Strangers At First Sight

Getting Closer...

"How long did it take you to draw this one?" Dallas asked running his finger on the sketch marks. "uhh, about four hours." Liberty replied drinking some tea. "You should enter them in the art show?" See every school year their school has an art show that takes place in the first week of March and the winner gets a cash prize. "Not going to happen, I draw because I enjoy it, I don't do it for any one else's pleasure." Liberty responded. "Don't you think that's a bit self-centered?" Dallas spoke. "What is?" Liberty questioned. "That you paint and draw these beautiful masterpieces but only let your eyes see it and not the rest of the worlds?" Dallas responded. "Why do you have to go and pin this on me?" Liberty responded making a face. "I'm just saying...I think you have a real shot of winning!" Dallas said putting the canvas along with her many other painting's and drawings. "I'll think about it okay" Liberty responded. "That means no doesn't it?" Dallas asked as Liberty cleaned her brushes. "Not entirely!" Liberty smiled. Dallas gave her an annoyed glare.

***

Liberty and Dallas have been cuddling on the couch eating junk food and watching movies all morning cutting into the afternoon. "I love doing absolutely nothing with you!" Dallas whispered into Liberty's ears planting a quick kiss on her forehead. "Corny much?" Liberty smiled looking up to see Dallas staring at her as she lay on his lap. "That's just how I do!" Dallas winked. Liberty crossed her eyes at Dallas making him chuckle! "I can't believe Christmas is in one week!" Dallas said. "I can, this year had gone by so slow." Liberty responded. "Are you kidding me. No it has not." Dallas started "It feels like just yesterday I was at Jake's New Years party getting drunk." Liberty avoided eye contact with Dallas. "I wasn't invited." Liberty responded. "That's okay, this year your'e going with me!" Dallas said tickling Liberty making her laugh uncontrollably! "Aww there's that beautiful smile!" Dallas said poking her nose and cheek! "Ahh, no...I hate being tickled...stop...!!!!" Liberty laughed getting off of the couch and running upstairs with Dallas close behind her! She ran into the closest door she could find and shut the door behind her! Dallas went through another door and scared her from behind! "Boo!" Dallas said poking her sides! "Ahh, you scared me!" Liberty laughed pushing Dallas back. 

Liberty scanned the room they were both in. It was her parent's room...well before her mom died. She hadn't been inside the room since her funeral. She looked at the old pictures hanging on the wall; her eyes got misty and she got a lump in her throat. "Liberty, are you okay?" Dallas asked noticing Liberty's discomfort. "I, uhh..." Liberty's voice cracked. "I...this was my parent's room before my mom...uhh, before my mom you know died...and I haven't been in here ever since." Liberty said wiping away the tears. "Libby, come here." Dallas held Liberty tightly in his arms. "Everything's going to be okay." Liberty had her head snugged on Dallas' neck and shoulder. "I'm sorry." Dallas held her by her arms and looked her in the eyes. "Why are you sorry?" He wiped one last tear off of her face. "Because I'm crying." Liberty spoke softly. "Libby, that is nothing to be sorry about." Dallas brought her into a hug once again and kissed her forehead. "Thank you for being here with me!" Liberty said. "You don't have to thank me, I love being with you!" Dallas wrapped his arm over Liberty's shoulder as they walked back down stairs.

"Do you want to stay for dinner? My dad's not coming back from work till Wednesday." Liberty spoke. "No, I have to get home before it gets any later. I'm sorry." Dallas replied. Liberty pouted and sighed. "Okay, I understand." Liberty responded. Dallas smiled at Liberty's cuteness. "How about tomorrow night I pick you up at around say...eight and you come over to my house, meet my grandpa, and have dinner!" Dallas suggested. Liberty's face lit up! "Really!?" She smiled from ear to ear. "Yes. since I know you have been dying to meet him, and I really want him to meet you as well!" Dallas said putting on his leather jacket. "Okay see you tomorrow night!!" Liberty said hugging Dallas. "Night Libby!" Dallas said hugging Liberty back and planting a small kiss on her cheek!

Before Dallas got back home he stopped by Mrs. Adam's house. "Oh well hello Dallas!" She smiled as she opened her front door. "Come in!" Dallas stepped inside her warm home. "Thank you!" He said. "What can I help you with!!?" She asked making her way back into her kitchen as she continued to cook. "Well I was just wondering if you could possibly cook for us tomorrow night...I'm bringing my girlfriend over and I promised her dinner...and you know I lack cooking skills...it's okay if you don't want to." Dallas said. "Of course! I would love to cook dinner and meet your girlfriend! You never told me you had a girlfriend." She said. "We just started dating that's why I haven't gotten a chance to tell you" Dallas said. Mrs. Adam's and Dallas have gotten close over the years...she has become like his second family. "What time would you like me over?" She asked mixing her food in her pot. "Umm, well I'm going to pick her up at around eight...." Dallas started. "Okay!" Mrs. Adam's said. "Thank you so much for doing this!" Dallas said. "No problem!" Mrs. Adam's said. "Would you like some homemade casserole?" She asked. "Oh no thank you I have to get going and check up on my grandpa." Dallas said a little scared because no one passes up one of Mrs. Adam's food offerings...mainly because no one can resist her food. "To bad your having some! I'll make it 'to go' so you can take some to your grandpa as well! It'll save me the trip!" She smiled putting the casserole in a Tupperware container and closing the lid and got some money out of her purse. "Here I know it's not much but I'm sure you can buy something with it." Dallas looked at the fifty dollar bill in her hand. "No Mrs. Adam's I can't take that. It's your money." Dallas said "You keep it." Mrs. Adam's gave Dallas a smile and gave up, because despite everything Dallas never accepted money from anyone. "Thank you!" Dallas smiled as he accepted the food. "No problem, be safe on your way home, there is a lot of ice and snow out there." Mrs. Adam's gave Dallas a hug. "I will and thank you!" Dallas returned the hug before leaving. 

After having dinner with his grandpa Dallas tucked him into bed. Dallas sat at the kitchen table sorting out the bills. He was grateful that his grandpa's government money had came though the mail early in the day...it wasn't much but it was enough to pay the bills and buy some groceries. I know what your asking...if he has financial problem why doesn't he just get a job. Well he already has to attend school and getting a job will only limit the amount of time he has with his grandpa and no one will be home to take care of his grandpa and make sure he is okay. Well why doesn't he get Mrs. Adam's to take care of him? Mrs. Adam's has a job and a career. She only takes care of his grandpa whenever she can. "Okay so I have to cash this check, pay the bills, and buy groceries tomorrow before eight." Dallas told himself as he put everything in a stack on the table. He hopped into the shower and went to sleep but not before sending Liberty a nice good night message.

  I hope you had a good dinner, sorry I couldn't stay. I will be thinking of you as I sleep. Goodnight beautiful! - Dallas