Robert asked you to Ranchers Ball or not?” The question seemed to finally get through and a new misery lit her eyes.
“No.” She whined, “I really thought he might have, I saw him in town the other day, I was there with my brother and I was so flirty, you know.” she shrugged.
I loved how easily Sally could be distracted, her life was so focused on her mission for a Ball date and for that I was truly thankful right now, I nodded enthusiastically trying to encourage her to keep talking, even though my mind was occupied with my supposed bruise.
“Anyway I asked if he would be going to the Ranchers Ball, and he said that he’s not sure, do you think I should ask him?” It was painfully obvious she wanted me to say yes.
“I don’t see why not…” I agreed giving her what she wanted, the small rock from earlier slid suddenly back into place in the pit of my stomach as I said the words.
“Hmm,” She looked thoughtful. “I just might you know.”
She stood up, tying her hair back and pulling her gypsy dress over her head before coming into the water. She really was beautiful; it was almost criminal that Robert hadn’t paid more attention to her. Every other guy in town would love to ask Sally Willis to the Ranchers Ball, or so I could gather, but they all seemed to think that she was too beautiful which made them all refrain, terrified of rejection.
After a few more minutes, when my toes and fingers had gone numb from the chill of the water, I got out, dressing quickly in an attempt to keep talk away from the suspicious looking bruise that I was yet to see.
The rest of the afternoon passed easily, Sally and I lay in the sun, working on our tans and gossiping for hours, I had a lot to catch up on in regards to the politics of Huntington High before I started there. I picked my watch out of my backpack and decided it was time to head home, I could help Nan with dinner.
We jumped in Sally’s trashy old Mini Cooper and headed back up the track to the house.
“Have a great night.” I called jumping from the car and heading towards the house. This afternoon was just what I had needed, I felt so much better than I had this morning, the cool water had really soothed my aches and I was happy, the girly gossip session seemed to be the distraction I needed. I had an extra spring in my step as I pranced up the porch stairs, I heard Sally’s vehicle slow in its departure and turned to look over my shoulder, Robert was walking out of the stable, Sally had pulled up next to him her window wound down, I could see her talking, animatedly waving her hands, but they were too far away for me to hear. Jealousy instantly reared its ugly head and I was surprised at the intensity of my feelings, it made no sense, I frowned in their direction, my mind in knots to match my stomach.
“Damn it.” I mumbled, I was too late, Sally was going to ask Robert to the ball. As I spoke Roberts head swung instantly in my direction, I had the unnerving feeling he had heard me. I felt his eyes on me for just a moment, breaking his gaze I turned quickly, striding into the house.
How pathetic was I? I had no command over him, he didn’t owe me anything, yet I didn’t know why I was so upset at the thought of Sally asking him to the ball, how stupid was I? I should never have encouraged her to ask him. Dumping my bag on the kitchen table my ribs screamed in protest as I sat heavily.
Nan was already standing over the stove top, she turned at my abrupt entrance, raising a questioning eyebrow upon seeing my bad mood. Forcing a smile, and standing once more, I wandered over to look at what she was cooking.
“Spag Bowl?” I asked, more than a little hopeful.
“You guessed it in one dear,” she grinned, “Your dad told me once that it’s your favorite.”
“Oh?” My mood sunk even further at the mention of my father.
“Yes…” Nan looked upset upon seeing my reaction, but rallied quickly.
“Anyway…” she smiled, completely
“No.” She whined, “I really thought he might have, I saw him in town the other day, I was there with my brother and I was so flirty, you know.” she shrugged.
I loved how easily Sally could be distracted, her life was so focused on her mission for a Ball date and for that I was truly thankful right now, I nodded enthusiastically trying to encourage her to keep talking, even though my mind was occupied with my supposed bruise.
“Anyway I asked if he would be going to the Ranchers Ball, and he said that he’s not sure, do you think I should ask him?” It was painfully obvious she wanted me to say yes.
“I don’t see why not…” I agreed giving her what she wanted, the small rock from earlier slid suddenly back into place in the pit of my stomach as I said the words.
“Hmm,” She looked thoughtful. “I just might you know.”
She stood up, tying her hair back and pulling her gypsy dress over her head before coming into the water. She really was beautiful; it was almost criminal that Robert hadn’t paid more attention to her. Every other guy in town would love to ask Sally Willis to the Ranchers Ball, or so I could gather, but they all seemed to think that she was too beautiful which made them all refrain, terrified of rejection.
After a few more minutes, when my toes and fingers had gone numb from the chill of the water, I got out, dressing quickly in an attempt to keep talk away from the suspicious looking bruise that I was yet to see.
The rest of the afternoon passed easily, Sally and I lay in the sun, working on our tans and gossiping for hours, I had a lot to catch up on in regards to the politics of Huntington High before I started there. I picked my watch out of my backpack and decided it was time to head home, I could help Nan with dinner.
We jumped in Sally’s trashy old Mini Cooper and headed back up the track to the house.
“Have a great night.” I called jumping from the car and heading towards the house. This afternoon was just what I had needed, I felt so much better than I had this morning, the cool water had really soothed my aches and I was happy, the girly gossip session seemed to be the distraction I needed. I had an extra spring in my step as I pranced up the porch stairs, I heard Sally’s vehicle slow in its departure and turned to look over my shoulder, Robert was walking out of the stable, Sally had pulled up next to him her window wound down, I could see her talking, animatedly waving her hands, but they were too far away for me to hear. Jealousy instantly reared its ugly head and I was surprised at the intensity of my feelings, it made no sense, I frowned in their direction, my mind in knots to match my stomach.
“Damn it.” I mumbled, I was too late, Sally was going to ask Robert to the ball. As I spoke Roberts head swung instantly in my direction, I had the unnerving feeling he had heard me. I felt his eyes on me for just a moment, breaking his gaze I turned quickly, striding into the house.
How pathetic was I? I had no command over him, he didn’t owe me anything, yet I didn’t know why I was so upset at the thought of Sally asking him to the ball, how stupid was I? I should never have encouraged her to ask him. Dumping my bag on the kitchen table my ribs screamed in protest as I sat heavily.
Nan was already standing over the stove top, she turned at my abrupt entrance, raising a questioning eyebrow upon seeing my bad mood. Forcing a smile, and standing once more, I wandered over to look at what she was cooking.
“Spag Bowl?” I asked, more than a little hopeful.
“You guessed it in one dear,” she grinned, “Your dad told me once that it’s your favorite.”
“Oh?” My mood sunk even further at the mention of my father.
“Yes…” Nan looked upset upon seeing my reaction, but rallied quickly.
“Anyway…” she smiled, completely
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