A/N: Now that I've been reminded what makes a good story good, my creativity block is gone. Thanks Uniquegrl17

Here is the results! You like, you say so, you don't, tell me why! I like criticism!

January 3rd.

….so the bronco performed amazingly! I didn't know I, that it could do all that stuff! We went up hills I'm not even sure I could walk, through mud pits up to the doors.

I loved it, although there were a few parts I about screamed, but I had a little incentive to keep it together………

Freddie put his mom's Christmas present in the back of his bronco. A first aid kit, flare gun, emergency blanket, snake bite kit, bear mace, Survival food, tick soap, and a few things Freddie wasn't sure he'd ever seen before.

All this, and she doesn't even know I'm going to go off-roading tonight.

He sighed and stuck it into one corner, careful to make sure everything could be seen. One picture to send to his mom would mean more to her than any card could ever be.

Freddie tried again to zip his coat up a little higher and climbed in to his warm truck.

I am so glad mom and dad are paying my gas. Dad would appreciate where I'm going. Mom would lock me in the closet. Again.

Freddie remembered his mom's reaction the first time he'd told her he was going on a date as he drove out of town. Fifteen minutes later, the toad turned to gravel signaling he was getting closer to his destination for the new years eve festivities.

He counted the fifth dirt turnoff to the right and took that road. A quarter mile down the road, it dead ended into a small stone house with about a several vehicles parked in front of it. Most of them were lifted, the tires on them too large to fit.

One, a newer pickup had it's doors open letting it's rockin' country music out. Several people stood at the back of the truck, they're attention focused on Freddie as he drove up.

Freddie parked across from the truck and climbed out hoping to see a farmiliar friendly face among everyone milling around. Unable to find Charlie anywhere, Freddie headed over to the group of people standing behind the truck. He hadn't made it the whole way when the guy sitting on the tailgate holding a beer spoke up.

"You lost?"

The question startled Freddie.

"No, why?"

The man shot Freddie a look that said what he thought of Freddie.

"Cause you don't look like you're from around here, and we don't need no trouble makers tonight."

Freddie became instantly conscious of his clothes. So far, a polo and slacks had been acceptable everywhere he went. But here, most guys wore jeans and a t-shirt. A few had on button down shirts, but not the dressy kind he had in his closet.

"Oh, uh, Charlie invited me"

"Ah horsehit, tell me BOY," The man had drawn out the last word, letting it linger for affect, "Have your balls dropped or do I need to call you daddy and tell him you stole his rig?"

The man laughed. So hard he spilled beer on himself and didn't seem to notice. Or care.

He's drunk. Oh jeez what am I getting myself into?

The man got bored with Freddie, or he was out of beer. Either way, Freddie was glad to see him get up and head to a cooler in the back of another truck.

Another guy spoke up.

"Hey man, don't worry about paul." This guy was tall, definitely a foot taller than the girl he had his arm around.

"He's mostly harmless, he's just biligerent when he gets drunk. Just stay away from his booze and his so called woman."

The girl elbowed him in his gut.

"Ouch. By the way, I'm Oscar. I live up the street. If you're looking for Charlie, he's in the back yard grilling"

"Thanks" was all Freddie knew to say, ready to find a face he knew.

It didn't take long for Freddie to find Charlie, he just followed his nose to the back.

"Hey! You made it! Awesome." He gave Freddie a once over.

"You're not planning to wear that are you?"

"Um, I guess not. I didn't bring anything else."

"That's ok. Hey Vanessa! V!"

After a little bit of yelling, a tall slender blond stuck her head out the door.

"What's your problem out here? You're not setting stuff on fire are you?" She asked.

"Hey get him some clothes will you? Does kyle have something that would fit him?"

"I'll see"

Thirty minutes later Freddie felt less out of place. A pair of camoflouge pants and a shirt with a cowboy on it and words about it that said loose loud and crazy.

He helped Charlie pack all the food and beer into the back of his truck. When they were done, Charlie looked him over.

"You'll do. That's one of my favorite dirty shirts. Kevin fowler is the man. All you need is a hat and you'd look right at home back home with me."

"Texas. That place sounds way too hot for me. Maybe a visit one day." Freddie had been to Colorado once during the summer, and that had been plenty for him.

"Yeah, hey in the mean time, I'm out of room, can you give someone a ride? It'd just be one person, my sister Katy, but you'd better call her Kaitlyn. She'll be out here in a minute."

"Okay cool" Freddie said, not thinking anything of it. "I have to move stuff off the front seat."

It didn't take much time for Freddie to move the drinks into the back. He picked up his CD case and was about to put it on the dash when someone spun him around. It took him a second to focus and see who had done it.

It was paul, the drunk from before, only now Freddie had no question he was drunk as he pushed Freddie up against his bronco.

"Who the hell do you think you are? You're not giving a ride to MY woman! She can ride with me!"

It didn't take much effort for him to throw the stunned Freddie into the muddy grass.

Freddie knew he had to think fast or he'd end up fighting this guy.

"Whoa there big guy! Charlie asked me too!" Freddie reasoned with him.

"I don't give a shit if Jesus himself asked!" He said kicking dirt at Freddie, each time stepping closer."

"Kick his ass!" Someone yelled.

Freddie decided that's what he'd have to do. He kicked his aggressor in the knee like Gibby had shown him after he got back from his training. Paul screamed in pain and dropped to the ground,

He knew that he wouldn't be able to fight fair against this guy. Not with his limited fight experience. He thought of what Sam would have done, and remembered what Gibby said.

Well Gibby, Sam, I won't play fair either.

Seeing his chance, Freddie scrambled up, and raced over to the back of his truck. He reached in and grabbed a jack handle, ready. Coming back around the corner of his truck, he could paul trying to get up, nursing his knee.

As he approached paul, a voice broke him out his his tunnel vision.

"You don't have to kill him, he's just drunk. If your ready, I am too."