As I finished getting ready and slipped on my worn out vans there was a light tap on the door. I went downstairs to open the door wondering who it was. I was taken aback when I saw that it was Tyler.
"Well well well, what a surprise." I said to him.
"What?" He said confused. "I told you I'd be here at noon."
"I was surprised that you didn't beat down my door."
"Oh that." He said looking sheepish.
Just then I realized that I left my purse upstairs.
"Uh, why don't you come in for a second I left something upstairs."
"Okay." Tyler said cheerfully.
I ran upstairs and back as fast as I could just in case Tyler happened to be some kind of psychotic creeper. I entered the living room to find him casually looking around.
When he noticed my presence he said, "Nice place."
"Thanks," I said shyly because it probably wasn't that great compared to his.
"Ready?"
"Let's go."
We ended up eating at a local cafe that was a few blocks from my house.
"What? No surprise, rainy picnic?" I said smiling.
He just laughed with me.
We ordered large fries to share that remained mostly untouched.
There was no telling how long we sat across from each other in that old run down booth. We could have talked all night long. It was nearly five o'clock when we walked out of the cafe.
"Let's go for a walk." Tyler said thoughtfully as we stepped into the sidewalk.
"Okay." I said.
"So, how come you don't have and family photos or anything in your house?"
Shit. I really didn't want to explain this. What was I supposed to say to this rich boy who had everything he could want. He wouldn't understand.
He must've caught something in the way I hesitated because he said, "It's okay if you don't want to talk about it."
"No it's fine." I said suddenly wanting him to know. I wanted him to know that not everyone had a great life. I wanted him to know my troubles. I may have even wanted him to comfort me about them.
"Uh my parents got divorced when I was younger. She met someone and at the time I was just a kid so you could win me over with some candy and a fishing rod. That's exactly what happened too. Eventually my mom got pregnant.
"I didn't know you have siblings." Tyler interjected.
"I don't." I said bluntly. "She had a miscarriage."
"Oh, I'm sorry." He said
I just waved it off and began again, "As I got older I couldn't stand Joe, my stepdad, more and more. He was always teasing me. Not only that but after Joe and my Mom got married she wasn't the same. She had been fun and we had been close. But after she was all business. We got into all kinds of fight and still do. When Joe isn't around though we can get along but when he is round he's constantly causing problems and running his mouth. When he's around my Mom agrees with him and only him no matter what her opinion was previously. So since we aren't much of a "family" we've never taken many pictures. I mean considering we can barely live in a house together, pictures require you to be close and look happy." I finished.
"So why'd your parents divorce?" Tyler asked.
"My dad was in the army and he had some pretty bad PTSD from being deployed in the war in Iraq. I think my mom didn't understand what it was like over there. She didn't understand why he acted differently."
"Oh, I see." He said quietly.
"Yeah." I said equally quiet.
Somewhere in the midst of our deep conversation we had turned around and now we were approaching his car.
"Hey," said Tyler as he lightly grabbed my arm. He had stopped walking.
"Wha-" I began to say but as I turned to face Tyler he put my face into his callused hands, forcing me to look at him. For a second we just stared into each other's eyes. Cliché, I know but it's what happened.
"I'm here if you need to talk." He said still looking into my eyes, still holding me. I suddenly found myself sliding my hands to cup the back of his neck and slipping up onto my tippy toes. And we were kissing again. Just like last time it started to rain, but this time we stood there. Looking at each other. I don't know how long we stood there soaking wet but I do know that it was one of the best times of my life.
Once we were at my house I invited Tyler in again and gave him a towel and some of Joes clothes to change into.
"When are your parents supposed to get home?" Tyler asked appearing in the living room after changing.
"Friday, why?"
He just smiled at me and slowly walked to where I was standing in front of the gas fireplace. My grin was met by his lips once again. Somehow we ended up laying on the couch with my head laying on his chest as he stroked my hair.
"Don't you need to get home?" I asked noticing how late it was.
"What? Wanting to get rid of me so soon?" He asked sarcastically. I just looked up at him in response.
"No, I'll just say that I was at Brian's house." He finally answered.
"Ok." I said.
He stayed all night and nothing serious happened. We shared kisses and little secrets all night till I fell asleep to the rhythm of the great Tyler Spencer's heart.
