The Specialist and I

25

I know this is OVERLY late but it's the next chapter. This was supposed to get published in October or early November. I'm way behind schedule......

~

I sigh and walk through the rows and rows of costumes. Of course, I wasn't alone. Nowadays, I'm never alone thanks to those Decepticon creeps. They really freaked me out. I was deciding what to be for Halloween. If I don't find anything here, I'll make my own costume with the clothes I already have.

"What's the point of Halloween anyway?", Ron asked.

"You mean to tell me you never went out at night, wore costumes, scared people shitless, and stole their candy?", I asked, "That's my typical Halloween."

"Never. When I was a kid, we were all afraid to step out of our houses. My parents wouldn't let me leave. Drug dealers, rapists, murders, that's pretty much all we had in our country. My parents let me leave the house my self when I was about your age. I went to learn about weapons. Guns mostly. When I turned 27, a war started and killed most of our population.", Ron answered.

"That's terrible.", I said, "I can't imagine loosing my friends and family. Nor the suffering you had to go through."

"During the war, most of us were too focused on the fight. We forgot we even had families. We were reminded the hard way.", Ron said, his eyes full of sadness, "I had to choose to save my family and join the enemy or stay with my friends and comrades and face their death. I chose. It was the hardest thing I ever did."

"You chose to fight against the enemy instead of join them. They killed your parents in front of you.", I said.

"And my little brother.", Ron said.

"I couldn't - I can't think of a world without my sister, father, and mother.", I said, "I-I can imagine how it feels. I just don't want to."

Tears fell from my eyes and I looked away, ashamed. Ron gently took my chin and turned my head toward him. He wiped the tears away, yet he smiled. That sexy, adorable, oh my god! Lori, get a hold of yourself! A woman walked over as Ron hugged me and held me close.

I ignored their conversation as I thought back to when Rhyan was in the hospital. I blushed and buried my head in his chest causing me to blush even more.

"Hon, you alright?", Ron asked, the woman still standing next to us.

Not trusting my voice, I nodded. My blush continued to darken. He called me hon! The woman left. Ron and I made eye contact and the world around us seemed to disappear. It was just....us. At least until his phone rang. We broke eye contact and things suddenly got extremely awkward.

"Y-you should um, you should get that.", I said.

"Yeah.", Ron said and pulled out his phone, "Lennox."

Curse you father! As dad and Ron talked, I continued to look through the costumes. Nothing here fit my interest at all. I kept glancing over at Ron and my thoughts went to when we almost kissed.

"What's the damage?", I asked when he hung up.

"Will wants you back at the house. Apparently he and I have to head back to base and you're mom is sick.", Ron answered, "You ready to go?"

"Yeah, I suppose.", I said, "There isn't anything here I like."

Ron nodded and we walked back out to his truck. I got in the passenger seat and Ron got in the driver seat after opening and closing my door for me. The ride home was silent. Neither of us really wanted to talk about what happened a few minutes ago.

When we pulled into the driveway, I got out shortly after Ron.  We both walked into the house.

"Let's go. Pax is waiting.", dad said and noticed the awkwardness between Ron and I, "Did something happen between you two?"

"No.", I said quickly and walked upstairs.

The front door shut and I watched through my window as dad and Ron left. Mom walked in shortly after and I started blushing again.

"Looks like someone has a crush.", mom said, "Who is it? Someone from school? Someone you met at a cafe?"

"Someone I met almost a year ago. We were at the Holiday store looking at costumes.", I answered, "Until we had to leave."

"Wait a minute. You met Ron almost a year ago and you two were at the Holiday store.", Mom said, her eyes widening, "You like Ron?"

"Maybe.", I said quietly, "Are you mad?"

"Mad? No. Surprised? Yes. I thought you'd go after an athletic guy or something.", Mom said, "Ron is a very nice guy and I'm sure he'd make a great husband someday. There's something you're not telling me. I can see it."

"Well...... we almost kissed. I think.", I said, blushing.

"Almost isn't really good enough. Now, when I met your father when he got back from his second tour, I couldn't take my eyes off of him. After his third tour, he came over to me, we talked and we started dating. While he was in his fourth tour we would talk everyday at the same time. If he couldn't make it for some reason, he'd send me a video telling me how sorry he was and how much he loves and misses me. When he got back, he proposed to me. Six months later, we were married and I got pregnant.", Mom smiled.

"You make it sound easy.", I mumbled, "It's not."

"All I'm saying is love takes time to grow. Things happen and you have bumps in the road sometimes giant holes but you can overcome them.", Mom said.

"That makes no sense.", I said.

"It will.", Mom stated, "Now, I'm going to go lay down. But first I have to call in sick."

"Mom, you look really pale. I'll call you in.", I said and grabbed my phone.

"Thanks honey.", Mom said and went to her room.

After calling my mom in, I decided to look online for jobs until I can join the military. Wait....military. I walked into my closet and pulled out my dad's old uniform. Smiling, I change into it and head out to my weapons shed. I grab my rifle and look over to the gun with the crystal shard in it.

Smiling, I put the rifle back and grab the gun.

"Much better.", I said to myself.

I headed back inside and spotted Annabel climbing on the counters.

"What do you think you're doing?", I asked.

"Wooting for someting to eat.", Annabel answered.

"Get down before you hurt yourself.", I ordered and lifted her off the counter.

"But I hundry.", Annabel whined.

"I understand that you're hungry. Climbing on the counters isn't safe. It's extremely dangerous.", I scolded.

Annabel nodded and I made something for us to eat. I kept staring at the door, waiting for someone to open it and take me into their arms. I kept waiting and waiting for Ron to come home.