The Rodeo

The Flyer

Sapnap’s Pov

I heave the saddle onto Caroline, working on the straps being mindful of her coat.
“Ready for a ride Caroline?” I smile, checking the stability and hooking my foot into the rung, swinging my leg over and hooking my boot in on the other rung, Caroline letting out a huff.
“Why don’t we go to town today? We haven’t been there in a while.” She seems to agree, already walking out of the barn in that direction. I laugh and grab the reins, guiding her. I squeeze my legs together lightly, leaning back as we ride along the road at a trot. Before long I can see the town in the distance, a modernized touch to what an old cowboy town looked like, still having that old wooden look to some of the buildings. I squeeze my legs briefly, leaning a bit more forward as Caroline picks up her speed slightly. I lean back as she slows, reaching the asphalt road. I adjust my hat, looking around as she walks us through town.
I notice a flyer and click my tongue, lightly pulling the reins back and she stops.
“Thank you girl, let me get a look at this and we can keep going” Caroline huffs and I roll my eyes. I lean over a bit and grab the flyer, tearing it from the spot it was stapled to. A rodeo was coming to town at the end of the week, hell yea. I fold the paper, tucking it in my pants pocket and squeezing my legs, Caroline back to a walking pace. I tug on the reins, turning us around and keeping a walking pace till we reach the end of the asphalt road, leaning forward and squeezing my legs a little harder. Caroline breaks into a gallop, the wind hitting my face harshly as we race home. I pull up my bandana and breath a sigh of relief as the windburn won’t be as evident. I slow Caroline to a trot as we reach the gates of the farm.
We reach the barn and I bring her to a stop, swinging a leg over and hopping down with ease. I grab her reins and walk her into the barn. I untack her, heaving the saddle off and taking her bridle off careful of my fingers. I lead her to her stable and she walks in, turning around and watching me as I shut the door.
“Thanks for the ride girl, I’ll be back to feed you tonight” She breaths out heavily and I smile, patting her mane and walking out of the barn. I head up to the house and wipe my boots. I take them off after I step inside to avoid getting yelled at by Dad, he hates when I track dirt into the house. I take my hat off, hanging it on the hook and taking my coat off, hanging it on the hook below the hat. I sigh, running my fingers through my hair and walking to the living room, hearing Dad talking with someone.
“I think he’ll love having you around, Sap should be back from taking Caroline out soon.”
“Thank you, Sir! I’m really lookin forward to learning what I can and helping out.” The new voice startles me a bit, I let my hands fall from my hair and walk through the doorway. I see Dad and Papa sitting on one couch, a dude with fluffy brown hair and an excited look in his eye sitting on the couch across from them.
“Sap! This is Karl! He’ll be helping you around the farm” I lock eyes with Karl and I feel a bit weird. He smiles at me and I feel my heart flutter. I scan him briefly and feel my face starting to heat up.
“Hi, Sapnap is it? Nice to meet you!” He stands, holding his hand out. I smile, breaking out of my trance and shaking his hand. He pulls me into a hug and I freeze. Oh.my.god. His hands are so fucking soft- he smells so good, the candy-like smell filling my nose. I return the embrace and we pull apart. He giggles and the sound fills my ears. It’s the cutest thing I’ve ever fucking heard. I don’t even know what to do with myself, just looking him over and feeling my heart flutter. I notice my hands shaking and I break my gaze, looking over to Dad and Papa. Dad looks at me a bit confused and Papa smirks, giving me a knowing look. I roll my eyes at him and he winks.
“Wonderful to meet you too Karl.” I manage to voice, turning back to him and shoving my hands in my pockets to hide their shaking.
“Why don’t you go show Karl the room we’ve set up for him? He’s from out of town so he’ll be staying with us while he works.” Dad’s voice breaks the silence and I nod, having helped set up a bedroom last week, knowing someone would be by to help- but not knowing how cute he’d be. I motion to him and he smiles brightly, grabbing a backpack and following me out of the room.
“Dad always has us take our shoes and coats off at the door, he hates when we track dirt in” I explain, pointing to the hooks by the door, an empty set of hooks on the end of the row.
“Oh! Thank you!” He slides out of his shoes and places them on the rack.
“The kitchen is across the living room as you may have seen, but our bedrooms are upstairs. Dad and papa’s room is downstairs at the end of that hallway.” He hums and follows me up the stairs. I gesture to the door across from mine and he turns the knob, opening it and gasping.
“Woah! This is awesome!” The walls are white, a bed in the corner of the room, with a desk and chair across from the bed. He goes to the window and draws the curtains, smiling at the view of the pine trees.
“It’s a bit plain, but we can pick up some paint and decorations from town in the morning.”
“Oh really? Thank you! I’m really excited to be here!” He turns to me and my heartbeat quickens, remembering how fucking attractive he was. He sets his bag on the dresser next to his bed and walks up to me, pulling me into another hug. I return the embrace and sigh, feeling in heaven with that candy scent he carries. He pulls back and looks at me, raking his eyes up and down and I feel my face heat up, my ears feeling a bit warm. I freeze and his eyes meet mine again.
“Do you like me?” His tone is a bit teasing and I stutter, trying to find a response.
“I- um, yea?” I curse myself under my breath and look away, feeling my stomach churn. I notice him taking a step closer and look up. He puts a hand on my shoulder and I feel my breathing quicken.
“What about me has caught your attention Sap?” I stay silent, looking back down and contemplating my answer.
“You-you’re really pretty, you smell amazing, and you’re so bubbly, it’s really cute and your giggles are adorable-” He cuts me off, putting a hand under my chin and tilting my head up with his finger. The hand on my shoulder falls, returning to my waist, and my breath hitches as he brings our lips centimeters apart.
“Can I?” I nod and he pushes his lips against mine. I sigh, melting into the kiss and I move my hands to his waist, pulling him closer as he deepens the kiss. I break the kiss, pulling back and catching my breath, the burning on my cheeks very apparent. His eyes stare into mine and he smiles, leaning in again and I meet him, the kiss heating up quickly as he runs a hand to my hair. I hear a knock on the doorframe and pull away, heart racing as we take a step apart from each other and look to the doorway.
“Damn, be glad it was me and not your dad Sap, he’d be planning the wedding already” Papa laughs, winking at me and I sigh, putting my head in my hands. “I came to get ya’ll for dinner but you seem a bit busy-” He crosses his arms and leans on the doorframe.
“We’ll be down soon” He nods and laughs, shaking his head and closing the door. I turn to Karl and his face is completely red.
“I got a little carried away?” he says in a whisper. I walk up to him and pull him into a hug. He seems to relax a bit.
“I don’t think so, maybe we just lock the door next time?” He giggles and I smile, pulling away from the hug. He kisses me on the cheek briefly and I smile. “We should head downstairs” He nods.
“I’m going to change out of my sweater really quick, I’ll be down in a moment.” I nod and wave, opening the door and winking at him. He giggles and waves back. I shut the door softly and head downstairs, focusing on calming my face down. I reach the kitchen and see Dad putting the food from pans into serving dishes, Papa setting the table in the dining room.
“Need any help, Dad?” He jumps slightly, having not noticed me. He smiles and nods.
“Bring these out to the table for me Sappy?”
“Of course” I grab a dish carefully, walking it to the dining room and setting it on the table.
“Karl coming down?” Papa asks, setting the last of the utensils down.
“Yea, he’s just changing real quick” I smile, about to head back to the kitchen.
“And you didn’t stay for that?” He asks, teasing tone evident.
“What! No?!” I feel my face burning and he laughs, walking to the kitchen. I sigh, shaking it off and following him. I grab another dish and notice Karl talking with Dad. He changed out of his sweater into a black hoodie, a familiar smile on the front. He glances at me and a pink dusts his cheeks. I smile and wink, heading to the dining room to place the dish down. I hear the door open and smile, rushing through the kitchen and into the hallway. I see him taking his shoes off, setting them in his spot.
“Dream! Hey!” He looks up and grins, hanging his coat up and setting his hat on the hook. He walks over and I pull him into a hug.
“Hey, Sapnap! Bad invited me, said ya’ll have a new ranchhand, and wanted me to come by and have dinner.” He pulls away and ruffles my hair. I huff, fixing it quickly.
“It’s good to see you dude!” He smiles, nodding.
“Sorry it’s been a few weeks, I’ve been real busy round the store, Puffy’s been needing my help with Foolish off to college.”
“I get it, he doing alright settling in?”
“Yea, he’s having fun, he’s recording like I used to” I raise an eyebrow.
“He’s streaming?” He nods laughing.
“Just like his older brother” I laugh and nudge him forward, walking to the kitchen.
“Dream! Glad you could make it!” Dad walks over and hugs him.
“You invited me Bad, of course I’d come by” He pulls away and his eyes stop on Karl. “Is that-” He points to the hoodie and Karl smiles.
“It’s someone I used to watch play video games” He giggles, shoving his hands in the pocket of the hoodie. Dream turns to me, eyes wide. I think for a moment, looking between him and the hoodie, it clicks and I laugh.
“Karl, this is Dream, we’ve been friends since we were little” He smiles, walking over and holding his hand out to Dream. Dream chuckles, taking his hand. He’s a bit taken aback when Karl pulls him into a hug but returns it quickly. They pull apart and I’m holding back laughter from Dream freaking out. Karl was wearing Dream’s old Merch from his youtube channel. Didn’t know he was a fan. How Karl hasn’t connected the dots amazes me.
“Clay! Great to see you!” Papa comes out from the dining room. I send him a glare and he winces. “Sorry Dream, still getting used to it.” Dream smiles
“That’s alright, you knew me by that for a long time, I understand it’ll take a while.” Papa nods sheepishly and smiles.
“Dinner’s ready, why don’t we all go sit down?” Dad’s voice breaks the silence and we head to the dining room.