|| Beautiful Lie || [Tyrese]

[Rhy Bennett]

BAMBI

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Sunset.

It was a time that always got Rhy, baffling her and amazing her at the same time. That such a thing could exist where she lived, where everyone was who they were. How something was so beautiful and brought her on a high when people paid big bucks to float on the same high only to come crashing down. But, she wasn't here to think about her customers, she was here to get away from all that. Once a week Rhy came here, to witness beauty when all she saw was destruction on a daily basis. Not that she was complaining, destruction paid for her clothes, her food, her life. She lived on people making bad decisions. While Rhy felt guilty on the inside, she had to tell her self it was survival. You didn't survive where she lived by feeling sorry for people, you survived by making your own way, by plowing others down on your climb to be the best of the worst.

The doe eyed girl let her hood fall down, letting her hair fall with it from the pony tail. Not many people were out, all probably partying on the South Beach portion. She was comfortable. Bruno played with the waves as they flirted with the shoreline, coming in only to push themselves back out. What a tease. She let out a small giggle and called to Bruno, the pit bull coming to her side with a playful bark. She let her fingers play with the short, shinning rusted coat of her dog, her companion. As soon as he came back, Bruno pushed off the sand, clumsily running back to the shore. She let him. He was having fun, normally cooped up in the cool garage or her small apartment. He must have enjoyed these weekly visits as much as she did. Get away from their normal scenery. Rhy sighed slightly and sank down in the sand, toes pushing it away and back as she idly laid in the sand. What a lazy Sunday.

It had been like that a lot for Rhy this past week. Sitting back and doing nothing but recollecting. Looking back on who she was before and who she was now. Hard to believe that the graduated early student turned into a drug dealer and was also involved in the illegal racing circuit. But she loved it, and wasn't trading it. At least she hadn't screwed up that bad yet. Her job at the garage as well as her reputation kept growing, soon she could leave the drug business for good. Of course, her customers wouldn't be happy they had to buy crank from someone else. She was reliable and didn't over charge, as well as kept her customers happy. She didn't push into their lives, simply supply them with what they needed. She was a good drug dealer, and that's why she needed to get out. She couldn't begin to rely soley on her income from that and get to wound up in. Rhy easily got wound up in things and now, she was getting wound up right again, just like she had gotten only four years ago, when her life crumbled as the average teen drama entered. Of course, that's not why she came her. She came her to unwind and enjoy herself. She had to remind herself to enjoy herself, to relax. Just relax. Rhy let out another sigh as she played with the sand, watching it filter out through her fingers.

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RHY

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[Samantha Dugger]

Tyrese was on his walk. He liked running this part of the beach, he would make his way down the sand line to the south beach to party with his friends. He was dressed in a pair of long lose fit jean gym shorts, his wife beater tossed over his shoulder as he jogged.

He liked to think about different things as he ran, the most recent on his mind a young woman named Mary-Kate. He had meet her at the club and her attitude gave him a new found want. He liked to work to get where he was and she was amazing.

He looked up hearing a young woman call out for her dog. Seeing the dog was a pit bull he let out a small smile fall on his lips. He loved Pit bulls, he had had one but they had gotten ride of it. Gotten a rot instead. He normally would take his dog on his runs but since he was going to a party there was no way he was going to do that.

The gang life style he had gotten into was amazing to him though dangerous and did cause its share of injureies and problems. His friends weren't easily trusted around family and though his sisters where here as well he didn't like having allot of ties. He was here to get the hell away from the past.

He had money but not from working at a store or a real job but form illegal, all of it was illegal. Street racing, drugs, clubs, killing, wemon, guns you name it he was in it and he didn't mind it at all.

[Rhy Bennett]

BAMBI

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The sound of running footsteps came to her ears and Rhy raised her head, curiosity getting the better of her. The sun was just beginning to fade and not many people were out on the shoreline of North Beach. Many were either partying oppisote or just heading in for the night. True, they were some couples that Rhy looked on with envy at, walking along the beach with their hands entertwined. She glanced at them before looking away, eyes trailing along with the movements of Bruno as he played, yipping and yapping as many young yearlings do. He was the only male in her life at the moment, something she wasn't exactly proud to boast about but it was normal. The young pit bull acted her companion and even a bit of her brother, keeping away all the potential males with a close nip of sharp teeth at their skin. Secretly, Rhy thanked him. She wasn't really in the mood to go back to relationships, not yet.

The runner was a male, oh yes, most certainly male. Rhy felt a small twinge of attraction hit her and she looked on with fascination. He was definiatly a man of her type. He bore jean shorts, a white wife beater tossed carelessly over his shoulder. Amongst her oggling, Rhy failed to noticed Bruno's barks, an invitation to play. She just noticed the year old pit bull as he flashed by, a blurr of rusett orange and black. Bruno trailed the runner, a doggy grin plastered on his face as he jumped in front of him, just enough distance for him to stop before completely tumbling over him. The pit barked, not a deep one but a friendly,high-pitched bark of mischief. Rhy gulped slightly, her nerves shot. Not many people adored Pit Bulls and she didn't know if the guy knew Bruno was just being friendly. He was that type of dog, always wanting new friends and loving to meet all sorts of new people, even if if they didn't like to meet him. " Bruno! Bad Bruno! Baby, get back here! " She called aimlessly, the dog not listening. Bruno was trained slightly, but he had his moments where he just wouldn't listen at all.

Rhy sighed gently and got up, brushing the sand from her jeans and white South Pole Tee. Bruno obviously didn't know what strangers were. Jogging up, she avoided eye contact, how she hated meeting new people, they scared the day lights out of her. It was simply a Rhy thing. Hoodie in hand, she desperately pulled at Bruno's black leather collar. " I'm so sorry, Bruno-he likes people. He-he didn't hurt you, did he? He just gets so excited. I-I I'm terribly sorry, " Always so polite, so sickingly polite. Rhy gave another sigh and managed to look him in the eye and let out a small breathe of air at what she saw. Those eyes, she knew those eyes. But, it wasn't him. No, it couldn't be. But, oh how those eyes tortured her with false hope. She gulped lightly, looking at the ground. Had she stared to long? She glanced up once more, smiling slightly. " Um, hi. This is Bruno and I'm-I'm Bambi, " She decided against Rhy, seeing if he was gang related and recognized her name. And perhaps, if he was-no. She wouldn't let her get her hopes up.

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RHY

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[Samantha Dugger]

Tyrese watched the dog, squatting slowly he petted him gently seeing him not as an evil dog but gentle. Looking over at the younger woman he though he recognized her but he wasn't sure. He watched her run to wards them after the dog disobeyed. [glow=green,2,000]"Oh he is fine. Good dog, well....built..."[/glow] He stopped slowly when she stared at him.

He pulled his eyes away from her thinking he knew who she was. It wasn't her, there was no way it was her. That was years ago, she was to good....wait this was the nor....no way it wasn't her.

He heard her name and his face drained....okay it was her....He looked at her with shocked eyes. He missed her, he really had loved her but his mother had moved him, they had to go he didn't have the choice in it. [glow=green,2,000]"They call be 'Bad Ass' Jackson."[/glow] He raised his eye brows to see if she would remember it or not though from the look on her face she already did.

He looked to wards the sun, today, her here....it was strange. He looked back at her. It had been years, long years. He had changed allot...for the worse most people said. He could remember dating her though. Her mother never really cared for him though her father liked his family history and that he was attempting to join in and already in major mischief when he could be. Boosting cars and such already.....

He pulled his thoughts together and collected himself on her. She was beautiful, grown into a rather beautiful beautiful woman....young lady. She couldn't be that old yet. They had spent all those puppy dog years together, the first true love gag and all. They had so many planes made and dreams but reality checked in on him and he had to let it go. They were moving hundreds of miles apart, there was nothing eh could do. He had to move in with his the other partent...there was nothing eh could do about it

[Rhy Bennett]

BAMBI

Damn.

The words hit her like a freight train. They call me "Bad Ass" Jackson. It was as simple and complicated as that. Tyrese was here, standing right in front of her. It took every restraint in her body not to simply tackle him with years of lost affection. Years of simple yearning for an achknowledgment, an "I love you". She knew he had trouble with that, from the start hew as reluctant in their relationship. It was she who made the first move. Amazing such a quiet girl ended up with a ganster. Yet, everything he was appealeed to her. How she deserved him was beyond her, which was the reason she held on so tight until the last threads were cut between them, as the miles increased. It was mind numbing how he could be standing here, still the same yet completely different. The sun kept on fading, crimson, oranges and brilliant purples sweeping across the sky. A brilliant background for such an event, yet Rhy could not focous on the landscape. No, simply on the man infront of her, the man who was the world to her, a man who was once a boy who looked at her with puppy dog innocence.

Bruno barked, getting her attention away from her thoughts, away from the past. Yet, here stood a direct link to her never-ending happiness. He was her sun shine in a bag. Licking her lips, she let her eyes downcast. " I guess you have a lot to back up that nick-name now, huh? " It was always a joke between them, his name. The boys in the school took in all with seriousness, looking at him as if he was some divine entity, with the best ability to boost around as well as his always professional sticky fingers. Yet, Rhy could never look at him like that, or well, she refused to. She liked to now the different Tyrese, her Ty. The Ty who always said the right things at the right time. Rhy let out a small breath, simply basking in the fact he was here, he was here right now, standing in front of her. What did she think of it as before? Mind numbing? Oh yes, her mind was certainly numb.

Questions bombarded her, questions that she needed to know from him. Did you think of me? Do you still love me? How are you? Are you out of the gangs? How's your family? And of course, the one that was dripping, burning the edge of her tongue. Are you single? Had someone taken the puppy dog innocent from him, someone devoloped a new Ty? Of course he was different, he was new. Four years can do a lot to somebody. But, were the dreams still there? The hopes, the plans, had they all faded away? The sweet words, had they meant nothing? Was it all lost in the grand scheme of things? Rhy gently tugged at Bruno's collar, a signal for the pit to sit down. He did, reluctantly, his tail doing a costant thump. Pushing away a strand of hair from her doe eyes which gave her the name Baby Bambi, she came a fraction of an inch closer. Such little distance yet she felt her whole body heat up at the sense of him being even a fraction closer. " How have you been, Ty? " It was a simple question, yet it asked so many things. Rhy felt a pinge of fear cut at her heart, so many answers could accompany that question.

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RHY

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[Samantha Dugger]

Tyrese watched her. It hurt her to see him and he knew it. It hurt him to see her but he couldn't show it. Things were different but was she? Was what they had? Could they get it back? He was linked with another girl. He had something going with her....a date tonight even.....

"More then your father would even like." He smiled slightly. He and her father got along well. Though many people at school liked to bug the two of them for being close and then dating. She as of high authority. She wasn't no low class she was high class...and white. He was a low class dirt bag as most called him with a skank mother and no where in life to go...and hew as black.

They had fallen for each other somehow, she always managed to bring the best out in him, the good side he hated showing. He acked like a real bad ass because he didn't have a choice. His father was a gangster and rapper. He was however very sweet when he wanted to be and out of the gang life when his boy was born.

Tyrese was also known as scum because his parents never dated but were only great friends. They never planned there baby, never loved each other though they were like brother and sister. He knew they shared a bond though people looked down on his family for it. His mother had another daughter with a man that wasn't around as well. Bambi' came from a high class family with money, skill and pure blood that were married. Still where he figured. He remembered the first time he went to her house, her mother immediately didn't like him though tried to hide it.

He smiled slightly at her question nodding to wards the beach where she was sitting. He walked with her up to the sand and sat down slowly. His dark skin shinning from the moon light. His earrings starting to glitter from the light as well. His voice was deeper his body muscled out and new tattoos. His rose and heart tattoo laid on one arm when on his back was the symbol of his gang, the black cobras...

Once seated he listed to her words."How have i been....well I'm still breathing, proved your mother wrong...." He smiled slightly."No I'm alright.....dropped out of school......in the gangs still....how about you?" He knew her mother planned on her going to collage and what not."In collage yet?"

[Rhy Bennett]

BAMBI

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She smiled back at the answer. He could definiatly hold up the name by looks alone, yet, he had always been like that. And of course, the skill to back it up. Rhy knew though, it wasn't a skill by choice. She remembered slightly the visit to his house, her only one, to meet his family. She really loved them, especially his father. He didn't seem all business like her own, who wanted her divine attention to the gang and the assests. He seemed to care about Tyrese, so much she remembered him saying something about leaving gang life for him. Rhy admired him greatly for it. She remembered his sisters, she always liked them. The good natured teasings they provided, yet she liked them amensly. Something about them, the way they were, Bambi envied them greatly. She remembered the relationship they all had, so different from hers at home. Seeing Ty in his own environment, it only made her like, love him more. Getting back to the real world, she shook her head with a good natured laugh. " You know, he still talks about you. How much potential you had. It looks like he was right, " It hurt when her father mentioned him, and even more when he didn't recognize that hurt. The pain by the simple mention of a name.

As she walked along side of him, she couldn't help but to breathe in his scent. It was different, yet still him in a way. She remembered sneaking up to the bluff in a car he boosted once, amazed at how they got there without flipping or crashing. Of course, no one was out at four in the morning, so it was an easy and slow ride. She remebered laying in the crisp, black leather seats, tangled up in Tyrese. For being such 'puppy dogs' as so many called them, they did have a serious relationship. They did serious relationship things, she guessed you could call them. She remembered simply laying there, breathing in as she snuggled in the crook of his neck. Oh, how her mother screamed when she returned home, walking of course. Tyrese even stayed by her side, holding her hand. Glancing up at him now, she resisted the simple movement of affection. Bruno tagged along, tail wagging as he moved in between the two. Bambi almost slipped, telling Bruno to move aside but caught her tongue. She didn't know how he felt at this point, she had to resist getting closer to him.

Sitting down at the side, cross-legged, she smiled warmly up at him. She loved the way his skin shone with the sweat from his running, his muscles toned and larger. She couldn't help but to laugh at the comment about her mother. Shaking her head, she rested her chin in her palm. " Mom was a good woman, still is. She just...didn't understand. But, who does, right? " What was she hinting? She herself didn't understand. Perhaps it was just a simple hint to the past, remembering how many people rejected and teased their relationship. Rhy remembered once incident, being blinded by her fury. Ignorant fools. Of course, it was a new girl, a girl who didn't understand Ty's status, who didn't understand the connection between the two. She teased Bambi mostly, her being the 'prissy little white girl' dating a gangster. How he was out of her league. She remembered a few other words, but wouldn't dare remember them. She only remembered the tears welling up in her eyes and the way her fist shook. She remembered the contact of her fist and the face she hit. She also remembered Ty sneaking in through her window from her three week suspension. But that, was a different story. She smiled as he said he was alright, she hoped he was. She was glad he was in one piece, one amazing piece. She let her eyes trail down his muscles, stopping at his tattoo's. Rhy couldn't help herself, she really couldn't. She let her hand reach out, tracing the ink. She always did adore tattoo's on a guy. " New ink, Ty? Lookin' good, " She nodded her approval and thought back to the tribal on her lower back and the gang insignia as well. Her face dropped slightly as he mentioned he dropped out. " Dropped out, when? Was it just a decision or.." She would never judge him, just curious. She wanted him to be happy, and was hoping he was making a decent living. She forced the smile as he said he was in the gangs still. She wanted out, but, they kept pulling her back. Her father, mostly. She then grinned up at Tyrese, leaning back on her two hands. " Not pissin' to many people off, are you Ty? " It was a joke, with concern laced along the edges. All she wanted to know if he was ok, that would make her happy.

As he asked about her life and college, she sighed and leaned back up once more. Bruno went over to the gangster's side and licked the side of his face in good natured fun, an invitation for being friends. Rhy let out a small giggle and placed her chin in her palm once more. " I guess I'm fine, doing good for myself. Just moved out, though I see the folks every day at the garage. I work there now, you know. Finally got them to make me a first string mechanic, though they watch me and pull me aside if they think it's not right. I spend most of my day's there with Bruno," She flashed the dog a smile, proudly stating her profession. She loved working on her cars. Looking over to the small parking lot located on a small bluff on the beach, she pointed to a 2008 Camaro, yellow with black racing stripes. " That there, is my baby. Of course, second to Bruno and my muscle, a 72' black with smokey gray racers. Other than the garage, I work over at the strip, dealing pink slips and startin' races. " She shrugged lightly, a smile still entrancing her pink lips. How she loved to be just simply talking, hanging with Ty again. It was almost like the old times, almost. She looked away as he mentioned college. " I finished high school early, just to make my parents happy, of course. And to get out of there. High school was...different than middle. " She looked down and closed her eyes at the thought of the party but opened them once again to look at Tyrese. No need to dwell on that. " You know, as weird as it may seem, I don't really want college. I'm good in the garage, I like where I am. Of course, I could get out of the gangs, that would be the best. I mean, I grew up in it, we both did but...I don't know, I'm scared. My mom wants me to go to college, get a masters, be a doctor or some crap...Dad wants me in the business, wants me to run some rings. I don't know what to do next. " She looked over at the ocean waves, then over at Ty and gave a bittersweet smile. " We had it all figured out Ty, didn't we? " It was the first time she really approached their relationship head on, their plans. She wanted to see how he would react to it.

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RHY

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[Samantha Dugger]

Tyrese listened to her words and couldn't help but laugh. He missed her dad but he had to do what he had to do."No. Your dad wouldn't like what all I'm involved with now and your mother would ring my neck....." Worst than the time they caught me snuggled up with you in your bed during your suspension.... he thought though didn't allow himself to speak the words. He looked over into her soft eyes as she ran a finger along his ink.

He chuckled."oh....they are okay. This one is my favorite though." He turned his body showing her the one on the other arm. It was of a rose. Bellow it was barb wire. He sighed."You cant see it now but in black light it shows a broken heart within the bar wire, the barb wire running though it and the rose has blood drops creating the heart bellow it. " He looked over his shoulder at the huge tats on his back and the one on his other arms.

"I want to get sleeves but sis says NO." He laughed shrugging."As if i would ever listen to her." He had his name Tyrese "BAD ASS" Jackson across the top of his shoulder blades spelled out in kick ass letters. Below it a huge black cobra intertwining though bar wire and such. His gang symbolized in an easy tattoo that wouldn't give a cop a hint.

Hearing about her mother he nodded in agreement"Oh I know. She never liked me though."Wasn't ever gonna be good enough for you, still wouldn't be in her eyes. ran though his mind though once more he didn't speak his true thoughts on the matter. Her mother just wanted the best for her baby girl and he understood. She wanted her to become the best she could be, make tons of money....clean money.

Tyrese made allot of money, dirty money. Blood money as they called it."No collage?" He was slightly shocked at her words."Well I dropped out because.....life." He shrugged not wanting to go into full detail on why. Ganging was why, he wanted that style and took it head on. He dropped out after moving away and leaving her, right after actually.

He looked her over as she sat up and laughed at her dog."Hes cute. I'm shocked your not going to collage, your mother must be highly paniced at that situation." He heard her words bout themmm...the plans.....

"Thing's change. People change....plans change baby." He looked over at her and then to wards the sun."See the sun comes up in the air but it always goes back down. So its the same....thats life....you wake up and sleep....but this winter was different than last....thats change....it happens whether you want it to or ot...seasons change like we age.....but no one winter will be the exact same....or even remotely the same."

He hoped she would understand his words. They were older, it would be harder now....he was seeing someone though he did miss her something awful. He just couldn't say it allowed right now, not unless he was high.

[Rhy Bennett]

She resisted the playful arguement on her tongue and glanced out at the water once more. The colors were fading now, giving away to night. She had always loved night, always loved the stars. The bittersweet feeling came back once again as memories bombarded her, of how she was promised her own star. Bambi remembered how she felt as if she was given a diamond instead of an unattianable object millions of light years away from them. That's just how it was, though. How far under she was with him. How big puppy dog love could really be, how strong a pull he had on her. She wished to curl up with him, let her head fall on his muscular chest, hearing the sweet lullabye of his heart. Stare up at the stars and point to the one and say, "Don't you remember, baby. You gave me that star, you gave me the best birthday present anyone has ever given me. You gave me you, and I want it back. I want it all back" Of course, it was all gone, everything. Wasn't it? The miles had erased them, leaving only a tattered book of memories, memories that stung yet left her blissfully happy. It was weird. Just like love. How it made someone sick, yet it made them happy. It burned them, yet their forever one wrapped gauze about the wound and kissed them better. It was so contradicting, Rhy felt her head pulse in defiance. Her better instincts telling her it wasn't right to get caught up once more. He probably had everything he wanted. Women (oh, how that stung), cars, money, street fame. He didn't need her, not anymore. Her teeth grinded together at the thought and her brow furrowed, large eyes glazing over.

The touch of his skin sent little electrons throughout her and, reluctantly, she left it as he turned his body. Eyebrows raised as he explained the piece of artwork. She loved that the tattoo could have so many meanings, she also loved it was simply so Tyrese. She reached out once again to feel the electric sensation, tracing the rose, remembering how she used to trace the muscles on his arm during classes in which they sat far back in the rows. Remembering how her grades decreased when she met Tyrese, though she soon found a way to balance the two. It was hard, but she did it. Secretly, she would have admitted to sacrificing her grades for him, everything for him. If not for her mother's constant proddings, it would have happened. A lot of things would have happened. If she had it her way, they would have never came apart at the seams, she would have followed him, supported him like she should have. Bambi let her hand drop and glanced down at the sand. She should have done a lot of things, if only life hadn't gotten in the way. She nodded at his reasoning for dropping out. If she had her way, she would have dropped out to. Rhy wouldn't have had to go through that one night were everything crumbled apart. She would have found Tyrese the minute she entered and the seconds after she left the high school. But, of course, life had gotten in the way.

The on coming night air nipped at her exposed skin so she pulled her arms through the hoodie. She smiled at his comment on Bruno, nodding her agreement. " Yeah, he is. Horrid fighter, though. Daddy gave him to me after he lost. The poor boy was in such rough shape, yet...he didn't even let the fight get to him. He resisted the change so many other dogs were put through, he remained good in his disposition. " She glanced over at Ty for a moment. Like many other gangsters, symbolised by the other pits, he had gone through the change from puppy to dog, yet, somehow, she new there was still some puppy in there. It just needed to be coaxed out. Rhy wasn't surprised at his shock to her not going to college. She remembered her mother warning him that she was, indeed, going to college and he better not stop her. Of course, he agreed. Anything for the both of them, as long as they were together. They brought out the best in each other, that they did. Without him, Rhy silently feared there was no best in her. " Yeah, mom and daddy are fighting quite a bit lately about me. If I should go, If shouldn't. If should run the rings, if I shouldn't. I wish, for once, I could decide what I could do, what I shouldn't. Then again, what if I make the wrong decision? " Classic Rhy, so afraid, so intimidiated by her own choices that she hides from them. She looked to Tyrese and slightly felt the envy grow within her. He was so confident in how he was, who he was, where he was going. She fidgeted in the sand for a moment before grasping some sand in her hand. " I envy you, Ty. I really do. I always have. You are so confident in what you do, the choices you make. Sometimes, I swear you don't have the slightest care for consequences, you are just so satisfied with your choice. I wish I was, Tyrese. I really do. I've always lov-liked that about you, " She resisted the four letter word from escaping her. She had to.

He talked about constants and about change. Surprisingly, she understood every word, even if she didn't want to. They had changed, it was unaviodable. They were different people, but even at that, Rhy couldn't help the underlying attraction she felt. This new Ty, he still blinded her just as the old one had. Or perhaps, she was fooling herself into thinking so, in a false hope. Inwardly, she slapped herself. No, no she wasn't. She nodded to his words and played with the sand before looking up at him, the emotions of the situation threatning to bring her to her knees. " Ty...Doesn't history repeat itself unless one puts so many pre-cautions to avoid it? Unless one makes an effort to change the feelings one feels, don't feelings remain? Can they? Is it possible that....that feeling love for one thing, can't that love remain? Does time destroy everything? " Bambi looked up at him, desperate for answers. Even if she didn't say his name specifically, she was talking about them, the things they had. She just wanted to know if there was even a possibility in what they had could come back. She wanted it back. Did he? Her eyes left his to turn toward the sky, all the colors fading into the night. She returned to him and leaned forward, the words burning her tongue so harshly, she couldn't keep them in. Not anymore. Clearing her throat, she was done with metaphores, done with discussing. She wanted to know. " Tyrese, did you miss me? "

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[Samantha Dugger]

Tyrese smiled at her comment. He knew she missed I'm. He listened carefully."Well we got ride of our pit and got a root.. Hammed him Rocky. Rocky road but we call him rocky." He looked over at the dog."Not a fighter huh?" He laughed running his hands over the dogs soft yet rough outer coat."Hes still a pit right?"

So many times people got labeled just like the dog. He was a sweet dog but when people looked at him they saw he was a PIT. They didn't see him as a dog..... It was the same for tyrese. He was black. He was human but he was a BLACK human. Not to mention that some pits were bad but some blacks were nice. He was so sick of being labeled. People saw a pit and thought mean, fighting and nasty. They looked at Tyrese and though Mean, fighting and nasty as well.

He sighed."So sick of labels....your a dog....dont matter what kind." He patted his head, ruffling his ears before paying attention to her again.

Hearing about her parents he sighed."Not to be rude but I'm not shocked....they always seemed to fight." he shrugged lightly. They fought about everything. Him and her being together was as big as the kids at school. He wouldn't ever been good enough for her people, her high people. He didn't deserve her, he was only dragging her down....he was in a way, her grades dropped though his rose up some from studying with her. They equaled each other out enough she wasn't amazing but good and he was average instead of stupdi...she would always bee better than him.

He sighed at her words..."Love?" He said looking at her though ignored it."Oh yes honey everything changes....destroys? Well that willow in my hard never died out....new branch's meant knew things each year....leaves falling and returning meant change but it still had the limbs honey....love is in the heart....always will be....but....its still from last year...the new limbs are what you should grasp..."

He knew she was talking about him and her and he knew he missed her but he knew he would only drag her further down into the hell he lived. He heard her questions....he sighed thinking of how to explain it and decided to just be forward..."Yes." He looked at her winking lightly."You were my first true love....i will always have a place for you in my heart...."

He looked up seeing a couple walking."Them there....you don't know it but they have been hurt, lose that first love before....but they found new love....just like you will baby.....he will be amazing.....lawyer probally.....someone who can reason and show you the meaning of things though be understanding and thoughtfully." He looked at her."You will be a great doctor,....you know what you want and you have to take it...be the best you can be."

[Rhy Bennett]

She listened to what he said carefully, though, sometimes it felt it was going through only to be filtered out. For some reason, she felt like she was floating above her body, watching the whole scenario go down. Looking down, she felt bad for the girl known as Bambi. Latching on to something that doesn't exist anymore. Giving in to the false hope that everything would go back to the way it was. That nothing changed. Oh, how hard headed she was to believe in such a thing. What a dreamer, what a poor soul. Someone who would never grasp the fact that things don't stay the same. That everything changes, as Tyrese was trying to tell her. As the words kept coming, slowly she felt herself return to her body, caught up in the situation at hand. Where was this all going? Was it just him trying to let her down easy? Just trying to tell her that, yeah, he loved her before but now, it was a different story. She felt her stomach churn with a brief moment of hate mixed in with sprinkles of desire. Not hate for Ty, no, that would never happen. Annoyance and frustration could plague her, but she could never come to hate him. No, it was a hate for time, for change. For everything that pulled them apart. And finally, a hate for herself. That the years before were not enough, that she was expecting so much from something that possibly didn't even exist anymore, for empty space. That she couldn't be happy with what had happened. That she was....afraid. Afraid of not having Tyrese anymore, of not having that brick stability, of having someone new. Of having that childish desire pulled away from her, without Ty...it was like having to grow up all over again. Without Ty, it was like pulling a whole chapter from her life, instead of cherishing that chapter. The fear that gripped her was completely irrational, yet it was there, tormenting her.

Gulping, she steadied herself on the sand. Grasping it once more, she let it fall, watching it intently. As he spoke of new branches, she felt a tremor form within her. " What if I can't grasp them? What if I fall? Th-There won't be anyone to catch me....not anymore, " It was true, in a sense. She didn't have that significant other to break her fall if she just couldn't make the gap, if she just couldn't grasp those new oppertunities. Breathing in gently, watching as the moon hung in the sky, she returned to Ty with her emotions in check, at least for now, at least for a second she had control. " Do you have someone to catch your fall, Ty? " And there it was. The question that couldn't go unasked any longer. Did he have another? Was the pain radiating in her head for nothing? Was he truly unattaniable now? Was the churning desire she felt supposed to be kept lock and key, shut up tight in the now frozen over portion that was her heart? 'Oh, god. Stop being so melodramatic' She cursed herself in her thoughts. It was hard not to. She couldn't understand his calm demenor in the conversation. She didn't see the underlying want on his face like it was so appearent on her's. But, perhaps her whole thinking was irrational. Perhaps she was just supposed to look at this like catching up, like their once shared love would turn into friendship, that it wasn't right to come barging into his life expecting him to drop everything to suddenly pick up the pieces. Maybe he had no pieces to pick up, perhaps he tapped them up long ago. Or, perhaps, someone had helped him along the way. At the thought, her eyes fell to the tide, refusing to look at him while those kinds of thoughts inhabited her brain.

Bambi raised her head at what he had said next, smiling at the wink. So he had missed her. Terribly? Most likely. Not. But he certainly couldn't ignore that year full of fond memories, full of the heart thumping throat closing palm sweating first love. The way you returned home from school giddy only to wait by the phone, to hear their voice, like it was the only salvation, an oasis in the middle of a desert that was life. The smile grew brighter, only slightly, at what he had said after, the bittersweet feeling coming back to close tight around her throat, as if she could taste the words. " Were? Does that mean...? " She trailed off, staring into the eyes of what she used to think she coulnd't live without. As the tension increased around her, Bruno sensed it and let out a small whimper, his head shaking as he looked at both of them, oblivious to the situation. She watched as he pointed to a couple walking on the beach and stated they had been hurt before, but they found something new. Something new. New. She didn't particularly like the word, no, not at all. Her teeth once again ground together as she witnessed the two. " Ty...Do you believe there is a somebody for everybdoy? That in god's, if you believe, grand scheme of things, he picked out the two most greatly compatibale people and placed them on this earth, knowing they would find each other and live that fairy tale? What if your somebody....what if you met your somebody yet, they have a different somebody? What do you think would happen then? " While speaking in riddles, she once again hinted them. Saying, 'Ty your my somebody, but do you think your somebody is someone else?' Breathing in, her sigh broken as the emotion entered her voice. " If everyone has someone, why would the pain exist? The pain of leaving someone you loved when your somebody was still out there? If it was true, wouldn't you be left unscarred? Why would the pain exist? " She knew she didn't make much sense but her mind was at a whirlwnd at the moment of thoughts.

At what he said after, she laughed. She had to, yet she felt sadness creeping up on her, like a dark omen. Storm clouds in a once azure sky. " Truthfully, Tyrese, I wouldn't want a lawyer. I wouldn't want a doctor, a lawyer, anyone like that. While I know that, I don't know what I want anymore. My life has down a complete 360 and I've been left without a memo about it. As if I was absent a crucial day of school where they taught you to know what you want. I don't know what I want with my life, I don't know who I want to spend my life with. I don't know even more that I want to try. Why go through the pain, anymore? What's the reward in it all? I've felt love. I've felt the sensation, the butterfly's, the worry, the pain. I've felt love. I don't know if I want to go through with it again, at least, with a different person. Sometimes, Ty....after you left...after everything was gone, after it all went hollow....I wondered if I was the sole person all the planet that didn't have a somebody. " The revalations kept pouring out, the riddles, the not making sense. She didn't know how to handle this situation anymore, how she felt about him anymore, how she wanted him to feel about her anymore. She wanted to run away, yet she wanted to figure this whole thing out. It was a weird feeling that she wanted gone right now.

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[Samantha Dugger]

Tyrese watched her face drain and he sighed in hurt. He was hurting her though he didn't mean to. He listened to her carefully. She was scared and lost and missing him. He missed her too....but he had his friends...he had her memory. he had her still within him. He felt like she had been holding onto his love as if it would still be here. He couldn't just drop it all he had a life,....a life that would destroy anything good that might come from her....and a girl he might soon be dating....he hoped he would soon be dating....yes a new girl.....not any better just different.

He looked into her eyes with sigh."That my dear is what the old Branch's are for....See the knew ones are no better then the old ones, the old ones are still there....the new ones are just differnt......The old ones however can catch you on your way down, help you climb back up. " He leaned over petting the dog."Like him...you had a dog when we dated....this one isn't any better hes just differnt..." He sighed looking into her eyes.

Looking out at the setting sun he smiled."I will always be on your tree honey, always be there to catch you on your way down, help you climb back up......If you will let me." He would have talked with her again if he hadn't been seeing someone he knew she wanted to date him, she hadn't let go but he had forced himself into thinking he would never see her again. He had changed so much over the time but he did miss her he always would and always had. He had new friends new girls, many....had she had new boys? Had she crossed that yet? Had she made love to another when she didn't think of him? Had she ever loved or trusted or even liked another?

"Ill never have another someone like you...like i said i have friends baby. I had my sisters...there not better than you they are just different." He hoped she would try and understand his reasoning, his thoughts on what she was trying to get out, the fact he did still care for her deeply just couldn't date her or proses it under the current problems and his job in his life at the moment. He would love to date her again,....he just couldn't right now he couldn't break this new girl for an old one,....not because she just randomly showed up.


Hearing her next question he let out a gentle sigh."I think there is more than one person that could match you my dear. Like i said as times change what you want and need change. You said you don't know what you want." he looked at her for a moment."One day you want ice cream. Cherry. you have that every day for a mounth...soon it gets tired, you try something else....you love it you have it for a mounth...cherry well you still like it its still there for you when you have it but you now have cherry and chochlate.... when one grows old you find another..." He took her hand showing her the size difference in the two.

He had spend months explaining things in ways to her."See the size difference? I told you as long as your hand fit in mine i wouldn't hurt you and i wont. I will ALWAYS be your best friend. Your first love. Your one kiss....." He wanted to kiss her but he couldn't. He wouldn't use her like that.

He chuckled at her giggling at his lawyer bit."If you don't know what you want you cant know who you will always love. When you find what you want you will know. You will TAKE IT. You will do great things baby. Just like i will do horrible things. IT is getting late." He pulled out his phone writing down his number and handed it to her, pressing it hard into her hand."I have to go baby." He leaned over hugging her gently, kissing the side of her head."Text me sometime." He sighed winking lightly.

"Ill call you in a few days honey, i have to work for a while but i will call and we can hang out."

[Rhy Bennett]

It was terribly confusing. How all of his metaphors, everything he said was reaching her, grabbing her, shaking her to make her understand. She understood. Rhy knew it all, she had heard it all. Yet, this underlying, this nagging, this ripping kept it from truly sinking in to her understanding. The ignorance that was the thought it would all get better, that he was the wrong one. That even with all the comforting words, the true care laced within them and wrapped in the silk of his voice, a deep rumbling, a seductive purr enclosed with emotion, there was something else. That there had to be something else to it. That suddenly the situation would do a 360 and the tables would turn in her favor. She knew she was a fool, a complete fool. But she had spent her life playing it safe, doing what was expected of her. Why couldn't she play the fool this once, do things the way she wanted without fearing what consequences lay upon the horizon? Impulses. Why couldn't she act upon them, give herself the false hope that seemed like such a salvation? Logic told her to take what he said and cherish those words. He could have shut her out completely yet he did not. He welcomed her back in, farther than he should have. Even let the thought of sparking it back up cross his mind, and here she was expecting so much more. Logic told her to back, to wait, to see what would become of friendship just as she did so long ago. Logic wrapped her up, set her down, told her to breathe. Feeling told her to push.

He talked of old branches, the support that came with them. They would never fall, but simply the new branches would grow in separate directions, leaving the old intact. The old made way for the new, letting in opportunity. Yet, if one just didn't develop in time, they were there to soften the blow, to be the safety net. Rhy desperately wished for a safety net at the moment. She felt as if the sand was giving way, dropping beneath her to drown her in the azure ocean of complete emotional turmoil. Bambi was fighting to keep her head above water. Gulping in breaths of indigo unstableness, she nodded reluctantly. She couldn't help but to argue in her mind. What about the way down? What if those batters, those bruises, the cuts? What if one cut, one slip, goes to deep? What if all becomes to much? She didn't dare say anything about it all. He was being so patient with her, she was putting him through so much on what should have been a simple run down to South Beach. Rhy felt her cheeks flush with anger and embarrassment. What was she doing? She couldn't do this, barge on into his life like this. It was sickening, what she was doing, what she was expecting. Yet, somehow she couldn't feel the need to want to stop pushing, expecting, prodding, hoping. She just couldn't let go,

He talked of her falling, but him catching. He helping climb back up, shake off the fall, get back up. Dust her off and help her back on her way. Her heart threatened to implode against her chest. Her mood brightened, allowing a small smile to entrance her features. Nodding, she brought her head back up, eyes trailing down his body to come back up. He could certainly break her fall. " How could I refuse such an offer? I just couldn't allow anyone else the position but you, " Half-humor half-seriousness was how she usually played it. Humor down sized the hugeness of the situation, seriousness threatened to choke out the tears. She shivered, not sure whether from all the sudden revaluations or from the oncoming cold night. Either way, she sunk down into the American Eagle sweatshirt, her favorite. Maroon was always her favorite color, and she had to admit it did look good on her. She sighed softly, it was getting late. The polite side, the one that was forced to form from her upbringing, knew she shouldn't keep him longer. She had discovered him running, which meant he had a destination, which meant with the destination, he had a time to reach that destination. Sitting here, it was simply keeping him from it. The selfish feeling wanted to keep him here, hoard him, like those dragons in all the stories her father used to tell. How they would keep their precious treasures, their gems, their gold all in one cave, sleeping upon the humongous mounds of it all. Tyrese was her precious stone, her treasure cove. She wished to keep him, all to herself like she had done in the past. Though, she did know Tyrese. And the one thing she knew for certain, is that no one could keep him. Absolutely no one could keep that boy, that man locked up forever. It was simply impossible.

The annoying ringing in her ear stopped suddenly as he confessed he would never find another like her. His words wrapped her up, they tasted like warm cinnamon. She wished to sip at them, to taste, to have them wash over and pull back, to only bring another wave of happiness about her all day. The smile grew bigger and she couldn't help but to reply, her voice lost, as if it had to go through many meduims to reach. As if it had been from years ago, and maybe it was. " You are simply extrodinary, Ty. I wish others could be of such, as you are Ty. But then again, no. Because you are you, and I love that, I love you. You are enough, and you are more than enough, " The words poured out, as if someone had turned on the faucet from her mind. The words meant everything, yet she knew he had most likely heard them before. How amazing he was, how brilliant he was. From so many others, he affected them, he must have. He was a star, a brilliant star on the dark horizon of this dusty town that existed in this universe. Sometimes, she thought he would snuff himself out, he was so bright. But then, he would let the words pour out, jsut as she, and she knew he was just fine, how much he shone. Despite such circumstances in which he lived, the things he had done, the good certainly out wieghed the bad in him, if there was ever such a thing. Rhy wished others would take a look at how much he shone, instead of looking at the dark aura about him. Then again, she cured the thought. If others did, she wouldn't have that bright brilliance to herself. Selfish thoughts once again.

While she understood the ice cream refrence, she felt a pang of sadness hit her heart. She didn't like that when things got old, you have to find something new. Rhy thought back to her parents, still married after everything her father put her mother through. She wondered if they were in love, and that was the reason why. How long would it be until they grew old of each other, until their taste buds yearned for something new, something exciting? Moving closer to him a fraction of an inch, she tested the new sand with her feet. " Tyrese, you know Sherbert ice cream, right? And Neopoliton? Combinations of flavors. Is that love, is that the one. When you find the combination that satisfies yet keeps your taste buds on your toes? When you taste it, yet another flavor comes with it. Is that when you truly know that the search is over, that you have found them? Because...I... " Her better instinct told her not to finish that sentance, to quench the extreme urge to tell him. She didn't know yet, she couldn't know yet. She had to wait, to see if it really, if she truly felt it. Ty was certainly a mixture of flavors, but was he the perfect one, her upendi? Her paradise, her utopia? Was her just the perfect blend of everything? She was only seventeen, with a lot of life ahead of her. Somewhere, though, inside, right next to her heart threatening implosion, she didn't know if she wanted to continue down the path of new beginnings.

Electricity threatened to send her straight into a heart attack as he grabbed her hand. The size difference was a bit of amazing, but what left her speechless is how comfortably her hand fit into his. Like it did back when...Well, just like it had done before. She remembered staring straight into his eyes when he had promised that, seeing only complete sincirity doubled with intense love. She looked up, searching for the sincirity, which she most certainly found. The love though, it was hard to tell what kind of love it was. The friendship, the almost-sibling type, or the type that made your knees wobble. She didn't know, it was to early to tell, it was to early to tell many things. But, she did know what he said was true. He was her best friend, the one she could tell anything to and not be judged. The one she ran to when she just needed a hug and a shoulder to cry on, or the one that she ran to after hearing incredible news for an 'that's incredible!'. The one to do so many stupid things with, and get caught. She knew he was the best of the best. If she ever happened to get caught, sitting in a jail cell, one of her friends would gladly bail her out. But Ty, no, that wouldn't be Ty. He would be sitting next to her in that jail cell, grinning from ear to ear, saying 'Wow, we really fucked up, didn't we?'. Yeah, that was her Ty.

Rhy felt the incredibly urge to lean forward, brush her lips against his own. But, as if their minds were completely connected, she resisted. Not now. It was to soon. They couldn't, not now. It tortured her completely, but also, relieved her some to see the same look on his face. Instead, she simply gripped onto his own hand and smiled some. " You know you will always be mine, Ty. I wouldn't trade anything in the world for your friendship, ". 'Except maybe a kiss?' Grinding her teeth together, she cursed her thoughts for running away without her consent. Despite most likely being driven mentally, his friendship came before her love. She took pride in the fact that back in middle school, others mainly went out for status and because it was their momentarily 'hottie' choice. No, it wasn't that way for them. It was true care, love. Friendship that blossomed into something even more beautiful. She only hope that flower hadn't wilted.

The smile came over her features once more as he continued, though dropped as he said he would do horrible things as she would do great ones. Taking his hand once again, she looked at him with all seriousness. " Tyrese Jackson, you know that isn't true. You are uncapable of anything horrible. I don't ever want you to say that again, ever. You do nothing but great things, you only have lapse of judgment, " Perhaps she was being a bit soft on him, but she couldn't help it. She couldn't be anything but soft to him. It was as if she was uncapable of being harsh to him, some chemical in her brain forbidding it. Besides, why would she want to be anything but? At the notice of it getting late, she couldn't help the way her face dropped. Glancing back over at the final rays of the sun setting, she nodded sadly. " I'm sorry I've kept you, it was wonderful catching up, Ty. You have gotten different, but only in the best of ways, " Some might have mistaken it just for her polite nature, but she meant every word she uttered to him. He was different, but he could olnly get better in her eyes. She treasured the few warm seconds of the embrace and closed her doe eyes as she recieved a kiss on the head. Her hand twitched lightly as she resisted pulling him in for another sharing of body heat and snatching a kiss. Rhy gripped the number, as if it was her life line. but, in a sense it was a line, a direct link. She nodded, understanding. A grin found its way on to her features. " Trust me, by giving me this, you won't have a seconds peace. You'll soon grow tired of me, " She looked up at him, mischief sparkling in her large brown eyes. She couldn't deny, she had the strongest urge to call him at four in the morning just to say hello. Just to piss him off to only know he would calm down because he was talking to her. Nodding once more to his promise, she lit up at the prospect of hanging out with him. " I just got that new horror flick, you know, the really cheap lookin' one. We can make fun of it while drinkin' MD and gettin' high off of pixie sticks, you know, just like old itmes. Except, you know, my mom won't be yelling at me to quiet down, and then coming up to wring your neck because you were just to close, " She grinned lightly as she called to Bruno. The pit nuzzled Ty's jean shorts before coming to her side, barking in anticipation to return home. Rhy glanced over at Ty, complete seriousness entering her voice. " I'm really glad we ran into each other, Ty. I'm really glad..I'll see you soon, that's a promise, " Giving him a final hug good-bye, lingering slightly, she turned her back and ran up to the Camaro. Before getting in, she turned, giving a shy wave and another smile in the direction of the seemingly old memory that had found it's way back into her life. Bruno barked his good-bye, and then the duo hopped into the muscle car. taking off down the street with the ending roaring.

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