okay, sure,” he answered. We walked back to the big nice comfy bed and I gladly got up on it and sat down. Ryder ran to the electronics and grabbed a movie. Thunder rumbled a little closer and I frowned. When would it stop? Maybe this was another storm coming right after the other? The lights flickered. I bit my lip. I hope mom and dad are okay. And Jo Jo. Oh man, I hope she’s not scared.

    “You okay?” Ryder asked as he came back. I shrugged.

    “I’m just kind of worried about this storm. And I kind of miss my dog.” He studied me for a moment.

    “Wow, not what I thought,” he laughed.

    “Yeah I know, I guess we’ve been learning a lot about each other lately, huh?” he stopped opening the movie box and his eyes flashed up to mine. The purple twinkled. He smiled sadly.

    “I got Lord of the Rings, not the remake, the one from early 2000s,” he said putting the CD into the DVD player.

    He came back over to the bed and sat down next to me. He grabbed a blanket and gave it to me with a shy smile. I took it and covered my shoulders since I could feel the chill grow in the open store. The movie started as Ryder asked it to play. It wasn’t like the first movies but all three was made into one from a new hot shot director. I didn’t like it as much as the originals. Later about an hour into the movie I started to feel a little sleepy but Ryder seemed almost tense. I looked up at him and realized he wasn’t really watching the movie, more like thinking.

    “Hey,” I whispered. Ryder jumped just lightly and clenched his jaw. I was half leaning on him and I could smell him.

    “I have good foster parents. I mean I get along with my foster dad like he was my real dad. It’s just with all the kids and stuff; it just gets hectic and claustrophobic.”

    I was frowning by now. Surprised too by his sudden burst of realization.

    “What are you saying?” He still wouldn’t look at me.

    “I talked to my mom before I came to work a couple days ago…about finding my real parents,” he said the last words quietly. My mouth fell a little. Wow, Ryder was very different. He held so much he wouldn’t show. I never thought this would come. I never thought I would want him to kiss me either. I guess I’m still learning things.

    “And what did she say?” I asked, and I actually did want to know. He sighed and looked down at his hands.

    “We got into a fight. She doesn’t think it would be ‘wise’ of me to find them. I’m not sure why.” He frowned.

    “So this has been bugging you, hasn’t it?” I could tell that it was. Ryder seemed a lot sensitive then I could even imagine.

    He nodded. “Yeah. I talked to my foster dad too. He was going to help me. When I told mom that, she flipped. And now I feel like it’s all my fault. I should have made up with her before I left. Instead I took off all mad and pissed and who knows? She could be hurt…or even dead,” his voice creaked when he said the last word. I sat up better, fully awake now.

    “Oh Ryder,” I said feeling his pain. As much as I hated my dad sometimes, if I got into a fight with him and he died, I’d die too. I hope nothing happened to his mom. I put my hand awkwardly at first on his arm then squeezed a little. I wasn’t good at this comfort thing. I always thought it was kind of weird but since it was for him and he was hurting.

    “We all make mistakes. It’s an every day occurrence. Even with the technology we have now. Your mom doesn’t want to loose you, is probably what it is. She’s worried you’ll find your real mom and won’t want her.” Like I said, I have no social life. Movies: is what I do when I’m not doing homework. He sighed and nodded.

    “Probably. I just wish she would get it into her head that I would never want to replace her. She’ll always be my mom.” I smiled sadly. I didn’t think there was a time when I actually heard my parents fighting or even close to getting a divorce. They’ve always seemed like their relationship was the best. Maybe it was. I never had any experience with parents fighting or adopting. I was a simple kid with simple parents, I guess. Ryder put his hand on mine that was covering his arm and squeezed it without looking at me.

    “Thanks Trinity,” He whispered. I smiled sadly. He finally looked at me and pulled my hand off his arm. I frowned. Was he mad at me again? He took it in both of his then put his arm around me. He pulled me closer to where my head was on his shoulder. It was awkward at first because I wasn’t used to this kind of thing. The touching and someone touching me like this. So sensual. Maybe that’s why my parents didn’t want me to have a boyfriend.

    Special when I was younger. Was it for my own good? He kept his one hand in mine and I put my other arm around his lower waist. It started to feel nice then. To have a warm body next to mine and not feel so lonely. I smiled peacefully and watched the rest of the movie with him.

    After the movie was done I was almost falling asleep so I stood up and rubbed my eyes.

    “I think I’m going to go to bed,” I said with a chuckle. Ryder nodded and looked like he wanted to say something but just stood up too.

    “I’ll walk you back,” I smiled and took his offering hand as we did. It was dark and Ryder used the flashlight. We finally got to my bed and I turned back Ryder and smiled sleepily.

    “Thanks for a great night, I had fun. I’m glad we could talk too.” He smiled softly.

    “Yeah, sorry about that. I don’t normally just talk about things like—“

    “It’s fine, seriously.”

    He stared into my eyes then leaned down. My heart thumped in my chest as I awaited his lips. They dissented slowly but I loved every minute of it because it was worth it! He pressed his lips against mine and this time I was able to put my hands around his neck bringing him closer to me. He gladly did squeezing my waist and bringing me to him. It was a nice heated kiss and I enjoyed it probably more then I should have.

    He gave a small groan as I gripped his hair lightly and turned his head to side to get a better take of his lips. His hands felt skin on my back and I almost gasped. His hands were cold and clammy but I didn’t mind. So were mine. Finally he pulled back and I was close to pouting. He was panting. His eyes shined.

    “You said you were tired.”

    “Not really anymore.”

    “Well still, you should get some sleep.”

    “One minute.” I took hold of his face again and kissed him. He laughed quietly between my forcefully lips. Then I let go and grinned stupidly up at him.

    “Thanks.” He laughed.

    “Goodnight,” he said nudging me toward my bed. He frowned slightly and I wondered why.

    “Goodnight,” I whispered. He turned and walked slowly back to his bed. I sighed and slipped off my shoes, pants and sweater. I lay down in my bed and closed my eyes.

    This. . .was a great night.