A/N: Well, I found out that I write a bit better in present tense, so as the other chapters were in past tense, this one and the ones to come will be in present tense. Thank my English teacher. LOL


Mud bogging sounds dirty and gross. I'm one to get down and dirty. Aside from the fact that my dad grew up in Texas and we went there almost every summer where it was dusty and dry, I hate anything that makes me messy. Plus I don't like cold and wet things, and the mud that's soaking inside my track shoes is exactly that.

Evan climbs onto one of the four-wheelers and holds out his hand to me. I grab it and climb on behind him.

"You ready to go mud bogging?" he asks, with of course a huge, and beautiful smile on his face.

"I think so. This won't be too bad, right? Don't we need helmets or something? You know, so that it won't get in my eyes or mouth or something?"

"Just shut your eyes and mouth as tight as you need to," he replies sending me a sly smile. God, he's so cute. I look over at Brett and Reagan who are climbing on their four-wheeler. We are underneath the shed waiting for instructions from Mr. Thompson and for Chris and Tiffany to show up since Brett insisted the join in on the so-called fun. I hesitantly wrap my arms around Evan's stomach. I'm beginning to think that after talking to him for only one day and then him kissing me totally intensely like he did was starting to sound really unrealistic. I mean, it obviously happened, but why so fast? Maybe I should talk to him about it? I guess I won't worry about it at this very second, but I need to know why it happened all so fast.

"You young'ins 'bout ready? Reagan and Ashley, hold on tight. And Brett and Evan don't go too fast. Keep the speed reasonable; I don't need to be callin' up any hospitals. Ashley you might wanna let me hold onto your glasses."

I hand Brett's dad my glasses, knowing it's probably a good idea.

"Alright, I think y'all know not to aim at each others' faces, so don't and must I spell this out for you? Do not under any circumstances try to do tricks. No wheeleys or doughnuts, Brett. I'm serious. You know not to after what happened last time."

"What happened last time?" Evan asks.

"I was over here with Chris and we built this sick ramp, but when i went up into the air, I only did a half flip and I broke my collar-bone and leg, but Dad was only worried about his precious four-wheeler he named after mom," Brett says giving his father the stink eye.

"Alright, so no tricks. Y'all got it?" Brett's dad asks.

We all nod. Brett and Evan rev up the engines and we're about to take off when another four-wheeler rides up with two familiar bodies sitting on top. It's Chris and Tiffany.

"Brett called us over!" Chris shouts over the three loud engines. Brett smiles and takes off sending dirt flying and Chris follows close behind.

"You ready?" Evan asks me. I only hug him a bit tighter as an 'I think I'm okay but I also think I might melt or die'. He twists the handlebars around while letting go of the break sending us out of the shed. When I see Tiffany, I begin to feel a bit queasy. Half of her body is already dripping with mud. Ew. What have I gotten myself into? Evan soon picks up speed and rushes over to the opposite side of Chris and Tiffany and makes a sharp turn before he reaches them, making it rain mud all over the clean side of them. I hear Tiffany scream, but nonetheless, she's wearing a smile. I look over to my right and here comes Brett and Reagan pulling the same stunt on us, getting Evan and I muddy and gross. Evan laughs but I scream, and I am not wearing a smile. How is this fun? The mud is freezing and wet and smelly and slimy. Who even invented this?

I shut my eyes and scream again when Chris swoops around our clean side and send mud to my face. It just got in my mouth! This is way beyond a bad time. It's a train wreck of a bad time. My hair is now heavy on my head because it's covered with mud. Thanks, Chris. Ugh.

Evan starts to pick up speed again and I hug him tighter even though I think if I squeeze any tighter he might suffocate. I feel like I'm about to fall off, so I ain't risking anything! Haha. I said 'ain't'. He swings the four-wheeler to send mud at Brett and Reagan, and they're finally muddy. How did that take so long? I look back over to my right and right before we get blasted again by Chris, Evan zooms off in the direction on Brett and Reagan and then stops when we reach them.

"You having fun yet?" Brett asks me over the engines.

"Yeah! Totally," I lie. I don't wanna sound like a pathetic girly girl in front Evan. "But I really need to go!"

"Where?" Evan asks.

"I, well-" I hesitate. I have no excuse. And I can't just tell them the truth. 'Oh, well this is gross and I don't like it so I'm gonna leave.' Yeah, because that sounds totally nice. Not. What am I going to say?

"How about just fifteen more minutes?" Evan says, turning to look me in the eyes. God damn those eyes. Big and brown. And perfect. I cave.

"Okay."

Reagan hops off her four-wheeler. "Brett wants you to ride with him," she says lending me a hand. I take it and climb off.

"Why?" I look back over at Evan. I don't wanna leave him!

"He needs to talk to you," Reagan whispers in my ear. "About you know who."

Great.

I climb onto the four-wheeler behind Brett and he immediately speeds away. We soon stop under the shed and he turns off the ignition.

"So what's going on?" He asks, climbing off and helping me off.

"What do you mean?" I pretend to not know what he's talking about.

"I know you were awake. You knew you were in his lap."

"So? What are you, a mind reader?"

"Ash, I've been your friend since the fourth grade. I know how to read you. But there's a few things I can't figure out. Why are you acting so casual around him when you haven't ever had the courage to talk to him?"

Damn, Brett. Look at you sounding all cunning. "I don't know. Okay? I seriously have no idea. I've been trying to figure that out since the day he kissed me. When he walked me into my house earlier that day, I felt like it had happened a million times before. It's like I forced myself to act natural without trying to."

"It's just so weird to see you two all over each other all of the sudden."

"No, I know. It is happening really fast. But I don't know why."

"Why do you think it's happening?"

"I- I honestly have no clue. With him, it just feels like I've known him forever. Obviously, I haven't, but... I don't know. Seriously. I have no idea."

"That's so weird. Y'all both just act so normal. As if it's been that way all year."

"I know. And then when he kissed me, I felt good. Like he had already kissed me before. Like I knew what to expect. But I don't get why he would kiss me if he was acting shy all year too."

"Hm. Does seem odd. What did he say after the kiss?"

"He told me that he was sorry it was unexpected and that he couldn't help himself."

"That's it. He couldn't help it."

"But that doesn't explain why he just randomly decided to do it."

"Yes it does. He couldn't take the suspense of not knowing what it was like to kiss you anymore. He wanted to feel what it was like."

"But he had already kissed me once."

"Yes, but was that kiss as intense as the other day's?"

"I guess not."

"See? He wanted to see what it would be like if he actually got to kiss you more often."

"Really?"

"I know I may not be as smart as him, but I know how to read him just like I can read you."

"You're clever, Thompson." He really is. I would never have guessed that. Aw, Evan. If you wanted to kiss me, all you had to do was ask. But I guess asking is kind of weird anyways...

Chris and Tiffany ride up under the shed followed closely by Evan and Reagan. They're all covered in mud. Head to toe. Glad I wasn't a part of the rest of that. They turn off their ignition and climb off the four-wheelers.

"You guys missed a huge mud battle," Chris says.

"A mud battle? Is that the best way you can describe it?" Brett asks laughing.

"You seriously missed the best part," Evan says, only looking at me. Holy crap he looks sexy all dirty and what not. Especially with his white t-shirt that's now almost completely covered in mud except for a couple still pure white spots. "I wish you guys would've stayed." He's only looking at me.

He missed me!

"Well, I could tell Ashley wasn't feeling it," Brett says. I give him a look. "Y'all know she's not much of a country girl."

"Hey! She can be one if she wants to," Tiffany says walking over to me and throwing her cold and wet arm around me. Gross. "You guys will see at the fair. She can totally go all country girl in a heartbeat!"

"Okay. But she'll never be one at heart," Chris says.

"That's okay guys. I won't be either," Evan says. How sweet. He's standing up for me. Over a really stupid argument, but he's still backing me up. "I grew up in the city, so I know what it's like to feel uncomfortable to adjust to a more country atmosphere. But don't worry, Ash. You'll get used to it. We just have to do this kind of stuff more often."

I only nod my head. Of course he's gotten used to it. He's only over here every weekend hanging out with Brett. Maybe I'll just have to ask Tiffany and Reagan to help me out. I'd ask Evan, but c'mon. That's embarrassing.

"Hey, Ashley. How about us girls go I've to my house and hang out for a bit to hang out. We haven't done that in a while," Tiffany says. Holy crap, it's like she was reading my mind.

"Yeah, sure," I almost mumble. What's wrong with me today? I was fine half an hour ago and now I'm getting all shy and quiet.

"We can get cleaned up there too," Reagan says beginning to walk away. "We'll see you guys later! Bye Brett!"

"Bye guys," Tiffany says. She walks away.

"We'll meet ya inside Evan," Brett says leading Chris out of the shed and to the house.

"Well I guess I'll see you later?" Evan asks, looking down at the ground. Aw. He's getting shy too.

"Yeah I guess." I begin to walk away when Evan stops me.

"Wait," he says.

I turn around, not sure what to expect, but nervous for nothing. He holds up my glasses.

"You about forgot these," he says opening them up. He takes a few steps closer to me. Now he's looking into my eyes. His big brown eyes are staring straight into my tiny blue ones. Holy crap.

He slowly puts my glasses back onto my face and leaves his hands on either side of my cheeks for a moment. He's still just looking into my eyes and holding my face. And his is really close to mine. What do I do?

"See you later, Ashley," he finally says. His breath is really minty. And cinnamon-y. Yum.

"Bye Evan," I say in reply, hoping mine smells just as good.

He places a small kiss on my forehead before letting go and leaving me alone in the shed.