The Little Things | Jared "Donny" Donalson

Ditched.

October 2023

Kaylee

Do you ever have to set events that you are able to look forward to throughout the year to keep yourself from going absolutely crazy? The most recent of these events in my life that Have been looking forward to for the past few months is the Auburn Rodeo which is tomorrow. Around two months around a girl named Courtney I have a class with invited me when she was getting a group of people together to go. I bought my ticket and then cried about how expensive it was, but all was well until a few hours ago when Elliot who was going on the trip had to back out because his grandma isn't doing well. I fully understand and I am on board with him going home be with his family. However, this has left our group with a mild dilemma we don't have a car that is going to get us to the Auburn Rodeo in Alabama. Courtney called me freaking out saying we needed someone who was free this weekend and she had asked all her friends, but had no luck. She asked me to see if any of my friends could join and drive us. I told her it was unlikely, but that I would try. Once I get off the phone I realize the only person I can really ask my roommate Maia. When it comes to Maia I honestly don't know if I will be able to get her to go. However, I decide to wait until I get home to our apartment to ask her. I really just hope she had a good day at work today because that will make a big difference in her willingness.

Walking in our apartment I hear music playing "I Remember Everything" by Zach Bryan. I immediately feel myself gain a bit more confidence because Maia only plays music in the apartment when she's in a good mood. If she's in a bad mood she's normal just found rotting on the couch or in her bed. I sat my backpack on the couch and walk to the kitchen to see her making brownies. She looks up as I walk into the doorway, and she smiles, "Guess who doesn't have to work tomorrow or Sunday because the event at the ballpark was canceled!" Wow, this is lining up all too well, "Oh wow really that's crazy so what are you going to do?" "I'm probably going to sleep in tomorrow then just relax. What about you?" "This weekend is the Auburn Rodeo so we are going there early tomorrow morning early then coming back Sunday night." "Oh, I forgot that is this weekend. You're gonna have so much fun, I'm honestly kinda jealous." "I mean you could go you know I think someone mentioned to me today that we have an extra ticket." "That is hilarious the Auburn Rodeo is completely sold out and you just happen to have an extra." "I'm serious, and actually it's already paid for, and all yours if you want it." She looks at me suspiciously. One thing you should know about Maia is she can tell when I'm lying. "Okay go ahead and tell me what the catch is, because there is no way you're just giving me a free ticket to the Auburn Rodeo." "No, I'm serious the ticket is free, but it would be amazing if you could drive us." She looks at me for a moment pondering her decision. I know she at one point looked at the tickets, but they were sold out by then. "You know what fine I'll go just because I want to see Zach Bryan." I run over and hug her.

In the morning I'm up bright and early mostly because I'm too excited to sleep. While like Maia I am also excited to see Zach Bryan I'm also excited at the possibility I could see the Savannah Bananas while at the rodeo. I would like to clarify this was not my original reason for wanting to go I already had my tickets when Noah mentioned him and some others were going while on TikTok live one night. However, I definitely would not mind meeting the guys. I get dressed in some comfy clothes since we're going to be driving several hours before we get to Auburn. The plan is once we check in our AirBNB to change then go straight to the rodeo fairgrounds. I put a few last minute things in my suitcase then take it out to the living room then knock on Maia's door. I hear her start cussing as she gets up and I'm assuming getting ready. I sit on the couch and text with Courtney, Emerson, and Paige the rest of the group that is going confirming that they are meeting at our apartment. Everyone confirms and around 30 minutes later we are loading up Maia's Rav4 with all our stuff. I close the trunk after we get the last bag put in, and we all get in and are off headed for Auburn. I ride shotgun and take control of the AUX. It is a long drive so I have to ensure the vibes are high. During the drive Maia and I talk for a bit while I play a wide variety of music. However, at some point I must have dozed off because when I awake we are around 10 minutes from our AirBNB. I immediately get excited as the minutes go by. By the time we pull up to the house we're staying at I basically jump out of the car and start unloading the trunk. I'm the first person to the door besides Courtney who had to get us checked in. I find the closest room and start getting ready. When I'm almost finished getting ready I hear Maia come in my room and plop down on my bed. She starts asking questions about someone Callie and I have to stop what I'm doing to try before I realize she is talking about Courtney. When I ask her if that who she is talking about her eye widen slightly and she immediately stops talking. Two seconds later we are both laughing. Honestly I don't really care if they ditch us for a cowboy I believe is how Maia phrased it. I'm not going there to hang with them, I'm going to have fun we all just are riding together. After I stop laughing I finish getting ready and we head to the living room and wait for everyone else to finish. As soon as Paige walks out of her room I'm up and walking towards the front door. On the drive to the rodeo we almost died like three times but I will say it was not Maia's fault any of the times. There were just a lot of drunk people who should not be driving were driving. Maia managed to just us there in one piece however and once we parked we walk to the  main entrance. I knew there would be a lot of people here, but I didn't think it would be this many.

As we are walking I realize after a minute that Courtney, Paige and Emerson are no where in sight. I guess Maia's prediction was right that they would ditch when we got here. I hear Maia say that she wants a drink and starts walking towards a beer stand getting in land. I follow and stand with her in the rather long line. The line is moving kinda slow. While I hate long lines, I figured that is how it would be today. Maia is talking about something that happened with work when I see a large group of people get in line behind us. I glance up and I stopped hearing what Maia was saying. Why you may ask because Noah Bridges and Kyle Luigs along with more Savannah Bananas players and staff are standing right behind Maia and she has no idea. I can't believe this is happening and now I can't process how to form words to describe this moment to Maia so I just hit her arm. Maia looks at me like I'm crazy then starts asking why I hit her. I finally manage to whisper to explain who is behind her in line and she looks at me like I'm dumb. I guess the line had moved because I hear him say, "Hey ladies sorry to interrupt, but the line has moved up a bit." My heart melts at the sound of his voice, but then Maia turns and gives him some type of look. I'm not gonna lie I got pissed at her moving up to close the gap in the line. I scroll on my phone to try and kill time. After a few minutes I know that Maia knows I'm ignoring her. So in trying to make up being mean to Noah I hear her offer him a piece of gum which he accepts. I'm still annoyed at her but fortunately we are almost out line. When it's finally our turn we realize that that is only beer at this stand so we both get a Miller Lite. Maia is about to pay when I see an arm reach around her and hand the worker their credit card. I hear Noah tell the worker he is paying for our drinks because Maia gave him gum. I turn and thank him before Maia can reject him offer. He smiles and nods. I look around at the rest of the group to see who all is here while the workers start passing out our drinks. I can't see everyone because their group is rather big, but I catch a glimpse of Zack Frongillo, Brett Helton, and Savanah which's makes me assume that Collin here too. Once we all have our drinks Maia starts trying to leave, and I'm trying to stay. I feel like she doesn't want to be around Noah, but he wants to be around her. She says something about seeing Courtney in the crowd which I know is a lie, but I shoot back reminding her they ditched us not the other way around. Then I see none other than Jared Donalson walk out of the back of the group next to Noah. He puts his hand on Noah's shoulder before looking at us smiling and saying, "Screw them you guys can just join us. Isn't that right Noah?" Noah nods and smiles, " I hope you both are ready for the greatest sing-along of your lives." I have never been more excited about anything than I am at this moment.