Trouble

Chapter One

GETTING OFF a plane is probably one of my least favorite things to do. It takes too long, first of all; everyone getting up, grabbing their belongings and trying to exit at the same time. Ridiculous if you ask me, and there's always a baby crying! Sometimes right beside you or somewhere farther away, almost like background noise, but either way it's there. Not to mention being cramped for a certain amount of time and without internet service. It's all so irritating. You're also probably hungry... and about to pee your pants... while people are pushing you-

"Ahem!" Someone behind me coughs rather loudly, snapping me out of my internal complaining long enough to see the line of people in front of me has moved forward, all while I stood there like a fool. My cheeks redden in embarrassment.

"Sorry," I grumble sheepishly and quickly walk forward in an attempt to close the gap I'd created.

Reaching the end of the exit ramp, I pause slightly to take a deep breath as I survey my surroundings.

Ah, the sweet, sweet smell of coffee and the bustling noise of people rushing to their destinations... or to the bathroom, depending on how long their flight lasted, or whether or not they ate questionable airport food.

My stomach growls loudly, interrupting the terrible image I'd just created, and reminding me of the fact that I'd yet to eat in over six hours. Unfortunately, I have no time to stop and get anything because I still have to find my luggage and get on one of the city buses to take me out to Jackson Hole, Wyoming where the Kings will be meeting me. Therefore, I only have time for a quick bathroom break before moving along.

What feels like days later, I'm finally seated on one of the city buses scheduled to head out to Jackson Hole with my suitcases safely stashed under the bus, along with everyone else's, and me with half open eyes. There's just something about flying that makes me tired and so I close my eyes and lean my head back as Adele filters through my AirPods and lulls me into a blissful slee-

Nope, okay, nevermind. 

Did I mention there are crying babies on buses too?

* * * * *

"Miss? Um Mi-"

"Go away!" I grumble, turning away from the persistent tapping on my shoulder and nagging voice.

"O-oh, um, but m-miss, if y-you don't-"

"I'm up!" I state irritably, proceeding to sit up from my previous uncomfortable position. Wow, I really must've been so tired to fall asleep with that wailing baby sitting just a couple rows behind me. 

Speaking of.. It's way too quiet. "Where is everyone?" I ask after finally taking in my surroundings. The bus is empty.

I turn to the person who woke me up - a girl about my age, maybe younger - with an expectant look on my face.

"E-everyone left already... we m-made it to Jackson Hole, bu-but you were sleeping so the-"

"Ok," I cut the poor girl off, noticing her anxiety. "I see, thank you for waking me up, I know it wasn't an easy task," I give her a sly grin, hoping to ease some of her nerves. "I'm sorry for snapping at you too. I'd claim I'm not a morning person, but it's quite obviously the afternoon and honestly just really like my sleep." This causes the girl's lips to twitch just slightly. "My name's Alice, what about you?"

"Ruby," She mumbles so quietly I almost don't hear it.

"Ruby," I test out her name and she looks at me with a curious gaze. "It suits you," I smile widely at her and the corners of her mouth prick up the tiniest bit once again. "So, where're you from?"

"Colorado," is her one-worded response.

"Cool! What part of Colorado?" I continue to ask, unfazed by her clipped responses as we bustle off the bus together.

"Uh.. a little south of Denver, in a small town called Oden. What about y-you?" Ruby seems to have relaxed just a little bit and I grin.

"I'm from Michigan, 'Born and raised in South Detroit'." I sing the last part and Ruby lets out a small laugh as we grab our suitcases, which happen to be the only ones left. I open my mouth to say something else, but I don't get the chance.

"Alice? Honey, is that you?" I turn around to face the one and only Kathrine King and am surprised to see the bigger than average bump in her stomach. "Oh, sweetie it is you!" Kate pulls me into a big hug, albeit a little awkward because of the said bump between us, but it works. "Look at how grown up you look! It seems like only yesterday that you and Jonah were making mud pies together." Kate sighs wistfully as she pulls away from me. I smile at the overly cheery woman and look to see a boy at her side, gaping in surprise.

"Well, it looks like I wasn't the only one growing up, was I? Hey Jax, what on earth has your mom been feeding you since I last saw you?"

Jax turns red in the face and I feel bad because embarrassing him wasn't my intention. "How old are you now, fourteen?" I ask, attempting to avoid any awkward silence I may have caused.

Jax shakes his head at me, but still hesitates to respond. 

"I-I'm eleven, twelve in August." he finally says.

"Really? No way!" My eyes widen in what I hope is a look of surprise. I know how old he is, I'm just trying to get him to talk, break him out of that shy exterior he always seems to have when first meeting someone, or in my case, meeting someone he hasn't seen in six years. Jax has always kind of been that way, though, even when he was younger. A little shy and uncomfortable initially, but rather chipper and friendly once said shyness is been broken.

Take right now, for example - Jax is now ranting about some rodeo he attended over Memorial Day Weekend.

"The truck's this way," Kate mouths at me with a sly grin because Jax still hasn't stopped talking to take a breath, and there's no way she could've interrupted him.

I nod at her in acknowledgement, sharing that same amused look. Kate grabs Jax's shoulder to steer him along when something dawns on me.

Ruby!

I whirl around, hoping she's not left yet, but sigh in defeat when I don't see her anywhere. Ruby's gone and I feel bad for getting distracted while she was there. I can't even apologize now either.

Turning back around, I follow in the direction of Kate and Jax.

"Do either of you need to use the bathroom before we leave? The ranch is about three hours out of Jackson Hole." Kate gives Jax a pointed look, but I can tell she's letting me know how long it will be.

I smile politely and shake my head no. Jax does the same.

"Can we get McDonald's?"