My many and heartfelt thanks to a miss DawnFireAngel for helping me improve my writing!
Disclaimer: I, of course, own nothing...sadly.
Enjoy and review!
~Stephie V
The cute little ranch house looked ancient. The kind of ancient that would've been new during a war. But it held a kind of... peace.
The light from the setting sun filtered through the air as we drove into the ranch yard. I gasped at its beauty. Nate looked over at me, amused.
"Like it?"
I could only nod. We parked in front of the house and got out. I self-consciously pulled at the hem of my dress.
Nate noticed. "I, uh, might have a shirt or something if you want…?" He had fixed his gaze on his boots, rubbing the back of his neck. In response, I blushed a deep red.
"No, it's okay, really."
"Okay, cool, but I'm not going to stay in this hot shirt." To my embarrassment, I openly stared as he unbuttoned the top three buttons, showing off the top of his chest. I had to wipe at my mouth to make sure I didn't drool.
We walked into the farm house. A blast of cool air washed over me the moment the door opened.
As Nate walked down the hall to change, I waited in the kitchen, looking around at the happy faces of the riders atop their mounts. More than that, there were pictures and pictures of the large, happy family that I'd never had.
The sound of Nate's footsteps returning snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked up as he walked into the kitchen wearing low rise jeans and a wife beater. It must be his favourite outfit... not that I was complaining. He looked amazing. In his hand he carried what looked like basketball shorts and – I had to laugh - a white wife beater.
"How many of those do you have?" I asked teasingly.
"Too many to count. Can't help it. They keep me cool." He was smiling - a great big cheesy smile. I smirked at him, thoroughly amused.
"I know you said you'll be okay in your clothes," he began, "but I thought you wouldn't want your dress to get ruined. I want you to be comfortable, so..." He handed me the articles of clothing. "The bathroom is down the hall on the left. You can change there."
Throughout his speech, I just stared at him. Me, wearing his clothes. Well, messing up this dress would be bad and I am feeling a bit uncomfortable with so much of my legs showing. So, why not? I talked myself into it.
"Um, okay. Thanks Nate."
"Not a problem." He was rubbing the back of his neck again. Must be a nervous habit.
I scampered off to the bathroom to change and closed the door behind me. After slipping off the dress and carefully folding it, I put on the shirt and shorts and tossed up my hair in a messy ponytail from the hair-band I kept around my wrist. My God, these clothes smelled so good. Like the freaking forest. Wait. Why would they smell like the forest? Did I seriously just think that? Oh man, am I weird! I opened the door and walked out self consciously. The shorts hung low on my hips and the shirt fit okay, but I couldn't help but feel as if I was taking the walk of shame or something along those lines. The bedrooms were behind me, after all. Or so I was assuming. I wasn't going to ask for a grand tour of the place. Walking into the kitchen, I held up my dress and shoes.
"Do you mind if I set these in your truck?"
He didn't answer. He just stared at me. His eyes taking me in before settling respectfully on my face, the intense fire that burned in them was giving me the goosebumps.
"You look-"
The sound of another truck was pulling into the driveway, cutting him off.
Nate walked over to the door. He opened it just as Sam ran in with a bunch of closed – I wondered if she would've hit the door if Nate hadn't opened it for her.
Sam appraised me quickly, before holding out a pair of flip-flops. I hope she didn't think it was weird that I was wearing his clothes but if she did, she didn't say anything.
"You're already dressed so I'll just put the clothes I brought for you back in the truck. I'm going to change real quick and I'll be right back so we can help set up for the party. Okay?"
"Sure Sam."
She ran to the bathroom just as Jake and Samantha's dad walked in, followed by Nate's other brothers whose names I'm not going to even try to remember seeing as there's so many of them. I enjoyed watching Nate and his brothers good-naturedly tease each other. It seemed to me, every chance he got, he was looking over at me and giving me a smile. Wonder what that's about...
When Sam came back, she ran to the truck with both of our dresses before returning where we met the boys in the backyard. Despite our protests, Sam and I never had to lift a finger as the Ely brothers worked to set up everything. They stacked hay bales to put the stereo system on that looked way too complicated for me to even try to understand. The speakers they set up beside it. They had cleared the backyard of everything except for a table they set up to put soda and snacks on. To my amazement, everything was done in fifteen minutes.
As the Ely boys were grabbing something to drink there was a knock on the front door and people started filing in. Music was put on and soon people everywhere were dancing just as it had gone dark. There were so many people that claustrophobia was soon settling in. I could feel my chest tightening as people shoved me around trying to dance. A clammy hand snaked its way around my waist and pulled me close. I looked up in surprise to see an unfamiliar face smiling down at me.
"Hey baby. Your place or mine?"
"Both. You go to yours and I'll go to mine." I pushed on his chest in a futile attempt to make him let go of me.
"Oh feisty," he breathed. "I like that in a girl. Now, where have you been all my life?"
"Hiding from you."
I can't believe I was saying these things. I was not in a good position and I wanted out. Now. His hand was steadily creeping lower and I struggled to get away. He just held on tighter leaning down to whisper in my ear.
"I know what happened. He'll be back for you." His voice was full of promise. I shivered from the wind that didn't exist, and jerked back in surprise. Panic filled my chest – I couldn't breathe.
"I...I don't know what you're talking about," I stammered.
He just smiled at me. "I think you do."
I struggled to get away from him, but his next words caused me to freeze.
"Don't worry, babe. I know you miss him. You'll be together soon."
I closed my eyes tightly willing for someone, anyone to save me. I could feel myself hyperventilating as spots began to swim around in my vision. He jerked me towards the backdoor. I didn't fight him. I couldn't. I felt as if the world was turned upside down, as though the damn gravity was fucking up. But just as suddenly as everything had happened, he was gone and I fell to the ground. I opened my eyes to see a worried Nate squatting in front of me, reaching out to cup my cheek gently. His touch soothed me enough for me to focus. "Vivian? What's wrong?" he asked gently.
I just looked fearfully over his shoulder at the guy who knew. Watching him as he tried to push through the throng of people blocking him. Nate noticed. He followed my gaze... and then stood, grabbing the guy on the shoulder, forcing him around at the same time. His gaze locked on the guy. "Easy there Ely." Any fool could tell that he was trying to sound calm and in control, but his eyes shifted from Nate's face to the other Ely brothers. They were glaring daggers at him, looking bigger and more intimidating than I thought possible.
Just a little while ago they were joking around and laughing.
Now they looked ready to fight.
Nate's smooth voice was laced with anger when he spoke, "You better have a damn good reason for touching her."
"Dude, the little prostitute was all over me." My eyes narrowed. "I just couldn't turn her down," he lied, an easy smile touching his face. Even behind him, I could tell that it was the wrong thing to say to Nate by the way he tensed up.
It happened in a blur.
There was a sickening crunch, and the guy fell back, swearing profusely as Nate stood over his fallen opponent, anger heavy in his tone.
"Don't. Touch. Her. If you ever talk about her like that again, you're going to wish that this is the worse I can do. Get the Hell out of here," Nate hissed.
Holding his nose, the guy looked as though he was going to hit Nate back, but seemed to remember the other Ely boys, all of whom looked ready to take him on. He seemed to realize that his chances of winning were nil.
"Whatever, Ely. Your party's a drag. I'll catch y'all later."
With one last look at me, he walked off.
Nate visibly relaxed. He turned around and walked back to me as his brothers began to surround me, making sure that I was all right. Pushing them aside, Nate reached over and wrapped his arms around me, holding me close, whispering apologies in my ear for mistakes that weren't his fault. Although, clearly, he thought they were. He was so sweet – I wanted to tell him that it was fine, but the thoughts rushing into my mind at our closeness...
I turned my face to the side, trying to regain my focus. My eyes picked out Sam racing up behind Quinn. Her face was worried. "V, I'm sorry I wasn't here!" she said breathlessly, "As soon as I saw you and Steven going off somewhere, I went to get Jake. I would've punched the guy myself, but I thought the boys would do better. Also, Jake left me in the middle of the dance floor and I couldn't get out 'til now," she explained.
Steven? The name niggled something in the back of my mind. I pushed it aside for now.
"It's okay Sammy. I'm fine," I assured her with a smile, which she returned. Then, she looked at Nate meaningfully.
He nodded and stood, quickly lifting me up bridal style before I had the chance to object, causing me to squeak in surprise.
As he moved back towards the house, I clung to him tightly, afraid I would fall – and then realized I was probably strangling him. I loosened my grip in embarrassment, and cleared my throat. "Nate, I'm perfectly capable of walking. You don't have to carry me." He looked down in my eyes, his own pleading.
"Please Vivian. Just let me take care of you." His words gave me the goosebumps and all I wanted to do was say yes.
"Nate you don't have to worry about me. I'm fine," I said in a weak voice that didn't even convince myself.
"Vivian," his tone was firm, "You're spending the night here. You will be sleeping in my bed; Sam will be sleeping in Seth's bed right across from yours. Seth's going over to sleep on Jake's bed while Jake and I will sleep on the floor." Wow, did he plan far ahead.
"Nate, no, I can't do that."
"Why not?" he demanded.
I was silent for a heartbeat, and then said that I'd take the floor.
Nate looked insulted. "I can't believe you would think for one second that I would take the bed while you suffer on the floor. It's not going to happen, Vivian." By that time, we were in the bedroom; he set me down to the one underneath the window. I crossed my arms.
"No, Nate." As though I was speaking to a misbehaving dog. Or horse.
"Yes, Vivian." His tone matched mine.
I huffed and turned my head away to look out the window. A second later, Sam walked in, took in my expression, and grinned.
"I wish you could see how adorable you look," she told me, laughing evident in her voice. Traitor. Weren't us girls supposed to stick together?
"Don't worry about anything," Sam announced before I could reply. "We are going to have fun tonight!"
