More Than Paralyzed { Ricky "Horror" Olson }

Like A Ghost Into the Night

By lunch I'm exhausted, all I want to do is go home and cuddle with my baby.
I munch on my salad idly staring at the wall in my classroom.
"Ms. Manson a word," the principal says knocking on my door that is standing wide open I set my fork down and join him in he hallway.
"Is something wrong?" I ask.
"After this semester we're cutting you psychology class, for budget reasons," he says,"I'm sorry,"
I just stare at him,"are you serious?"
"We're also not getting the reaction we wanted from the class, and we don't need a teacher or just an elective class," he says,"we're gonna have to let you go after this semester,"
"Well thanks for the heads up," I say before walking back into my class room.  Well this is just great, I check my phone after he leaves, Ricky texted me.
"Have a great first day Ms. Manson"
"My last first day I this district, I just got told that my class got cut from the budget," I reply setting my phone on my desk. Well this is just perfect what am I going to do now? I could use my psychology degree,
"Well shit, wanna have a pity party? You seemed like you really loved your job," Ricky replies and I smile.
"Sure" I text him finishing up my salad and get up to walk my trash back to cafeteria, so my room doesn't smell like food all the rest of the day. By the time I get back to my room the kids are released into the hallways and I watch as they slowly enter my room for my SAT/ ACT prep class. Since it's all seniors they've all taken the real test so for the rest of the school year we're not really doing anything else it's basically another study hall. So while the kids work on their other homework I  draw and look for another job. I could always go work at a tattoo parlor again like I did throughout college, I add that to my list of options the bell rings signaling that sixth hour is over and the kids get up but I don't move from my desk I just throw small smiles at them as they leave the room, and more enter. And so it goes on for two more hours, I grade a few papers and get them ready to return to the students before I call it a day and go pick up Lucian from my parents house. By the time I'm pulling into my driveway Ricky is pulling in behind me, and I just sit in my car, the realization that in four months my career is over, all because of a budget cut. I shake my head and get out as Ricky walks up to my car waiting for me. I unlock the doors and watch as Ricky gets Lucian out of the car seat.
"Hey little man, how was your day?" Ricky asks.
"Good," Lucian says between a yawn.
I smile watching the two of them. I want so badly for Lucian to have a father figure in his life, someone else who will love him unconditionally, someone who will teach him to be a gentleman, better than I can, someone who will teach him to be a man in general, but not just any man a good man; but it seems that's never going to happen, and besides even if Ricky and were to date I wouldn't ask him to be that person, he has too much to worry about as it is with the band and constantly touring, he wouldn't have time to teach Lucian the things he needs to know.
"Salem are you okay?" Ricky asks snapping me from my thoughts.
"Salem?" I ask raising an eyebrow.
"Well you didn't answer to crucible or Ms. Manson," he says,"let's go inside its getting cold,"
He changes the subject so frequently these days.
I follow him inside and close the door once we're both through the door I take Lucian's coat off of him and hang it up before taking my own off and hanging it on the coat rack by the door. Lucian runs off into the living room and Ricky just hugs me.
"So, do you want to talk about it?" He mumbles into my hair I just shake my head.
"I need to find a new job, but I want to get so fucking trashed after the day I've had," I say burying my face in his chest. He squeezes me.
"Salem you know that won't help right?" He whispers,"it only makes things worse, I promise,"
I sigh,"you're probably right, what should we do then?"
"well I can help you look for a job, I know Balz said he needed help with the parlor now that Ryan has been getting more appointments," he says,"you could go there until you find something, or There's other schools, I saw your tattooing license on the wall the other day you could get it renewed and go work with Ryan- Ashley she said she could use a hand at the shop she works at,"
I just nod, breathing in the weird combination of smells that are Ricky Olson.
"Salem, I brought some stuff over for our pity party but I have to go get it so you're going to have to let go of me," Ricky laughs and I realize I still have my face in his chest and I don't feel his arms around me anymore, so I step back quickly letting go of him my face more than likely bright red.
Ricky smiles at me and kisses my cheek before walking outside. I try to calm down and walk into the living room where Lucian is asleep on the couch, so I take him to his room, I won't let him sleep through dinner but he definitely needs a nap.
Ricky comes back inside with three grocery bags,
"So I brought ice cream and horror movies," he smiles setting the bags down in the coffee table, he digs and spreads out the movie selection,"pick whatever you like and I'll go get dinner"
"What's for dinner?" I ask and he just smiles.
"Absolutely not pizza," he says before walking into the kitchen.
I pick house of 1000 corpses and put it in letting the commercials play while I wait for Ricky who comes back into the living room just to smile at my movie choice.
"I can tell just from the commercials what you locked is that bad?" He asks.
"No not at all," I say
"Food will be here on thirty minutes," he says sitting next to me on the couch. I press play and Ricky wraps a black plush blanket around both of us after pulling me into his side, and I can't help but imagine if this is what it's like to be his girlfriend, because this is absolutely perfect.

Authors note: Prepare for a big time jump.