~* I received a review asking me to tame Larissa down. And I would just like to know how many of my readers think I should and also in what ways they think I should do it. I don't want to change her for just one person but if a few of you agree I will. Please let me know*~


By the time Banks got outside Larissa was no where in sight. The rain was falling in sheets blurring his vision, but not distracting him from the task at hand. It was to far for her walk to school alone, especially in the darkness of a Minnesota night. Adam was just about to call a taxi and force the driver to comb the slowly flooding streets aimlessly until they found her. Then there she was, sitting in the Gazebo behind the hotel . She was watching the raindrops hit the pond, her head hanging dejected and even from afar Adam could see her shiver.

"Rissa?" He stepped carefully to the Gazebo hopping for wouldn't get up and run back out into the rain

"Go away Adam, I really don't want to look at you right now." Her voiced wavered with the mixture of sorrow and anger that was coursing though her.

"I can't we need to talk."

Larissa's face came upward and despite then ran the tracks her tears had left still sat upon her cheeks.
"On our first date you told me you were in love with her still. That hurt, but I got past it. I got past it because I thought we had some connection, one that was worth working on. Here we are ten weeks later and in spite of everything she's the one you want. It more then hurts now, it plane out kills. It kills me Adam." The tears came faster with every word

"Larissa," Banks knelt down in front of her taking her trembling hands "I didn't kiss Nicky, she kissed me. I wouldn't kiss her."

"Adam I don't want to hear you're excuses. It takes two…" Adam pressed his fingers to her lips stifling her

"I wouldn't do it because I don't want to be with her. You're my girlfriend Rissa, you're the one I want to dance with, to kiss. You and only you." There was a sincerity in his tone that was evident, his forgiveness wasn't completely sealed until brushed a loose strand of soaking wet hair behind Larissa's ear. She was drenched like a drowned rat, her mascara was running down her face in a thick black river and he told her
"You're the most gorgeous person both inside and out I've ever met."

"Oh Adam." She crumpled into his arms feeling safe and secure. He breathed in the aroma that was uniquely her. A subtle nevertheless tantalizing mix of baby powder and ivory soap. No excessive perfumes and colognes, she had this natural beauty, a pure essence that captivated him.

"Come on let's go up to the room and get you dry and warm." He draped his sopping jacket over her bare shoulders, it doing little more then adding to her weighed state but it was the thought that counts.

"Should we tell Dwayne?" Rissa came out of the bathroom in pink checked pajama bottoms and a pink tank top. Her mid drift was slightly exposed and for the first time Adam saw her bellybutton ring. The aqua stud was glistening against her flat abs. Adam could feel his pulse quicken taking in her shapely body, which was normally shrouded in her baggy clothing. But she wasn't ready to take that step and so neither was he.

"I don't know. I mean when I found she kissed him it drove me crazy. I can't do that to my friend, it's not going to happen to happen again I put a stop to it."

"I see your point." She said into the bed she'd be sleeping on (Adam having rented a room with two full size beds) and then rolled over grinning

"What are you so happy about?" Her boyfriend sat on the edge of her bed

"This feels like a dream, if it is I hope I never wake up." She sighed blissfully "But I'm really tired right now, do you mind if I go to sleep?"

"No, you go ahead I think I'll take a shower and then I'm going to lay down."

"You can go back down stairs, Adam I don't want to ruin your night."

"I ruined yours now go to sleep."

The Monday after Adam skipped breakfast to study for his biology mid term, which was the same idea Luis had.

"Hey Banks." Luis sat down in his seat in front of Adam

"Luis, I haven't talked to you since Friday how'd the dance go for you?" Banksie closed his notebook coming to the conclusion Julie and Luis were more interesting then cellular mitosis.

"It was great man." Luis's face lit up like the Fourth of July "Jules is so great I'm thinkin' of asking her dinner on Saturday or something. If I had started seeing her freshmen year instead of Mindy I would never have gotten myself that player rep. I'd a one women man."

"I know how feel. If Larissa had gone here last year I would've never seen Nicky."

"Dwayne seems to like her, she can't be hat bad."

Adam tried to hold in a snort
"Yeah she okay."

"You know I noticed Larissa never really talks to any of us. Julie says she does the same thing to her and Connie. Why is that?"

"I've never noticed, but I'll ask."

"Good idea, I don't want her thinking were loco."

"Me either, we should study."

"Study? Oh yeah study."

Soon after the test was over, which Adam was positive had aced, he always aced every test that's the sort of guy he was. One that fit into just about any category. A rich kid, jock, brain, heartthrob, nice guy, sometimes shy and quiet and occasionally a loner. But recently, not since Larissa came into his life. From their very first kiss he knew he'd never be a loner again. When the bell rang he stuffed his favorite pen in his bag and set off to his next class.

By lunch he was dying to get his daily Larissa fix, this girl was like cigarettes to a smoker. The day wasn't truly started till he had one. So he got his lunch and took his seat watching every face that came in.

"Hey Adam where's Rissa?" Nicky sat down from him casually

"I was going to ask you the same thing." Adam began buttering his bread

"I haven't seen her all day. She left this morning earlier than I got up." She flipped her long blonde hair over her shoulder.

"She wasn't in English either, I meant to ask you about that." Fulton was in the same class as Larissa because he wasn't the best reader or writer and she was so advanced she was in a senior class.
Banks stopped in mid stroke the butter knife poised for another pass.

"Wait a minute, she left before you got up and no one's seen her since last night?"

Nicole nodded nonchalantly

"I hope nothing happened to her." Julie worried out loud.

"Maybe we should go look for her." Luis was willing to do anything to put Jules's mind at easy

Adam pondered for a second then stood quickly from the table.
"Don't worry I where she'll be."

Larissa was so lost in her own little world as she glided gracefully across the ice, she didn't even notice the handsome blonde watching her. Her eyes were closed as she focused on the music. Her spins transitioned into her jumps, she looked amazing. In fact she didn't realize Adam was there until he came out on the ice where she was standing catching her breath. His arms came down on her hips as he picked her up from behind from behind and skated in a small circle with her in his arms.

"What's the matter baby?"

"It's my mothers birthday, I miss her so much." Her voice was small and sad

"Do you wanna go see her I'll drive you."

"She's dead Adam."

"Dead? How come you never told me?"

"It's hard to talk about. She was bringing my best friend home from watching one of my figure skating competitions. There was a car accident, they were both killed."

"That's why you stop skating." It came out more of a statement then a question

"Ahuh. That's also why I'm trying to keep from getting close to the Ducks, I can't lose someone else. Katrina was like my sister and my mother was perfect, they were the only people that ever loved me." Tears began to trickle from her charcoal eyes.

"That's not true." Banksie used his thumbs to wipe the droplet from her cheeks " I know that's not true because, I love you Larissa."

Her heart gave an extra thump at the sound of those words. No guy had ever said that to her. Love, did she love him too? This was all so knew to the younger girl. She wasn't sure if she loved him back. She didn't know what love was. Then there was that queasy butterfly feeling in her stomach that she only got around her boyfriend. She loved him.

"I love you too. Adam I'm spending the night at home to be with my dad. Do you want to come?"

He glanced at her
"What about school tomorrow?"

"I only live twenty minutes away we can drive in. Please I really want you to meet him."

"Okay. But first you skate with me." He held out his hands. Banks never told anyone he'd taken figure skating lessons to improve his agility on the ice. The guys would never have let him live that down.

Rissa smiled slightly allowing him to pull her to him
"Alright."

Larissa was packing some stuff into her extra backpack when Nicole returned from cheerleading practice.
"What are you doing."

"Packing." Rissa said shortly, she may have to room with Nicky, but she didn't have to be nice to her

"Bummer I was going to ask if you and Adam wanted to come out with Dwayne and I tonight. Well I suppose I can still ask Adam to tag along."

"No you can't, he's coming with me."

Jealousy flashed across Nicole's bronzed face. To her love was a game. When she grew bored with Adam she replaced him with Dwayne. Now tired of the unsuspecting cowboy, Adam's wallet was calling her back. There was no way she'd let this 15 year old twerp win.

"So where are you and honey bunches going?"

"My fathers."

Nicole smiled devilishly. Excellent. While Rissa was getting her tooth brush and deodorant , Nicky began her sabotage. Digging under her mattress she produced both and old packet of birth control and a condom box, slyly she snuck them into Larissa's bag and then set out to make a phone call.

Mr. Saunders was standing in the living room with the cordless phone to his ear waiting for his daughter to arrive.
"A silver B.M.W. just pulled up." He said into the mouth piece "That kids her boyfriend? I'll watch them and look for what you mentioned. Bye"

"You've got a cute house." Adam got the bags from the trunk and took Larissa's hand

"It's no where near as nice as yours." She leaned her head on his arm being to short to reach his shoulder.
"Daddy we're here." She called as Adam closed the screen door behind them

"There's my little girl." Mr. Saunders wrapped Larissa in a bear hug

"Daddy this is my boyfriend Adam Banks, Adam this is my father Michael Saunders."

"Nice to meet you Mr. Saunders."

"Call me Mike please. Larissa has been talking about you for weeks, leading scorer for the Eden Hall Ducks." Her father led the way to the cozy parlor.

"Yes sir." Adam sat on the floor in front of the arm chair Rissa was sitting in.

"You boys might make it to the State Championships this year." The man lit up his Marlboro running his eyes over his daughters boyfriend.

"Yes sir we might. Actually it's not just us boys there's two girls on the team. Connie Moreau she's the most accurate passer on the team and Julie Gaffney the best goalie I've ever seen."

"Can we talk about something other then hockey?" Larissa leaned forward so her arms were draped over Adam's shoulders and her head was on the top of his head.

"I was about to start dinner when you pulled up. You do like fried chicken and mash potatoes don't you Adam?"

"Yes sir."
"Stop calling me sir, son. Mike it's Mike. Rissa why don't you two go down to the grocery store and get something for dessert?"

"Sure. Come on Hun." She slipped her arm around Banksie's waist "Let's walk okay."

"Absolutely."

They were halfway out the door when Rissa realized she had no money.
"Dad we need cash" She yelled

"Don't worry I have money." Adam told him

"Are you sure you have enough?" Mr. Saunders came out of the kitchen as Banks began counting the bills in his wallet. The older man was staring at a wad of twenties with a fifty thrown in.

"Yeah I can take care of it." Adam thrusted the wallet back into his jeans "Are you positive there's nothing else you need?"

"Nope that's it, enjoy your walk." As soon as the young couple had left the driveway he went in search of Larissa's bag. After checking ever other compartment he finally came across the strategically placed "evidence". Condoms and the pill! His little girl was sexually active with an 18 year old hockey sat. One with and allowance bigger the Michael's pay check and a B.M.W. The mans eyes flashed with dollar signs all he needed was a little more proof.

That night Adam was suppose to sleep in Rissa's brothers old room which he fully intended to do, right after the movie they were watching was over. He'd changed for bed before they put the tape on and Larissa nearly lost it when he entered her room in baby blue silk boxers and a wife beater.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" He bushed which was a rarity for him, he was modest but for most mature.

"I just never realized how buff you were." Rissa was beginning to blush too because she knew she was staring, but shouldn't help it.

"That's it I'm going to put my clothes back ok." He shifted uncomfortably

"No come on, get over here so I can put it in."

Banks's eyes went so wide you'd like they were going to fall out of his head.

"Ahhhhhh!!!" Larissa buried her face in her pillow to smother the scream "I mean so I can play the movie." She composed herself and rolled over

"Scoot over." He with held the laugh that was threatening to pour out of him at any second.

When they were laying together, the video playing the strangeness vanished. Adam's arms came around her and she snuggled backward so her back was against his chest.
"I love you Adam." Larissa yawned

"Are you falling asleep on me?" Banksie kissed her shoulder

"Hmmm. Yeah, I'm sorry."

"It's okay you've had a ruff day. I'm gonna finish the tape then I'll go in your brothers room. And Rissa I love you too." He heard her slow steady breathing and knew she was asleep. It was great to be in love.

Larissa got up the next morning without using an alarm clock, she never used one. She was one of those people that was wide awake as soon as the first beam of sunlight caressed her skin. It warmed her face and her eyes fluttered open. She felt Adam's chest rising and falling against her back and rolled over to face him. He looked so peaceful she couldn't bare to wake him. Gently she slithered from under his arm and headed to the shower. When Larissa went back to her room Banks was still lights out to the world. However he had to get up now. She straddled his legs and brought her lips down to his. Adam's eyes remained closed, although she knew he was waking because he was kissing back. When his tongue past her lips she pulled back, slapping him lightly on the shoulder.

"You have to get up."

"I think prince charming needs the princess to kiss him awake a little more. Personal I like the role switch." Banks stretched as Rissa leaned down again. His hands snaked threw her damp hair as he reversed the positions so he was on top of her. The kisses were passionately sweet as they grew deeper a soft moan escaped the confines of Larissa's throat.

"Larissa did you want waffles or pancakes for breakfast?" Mr. Saunders pushed her door open and froze dead in his tracks

"Daddy." She gasped

"You out!" He barked at Banksie and glared at his daughter "Get dressed and get to school." As he left her room he smiled vilely. He had the last piece of evidence he needed to complete his evil plan, unbeknownst to him he was too falling into Nicky's trap.