When The World Caves In |C.G.

five

"And that class, is the trail of tears," The history teacher at Georgia Mountain Middle School concludes his lesson and let's the students disperse into their own groups. "You can talk until the bell rings, go." 

Aurora is sitting at her desk, doodling on the side of her notebook. It's the same one she used the year before, but Dixon's are resourceful and there was still paper left in it. She already knows about the Trail of Tears. Her dad, even her uncle used to tell her a version as a bedtime story about the creation of the Cherokee roses. At the end of each retelling, Daryl would always tell his daughter "one of those roses, was you little Aurora Rose," and Rory would always giggle at her dad telling him that her name was Rory and she wasn't a flower. 

"Aye Rory," Her best friend Donnie said pulling up a chair and sitting on it backwards. 

"Hey Don." She responded, ready to get out of school. "What's up?"

"Can I come over tonight? We gotta study for that science final." He asked. 

"Can't tonight. Sorry Donnie." She responded quickly. No one comes over to her tiny house, ever, especially with Will Dixon was there. Her grandpa was real mean, and always showing up at random times causing problems. They couldn't turn him away either, he never took no for an answer. Besides, the Dixon's were going hunting this weekend. "Since when do you study?" 

"Since momma beat my ass for failing." Donnie says with a shrug. Rory had met the woman on a couple occasions. She was a good woman, with an even gooder heart. Rory knew that the word beat had two separate connotations for her and her friend. Not that Donnie ever knew the extent of Will Dixon's wrath. 

"Well, I'm doing stuff with my daddy this weekend so I'll see you Monday." Rory grabs her backpack as the bell rings before rushing out the door and running to where her Daddy and Merle are standing by the truck. 

"Hi Daddy." She greets, giving her a father a big hug. 

"Don't forget about your favorite uncle," Merle says from beside his brother. 

"Merle, you're my only Uncle." Rory reminds him, and Merle's belly shakes with laughter. He's ruffling Rory's hair, and strands come loose from her braid. 

"That just means I'm automatically your favorite." Merle states, entirely full of himself. 

"You're so cocky." Rory's laughing harder. 

"Yeah, but you love me sport." Merle clamps his hand on Rory's shoulder and she throws her stuff into the bed of the truck before clambering into the middle seat.

"Come on, let's go," Daryl states getting into seat next to her. "All these single moms are eyeballing me and it's getting creepy." 

"Aw, come on Darlina, you know you'd tap some ass out there." Merle is teasing his baby brother. He never was one to watch his mouth around Rory, always talking about lewd things. 

"Can we not talk about this you big ole' sack 'o shit?" Daryl asks his brother, covering Rory's ears protectively. 

"Sure thing Darlina, only if I can tap that ass if you don't." Merle says, lighting a cigarette. Rory leans her head on her Daddy's shoulder as he drives. The wind blowing through her hair and the smell of Merle's cigarettes is the most calming thing in the world. 

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Opening my eyes,  I realize I'm in a house. Now, the roof of the car Daddy and I slept in last night looked nothing like this, so I know I ain't waking up from a dream. I'm in an unfamiliar place, with an unfamiliar girl telling me to call down. I pat around, looking for my knife or bow.