The Stepbrothers

Dream town.

Colin was suprisingly cool and easy to talk to. He didn't force or rush into things like most guys, and for once I was comfortable. It's hard to not just lean over and plant on on him, but I resisted the urge.

I know that if my mom were here she'd tell me to go for it, to live a little. Mom was always good that way; she knew exactly what to say, and at the right moment. In my eyes, she was invincible, or so I thought. She got cancer and wasn't the hero I thought she was. My mind drifted off until I noticed I was crying. I could feel Colin's eyes on me. I quickly tried to wipe my eyes but he grabbed my hand.

" You don't need to hide your feelings, everyone has them. " I let out a small scoff.

" I really shouldn't, but thanks. Don't worry about it, " I told him and turned toward the window. I watched as the beautiful trees passed. Oklahoma isn't as bad as I thought it would have been, it's actually kind of gorgeous. I stared through the glass, as I saw cattle spread throughout the land.

" Where are we going? " I asked. He just laughed. He reached for the nob of the radio, but I slapped his hand away.

" What the hell? " he asked.

" No music, until you tell me where we're going. " I was being stubborn with him. I demanded to know.

" Fine city slicker, I'm taking you to Pawhuska. It's one of the smaller places in Oklahoma, but sure is pretty. It's one of my favourite places city girl. " city girl? Who does he think he's talking to?

I laughed a little. " I'm not that much of a city girl. "

When we got there it was about noon. It was a small town, there wasn't a lot here but it was nice. He parked his truck in what I guess you could call downtown, and we got out and walked.

" Come on, I know this great frozen yogurt place. You'll absolutely love it. " he said. I followed him acrossed the street to a little place called " The Prairie Dog ". It was a small little building connected like a chain to others. Colin opened the door so I could go in. On the inside it was bricked, and there were names of people from all over on the walls. Every brick had a name; I walked over to the bar/table in front of a chalk board and looked at some names on the wall. At the very top were names like Savannah, Makayla, Jonas and Selina. It kind of reminded me of my friends at home.

" Do you want to get some frozen yogurt? " Colin had asked, sneaking up behind me. I nodded and walked over to the machine, I grabbed one of the bowls and started to fill it up with vanilla/chocolate swirl. I soon moved to topping. Once finished I took my mountain of ice cream ( or frozen yogurt ) to the counter to pay. The lady behind the counter took my cup so she weigh it, 12.6 ounces. I reached for my wallet but Colin grabbed it and put it in his back pocket. He was refusing to let me pay for it, even though I insisted on it. It was too late, he had already paid the nice lady and had grabbed our ice cream and sat down.

" So, where yah from city Slicker? "

" Ohio...Lima, Ohio. " I told him and shoved my spoon in my mouth. It was heaven, it was like if you were eating a rainbow.

" Do you miss it? " I stopped to think, do I miss it? If so, watching do I miss about it? There wasn't much to love there, but it was home.

" I guess I do, but I never really liked it there. The only thing I do miss are my friends. They were these goofy and energetic people, and you could tell them anything..." speaking of my friends I haven't heard from them. I guess it okay though, maybe they're trying to give me some time to get used to it here.

He looked at me with his gorgeous eyes, it was like he understood how I felt. " So, Bergundy, do you play any sports? " he asked. I tried to think of everything I did back in Lima. I nodded.

" I was a cheerleader for a while, and then I got into Tennis and colour guard. " He laughed. I didn't see what was funny.
" What? " I asked. He just shook his head.

" I didn't picture you as a cheerleader, maybe dance, but cheer? " His smile lit up the room, I started to bite my lip out of nervousness. " Am I making you nervous? " he asked. Yes.

" No, I'm fine. " Lies girl lies!!! I yelled at myself mentally.

Once we finished we wrote our names on the wall so we could be apart of the tradition. It was amazing to see all the names, there must be thousands.

" So, what are we gonna do now? " I asked curiously. He just smiled and grabbed my hand. I loved the way his touch sent sparks up my spine, it was like be electrified.

" Come on, I want to show you something. " with that we were gone. We walked around the town, but what he showed me was truly beautiful. We stopped in this fully wooded area, there was a bridge. The sign next to it called it the swinging bridge, more like swinging death trap. He was walking on but i stayed put.

" What, what's wrong? "

" You want me to walk on that? We could die! " I started to flip out.

" I promise, I've got you. You won't die. Come on, the best part is out this way, " he flashed me a sincere smile as he held out his hand. I took it, but then grabbed on to the roped railings. The further we got from land, the less worried I was. Colin stopped in the middle of the bridge and pointed to how the sun hit the creek, that was going under the bridge. Be was right, this was the best part.

" What's the story behind this bridge? " I asked.

" It's said to be the bridge that African Americans crossed to freedom, so we are literally standing on history. " I smiled at the thought if this. He was staring out at the water, it sparkled as the sun hit it.

* BUZZ *

My dad had texted me.
Dad: Hey pal, you coming home tonight?

Me: Um, I think I'm staying at a friends tonight. I'll be home tomorrow, swear.

Dad: Okay, see you then.

My dad was being suprisingly cool about it. I think it's because he knows I need to be by myself for a bit. I could just stay in a hotel tonight and call a cab tomorrow for school. I looked up to find Colin staring at me.

" What? "

" Who's house are going to, I'll drop you off later.? " he asked.

" Oh, I'm just gonna a stay at a hotel or something tonight. " I told him. I didn't want him to worry if I couldn't pay for it.

" Um, okay? " We sat down on the bridge and put our legs through the holes in the rope wall. We sat there talking for hours.

Colin's POV

I could hear her voice becoming more sluggish. The sun had gone down at nine o'clock. It is now currently eleven forty-five.

" Colin? " I heard her whisper.

" Yeah darling? "

" I'm scared to go home, " my heart broke when she said that. No one should be scared In their own home. That was the last thing she said before falling asleep. I picked her up and carried her back to my truck. I laid her down in the seat, she was small enough to where she could lay down in it.

Instead of going to a hotel, I brought her to my house. I unlocked the doors and walked up the stairs, with her in my arms, to my room. I laid her on the bed and went over to my sister's room real quick to grab her some clothes.

" Becky, I need a pair of your shorts and a shirt. "

" Why? what would a seventeen year old BOY want with my clothes? " she asked, putting emphasis on the word boy.

" I went to show this girl around Pawhuska today and she fell asleep, and I didn't want to wake her. " I explained and she did as I asked. I quickly went back to my room and changed Bergundy not looking at anything. I put her other clothes on the floor and slid into bed next to her. I pulled the covers up and wrapped my arms around her. I started to drift off. Goodnight.