All You Need Is Me. (Yaoi.)

Chapter Eighteen.

Sitting silently in the car next to Ryu, Lyric looked up at him. "What did we need to talk about?"

Ryu bit his lip. "What did that guy want?"

Lyric blinked. "Sex, I presume."

Ryu's eyes darkened with anger. "You're sure?"

"Oh, yes. He told me that he wanted to see me in a back room and he asked me to be his. So, yes. Why? What's eating at you?" Lyric watched him.

Ryu looked uneasy. "It's what that guy said..."

Tall guy eyed Ryu. "You sure about that? My buddy says he saw him over with you. Hiding behind this one," He stepped towards Ryu and took a lock of his hair in his fingers. "I could take them both, you know?"

"What if he had actually managed to take us...?" Ryu looked pale.

Lyric watched him silently for a moment. Ryu had never looked so frightened. "I can say for sure that Shane wouldn't have let that happen..."

"Yeah...?" Ryu bit his lip.

"Mhmm. Even though you two just met, I can already tell that he's protective of you. It's sweet of him."

Ryu sighed softly in relief. "Thanks..."

Lyric nodded. Then he remembered something Ryu had said previously this afternoon. "Uh...listen. Earlier, you asked me to forgive you for what you'd said...I need to apologize, too. I may not have been the nicest guy, either." Lyric apologized. "I'm so sorry."

Ryu shook his head. "Forgotten. No need to worry about it, please." He shook his head.

Lyric smiled faintly as Ryu pulled up outside of the parlor. "You know, I'm glad we're friends now..." Lyric admitted.

"Me, too." Ryu smiled and then he lapsed back into silence, opening the door.

"Hey," Lyric stopped him. "Don't worry about that creep. You're safe, okay? If he had tried to hurt you, I wouldn't let him, bestie." Lyric joked.

Ryu chuckled faintly. "Thanks so much..." And he got out of the car, Lyric following suit.

Shane got out of his car and he walked over to Ryu. "Hey."

Ryu gave a nervous smile. "Hi again..."

"You feeling all right?" Shane asked, watching Ryu's face in the lamp-lit parking lot.

Ryu looked like he was about to cry, but without the actual crying. He just looked very distraught and upset. "I'm fine." He shrugged.

Vance joined the three after a moment and he stood next to Lyric.

Lyric bit his lip and leaned closer to Vance. "Hmm..." He sighed softly. "Can I have ice cream now, Vance?" He held onto Vance's arm.

Shane took Ryu's hand. "Let's go." And they walked inside. There weren't too many people, just a few families and a couple.

"Know what you want?" Vance asked Lyric.

"Can I have vanilla?" Lyric asked.

Vance blinked. "Just...plain ice cream? Nothing on it?"

"Right." Lyric nodded. "It's my favorite."

"All right," Vance chuckled. "What's wrong with chocolate, though?"

"It's nasty!" Lyric pouted. "I don't like it."

"You're crazy, Kitten. I mean, who doesn't like chocolate ice cream?" Vance asked amusedly.

"Me!" Lyric smiled.

Shane looked at Ryu. "Know what you want?"

Ryu nodded. "Strawberry."