Mornings were contradicting. They were that point of day where you have to make a decision: Get up and face the day, or waist away in a comfortable prison. I, of course, prefered the latter, but beggers can't be choosers.

So, siting cross legged at the edge of the bed, I watched Nick as he sleep. As weird as it was, I couldn't help it. There weren't many times I could stare at Nick without it being completely rude; this was that time. And he looked fantastic. Sometimes I thought the sun knew him better than everybody else, because the way the rays fell on his skin was insane. The covers had found their way around his hips; his shirt lifted to his ripcage, nearing his right pecktoral muscle. I couldn't help but notice his sweatpants hanging a little low and his hair tousling around his head like an inverted halo. Sue me, I noticed the faint v.

one arm was draped across his stomach, the other behind his head, fingers tangling in his dark hair. As he shifted slightly, I wondered if we were considered an item now. I was fully aware Nick liked me and my stomach obvious liked him - I had said as much - but wa that it? or did we have to declare it? every other boy I had dated had asked me out, making it almost painfully obvious that we were a thing.

But Nick and I? did that count? Why did I even bother wondering about it.

Pulling out my phone, I realized it was nearing nine and we probably needed to get going if we wanted to ever get home. Leaning forwards onto my knees, I grabbed he shirt and shook him slightly, " hey arson?" Then I whistled, "woohoo, Arrrsooon. Time to get up."

Or not.

I ruffled his hair, shook his arm, poked his tummy. This wasn't going to be easy - Nick was a freaking brick. Shuffling forward, I straddled my thighs on either side of his tummy and tickled his sides. He rolled, sending me off the bed and onto the floor. Asshole. Sitting up, I blew a strand of hair out of my face and huffed.

Take three. I gathered myself and went to the kitchen, taking a handfull of ice out of the freezer and to Nick. Shoving it under his shirt, I waited for the cold to set in.

some things are worth video taping.

First he gasped, hands flying to his chest with lightning speed. He went to stand, but this caused some cubes to slide into his pantline. My hand flew to my mouth and Nick clenched his teeth. I could only imagine where that ice traveled... He twisted and walked quietly into the bathroom. I could hear a steady line of profanities slicking past his teeth.

Snickering to myself, I casually whipped out my phone. I was faintly aware of the door opening and Nick walking out with an expression that said he was less than amused. This is all trivial though, before next thing I know, his hands have my sides and he's lightly tossing me onto the bed. His fingers fly to my ribs and I'm subdued to a torture of tickle.

In a desperate attempt to fight back, I pushed at his chest before nudging my phalanges (for lack of better word) into his stomach. We rolled, which put me on top of him, legs once again straddling his hips. Then he flipped us, and fumbled, landing with his elbows on either side of my face, nose just slightly brushing mine. His breath was a bit harsh, chest expanding and collapsing, eyes flicking from my irises to my lips.

Then we moved closer, our faces working on their own accord. I could feel the heat of his lips, the softness just barely against my mouth - we both moved apart rapidly, he pushing back and me moving to the side. Scrambling up, we both walked out of the room and did separate things for breakfast. Where I went for the poptart, Nick was scooping himself a bowl of plain yogurt.

With short side glances, I could see that he wanted to start a conversation. I frowned and made sure he didn't. Mostly because I was slightly frustrated I hadn't been more brave and actually went for the kill, slightly because he didn't kiss me.

Nick leaned against the counter and picked at his yogurt - how do you pick at yogurt? He took these little globs on the tip of his spoon and took his time taking the bites. Sitting on the crouch cross legged, I popped a corner of the poptart in my mouth, eyes flicking between his mouth and the bowl, " why do you do that?"

" do what?" He questioned.

" eat like that. You eat like a girl on the first date." I said, blandly. I had asked it before, but he hadn't given me a full answer.

He looked down at his yogurt as if he had just realized he did that. Shrugging his shoulder, he said, " I'm just not hungry."

" but you do it every time we eat. I'll eat like three plates of macaroni while you're over there eating maybe half a plate max. I don't get it."

He sighed through his nose, " after my parents passed, I had an eating problem. It wasn't about self image. I just wasn't hungry." I wasn't anything - were the words he didn't say after that, but they were implied.

I finished my poptart and started on my second, " oh... I'm sorry I didn't mean to... Sorry."

He smiled slightly, " it's fine Angel. I'm gonna go take a shower."

" okay." I replied, now picking at the poptart I had been pounding down before.

Nick was already stripping his shirt when he walked into the bathroom. I heard the shower turn on; the movement of the curtain. I tossed my plate into the sink before crossing my arms. In the restroom, a song played on Nick's phone. It took me a second before realizing Nick was singing too.

I scooted closer on the couch, leaning my face towards the wall. My eyes widened in surprise - I knew Nick could sing but... Damn. His pitch was dead on and his voice - his voice - was like silk and rich like chocolate. The best way to describe it was like autumn, when the leaves are falling and the breeze is gently sweeping them off course. His voice was simply wonderful.

Pulling my knees up to my chest, I wrapped my arms around my shins and rested my cheek on my knee. I thought about Nick's eating problem. He had said it wasn't a self image issue, and I didn't doubt him for a second. I suppose I understood in a way - it was that missing organ. He lost his stomach somewhere in the mix.

The shower turned off and his singing ceased. I lifted my head as he walked out, but ended up pushing my eyes into my knees just as fast and snapping, " Nicholas Dean Arson!"

Because not a yard away, Nick hand on nothing but his jeans, the top button and zipper were undone. I could see his black boxer briefs and a portion of the Abercrombie & Finch logo on the waistband. His body was still partially damp from the shower and his hair was definitely wet; his fingers of his right were laced into his locks and I melted a little at the confused look on his face, " what?"

" shirtless is fine but, dammit, zip up your pants!" I yelped.

He smiled, I could see that much when I tilted my face up just a little. It wasn't that I was modest, it was purely the fact that I hadn't liked Nick before and now it just felt awkward for him to be so open about himself. He had no shame. His voice held amusement as he said, " sorry Angel. Have you seen my Martian Manhunter long sleeve?"

" yeah yeah. In my suitcase on right. Near the superman shirt."

He walked into the bedroom and started rummaging through my case, " why is it in your suitcase?"

" I don't know, I just know it is." I called back, smoothing my blond locks my my hands.

He stood and pulled it over his head; a long sleeved shirt with Martian Manhunter on it. I could see him buttoning up his pants, and he shot me a seriously suggestive smile. I flipped him the bird, which earned me a beautiful laugh.

As he walked back, he tossed his beanie at me; it landed in a puddle in my hands and lap. I cast him a glance, " how do you know I won't throw it out the window?"

He shrugged as he fell into the driver's seat, " I don't."

" then why'd you give me your beanie?" His prized one, to be exact.

He looked at me briefly through the rearview mirror, " two reasons. The first, Manhunter and batman is contradicting so i stick to one at a time; the second, I trust you."

I smiled slightly, before sliding the beanie on and going to sit next to him at the front of the van. He looked over at me after we started on the road, " besides," he said, with a smashing grin, " you look amazing, completes the outfit."

Fair enough.

• • •

" momma's alright, daddy's alright, they just seem a little weird. Surrender, surrender, but don't give yourself away, way, waaaaaaayaaayaaay! Away!"

If the steering wheel was a drum, Nick would be an excellent drummer. He keyed a bunch of random, but fitting, rhythms into the worn leather, he voice mingling with mine as we cruised: windows rolled down, music turned up, not a care in the world.

I wished it could be like that all the time.

" what was your favorite childhood pastime?" Nick asked, turning the radio down as the song ended.

I shrugged, leaning towards the open window, " I liked to go to the park. You?"

" swimming." He admitted, " what about the park?"

" you're kidding?" I said. I bumped his knuckles with mine before adding, " the swings."

" right." He said. I wondered if he, too, was going back to that night he dragged me to the park so I could stop moping around.

" we should go to a park." I said, pulling a strand of loose blond hair out of my face.

" there's a town on the next turn off."

" we take a lot of off ramps."

He smiled, " it's not a road trip without detours." Then he laced our fingers - something we'd done a hundred times, and it had never felt so natural.

He flicked on his turn signal and we went off once again, getting sidetracked like we always do. Maybe getting sidetracked on the way to California was a problem; maybe I needed it. Either way my grandmother wouldn't have made it back. All of the side-stops were a way to make things worthwhile. I smiled.

The town we pulled up to wasn't your average small town - it didn't even have one street light. That, and people were everywhere. We first decided to get lunch, which we ended up not doing and making sandwhiches instead. Most places were packed with families of three or more. We sat in the van in the playground parking lot, finishing off our sandwiches before going outside.

At the park, a shit ton (no, literally) of kids swarmed the place. There were less kids in pre-school. It took me a few blinks to see them all.

Much to my amazement, there was an older, rustier part of the playground that the kids didn't really want to play at. All of the games were at the new plastic sets, why waste time on the old junk?

It was perfect.

I wasted no time rushing to the swing and climbing up the chilled metal bars. Part of the surface was course with red rot; the other portion was smooth and white. At the top, a long silver slide stretched out in front of me like an iron tongue, the tip dipping into rocks as if they were dippin' dots. I shot Nick the world's cheesiest smile before tossing my hands in the air and whooshing down. At the bottom, Nick stepped forward and grabbed my hands, pulling me up with a little hop. I probably looked like a five year old who had just gotten a star on my construction paper with glued on macaroni - you know, that pasta art crap - , " hell yes!"

" Angel, there's kids around!" Nick teased, flicking a strand of my hair over my shoulder.

I rolled my eyes, " boo hoo, they'll be saying it one day."

" It's not in our place to teach them." He reminded, one of his small playful smiles gracing his lips.

" okay, no potty mouth around people who don't stand higher than my waist. I'll keep that in mind." I said, with a nod.

" thanks Angel." He brushed a piece of hair behind my ear and kissed my temple, before a group of four devils attacked his waist. One of them, scratch that - two of them, were grabbed at the green superhero on his shirt, " who's that!"

He laughed, " His name's Martian Manhunter."

" Manun'er?" One of the younger ones said, over pronouncing their vowels and completely forgetting their consonants.

Nick nodded, " yep. He's part of the justice league..."

Story-telling Nick was the best. He could capture anyone with the way he moved his voice up and down, riding the waves of the story as if he were there. He put you there, right in the center of the world he was talking up. All of the kids watched him with squirrel-wide eyes, jaws slightly agap and, every so often, giving off a little, " whoa..." They were wowed. The justice league and it's serge of heros intrigued them.

Batman was a crowd favorite, along with Martian Manhunter. by the time the story was finished, ten or more kids had swarmed around Nick, and had him cornered on a swing to tell more stories. One pointed a finger into the air defiantly, " I'm batman!"

" no I'm batman!"

" well I'm superman!"

" Wonderwoman!"

A chubby little boy poked out his stomach, " Well i'm lex luthor."

Nick chuckled, leaning back on the swing slightly. I couldn't stop the little grin that curved my lips. Nor could I stop my bladder from needing release. I snapped my fingers, and said, " Hey Arson, I gotta hit the ladies' room. You got this covered?" I gestured to his mini possy.

He nodded, " yeah, all good."

I turned and searched for the ladies room. It was on the other side of the park, near the newer equipment and the mass of people playing makeshift carnival games. I bumped into a few people, but that was the least of my problems after seeing the restroom line. So I waited, and the nice lady in front of me turned and said, " I haven't seen you around here before. I'm Fiona. can I ask who you are?"

Her long floral dress and pumped up red hair suggested she lived in the fifties. I smiled, " I'm Carter. Can I ask what the crowd's about?"

" Happens every year, on the town's birthday! we're celebrating 135 years strong! Can you believe it!" She chuckled, and shook her head. Her whole body shook when she did, bouncing a little in the way round things do.

My gaze swept the perimeter; I couldn't help but notice the lack of line to the boys restroom. With a gentle squeeze to Fiona's arm, I said, " That's awesome, actually. but the lines aren't, so i'm gonna use the boys."

She went a bit wide eyed, and for a second I thought she was going to curse me out. Then she linked out arms and said, " Honey, I couldn't agree more."

To our luck, no guys were in there once we entered. We moved passed the urinals and to the stalls. I was quick, and so was Fiona - we didn't want some guy to walk in and- some guy walked in. She knocked on my stall and I knocked back, zipping up my pants. I whispered, " one... two... three."

We walked out as if it were completely casual for us to be in here. Shoving my hands under the water, I watched as the guy gave us weird looks. I smiled, and winked, and he flushed bright red. I'm almost sure he caught his jewels in his zipper as he tried to redo his pants. Fiona covered her face in a hearty chuckle, and I grabbed her pudgy arm and pulled us out of there.

I checked my head: beanie was still in tact. Good, I wasn't sure what I'd do if I lost it. Fiona hooked our elbows and started to lead me towards the crowd, " let me show you some of the stuff we have to offer."

She was the nicest lady ever, but I had to get back to Nick, " I can't, I'm sorry. Someone's waiting for me."

All the while we went farther and farther into the crowd, bodies boxing me in on either side. It felt like a party for everybody, minus the alcohol, drugs, and fog machines. She stopped and grabbed my hands, " That sure is a shame. Maybe another time?"

" Of course." I said, with my most geniune smile. I wouldn't mind spending a day out here with her. Granted, she was probably thirty years older than me and she smelled highly of antique chairs and tulips, but she was sweet and quirky, sociable. She patted my hands and let me go.

Once back into the crowd, I was actually amazed at how many limbs and bodies ran into me. It wasn't like it was a rave, but kids pushing around my legs and adults ducking after them made walking truly difficult. The plastic playground also creaked a lot. Not in the safe, metal on metal way, but in the "I won't last three more years!" way. With a sigh, I started working my way towards the older equipment. A bought of wind tossed my hair, and my hands flew to my head in an effort to keep it down.

It wasn't until I was done patting my locks into place that I realized my head way bare. Twist left, twist right, and I was still empty-handed. I had lost Nick's beanie.

I reeled around on my heels and pushed back into the mass of kids and adults and dwindling teenagers that looked less than amused. I ducked under playground equipment and swinging kids. I shifted through grass even though it was recently cut and couldn't hide the beanie between the blades. I went everywhere, it felt. I became so desperate that I started looking in the oddest of places - places it couldn't even be.

a woman opened her drink; I took a quick peak inside to make sure it wasn't stuffed in her coke. Another woman adjusted her skirt; I just prayed and walked away. All the while, my stomach was forming knots and my lips were turning into a very quick frown. I had threatened so many times to burn that beanie, and now it was actually gone. I felt like shit.

Sitting down on one of the new swings, I swayed forwards and backwards slowly, trying to accept the fact that i had lost one of the few things Nick practically worshiped. Halfway - an edjucated guess - through my reverie, Nick sat next to me, his shirt all wrinkled from kids' carrot fingers. Leaning forward onto his knees, his eyebrows drew together as he asked, " you okay?"

" Nick." I pushed my fingers through my hair, " I'm really sorry. I got caught up in the crowd and everybody was shoving everybody. And I lost your beanie. I'm so sorry. I'll get you a knew one if you want... I really didn't mean to I just... I'm sorry."

He watched me briefly, and I started to freak out a little more. Did that little bit of info freeze him? because that would be well below average. Suddenly, he swung his swing closer to mine and grabbed my chain farthest from him. Hip to hip, thigh to thigh, he said, " I know you didn't mean to. It's fine. You don't have to buy me a new one."

" I know it was important to you." I said, with a defeated sigh.

" You're important to me too." He said, with a crooked smile, " I glad you made it out of there in one piece. Those kids have no mercy."

I snickered slightly, " Yeah, I know." Leaning my head on his shoulder, I added, " I'm gonna go look some more."

" don't worry about it Angel." He said, pushing our swings forward then backward once.

But I was worried about it, because somewhere in that mass of people was a lone batman beanie, fighting for it's fabric. I leaned away from him and stood. He stood too, and laced his hand with mine, " Let's go watch the parade."

I clicked my tongue, " you sure?"

" Angel, you're killing me. Smile or something." He pushed the corners of my cheeks up with his index fingers. As he removed his hands, I frowned. With a determined expression written on his face, he used his palms and didn't move for a solid thirty seconds. My lips fell down once his hands were again removed. Rolling his eyes, he wrapped an arm around my waist and dragged me to the front edge of the parade.