He watched me walk in, like a wolf looking over his next prey, or his mate…

I kept my senses on, ready for anything. The entryway was simple, a mirror on my left and a small table below it. He set his keys down on it and walked ahead of me. I followed him into the living room ahead of us. In it a couch and two chairs. A TV sat on a table against the wall on my left.

The kitchen was ahead and to the right was two rooms, the doors closed.

"Hungry?"

"No."

I followed. He gestured to the couch.

"I'll be right back."

I sat on the couch. I looked out the window. I let my fingers feel the fabric, it was soft but simple, its color tan. It was old, for the cushions were easy to sink in, instead of firm like a new sofa in my apartment.

"Who are you?"

I looked up and the kid in the wheelchair was in front of the TV, looking at me. His eyes seemed to be full of confusion, but hate.

"I'm a, uh-"

"She's a friend."

The stranger emerged from a room down the hall, I'm assuming his own.

"Gabe you have homework right?"

"I don't think so."

"Why don't you go check."

"Robbie-"

"Go."

He gave me one last glance and wheeled into the hall, entering the first room. The stranger- Robbie -turned to me, his expression tense, like I made him uncomfortable with my very presence.

"I know that you almost died the last time you turned."

I stayed silent.

"I watched as he beat you until you were unconscious, then the Rider take over and you fought back. As much as I wanted to intervene, I wanted to see how you would handle yourself. You need training. You can't let it control you completely. It's dangerous."

I sighed, "Look, we barely know each other and I get you're trying to help. I just, I don't know if I want to harness it, I made a different deal then you did, he wants something that…..I can't just give to him."

"What is it?"

"Look this has been nice and I get you want to help, but I'm not interested in giving my whole identity to you, Ghost Rider or not."

"We don't have to lay out everything on the table right now, just let's take this a step at a time. If I don't help you, then who will? Huh? You think the police will believe you if you tell them about what we are because you killed someone? You need me, admit it."

"And you need to check your attitude. Do you always talk to women this way? No wonder your single."

"How do you know that?"

"If a woman lived here, the smell would be more appealing and this house would look different, I mean is this a barn? Do you live with pigs or something?"

He stayed silent, his mouth open but I could tell the fire on his tongue had been washed out.

"I'm done here. See you around."

I made for the door. Opening it I walked to the passenger side of the car and grabbed my jacket out of the seat. I started to walk down the drive until hands grabbed shoulders. Robbie spun me around and pinned me to the side of the Charger.

Heat coursed through my veins as his touch lit so many fires along my skin. I looked him straight in the eye, not backing down.

"Never mention the Rider in front of my brother again. If you don't want my help, fine. The next time I see you on the edge, I won't be there to save your ass."

"Save my ass? Ha! Look Romeo, I'm not a damsel. Get your hands off and keep your pants zipped up."

"My pants?" he leaned in dangerously close, his lips caressing my ear. "If I wanted you, trust me, you wouldn't be acting the way you are now. And you'll need me at some point whether you want to wake up and see it or not."

He let me go and I almost told him to come back. I stood there for a few minutes, absorbing the moment. I straightened my shirt and walked home.