Dancing in the Oaks

Bull Rider

For some reason my friends thought it would be cool to invite me to the rodeo. I did not want to go for many personal reasons and the fact that I was having anxiety attacks like crazy. My mind was not set in the right place at all. I just felt so bad and sick. Miranda and Eden both called me up and asked if I wanted to go. I did not respond until last night, which was the night before the rodeo. I knew that Nick would probably be there because he brought it up to me too. He always talks about that kind of stuff.

I finally arrived at the rodeo and sat down next to my friends. I have to admit that I was scared about even stepping foot into that arena. It was like the danger zone. I mean what if someone died? I didn't even wanna be there at all. Just for the horses. My friends wouldn't stop talking 'bout their crushes and how they'd be riding. My friend, Eden, would not stop crushing over a cowboy that had longer blond-ish hair that was kinda messy. He had a smooth southern draw to his accent. He always wore a pair of wranglers and a brown hat. Apparently his name is Liam. I don't know him very well. He seemed good for her based on what I have heard. I have been nothing but a hermit lately, so I don't know much.

While sitting in the seat I avoided talking to my friends about Nick. I didn't want them to know. I couldn't. After all, Nick did tell me that I didn't have to tell anyone about anything. We sat on the very front row next to where the riders walk in and out. Sure, just so my friends could see their crushes. At this point, I had no idea where this was going.

There were horses everywhere. I was looking around when I heard the name Nicholas Reed over the sound system. "Next up is Nicholas Reed and his horse Jayxon. He'll have to beat a time of 15.5 in order to claim a spot above Jason Jack."

My friends all looked over at me as I went from slouching in my chair to sitting up straight. They knew something was wrong, or I was not normal. I recognized that name immediately. He rode Jayxon, his horse, and wore a black hat, chaps, and vest. His boots were black embroidered with red. His horse whipped around each and every barrel. He rode so effortlessly without any bounce off the horse's back. "Go Nick!" I yelled. He was flawless, the perfect rodeo cowboy that even gave that perfect nod and that flawless silhouette against the sun's rays.

"Oh. My. Gosh. Did I just hear quiet Norah yell out a guy's name and cheer for him. This is that guy you met at the store ain't it." My friend Miranda blurted. She is always trying to do what she believes is best for me. That is not always the case at all. She thinks she is being helpful, but in reality she is just hurting my feelings.

I looked over at her. "Oh please. It's nothing, we're just friends. I thought I'd give him some encouragement, if he can hear me." At this point, what on earth do I come up with to cover up my secret. I mean, I have kissed this guy and if my friends found out it would be like the armageddon.

Miranda gave a smirk, "Sure Norah. You like him?" She kept pressing for answers.

"No I don't. Okay. Why do y'all have to press me so much about these things." I didn't want them to know about my deep crush for Nick and the fact that we kissed the other day.

"He's the one that helped you when you were hurt, wasn't he?" Eden asked.

At the end of his run he jumped off his horse and walked 'round the arena until he reached the corral, which was right in front of where we sat. He quickly adjusted his hat and smiled at me. I smiled back illusively. "Yes he is." I quickly responded in the most flat toned voice I possibly could utter. I couldn't help but notice his smile fade as He walked away. I just stared at the dirt in the arena below as I returned back to my slouching position in the chair.

"Norah and what was his name?" Miranda asked.

"Nick" I responded flatly with absolutely no emotion in my voice.

"Sure. Did you see that he smiled at you? Did you see how he smiled at you? Norah, he likes you." Miranda pressed. Okay, like she could really read emotions from people. She was not the empath in this case, I was.

"Miranda don't go crazy now. I'm just not even gonna go there." My eyes rolled to the back of my head.

"Last but not least we have our last rider: Liam Monson." The announcer said.

I slouched back into my chair and crossed my arms. If word got around town that I like Nick everyone would know. That is just how small towns work. That is just like how everyone thinks that I killed my family and set the barn on fire. I guess someone began this rumor and I am sure that it was Berry.

Eden immediately started freaking out. "It's Liam!" She paid close attention as his horse jetted around each barrel in a perfectly tight pattern. "Oh he did so good!" She was clearly in love with him, but I didn't care. My eyes were drowning asleep and my mind was just done.

The announcer quickly began to announce results. "Third place: Jason Jack. Second place is Liam Monson. First place winner: Nicholas Reed." The crowd cheered for them as they accepted their awards.

"Liam got second!" Eden jumped up and smiled.

"Nick got first Norah." Miranda smiled at me.

"Good for him I guess." My arms got cold as the fall breeze passed through. Maybe it was just my stress over my friends harassing me about this whole thing.

Nick walked right over to where I was sitting and smiled. He was driving me crazy. My friends were making me go insane. I mean this guy helped me and everything, but I have had a crush on him since I met him. This rodeo thing made it worse, especially the fact that he kissed me the other day. I mean just him smiling at me. He's hugged me before: a lot, but I never really felt so weird about my crush on him. I guess he kinda knew that I liked him. I've told him a few times, but I'm not sure what I'm doing anymore. We told each other 'I love you' three days ago. I guess that is the epiphany. We kissed, not once, but quite a few times.

"Earth to Norah!" My friend Eden yelled.

"I'm sorry. I'm just practically sleeping." My eyes dozed off into a partially closed state. I could barely see the sun shining through.

"You're thinking about him." Miranda said strictly.

"What? Eww no." I lied. That was the only lie I'd ever told these two friends. "That is so weird and... disgusting."