Chapter 7 ~ Rodeo Questions
With temperatures just over 100°F summer was in full swing just in time for the Fayette county rodeo. Cindy of course was there to cheer on Nick. Carl often joined her to keep her company and he'd come to enjoy the shows as well, and somehow they had convinced Jimmy to join them now that he was back. Cindy felt incredibly smart as she had to explain the rules of each event to the apparent genius, but every once in a while Carl got to correct her when she got a rule mixed up. After the team roping event had finished there was a bit of a break to drag the arena and set-up for the next event.
Carl hopped up and asked his friends, "So who want's one of those gigantic lemonades? I'm buying."
"That would be awesome Carl." Cindy accepted, Jimmy nodded as well then Carl made his way down the bleachers. "So, you actually having fun at a sporting event Nerd-tron?"
"Okay, I was skeptical at first, but this is actually pretty fun, and I admit the games are more complicated than I thought." He admitted then added "Though I do miss the AC in the lab."
"I'll give that one to ya." She laughed as she wiped her brow. "So Sheen and Libby are coming over around 5?"
"Yup, my folks offered to order pizza and everything."
"So were in full slumber party mode, awesome!" Cindy smiled then glanced over to the gate where she saw Nick lining up for the next event she caught his eye and waved, he simply tipped his hat down then looked back to his horse. Jimmy watched the exchange with some curiosity. "That's about the most I see of him until the show is done." She explained.
"So that why Carl's been joining you?"
"Yeah, it's no fun to sit here by yourself all day."
"So what's next miss rodeo genius?" Jimmy inquired as he saw the crew starting to set something else up.
"I know you're mocking, but still nice to hear the famous boy genius call me a genius." She smiled then continued "This is pole bending, actually Nick's best game. They set up 6 poles, you run down on one side of the poles, weave them down and back, then run back down the opposite side back across the timeline."
"Seems simple, I'm guessing times are under a second apart?"
"Pattern's simple to remember, but it's actually pretty technical in how it's done. See every time the horse weaves it has to change how it runs to maintain good balance. A well balanced horse runs faster."
"I see, so you know how to ride I'm assuming?"
"Of course, Nick's taught me. Heck that's been half our dates."
"You say that like it's a bad thing?" Jimmy pointed out.
"Well I love that he's so passionate about something, and I do find this all interesting, but I just don't think I can match his passion for this."
"You seem pretty passionate to me."
"That's just cause I'm showing off and know something that you don't and that's too much fun to pass up."
"You really want me to start spouting off my dissertation, cause I will."
"You are such a geek." Was all she said back then saw Carl climbing his way back up the bleachers with three jugs in his arms. The pair accepted the drinks before he sat down to join them "You're just in time, they've set up for poles."
"Great, we'll see if Nick can get his ticket to state with this one."
"If he can get close to his personal best of 21.82 seconds, that should be good enough for state."
"Is there any game in rodeo that takes more than a minute?"
"Nope, can't take that long when it's all about speed." Carl commented. Then the announcer came back over the PA and started the game. Nick ran third, crowd cheering him on as he rounded the last pole and headed for the time line with a clear run time of 22.54 seconds, placing him in first for the class. After the pole bending then came pole weaving, then the arena changed gears to steer wrestling; and being as that was one event Nick didn't ride in Cindy took advantage of the opportunity.
"Well that's his last class for a while, I'm gonna go congratulate my boyfriend on his last two state worthy placings." Cindy announced as she dismissed herself down the bleachers and toward the sea of trailers.
"So, Jimmy. Ya like being home again?"
"Of course Carl, why wouldn't I?"
"Well with your studies and new adventures and all, I thought you'd find Retroville boring when you got back."
"Boring?" he asked almost offended "I'm watching a sport that can get as close as microseconds with my best friends."
"Ya mean, I'm still your best friend!" Carl asked almost giddy.
"Of course you are. Did you think I'd forgotten about you while I was away?"
"Well I just thought that you'd of gotten closer to Séamus or Aja or one of those other smarties you were with for the last few years."
"Well I did make some new friends, but you'll always be my best friend Carl."
"Oh, well thanks Jimmy." He replied still smiling then felt compelled to ask "But you said 'with my best friends'," he reiterated emphasizing the 's'. "Does that mean you and Cindy are back to the way you were?"
"She has a boyfriend Carl, she's over there with him right now in case you've forgotten." He reminded his friend who seemed a little too hopeful.
"Well I know that, but you can't sit there and tell me you weren't a little disappointed when you got home and found out she had a boyfriend."
"If I'm being honest, yes, Nick was a surprise." The genius admitted "But it's not like I came back wanting to be with her, I still kind of have a girlfriend. Look, I'm just glad we're still friends and she didn't ruin my lab."
"Oh, so you don't like her anymore?"
"I honestly don't know Carl, I mean we still get along great, we spent all day in my lab Friday working on her invention." Jimmy smiled to himself, almost giddy at what he saw Cindy was capable of creating on her own, then added "I have to admit that's pretty cool to say. Aja was never in to engineering and inventing machines much, she got a lot more interested in biochemistry."
"Well there you go, you need to end things with Aja so you and Cindy can finally be happy together. You're just wasting time with anyone but her." He stated bluntly, making it all sound so easy.
"Right, I'll break up with my girlfriend of 2 and a half years to chase after a girl who has a boyfriend of almost as long. That'll be so easy and won't hurt anyone." Jimmy replied sarcastically "Besides, Cindy has given me no implication that she still likes me like that. We're just friends Carl."
After a few minutes of searching and weaving through trailers, Cindy finally found the one her boyfriend's horse was at. "Hey Drifter." She said kindly as she petted the bay quarter horse "You were such a good boy, yes you were."
"Well he's done better, but he got it done." Nick commented as he walked up with a bucket of water. He smiled at his girlfriend, while holding the bucket up for his horse to drink.
"Congratulations." She smiled back "You get to go to state for both poles events right?"
"Yeah, but we gotta get our time down, I'm surprised we got first with a time over 22 seconds, if Jackson hadn't knocked the pole he would of gotten a 19.58." he said worried as he set the bucket down and stepped toward Cindy on Drifters right side.
"But he cut it too close and that let you two take it. You did good." She reiterated then leaned up to kiss him, after pulling away she asked "So, you just got barrels left?"
"Yeah, that's all for this show, but I was hoping to talk to you about next weekend…" Cindy raised her eyebrow, knowing the tone in his voice was a little nervous "I signed up for bronc riding."
"Nick!"
"What, after working with the 2 year olds I think I've gotten really good at riding out bucks. I wanna try, ya know, see how it goes." His brown eyes were pleading with her.
God I've been over this with him multiple times! Cindy thought to herself, then insisted again "Nick it's too dangerous unless your actually start training with an instructor. Your uncle isn't a bronc or bull rider, so his help doesn't count."
"But C, you've seen me working with the green ones. I really think I'd be good at it."
"You've already decided on this, so why the hell are you even asking me?"
"Because there's another part of this I wanna ask you about."
"What?! You wanna try bull riding too?!"
"Come'on C don't get mad, I'm trying to honestly ask you something." Cindy took a deep breath, not so much to calm herself down but to cease the rant that wanted to come pouring out. "I'm not gonna be home much this summer, my uncle, cousin and I are gonna just stay on the road traveling from rodeo to rodeo. I'd be home for a week in July then probably not till just before school, and possibly into the school year if it goes well."
"Was there a question in there?" She asked annoyed "Cause it sounds like you already made up your mind on this too."
"Cindy," he said calmly as he took her hands in his and looked straight into her emerald eyes "I love you, and I want to share this amazing summer adventure with you. Come with us, you can try competing in events with Dusty, you've gotten pretty good at riding him, my uncle thinks you're ready."
Cindy was stunned in more ways than one. Did he just say he loved me? And now he's asking me to run away with him for the summer? Could we even handle being together for 3 months straight? How on earth would my parents agree? And Neutron just got back, I'm supposed to miss out on all the adventures with the gang and put off my inventions that have been needing his help… And did he really just say he loves me for the first time?
"Hey C, you okay?" Nick asked as he squeezed her hand, which seemed to shake her out of her state of shock.
"Yeah, sorry, just caught me by surprise there." She managed to stutter out "But did you just say what I think you said?"
"I want you to run away with me this summer C."
"Okay, so I heard that right." She acknowledged "But did I hear the first part right?"
He just smiled and said coyly "Ya heard that huh?"
"Where'd that come from? You love me? And don't you dare say you only said it to butter me up..."
"I do love you Cindy," he said calmly to stop her rant "I've been waiting to tell you in a more romantic setting, but it just kinda slipped out when I thought about spending the summer with you." Cindy was touched by the explanation, and of course the reiteration of his affection, but she wasn't sure she could return sentiment, and Nick could see her hesitation. "You don't have to say it back if you're not ready C, I know you will when you're sure of it. That's who ya are."
"Thanks." She said plainly then hugged him. "I've gotta think about this summer thing though, and of course talk to my parents."
Still maintaining their embrace he replied "My Uncle already chatted with your folks," Cindy pulled away from the hug, confused by what she just heard "They were a little wary, but okay with the arrangement after he explained you'd be his responsibility, just like I am."
"Okay then, when do ya need to know by?"
"We're leaving this Friday morning for Tulsa, Arizona."
"Well my folks get back Wednesday, I do wanna actually talk to them about it, so Thursday?" she asked rubbing her neck.
"That'll be fine C." he closed the space between them and kissed her hard, every time he did this she was reminded how intense their relationship can be. The only reason they pulled apart was they vaguely heard the announcer starting the next event. "Barrels are after this, I should get ready." He explained, not sounding like he actually wanted to. "But you'll think about it?"
"Of course." She gave him one more quick kiss, "Good luck, I'll be cheering." Then she gave Drifter a hug "Show everyone how you can fly."