Remnants of Shattered Innocence (Unedited First Draft)

Chapter 4 (August 14, 2004)

Jimmy stood in the kitchenette area of his small studio apartment, eyeing the pineapple pizza in front of him suspiciously. Finally, he pulled two slices from the pie and tossed them on plates. Balancing the plates, a beer, and a can of soda, he walked back to the couch. After carefully handing Skylar her plate and drink, he sat beside her and took a sip of beer.

"You're sure this is good?" Jimmy asked, holding his slice of pizza midair. "I've never heard of this before."

"Yes," Skylar tried not to laugh, "for the millionth time. It's amazing, I promise."

Before Jimmy put the slice of pizza in his mouth, he already had a grimace on his face. He paused just before taking a bite and looked out of the corner of his eye at Skylar. She laughed as she motioned for him to do it. After biting the pizza, he squeezed his eyes shut as he chewed, expecting the worst.

"Hm," His eyes opened and his eyebrows raised in surprise as he said, "this is actually pretty good."

Skylar smiled with self-satisfaction.

"Don't look at me in that told-you-so tone of voice," Jimmy said as he shook his finger at her.

He almost inhaled the rest of the slice. Reaching to the coffee table, he picked up his beer to take a sip. As he sat back, he looked back at Skylar, who was taking dainty bites. He was taking another swig of beer as she looked up at him.

"Let me try," Skylar said as she put her plate down on the coffee table and reached for the beer.

"I don't think so," Jimmy held the beer out of her reach as she leaned over him.

She pulled on the collar of his sky blue polo shirt. Getting up on her knees, she leaned further over him, but the beer was just out of her reach. She half-climbed over one of his legs as she looked at him with mischief in her eyes and before he could wonder what she was thinking, she leaned down and kissed his neck.

"Oh, don't start that," Jimmy joked, still keeping his beer arm extended, but putting the other hand on her back.

Skylar kissed his neck again and moved up, nibbling on his earlobe.

"Come on," She whispered into his ear, "Just one sip. I just want to try."

She sat back and looked at his face. He had a smirk on his face as she leaned forward and kissed him on the lips.

"No," Jimmy said between kisses, "I've already broken enough rules when it comes to you. I need to keep some of my ethics intact."

She playfully bit his lip and sat on his leg. She batted her eyes, reaching her last resort. When he shook his head again, she laughed.

"Just give it to me!"

Lunging at the beer, she grabbed his arm, trying to pull his arm closer so she could get the beer from his hand. After struggling for a few seconds, Skylar had succeeded, but as she wrenched the beer free from his hand, it spilled all over his shirt.

Skylar jumped up, covering her mouth with her hands.

"I'm so sorry," She tried not to laugh, "I promise that wasn't on purpose."

Jimmy sighed as he eyed what was left of his beer. Tilting his head back, he emptied the bottle into his mouth. He got up as he shrugged.

"No big deal," He lifted the shirt above his head, "I'll just wash it later."

He walked over to his dresser and opened the drawer. As he dug through all the clothes stuffed in the drawer, Skylar walked over to him. Although his muscles weren't big, he had a toned body type. She stood between him and the dresser and put her hands on his abs.