The Walter Boys Assistant

Chapter 9: First Day

The morning came rolling around fast. Your alarm blared directly in your ear, causing you to jostle in bed, slamming your hand on the nightstand and fumbling to shut off the sound. Once it was off, you groaned loudly and dropped your head back onto your pillow, staring at the time on your phone, 5:30AM. Not the earliest you've gotten up for a job, but you still are cursing under your breath nonetheless.

After fighting back sleep for almost 5 minutes, you slide out of bed and stretch gradually, groaning. It normally takes you a while to wake up fully and get going for the day, but not today. You look forward to what the day potentially holds for you and a certain freckled boy. Chewing on your bottom lip, you open your nightstand drawer and grab the journal out, quickly flipping to the next open page and immediately take a pencil to it.

Today is the first day of being Alex's assistant. There's so many emotions that are flooding my mind that it's almost hard to keep up with. I'm not entirely sure what to expect to come of this, but one thing is for certain: I look forward to the time I will be spending with Wrangler.

A swift entry, but enough of one to make you feel a little more at ease with your thoughts as you tuck it swiftly back in its drawer and shut it.

You end up throwing on some deep blue, boot-cut jeans with a black tank top tucked in. Realizing you will be moving around quite a bit, you throw on a simple black belt and tighten it in place.

You step out of your room as silent as possible, finding the house dark and still. It is summer, after all. You would be surprised if anyone got up before the sun at this time. Other than Katherine and yourself, that is.

After throwing on your boots and exiting the front door, you are brought to a halt on the front porch, in awe of the gorgeous pinks and oranges blanketing the sky. Living in Florida the last year almost made you forget how much you missed Colorado sunrises. After taking in the sight for a few more seconds, you begin making your way to the barn to feed Murphy and Custard their breakfast, which should give Murphy enough time to digest it before he has to start working. Once both geldings had their hay and plenty of water, you made your way back to the horse.

Upon reentering and taking your boots off, you spot a warm light illuminating the center of the kitchen and peer around the banister to find Alex sitting at the counter, a book in one hand and a mug in the other. His hair is tossed about, showing evidence he has yet to run a brush through it.

You find the image of your fingers rustling through each strand coming to mind; and not going away like you wish it would. The last thing you need are distractions from you completing a job well done.

"Morning," his voice returns you to reality, "want some coffee?"

God, his voice is so raspy in the morning. You would be lying to yourself if you said it wasn't attractive.

"I'll take some." You answer, planting a delicate smile for him as you walk in and glance over his shoulder at the book he was reading closely moments ago.

"Romeo and Juliet? Since when do you read Shakespeare for fun?" You question with a brow raised.

"Since I realized his work fits reality all too well." He speaks in turn, pouring the pot of coffee into a mug for you. "That love only ends in disaster and heartache."

"I think you are looking at it all wrong." You answer as he reaches across the counter, passing the coffee over and you graciously accept it. The heat surges through your palms the moment you take hold.

"It's all the experience I have with love." He explains, leaning back against the counter. You blink, staring at him over the rim of your mug as you take a drink. After allowing yourself some time to collect your racing heart, you set it down.