Taming the Wild

Chapter 10

I stare at Chad with soft eyes and watch as he breathes slowly, trying to stop the tears from spilling over his ocean blue eyes. All I want to do is reach out and pull him into a hug to prevent him from hurting, but I can’t, it’s not me, I don’t comfort people. I was told I had a cold heart and I know why, but you can’t blame me.

“My mom died two years ago in a freak car accident and my dad’s in jail for abuse and attempted murder,” Chad whispers all at once that I barely catch what he said.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t know,” I mutter feeling sorrow and sympathy for him.

“It’s okay, I’m over it,” Chad grunts but I can tell he is lying. His eyes deceive his words, as his eyes get dark and stormy.

I stay silent the rest of the ride back to the ranch and an awkward silence fills the air. Nobody says anything; they keep to themselves. Questions and thoughts run wild in my head as I think about everything; think about how selfish I have been the entire time when people have lives just as bad as mine or worse.

As soon as the truck stops, I look up to see we are at the local diner. Chad and Scotty both get out of the truck. Scotty waits for me by the hood of his truck while Chad just takes off without even waiting for us. I sigh and climb out of the truck. Once I am at Scotty’s side, we walk into the diner and grab a seat.

“Scotty, we haven’t seen you around here a lot anymore,” a teenage girl says as she pulls out her note pad.

“Yeah, I know, I have been busy around the ranch.”

“Oh, that’s right; you’re working for Marley now. How is that going?”

“Pretty good, his niece, Dylan, got here a few days ago,” Scotty, points towards me.

“You’re Dylan? You’re even prettier than all the guys described you as,” the girl winks at me. “But you’re the one training that mustang aren’t you?”

“Yes,” I smile at her, trying to read her nametag.

“Oh, sorry, I’m Lisa,” she sticks out her hand as she catches me reading her nametag.

“Oh, hi,” I blush realizing she caught me looking.

“Lisa, did you see where Chad went?” Scotty asks.

“Yeah, he’s in the bathroom, didn’t get a chance to talk to him though, he just stormed on right in there.”

“Okay, thanks, Chad and I will both have the usual,” Scotty informs Lisa before taking off into the bathroom.

“And what would you like?” Lisa smiles at me and I cannot help but smile back as I look into her hazel eyes.

“I will have some pancakes with bacon and a vanilla milkshake,” I say nicely before giving her my menu.

“Coming right up,” she happily states before walking off and giving the cook our order.

I sit in the booth and stare out the window at all the people outside. Sitting there by myself, I think about everything. Over the course of a few days, I feel as if I am truly happy for once. It is just as Chad said, the old me was still inside me, still there. I never thought I could change, but it looks like that is exactly what is happening.

I was so caught up in my thoughts that I did not realize someone was calling my name. Looking beside me, I see Blaez, Caleb and John. They are sitting at the table beside me, just glaring at me. Debating in my head, I decide not to flip them the bird and just sit there peacefully, trying to ignore that they are calling my name.

“Dylan, did you not hear us calling your name?” Blaez demands as she slides into the booth beside me.

“Oh, sorry, I didn’t,” I lie and fake a smile at her before rolling my eyes and looking back out the window.