Born to Ride

Chapter 17

A few weeks later, I am released from the hospital, which should be a relief, but in my case, it is not. I do not know what I should do or expect for the next few days. In terms of my health, nothing seemed to be broken, I only ended with a fractured wrist. I can move my fingers around but due to doctor's orders, I have to wear a brace for about 6 weeks. 

Entering my parent's house, with Flynn and Arizona on my side helping me through the doorway. I am welcome in by my dear parents and Bonnie. They have put up welcome home decor and have a cake waiting for me. 

Flynn sets me down on the sofa in between my parents, while Arizona lits the one candle on the cake. After eating and catching up with my invited guests, everyone leaves soon after to give me time to rest. I am in my bedroom which is close to the window. My life is all over the place now. I don't even know what to do next. 

There's a knock on my door and I tell them to come in. Arizona comes in with a cup of water and the prescribed medication I need to take. I sit up as she sets everything down on my nightstand. I take the pill and pause. In just one day, everything went south. I didn't qualify for the next round at the rodeo, my best friend found out I have a girlfriend and my girlfriend is strangely sticking around. 

"Where's Clover?" I finally pop the question. 

"Why do you care?" She looks at me. "And I am not being rude or giving you an attitude, I just want to know. Do you actually care?"

Of course, I do. My best friend shows up out of nowhere and I am not supposed to care about it? Wrapping my head around the fact that she is here is crazy enough for me. It's all happening so fast. I want to spend time with Clover. It's just not easy to do that, because I have a whole other life. My life. I built it and where was she? She left me. And she's back but really what am I supposed to do? Drop everything for her? I can't. I won't. 

Arizona goes from standing to taking a seat on my bed. She sighs heavily, "I don't know. I just know that she left." With that, she takes her leave. 

***

Two weeks have gone by and I have been getting used to using my fingers from my fractured wrist. I am taking a walk this morning, taking advantage of the cool weather. My father has been very cautious in having me near any equipment that will cause me to start training again. The blessing of parents who care about me is overloading. 

I look out the window while I carefully set the plate on the dish rack to dry. Looking out the window, one can say that rural life is a scenery. I grew up here, and I know this place like the back of my hand, I would like for my children to fall in love and guard this place. I like the smells of sunrise, the smell of morning, and the thrill of scenery. I never get sick of it. 

When Clover and I were in high school, we had a favorite hangout spot. If either of us were upset at something or at each other, that was where we could find each other. Especially, Clover. She is the type of person who would try to avoid thinking about what was bothering her. It was painful to see her laugh at the most random thing, just for her to let out a sigh. That's when you knew she couldn't necessarily run away. 

That's how Clover dealt with things. I never saw her cry out or break down. She would just move on if she could help it. For me, she's always been a free spirit. Life of a party. She is the light the firefly is attracted to. Not realizing it, my thoughts have led me to the tree with the swing on it. Everything looks the same. I've never shown Bonnie this spot. It's special that I don't want to share it.  As I get close to the tree, I touch it. I'm not really sure what I am expecting from it, there was just this urge to. I walk over to sit on its roots that are sticking out and find they are occupied. 

There it is. The purple hair that I seem not to be able to escape. Clover sees me or more like she turns to see where the footsteps are coming from.  She gives me a glare before turning away.

Sheepishly, I try to break the silence, "How have you been?" It's the dumbest question to ask, but really she was my best friend before all this happened. 

"Am I a joke to you?" She angrily says but does not face me, instead, she keeps looking out in the distance. 

"No?" I don't look in her direction, but rather the direction I came from. Is it too late to leave? Maybe I shouldn't have walked here. Why did I? 

"No? Then why do you come back like you did nothing wrong?" She turns to finally face me. 

"Wrong? What did I do?" I try to justify myself. 

Her eyes widen with anger and disbelief. She gets up and pats her jeans to get some of the dirt off. Jean... I noticed that she doesn't wear them a lot. 

"You..." Clover lowers her gaze. She thinks about something for a long time. "I don't want to ever see you again." She starts walking away. 

Oh? Classic Clover. "Wow, really? I didn't expect anything less. That's classic you. You pack up and leave then show up whenever you damn want to."

She comes back to face me. "What? I leave? If you didn't want me here why didn't you tell me the first day I got here? Uh? Why? Why didn't you tell me that you had a girlfriend?"

"What does that got to do with anything?" What good would that have done? I didn't want her to leave. Not when she just got here. Not when I have wanted to see her all this time. 

"What? The numerous times we flirted? That meant nothing? Do you just flirt with anyone?"

"Oh, you're one to talk. You flirt with every guy. Like the guy in the city, rodeo guy, college guy. Don't think I didn't notice."

"I've never cared about those guys. I've thought about you countless times ever since I left, but I can see now that you never for a split second ever thought about me. I want to be with you, you idiot."