First actual story! :D Takes place in the southwest in 1864.
Song based off of: California (Hustle and Flow) by Social Distortion.
"WOOOHOOO!"
The music was booming throughout the fully-packed barn, the sound waves shaking the whole structure.
"Take me down, take me on down the line..."
The crowd stomped their boots in sync and spun around in a fashion that was perfectly organized, yet utterly chaotic.
"Tattooed hearts and your jet-black hair..."
A pale young girl sits in the corner in solitude reading her favorite book for the umpteenth time.
"Runnin' around, like you don't care..."
She notices her friends, Isabella and Lindsay, dancing quite provocatively with a few older boys. She simply rolls her dark eyes.
"Shake me down, shake me on down tonight..."
The girl tries burying her face in the novel, as if it will somehow block out the sound, but to no avail.
"I went too fast with that rhythm and booze..."
A muscular boy holding a bottle of liquor leans against one of the walls, face hidden by an oversized cowboy hat, secretly watching the pretty girl of his age from afar.
"Almost ended up dead like all those other fools..."
For the young man, every girl was like a toy: just another object to play with for a little while, then toss to the side and find a new, better one.
"Everyone's got their own ball and chain..."
He liked this girl. Her short, auburn hair, her soft-looking lips, her dark style. He especially liked her small, fragile frame. And the best part? She was alone. He could tell she would be easy to play with.
"What's life without a little pain?"
Of course, he had to keep it on the down-low, what with everything that went down during the past few weeks. He didn't want to end up back at the very place he was running from.
"Runnin' around like you're front page news..."
The music starts to pick up the pace, and the chorus of "yee-haws" and "woo-hoos" and the endless laughter get even louder.
"Lonely eyes and your motorcycle boots..."
The girl looks up with a bored expression, to see everything her friends tell her she is "missing out" on. In her opinion, all the dancing citizens look like frightened turkeys running around in their coops on Thanksgiving Day.
"Well I was born with nothin' to lose..."
The man knew that he wasn't a good person, but did he do anything about it? Of course not. You don't get far in life by having people walk all over you. Besides, he knew for a fact there were people in the world that were worse than him. He met them. They were his, er, roommates, as he liked to refer to them. The term "jail rats", as the sheriffs referred to him and his companions, just seemed rude.
"'Till the black man taught me how to sing the blues."
The man eventually decided to go over and talk to her, or maybe seduce was a better word for it. And who knows, he could possibly use her to his advantage. After all, he would do anything to stay out of the slammer. And right now, that task was more important than it had been any time before. He took a few steps from his previous position, a charming yet evil glint forming in his eye.
"Made a little life outta rock and roll..."
He unbuttons his shirt a bit, sure that he would have this pretty little thing wrapped around his finger by the end of the night; that is, until a red-headed monkey wrench bounds up to the target. His plan momentarily halted, he turns around in defeat and takes a seat on a small stool, awaiting his next opening.
"And that crazy California hustle and flow..."
The pale girl rolled her eyes and sighed heavily at the lunatic standing before her, but with a smirk on her face. It was impossible not to smile whenever Isabella was around. "C'mon Gwenny, have a little fun!" she yelled over the music in her heavy southern accent. "Izzy I already told you, I am not a dancer! And I am not going to whore myself up around these men," as she arched her eyebrows at her best friend. Izzy just laughed. "Besides, none of them would want me up there anyways."
"Take me down, take me on down the line."
"IIII dunnooo," Izzy swayed back and forth on the soles over her shoe-less feet. "I noticed a handsome boy lookin' your way a few minutes ago." Gwen huffed. She didn't bother to turn her head. "Yeah, right, with Lindsay in the room? I don't think so." They both looked over at their blonde friend, currently macking on the town klutz. She always talked about how much she loved his big, innocent brown eyes. She was the bartender at the saloon down town, and the object of every boy's desire. But nature balanced things out by making her about as sharp as a spoon. She looked over and gracefully waved to her friends.
"Shake me down, shake me on down tonight..."
Izzy was about to sit with her lonely friend and keep her company, but noticed a cute but large blond boy standing alone on the dance floor. She looked at Gwen pleadingly. She rolled her eyes. "Go ahead" she said with a smirk. "Thankyouthankyouthankyou!" she mouthed, before turning and jumping on the large boy's back, scaring him half to death.
"Livin' in a Hollywood movie dream, and I'm still reachin' for the stars..."
The man saw this as a perfect opportunity to go over to her. He smoothly hoisted himself up from his seat and swerved in between the numerous dancers, almost dropping his bottle. As he approached, she didn't even glance upwards, but she knew someone was before her. He waited in front of her for about thirty seconds, until finally he gave out a weak "Ahem." She refused to look up. What is it with this guy? she thought. Besides, someone is in Mrs. Joe's house with a frying pan, and she's alone. C'mon, Pip, walk faster! The intruder lifts the pan high in the air, Mrs. Joe turns around, utters one last blood-curdling shriek, and—"Ahem." "Can I help you?" she asks with an irritated look.
"May I sit here?"
She sighs. "I honestly could NOT care less." My lord, how she was annoyed. Where was she? Ah yes, the intruder lifts the pan high in the air, and as Mrs. Joe turns around, letting out one last—"Ah, Charles Dykings. Marvelous work he does; one of my favorites." She wanted to throttle him. "It's pronounced 'Dickens' actually." "Well, where we come from, that's how we pronounce it," he stated, not wanting to appear stupid. He honestly had no idea who the man was. "And where exactly DO you come from?" And whatever you do, PLEASE go back there soon!
"Life gets hard, and then it gets good, just like I always knew it would."
"I'm from a few towns away."
"Decided to make a pit stop or somethin'?" Why did it have to be here?
"Nah, I was just wanderin'."
"Well where was your family headed?"
"I'm all alone. They kicked me out." He could see the sympathy forming on her fragile face, the guilt shining in her eyes. C'mon, c'mon, take the bait, sweetheart. "Gosh, that's awful! Why would they do that?"
"They said I wasn't doing enough for my little sister, even though she had everything she could dream of, and more. She was always the favorite child. They said come back with a job or don't come back at all. I haven't been able to find one." Gwen put a hand to her mouth out of shock and sadness. He smirked. On the inside of course.
"Take me down, take me on down the line..."
"So you don't have anywhere to stay?" She felt absolutely terrible. "No. Every night since they booted me, I've been livin' on the streets." "Well, uh, if you'd like, we have an extra room in my house, if you'd like to stay there." She didn't know why, but she felt like she could trust this boy. "What? No, no, no! I-I couldn't ask that of you!" This is too perfect.
"Shake me down..."
"No, it would be my honor! My mama would be happy to help out!" He faked a tear of joy. She was totally buying it. Acting was always one of his specialties. "My goodness, I've been going through such a hard time in my life but, you! You're just, I-I." He sighed with false happiness. "Thank you so, so much." She put a hand on his strong shoulder. "My pleasure to help." She knew her mama wouldn't mind. She loved to help people out during rough times. "C'mon, let's go. I'll get your room all set up." They both got up and left for the safety of Gwen's house. She could her Izzy whistling and Lindsay giggling in their general direction. "Don't mind them." She smiled. "I don't think we've been formerly introduced. I'm Gwendolyn Waters. Gwen for short. What's your name?" "My name?" He smiled back at her. "I'm Travis Barkley."
"Shake me on down the line..."
Alrighty, so here's the first chapter! I'm not sure exactly where I'm going with this just yet, so it might take a few weeks to update. Please review! :DD