Hi guys, so that was part of my huge plot twist but there are lots of crazy bumps along the way did I surprise any of you? Happy new year!
Eli pov.
Its been a few days since I woke up, I'm on crutches now as I've been working my butt off to be able to use my arms, legs, and general body to function the ways they are supposed to. I was originally going to leave with my mother in a month but with the huge progress I had made I was going to leave tomorrow. I had been trying to get my mom to send me to Nevada but she wasn't so sure.
"Hey mommy." I said as she walked in I was just getting used to having a mom back, I felt a little guilty but I really didn't need her around. To my delight she had gotten Rescue and had hoped keeping him for me would help wake me up. It hadn't but she still refused to name him until I woke up.
"Hi sweetie how are you feeling this morning?" Her face was tender with care; I guess I was still really glad she was alive and kicking before my very eyes. She had told me after I woke up that I was one of the main reasons she was still here.
"Wonderful, and totally ready for a road trip to Nevada, have you talked to uncle Linc?" I asked hopefully. Mom never knew how I had known about my uncle but since I had woken up visiting was all I could think about.
"Not yet Hun, don't you think you could use a break from everything? Staying in our apartment for a month or two then getting back to school in the fall would be great for you." She smiled at me.
"There's some business there I-" She cut me off
"Oh no, stop talking about your dream life! I know you saw some pictures of Linc and made up some story about all those people but they are imaginary! The doctors said holding on to this will only set you back, you need to let go of this crazy fantasy and live your life." She said.
"Mom I can't move on, not until I have seen that they aren't real, one phone call can conferm that please mom, give it a chance."I begged.
"A chance for what? If you find out that they aren't real you're going to be heartbroken and I can't put you through that. Just please forget them." There was a ding and a nurse came in.
"The doctor will be in to see you soon dear." She said in a sing song voice.
I began to say alright but she was already out the door.
"Come on mom it just takes a quick call to figure all of this out." I pleaded not very hopefully
Before she could reply the doctor strode in.
"Good morning ladies, Elizabeth how are you feeling?" That was Doctor Steel, my very attractive doctor.
"Wonderful and full of energy, like ready to run a marathon." I exaggerated. He was the type of doctor who loved enthusiastic patients because he rarely got them, we had lots of conversations at least we did when my mom wasn't around. Honestly I was hoping to be around him alone again. "Mom will you please go call?"
"Oh, uh, sure dear. I'll be right back." I knew that would get rid of her, she couldn't stand to fight in front of people something I very often used to my advantage.
One long doctor visit later it was bed time. I had a hard time falling asleep because I was so excited for the morning. Mom had caved and called Linc, who had agreed that a visit would do wonders for me. She told me it was his idea for me to come there but only I had been invited.
I would be alone without my mom I had just gotten her back. Would she be ok? I would just have to trust that she would stay healthy even alone, she had adapted to life without me as well. Slightly unsettled I feel asleep to nightmares of falling and spinning rooms of mirrors.
Next day 7:30
All my things were packed and ready to go. I was very healthy considering my situation but was still in very delicate care, so Rescue was to stay with me at all times. It was a little weird to re-get to know the dog I had had all my life but he believed my story so we got along perfect.
The plane ride was boring but I told Rescue the short version of my life and about all the people I had known. Neither of us knew what we were going to do about all the people I knew. Should I act like I had never met them or try and rekindle the bond we had.
The plane landed and I got my things together this was it I saw a man standing alone in a cowboy hat, looking at me. He looked at my dog and waved me over. Oh my god it wasn't the Linc I remember. It was a different man all together. My land had been a dream, with a heavy heart I walked to the man.
"I'm Jeb." He smiled kindly. He did not seem like a man of many words but I assumed that he was here to get me because Linc was busy.
"It is very nice to meet you. I'm Eli." I vaguely remembered hearing about Linc's ranch foreman Jeb. So far so good.
I followed Jeb to his truck he blew the AC, and turned on the radio I lip sang along with the tunes, I knew every song that played. I was dying to ask about Jen and Sam but didn't want to freak him out with all the information I knew.
Soon the scenery was rushing by and I was looking at everything. I had thought of this place as my home but I was so unfamiliar with all of it. Could I really call this place home?
We drove for a long time before Jeb turned into a little pit stop looking place with a restaurant and feed store.
"I have a few items to pick up, but why don't you run into Clara's and get you a snack." I opened my mouth to refuse but he interrupted me. "Linc gave me some extra money for you to eat with so go get something kid." He handed me a 20 dollar bill.
"Would you like anything?" I asked him.
"If you don't mind a burger and fries would be good." He said kind of shyly.
I nervously entered the little store; it was very homey but made me rather anxious, I was the new girl in a small town. And I was all alone.
The girl behind the counter looked me up and down and gave me a fake smile.
"Well howdy honey, you must be new to these parts." She drawled with a little more sincerity than her initial smile. "What can I get for you? A table?"
Before I could respond she led me to a table, right in the center of the room. I tried to stay calm and not hyperventilate every single person was looking at me. Whose stupid idea was it to face all the tables toward the middle?
"Could I get a booth? If it's not too much trouble?" I half asked under my breath.
Looking slightly disappointed she led me to a booth, the very middle one. At least I had a window to look out. That would help me escape the people watching me.
The waitress left a menu with me to look over scanning the many items it was hard to make a selection. I almost didn't notice when Jeb came back in and with him came a group of teenagers I had grown to know and love.
Jake, Sam, Jen, Bryan, Nate, and Quinn followed by two girls I didn't know. I sat frozen like I was made from stone. How could they so casually walk up to me like I was a total stranger? This feels so, wrong.
I allowed myself to be introduced to them like I had never known and loved them. The two other girls were Teresa and Meghan. Teresa looked okay, she was wearing jeans and a tank top, Meghan on the other hand looked like a whore. She was wearing shorts like underwear that were two sizes to small making her top half bulge over her large belt buckle. It was a miracle she managed to get her shorts on. The thing was she didn't look unattractive making every other girl in the room glared at her. The men were captivated by her.
"Have you already ordered?" Jeb asked.
"Not yet." I replied nervously. As if on cue the waitress returned to ask if we wished to move booths to accommodate everyone.
"Well I need to run Teresa and Meghan home. We can't miss the cheer meet. Not after last week." Nate said laughing with the girls to some inside joke as they left.
"Well you kids can all squeeze in that booth and I can grab an extra chair and we will be good." Jeb said walking off to grab a chair.
We ended up with Jake, Sam and Jen on one side and on the other Bryan, Quinn and me in the middle. Both guys sat at extreme ends of the table to give me room, they probably assumed I didn't what to sit very close to people I didn't know.
"So Eli do you have a horse?" Sam asked. She seemed reserved but curious.
"Kind of, but he ran away. When I think of him he seems more like a dream than a real horse." I said it sadly. How do I know if Moon was really real or not?
"Really? What was his name? Was he a Quarter horse? What color was he? How old?" Her eyes had seemed to grow with every question she had.
"Well um, Moon was- is a Mustang all black and he is 5 years old. He stood at about 15hh and he was magnificent. One of the most beautiful animals I have ever seen." I could just see him in my imagination running wild and free. I missed him.
"Why are you in Nevada?" Jen asked. This made me assume that her father had not shared any details of my visit with her.
"I am visiting my uncle, and I don't know trying to find a place to fit in." After I had said it I wished I hadn't I had just labeled myself as an outcast, like I needed to do that I was already one.
"Well you have found a perfect place."Sam said warmly. "I know we don't really know you yet but you should come over this week with Jen. We could help you fit in. Especially if you stick around for school." Everyone stared at Sam me included. She had welcomed me in with very few questions.
There was a warm conversation going when Jeb said we needed to be going, or Linc would be worried. We continued our drive through the sage brush landscape. Jen had stayed behind with the others because she needed to ride her horse home from Sam's house.
We turned down the beginning of a driveway up to a set of golden gates that shone in the sun. Through them I could see a modest bunk house and farther back a mansion.
As I expected we drove past the little cottage home to the towering house after. Standing in front was the man I knew to be Linc Slocum my very rich uncle. Next to him were two kids my age. My mother had told me about them. The boy was Ryan. They were both pretty and well built. They shared their hair color a rich coffee brown. That was where the similarity ended Rachel was more pretty than most girls dreamed of being. She wore the scowl on her face like a fashion statement and it suited her. Ryan however had a warm smile.
I knew from that second which twin I would get along with well. I walked up to them carrying my duffel bag Jeb offered to take my suit case but I turned his offer down. Rescue grabbed the handle of my suitcase in his mouth and towed it behind him like he was a sled dog. Gathering my belongings and courage I walked toward a new chapter in my life.
Hey guys it's been a really long time since I have put anything up and I'm sorry. Life for me has been really crazy and rough. I just "moved out" of my mom's house… I more accurately ran away. I live with my "aunt" now and am waaay happier :). But, I found the motivation to write again and am trying to put out as many chapters as possible before I get burnt out.