Ryan Flame - The Library Window

To Town and Back

"The car ride into town is exactly 45 Minutes at this speed!" Luke said quietly. Making sure to be extra quiet while still in the car. Austin chuckled at his son's enthusiasm though. Ryan Assumed that Austin didn't expect Luke to keep tracking how much time his dad was saving by speeding. So far their dad had impressed shaved off an hour of time using the old Highways rather than the main freeway.

"Father, it is truly impressive the amount of hours you will save going this fast. It is indeed faster than the speedway!" Luke smiled as he began to run the numbers in his head.

The black haired boy next to Ryan let out a growl instead, "Ya! Until we get pulled over by a cop!" He said, his anxiety and fear of such an event obvious in his voice. Ryan's smile faltered.

"No need to worry, father will out race them. This is indeed a very fast car." Luke said beaming.

Silence fell over the car again as their father masterfully made his way through the traffic. Their father was never one to head to laws of any sorts, yet despite how many red lights he ran or stop signs he ignored, they never got into a car accident.

They also weren't allowed to talk very much when they were in town driving either though. Ryan knew that Lukis didn't mind this, but Luke minded very much. He was full of questions and curious ideas about what was happening around him that he didn't want to stay quiet.

The car finally pulled to a stop in front of a rather large store. "Father, I do say, this is a well rounded store." Luke spoke up as the engine turned off. Austin sighed.

"Bears Mall is always full of fun with so many stores!" Luke went on, ignoring the complaints from his brother. Ryan chuckled at this.

"Indeed Luke, that is why it is called a mall." Austin said as they began the long walk to the front of the store.

"Yes indeed it is, can we go to the bookstore in Bear's Mall?"

"Yes." Came their father's quick response.

"Can I go to the gothic store?" Lukis asked as he looked at his tearing gloves. They were well loved to say the least.

"Maybe." Austin sighed.

"Can we play the quiet game?" Ryan said as he looked between his brothers, who all seemed hesitant. Their father was quick to dismiss the thought though.

"No. I don't want to lose you in the crowd." Austin's blue eyes snapped to Ryan as he spoke. Making this a non negotiable topic.

Though the shopping spree was very enjoyable to Ryan's brown haired siblings, Ryan was finding the sea of people hard to enjoy. The first thing that they did was go to Lukis's Hot Shot store. Everyone knew that it wasn't a gothic story though. It was much more emo in feel and design, but their father despised the lack of class in the character of it all. The music was too loud and chaotic, and didn't get him started with the people.

After they had all obtained Lukis's gloves and jackets, they moved on to Ryan's store. It was much more to his father's liking, and since Ryan didn't care what he wore, he always let his father pick. Though Austin himself didn't pick Ryan's outfits, the boy had a knack for reading people. So, he knew what his father liked to see. Not to mention Luke also liked this store. It had a more modern style to it, but more of the aura that their father liked. Classic gentleman.

Lastly, the group made their way to the library. Where they would find their school supplies along with a lot of books for Luke. After Lukis had picked out an odd book about fractals, it was Ryan's turn to pick a book.

"Just pick a book already!" Lukis groaned in exasperation. He was never a patient person, yet he deeply enjoyed spending time doing new things. This thought was nothing new. Well, other than the fact that Ryan was taking very long to pick out a book for his brother.

Austin let out a sigh as he blew some black hair out of his eyes. Not saying anything but making it obvious that he too was getting impatient.

"How about you three go to the café and get us all some lunch. I'll join you in a few minutes okay?" Ryan asked as he turned away from the complicated physics books. Quantum travel was indeed something Luke was into.

Austin seemed hesitant but sighed after a moment of deliberation, "Very well, but you have ten minutes then. No more." Austin's tone was soft and quiet, but full of authority. Ryan nodded, agreeing to the terms.

The other two siblings seemed too shocked to disagree as Austin led them away from the library. Ryan looked back at the books. As he let his eyes wander the endless array of science, a pink book off to the side in its own display caught his eye. Ryan usually would have dismissed this thought because Luke didn't enjoy fairytales, but the author, Valarie Baine, was a psychologist. Ryan made his way over slowly, being careful to not attract attention.

The smile that crept up his face was slow. He had found a perfect book for his brother. So he picked up the 'Princess's Knight' and made his way to the check register.

"Good afternoon sir, is this all you would like?"

"Yes, and no, on the display it said it had the summary of the book on the back of the more expensive copies rather than the history and idea behind the book, could I get one of those instead?" He asked to pull out his wallet.

"Of course! Anything else?" The bright hair women smiled at him.

"Yes, could I get it in one of those blue boxes? Nothing fancy." He added that there were many blue boxes, but only one plain box.

The lady smiled before getting everything for him. "Anything else?"

"No thank you." Ryan said respectfully. After paying for the now wrapped up book, Ryan said his farewell and made his way to the café across from the bookstore.

"Father, I am ten seconds early!" Ryan said as he looked down at his watch. Austin nodded as he handed Ryan a warm cup of hot chocolate.

"What book did you get me?" Luke asked, suddenly getting up to move closer to his brother. Excitement was obvious in his features.

"I want it to be a surprise." Ryan said, calmly sipping his drink, "Where to next?" He turned now to his father, curious to see if there was anything else to do.

"Oh, just tell me the title!" Luke said before Austin could answer.

"That would defeat the purpose of a surprise wouldn't it?" Ryan's eyes were still trained on his father, waiting for Austin to give a response to his question.

"Home," Austin paused, "Unless there is something else you three need." He added softly.

Ryan nodded before looking at his brother calmly. Ryan knew that there was nothing else for them to get, so the boy's began to gather there to go order and made their way out of the mall and back to their father's car.