I officially love public holidays!

Today I actually slept without Pat waking me up early, or a hang over. It was the best feeling ever, waking up when your body decides you're fully rested.

After breakfast I went to the computers, deciding to get as much TAFE work done as I can. The joy of doing this course online, is that I can work at my own pace. So I'm doing it any time I am free to.

Besides stopping for a lunch break, I have been working on this since 9:30. It all seems rather basic at the moment, but I suspect that it's going to get harder as I progress.

"Hey. You sure going on this?" Remy pops his head in front of my face, making me jump in surprise.

"Shit! You bloody wanker!" I practically shout in fright.

Hearing him chuckle, I can't help but look at him and admire the carefree look on his face. He seems to relax more now that he's working, and his smile makes him look that much younger.

"What do you want? I'm busy." I huff when his laughter dies down.

"I, umm, I wanted to ask if you'd like to go out with me?" He fumbles over his words. "I mean, as friends or uhh whatever." He mumbles.

"Oh!" Caught of guard, I look at Remy to see he's almost nervous. "Well, I'd love to but I really need to keep going with this." I explain, pointing to the computer.

"You've been on here all day, come on!  I want to take you somewhere, please Ari?" He pouts at me.

Looking at the pleading look with a hint of nervousness on his face, I can't help but agree to his request.

"Alright. Where are we going?" I smile at him, before shutting down the computer.

"Really? Sweet. Oh, it's a surprise." He beams before walking with me back to our place. "We'll leave in half an hour."

Sighing at his over enthusiastic bounce he seems to have in his step, I walk into our room to see a shirtless Pat. Momentarily caught of guard, I can't help but stare at his scarred body.

Whatever this boy went through, was surely more than anyone should have to.

Closing the door to announce my presence, he jumps before spinning around to show more scars littering his body.

"Fuck!" He says before quickly grabbing the first shirt he sees.

Walking over to him as he rushes to put the t-shirt on, I gently place my hands on his to holt his movement. He freezes instantly, allowing me to untangle the shirt before helping him put it on.

When I see that he won't meet my eyes, I tilt his face upwards to see a trembling lip.

"Remember our pinky promise? When your ready, I'm here. But you have nothing to be embarrassed about, or ashamed of." I whisper, brushing the hair from his eyes.

Suddenly he's got his arms wrapped around my waste, holding so tight it almost hurts. Hugging him back, I soothe him as his silent tears dampen my shirt.

"You're okay, sweety. You're safe." I promise, rubbing his back gently.

"No one but doctors have ever seen them before." He croaks out, voice thick with emotion. "I hate them, when I'm eighteen I'm getting them covered."

"I can't wait to see what you get done." I smile at him, pulling him back slightly. "You're not the only one with scars from your past, so don't be embarrassed." I smile at him before walking to my drawers, still needing to change clothes.

"Yeah but yours at least aren't all over your body." He huffs, seeming more like his self slowly.

Deciding if I can't show Pat, I can't show anyone, I pull my shirt over my head. Standing in my trackie pants and bra, I turn to face the down teenagers.

Hearing him gasp shows that he's looked up.

"What... What happened?" He whispers.

Turning back to look through my tops, I hear another intake of air from him. Grabbing a long sleeved top and jeans, I start to change while I explain.

"My parents weren't the nicest of people. I wasn't meant to exist, so they spent every waking moment reminding me of how unwanted I was." I explain. "These are the reminders of how much they hated me."

"I'm so sorry." He whispers.

Walking over to me, he stretches his hands forward before stopping to wait for my approval. Nodding at him, their pain long gone from me, he raises my shirt a few inches. His small fingers gently trace over the scarred skin, before turning to do the same to my back.

"Thank you..." he trails off in a daze. "For showing me."

"It's no problem. I learnt to live with it a long time ago, perhaps one day I'll get the covered with you." I smile at him, watching his face light up at the thought.

"That'd be great." He beams before going to his bed to read text books.

"Are you okay now?" I ask as I pull a pair of blue jeans on, my jacket following not long after it.

"Yeah. I think I am." He smiles. A look of content adorning his face.

Walking over to him, I lean over and hold him close. Something I cherish being able to do with him now. I know how little he likes human contact, so I can't help but be grateful.

Bidding Pat goodnight, I walk out to see Remy waiting patiently with Eddy talking his ear off.

"Ready?" I ask, feeling a bit anxious about this surprise.

I can't help but be a little nervous about tonight. Even at the club, Eddy was there the whole time. Tonight it's just Remy and I, and as much as I'm looking forward to it, I'm nervous too.

"Yep. Shall we?" He smiles, offering his arm in a overly dramatic way.

I can't help but chuckle at his silly antics before taking hold of his arm.

"Why thank you kind sir." I say, doing an awful impression of a posh person.

"Have fun kids." Eddy yells out as we leave our place.

Walking with Remy outside into the cool winter air, I can't help but be grateful I'm not under the bridge I'd  called home.

Once we're in a taxi and Remy has given the driver the location on paper, I turn to face Remy with a smile on my face.

"So, where are we going?"

"I'm not telling you." He smiles back, causing mine to slip off.

"But... I don't really like surprises. And what if it takes all night when I could be studying." I start to ramble.

"Ari, you need to take a break some times too. Live life a little bit." He tries to reason.

"I live life." I pout.

"You're starting to. But I can see how reluctant you are to join us most times."

"Well, I can go relax and enjoy life when I have a place of my own. A secure job and living space, is more important than movies and drinking." I tell him, wishing he understood.

If I'm distracted too much, I'll get comfortable living at the shelter. I know I'm welcome there as long as needed, but I want my independence.

"I know. But you have to enjoy your life sometimes, otherwise before you know it it's over." He says, a kind smile on his handsome face. "I just want to show you how to balance them, and spend some time with you too."

Nodding my head, I turn to look out the window as we pull to a stop. My eyes nearly pop out of my head when I see where we are.

"Come on." He smiles, offering his hand to help me out of the taxi.

Walking with Remy in awe, I try to make sense of why we're here.

"Welcome to the Melbourne Star. Do you have your tickets?" A woman kindly smiles at us, surprising me slightly. I guess I'm still used to classier places shunning me.

"Right here." Remy says, pulling out a slip of paper to give the lady.

Feeling like a gaping fish, I look at Remy then the fish bowl we'll be in.

"Perfect, please step on and enjoy the view. Sun set will be soon, so the view should be lovely." The hostess gushes.

Stepping on, we're offered a glass of bubbles before walking to the glass. Waiting for a few more couples to come on, I decide to break the comfortable silence.

"So, what made you want to do this?"

"Well, I've lived in Melbourne my whole life and there are just some things I'd like to experience now that I can." He smiles, a relaxed look taking over.

"So why bring me with you?" I ask curiously, to which he nearly chokes on his drink.

"Umm. Well we're... friends." He says with a hint of nerves in his tone.

"Yeah but tickets to this aren't that cheap, why buy me one? Why not Eddy or Pat?" I smile at him as he starts to fidget.

"I guess I just want to get to know you." He says oddly quietly.

"Rem, is this a date?" I prod.

"Uhh, well... I mean it can be, if you want it to be." He fumbles over his words.

"I wouldn't hate the idea." I tease, shocking Remy before he smiles back at me.

"Well then, to our first kind of date." He says raising his glass.

Turning to look at the view, I'm shocked to see we're at least half way to the top.

The sun has mainly set, leaving an array of oranges, purples and yellows. The sky is a bit cloudy but the view is no less breathtaking.

"Oh my." I breath out, almost pressing my face against the glass to get closer.

Hearing a chuckle before an arm wraps around my side, I can't fight the urge to lean into Remy's hold. Soaking up the warmth and comfort he seems to offer.

We stay like that the entire rotation, only separating to get a new drink. Watching as the sky changes from a warm sunset, to an alive night view of the city we call home.

When it's our turn to get off, I can't help but feel a bit sad that we don't get to go again.

"I promise we'll come back another day." Remy promises, seeing my disappointment.

I smile, nodding at him before we head back to the shelter in a taxi.

When we get back to our place, we're met with a beaming Pat and Eddy.

"Where did you two go to, all by yourselves?" Pat smiles ear to ear.

Shit, I didn't think about how this would look...