I do not own any of these characters-they belong to S.E. Hinton, you know the drill. This is a continuation of 'Tex' that takes place a year later after Mason has gone to college and Tex has started high school. It is seen in different points of view. It will specify at the top of each page.. on with it already.

(Tex) I was awoken by a sharp pain in my back. I had been flung into what I believe was the table at our entrance way. It was too dark to tell where I was though. I wondered what in the world was going on. Then I heard Pop's voice. It sounded so distant even though he was right in front of me.

"Oh, shoot, I'm sorry Tex. I didn't know you were there. You musta been sleep walkin' again. I sure hope you outgrow that soon. Well get back to bed, it's late."

With that he grabbed something from the kitchen and left again. By then I realized I had one of my famous nightmares and was sleep walking again. I always end up at the front door. I guess I was standing there when Pop must have opened the door sending me flying. My brother, Mason, used to lead me back to the room we shared but he wasn't here anymore. He started college this year out of town. I led myself back to my room, which was all too empty.

I woke up the next morning with the bright sunlight of the dawning afternoon shining brightly into my room. I looked at the clock and noticed it was almost noon. I couldn't remember the last time I had slept until nine, let alone noon.

School had been back for about two months now and I had gotten myself into a routine. I worked for Mr. Kenacide in the afternoons after school and early weekend mornings. Even on the weekends I couldn't sleep in. Even this past summer I had worked for him in the mornings. The horses needed to be ridden, fed and groomed early. And even before I started working there my brother Mason had been home and I never got to sleep with him around. And before last year I had a horse of my own I had to take care of. This was the first time in a long time I had slept until I had wanted to get up. I had the day off, no horse of my own anymore and Mason was gone.

I got up and walked into the kitchen cladding only a pair of blue jeans, as I had been too tired to change late last night. My back was sore from when I had hit it on the table. I rubbed it as I started searching the fridge but there wasn't much in there.

"Pop?" I yelled. "Pop?" I guess he still must be out.

I popped some bread in the toaster as I began to think. I wasn't really worried. Pop would never leave me completely stranded for a long time. Although he had done it once before, but that was different. Mason was here.

Pop used to go to a lot of rodeos and leave us alone. Once he lost track of time and stayed away all summer and months after that. After that he quit rodeos though. Mason reluctantly went off to college, scared Pop would get me hurt.

Pop never really took me seriously. I could get away with murder and he didn't care. But on the reverse I could get murdered and I don't know how upset he'd be. Then again about a year ago I found out I'm not even his kid. I'm a result of some affair my mom had to get back at him for being in jail.

The pop of the toaster startled me. I took it out and went and sat at the table.

Mason had nothing to worry about though. The most Pop ever stays out is a couple of days now. I'm only fifteen. He knows I don't use my head and often get myself hurt.

I loved having Mason here but he was always strict on me. He said since Pop didn't take responsibility for me he would. Now I have the freedom to do what I want and me now being in high school it comes in handy. I jumped back into reality when my best friend Johnny Collins appeared in the kitchen. "Hey Tex!"

I looked up at him "Hey Johnny."

He looked me over. "Jeez, Tex. It's noon. When are you plannin' on coming to life."

I gave him an evil look. "Very funny."

He just shook his head. "You wanna go for a ride on the cycle."

I nodded. "Yeah, I'll go get dressed and we'll go."

I got up and headed towards the bedroom. Our house is pretty small so I could hear Johnny talking to me while I got changed.

"Shoot, Tex! What happened to your back?"

I had forgotten about that. "Oh, I hit it on the table while I was sleep walking last night."

"Well you got a nasty bruise on it."

I walked back into the kitchen wearing a different pair of jeans and a T- shirt. "So where we goin'?"

Johnny gave me one of his mischievous looks. "Roger thinks he can beat us in a cycle race. I think we're gonna show him otherwise. What do ya say?"

I grinned. "I say let's go."

~I know it's a little slow at first but I have ideas but I had to first start introducing so please R&R. I'm only going to continue if people want me to but I got some good ideas so I look forward to reading your reviews.