The Walter Boys Assistant

Chapter 27: Catching Your Eye

Everyone going to the stampede got up bright and early to make the drive down to Elizabeth. With the drive itself being over an hour, George wanted to give enough time to get there and prepare for the competition.

You make your way out to the truck, spotting George and Cole loading Murphy into the trailer. A cool breeze flutters past, sending a chill through your body. With the morning being as early as it is, the sunlight is warm, not quite harsh enough yet to battle off a sudden shift in the winds.

Alex steps out of the barn, sporting a plaid blue and brown shirt and dark blue denim jeans. In hand he is wielding a brown hat. Walking out into the morning glow, he squints until his eyes adjust to the lightning.

"Good morning." You address when he reaches you. Alex stops short two feet and meets your gaze. Direct watch under him sends your heart into a tizzy, forcing you to break the contact first.

"Morning." He responds when your eyes land on Cole. He is distracted, for once, not able to take notice of a conversation between you and Alex. There is a part of you that finds relief in it; but another part that grows anxious. Without a 'babysitter', so to speak, there are no guidelines to follow in conversation.

It's not like you have anything to say to him... Do you?

"Are you ready for today?" You question as a bird melodiously sings in the distance.

Alex's eyes trail over your body. You begin to feel self-conscious of your choice in clothing, with your dark washed bootcut jeans and off-the-shoulder, tightly fitted blue top.

You had the mindset of looking cute yet sensible when assembling your outfit the night before. It took a lot of effort on yours, Jackie's, and Kiley's behalf to comprise this ensemble for the stampede. Even though you were happy with it mere moments ago, being under Alex's studious gaze makes you doubt its quality.

He gives you a half smirk, "As I'll ever be."

There's a brief pause in which the two of you go silent. This has been the most you have said to him outside of training the past three weeks, and it feels semi-normal. Nowhere near what things used to be, but it is improved from the silent treatment.

"(Y/n), I-"

A familiar honk sounds off in the distance and Alex tosses his head over his shoulder to see Dylan's car pulling into the driveway. His lips press into a flat line as he looks back at you.

"What's Dylan doing here?"

"I invited him," you reply matter-of-factly.

If Alex didn't seem frustrated previously, he certainly does now. He grimaces, nods, and walks off without a word. You don't want to read too much into it, so you start walking over to Dylan's parked car.

~~~~~

~Third POV~

Alex had it in his mind that (Y/n) would be riding in the truck with his dad and himself. That was proven wrong the moment her boyfriend drove in. So, everyone else attending is riding with their other half, while he is stuck with his dad.

On the way, Cole drove behind the trailer with Jackie in the passenger seat. Nathan decided to come along, roping Skylar into the event, so he rode with him. While Alex held out optimism that he and (Y/n) would have the time in the car to try and revert back to the way things were before. Maybe it would make confessing his feelings all the more easier. Unfortunately, Dylan ruined that plan by driving her. So, poor Alex, was stuck on the whole ride with his dad, which meant that, for the most part, his dad's go-to radio station was the only sound in the truck. The drive went by rather quickly, despite that matter.