I kissed him back and he wrapped his arms around me. “Damn, I’ve been waiting to do that,” Lionel said with a smirk once he had pulled away from me.

                He sighed. “Yea, I have you figured out. It’s obvious once you know what happened to you. You don’t want sympathy, so you would rather be an ass and make everyone hate you. Am I wrong?” I shook my head slowly, dropping my gaze to the floor.

                He laughed. “Damn. You were really easy to figure out.” I glared at him. “What about you? Why are you an ass?” I asked in annoyance. He shrugged. “Because baby I was born this way,” he said with a wink. I rolled my eyes.

                Lionel laughed again. “Nah, seriously brah. I don’t know. I’ve always been like this, even before my dad cut my fingers off. Of course I could actually punch bitches back then. After my fingers got cut off, I got a few guys after me so my mom had to send me to live with my grandparents for a little. I caused some trouble there too. I have a big mouth. I can’t help it.” He grinned at me.

                “Big ego, little guy,” I grumbled. He raised an eyebrow. “EJ, my ego isn’t the only thing that’s big. They call me the kickstand,” he said with a wink. I sighed. “You keep telling yourself that, Lionel.”

                “JM and BM. That was on your knife. Was that your dad’s name?” he asked curiously and I nodded. “My dad’s name was Brody Morris,” I said quietly. I had loved my dad so deeply. We had been so close. Then he had drunk at that stupid work party and decided to drive with his 12 year old son in the car.

                “Well Cyclops, it could’ve been a lot worse,” he said with a shrug. I glared at him. “Cyclops? Seriously? Dude, I’ll kick your fucking ass.” He smirked. “So kick it. I don’t give a shit. You can make fun of my fingers if you want. Don’t be so sensitive about it. It happened, and you can’t change it. Might as well get over it. At least you didn’t lose sight in both eyes.”

                He walked over and flopped down on a couch. “So, what’s your full name?” he asked, folding his hands behind his head and glancing at me casually. “Why do you want to know?” I growled. “Because I like to know these things. I’m a very nosey person,” he said, smirking widely.

                I sighed and sat next to him. “Jonathon Trevor Morris. What about you?” I asked, suddenly a little curious. I wanted to know as much about Lionel as I possibly could. My lips were still tingling from the kiss.

                “Lionel Atticus Barrios,” he said. “Atticus?” I asked, raising an eyebrow at him. He shrugged. “Hey, talk to my parents on that one. It’s not like I named myself. You think I would give myself the initials LAB? Hell no, brah.”

                “Why do you always say brah?” I asked in annoyance. He laughed and shrugged. “Always have, brah. It’s habit,” he responded casually. “It’s annoying,” I grumbled. “Deal with it. I don’t change for anybody. Well, technically for my dad, but that was by accident.” He laughed and sat up.

                “So Johnny, what do you want to do while we wait for Andy Cali? By the way, get your ass out of my house when he comes down here because I’m hanging out with him, not you,” Lionel said, a cocky look erupting in his eyes. I rolled my eyes. “I’m hungry. Get me food,” I said and he got up and pulled me to my feet. He pecked my lips before pulling me upstairs.

                We went into his kitchen and he started opening cupboards. “What are you looking for Lionel?” his dad asked curiously. “Food. This fatass is hungry,” he said, scanning for something to eat.

                “Lio, watch your language!” his dad snapped. “Sorry, slipped,” Lionel said, obviously not caring. He grinned at his dad. “Do we have anything that actually tastes good in this damn house?” he asked, his eyes daring his dad to challenge his language.

                His dad didn’t. “Check the bottom cupboard. Your mom ran out to the store a couple of minutes ago. We don’t have much,” he said and took a sip of his beer. Lionel opened the bottom cupboard and tossed a pack of Oreos at me.

                “Oreos are gross,” I said simply. He laughed. “I agree. They taste like shit. My dad likes them,” he said and I threw them back to him to put away. “Lionel Atticus! Watch your language!” his dad said furiously.

                “Yea, yea, yea. Sorry dad. It slipped again. Here EJ.” Lionel threw a box of crackers at me. He got up and came over as I ate one. He began to eat them too. He grabbed his iPod out of his pocket and turned it on, playing Purr Like A Cat by T. Mills.

                “Nice song Lio,” his dad said sarcastically. Lionel sighed in annoyance. “Dad, go talk to Mr. Cali,” he said, waving his dad away. “Mr. Cali is on the phone with his boss,” Mr. Barrios said, shooting Lionel a warning look.

                “Hey, what’s he still doing here?” Andy Cali asked, glaring at me as he came into the room. “Just eating my food. The usual,” Lionel said with a shrug. He glanced at me and raised an eyebrow. “Get out of my house.”

                “Lionel!” his cried angrily. But I just smirked, knowing I’d be back. “Bye, asshole,” I said simply before walking out of his house, eager for the next time I got to see him. I could still feel his lips on mine.