Back in the Saddle

A Rough Start

Karl's POV:

As I eat my breakfast the following morning, I think about nothing in particular. I'm daydreaming about possibilities, about the things that could potentially happen in the time I'm here. It could either go horribly wrong or amazingly right, and I am hoping for the latter. I also believe that the latter will come true, seeing as the environment I'm in right now is nothing but loving and caring.

Toby has been rambling all morning about what he wants to do with me while I'm here. So far, he's come up with bringing me to his and his friend's favorite arcades, taking me to the lake--as mentioned yesterday--, and showing me the park he and his friends visit the most. I only mumble agreements to everything he suggests, not fully listening. Phil also mentions that maybe I could teach him to drive, which I gladly agree to after teasing him about being eighteen and still not being able to.

"So what do you want to do today, boss man?" he asks.

"I don't know, isn't that kind of your job? You're supposed to be the one showing me around, remember?"

"Well, yeah, but I need to know what you actually want to do or are interested in if I want to make a plan."

I simply shrug, receiving a scowl. I giggle at him, taking a sip from my coffee. When he realizes I'm not gonna answer him, he goes back to brainstorming quietly in his head while eating his breakfast burrito.

"Guys! Cancel your plans!" George calls, skipping into the room with a happy expression. "Clay just invited us to go to the show today at the ranch. Apparently it's supposed to be really good because one of their biggest rivals is coming in to ride one of the more dangerous bulls. It'll make for a lot of drama."

"That sounds like fun," I say. Getting to know this ranch before the fourth of July might be useful so I don't get lost or anything. "How does that sound to you, Tubs?"

"Whatever you want, Karl. I'm always down to go to the ranch," he answers, offering a bright smile which I eagerly return. "Besides, I'm sure Tommy and Ranboo will want to join us, so it's a great opportunity for you to meet them!"

"Ranboo?" I question, a little confused.

"Unique, right? He used to hate it but it's kinda grown on him. I personally like it, but Tommy bullies him for it all the time," Toby laughs, using his fingers to move his brown hair out of his eyes.

I look at George who just shrugs and laughs before dancing his way back out of the room. He calls over his shoulder, telling me to hurry up and finish eating so I can get dressed. Apparently it's better to get there early and avoid the crowd later in the day so you can be the first to pick your seat.

I feel the excitement grow in my stomach.

===

Wilbur pulls up in front of the ranch, putting the car in park and looking at us. We gather up our things, saying our goodbyes to Wil and hopping out of the car. The place is a lot bigger than I was expecting: quite obviously a pretty popular attraction around here.

"Do these people really have nothing better to do than watch random people ride bulls and horses?" I joke, laughing a bit at myself.

"Hey, this is a very entertaining sport. Just wait, you'll see exactly what I'm talking about," George answers, picking up his pace a little, almost jogging up to the ticket booth. "Three tickets, please," he says.

Toby and I walk inside and I take a minute to observe my surroundings. There are a few different arenas that I can see, bulls either let loose in them or trapped in their pins, thrashing around and trying to get out. I watch as one of them is let loose, a boy with black hair on its back. He seems to hold on with more ease than anyone else here, squeezing his thighs and gripping onto the bulls neck with one hand in order to stay on.

His black hair flies around as his brown cowboy hat is ripped from his head by the wind, revealing how long it is. It definitely reaches his chin in some places. Once the timer reaches the eight second mark, he seems to slip off the bull with ease so that the rangers can usher it back into the pin.

Cheers erupt from the audience for this raven haired boy, who waves at them with a smug smile. For a second, our eyes seem to lock, and his gaze lingers on me for longer than that of anyone else in the crowd. I see as his smug smile becomes more one of... almost awe, and I feel a blush grow on my face, but I don't break eye contact. In fact, the only reason either of us looks away is because Toby taps on my shoulder, stripping away that world that consisted only of me and this stranger.

"You ready? The big one is starting soon. Trust me, we don't want to miss it," he tugs on my arm, pulling me away from the ravenette who is still watching me curiously. This time I do look away.

"Where did George go?" I ask after looking around and realizing that the brunet is no longer with us.

"He said he was going to meet up with Clay and get some snacks," Toby answers plainly, though I notice his smirk at the mention of Clay and it makes me even more eager to meet this unknown friend of George's.

The crowd for this show is even bigger than that of the last one, meaning we have to squeeze through the people in order to get up to the fence separating us. To me it doesn't seem very safe, though I suppose I'm not in any position to judge. Toby steps up onto one of the wooden rungs of the railing to get a better view, letting out a cheer as the bull and rider are released.

The six seconds in which the rider is able to stay on seems to drag on forever, with every second ticking by with a grueling anxiety that can be felt by everyone in the crowd, wondering which buck from the beast will send the poor man flying. When the bounce finally does come and the rider is sent toppling to the dirt, Toby throws his hands up above him and groans. But this causes him to lose his balance, and he falls forwards, right into the ring.

I gasp as the bull seems to notice. It begins to run in our direction and my heart stops. For a fraction of a second I am frozen, which is much less than anyone else who witnessed what had just happened. I hop into the ring after him, helping the boy to his feet as quickly as I can and practically shoving him back over.

And by the time I turn around to see where the bull is, it's much closer than it was before. That's when the fear takes over and I shut my eyes, putting my hands over my head and crouching down, waiting for the impact to take the breath out of me and render me unconscious... or kill me. One of the two.

But nothing ever happens: I never feel anything. Slowly, I allow my eyes to open and I see the same black haired boy on the back of the bull, somehow leading it away, back to where the rangers are staring, dumbfounded. Gasps erupt from the crowd and I hear several people talking to me, trying to see if I'm okay without coming over to me. They're too scared to join me on this side of the fence and I honestly don't blame them.

Then it hits me. Holy crap. I almost just died.

And this boy saved my life.

Word Count- 1324

a/n- ahahahaha they met. finally. after seven whole chapters. i bet youre freaking out rn.