Fields of Iris

Bucky's Bar

Flashback

As I walked through the farm, I carried the brush and a bucket to clean the cows. Just as I turned the corner I heard giggling from the back of the stable. I slowly tiptoed to the end and there I saw Chase and Jesse Lynn kissing one another, giggling and touching one another. I sighed as my heart fell to the bottom of my chest in sadness. He may have been a junior and I was only a freshman but I knew I was madly in love with him. I only cherished the two years I had left before he ran off to college and left me behind.

Just as I went to turn away I jumped from a rabbit that ran across my feet as I fell down to the ground. I looked up to see the two staring at me, embarrassment hitting me immediately. "Ugh. Creep much?" Jesse scoffed as my face turned red, realizing I was soaked.

"Come on now Jesse..." Chase cooed to her, as he pulled her to him.

"I'm just sayin. It's nice you and your family gave her a place to work and all, but that doesn't mean she can just stalk anywhere she wants," she retorted as I stood up and brushed off the dirt and grass.

"I wasn't.. I was going to bathe the cows and I... I didn't know.." I stuttered as she looked annoyingly at me. I wasn't stuttering because of this bimbo trying to belittle me. It was because Chase smirked towards me while holding onto Jesse's hips, only reminding me that he looked at me as a child. His parent's farmhand.

"It's alright Iris. You don't gotta explain yourself. Come on, Jesse. Let's let her do her job," he said, pulling her hand and walking past me, giving me a small wink as he went by. I bit my lip, looking down trying not to smile at his handsome gaze. It wasn't until their footsteps were light behind me that I turned around and allowed my heart to sink once more at Chase's leading another girl away. A girl that wasn't me.

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As I laid on my couch that evening I had absolutely no interest in going out to Bucky's tonight. Unfortunately, Raymond had already laid out the matching good luck t-shirts and I had to give my best friend support. Especially when I had money I was betting. "I mean, you can't really be surprised that he's got a city girl to show off," he recalled as I sighed and threw my head on the pillow at the end of the couch.

"I just can't believe she came to the house. You should have seen Rusty's reaction. He couldn't help but laugh half the time. She didn't even know what a sawmill was!" I harped, smacking my hand down onto the couch.

"I don't want to hear about Dodson any more tonight, Iris! It's Bucky's time! And Billy will be there..." he taunted as I rolled my eyes. Maybe a distraction would be a good thing, especially considering I had to return to the dreaded JunkYard in two days. And besides... a free pitcher comes with a large pizza on Wednesday's.

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As I spun my seat in my chair, Raymond played in the second round of the game. He was doing pretty well, and insisted I go and have some fun of my own. "Well hello, Iris," I heard Wayne speak from next to me. He was a few years older than me and spent a lot of time in the bar, considering he worked part time at the race track next door and drank most of the time then as well.

"Hi Wayne..." I muttered taking another small sip of my beer, taking it much easier tonight than I usually would.

"So... what are my chances with ya tonight?" he asked as usual as I tapped on my chin thoughtfully.

"Lower than the fish swimming in the ocean!" I chirped as he sighed and continued to slide next to me.

"Oh don't be like that. A girl like you should have a man to protect you by now," he said, reaching his arm out, clearly hazy from the alcohol consumption. Whatever his excuse was I raised my leg and connected with his knee making him let out a groan. "Dammit, Iris," he growled looking up at me in anger before Billy appeared, stepping in the way.

"Maybe you should head to the tables, Wayne. I think you're round is coming up," he said as Wayne narrowed his eyes and grabbed his beer angrily, stumbling off.

"Well if you aren't my hero tonight!" I chirped to him as he laughed. I leaned against the wall taking another sip of my beer, biting my lip. I guess I did have one to many, and exploring things with Billy didn't sound so bad.

"It looked like you had it handled for yourself actually," he responded as I shrugged my shoulders.

"Oh, it's only Wayne. I give him a good beating at least once a month. He just doesn't remember because he only has two brain cells and they fight when he starts drinking whiskey," I responded as he chuckled, leaning his arm on the wall over me.

"You sure know how to make me laugh, Iris," he said, making me blush and put my head down a bit nervously. "I.. I was hoping..." he began as I raised my head once more wondering if he was going to ask me what I thought he would. "Well, I just wanted..."

Ding ding

I heard the door open as heels clicked across the ground. "This looks kind of like a dive bar! A little country but so cute!" A girl spoke as she walked in, taking everyone's attention, including Billy's. I knew exactly who it was though and I also knew that this would not be a good thing for Chase. And an even more frustrating thing for myself.