Out of the Blue

Once Again

The ginormous pine trees on either side of the highway felt extremely out of place. Four lanes of traffic on the hot black pavement the entire way so far. It felt like we had been on the road forever. I had no choice but to go wherever Brantley was taking me. I would never find my way back home, even if I had really wanted to. I was not the one you would trust with directions. We passed a large metal sign with a greeting. 

"Welcome to Alabama?!" I nearly screeched, pointing to the sign over my shoulder with my thumb. 

Brantley chuckled from the driver's side of his pick up truck. "Good to see you can still read after all these years."

I shot him a death glare. Now was not the time to be a smart ass. I had questions that needed to be answered. "What on Earth could be in Alabama? And why did you feel the need to bring me here?"

Brantley ran a free hand through his beard, adjusting himself in his seat. It had been a couple of hours and he looked like he was starting to grow tired, both of the drive and of me. I know I wasn't making any of this easy for him. I had shown up after a couple of years and all of a sudden we are talking to one another again. Well, he was talking. I was challenging every little thing. Nothing had changed. 

"Would you just trust me, woman." He stated flatly, giving me the side eye. 

"Fine." I replied without hesitation. I sighed and continued to look out my window. The sun was still high up in the sky, the warmth feeling wonderful against my skin. I laid my head back against the black leather head rest and slowly closed my eyes. Maybe a little nap would change my attitude. 

I felt a light tug at my right arm. It jolted me awake, my eyes shooting open out of panic. I looked around. It wasn't quite pitch dark, but it was nearing it. The sun had almost set over the mountains. A golden hour glow casting itself against the wispy white clouds. Stars peppering the sky. 

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." Brantley replied in a low tone. He left his large, rough hand placed against my arm. His light green eyes looking in to mine for a few moments before I sat up completely. 

"How long did I sleep for? Why didn't you wake me up?" 

"Because it was quiet." He smirked, pulling his arm away out of fear of me swatting it. 

I rolled my eyes, letting them land back on his soft pink lips that were still twisted up at the ends. There was a pause between us before either one of us spoke. 

"So, where are we?" I finally asked, pushing myself out of the passenger seat to stand beside him. 

"We," He began, turning around to gesture around at the land, "We are at the farm..... My farm." 

My breathing slowed, catching in my chest. Oh my goodness. He did it again. He had me at a loss for words for the second time in the two days we had started talking again. I swiveled on my heels, taking it all in the best I could. I peered up at him. I couldn't quite put a finger on what his face was expressing. It was a little bit of guilt maybe, with a whole lot of pride. Which it should be. But this was another accomplishment to add to the list of thing s we had wanted to do together. Things we had talked about since we were young fools in high school, getting in trouble together. 

"B," I tried to say the words. But I couldn't. Words I had really wanted to come out with when I was given the grand tour of his beautiful home he had made. Without me. 

And then the phone rang and I was brought back down to reality. I pulled my cell out of the pocket of my zip up hoodie pocket, glancing at the name in big letters across my screen. And my heart sank. 

A/N: Hi all! I hope you are liking this story so far. I am sorry it is a little slow going, filler chapters. My new teaching job has me tired at the end of the day, but I am dedicated to writing a chapter a night if I can!