If Love Really Does Exist

Darling, Look at the Sparks

Going from state to state one day at a time caused me to get sick, literally. I had a splitting headache, the kind so bad you could feel it in your eyes. Jaime, who was lying with me in his bunk, couldn't sleep either due to my constant moving. Eventually, he got up going to the kitchen and coming back with a cup of water and something in his hand.

"Try this." Jaime said handing the tablets to me. A normal person would have brought me Advil but Jaime wasn't normal.

"What are these?" I asked.

"It's magnesium tablets. They help with headaches." He sat down next to me and I took them.

"Thanks but you know that's not what's keeping me up right?" Jaime nodded, "I'll just go lay on the couch. You get your sleep."

"Rosa, come on." His said a small laugh escaping his lips. Before I could question him he pulled me up and we headed to the couch he sat down on the end and I say next to him. "Do you just want to talk? It doesn't have to be about you're dad. It can be anything."

"We haven't really gotten a chance to talk lately, have we?" I asked.

"No, that's why I haven't been able to sleep honestly." I shook my head at him a smile falling on both our faces. "What?"

"Olly-olly-oxen-free." I breathed out laughing. Jaime looked confused for a split second and then seemed to understand I was making fun of our confession session.

"Olly-olly-oxen-free definitely." I stuck my tongue out as he responded.

"I told Vic." I told him.

"You told him what?" He asked and I bit my lip, "About Ryan?" I shook my head.

"I told him everything. It was hard at first but I don't know. He made a bad joke and I told him about my father. When he didn't pressure me for more, everything just flowed out." I admitted.

"That's good. That you can talk about it now." He hugged me.

"I know but now I almost feel like I gave Vic the knife to stab me in the back later."

"Don't. Vic is the most caring dude. He wouldn't hurt a fly if it poked him in the eye." I laughed at that and he held me tighter. "It's gonna be okay Cariña."

"I know I just worry is all." I told him.

"So can you tell me exactly what happened with you and Ryan? The vague answer is bothering me." He bit at his lip. My heart sunk. I wanted to tell him I really did but I couldn't.

"It's already over can we leave it in the past?" I asked with sincerity. I'd be happy if I never had to utter that name again.

"I understand." He dropped his gaze for a moment and then he looked up and grabbed the remote and flipped on the T.V. He put his arm around me and made tiny circles on my forearm.

"Don't do that, it tickles." I said squirming from his touch. He smiled while looking over to me.

"Oh does it?" He teased.

"Jaime don't-" Before I could get another word in, his hands were at my sides. I didn't particularly like being tickled and Jaime knew that but he did it anyway. Between short breaths I begged Jaime to stop but he just kept tickling me. When he finally let me breath I was laying on my back and he was laying over me. He rested his head on my stomach and we settled down.

"Wanna play favorites?" Jaime asked almost like a child.

"Sure, you go first." I said laughing.

"What's your favorite color?" he asked me.

"Jaime you know." I told him.

"No I don't. Last time we brought this stuff up was in high school. It could have changed by then." Jaime said.