Hey readers! Sorry for such a late chapter again. Life gets in the way. Hope you enjoy this chapter. I actually had some fun writing it. Ox.

Chapter 3- Boring Ice-cream and Broken Cars

"You don't love me!" she yelled with fury in her voice. It was raspy, you could tell she was crying at the same time but her rage overtook any sense of sadness she had.

"You just figured that out now?" his voice projected even louder than my ears could take.

"I knew it before I even married you," her soft voice spat such mean words. That very voice that told me it was time for school, or that it was time for bed.

"Then why'd you do it?" his voice echoed through the house.

"Because maybe I thought that would change. Sue me for being wrong!"

"You know nothing, never have, and never will!" he growled with rage.

"Maybe you're right. Maybe I don't know anything, but I do know that I'm done!"

"No. You're not." His voice was quiet; barely audible. I had to lean closer towards the door to hear it.

But the closer I got, the louder the sound of skin hitting skin echoed through my mind. I knew in that moment my father was hitting my mother, just like he always had done. I winced as every muffled cry filled the house, and covered my screams every time I heard the distinct slap.

My four year old self ran upstairs crying, wishing I could just have a normal family.

I awoke with a startle, sweat pouring down my face, and tears soaking my cheeks. It felt so real, like it was still happening. These sorts of dreams happen all the time. It's like I re-live every moment I worked so hard on forgetting. Every tear I swallowed is shed again, and every thought runs through my brain for the millionth time.

Forgetting my childhood is like walking on water; impossible, but it holds an immense amount of appeal.

Nobody can walk on water.

Looks like I've forever living with the memories of my disgusting man of a father, and a liar of a mother.

The smell of freshly cut grass filled my senses as I walked outside that morning. I felt like shit, to be quite frank. I couldn't even begin to think about going for my jog today, I just couldn't do it. So instead, I sat on the tire swing while my grandma's old and fat cat Willard lay beside me.

"Have you ever wanted to move on, but couldn't? Or do you accept the past and realize that it made you who you are today?" I asked timidly.

The cat purred in response.

"That doesn't answer my question," I snapped.

Willard tilted his head.

"What if you don't like what you've become?"

Willard gave me a funny look and walked away.

"Yeah, I'd leave me if I were you, too," I laughed sadly.

Ricky

I wasn't used to being pushed away. I wasn't used to having someone not have some form of interest in me, whether they wanted to be my friend or more. I've had my fair share of challenges, but never have I ever had one such like this. She acted like she wanted nothing to do with me. How does that work?

But out of every girl, I wanted her. Not because she didn't want me, but because she needed me. I could see in her eyes; her broken smile.

The first time she talked to me, I knew she was different. I knew she wasn't like the other girls who have ever been around me, I knew she didn't want love because…well I just knew. You get vibes from most people. I'm not saying she was easy to read, because there's so much to that girl I have yet to even figure out… I'm just saying I figured out right away she didn't take to people easily. Most people who don't take to people that easy, also have a problem of pushing them away. Pushing people away means that they don't want romances or people being close to them.

I would know because I used to do that.

I wouldn't force myself on her, but I do have to try.

She needs someone who would try for her.

I walked into Mr. and Mrs. Juergen's kitchen to find Mrs. Juergen's doing the dishes.

"Oh, hello Ricky! There's some lemonade on the counter, grab a glass," she offered with a smile. She was such a lovely woman.

"Oh, no thank you. I was just wonder what Amy was up to, today!" I smiled curiously.

"Well she's going to town, maybe you can go with her?" she smiled mischievously.

"Sounds like a good idea," I winked.

"She won't go with you if it's up to her, you might have to be sneaky. You're a smart boy, you'll figure it out," she winked back.

I repeat, she was such a lovely woman.

Amy

"What ya' paintin' there, princess?" My grandpa's deep voice asked behind me. He had one hand on my shoulder, and I could tell he was looking at my painting.

"It's a sunset. I don't have too much time to paint, but I needed to kill some time," I explained why my painting was only a cheap one.

"It's beautiful, darlin'. Why do you only have a bit of time?" he asked with an eyebrow raised. He always wanted to keep tabs on me, but he also knew when to let me be and leave me alone. He was good at keeping it evened out.

"I promised Gram that I would go to town today. She wants a few things," I smiled up at him. I set my brush down and got up from my chair.

"I wish I could go with you, but I can't! If I always went to town nothing would get done 'round here!" he joked.

"Funny man," I nudged his arm and winked.

"Well you have fun!" he said. He reached in his pocket and handed me fifty. "Here's a little gift from me."

"Grandpa, I can't possibly take this! You always send me money, and I still have money from my last job. Trust me, I'm fine!" I tried to hand him back the bill.

He ran out the door and down the stairs with an energy most grandparents don't have, "I love doing it, let me be!"

I chuckled, shook my head, and walked over to my closet. I wanted to change out of my painting clothes, so I put on a pair of white jean shorts and a black, short and baggy t-shirt that fell off my shoulder. It showed my mid-riff, but I thought it was adorable. I put the fifty dollar bill in my pocket and ran out the door to my car.

I was walking towards my car when I heard it.

"Where ya' headed?" a voice asked. I could hear him walking closer with each step he took.

"Hi, Ricky," I said quietly. It wasn't the awkwardness that made me quiet…okay, maybe it was.

"No, I didn't say hi. I asked where you were headed," he smirked.

He seemed to be completely over what had happened with us. So was I, but there was still a sense of awkwardness for me.

"To town," I snapped back. He really didn't need to know where I was headed, to be quite honest.

"You're in luck! I was just headed there! Ride with me, it'll save gas and time," he smiled. It seemed…up to something. I could just tell by the way he was carrying himself.

"No thanks, I'd prefer to ride in my car."

"Are you sure?" he asked. He seemed to be hiding back a smile. I shook it off.

"I'm fine!" I yelled. I walked over to my car and he chuckled back to his truck. I sneered at his direction, and put the key in the ignition.

Nothing.

Again.

Nothing.

My fucking car would not start.

This is just fan-fucking-tastic.

After about ten tries, I opened my car door with un-needed force and walked over to Ricky's truck. He was sitting in the front seat with that fucking smirk on his face. I swear that it was his only facial expression he had. That shit had to be permanent.

I opened his passenger door and slammed it shut.

"Drive. We're stopping at the market first, then the drug store. Then, we're going to the book store and you're going to silent this whole ride or else you can walk and I'll drive your truck, got it?" I spoke calmly but you could clearly feel, maybe even taste the sense of irritation in my voice.

"You got it, pretty lady!" he replied and started the truck. He was smiling, but he wasn't even looking at me. I just sighed in response, and looked out the window with a blush stained on my cheeks.

After an entire ride of silence with terrible rock music playing from the stereo, we got to town a little bit later. It was mid-afternoon, and the awfully small town was filled with people. The streets were congested. Saturday's were always the days to do shopping around here.

Ricky and I walked into the market together. He held the door open for me, and I didn't say anything about it. I swallowed what would have usually been a rude remark; I accepted his friendly gesture.

Odd.

We walked together to gather all the items on my grandmother's list, and he even grabbed some stuff for himself. He looked kind of cute looking at which tomatoes to buy.

On our way to the cashier, a little girl was crying because she had lost her mom in the store. She looked to be about four, and her big brown eyes were sad, and her cute puffy lips were frowning. I looked to Ricky, who had a sad look on his face, and walked over to the infant.

"Hey there, sweetie. Are you lost?" Ricky kneeled down beside her. She nodded and sniffled.

"Do you want me to help you find your mommy?" he asked in a really quiet voice. The little girl once again nodded.

"This is my friend, Amy," he said and pointed to me. I smiled down at the girl and waved.

"Hi, Amy," she spoke softly. Her voice was raspy and high pitched. She was absolutely adorable.

"Do you think you could tell me your name?" he asked politely.

"Kylie," she whispered.

"Well, Kylie, where did you last see your mommy?" he asked while picking her up.

I had to admit, he sure had a way with children. It was a slight turn on, actually.

No, bad thoughts, Amy.

Kylie pointed towards the dessert aisle. Ricky and I walked with her over towards that section, and Kylie stopped crying.

"Mommy!" she yelled at her mother.

Her mom was talking to a worker with a worried expression on her face. She must've been looking for Kylie. She looked in our direction and her face lit up immediately.

"Kylie baby!" she yelled and ran towards us. Ricky put her down and she jumped into her mother's arms.

"Where did you find her?" her mother asked us while petting Kylie's hair.

"She was near the frozen foods area. She was crying and I figured I would help her out," Ricky explained.

"Thank you so much!" Kylie's mother thanked and touched Ricky's shoulder in a thankful gesture. She walked away with Kylie and she waved to the both of us behind her mother's back. Ricky smiled and waved, and I just gave a small smile to the now happy girl.

We headed towards the cashier's in silence again, but I had a slight smile on my face. I thought what Ricky did was really sweet. We cashed out and loaded all of our stuff into Ricky's truck. I breathed in heavily and wiped the small amount of sweat that had accumulated on my forehead. It was awfully hot out.

"Oh my god, it's so hot out," I sighed. Ricky grunted in response and continued loading. I stood there and watched him. He was wearing a white t-shirt with dark washed jeans. I watched his muscles flex every time he lifted something.

He's one fucking beautiful, annoying, fucker.

"You can stop gawkin' now," he chuckled. I snapped out of it and looked at his face. He was smirking…as per usual. "Listen, how about we go get some ice-cream. I'm dying from the heat out here!"

"That sounds good," I said quietly. What was the harm in getting ice-cream with him?

We drove towards the ice-cream parlour in silence once again. We pulled up to the ice-cream place, and couldn't help but notice the large group of teenagers outside of it. They were starring us down. We hopped out of the truck, and they all kept their eyes glued on us. I wasn't too sure why.

"They're starring," I pointed out.

Ricky sighed in response. "It's 'cause you're hot."

"No it's not!" I snapped.

"Explain why all the teenage males are droolin'!" he growled now. He seemed almost…defensive…maybe possessive?

"The girls' are starring at you," I pointed out.

"So?" he snarled. He walked closer towards me. I raised my eyebrow and walked inside.

"What can I get ya' folks!" a man with a thick mustache asked. He kind of resembled a rat.

"I would like a large chocolate. How about you, Ames?" he asked.

Ames? A new nickname? No. Nicknames are for people who know each other. He doesn't know me.

I let it slide.

"Double chocolate with rainbow sprinkles, please!" I grinned. I was kind of excited. I've always loved the ice-cream here.

"I thought you would have been more of a boring ice-cream flavoured kind of girl," Ricky laughed.

"You thought wrong. You sir, are the boring ice-cream flavoured kind of guy!" I smirked. Two can play at that smirking stuff.

"That would be four dollars," mustache man said.

Ricky reached in his pocket, but I beat him to it.

"Change for a fifty?" I asked with a cute smile to the man holding our treats.

"Of course, darlin'!" he laughed. He handed me my change, and we walked out.

"You didn't have to do that," Ricky frowned.

"I wanted to," I snapped back.

"The man is supposed to pay," he retorted.

"That's on dates. This was not a date," I said with bite of ice-cream in my mouth.

"Whatever," Ricky whispered.

We walked out of the parlour licking our ice-creams. All the teenagers had left now, and we walked back to the truck. He turned on the air conditioning, buckled up, and headed back to the ranch. We listened to easy rock, and slurped on our chocolate goodness.

"I enjoyed today with you," Ricky said with a hint of a smile as he turned down the ranch road.

"Okaaaaay?" I didn't know what to really say.

"I'm glad you're grandmother told me you were headed to town," Ricky smiled.

That's when it hit me.

The smirks.

The chuckles.

The coincidence that Ricky had to go to town when I had to.

The fact that my car just wouldn't work after Ricky asked to give me a ride.

That bastard broke my car on purpose!

We pulled up beside the ranch. I threw open my door with a loud bang and stomped towards the back. I began to unload the groceries in a hurry.

"Whoa, whoa, turbo! Why're you in such a hurry?" Ricky laughed as he watched me unload everything at super speeds.

"You broke my car!" I squealed.

He laughed loudly while holding his stomach. "How'd you know?"

"Oh my god, I cannot stand you!" I growled.

"Oh come on, Ames. You had a good day with me!"

He smirked that beautiful smirk, and then bit his lip. I stopped growling and yelling for a minute and just looked at him. His hair had a reddish tint in the sun, and his hazel eyes sparkled. He looked more tanned than usual, and felt a tingle go through my body. What the fuck was that? I snapped out of it and walked towards the porch.

"Don't you ever pull that stunt again! Oh, and fix my car, jackass!" I yelled.

"Anything you want, beautiful. But deep down inside you, you know you had a good day with me. Don't you?" He smiled and hopped in his truck and left the ranch.

I stood on the porch and watched him drive down the road with flashbacks of today going through my head.

Maybe I did have a good time, but all I could think of right now was a tanned, auburn headed cowboy with a beautiful smile and a fucking annoying attitude who likes boring ice-cream, has a way with kids, and spends more time picking out tomatoes then most people.

Cowboy better fix my car.