Turn N' Burn

Chapter 2

 Austin told me to meet him by the alleyway. I had to ask someone to figure out what that is, but despite my standing here he has yet to show up. I sent him another text, leaning against the panel for the alley. Maybe he wants me to observe while he sits at home sleeping?

Another horse gallops out of the arena, a black one. "Nice job, Buck!" Someone shouts, running up to the team as the horse slows to a walk.

"Thanks!" The rider hollers, excitedly.

"That's a good time of sixteen point zero zero six. That'll take the lead, nice run as usual Buck Foster!"

"Nice job Buck! Good luck with your run Jack!" A boy with messy black hair says. That- That's Austin! But. . . He has a huge smile on his face. And he's wearing blue jeans, cowboy boots, a plaid shirt, AND a cowboy hat. My jaw drops, staring up at him on the huge brown and black horse with a mane reaching past its neck.

"Need someone to record you?" The man called Buck says, handing the black horse to Jack as he runs off.

"Yeah if you don't mind," He wears the brightest smile I've ever seen. The gloomy kid who never speaks is talking to others and wearing the brightest smile in the world. Austin locks eyes with me, his face beginning to redden. Buck runs to the panels for a good angle.

"Next up we have Austin Turner, on his gelding Gone in a Flash, show 'em how it's done, kid!"

He holds his eyes on me, as I slowly back up and run after Buck. I notice Austin shakes his head as he locks eyes with that third barrel. He pulls gently on the reins, the horse trotting into the alley as he makes Gone in a Flash wait.

Right when he gets to the end of the alley, he lets him fly. "Come on, Flash!" He turns the first, quick and tight. Second is wider but he brings it back at full speed.

"Come on!" Buck yells.

"Everyone watch this kid work! We have three child prodigies here and he's one of them!" The announcer yells, letting Austin turn third even tighter and faster. "Let's help this cowboy home!"

The crowd yells, the horse speeding up as he pets its neck. It's so fast Austin's hat flies off.

"Nice job!" Buck yells beside me as I'm stunned into silence.

"Wow! Look at that time! Two of our child prodigies tied, sixteen point zero zero six! Wonder if Jack'll do the same!"

Buck turns off the camera and runs off, "I got to help Jack get Zeus ready, I'll send you the video! Great run!" He yells at Austin.

"Thanks! Tell him I said good luck!" Austin's already walking to his trailer, still on Gone in a Flash's back. "Follow me," He says without turning.

I follow him to his trailer as others pass, and when he gets off he pulls off the bridle and throws a halter on. Quickly loosening the horses cinch and offering water. The horse drinks, breathing hard.

"We gonna start on this?" He asks, grabbing his own water bottle.

"Oh! Yeah! Um, I don't know much about this stuff," I saw with a blush.

"Well, you got a master with you!" Austin exclaims, with a goofy smile.

"Um, and I'm good at writing," I say with jazz hands, my brows furrowed with a nervous smile.

Austin laughs, a genuine laugh, patting his horse's neck as he holds the lead rope. "I need to cool Flash off so walk and talk, got it?"

I follow as he walks the horse cool. We work, getting most of the rough draft done. Eventually, I turn off my phone containing our work and turn to the boy. "Austin?"

"Hm?" He says turning to me, passing another trailer as the horse's breathing slows to normal.

"You act so different than you do at school, why?"

Austin frowns, "Flash calms me, and I have fun. And I actually have things in common with the people here. School's boring, and no one gets me. They make me nervous, and annoy me sometimes. Horses make me happy."

I smile gently, "That's great Austin! But, you have a school friend now, me!"

Austin laughs, turning to me. "Well, it's nice to meet you school friend, hope we do school friend things," He holds out his hand and I shake it.

"Doesn't Jack go to our school?" I vaguely know Jack, for he is pretty popular too. But we've never talked.

"And Buck, but we don't have any classes or lunch together," He shrugs. "That's who I was texting in class."

"We have our placings ready. Third place goes to Anne Taylor with a Sixteen point one six six. Second goes to Jack Potter with a sixteen point zero zero seven. And first place goes to Buck Foster and Austin Turner with sixteen point zero zero six!" The announcer yells. In the distance I see Jack and Buck hug each other. Jack lifting him into the air with a gentle kiss. I blush, looking to Austin.

"Nice job you two! Nice job Anne! You did good too Dawn!" He shouts passing the others with a smile.

"You did awesome too!" They all shout, "Thank you!"

"I gotta untack him and collect my money," He tells me, heading to the trailer.

He begins to head back, patting the bays (he taught me a few horsey terms) neck as he screams in joy.

"How much did you win?" I ask.

"Had to split it with Buck, so one-fifty," He tells me.

"Woah! That much!"

He nods.

"You'll have to let me give this a try!"

He laughs, "I'll teach you."

"Really?"

"We're school friends, right?"

I smile, too excited to speak.

"We can work on the project tomorrow and then I'll throw you on Flash if you want," He tells me. Tomorrow is Saturday.

"Yes! Yes! Please!"

He smiles, "Of course. Need a ride home?" He loads the horse in the trailer and lets me in his huge truck. My mom was gonna pick me up but she's probably busy so I won't bother her.

We talk a mile a minute about our lives and it's. . . Amazing! He's. . . Amazing. Handsome even, I've always thought that but I never thought his personality would be exactly what I want.

Don't tell me I'm falling for him. . . He could never like boys. He'll probably get with one of those barrel racing girls!