Chapter Twelve: The Gentleman in Wranglers

"Excuse me, ma'am! Are you alright?" The blue-eyed man asked.

Blair only stared at the man, wide-eyes, her mouth open, agape.

She only nodded. She quickly wiped away the few tears from her eyes and blinked.

"Is there anything I can do for you, ma'am?" The man asked.

Yeah but it's probably way too inappropriate, Blair thought, starting to blush profusely.

"Um, no thanks. Sorry," she said. She then began collecting herself and walked back to Jo's car.

She got in and sat down.

Immediately, she caught the man in the reflection of her side mirror as he came from the side of the store.

He was a young, tall, lanky, man with an athletic build, long, dark brown hair that hung in his face, cheeks were covered by a dark five-o'clock shadow and eyes as crystal blue as the sky. He had a rugged handsomeness Blair didn't think she'd ever seen before.

Blair couldn't help but watch as he took off his flannel shirt and stuffed it into his duffel bag, leaving him in just his t-shirt and Wranglers. Blair tugged at her collar.

Oh, my. He's so hot.

She watched as he picked up his stuff and headed towards the road. Then he stopped for a few steps and glanced back at Blair in the car as if he were contemplating something.

He then made his way to the car.

"Excuse me, ma'am…would you mind me asking which way you and your friend are going? I'm trying to get to school and my ride never showed up. Are you going my way?" He asked.

"Uh…" Blair began, unsure of what to say. She bit her lip nervously. Jo's gonna kill me, she thought.

"Uh…well…I think we're going to Oklahoma City," she told him. "But I'm really not sure."

The man looked at her hopefully. "Are you? Do you think you could maybe…I mean, I could chip in for gas."

Jo's really going to kill me. Blair gulped.

"Um…well…see…this isn't my car so it's not really up to me," Blair admitted sheepishly. "It belongs to my friend but she'll probably say no. She's pretty uptight."

The man looked a little crestfallen. "Oh," he said, clearing his throat. "Well, guess we shouldn't ask her then. Thank you anyway." He turned around and began to walk away.

Blair bit her lip again. I guess it couldn't hurt to help him out. He seems pretty harmless, she thought. Plus, he's cute!

"Well…I guess it couldn't hurt to ask her," Blair replied.

Jo's not just gonna kill me. She's gonna kick my ass first to make sure I'm dead!

At that moment, Jo returned from the store, stopping dead in her tracks at seeing Blair talking to some strange guy.

I'm going to kill her, she thought as she stared at them with an expressionless look on her face.

Blair finally took notice of her when Jo got to the car. She gave her a sheepish look. "Jo, this gentleman is just on his way to school and he needs a ride and I thought_"

"It's probably not a good idea," Jo interrupted her curtly. Really, Blair? Jo thought. This is how we got into this mess in the first place!

The man nodded his head politely. "You both have a good day then. Drive safe."

"Jo," Blair said embarrassingly. Blair then gave him an apologetic look as Jo started the ignition and began to back away.

Blair only continued pouting and crossing her arms. He was so nice and Jo didn't want to give him a chance! Not every guy is a creep like Lee! We should've helped him!

She turned to Jo. "See how polite he is?" She asked her.

Jo ignored her as she put her top down. She backed out of the parking lot and onto the road, passing the man as they went. Blair waved to him.

"Cheer up!" The man yelled out to her, waving back as they drove away. Blair only blushed.

She then turned around in her seat, giggling like a teenage schoolgirl.

Jo rolled her eyes. Blair running into every Tom, Dick and Harry. Go figure.

"I really wish we could've brought him with us," Blair said, sighing wistfully.

"Can we get back on track, please?" Jo begged. "What did Casey say when ya spoke to him?" She had hoped changing the subject would hopefully get Blair to forget all about the pretty boy they had encountered at the store.

Blair's face fell in distain at the mention of Casey's name. "Oh, he said 'Oh, hi, honey! I hope you're having a good time up there! You deserve one after putting up with me all this time! Tell Jo I said hello!'," she said sarcastically.

Jo only looked deep in thought, not responding. Doesn't sound like it went well, she thought, pursing her lips.

Blair scowled crossly. "So…how much longer until we reach goddamn Mexico?" She asked begrudgingly.

Jo gave her friend a knowing side glance and smirked. She didn't want to admit but she had hoped Blair would agree to come with her. At least having her with me won't make my drive down there so lonely. I need the companionship…yeah…