4: Dancing in the moonlight.
Jack spun around and darted towards the phone. Johnny meanwhile stood up so quickly, his chair fell behind him. Rushing to the bathroom, he saw Ryan.
Ryan?
Ryan looked up, his eyes blank and wild. His breathing heavy as sweat dripped off him. His right wrist dripping blood which fell on the white tiles below him.
Ryan dropped the razor before looking up at Johnny, his face in pure agony. Then he fell to the floor, blood squirting onto the walls. Johnny rushed to Ryan's side as Ryan started up at the ceiling. Johnny was at his side before Ryan snapped his eyes shut and moaned.
Ryan?
My heart...
Ryan was barley able to mutter before holding his chest. Johnny leaned down and saw Ryan was shaking too much, he was in the middle of having a full blown heart attack.
JACK!
Johnny yelled as Ryan began to shake even harder, his eyes darting back and forth. Within seconds Jack rushed in.
The ambulance is on it's way!
Jack fell to his knees before trying to keep Ryan's body from hitting anything. Holding him down he looked at his bleeding wrist.
MICKI!
Ryan screamed. Jack looked across at Johnny as Ryan thrashed about in their arms, half in a dazed state.
MICKI!
He screamed again, in the next bedroom Johnny heard crying.
Jesus...
Just then Ryan looked up at Jack, his eyes wide as the pain spread across his face.
Jack...
Ryan was barley able to gasp.
Jack held him.
Don't...don't...try to bring me back...
Ryan's eyes shut in pain again as the crying became louder. In the faint distance they heard the sound of the ambulance speeding down the street.
_
Micki laughed as she threw back her head and looked up at the ceiling.
"Dancing In The Moonlight." played over the radio as Ryan picked Micki up and began to spin her.
Micki couldn't help but laugh as they spun around, her legs off the ground. Looking at Ryan he tried to sing to words to her while laughing. Micki leaned in before kissing his neck.
Cracking up, both threw themselfs back on Ryan's bed before rolling to face each other, still laughing.
They had just gotten back from the symphony playing downtown. Ryan cracked one of his many piggy banks to pay for the tickets and surprise Micki while she was still on bedrest.
Ryan really wasn't into that sort of music, but decided to give in and treat Micki after everything that happened. The date went well, and both enjoyed themselfs. Micki nearly caused a scene from laughing when Ryan took out his glasses to see.
On the way back, many people on the street that late summer night, turned and smiled as Micki and Ryan laughed, holding hands and looking happy. Somehow it fix, it seemed perfect.
Once they got home and Ryan took his jacket and tie off, he softly put the radio on and told Micki the only music he liked was the kind to dance too.
Micki looked at him as the song played and smiled, leaning forward she held onto him and they began to kiss.
_
A half an hour later, after making-out for what seemed like lifetime, Micki felt something lightly pressing against her leg. Something she was starting to notice. It had only been a few weeks since everything had happened.
What were they?
Girlfriend and boyfriend? Dating? Everything sounded so strange once spoken out loud. Both knew the risks and how everything they were doing was stupid. They weren't alike at all...almost living in different worlds.
But they both were in charge of getting these objects.
And they had each other.
But really, what were they now?
Micki knew it was so much to think about, but ever since the coin happened something had changed in the way she looked at Ryan.
He made her feel so happy.
Was it love?
Micki, nor Ryan knew.
But Micki still needed time.
Ummm...I think I'll go to bed now.
Ryan moaned before rolling his eyes and getting off her with a grin.
Micki smiled before getting up, her hair a mess. Standing up she leaned over and kissed him. Taking in a deep breath, she pressed herself against him and smiled. Micki remembered once and awhile, in the back of her mind always drifting at the thought of what Ryan looked like naked. She had seen him millions of times without his shirt, and noticed for such a slim tanned man, he had nice muscular arms.
But tonight wasn't the night.
Putting her arms around him she kissed him again before looking straight in his eyes and smiling.
Pulling away she went to her bedroom and closed the door. Catching her breath she smiled and felt dizzy. Falling onto her bed, she sighed.
She was in love.
_
The next afternoon, the two of them walked together in the park. Hand in hand, and watching everyone running around or laying on the lush green grass. Since the coin they had gotten two more objects back. Ryan deep down inside felt scared both times, thinking that at any moment, something could happen...
He knew Micki was strong, maybe even stronger then him. She had gone through alot and still went forward knowing what they had to do.
But ever since the coin, he got chills thinking of how cold and lifeless Micki's body felt in his arms.
It was a nice summer afternoon and both enjoyed the time they were spending together. Ryan looked down at their hands holding each other and smiled.
Excuse me?
Ryan and Micki turned to a slightly older man sitting on a bench, in his hands was a camera.
Yes?
The man smiled before getting up, offering his hand.
My name is David Peterson, I just opened a photo store across from your antiques store?
Right away Ryan knew who the man was, smiling he shook his hand.
Yeah sure, we saw the movers a few days ago...new to the city huh?
David smiled while shaking Micki's hand.
Yeah, been a pretty good change...but I still need to get used to things.
Well if you ever want we would love to have you over for dinner.
David smiled.
I might take you two up on that...but I wanted to ask you something, I know it's going to sound weird...
Micki waved her hand.
Please I'm used to weird.
Looking at Ryan, she smiled and playfully punched him in the arm. David smiled before holding up his camera.
I've seen you two walking in and out of the store, you two make a very beautiful couple.
Micki and Ryan eyed each other before Micki blushed, there David held up his camera.
I'm trying to frame some photos I'm taking around the city...people mostly to hang up in the store, if you two wouldn't mind I would like to take your photo...even bring over an extra print free of charge?
Micki smiled.
Oh that sounds nice, thank you.
David smiled before holding up his camera, right away Micki went to Ryan's side. David backed up a little.
The lighting is perfect, now lean in a little closer.
Ryan and Micki held each other before smiling, in just a flash the camera went off.
David lowered it before smiling.
Perfect.
Ryan and Micki thanked him and shook his hand again before he told them he might come over in a few days. Waving goodbye, Micki and Ryan walked on.
Did you hear that?
What?
We make a pretty good looking couple.
I thought I heard the word beautiful...
Ryan laughed before taking Micki's hand again and kissing it.
The next day, Ryan recived some upsetting news.
Micki was going away for the weekend.
Ryan sat on the edge of her bed, acting moddy as Micki crossed the room and got a huge handful of clothes from her closet. Her suitcase sat in the middle of the bed as she kept crossing the room to pack.
The entire weekend?
Ryan asked.
It was early morning and both had just woken up. Over breakfast the phone rang. It was an old college friend of Micki's, asking if she wouldn't mind visiting her. She had just had a baby and couldn't wait to catch up on old times with her. Micki talked on the phone for about a half an hour before hanging up and telling the guys the news.
Jack was pleased to see her getting out more, and took his morning tea downstairs to look over old papers. Ryan meanwhile stayed with her while she packed.
Strange she wants you to spend the whole weekend after just having a kid...
Micki laughed before folding her clothes into the suitcase.
We used to be best friends, anyways we've written each other over the last couple of years...her husband is over seas and she sounds like she needs some time to relax.
Ryan sighed before Micki walked over, she reached out her hands and put them in Ryan's.
Anyways I have a new boyfriend to talk about while I'm there.
Ryan grinned.
That's who I am?
Micki nodded before pushing him back on the bed. Laughing the two of them began to kiss before they knocked the suitcase off the bed.
_
An hour later, Micki was packed and standing with Ryan on the sidewalk, waiting for the taxi to come.
Ryan had his hands around her waist, both looked out at kids running down the street in their bathing suits. It was another hot sticky day in the city, and somehow Ryan had yet again forgotten about putting in the AC.
Finally the taxi pulled up.
Ryan loaded her suitcase into the trunk before Micki faced him, looking straight into his eyes.
When I get back...
She looked at him with a small smile coming into her face.
I wanna...
She leaned in and whispered in Ryan's ear. Ryan stood back, his cheeks a little red and grinning. Micki leaned foreward again, kissing him and got into the taxi. Ryan stood there watching her go.
He all ready missed her.
_
Once inside, Ryan paced back and forth and shook his head as Jack sat at his desk.
What's the matter?
Ryan shrugged.
Nothing...just I got tickets for Micki and me to go to the carnival as a surprise and she made these other plans...
Ryan drifted off and sighed.
It had only been a few weeks since they finally started acting this way Somehow things seemed better now and not as dull and dangerous. Ryan hated having Micki leave his sight.
He loved her...and couldn't loose her again.
He now thought about it and smiled for a second. They really were together now.
I'm sure you two can go next weekend...
That's the thing it isn't in town next weekend...
Ryan missed Micki, and thought of them together once she got home. He needed to take his mind off it. Grinning he faced Jack.
Hey Jack?
Jack looked up knowing just what he was thinking.
_
It was two days later, and another object was recovered. Both Jack and Ryan returned home later that evening, tired and worn out. Jack went downstairs to put the cursed handkerchief back in the vault.
It seemed like everywhere they went there was a cursed object.
Ryan threw himself on his bed, his entire body ached and it couldn't make the awful smell of burning wax get out of his nose.
Then he thought of that man, as crazy as he was...he really did do it all for love. To keep her alive...to keep her with him.
Ryan then knew how dangerous these objects were...it seemed to easy to use them for those you loved.
He had with Micki.
Just then he heard footsteps, looking up he saw Micki dragging her suitcase.
Micki?
Ryan sat up as Micki laughed and dropped her suitcase.
I'm home early.
Ryan laughed before getting up and holding her, right away both began going at it like wild animals. Ryan held onto Micki tight as he began sucking on her neck.
I missed you...
Me too...
Micki sighed before looking at him.
Downstairs is a mess...looks like someone with an ax...
Ryan laughed before putting his arms around her.
I'll explain later.
Both leaned in kissing again before Ryan pulled back.
Have fun?
Micki rolled her eyes.
It was fine...missed you though...
Oh Yeah?
Ryan grinned.
Yeah, but I kept talking about this guy I just started seeing...he's an artist you know.
Ryan laughed before pressing his forehead against hers, both breathed deeply.
Ryan?
Yeah?
You...you wanna spend the night with me?
Ryan looked at her.
You sure?
Micki slowly nodded.
_
The next morning, Ryan laid beside Micki, watching her sleep. It was still early and Jack wasn't up yet. Laying there, tangled in her bedsheets, Ryan glanced at the window and saw it was going to be another warm summer day. It was August now...
Thinking at how fast time had gotten by him, Ryan looked down at Micki again.
Last night had been...well there were really no words to describe it. Micki had brought him into her bedroom, turning around and lifting her hair off her shoulders. Ryan walked behind her and slowly began to unzip her sundress.
Once it fell down to the ground, she turned, looking completely perfect. She leaned up against him and slid her arms around his neck. Slowly she helped him work his T-shirt off before laying back on the bed.
Micki worked on pulling Ryan's belt off before gazing down at him. Softly smiling, she leaned down and began kissing his neck, working slowly down to his chest and flat stomach. Ryan laid there before reaching down and undoing his jeans. Taking his hands, he held her smooth face and began to kiss her.
He then rolled over with her, holding her thin body as he laid on top of her. Smiling he looked down at her.
_
Now here he was, laying beside her...feeling her smooth back against his chest. Sighing he leaned down and softly began kissing her face. Slowly her eyes fluttered open and she looked up at him.
Morning...
Micki smiled before turning over and facing him. Taking her into his arms he kissed her before brushing back her hair.
How are you doing?
Perfect...
Ryan smiled before he began drifting his fingers across her smooth skin. Micki laid her head against his chest before looking up at him.
I love you.
Ryan smiled.
I love you too...
Micki then felt Ryan pressing against her, smiling she reached up and kissed him. Laying herself back down, she let him slowly slid under the sheets and lay on top of her. Leaning down he kissed her.
_
Micki closed her eyes before softly sighing to herself. She faced the shower head as steaming hot water poured over her body. Ryan stood behind her, his hands placed on her waist. Micki leaned back before laying herself against him.
Turning her around, Ryan smiled seeing that Micki's hair was soaking wet and laid slicked behind her. Ryan leaned forward and began softly kissing her before he leaned her against wall of the shower. Micki laughed as he nuzzled against her. Slowly, he used his hands and enetred her. Micki gasped out before clawing into his shoulders. Moaning, both stood there as the water poured down on them.
_
Ryan was re-dressed in a T-shirt and shorts as he walked over to the kitchen and found a note left by Jack. He was going to be out of town for the next couple of days having found a lead on a few objects.
Smiling, Ryan showed the note to Micki as she came out of the bathroom drying her hair.
Jack's out of town.
Why?
Says here he got a lead on a new object, Rashid and him are going to go check it out.
Micki took the note from Ryan's hand before sighing.
I guess this means we're in charge of the store.
Ryan smiled before going over to fix some coffee. Micki meanwhile used the towel to hold up her hair before going into her bedroom to dress. Ryan stood at the counter before glancing over his shoulder.
His heart was racing.
He loved this woman...
_
While downstairs checking the mail, Micki found a letter from an old friend of hers who was getting married. Gabrielle had been another college friend of Micki's and asked if she wouldn't mind visiting her. Smiling she showed Ryan the letter and how Gabrielle was getting married to a man who was an ventriloquist.
She says here in the letter she wants to have me over the club to see his act.
Ryan was standing at Jack's desk looking over junk mail.
You wanna come?
Please, ventriloquist creep me out...isn't normal for guys to be talking about themselfs.
Micki blushed before leaning over and kissing his cheek.
Might be as well, you wouldn't be able to get a word in edge wise with all the catching up we have to do.
Ryan smiled.
Have fun.
You know...
Micki leaned forward, dropping the letter.
Your going to have to think of things to keep me here with you...
Her arms went around him as he laughed.
Yeah it seems like all your old girlfriends are coming out of the woodwork.
Micki laughed before laying her head on Ryan's shoulder.
Ryan?
Yeah?
I'm really happy...for the first time in awhile.
Ryan eyed her before slipping his arms around her.
Yeah me too.
Thanks for last night.
Ryan leaned down and kissed Micki's head.
_
I'm telling you Ryan, he acts as if Oscar is alive! He even made it have an argument with Gabrielle!
I told you ventriloquist are creepy people.
Micki sighed.
She won't hear anything either, she's crazy about this guy.
Ryan looked up, he had been sitting at Jack's desk looking through some of his old books trying to pass the time.
Well it's easy to become crazy about someone.
Micki smiled at Ryan before he winked at her and leaned back.
Maybe you should just stay out of it...I'm sure their going to work out their own problems...
Micki sighed before picking up the newspaper that laid on the desk.
I hope so...
Micki then saw the headline.
"Body found in back alley, chopped into pieces."
Oh God...at least Gabrielle doesn't have these problems...
_
After the next murder, Ryan decided to swing by the nightclub and check out the alley where the latest body was found. It seemed too close.
But there wasn't a dummy in the manifest.
Coming home to Micki, he began to tell her about how maybe this Edgar guy might be linked to another cursed object of Uncle Lewis. Micki tried to tell Ryan that her friend and would be husband were working things out...
But it seemed like there was something else going on.
Finally Ryan decided to go to Edgar's bachelor and check things out.
_
Three days later the boutonniere was placed into the vault.
Micki seemed pretty upset. Everyone that entered their lifes around here were either harmed or involved with these damn objects. Edgar would never be the same again...
Sighing, Micki sat on the couch before rubbing the back of her neck.
Ryan walked over, his headphones around his neck.
You okay?
Micki slowly nodded.
Yeah...I guess so.
Ryan sat down beside her, before holding her in his arms. Softly kissing the top of his head, the two of them stayed like that most of the afternoon.
Thinking to himself, Ryan then knew.
This was the woman he was going to marry.
_
Around eight, Micki was fast asleep in his arms. Ryan slowly lowered her down as he got up, and grabbed a blanket to put over her. Going upstairs, he checked his stash of extra money he had been saving up. Lately he had been selling his comics to different stores around the city...and got a pretty good chunk of change from them.
Counting the money, he stuffed it in his wallet, where he looked at the photo he kept of Micki. Smiling he grabbed his leather jacket and snuck out the back door.
It was cooling off now as Ryan walked down the sidewalks.
He knew he was crazy for doing this, but it seemed right.
Finally he reached the jewelry store and walked in. Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he looked around and then felt guilty.
What if she said no, what if she thought he was moving too fast. Jesus, they had only slept together once for far.
Ryan tried to keep these thoughts from coming into his head. Thoughts and worries of Lloyd being able to give her the lifestyle she was used to. Ryan really didn't have much, in fact he hadn't even finished college.
But he loved Micki, and had promised himself that night when the coin got her.
He was going to spend the rest of his life with his woman.
Finally someone came over to help him, a middle aged woman wearing a dress suit. She walked with Ryan over to the counter before taking out at least twenty different rings for him to look at.
And what is this for?
Engagement.
The woman softly smiled.
That's nice.
Yeah, she's the best thing that ever happened to me...
Just then, Ryan saw it.
_
Leaving the store, Ryan wasn't worried that now most of his money was gone. He raced home holding back from laughing...he was really doing this.
_
He hid the ring in his dresser, looking down at it he knew he would have to wait until the perfect moment to give it to her. He felt scared to death, yet excited he was really doing this.
Then the doorbell rang.
Racing downstairs he saw David standing there, Micki meanwhile was just waking up on the couch.
Opening the door Ryan smiled.
Hey David.
David walked in.
Sorry is this a bad time?
No not at all, I was just about to fix dinner...you like pot roast?
David smiled.
_
An hour later the three of them sat upstairs eating. David was a friendly and interesting man who had traveled alot in his lifetime.
Micki and Ryan barley went into the details of running the store, only that they were given it once their uncle past away and their friend Jack now helps then run it.
They talked for awhile over wine before laughing. Finally before David went back home he handed Ryan a large envelope and told them next time his place. Seeing him off, Micki walked him downstairs while Ryan cleaned up.
Once Micki came back, she looked relaxed and worn out.
What's that?
Ryan had the envelope laying on the counter as he finished the dishes. Drying his hands he opened it and then smiled.
Micki walked over to him.
It was their photograph together.
Micki laid her head on Ryan's shoulder.
We really do look good together, don't we?
Smiling, Ryan leaned down and kissed her.
