Love Bites

Chapter Two

May 1988, Same Day

Atlanta

"Well this is me"

Ryker looked in awe at my house "this is your place?" he asked, I nodded "damn, this is nice Rodriguez"

I chuckled "yeah it's nice but it sucks," I told him, he looked at me like I was crazy "you're kidding right?" He asked I shook my head

"Try having a dad who hasn't been here anymore because of your mom's death," I said "before my mom died everything was perfect, but not anymore" I whispered

"I'm sorry for your loss, I understand your pain," Ryker said looking at me "I lost my mom a few years ago when I was 12, it was the hardest time in my life," he said sadly

I looked at him and for the first time since seeing him at school, I truly saw him as a person and not the freak everyone was scared of. He was hurting just like me and as bad as the circumstances are I'm glad someone understands how I feel.

"Hey, why don't we go somewhere?" He asked all of a sudden, I looked over at him with an eyebrow raised "I know we just met each other today but to stop the sadness why don't you come to my band practice"

"You have a band?" I asked

"Yeah! We are a rock/metal band named Wilde Fire, even though people don't see that as music we love it" he said excitedly

"I would love to come to hear some of your stuff," I said smiling "I happen to like rock/metal music as well" he looked over at me in shock as he began to drive away from my house

"No. Fucking. Way." He said, "THE Camila Rodriguez, as known as the Cheer Captain of Grant High School, likes rock/metal music!?"

I laughed "yes! I do enjoy it, I mean don't get me wrong I do love me some Madonna, Prince, and Cyndi Lauper, but I have a variety of music tastes and rock/metal is one of them" I said

"Wow, I can't believe it," he said still shocked "try me," I told him

"Name three songs from Def Leppard," he said

"Pour Some Sugar On Me, Photograph and Love bites, which is actually my favorite song," I said smiling "now believe me?"

"Hysteria album and the Pyromania album nice," he said impressed "Mötley Crüe, go!"

"Live wire, Home sweet home, Wild Side," I said smirking

"Well fuck, I'd say you're a hardcore metal head but only if you can name three songs from Metallica"

"Fade in black, Master of Puppets, and Disposable Heroes" I finished

"Well damn, now I see why all-star quarterback was with you," he said seriously "that was hot"

I looked at him with wide eyes and laughed while blushing "well he didn't necessarily know I loved this music, but it doesn't matter anymore since we broke up so..." I said trailing off, "well that's his fault for letting you go because you are AMAZING!" He said dramatically

I laughed "thank you, you know you aren't so bad yourself," I told him

He looked over at me once again and smiled "why thank you, I do say I am an amazing person" he said chuckling "but no really that means a lot thank you"

The rest of the car ride was silent as we drove to his place and it was a comfortable silence, I felt like I could be myself around him. Maybe we could be friends.

*~*~*~*
"Welcome to my humble abode," he said "I'm kidding, this is my best friend Vinny's place he plays the rhythm guitar in our band and his family lends us their garage to practice, they are like my second family"