Heres the next chapter! I hope to finish this story even though i dont want it to end. :( I am on february vaca this week its one of the many benefits of living on the northeast. So umyeah and besides that I have drivers education this week and it is alot harder than you think I mean really they show you videos of bodies and omg i advise you to bring tissues and work on getting a strong stomach...as in immunity to the sight of blood. weelll anyway...never Drink and Drive! (my tip of the week) and idc if you are 10 or 36, wear a seatbelt...Lo siento (im sorry) for the gruesome images and if it scares you away from driving but i feel deeply about it and thought id share okkay im rambling back to the story. R&R and i promise it will make you feel better :D

Chapter 13

Ross got me into the car and I stayed there trying to calm down, while he finished loading the truck. I tried to concentrate on the area around me. I watched the soft breeze move the tufts of grass and bush that dotted the land in front of me. I watched the small swirls of dust kicked up by the wind dance their way across the playa. They didn't work. They couldn't keep me from reliving every moment that just happened.

I turned to the sky. I awed at the huge spans of crisp blue sky above me as it stretched across the heavens, never once fading or dulling in color. I wished to be like the sky, no burden holding it back, no weight on its shoulders that was dragged around everywhere it went. The sky was not afraid. It would let nothing change it or hold it back.

My mind slowly drifted back to Ross. What was he thinking? Did he pity me? Did he feel like I was a burden? And what did he think about last night? Was he mad at me and wished he'd never met me? I knew none of the answers to these questions, but I would soon find out as soon as he was finished.

I could feel that my eyes were swollen and red and my face was probably all red and splotchy. That's attractive, I thought as I looked in the mirror. I looked like a freaking raccoon with a rash.

Ross got into the car and let out a big sigh. I didn't look at him, not yet. He started to drive home. We went along the road for about 5 minutes in silence until he said, "Are you o-okay?"

I nodded. I looked at him and whispered, "Ross, I'm sorry."

He looked at me furrowing his brow in puzzlement.

"I'm sorry for not being more careful, for getting myself into that situation, for hurting…"

That was when I noticed his hand was bleeding.

"Oh my goodness! Ross you're bleeding!"

He only shrugged. "Nothin'."

"It is too, your bleeding. That another thing I'm sorry for, for hurting you. Is it broken?"

He flexed it and shook his head.

"Pull over. We have to clean it." He didn't look convinced. "Come on please. It will make me feel better." He nodded and pulled over to the side of the road.

I reached under the seat to feel for the first aid kit. I flinched as I did. I felt like my ribs were grating together and throbbing, as if ribs could throb. Ross noticed of course. I explained, "That guy, uh, hurt me ribs when he grabbed me."

He clenched his fist. I put my hand on it. "Relax. I'm fine really. You can even check then if you want."

He nodded and I began to clean his cuts. It turned out they weren't that bad, but his hands were huge! They probably sure could throw a punch and from the look of his arms, Smirky definitely had a broken nose and a black eye. I remembered how much Ross towered over him.

"How tall are you? I asked him.

"6'6." Whoa, a giant!

"Wow that like huge! I probably look like a shrimp next to you. But at least you don't have to worry about getting anything off the top shelf," I teased and laughed. He let out a low chuckle. He was so cute when he smiled.

"There you go, all done. I'm happy to inform you that you'll live."

"Thanks." I smiled at him.

"Do you still want to check my ribs?"

He looked at me. I could see the concern in his eyes. He nodded. "Okay, fine," I said.

I laid the seat back and leaned back. I was careful not to shock him with my movements. I slowly rolled up my shirt to reveal my bare stomach. I could see a light outline of a hand print forming a bruise on my side. I choked back a gasp and fought to keep from tearing up again.

Ross looked mad at the bruise on my side. I didn't dare let him see the ones on my hips or the one that I probably had on my butt because it was sore there too. His hands moved across my ribs checking for fractures. They were gentle. I was surprised at how gentle they were despite their size and roughness from hard work. I cringed and jolted away and he neared the top of my rib cage (I'm referring to the part right before her breast.) He gazed at me with an understanding look in his eyes, his blue-green eyes. He nodded and moved back to his seat. He motioned for me to sit up.

I rolled my shirt back down and moved the seat back. "How do they look?"

"Not broken, just bruised." He looked more relieved that I felt.

He moved to start the truck. I put my hand on him to stop him. "No please, not yet. I think we have some things we need to talk about."

He stopped mid-turn and took the keys out of the ignition. I was nervous and he was blushing.

I started. "Thank you for saving me back there. And I have a question about last night." He blushed but nodded and said, "No problem."

"Um, I'm not sure how to ask this but, uh, did we kiss last night?"

Now we both were blushing.

"Yes," was all he said.

"Ross, I am so sorry. You could- we could get in so much trouble. I am sorry for putting your job at risk and, well, kissing you because it could get you in a lot, a lot of trouble."

He didn't say anything. He must blame me.

"Do you think Wya- I mean Mr. Forster will be mad when we tell him?"

He stared at me in shock and looked like he wanted to say something.

"Ross, do you think we should tell him? I mean, if we explain what happened before it and what happened today, do you think him and Brynna, both, would understand?"

"I-I don't kn-know."

I stared and him, trying to understand. "I promise I will take full blame. It's not your fault. It was all me. I'm the one that kissed you." He looked like he wanted to protest. "Let me take the blame please. Let me get in trouble, besides, I'm used to it. I won't let you get in trouble or lose your job for something I did," I said trying to sound brave and confident.

"N-no. C-can't let you t-t-take a-all the b-b-blame."

"Please you have to. I can handle it. I can handle getting shipped off and taking my punishment. But what I can't handle is letting you get blamed for my screw up! I won't do it," I half-yelled. I was so close to confessing to him, confessing that I liked him.

He looked torn, torn between what I was saying and something he was thinking. He finally nodded. "He might understand."

"Okay, I hope so. I am sorry though Ross."

He looked at me, gazing at me with those eyes. I couldn't help but look into them, wondering what they hid.

I knew I had to ask it. I couldn't stop myself. Still holding his eyes I asked, "Ross, did you kiss me back or even like it at all?"

For my long into i will have and equally long ending to balance it out. I was tempted to make her and Ross kiss right here and now or have Sherriff Ballard come up and see he with her shirt rolled up but ur lucky i love you and i didnt cause i like it better this way maybe i will i kinda wanna see how it would play out idk maybe. Yess this is a cliff hanger :D but it keeps you coming back for more...and i would love to hear if anyguys read this story no one will judge you so yeeeaahh ;D donr forget to review!