"Gourmet dinner" Ryder said.

"I can't cook" he continued.

Pondering, as he sat down next to the bed.

She wasn't up today. Last night's road trip wore her out, it was easy for him to see, her face kind of pale, and her eyes just looked tired. He was beginning to see the signs. He knew how she was feeling, she no longer needed to tell him.

"I don't expect you to cook for me" she said, smiling at him.

"We don't have to do everything on that list, you know? I didn't even think you were that serious about it?" She really wondered, why it seemed to be so important to him? Like he had something to prove?

"I am serious...it gives us something meaningful to do, apart from reading all those dusty books, you might think life is hiding inside those books, but there's a whole other life outside these books of yours, and I think you just forgot!" He looked at her with a serious glance.

He wasn't trying to provoke her. He just wanted to make a valid point. It made sense to him. The real world is for living...books are for hiding? Dreaming? Imagining? To him, there was a difference.

"And you are going to show me life?" She asked him, taunting him somewhat. Her sweet smile reassured him she was flattered.

"Exactly!" He laughed out loud.

"I'm just too tired today" she said.

"I can't go anywhere today" she tried to look awake, but it looked like she was about to doze off.

"You don't have to" he said.

She felt like she was letting him down, he was so set on that list, he made it feel like a race.

He had to finish it.

"You don't have to cook me dinner, and I won't allow you to spend money on expensive food...well, and I can't pay for it either" she looked shy all of a sudden.

Ryder picked up on that, and decided to come to her aid.

"What was it like growing up with Dave?" Ryder deliberately changed the subject, and he was wondering about her childhood too.

Ryder had a habit of changing the subject, he was easily distracted, and once a thought entered into his mind, he had to act on it - no matter what - he felt like, he was missing out otherwise...he had to explore everything. But this time, he did it to avoid the awkwardness.

She didn't answer right away.

"What do you think it was like?" She asked, no intention of sounding snooty.

"I guess, it would be like having me as a dad. I doubt I'll ever be a dad, but if I was one right now, I'd be like Dave, I think. A younger version of him?" Ryder figured Dave was like him...into races and drinking. At least when he was younger. Skylar had to have seen that for herself, lived it? To some extent?

"You're right. You do remind me of him. Growing up was chaotic...I felt like I was on a ship, caught among the merciless waves, and any time I could fall overboard - with no life jacket...no dingy" she looked sad.

"Really?" Ryder felt bad for her.

Maybe they did have something in common after all?

A chaotic childhood.

"It was fun too...sometimes, you know? My dad was fun...when he was sober he was the best dad, and I loved him so much - but when he drank - he became an entirely different person. I hated that person!" Her face looked like she was in pain, like it was painful going back in her mind.

"Did he ever..." Ryder stopped himself.

"Did he ever hurt me? Hit me?" She asked to finish his question, telling him it was alright to pry. Ryder had shared something very personal with her yesterday, she had seen the hurt in his eyes. The betrayal. The fear. When you go through stuff like that as a kid, it sticks to you like glue!

Ryder nodded.

"Yes...he hurt me several times. I don't remember how many birthdays he didn't celebrate, and the countless promises he didn't keep, but he never hit me. I'm glad he didn't. I am not sure we would have survived that, honestly" Skylar leaned back in bed, and closed her eyes for a moment. Ryder could tell she was drifting away.

She looked so peaceful. Even as she was sleeping, she looked amazing. He sat there for a while...looking at her, this angelic creature was part of his life all of a sudden.

For some reason he felt lucky.

He snug out for a moment, and when he came back, the distinct smell woke her up instantly, as it filled the whole room.

She sat up, eyeing the two white bags he was carrying.

"What is that?" She asked curiously. Her stomach started rumbling, the intoxicating smell made her hungry.

"Indian food" he smiled, putting the two bags on the table next to her.

She started laughing.

"That's way better than gourmet food!" She said, as he plated up. He bought paper plates; plastic forks, and cups. He poured a ginger beer into two cups.

"Move over" he said.

And so she did. Slowly. Reluctantly.

Wondering why, but he lightly jumped onto the bed, and they sat real close.

Too close.

"This is life" he said, and looked at her - their faces so close - she had to look away.

"Definitely!" She said. Her heart was beating too fast for some reason? She tried to calm down, why was she reacting this way? It was just Ryder, he was sitting next to her on the bed, no big deal, right?

She closed her eyes quickly, trying to compose herself, no such luck.

Her heart was racing!

"That's what makes food gourmet: The company" he said, and she could tell he was still looking at her, but she couldn't face him.

"True" she said, and mustered up the courage to look at him, and she knew exactly what would happen.

She felt like she couldn't look away.