Life in a Nutshell...or..a post..

Well the 'Europe' trip was an epic fail... blame Chase -.- I guess we'll have to wait till after Christmas for that.

Another thing.... I'M GETTING MARRIED! :D Jelly should keep you updated on that.

I am currently working on the finishing touches for my restaurant :D... but I really need a name :/ any ideas? I hope to open it after my honeymoon ;)

..and I know this post sucks but I promise I'll come up with a better one later :D

New Opportunities

Didn't realize it had really been this long since my last post o.O I guess I kept too busy.

Chase got this idea to plan this epic romantic getaway across Europe for sometime near Thanksgiving, with Jelly, Kit, TwoBit, and Dawn. I can't say I'm exactly complaining, but I just got the deeds to the site of my new restaurant last week, and I hope to have that up and running soon... I don't know how I can just leave for an awesome trip :(
I found the perfect place for the home of my restaurant in the heart of downtown Tulsa. Not too many greasers and not too many socs, so I don't have to deal with that drama. I put a down payment on the place, graciously provided by my grandmother, and are having the builders start on Wednesday of next week. I had a few designers come in and look at the place and they drew up quite a few sketches for me to choose from, so when the builders are finished the place should look somewhat like this......






There's the main floor with seating, and kitchen, and all that, then upstairs it has a complete bar and lounge area.
I have to say that I am quite excited, and hope everything goes smoothly.
I have already recruited some of you as bartenders and waiters/waitresses, let me know if anyone else would like a job :D
TwoBit, Kit, and Jelly have been my guinea pigs at dinner time every night, tasting the recipes I will have cooked in this restaurant.
Unfortunately, I will have no time for the DX anymore :/ but hopefully it will be a good trade.
I have yet to come up with a name, so I should probably work on that.....
And BTW, did i mention you will all get free food :)

The Day That You Will Always Remember As the Day Kit and Dim Went to Jail

"Get your lazy ass outta bed and let's go somewhere." Kit yelled while she attempted to shove me off the bed.
After more yelling and hitting I finally rolled over, "Well...your not exactly who I wanted to wake up to."
"Yeah Yeah, Jelly's at work so your stuck with me on your day off." She grinned with that smile that told you KitKat Curtis had something devious planned.
"Kit, if you don't get out of here I'm going to get out of this bed." I threatened.
She looked confused, "But that's exactly what I want you to do..."
"See those clothes over there Kit?" I pointed to a pair of boxers and a t-shirt lying on the floor across the room. "thats what I was supposed to sleep in last night..." I said.
When she came to the realization that I had no clothes on, she ran screaming into the hallway.

I glanced at the clock, 11:00, it wasn't even that late, and I had just gone to sleep around four am, but I decided it was now or never, threw on some jeans, and headed to the kitchen for coffee.
"You smell like sex, go take a shower." Kit complained as she rummaged though the fridge for most likely nothing at all. I walked up behind her and rubbed my shoulder against her back, "Here have some.." I said.
She screamed, "Great, now I have to burn these clothes..." she threw a little hissy fit then headed off to her room for more clothes.

We just started driving to nowhere in particular. Kit was giving me directions, but I had a feeling she had no intention of reaching a real destination. After about an hour, the car started to make a strange noise as smoke emerged from the hood. I pulled off the road, and turned the car off, but when I tried to open the door, it wouldn't budge. We attempted several times to unlock it, but it was jammed.
"Alright," Kit said, "im breaking a window."
I grabbed her arm before she had a chance to hurl it through the glass.
"This is a '67 Limited Edition Chevy Camero.... no way in hell I'm letting you bust a window." I said very sternly in all seriousness.
"Then what the hell are we supposed to do?" She asked.
I shrugged, "Wait for someone." I suggested.
"Kit pulled out her phone. "Of course, no signal."
Kit looked at the road, she turned her head left then right.
"Where in the middle of fucking no where." Her voice raised.
"Someone is bound to drive down this road within the next hour." I was trying to remain positive, with the chance of getting out of here with no broken windows.

An hour passed, and there was no sign of any life within thirty miles. I could feel the sweat trickling down my back and wished I had a water bottle stowed in the glove compartment.
Another hour later and I though I was going to burn alive in the summer heat. I pulled of my shirt and tossed it in the back seat.
"Good Idea." Kit said. Rolling up her tank top exposing her too skinny torso. "It's a good thing I wore boy shorts today.." She said before removing her jeans.
"What the hell." I shrugged and decided to pull mine off as well. It was so hot I really didn't care who I was sitting half naked in a car with.
The sun started going down and it cooled off a bit. It was nearly was nearly six o'clock. I was listening to Kit press the unlock button for the last two hours.
"Kit, it hasn't worked the last 241641321658413241 times you've pressed it, it's not going to work the next 42412468476343543."
She sighed and threw her feet up on the dash. I laid my head against the steering wheel and closed my eyes. It felt like only a few minutes later when there was a tapping on the window. I looked up and saw a cop standing outside. THANK GOD!
He motioned for me to open the door, I yelled at him through the glass, trying to explain that it was jammed. He reached for the door handle and oddly it opened from the outside.
"Well, what do we have here?" He said.
He looked about fifty with a pudgy belly that made me think he was one of those small town sheriffs you see at the doughnut shop every morning.
Kit and I started rambling on about what happened to the car and how we had been sitting out in the heat all day.
"Looks to me like we have a couplea kids getting it on, on the side of the road. You can't fool me I know how you teenagers are these days..." He went on.
"No sir, it really wasn't like that we just.." He cut me off.
"Oh so your going to lie to me about it? I ain't dumb boy. I can see that little purple box in the back seat."
Having no idea what he was talking about, I glanced back. DAMMIT! When Kit realized what it was she gave me a look that said 'you're shit stupid.'
"It's a long story." I said, trying to figure out how the KY Intensity box got in the back seat of my car in the first place......ooohh,... right...

"No, really it's just a misunderstanding sir, the car won't work.." I tried to explain again.
He snatched the keys from my hand and turned the ignition. It roared to life.
Are you serious? What sick joke was God playing this time?
"Uh huh, that's what I thought." He said, very unhappy.
He looked over at Kit. "Did that stuff really work darlin?" He asked.
Kit's jaw dropped, appalled at the question.
"Did you scream so loud the racoons could hear ya?" He added.
"Is he fucking kidding me?" Kit whispered.

He took us 'downtown' which looked more like our neighborhood.
"Public Indecency, Lying to a cop, and you sir caught in the act with a minor."
That part hadn't even crossed my mind, but once he said it, im pretty sure I nearly pissed my pants.
"We're going to have to contact your legal guardian young lady." He said to Kit, who was slumped in the chair with her hands cuffed, still in her underwear.
"Great," she said, "How the hell am I supposed to explain this to Darry?"

The sheriff escorted us to one of the few cells that lined the hallway. He slammed the bars shut and walked away whistling.
Kit turned around, she looked like she was ready to punch me in the face. "Couldn't I have just broken the window?" She asked. At that moment I wasn't so opposed to it.
We weren't there for long when another cop unlocked the cell, setting us free. I walked through the door into the lobby and came to an immediate halt when I saw who our 'springer' was.
She stared at us with one of those looks your mother gave you when you were in trouble.
"Jelly, I can explain." I said standing there in just my underwear.
"You know these two?" The sheriff said from behind the front desk.
"Yep, that's my best friend.... and this is my fiance." She explained.
The sheriff burst into laughter spilling his coffee on his uniform.
Jelly didn't take her eyes off of us. "You two have a lot of explaining to do."

All For Love

I can't say I missed Tulsa while chilling on the beach in California, but I am glad to be back home after two much needed weeks of vacation.
During those two weeks there was skinny dipping, prank pulling, heavy drinking, and I'm not going to lie, there was a little sex on the beach (and I'm not talking alcohol ;)
But if I had to choose a highlight point, it would definitely be our last night. It was just after dinner and Chase and Dawn decided to go out on the boardwalk for rides and fireworks an such things, but Jelly and I decided to stay behind.
I had walked downstairs from just taking a shower when I noticed Jelly sitting on the couch. I placed one hand over her eyes and guided her with the other.
"I want to show you something." I whispered softly in her ear.
It was dark, nearly midnight, but the glow from the lighthouses in the distance gave it just enough clarity to see where I was going. We walked out to the edge of the dock extending nearly fifty yards from the shore. I guided her carefully on the edge letting her feet dangle over. I removed my hand an pointed to the water below us. It glowed a soft blue, with sudden flashes of purple here and there.
"What is it?" Jelly asked.
"Jellyfish. They always come out here before a storm comes in." I explained.
Her gaze held on the water below, amazed at the scenery. My eyes never left her face, the glittering of the reflection on her eyes, the way her hair danced in the violent wind, every breath she took I cherished deeply. After a minute or two she looked over at me.
"You know I was thinking, when we get back maybe we can go pick out our 'save the dates'." She said.
"Jels, to choose your 'save the dates', you have to know your date." I clarified, a bit puzzled.
She looked back at the flashing of the lights below the water's surface.
"December 9th." She said.
"December 9th?" I have bugged Jelly every day about setting a wedding date, since the moment I put a ring on her finger. I figured it would take some time to think about, and I didn't want to rush it, but I couldn't help myself, I needed that date, it made things seem more official.
Jelly just simply nodded with a smile.
I suddenly forgot where I was, the beautiful scene extending beyond the shore, the twinkling lights of ships far in the distance, the sound of the waves meeting the sand. My lips crashed into hers, not with violence, but with passion. I didn't care where I was, I didn't care that we were heading home tomorrow, the only thing that surrounded me...was her.
I pulled her against me, my fingers winding in her hair. She tugged at my shirt, which was off in the next half second. My lips tickled her neck as she laid back on the dock.
The feeling inside of me was something I had never felt before. I didn't think I could feel more strongly for her than I already did, but something was different. This time it wasn't just about sex, it was about loving her. There was nothing wrong or shameful about it, like those dreams where your naked in a crowd and no one seems to care. If the entire population of California had been standing right there I can't say it would have bothered me. It was no longer about desire, it was purely all for love.

Much Needed Beach Time

"I want to go to the beach." Chase said randomly while coming down stairs. "I'm a California guy, I need the beach!!" His voice raised.
He plumped down next to me on the couch, "We should take a va-ca with Dawn and Jelly..." He added.
I wasn't sure if he was serious or not, but I thought about it for a minute, then pulled out my cell and dialed Jelly.
"Hey babe, pack your bags, we're leaving for Cali tomorrow." I said. Jelly was not at all opposed to the sudden spring in decision to go on vacation.
"Hell yes." Chase said as he dialed Dawn's number on his phone.
I made a few other calls and had it arranged in no time. Grans seemed overjoyed at the idea of me visiting, along with wanting to see the engagement ring she graciously paid for.

We arrived at the airport at noon the next day. I presented my ticket to the lady behind the desk,
and she led us off away from the usual boarding area.
"Here is your flight." She motioned to the tall glass window, and sitting just outside was...a private jet.
"Wow, Grans really went all out." I said.
So while on our four hour flight, we had catering, movies, video games, and of course alcohol.
We landed and called a cab that took us straight to the beach house.

"Here we are, the Ryder Family beach house." I said when we pulled up.
"Your family has their own beach house?" Dawn asked surprised.
"Well actually half of it is Chase's, but it's in the Ryder name." I teased.
"Anything else I should know about?" Jels questioned.
I laughed, "Oh tons." I winked at her.
The first thing we did was chill in the jacuzzi. Brilliant Chase, turned on the jets before filling the tub, so once the water reached the bottom jet, it went insane and sprayed up to almost the top of the trees, and then I think Chase crapped his pants.
After taking a shower, Jels and I went to bed. I don't know what Chase an Dawn did. ;)

Here Comes the Bride

The night before the wedding, Kit kidnapped Jelly so I was stuck baby sitting TwoBit. We watched the Hangover and decided it was best we didn't go to Vegas, there's no doubt we would end up like the wolf pack, TwoBit missing... Chase married to some stripper... someone putting a tiger in the bathroom, it all seemed very likely.

After watching TV, the strippers arrived and gave us a nice little number before leaving half naked.... just kidding Kitten XD
Okay there were no strippers, but someone was naked...I just don't remember who...maybe Chase, I dunno. We listened to him blab on for hours about how he doesn't think Dawn really likes him and how much he likes her and if he should just move on or not blah blah. There were tears and sobbing....it was all very chick flicky.

Time finally came for the wedding. I hadn't seen Jelly in over 24 hours so without Kit's permission we snuck off and...well yeah. We ended up being the last ones to show up for the line up and almost gave Kit a heart attack.
"You ready lil sis?" I whispered to Kit.
"Aww you called me your sister, how cute." Kit mocked.
"Shut up." I said.
Then the double doors opened and instead of looking at Kit, I looked at TwoBit. I smiled to myself, he looked awed, happy, astonished...
"Lucky Bastard!" I thought to myself.

I noticed just how beautiful of a wedding it was as I stood up there and glanced at the crowd. As the preacher was at that awkward part where he goes on and on about stuff, I glanced over at Jelly, who stood behind Kit, wearing that sexy black dress...... I thought about what parts we'd be playing next time we stood at an altar like this. I caught her glance and mouthed the words "I love you."
She smiled back and mouthed, "I love you too."
Then came all the mushy I do's and kissing and all that.....

When it came time for the speech part of the reception, I was glad half the guests were drunk, it would make things a lot easier.
I got everyone's attention and glanced over at Kit and TwoBit with a microphone pressed to my mouth...

"I haven't known you two quite as long as most people here, but it feels like I've known you my whole life. You two have become more than friends to me, you've become family, and by uniting together I feel you've made this family that much stronger. When I first met you two, I would have never put you together... Kit is very, smart, outgoing, hard headed....and TwoBit is ...well...TwoBit. But then I got to thinking..and you know when you match up puzzle pieces and you finally find the two that fit together, they really don't look like much, but when you step back and look at the whole picture, it creates something amazing, something beautiful. And I don't think there is a single person here who would disagree with me when I say, there is no better person for either of you, than the one you're sitting next to right now. I love you both, and I look forward to seeing where life takes you together."

And then I gave Kitty a lap Dance ;D

One Year

I remember when I first moved to Tulsa. I needed a job, so I stopped at the DX while I was out one day. There I stood talking with Soda about a potential job when two girls walked up, and one of those girls was Angelica Winston.
I was never one to fall hard, but there was something about Jelly that captivated me. I barely knew her, but she was all I thought about. I remember the first time we ever touched. It was when we first met, I introduced myself, took her hand, and kissed the top of it.
We became official after that party I had at my house, and ever since then I've been the happiest man on earth.
Friday, I was at the DX in the middle of fixing a car when my phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Hey babe, I have some fantastic new to tell you.." Jelly said.
"Whats up?" I asked curious.
"Well... i'm just going to get to the point... I'm not pregnant." Jelly's words rang in my ear.
"Oh thank god!" I said bashing my forehead into the side of the car.
"What did your dad say?" I asked.
"Umm, well I didn't exactly tell him...." she answered.
"That was probably wise." I sighed.
A heavy relief lifted off my chest. I was ready to put that behind us so we could just focus on Sunday night.

Sunday was our one year anniversary. I've known for a while what I wanted to do on this day, but I didn't know exactly how, so with a little advice from a few various gang members, this is what I came up with:

I didn't see Jelly that morning. For the first night in.... forever, we each slept in our own beds. I had told Jels the night before what time to be ready. Though I couldn't wait to see her, I wished I had more time to get things ready myself. I woke up, showered, ate breakfast, then made some phone calls to confirm everything for tonight. If Kit went through with what I had asked of her, Jelly should have woken up to an envelope. Inside was a note and a $200 Visa card to spend on getting ready for tonight. I had even bought a new suit myself for the occasion. I picked up the suit from the dry cleaners, and made a few other stops before heading back home.
When it was time to pick Jelly up, I grabbed a small box off my dresser along with a single red rose.
Jelly emerged from the apartment front door as gorgeous as ever.
"I see my money was well spent." I said smiling.
"Kit helped....a little." she replied.
I heard a "Your welcome!" come from inside the apartment.
"Happy Anniversary." I handed her the rose.
"Ya know Dim, I've always wondered what's up with you and these single red roses....umm, babe? Do you know this is fake?" She wore a confused look on her face.
"Well I always told myself I'd only give a girl a single rose if I really loved her, that in a way I wanted it to represent that. But you see, the problem is roses eventually die, and that didn't fit well with my theory, so I figure as long as you have one that's always bloomed, it works." I explained.
"You mean you've given me a single red rose for ever anniversary to lead up to this?" She asked.
I nodded.
"I love you!" She smiled.
"I love you too, but we better get going, or our ride might leave us." I pointed over to the horse drawn carriage sitting in the parking lot.
"Oh my god... did I mention I love you?" Jelly said.
I laughed and helped her in the carriage.

We pulled up the the downtown music hall. We entered into a dark hallway,
"Dimitri what are we doing?" Jelly asked.
"You'll see." A smile playing on my lips.
We got a little further down the hall when we heard music playing and someone singing.
"Wait a minute, I know that voice....... NO WAY!" Jelly's pace picked up as we entered the empty music theater to see Duran Duran on stage playing.
Jelly's face was consumed like a little fan girl, I almost had to carry her to the dinner table set up in the middle of the theater.
"I'll be right back." I said setting my napkin on my finished dinner plate.
A few minutes later the band stopped playing while I entered on stage with my guitar in hand. I began playing softly as the band kicked in behind me. I began to sing with John Taylor backing me up. Jelly's cheeks turned red while I sang our song "Can't Take My Eyes off of You".
Jelly walked up to the front by the middle of the song, and when it was over I hopped off the stage and entwined her fingers in mine,
"Jels, I was never one to believe in love at first sight, but since the moment you first stepped into my life, you became my life, my everything revolves around you. I used to think about where I would be in ten years, who I'd be with, never did I think that I could meet a woman as unbelievable as you. I fall harder for you with each passing day, and it didn't take long for me to realize that I want you to be mine in every way possible."
I Reached into my jacket pocket as I keeled down on one knee,
"I love you, and I can't survive life without you... Angelica Marie Winston, will you do me the undeserving honor of marrying me?" I opened the box revealing a ring.
She started laughing through her tears, then nodded and whispered, "Yes...of course."
I expected her to say yes, but that didn't take away from the moment she actually did. I place the ring on her finger and kissed her.

A New Idea

Yesterday I accomplished a task I have been dreading since I moved here, I cleaned out the attic. I figured most of the stuff was useless since I never unpacked it, but I didn't want to throw anything important away, so I sorted through the boxes one by one. After a few hours of sifting through junk and dust, I finally came down to the last box, which I expected nothing more from.
The first thing I pulled out was a framed certificate, It was my college diploma. I went to a two year community college back in California. Yeah I could have afforded a fancy University, but I didn't want to spend all that money and time on something I wasn't sure to pursue. I got a two-year degree in business,basically I just went because my mother and grandmother wanted me to.
I tossed the frame into the trash pile and rummaged through the rest of the box. Everything else was junk, except for the last thing I pulled out.
I forgot I had these.
They were old family recipes that had been passed down through generations. I found them and brought them with me to Tulsa. I remember Grans making these recipes when I was little, and how damn good they tasted. I glanced over at my diploma sitting on top of the trash pile, then back a the recipes.
Could I really do it? Would people actually pay to eat this stuff?
I thought back to a day when I was a little kid. Grans was baby sitting while mom was at work. It was around lunch time and I wanted to play restaurant with Grans. I took her order and made my little kid version of steak and potatoes and served it to her...
"You know Dimmy, I think you could own your own restaurant someday..." Grans's voice replayed in my head.

My own restaurant....
I decided to give her a call, and the moment I got the words out of my mouth she was yelling all kinds of positive things into the phone, she even said she'd help pay for it.
I hung up and realized what I just did, I thought about it some more.
Nobody would come, this is stupid I can't own a restaurant, I'm a pretty decent cook but hell I ain't no Bobby Souffle.
I decided to put it to the test. That night I had Jelly, TwoBit, and Kitty over for dinner. I cooked up a few of the recipes and had them try them. Their expectations were above and beyond what I expected.
"Dim...this is like...an orgasm in my mouth." Kit commented.
"What can I say? I tend to have that affect on women." I smiled.
Kit threw a butter knife at me, but I dodged it.

Later that night, after Kitty and TwoBit left, Jelly was sitting on the couch playing on my laptop while I was cleaning up dinner.
"Hey Jels?" I called from the kitchen.
"Sup?"
"I wanted to talk to you about something." I walked up behind the couch.
Jelly leaned her head back and looked up at me, "Is this more baby stuff?" She asked with a 'I really don't want to' kinda face.
"No no." I told her what I found when cleaning out the attic.
"I was thinking..of maybe... opening up a restaurant..." I said slowly, afraid she'd think it was a stupid idea.
She sat up and turned her whole body around, "Really?" She asked.
"Yeah. I mean if it's a success it'll bring in a lot of money, and I was hoping I'd have a bigger income before, ya know, getting married or anything. Do you think people would pay to eat it?"
"Dimitri, I'd pay twenty bucks a plate to eat that shit." She spat out the words.
I laughed. "So you think I should do it?"
"Hell yeah." she said.
"Alright then, I'll start looking at places tomorrow." I smiled and kissed her.

"Cap'n Jack....the rum is gone."

I couldn't believe what I had just heard, the news caught me by surprise. When he walked around that corner at the airport, reality finally stepped in. Watch out Tulsa, Skank-Flank has come to town (aka Chase's Dad).
Being the one with the alcoholic drunk father who pops in and out every few years just to point out how much of a man I'm not, and to raid the local bars for good booze and easy women, really the only man role model in my life was Jack Morgan. Chase's parents took me in like their own son. His mom would always feed me when my mother forgot and Jack would always cheer me up after I was given undeserved abuse from my mom. I'd have to say I much rather call Jack and Katherine mom and dad then my own parents. They weren't perfect either, but then again there is no rule book for parenting, but when a little bruised up and hungry boy appeared in their doorstep late at night, they always made sure he was well and fed.

The first thing we did after getting them back to the house, was plan a party. Mrs. Morgan was always a cocktail kind of woman. She liked things classy and clean cut, but Jack...oh he was a different story entirely, the man could down six bottles of whiskey and still be conscious enough to hit on the most attractive woman in the room. Cap'n Jack was what he liked to call himself, combining Captain Morgan and the personality of Jack Sparrow, I'd have to say the name fits him pretty damn well.
The party kicked off as soon as the gang made it over. The music was loud and Skank-Flank hit in every girl in the gang, even Jelly, but when that happened I made sure Cap'n Jack here knew that Jel's would be one thing I wasn't going to let him play around with. That sort of went to pot when I got wasted and was too busy giving Kit lap dances to pay attention.

Before we even had a chance to get over the hangover, Jack had another party in play for the following night, but no one complained, greasers love a good free time.
It was halfway through the second party, and Jack wasn't half as drunk as the was five minutes into the first party. He just sort of swayed by for a while.
I felt a tug on my sleeve and turned around to see good 'ole Skank-Flank holding up my guitar. I took it from him, wondering what the hell I just got myself into.
Jack doesn't leave his guitar anywhere, so of course he had it with him. We shut off the music and hooked up the amps as the room went dark. Now Jack likes to make an entrance, he has to be the life of the party and make it known. He hooked up a fog machine upstairs near the rail that overlooks the living room. What the hell? The man even brought a spotlight. There he stood at the top of the stairs emerging from the fog wearing only his underwear and a cowboy hat. I stood in the dark on the solid wood coffee table dressed identically and strumming notes on my guitar while Jack sang the familiar tune. It started out slow then kicked up big as he slid down the bannister.
Immediately after our "big" number, I downed as many drinks as possible before I drowned myself from the inside out. Apparently Jelly had way too much alcohol herself, because I found out the next day from very close sources that we had apparently got it on in front of everyone on the coffee table. Knowing that Jelly nor I would every consciously expose ourselves in such a way in public, I simply blamed Cap'n Jack and his need to party, also now having the knowledge I didn't have two weeks ago, I wonder why was Jelly even drinking in the first place?

Luckily the next morning I woke up in the right bed with the right woman. Can't really say the same for Skank-Flank, but that's another story.

I'll Be There For You..

Saturday was our eleven month anniversary. Eleven months... that's almost a year! Last month our monthiversary sort of fell in with Jelly's birthday and this month it sort of fell in with mine, so I didn't want to do a lot, I decided we would just sit at home all day in our pj's and chill... order food, watch movies, play games...that sort of thing. Then Kitty and Jels wanted to make me a cake, so while they attempted to bake, I sat on the couch and prayed they wouldn't catch anything on fire.
That night I laid in bed as my mind drifted off. I recalled our oh so funny April fools day. The hilarious pranks, and the not so hilarious ones. I had just walked out of the shower that night wearing a towel when Kit came up to me and kneed me in the crotch. I bent over in pain,
"What the fuck Kit?"I yelled.
Kit bent over to be eye level with me.
"I told you.... I'd kill you." She said all too seriously.
I had no idea what she was talking about, and after a while it escaped my mind entirely.

I had yesterday off from work, and so I decided to clean the apartment. Jelly and Kit left early for something, and TwoBit was God knows where, so I awoke to an empty house. I started in the kitchen and moved my way into the back rooms scrubbing, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, etc.
Lastly I did the bathrooms. I started with the hall bathroom, then Kit's, and then Jel's. While in the process of sweeping I accidentally knocked over the trash can. I put it aside while I grabbed the bag, it's contents spilling on the floor. I picked up the pieces and replaced them in the bag. When I grabbed the last wad of paper, something dropped out of it. I grabbed the broken plastic and glanced at it carefully. Turning it in my fingers, I almost immediately knew what it was. I scrambled through the trash bag and found the other half. I placed the pieces together and read the clearly exposed pink words "POSITIVE". It had to be Jelly's... it was in HER trash can. I suddenly found it hard to breathe as memories came flashing back to me... April fools, Jelly joking that she was pregnant, Kit kneeing me in the groin.... it all fit perfectly.
I sat amongst the spilled trash on the bathroom floor with my head nearly between my knees. My fingers pulled tightly at my hair. I looked up at the test again when I heard the front door open. I didn't move, but it didn't take long for someone to find me.
How long had she known about this? Why didn't she tell me? What would James think?
Jelly leaned against the doorway.
"I though you were on the pill?" I questioned.
"It was messing me up so I had to stop for a while." Her voice almost a whisper.
"When did you know Jels?" My voice soft.
It took her a minute to answer. "That morning....on April fools..." Her breath grew heavy.
"Are you 100% sure?" I asked.
"Those tests are the ones they use at the hospital. They were just sitting out and I took a few last time I was there with my dad.... just to use for pranks and stuff...I didn't think..." her voice trailed off.
"Does your dad know?" My head ended up between my knees again.
"No. Just Kitty." Jelly answered.
There was another moment of silence, this one longer than the last.
"I'm sorry Dimitri...I should have told you. You shouldn't have had to find out this way..." She said.
I tossed the test back in the trash sack and left it on the floor. I walked up to Jelly, placing my hand on the door frame above her head. I watched a tear roll down her cheek.
"Jels.." I whispered. "You should have told me..."
She looked at the floor, "I know.." she sobbed.
I gently wiped the tear from under her eye then placed my finger under her chin, forcing her eyes to meet mine.
I kept my voice soft, "You know I love you, and you know that you can tell me anything, anytime." I said meaning every word so intently, "I'm right here Jels, and I'm not going anywhere..."
More tears flowed down her cheeks, "....I know." She said.
I pulled her to my chest and held her.
I thought I was smarter than this. I always told myself I'd wait till I was married to have a family. To be ready for it when the time came...
A million thoughts clouded my head.
Kitty's going to kill me... James is going to kill me...Dallas is going to kill me... might as well put my own damn picture on the WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE sign -.-
...but if it had to be with anyone, I wouldn't want it to be anyone else...

I cleared my head, took a deep breath and pulled away.
I cupped Jelly's face in my hands, "I love you." I said looking her in the eye as deep as I possibly could. I gently kissed her then headed off to bed so I could fall asleep before my thoughts invaded again.

Ima Go Chuck Norris All Over You

Monday was my day to close at the DX. Steve had been gone for hours, and Soda was about to leave.

"Have a good night buddy!" He called over his shoulder as he headed for his truck.
"You too man!" I replied, not knowing if he heard me or not.

A few hours later I started closing up when some guy pulls up in this red 66 Chevelle with the fender busted in.
"Sorry man, we're closed." I yelled, keeping my face on the floor I was sweeping.
"Aw c'mon, it ain't gonna take that long. I just need this dent out before my show tomorrow..." He pleaded.
I spun around and glanced at the dent in the front fender. It really wasn't that bad, probably take thirty minutes at the most.
I sighed. "Alright man I'll.." I glared at his face, I knew him from somewhere. I stood there a minute as it all came back to me. My fists clenched, my nails digging deep into my palms. He realized who I was by my reaction, and his first instinct was to get in his car and drive off. He made it as far as closing the door when I grabbed him by his shirt collar and pulled him out through the window of the car. I slammed his back into the pavement, his hands gripped tight around my arms.
"Did you get what you wanted?" I screamed through clenched teeth. "Huh? Was she good enough for you?"
He laughed, "best I ever had."
My arm reeled back, and then with all the force in me my fist collided with his face. He tried to punch back, but I moved causing him to hit my shoulder instead. His hand gripped tight around my throat, and it didn't take long for me to loose my grip and gasp for air. He stood to his feet as I was coughing and spitting up on the pavement. I pulled myself to my feet, and when I looked back at him he was turning towards me with a gun in his hand. I grabbed his hand, trying to get the gun away from him. His elbow met my mouth hard, I tasted the blood dripping off my lip. I felt his fingers twitch and a loud *bang* followed.
I hit the gun, knocking it away from us, then with my whole body I bashed him into the side of his car, adding a few more dents to it. My hand shoved his head against the door, my other hand held his wrists behind his back.
"If I ever see you around here again I swear to God it'll be the last breath you breathe."
I shoved off him, picked up the gun, and watched him drive away.
I bent down to put the lock on the garage, but something sent a pain into my left side. I looked down and noticed my DX shirt covered in blood.
I cursed while climbing into my car, my hand pressed hard against my side as I drove one-handed to the hospital.
I walked through those double automatic doors I knew all too well, and looked across the front desk at James.
"Dimitri I really thought the last time was going to be it for a while." He said.
"Yeah well.... when it comes to Jels, you know.." I winced as another pain shot through my ribs.
His head sprang up from the chart he was reading, "What's wrong with Angelica?" A startled look upon his face.
"Nothing." I said urgently, "That douche bag that...had his way with her a while back showed up at the DX tonight." I explained.
He nodded understanding.
"And he had a gun." I slowly pulled my hand away from my side exposing the injury.
"He shot you?" James's voice raised.
"It's just a graze...I think." Suddenly I wasn't so sure.

"What the hell was this guy using?" James asked, inspecting the bullet fragments he one-by-one pulled out of my side. "Bullets don't usually shatter until after impact.."
"Ahh... shit.." I bit down on my lip.
"Sorry.." James voice apologetic. "That's the last one. A few stitches and you'll be on your way."

I inspected the bandaged taped to my skin before pulling my bloody t-shirt back over my head. I then noticed how late it was and realized I hadn't turned my phone back on after work. Jels called at least four times. I sat on the edge of the hospital bed with the phone pressed against my ear.
"Hey babe......yeah sorry something came up.......I'll tell you about it when I get there okay?....love you too, bye."
James peered up from the prescription he was writing, "You heading over there now?" He asked.
I sighed, realizing how tired I was. "Yeah."
He handed me a slip of paper and I started for the door.
"So..I guess I'll see you later." I said before stepping into the hallway.
"Yeah, just promise it won't be here." He commented.
I smiled then walked out the door.

Happy Birthday Beautiful

Kit helped me with Jelly's present, so in return she needed help with her's.
"Okay, but one condition... I call night." I said.
"What? I just gave you the greatest gift idea ever and you get the night? No way!" Kit argued.
"I'm the boyfriend, I get the night."
"I slept in her bed first buddy."
"Yeah but what did you do in bed Kit?" I glared at her.
Kit sighed, "Fine." she gave in.
I had a lot to do before tomorrow night, I had to set things up, call in a few favors, pick up Jelly's present, etc.
I already had the main part in place. I just needed to make a phone call to confirm. After taking care of business, I drove to the other side of town to pick up Jelly's present, I already had it picked out and knew exactly which one I wanted.
I slept in the next morning, promising Kit the daytime, I had left Jelly alone. Plus, Cloud started getting jealous, so I figured he'd sleep in my bed.
The gang was heading up a surprise part this evening, and from there it would be just us. It was Kit's responsibility to get Jelly to the party, which she did quite successfully. She was surprised, not expecting any of it, but I remained unseen, hiding in the crowded social groups. She wouldn't see me until her next destination, which remained unknown to her.
After a few hours of partying, Chase pulled Jelly out the door and into the car.
I waited patiently for them to arrive, wearing my jeans with my black dress coat over a white v-neck. Finally I saw the headlights pull up into the empty lot. We were at the drive in, alone. She stepped out and settled into my arms. We got comfy in the backseat of my '67 Camero and faced the screen. Music started playing while pictures and video clips of Jelly and I covered the screen. Memories from our first date, our monthiversaries, and various things in between. It closed out with a ten minute long clip of me stating everything there is to say about such an amazing woman and why I love her so much. I noticed it nearly brought her to tears when I leaned over to kiss her.
Her present was at my house, so we decided to sleep there that night. I stopped her before entering my room.
Placing my hands on her sholders, I stared into her eyes, "Jels, for your birthday.... I'm going to make us parents." I tried not to laugh.
Her mouth dropped, "Excuse me?" she said.
"We're going to be parents," I pushed open the bedroom door, "to this little guy right here." The tan colored, hyper pup wagged his tail while trotting out of the room and into Jelly's arms.
She was surprised. "He is the cutest thing..." she said.
After a while we placed him in his bed on the floor before we cuddled up on the bed. One thing led to another, and we started making out, then clothes disappeared and then, "ruff ".
I peered over the side of the bed, pointing down at the dog, "Don't make me regret you." I said tapping him gently on the nose.

Even Heros Need Saving Every Once in a While

I decided to stop by Jelly's on my way home from work Tuesday, but when I knocked on the door no one answered. I decided to just let myself in. I walked into an empty living room, the kitchen was dark, as was Jelly's room. No one appeared to be home. I decided to take a shower and wait for Jels to come home.
My hair dripped on the clothes in the drawer as I searched through the dresser for something to wear. I was just pulling my shirt over my head when I heard something in the next room. I crept up to Kit and TwoBit's door and pressed my ear against it. I heard soft sobs...someone was crying. I opened the door to find Kit curled up on the bed squeezing a pillow to her chest and sobbing into it.
I had heard about TwoBit and Marcia, heck so did the whole neighborhood. Kit appeared to be okay about it, she didn't approve of course, but it didn't appear to be something she was going to stress over. I heard her conversations with the various people in the gang, and her response was always along the lines of "I'm okay, it's forgiven, we'll be fine." Then she'd close it with a soft smile, but a smile I could see right through. I don't even know if Jelly noticed it, but when Kit cut back on eating again, I knew something was up.
Kit didn't turn when I walked in, she just continued to face the opposite wall. I ran a hand through her hair, tucking it behind her ear,
"Oh, Kitten." I said softly as I lifted her all to easily, pulling her to my chest as I leaned back against the headboard.
She didn't talk at first, I just let her cry it out. I ran my thumb under her eyes brushing off the tears,
"Your obviously not fine like you told everyone...you can't be the hero all time Kitten, you gotta be the one that needs saving every once in a while."
Her sobs were getting shorter, she laid her head in my lap and looked up at me.
"I know," her voice cracked, "..it's just... I'm stronger than this.. I don't let things like this get to me Dim, there's no need in crying over something...it doesn't change anything." she said.
"Your right, it doesn't, but the good lord wouldn't have made tears if he didn't intend us to use them." I smiled. "You have every right to be upset though Kit, he messed up, but you have his love, and that's something I know he won't ever give to any other woman." I wasn't just saying it to make her feel better, I know TwoBit and I know he loves Kit more than anything, and that's something that can't be destroyed by one mistake.
"Ya know sometimes I feel like I have to be the strong one, the one that's going to make everything okay, but truth is I've cried myself to sleep plenty of times... I did when Elena left and went back to Cali, when that bastard at the DX got a hold of Jelly, when I thought about her being hit by that car instead of me, human beings were made to cry, it's as simple as that. Hell Kit you don't have to prove to any of us that you haven't gone soft...the day KitKat Curtis goes soft will be the day the whole world goes to hell." I laughed and she broke a smile.
"Yeah, I guess." she said.
"Yeah? Well I KNOW."
she sighed. "So...want to get drunk and dance in our underwear till Jelly comes home and finds us passed out on the kitchen table?" I suggested.
Kitty laughed, "Sounds like a plan."

Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend

Yesterday was my lazy day because tomorrow starts my life again at work.
Jelly went out to run some errands and the next thing I knew Kitty comes busting through the bedroom door going on about how she's bored and there's nothing to do.
"I feel like doing something wedding related." she said while plopping down on the foot of the bed. "But I don't want to bother TwoBit with wedding stuff this week... he's still getting over his mom."
Then an idea struck me, I was planning on doing it soon anyways, why not now?
"Okay Kitty go get changed and you can come with me." I said hopping up and walking to the closet.
"Yippie." she screamed and dashed for her room.
"So, where we going?" she asked while buckling her seat belt.
"You will see." I teased.
When we pulled up to the building she got all excited and started screaming. It took me ten minutes to calm her down before we could go inside.
"So what's your price Ryder?" Kit asked as we gazed at all the different options.
"My grandmothers paying for it, so we don't really don't have one."
Kit stared at me with her mouth hanging open, "Dammit Jelly. I'm so jealous."
I laughed.
We didn't find anything at the first stop, nor the second, nor the third.
"Okay last one for today." I said as we pulled up to the jewelers.
We looked around for a minute. I didn't see much here either until we were about to walk out the door, one caught my attention.
The person working saw me looking at it and walked over to us, "Ah, good choice." He said, "This one is one of a kind, the only one like it, it's just beautiful." He trailed on.
"That's it Kitty." Something inside me felt it, there wouldn't be anything better after this, this had to be the one.
"Well its a good thing you don't have a price limit." Kit said pointing to the price display.
It was a number that would put a dent in even my grandmother's pocket book.
I called her to make sure it was okay and she wouldn't take no for an answer so I put down a down payment and we left.
"God Dim, I'd say yes just cause the ring."
"Thanks Kitty." I said sarcastically.
"Just kidding.... your pretty hot too." She smiled.

We got back to the apartment and by this time Jelly was home. Kitty walked in glaring at her,
"I hate you.' she said prancing off to her room.
Jelly laughed confused but knowing she was joking she brushed it off.
I walked up to her and kissed her slowly, "I love you!" I said.
"I love you too." she smiled back.

Tonight's Better Be a Good - Good Night

I moved all my stuff back in my house this week. Fresh new carpet in my room and the living room, those were the ones damaged, also new wood floors in the hallway. Cloud isn't aloud in the bathroom anymore -.- I got to know my new house mate Justin this week, and his son. They seem like likable people. Elena's been in and out a lot, I don't even bother to ask where she goes anymore, she'll still go there whether I want her to or not.
After "ice-ing" my groin all week, I've discovered a whole new meaning to the word "cold". I've started to think that someone really doesn't want me to get any, I'm thinking maybe James overworked me on purpose so I couldn't do anything with his daughter. HA HA good one James, -.-

I had yet another monthiversary to plan, and I had to make up for not being able to be there last time. I really was lost when it came to what we could do, Jelly never really mentioned it to me, but I like watching plays, so I got tickets to "Wicked" which just happened to be in town this week. She seemed to enjoy it, I loved it. We had a nice dinner at Red Lobster and I decided to rent a hotel room for the night considering what we haven't been able to do for the past month and a half, I figured we'd be doing a lot of that tonight and I spared everyone by getting a hotel room where no one could hear us.... well at least no one we knew. I also felt like getting wasted and having a good time so I brought a 24 pack of beer. I went classy for the hot tub though and also got a bottle of champagne. We downed a few cans after that, I really don't know why we bothered putting clothes on when we got out of the hot tub, but we did and decided to play strip poker. I lost. We finished off our beers and turned up the stereo and started dancing hardcore... pretty much naked.
"So, I got you something, but... I don't know how you're going to react to it." I said, unzipping my suitcase to find the sack.
"What is it?" Jelly asked curious.
I held up the pink striped Victoria's Secret bag.
She snatched it out of my hand and peeked inside, "I would have loved to see the look on the cashier's face when you walked into that store and bought this." She smiled.
She went in the bathroom to put it on while I situated myself comfortably on the bed. I spent money on something she'll probably be wearing for a total of five minutes, but once she stepped foot out of the bathroom I knew it was well worth it.
Wasn't long after that when we were getting it on. Finally, no problems, no interruptions, no PAIN. I got to love my woman and enjoy it, and damn did I enjoy it. ;)

Tonight's the Night

Tonight is going to be the night.
Last week at my doctor's appointment, James said one week, and today makes the one week.

I could sit normally, walk normally, even run normally with no pain. I made Jels a promise that the day my pelvis was healed enough, I'd give her what she wanted, and a lot of it. Tonight was supposed to be that night.
I woke up to those beautiful brown eyes staring back in to mine.
"One week." She said softly.
I smiled and kissed her. I had plans on going to the gym with Darry and James, and Chase, he just didn't know it yet.
"You're up early." It was seven in the morning and I had expected to wake up and find Jelly still asleep.
"Well, I guess I was just too excited to sleep." She said with a seductive smile.
I stared at her for a moment,
"You know it's taking me every ounce of self control I have not to just rip your clothes off now."
Her smile widened,
"No one's stopping you," She replied.
I sighed, "I have to meet your dad in twenty minutes." I pointed out.
Her smile fell. "Hurry back."
I changed into work out clothes then opened the door to the guest room to find Chase still asleep.
"Get your lazy ass out of bed you fat kid." I yelled just before the pillow hit me in the face. I grabbed Chase's ankle and pulled him half way across the room.
"Ok ok Dim Im comming."
I decided I'd do Kit a favor and drag TwoBit along with me too. Almost had to dress the damn kid, he's for sure not a morning person.
We ended up at the gym with Darry and James just in time. James went over what equipment I should and shouldn't use and how hard I should press myself. He said I needed to start rebuilding muscle, but I didn't want to injure myself again. I started out slow and cautious, but as the day went on I eased up a little. James would observe me every once in a while to make sure I wasn't over doing it. I made it through the day just fine, actually refreshed to be active again.

Got back to the apartment and took a shower. It was just after lunch time and I was planning on making a really good dinner so I went ahead and started cooking. We sat around the dinner table and began eating when my best buddy Chase just had to open his mouth.
"I know what Dim and Jelly are doing tonight." Him and TwoBit started laughing as I gave them both a glare,
"At least I'm getting some." They shut up real fast.




------------------The following content may not be suitable for children-----------------------




Jelly and I laid in bed until there was absolutely nothing on TV. I hit the off button on the remote causing the room to be completely dark. The next thing I knew our hands were all over each other and things were getting real hot, real fast. Wasn't long till we were both in our underwear. Wasn't long after that till Jelly did that thing she always does when she wants me to give it to her, so I gave it to her, and that's when I felt it... "Fuck!!" I yelled, (and no not in a good way).
"Oh My God!!!" The sharp pain in my groin. I knew what had happened, I'd done it before.
I pulled back and Jelly switched on the bedside lamp. I was kneeling on the floor, my face buried in the bed sheets.
"What the hell happened?" Jels asked.
I winced and mumbled through the covers, "I pulled my groin."
Jelly got me back in my boxers at least and we walked down the hall in our underwear towards the fridge. Jelly opened up the freezer door and pulled out a bag of peas. Just then I heard two doors open down the hallway. Kit, Tibbs, and Chase walked in, stared at the frozen bag of peas against my crotch and then peed themselves laughing.
"Fuck....You!" I said.
'No Dim," Kit said between laughs, "You won't be doing that again anytime soon."
The laughing continued for about twenty minutes, until I decided to walk up and punch Chase in the groin. He bent over in pain, "You Dick!!" He shouted.
"Nope, your dick!" I said then headed back to the bedroom with my bag of frozen peas, my broken pride, and my fucked life.

Shattered Bones, But Whole Hearts

Valentine's Day

The day I dread most every year. Halloween comes complete with the dark, "let's dress like idiots and get free candy" feeling. Thanksgiving we draw close to the things that mean most to us while preparing our stomach's for a feast. Christmas, my favorite, brings along that warm, giving, feeling complete with presents and snowy nights. But when I think Valentines Day, I just want to vomit. The pink and red hearts, all the candy boxes and love notes. It's just gross. This year, my mood was entirely changed, I assume is has to do with the fact that I have the best and most beautiful woman in the world.

Though I've always hated Valentines, I never seemed to have trouble planning dates, but when it came to Jelly, I was lost. I've been laying on the couch and standing around the house for the past three weeks. With all my free time I finally came up with an idea for a date tonight.
The morning started out with a doctor's appointment. James had been checking in a lot since the accident, but he decided it was time that I have a real examination at a hospital. So I had one scheduled last minute at 9am this morning. Jelly was still asleep when I got up so I made her breakfast. Strawberry shaped pancakes, with scrambled eggs, and toast, complete with a glass of chocolate milk. I set the plate on the tray along with a letter and a single rose. I set it next to her in the bed and quietly slipped out the front door. Chase drove me to the doctor's office, since I kind of can't sit down to drive, instead I have to reline the seat. They had me dress in one of those ugly hospital gowns that make you feel so exposed. They took a few x-rays then James came in to tell me the results.
"Well, Dimitri everything is going as planned. You're lucky the fracture didn't do too much damage internally. There's still some torn tissue that will heal on it's own, and the screws we put in are holding nicely. You should be off crutches now and try to start sitting upright. Keep exercising and do a lot of walking so your muscles will get strong again."
All of it was good news, I could get rid of these stupid crutches and sit up. I was excited about that last part, lounging around all week may sound like fun, but when it hurts to sit you really don't enjoy it much. I thought we were done talking about my injuries when James started to speak again..
"Okay, there is a topic we have yet to breach. As a doctor I am licensed to discuss this information with you, and as a ..." he paused, searching for the right words, "to-be father-in-law, I guess, I'm inclined to tell you this because of our relationship, and I feel more comfortable discussing this with you than any other patient I've had."
I had no idea what he was getting to. I had thought about it before, but today I was totally lost.
"We need to discuss your sexual activities." he said.
My first instinct was to laugh, so I did.
"I take it you and Jels haven't been..... active these past few weeks?"
"Nope." I said, "It's killing her."
He actually laughed at that. "Well, usually people who damage their pelvic bone can't enter into any sexual activity for up to 6-8 weeks after the accident, but since you only damaged half of yours, I'd say your okay to do so in about a week."
I forgot who I was talking to for a moment when I said, "Thank God!"
But James just laughed that off too.
He wrote me another prescription for more pain killers then sent me off. One good thing about dating a doctor's daughter, you only pay half the hospital bill. :)

On the way back home, We stopped at my house to check the damage on the house and drop off a few things. Chase's room was still damp but Elena's and Justin's was fine. I met Justin for the first time, and his little boy. He seemed like a nice guy, I hoped Elena wasn't giving him any trouble. I walked into Elena's room and set a vase of pink carnations on her desk with a box of chocolates, and then a huge stuffed pink elephant for Jasslin. Chase and I drove back to the apartment. When we got there Jelly was awake and standing in the kitchen. I walked up to her, held her body to mine, and pressed my lips against hers.
"Happy Valentine's Day." I said.
She kissed me again, "What did daddy say?"
I made a disappointing face, "....not tonight." I answered.
Jelly sighed then skipped off to get dressed.

Jels, Chase, Dawn, Tibbs, Kit, and I all had a picnic in the park together for lunch. Oddly it was a warm day outside. We tossed around a Frisbee and just had some fun.
Later that night was when the romantic stuff would kick in.
I made sure the hot tub was empty. I lit some candles and scattered some rose petals, then I added some bubbles to the hot tub. I set out a stereo and pressed play on the CD I recorded. Our song, "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You." by Frankie Valli played, only it wasn't him singing it, it was me playing my guitar.
I cooked an exquisite dinner and poured some champagne then sat it all next to the hot tub. We put on our swim suits and headed down to the pool house. The rose petals lifted a nice scent in the room mixing with the steam. She sat on my lap facing me as we continuously kissed each other. Her fingers traced the scar on my left shoulder, then I saw a single tear drip from her eye.
"Baby, what's wrong?" I asked,
It took her a moment to answer, "I was just thinking... I very well could have been spending this day alone, crying in my bed...."
"But you're not." I said.
She smiled, "No.... I'm not." She started to kiss me again.
My hands slipped around her neck, when I brought them back down she felt something tickle her chest. She looked down and saw the diamond necklace.

We went back upstairs after a while, took a shower together, then crawled into bed watching a movie.
"It's Valentines Day." Jelly said, "the only day in the year completely devoted to love, and I can't have sex with my boy friend...cause he's broken." She made a pouty face like a five year old.
A wide smile spread across my face, "You know Jels, the only part of me that's broken is my pelvis, everything else works just fine." I stated.
Her eyes darted to mine, she raised an eyebrow and gave me a devilish smile.




I Love you Jelly. You're the reason I find life so precious. You make Valentine's day what it is for me. I found no purpose for it till I met you, I love you! -Dimitri

Sometimes There Are Moments in Life That Just Make More Sense With Tears

I was laying in the hospital bed waiting for James to sign me out. Finally, I get to go home, well Jelly's home. I'm staying with her because it's more "handicapped accessible". Doc says I'll be on crutches for a while and I would have gone home a while ago, but we had to wait til my shoulder was well enough to support myself on crutches, considering I can't sit in a wheel chair.
I heard someone approaching, and expected it to be James, but instead it was Kit. Being someone I didn't expect, my welcome came out more as a "why are you here." oops. She looked like she was in the mood for a serious conversation.
I asked er what was wrong, but she said that I should start do the talking first. So I told her about the conversation I had with James the other day and how I feel that a marriage could be very near in my future. Of course, that sent Kit bouncing off walls and throwing all these ideas in to my mind.
"Kit calm down. It's more of an idea than it is a decision right now." I said, hopefully dimming her spirits so she'd calm down.
"Oh Dimitri, I know it's going to happen." She winked than plopped down in the chair next to me.
It was time for her to start talking, but I felt like I had to force it out of her.
She told me how Grandma Liz took her to the doctor, and how he didn't have many positive things to say about her. Then she went on about how she thought she was pregnant and decided to leave me panicking for a moment till she finally told me the test was negative.
And there was something she mentioned about just wanting to end it all. She turned her head trying to hide her tears from me. I grabbed her hand,
"Kitty, we can't be strong all the time, there are just some moments in life that make more sense with tears." I told her.
She looked over and smiled as I tried my best to crack a joke.
Then she got into it about the wedding and her life with TwoBit, "I love him more than anything, but... I'm just...scared." She said.
I tugged on her hand and she snuggled up next to me. I ran my fingers through her hair, "Being scared is a natural feeling, there's nothing wrong with that. I know you love TwoBit more than anything. An idiot can see that. Marriage is just an act, but love is a feeling, it's what makes a marriage what it is, without it a marriage would be nothing."
"You know, for never being married, you sure do have a lot to say about it."
"But I am in love." I convinced.
She just laid there a moment till her tears stopped and I heard her whisper "Thanks for listening, I really needed that."
"Anytime Kit. Anytime."



After she left, I was dwelling on something she said earlier.....End it all? As in your life? I had so much that I should have said but didn't, and I don't know what held me back, but when she left I pulled out a sheet of paper and started writing.


Kitty,

I know sometime we go through things that aren't exactly what we would choose, but those things only make us stronger and prepare us for what's to come. Life isn't perfect, if it was, the perfect moments we have wouldn't mean the same to us. You can't have love without hatred, and you can't have joy without suffering, it's how the world works. You just have to dwell on those good moments and know that the best has yet to come, and you're never alone. You have a man that loves you and wouldn't think twice about it. You have the two best friends in the world, if I do say so myself. We're always here for you to fall back on, it makes our relationships stronger. You'll get through this, because getting through it is the only way out of it. Love you Kitty,
-Dim

What I Do When My Girlfriend is On a Date With My Best Friend

As much as I love Jelly's company, she needed to get away from the hospital. I couldn't drag her out myself so I had someone else do it, Chase. With all that's going on I think Jelly forgot about our eight month anniversary, either that or she didn't want to bring it up due to the fact I'm in a hospital bed. So I'm having Chase take Jelly out for our anniversary. Living in California gives you the opportunity to meet all kinds of people... who know people, who know people, giving you all kinds of hook ups. :)
I told Jelly to go home and put on something nice but comfortable then come back. She was confused but didn't question me. When she returned, Chase was standing in the room holding a single rose.
"What is going on?" Jels asked.
"Well since I'm not leaving this hospital any time soon, Chase is going to take you out tonight in honor of our eighth monthiversary." I explained.
She began to protest but I gave her that look that always ends up winning in the end.
So I sent them off to have fun without me. I had my own plans...
Jelly's dad walked in after a while and plopped down in the chair next to my bed.
"On break?" I asked.
"Yeah kid you're keeping me pretty busy." He joked.
I smiled, then thought I'd cut to to the case and ask him something,
"Dr. Winston..." I began only to be cut off,
"Dimitri you've got to stop calling me that, it makes me feel old." He laughed.
"Ok then... James, if I were to ask permission to marry your daughter... what would you say?" I'd hoped the heart monitor wouldn't show any signs of my heart race increasing.
"You threw yourself in front of a speeding car possibly saving my daughter's life, you make her beyond happy, you're protective of her, and love her deeply.... I would be an idiot not to accept you as a son in law." Damn, all I wanted was a yes or no, but instead he had to almost bring me to tears. "I already consider you a son........so yes, I would give you permission to marry my daughter." That made me smile unbelievably.
"When you were still asleep, your heart rate was very slow... but every time Jelly would walk in the room your heart rate would go up. Jelly's mind was too occupied to notice, but I noticed. And then I thought of if it was her in this hospital bed instead of you... I think she would have been in less pain if she were hit by the car than watching you suffer it." He smiled and looked down at the floor.
We talked a short while after that, then he had to get back to work. But just as he left, someone followed in after him.....
"Hey Blair." I greeted.
'Sup? How are you doing?" She asked.
"Well, I'm alive." I smiled.
"That's for sure a plus." she laughed while sitting down next to me.
"I'm glad you came by actually..."
"Really? Why? What's up?" She was curious.
"Blair, you can't keep doing this to yourself... the narcotics, you're better than that Blair.. and I know you know that."
She looked at me puzzled. "But how did you.."
"I heard everything you said to me Blair.... and what you told me pained me more than my injuries. You have a family that loves you and friends that care about you... you don't need drugs when you have people like that in your life." I thought I saw a tear escape across her cheek, but she turned her head too quickly for me to tell.
"I know," she looked down at her fidgeting fingers, "I hate it.. and I'm trying to fix it."
"I hope so.. for the sake of this one." I playfully poked her stomach.
"Well, thanks Dim, I guess I'll stop by later this week." She started to walk out the door,
"By the way... I'd be honored if you named your daughter Shiloh Ryder." And with that she smiled and turned out the door.

Feeling Alive

"Hey, give it back Dimmy." Her cute curls and adoring voice tugged at me, I couldn't tease her like this, I'm not that kind of big brother. "Okay, Lena. Here." I chunked the doll back at her, deciding to be nice and not cut it's hair off.

*beep**beep* "he's loosing more blood...." *beep* "..prep him for surgery" *beep**beep*

"Dimmy, were you really gonna cut all her hair off?" Said Elena. "Course not Lena. I wouldn't do that to you." A smile widened across her face as she threw her arms around me. "You're the bestest big brother ever Dimmy." I smiled back.

*beep**beep* "...wake up...please Dim, just wake up..." *beep* "...I told you I'd die for you Dim. I'd give anything for you to be alive.....right here, right now." *beep**beep*

"Dimmy, will you be my hero?" I loved her innocent voice, it rang often in my ears. "Always Lena."
"Good. I love you Dimmy." "I love you too Lena."

*beep**beep**beep*


I could feel reality start to set in around me. The first thing I noticed was a beeping sound which felt like I'd been listening to it for days. The next thing was that I realized I wasn't alone. Someone was close to me, I wanted so much to know who....and why?...and where the hell was I? I racked my brain, if I could have physically kicked myself I would have, but for some reason I couldn't seem to get any part of my body to move. What was the last thing I remembered doing??
I was hanging out with Jelly, Chase, and Kit. We were walking down the street cutting up and laughing at something...I think?....then there was a car, and Jelly didn't move so I pulled her out of the way and............ Shit! That's when I noticed the pain. I felt like something was ripping at my insides, repetitively stabbing me in every direction. It hurt to breathe. My eyes frantically moved and I began to blink them into focus. The first thing I saw was a clear thick tube sticking out of my mouth. It gave me the urge to cough. I felt something shift next to me and the next thing I knew two people rushed up to me and began slowly pulling the tube from my mouth. I choked it out and coughed to clear my throat causing an agonizing pain down the left side of my body. I turned my head to see the most beautiful eyes staring back at me. They were filled with tears, and looked like they had been for days. They were familiar eyes, probably the pair of eyes I knew best. They gave me the same feeling they always had. I felt the sense of warmth and comfort take over me, holding another emotion near in the distance. It didn't take long for that last emotion to hit me.... Love. The background came into focus as I made out different colors and shapes, it revealed the greatest thing in the world. I didn't say anything, I couldn't even recall what words were. Fear started to push through to me. What if I had left this? What if I was dead right now? And the worst question, the one that would haunt me till the day I died. What if it had been her? I did the only thing my body allowed me to do. I stretched up and kissed her lips. I felt tears drift off onto my face. From that moment I knew that it didn't matter what a doctor was about to tell me, I still had her, and that's enough for me. Words didn't come easy for either of us. What were you supposed to say in a situation like this? Her hand brushed through my hair as she continued to gaze into me. I already knew everything she was trying to say. I reached up and brushed the tears from her cheeks and kissed her again. "It's okay. Everything is okay now." I whispered.
"I thought there was a good chance I would never hear that voice again." Jelly said.
She pulled back and I discovered that we weren't alone. Chase was lingering close, his face showed his emotions. Relief lifted off his shoulders, and then I noticed someone else standing next to him. I met her eyes for only a second until she sprang to my bedside placing her hand on my cheek. "Elena..." She leaned down and kissed my forehead. "Never again!" She said while giving me a stern look. "Winding up in the hospital is my job." I took it jokingly, but her face showed she meant it in complete seriousness.
"You're awake!" I heard a deep voice coming from the doorway. "Thank God." I tried to look in that direction the best I could. I at least could tell who it was, Dr. Winston. I had this idea to try and sit up so I could see him better, but the moment my body moved a loud pain ripped through my nerves. I felt my teeth clench and my eyes wince followed by a strain of words I wish didn't spill from my mouth in the presence of my girlfriend's father, but I couldn't help it. It hurt so bad. "Oh no," he rushed towards me. "You need to stay put, I'll have a nurse get you some heavy medication before I sit down and explain some things to you." He wasn't using his professional stance and voice that I know he used with other patients. He used a more familiar tone, he was treating me like I was his son.
Just then the nurse came in and hooked up a drip to the metal rack holding many IV's connected to various places on my body. Then Dr. Winston took out a small light from his pocket and flashed it in my eyes. "You don't appear to show any signs of shock so this should go pretty easily.." What did that mean? What was he about to tell me? "Do you remember what happened?" I felt the need to use words since I hadn't been able to in a while. "Yes, I remember everything." I stated.
"Good, you were finally conscious enough for us to do a brain scan this morning, and it showed no signs of any brain damage. You do have a major concussion that will easily be monitored, but you got very lucky Dim." He stared at me, and it wasn't till then that I realized just how serious this was. "You shattered your shoulder blade," he pointed to the left side of my chest that exposed what I thought an unnecessary amount of bandaging. "broke five of your left ribs, cracked your sternum," that explained why it hurt so much to breathe. I expected that to be it, but his words continued to trail on, "you tore some tissue in your neck, so that will be sore for a while. When your ribs broke, they pierced through the top of your skin, we put you through surgery to stitch that up and to also stop the internal bleeding that was coming from a part of your large intestine that ruptured sometime during the accident. And lastly, you shattered the left side of your pelvic bone." This was a lot to take in. "What's the outcome of all of this?" The question had lingered in my mind since I first began to feel all the pain. "Like I said Dim, you are very lucky. It will all heal...eventually, and then you will be able to move and function pretty normally." I felt a huge sigh relieve my body. Making it through this with a small single scratch or a shattered spine, either way it still would have been worth it. I did consider myself lucky, so I'd spend a few days in a wheel chair and weeks on crutches needing help to clothe and bathe myself, and yes a shattered pelvic would kick me out of my sex life for a while, but I'd rather it all be me. I rather be in a grave dead then to see Jelly suffer through any of this. What I was hearing now was heaven compared to what I could have heard. I was thankful to be alive, to see my friends and family waiting for the moment when I woke up, to wake up knowing that the person I love most is very much alive and well. Despite all the pain, no one in the world feels better than I do at this moment.

The Cost of Love (By: Chase)

KitKat and Jelly came over yesterday morning and wanted to hang out, so Dimitri suggested we take a walk through Tulsa and find something to do. Were walking down the street passing up ice cream, shopping, and movie theaters. The town wasn't busy so we were walking in the middle of the street, glancing back every so often to look for cars. Dimitri and Kit started messing around and yelling, Jelly was following close behind them laughing. It was then that I heard tires against the pavement behind us. I looked back and saw a car rounding the corner towards us, definitely going well over the speed limit. I yelled for everyone to get out of the street while I moved out of the way myself, but with their goofing around, apparently they didn't hear me. Kit saw it first and yelled as she ran towards the sidewalk. After that It all happened so fast......
Dim turned back noticing the truck and Jelly standing feet from him, being the boyfriend that he is, her safety crossed his mind first. He violently pulled on her arm and slung her towards me and Kit, but after that he didn't have time to get himself out of the way. The next five seconds flashed through my vision, yet still remain to replay in my head. It wasn't what I saw that broke my awe.... it was the sound. I wanted to close my eyes, but couldn't. There was a loud *thud* a *crunch* and the screeching of tires as Dimitri's body impacted with the car, the air, the car again, and finally the pavement. The noise that scared me the most though had nothing to do with the impact, but it was the silence that followed afterward. As I stared at my best friend's body lying still in the middle of the street I heard Kit punch in three numbers on her cell phone. My first instinct was to get over to Dimitri. I patted his cheek trying to get him to open his eyes, but he didn't respond. My voice raised and I could hear Jelly sobbing behind me. Still nothing....
I was still in shock, so when I noticed the blood I freaked out. It was seeping through his shirt, and the back of his head. I lifted his shirt and got sick at what I saw, praying that Jelly didn't see it. All I could tell was that he broke a few ribs, but I was sure there was more damage not visible at the moment. I didn't realize what was going on till someone's arm pried me and Jelly away from the scene. I don't even know what vehicle we rode in, but somehow we ended up in the emergency unit at the hospital. We waited, and waited, and waited. Minutes felt like days. All I could hear was the thoughts yelling in my head, and Jelly screaming from Kit's arms. No one would tell us anything, not even Jelly's dad. I saw a doctor walking from the direction they took Dim. He had a chart in his hand which he placed on a rack containing other charts. When he walked away, I sprang up and grabbed the chart. My eyes scanned over it....


Dimitri Alan Ryder
DOB: 4/30/1990
1/21/11

Patient involved in a Pedestrian + automobile accident. Police report states a hit 'n' run.
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION:
VITALS: Height: 70-1/2" Weight: 185 lbs. Pulse: 48/60 bpm.
SKIN: Exposed ribs.
INTERNAL: Abdominal bleeding.
Possible brain damage.
Neck Bruising.
Shattered Left Shoulder blade.
Five Broken Ribs.
Cracked Sternum.
Left Side Pelvic Bone Shattered.

*Not yet responsive*



A nurse started walking towards me as I quickly placed the chart back on the rack, teardrops spilling among the page.


-Chase

Moving In

This week Chase decided he was completely serious about moving to Tulsa, so he did. He went home for a day to pack everything back up and headed strait back here. I heard it didn't go over well with Megan though. He needed to get away from her, just to start over. I spent the rest of the week showing him around and helping him to get to know the gang better. He came to work with me a lot. One day Jelly came by with Kit and Dawn, I don't know what but something was definitely going on there. Later that night we had dinner at Kit's and Jel's apartment with Chase and Dawn. It was nice, I think Chase is really enjoying Tulsa.

Home At Last

I grabbed Jelly's hand as we stepped out the gate into the airport lobby. We didn't have to glance around for long to find Elena, she came running and had her arms around us within thirty seconds. I thought she would never let us go, but then she noticed who I brought with me, "Chase!!!" she screamed.
"Hey kid long time no see." Chase and her exchanged a hug.

We got home and immediately started unpacking. After a while the doorbell rang. I opened the door to find....well pretty much the entire gang on my doorstep holding cases of beer and video games. We had a party going in no time. The guys were taking turns with the X-Box and the girls were talking and doing their thing. Chase and I slipped away upstairs to talk for a while.
"I just....I don't know man, I was really tired of her crap. I'm tired of settling for mouthy little tramps you know?" Chase was referring to his now ex-girl friend, Megan. "I just feel like starting over....maybe I should move down here with you."
That suggestion caught me off guard. I never imagined my California friends adjusting to life with me here in Tulsa, but out of everyone I knew back home, I wouldn't want it to be anyone else but Chase. We know each other like we know ourselves. We grew up together.
"I think that would be a great idea." I added smiling.
"So..." he began to change the subject, "any girls here you can set me up with?"
"Besides my sister?" We both laughed. "Actually, someone has already showed interest..."
"Really?" Chase was surprised.
We headed back downstairs and Chase followed me right up to whom I had been referring to..... Dawn. I didn't hear the conversation they had cause it was my turn at the game, But I think it went well.

California :)

A little while back, Jelly told me that she wanted to meet my whole family. So, for our seven month anniversary I'm taking her to California. Our plane left Tuesday night at 7, which put us in California around 11pm. We rented a car and drove the short distance to my house. Jelly was close to falling asleep, until we pulled into the driveway.
"Holy...... this is your house?" I thought her finger was going to point right through the windshield.
"No. I live in Tulsa remember?"
"But.....how..?" She was apparently not taking this the way I expected.
"Let's just say my grandfather had a lot of money." I explained.
"No...your grandfather is freakin rich." She corrected.
"Well if you put it that way, he WAS rich. He passed away a couple of years ago, but my family still owns quite a few businesses around here."

I got the luggage out of the car and led the way inside. Jelly was still amazed even after the tour I gave her of the house.
"Why didn't you tell me you were rich?" she asked.
"Cause I'm not. My grandparents might be, but I'm not." I answered.
Just then I heard a scream. I looked over to see my grandmother.
"Hey gammy." I said with a smile on my face.
I opened my arms for an expected hug, but instead she walked right past me and threw her arms around Jelly.
"I can't believe I'm finally meeting you."
It wouldn't have surprised me if my grandmother had a heart attack just then by the was she was reacting.
"My, you are just beautiful." She said still holding on to Jels.
"Gammy this is Jelly."
I thought I was going to have to get a chainsaw to pry her off of Jelly.
Next to enter the room was Mom, but thank God her hugs weren't as over reacted.

After greetings and introductions, I led Jelly up to my room.



"This is where we will be sleeping." I informed.
She glanced around at my trophies and awards from high school. Then she came across a picture...
"Who are they?" she asked
"Those are my friends...you will get to meet them later this week."
And she did, this morning they all came over and we hung out playing pool and using the hot tub ;)


My Best Friend (before i moved to tulsa)

Chase

Another one of my good friends...

Adam

And this is the life of OUR parties..


Scott

Chase's girlfriend Megan


And then that best "girl" friend that knows everything about you and doesn't let you forget it. Ashley




We're having a good time in Cali and will be back late on Sunday, but until then we will continue to keep you updated.

Rooms For Rent

In one of my earlier posts I mentioned my older brother and sister moving out. Now that Elena left, I'm all alone on this big house that I can't afford by myself, so I put 2 rooms up for rent.







They each have their own bathroom. One is upstairs and one is downstairs. The cost is $175 a month. Pets allowed but must get along with dogs. Only renting rooms to Males.