The Specialist and I

37

Ron kissed me. This kiss wasn't full of happiness. This kiss was full of sadness and love. Lots and lots of love. I looked up at Ron, tears in my eyes. I noticed the tears in his eyes as well. He hugged me tightly.

"I love you, Lori.", Ron said, "Never forget that."

"I love you too, Ron.", I said, "I'll miss you."

Ron kissed me once more and picked up his last suitcase. He walked down the stairs. Annabel was crying as she hugged him. She begged him to not go. Mom hugged him next. She was crying, too. She knew what was coming next. My dad didn't. Ron looked at me once more as he walked out the door with dad right behind him.

I slammed my door shut and sat in front of it, sobbing. I couldn't stop myself. I didn't want to. I just stayed in front of my door, crying. All day. I didn't move.

Hours passed. Those hours were the longest hours of my life. A knock interrupted me.

"Lori? Dinner.", Mom said.

I didn't answer her. Tears were too busy streaming down my face. The one person who knew me better than anyone else is gone. The one who comforted me at night was gone. The one who took me out to the waterfall almost every week is gone. My one true love is gone. Forever.

"I'll bring you a plate.", mom said softly.

Bullet laid on the closet floor, staring at where Ron's shoes used to sit, whining.

"Bullet, come.", I said and he slowly walked over to me.

He laid down next to me and put his head in my lap. I heard silverware hitting against a plate a few seconds later.

"Bowl.", I said and Bullet went to get his bowl.

I opened the door and grabbed my dinner from my mom. She looked so sad when she saw my bloodshot eyes. I closed the door and gave Bullet his food. He sat next to me as we ate. When I finished, Bullet carefully took the plate and fork downstairs to be washed.

I walked over to my bed and laid down. Bullet came through the doggie door Ron and I installed in our bedroom door. It's a wooden one. He jumped onto my bed and curled up next to me. Slowly, I fell asleep.

~~

Day 2. Ron is still gone. My mom and dad haven't heard me speak since he left. I haven't even left my room. My phone beeped signaling that I had a text message.

Why don't you come down? We'll have a family brunch. ~ Dad

Hell no! I HATE YOU! ~ Lori

Come on, Lorles. What did I do? ~ Dad

Don't call me that! ~ Lori

What did you do?! You kicked out the ONE person that I knew I could count on! That's what you did! ~ Lori

Come on. Don't be like that. ~ Dad

Fuck you asshole! ~ Lori

*You have blocked this number*

I set my phone down and looked over at Ron's side of the bed. Bullet laid there, whimpering. He clearly misses Ron as much as I do. I wanted to cry but I had no tears left. I had cried for 6 hours last night. I decided to do my homework that was due tomorrow. The assignment took me a few minutes to do.

Bullet continued to whine as I got an idea. Immediately, my idea was shot down when I realized that I had no clue where the base was located. I heard voices downstairs and automatically knew who they were.

"How's Lori doing?", Orion asked.

"She's going back to her silent state only slightly worse.", Dad said.

"Worse how?", Rhyan asked.

"She won't come out of her room. For anything. Last night, she was crying non-stop.", mom said, her voice cracking, "I managed to get a picture of her face."

"Poor girl.", Rhyan said, "Did she sleep at all last night?"

"Not that we know of.", Dad said, "She locked her room. We don't have a key to open it."

"How's Ron?", mom asked.

"Not any better than Lori.", Orion said, "As soon as he arrived yesterday, he took his stuff straight to one of the human rooms. We don't know which one. He's been avoiding us all like the plague."

"I'm worried about his health. He hasn't had any Energon since he arrived that we know of. The video feed from yesterday and last night shows that he never once walked in that room.", Rhyan said, "From what we know, there's only one person who can get him to have his Energon."

"No. No way. I'm not letting my daughter anywhere near him!", Dad growled.

"William!", my mother yelled, "Don't you want her to be happy?"

"She can be happy with someone else.", Dad said, "Not with someone who's 26 ft tall!"

"Careful, Will. She can hear you.", mom said.

"Lennox, please. It's for both their sake. Ron's condition will worsen and he will eventually die.", Orion said, "So will Lori."

"No. She's 17! He's 32!", Dad exclaimed.

"Will, she is turning 18 in May. She can make her own decisions.", mom said.

"Sarah, they're 15 years apart.", Dad said.

"So are we.", mom said.

"I'm bringing her to base the 8th. They can see each other then.", dad said.

Dad, you are a horrible person. That's still two weeks from now! I sighed and started petting Bullet as he continued to whine.