Chapter Nine
A.
I couldn't help the smirk that came to when I saw the horrified expression she had when she found me. The crowd dispersed when she finally said yes and went on with their usual lunches as though nothing happened. Axel and Riley hopped off the tables they were on.
"Dear God, my leg is dead from being in that position." Axel said as he slammed his foot into the ground. Riley laid on a table's bench seat and waved his foot around.
"Pins and needleeees." I shook my head. That kid seriously needs to get his brain checked. I looked back over to her and she glared at me. I couldn't help myself. I found that I enjoyed taunting her, getting her to huff and puff at me. So, I headed over to her as Anna was yelling at the boys to do fold the banner properly, that way she could save it. I stood side by side with her, but she wouldn't look at me.
"Doom, huh?" she had said.
"Yup." I said happily.
"And why is that?" she asked. I looked her way, then leaned down to whisper in her delicate ear.
"Because you can't run away from me there." I said as I straightened and made my way back over to the group. Axel looked up at me when he noticed my return.
"So, what are you going to do with Madeline at your house for the weekend?" Axel asked. I shrugged.
"Honestly not sure." I replied.
"And isn't that your jacket?" he asked as he pointed to her. She stood in the lunch line now, my jacket hanging off her, nearly touching her knees.
"Yup." I said as I watched my sister talk animatedly to Madeline and then grab her hand, bouncing up and down.
"You really got a thing for her, huh?" Riley asked calmly.
"What? No, I just thought...maybe she could use a few friends...ya know?" I said, not believing an ounce of what I was saying.
Riley looked at me doubtfully. "Well then you wouldn't mind if I did something like this?" he jogged over, well, basically hopped over to Madeline and leaned into her ear, whispering something. I felt my chest tighten slightly. Then he leaned up and kissed her on the cheek. My blood boiled as I watched her blush. Then I calmed when she hid behind Anna, tucking herself into my jacket. Riley smiled, until Anna smacked him on the back of his head and scolded him like a child.
"Huh, interesting." Axel mumbled beside me. I looked at him to find him staring at my hand. I looked down to find that my once perfectly fine phone was now cracked throughout the screen in spiderweb shapes.
"Hah." was all I could say as I looked back up to find Anna and Madeline walking our way, trays in hand. Madeline's hair was flowing behind her in long ebony waves. It was such beautiful hair. It was so soft, light, but thick when I threaded my fingers through it. I realized then that she really like having her hair played with. She fell asleep rather quickly. So why did she hide it? I wondered.
When she reached us, she set her tray down and looked up at me. "Asher, may I have a quick word with you?" her gray eyes captivated me, and I couldn't do much but nod.
I followed her like a puppy dog outside the cafeteria as those around us watched in absentminded interest. It had been a while since I'd been seen with a girl other than Anna, and in such a small town, you come to find other people's simple lives way more interesting than what you'd find in the big cities I'm sure. When we finally reached the hallway she whirled around, her beautiful hair that I'd run my fingers through a few hours before slapping me in the chest.
She removed my jacket and tried handing it to me, but I stepped back.
"You can use it for the day. It's still freezing outside." I said shaking my head. She sighed and dropped her hand. Then held out her empty hand. I looked at it and gave her a high five.
"What? No, idiot, hair ties, now." she said. I grinned and shook my head. Nah, I wanted to be able to see her long beautiful hair all day.
"Nope not happening." her eye twitched.
"And why not?" she said through gritted teeth. Smirking I stepped towards her. She backed away. I stepped again, and she backed up. Soon she trapped herself against the wall and I put a hand on either side of her head.
"I quite like your hair. So long and soft. I could run my fingers through it all day." I said as I brought my hand up and ran it up the nape of her neck and through the silky strands of her hair. Her lips parted slightly, and she bit her lip.
"I think," I said as I gripped a handful of her hair and tilted her head upwards, I leaned down to her ear, "I'll keep it like this for as long as I can." then I let go before I did something I shouldn't and walked away.
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EDITED VERSION
Still short, but oh well!!!
<3<3<3
J. Vas
YOU ARE READING
Her Cowboy (Book One Of The Brave Series)
Romance(Currently Being Edited) Madeline Reed has been moving around all her life and this time was no different. It's the middle of her senior year and she's never had a friend so she's given up on the concept. Until Anna Tyler, the most stubborn girl Mad...
