Lone Survivors

V (The Nature Of The Beast)

Rico's Taco Truck was my go-to whenever I had a taco craving. Rico Torres, the owner even gave me a job when I was in-between tours. With Chris' arm wrapped securely around my shoulders I received equal looks of envy and jealousy. Emotions I was not used to seeing reflected at me. Growing up, I kept my head down I laid low because of who I was and what was out there. If there were bullies, I'd handle them just how my Aunt Caroline taught me. I was the kid who paid attention and participated enough in class to get by. My aunt expected a "Straight-A" student, I brought home average grades. She wanted me top of the class a valedictorian, I managed to be in the top one hundred in a class of three hundred. While she expected me to either join the military or go to college, I bought my van and moved from place to place. It was who I was, what my environment shaped me to be.

"Kaitlynn, my beautiful girl!"

Rico's scratchy yet melodic tenor voice with a Hispanic accent was known throughout LA to make any woman swoon upon hearing it. He stood about six foot his tan skin decorated with tattoos from Central American folklore. He told me these legends during our slow periods working in his truck and I'd write them down to read for later. His black hair spiked to absolute perfection, his mustache and goatie trimmed to the same standards. He scooped me up into a hug, twirling me around several times. Chris stood there silently his eyes filled with curiosity. Rico set me down keeping his hands on my shoulders to steady me.

"Hola Rico, good to see you again." I grinned.

"Is this the infamous Spencer I have heard so much about?" He faced Chris who shook his head extending his hand.

"I'm a friend of his, Chris Cerulli." Chris greeted in such a polite and flattering tone I was momentarily stunned.

"Well Chris, if you are with my Kaitie then you will be treated like mi familia. Order to your hearts content." He shook Chris's hands pulling him in for a hug. That was Rico, his heart was big and everyone loved him. It's why his tacos were the best in the city.

Chris and I ordered a few tacos each finding a shady patch of grass underneath a tree to stage our picnic.

"How do you know Rico?" Chris asked casually.

"I met him during one of my taco cravings. I pick up a few shifts here when I'm not on tour." I replied, digging right in. Tacos were my all-time favorite food. Only three people knew that, Spencer, Aunt Caroline, and Rico.

Stop being so paranoid Kaitlynn! I snapped at myself.

"You are a girl of many talents Kaitlynn Porter." He chuckled.

"Not really." I mumbled. He raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not as amazing as Spencer makes me out to be." I rubbed the back of my neck. "If you really knew me, you'd be heading for the hills. Most people do."

"I'll have you know I'm in the same boat." Chris crumpled the wrappers up tossing them into the bag in-between us. "So, if you want to head for hills now's your chance."

I sat there looking down at my hands, biting my lip. Spencer would have told Chris that I was funny, making movie and song references at any chance the moment called for them. He would have said I loved books, which was one percent true. All of my books were kept in a box in my van. He would have mentioned my love for comic book movies and how despite their rivalry I loved both Marvel and DC. Despite my parents being murdered hanging like a noose above my head I was just your typical run of the mill adult.

"I'm sorry." I said, breaking the silence. "I'll be honest, this is kind of...okay its actually my first date ever and I really feel like I'm botching it."

"You're not botching it; this is my first date in a while I'm just as nervous as you are." He reached for my hand. "How about we start over? Hi, I'm Christopher Cerulli, but you can call me Chris Motionless."