Getting Better

Cigarretes and Kisses

AJ'S POV
I'm sweeping glass from the floor of Ryan's bar, Ryan is stabbing his switchblade into the wooden bar repeatedly.

I sweep the glass into a pile I wipe my brow, he hands me a glass of ice water and I chug it enjoying the cold drink.

My phone vibrates, and Ryan stabs his switchblade into the bar and walks over. We look at the text message of where Sebastian wanted to meet up for his money.

"Cacti Canyon?" Ryan nods "makes sense it's easy to dispose of bodies and evidence there".

I look at him unsteadily and he squeezes my shoulder "it'll be alright" he says gently and I shiver at how gentle this man can be.

RYAN'S POV
I begin planning how we'll get there and I smile, I know a great way of getting us there quickly. I think AJ would like it, I look over at him and smile. He's starting to gain his strength back, I can see muscles forming on his bony arms.

I walk over and grab my switchblade and walk over to AJ, he's sitting down at a table scribbling away in a sketchbook. He mentioned something about how since his mind is clear now he can finally sketch again.

I walk up behind him quietly and see him sketching a picture of Louise. It's amazing how well he can detail a face with just a scribble.

He looks up and smiles at me, "what's up?" "We should head out if we want to make it on time".

He gets up and follows me to my truck, he gets in and I pull something from a box I hid under my seat. "What's this?" I open it and reveal a 9mm pistol to him it's damn near identical to mine. "It's for you, you're going to need it for later" he takes it gently and I hand him a holster, I buckle the holster to his belt and he looks at me and nods.

I start up the truck and head towards Cacti Canyon, we listen to Muse on our drive, AJ mumbles lyrics and I drum on the steering wheel.

I pull off the road onto a dirt road leading to a ranch, "uh Ryan I think you took a wrong turn" I look over at him "trust me I didn't".

I pull to a stop outside of a stable, I get out and Loyd walks over to me and slaps me on the back. "Good to see ya again Ryan" I smile at him and AJ follows us into the stables. I walk up to a ash grey stallion named Fuego, he snorts at my and I pet his face.

"Horses?" AJ questions and I nod, "yep fastest way to get to the top of the canyon" I take Fuego out and AJ rubs his face and Fuego nuzzles him, I throw on a blanket and then buckle on a saddle. I put my feet in the stirrups and hoist myself onto the saddle, Fuego shakes his head and stamps his foot on the ground.

I help AJ onto Fuego and I salute Loyd "hold on tight, hya!" Fuego takes off and AJ holds onto my waist as we ride up the steep and rocky canyon pass.

I slow Fuego to a trot and AJ looks around, "I didn't know you rode horses" I nod "Fuego is my horse and I love him dearly, I try to come out here twice a week and ride him".

I pull a pack of cigarettes from my pocket and hand one to AJ, "it'll help take the edge off" I light mine and take a long drag then put it out on the bottom of my boot. He flicks the cigarette away "I just got clean from one addiction I don't need another one" I nod "fair point".

We arrive at the top of the canyon and Sebastian and two of his henchman wait silently. "Ah the guest of honor has arrived" Sebastian says and claps his hands together. "Woah" Fuego come to a stop and we hop off of him.

"Now where is my money?" Sebastian says with a smile on his face. AJ pulls out a stack of cash, it was all the cash from the register. He walks forward and I have my hand on my gun and I wait patiently, AJ hands Sebastian the money and stares at him angrily.

AJ'S POV
I stare at Sebastian angrily as I hand him the stack of  Ryan's cash. He smiles "see that wasn't so hard, if only your father would've worked with us like you so kindly have". I grit my teeth and stare him dead in the eyes, my hand is on my holster and I take a deep breath. "Fuck you" I say firmly and I pull the trigger, Sebastian falls to the ground, his henchman begin firing their weapons.

Everything is a blur, I'm on the ground and Ryan has taken down both henchman he runs over to me and makes sure I'm not hit. My ears are ringing when there's one last gunshot and Ryan falls to the ground. "No!" I yell Sebastian is smiling blood pouring from his mouth, his shaky hands holding his golden gun. I grab Ryan's gun and aim it at Sebastian and pull the trigger immediately without hesitation.

I see that the bullet went into his lower abdomen, I grab him and try to drag him back to Fuego. He's so heavy I fall to the ground. He's passed out cause he hit his head on the ground and also possibly from blood loss. I push myself up from the red dirt and wrap my arms around his limp body, I muster strength I didn't know I had and drag him over to Fuego and hoist him up. I put on gloves and drag the dead bodies to the cliff side, I roll all three off and pick up the bullet casings throwing them down as well.

I run over to Fuego and hop on him "come on we need to get back to the ranch quickly, hya!" He whinnies and takes off running back towards the ranch. I unbutton my shirt and put it on Ryan's wound and apply pressure.

We make it back to the ranch and I yell out "help, we need help!" Loyd comes rushing out with a rifle and he sees Ryan and drops it and comes racing over.

He takes Ryan in his arms and walks to the ranch house, "Cmon son, don't worry about Fuego he did a good job". I hop off of Fuego and run after Loyd he lays Ryan down on a couch and begins working on him. He removes the bullet and cauterizes the wound, he wraps a bandage around it and looks at me. "I've done all I can do take him home and keep an eye on it" Loyd helps me carry Ryan to the truck, we load him in the passenger seat.

"Thank you" I say to Loyd and he smiles and pats me on the back "you're a good kid take care of him now you here" I salute him "yes sir".

After an hour and a half drive we make it back to the bar. I carry Ryan in and up the stairs, how I'm doing this I have no idea. I lay Ryan down on his bed and I toss his quilt over him I take his boots off and lay next to him. I eventually drift to sleep and when I rewake the overcast sun is shining in through the window.

I sit up and rub my eyes and see Ryan waking up he stirs slightly and opens his hazel green eyes, I look down at him and he looks at me. "What happened?" "You were shot, Loyd fixed you up and I got you back here" he looks at me shocked and then he puts his hand on my shoulder. "Thank you for saving my life" he says clearly and genuinely.

I stare at his eyes and he stares right back my eyes flicker down to his lips and he leans forward and so do I connecting our lips together in a gentle but passionate kiss.

When we pull away he rubs my face with his thumb and I smile at him, I've never felt this way about guys before but holy shit that was amazing.

RYAN'S POV
I just kissed AJ, I can't take that back and things are going to be completely different now. I can't lie that as we've spent more time together he's grown on me, and he is attractive in his own special way.

But I don't know if I can go through a relationship again, not after what happened to Jimmy. I turn away from him and stand up, and walk away without a word.

I walk downstairs, and see both my and AJ's gun on the bar. My switchblade is there too, I grab that and my jean jacket and walk out. It's raining and I walk out and away, I need some time to sort things out in my head.

AJ'S POV
Ryan suddenly leaves without a word and I face palm, how could I be so fucking stupid. I mean he started the kiss but I kissed him back, ahh I don't know.

I lay back on Ryan's bed with a sigh, I hear thunder boom outside and it shakes the building. I sit up, and  walk downstairs, "Ryan?" I look around and he's gone.

I see the flash of the lightning, and hear the roar of the thunder, and I realize he's gone out in the storm.
I grab my dad's jacket and sigh "goddammit Ryan".

I open the door and run out into the raging storm.

AN HEY THEY KISSED, BUT RYAN HAS SOME PAAT ISSUES TO GET OVER FIRST. I'VE BEEN HAVING FUN WRITING THIS STORY.
BYE FOR NOW!