• “Sh*t! Trinity come here quick!” I stopped holding onto the big box as Ryder called. I quickly went around to him who was holding the top of the box with a knife trying to get the cardboard off.

    He looked at me. “I accidentally hit the forward lever. I need you to quickly get in between me and turn it off.”

    I stared at him. “Why can’t you?” I asked as he was stretched over the wheel barely any room left for me to get in between him to turn it off.

    “Because I’m holding the f*cking Thin Screen so it doesn’t tip. As it’s about to now!” The box was moving forward slowly and I ran quickly and Ryder moved his arm and put me right between him. I stared into his purple eyes for a second before I turned around and reached to turn off the lever. Ryder grunted behind me in relief. His thick belt buckle shoved into my back. My chest was pressed onto the stirring wheel.

    “Well, not like this isn’t comfortable…” I said sarcastically turning around to face him but stopped as he smiled shyly. His arms were above me . I felt his presence like no one else before. His black hair looked soft and nice to run my fingers through. The side of his lip was tweaked up into a cute smile.

    “Sorry. Thanks.” He said shortly. If it hadn’t been for the Thin Screen almost falling, I would have thought he was trying to make a move on me.

    I nodded and saw his pink lips open slightly. I wanted to kiss him. Before I could even do anything he moved back quickly. “I think its okay now,” he said nervously.

    I frowned slightly. I’m supposed to pull back. Not him. I’m the girl. He’s supposed to try something with me. Wait, why did I even want him too?

    “Um, yeah,” I muttered confused.

    “So you wanna help me get this baby up and running?” he asked with a grin.

    I nodded and gave a weak smile. He jumped down from the motor cart and started to rip at the cardboard. Finally he got it all off and we both stood in front of the Thin Screen. “Sh*t. They weren’t kidding when they called it a ‘Thin Screen’ did they?” I said. The screen was not even a half inch thin!

    Ryder laughed. “No I guess they weren’t. Man, I wish we could get cable. A baseball game on this thing would be like being there.”

    I snorted but laughed. “So I’m guessing you’re not a reading type?”

    He looked at me with a drool stare.

    “No, not really. I don’t really know how to read that well.”

    I raised an eyebrow surprised.

    “How couldn’t you?”

    He looked away. “I think I need to get a drink. How about you?” he asked turning to smile at me kindly.

    I frowned. Who is this kid? He won’t talk about himself at all. He doesn’t know how to read. How can that be?

    “Sure,” I said with a shrug.

    “Be right back.” He left quickly and I watched as he left. His jeans were riding low…Ugh! What is going on with me? I’ve never been this…hormonal before. Maybe it’s because I’m scared and…and I’m under stress. Yeah, that’s it. I sighed and sat down on the big comfy white show bed. It sunk down under me. I smiled and laid back on it, stretching. Wow, that feels amazing!

    “I hope you like Pepsi,” a voice said and I quickly sat up. Ryder smiled as he threw the Pepsi can across to me. I caught it. He went over to the TV not even noticing me on the bed and turned it on.

    “Hello. Welcome, I am the 2016 Thin Screen.” A woman’s voice said from the TV. Ryder laughed. “Jeez, everything talks to you now.”

    I shrugged. “Beats doing things yourself.”

    He frowned and turned around to me. “Don’t you like the old stuff? Like the old cars where you had a key? And the old radios that you had to push buttons on? And the houses that actually had light switches?”

    I stared at him. He was nuts! But his face said he wasn’t. He had a longing in his eyes that pleaded me to say yes too. That he wasn’t the only one.

    “Sure, I guess.”

    He smiled. “I mean come on! We would be lost if Bon Jovi never made another 10 albums.”

    My mouth dropped. “You like him?”

    He nodded. “Course. The guy’s been my idol since I could talk.”

    I laughed. “I really like him actually,” I said smiling.

    He grinned. “Wow, never would I have expected that.”

    I frowned. “Why?”

    He shrugged and turned back to the big screen. He pushed a button on it and it had a code for which DVD to activate.

    “Because you are the kind of type that would probably listen to that music with out words. Like Beethoven.” The way he said it sounded like bathover. I knew he was right when he said he couldn’t read well.

    “Beethoven, you mean,” I corrected.

    He nodded still not really paying attention. “Yeah whatever, but like that.” He was actually right. My dad would only play that stuff at the house so when I wanted to listen to Bon Jovi I had to listen to it without him around. How is he figuring me out so easily? Everyone thought I was a mystery. To him, I was an open book. How can that be? I always try to hide whatever I’m feeling…but Ryder knew. And I don’t even know him. Ryder stood back and put his hands on his head.

    “Mm…I need to get a DVD player…” he looked behind him, at me. His back rippled under his tight shirt as he thought. I felt my stomach tremble. Maybe I was hunger. He was watching me. I could tell. I looked up trying to look sexy with my lips parted and my hair in one eye. He looked away quickly.

    “I’ll be right back,” he said and took off out of sight. I was dumbfounded. The hell? I thought this s**t was supposed to work on guys? Why was I trying to get him anyhow? Stupid hormones controlling my brain. But why now? Why was it Ryder that my body was wanting? Ugh, so f*cking confusing. Ryder returned with a small DVD player the size of book. He punched in the numbers and sighed as he placed it on the ground. He stood back and sat down on the bed beside me looking up at the screen. His body was so close to mine and I don’t even think he knew it! I had never sat this close to a boy before. His smell drifted toward me and I sighed.

    “Something wrong?” he asked looking down at me.

    I blinked my eyes. “Oh, um, no.”

    He laughed his white teeth showing. “So, is there anything you want me to do for you?” Yeah, give me a rub down with those fingers and kiss me…..wow, cool down there Pedro. “Um,” I thought. “Do you have big sheets of paper?”

    He looked surprised. “I think, maybe in the back.” He stood up and turned to put out his hand in front of me.

    “What?” I asked.

    “Come on,” he smiled.

    I frowned at his hand.

    “You’re supposed to take it,” he said with a chuckle.

    “Why?” I asked confused.

    He sighed. “It’s nice if people do that for each other. Don’t you know that?” I shook my head but put my hand in his and he brought me to my feet. “See,” he said his purple eyes smiling at me. “Now, let’s go,” I followed him to the back of Wal-Mart to the stocking room. He found a roll of big white parchment paper and pulled me off a piece.

    “Thank you,”

    “No problem. Oh and the showers in there,” he said pointing to an employee’s lounge with a bathroom in it.

    “Oh good!” I said with a smile. Ryder and I stood there for a second, feeling a little awkward.

    “If you don’t mind me asking, what’s the paper for?”

    I smiled softly. “I’m painting.”

    He nodded. We walked back into the big open store and both sighed.

    “Want to do something fun?” he asked grinning at me.

    I frowned. “Like what?” He took hold of my hand.

    “I’ll show you,”