Built to Fall Apart

17

I glanced at my bedside clock.

11:45pm.

I guess it's time for me to start getting ready, Aiden still hasn't  told me where we were going or if there's going to be food.

Knowing him, he's going to give me some food.

I put on the clothes I picked out the day before and pulled my hair into a high ponytail and curled the loose strands and a few pieces in the ponytail.

I dusted on some light makeup keeping in mind my skin's state after all the makeup from yesterday. 

I came down the stairs and grabbed a bowl and ate some yogurt, berries and a banana. Just incase it wasn't a lunch date.

I glanced at the clock in the kitchen.

12:27pm. 

With that I plopped down on my living room couch and started to scroll through my instagram feed.

When it was 12:53, I got a text from Aiden.

I'm on my way will be there in 5 minutes.

I quickly texted back.

Okay! Great see u then.

I got an immediate reply.

Hope ur not wearing fancy shoes.

And I hope ur not texting and driving.

Satisfied with my kind of witty comeback I went to the bathroom mirror to do one last check.

I looked as good as you could wearing this horrid outfit.

After a few more minutes of me going through my feed, the doorbell finally rang.

Excitedly I opened the door to see Aiden standing in khakis and a simple polo shirt and riding boots?

I looked at him quizzically as he greeted me and pulled me into his car.

"Where are we going?"

"You seem to already know."

"Well I don't. "

"Where do you think we are going?"

"Um..it looks like horse back riding or something. "

"Ding Ding Ding. We have a winner. No wonder you're  valedictorian."

I laughed at that. "You know I don't like to talk about that."

"And you know I do. That's so cool. Are you ready to give that speech in front of everyone in two weeks?"

"I hope. I wrote it before-"

"Ah..well cocky aren't we. What if you weren't valedictorian? " he said trying to keep the mood light.

"Then I guess the speech would have gone to waste. "

"Well I'm glad it doesn't have to. It'll be so cool to see my girlfriend up there in front of everyone."

"Girlfriend? "

"I mean hopefully by then we..."

"Aiden I..."

"Need more time. I know. "

"No it's just I-"

"Well looks like we're here." Aiden said faking enthusiasm.

I hate how one of us always ruins this talk.

"Wow it's so beautiful. But Aiden I wanted to tell you-"

"Don't you believe that there is a time and place for everything? " Aiden asked a little annoyed and disappointed probably because his diversion wasn't working.

"Yes, but what does that have to do with anything?"

"I want to discuss this. But not right now, let's have our date first. I don't want you to make any decisions till we try this out."
"Fine, let's go in." I said with a deep breath and fake smile.

When we got into the ranch house we found an older woman and someone who seemed to be her husband beaming at us.

"Aiden you're home! How are you? Is this the girl?"

"Nana, papa! It's great to see you too. Yes it is." Aiden then turned to me.

"Haley, this is my grandfather and grandmother."

"Oh hi! I'm Haley, I'm a friend of Aiden."

"Oh we know. We've heard plenty. Do you like horses? " His grandfather asked.

"Yes sir. I use to ride when I was little."

"Then let's get going, you were Juliet right? " His grandmother asked me with a warm smile. I nodded flashing her a smile of my own.

"You're so talented.I was just thinking, you look so familiar." She said guiding me out back.

"Thank you so much!" I said smiling. 

"This here is Buttercup. She's a sweet one, but she loves to wander. Aiden is taking Knucklehead, he's an old fart who knows this trail better than anyone. Y'all two have a good time."

"Thank you." I said before stepping up on Buttercup. Aiden wrapped around the corner holding a helmet. He passed it over to me with a smile before waving off to his grandparents and getting on his horse.

I listened carefully to Aiden's instructions and pulled Buttercup ahead to start the trail.
It was all so beautiful. We started off slow, taking our sweet time and listening to the animals around us.  Aiden told me to keep an eye on the time so we could go in and eat something soon.

After a few minutes of silence I finally spoke.

"So your grandparents live up here?"

"Yeah. They  love the vast land of the countryside. "

"Ah, tell me something about yourself."

"Like what?"

"Well we're on a date and you haven't said a word so this is me taking initiative and starting a conversation."

"Well I grew up around here but I moved away with my parents so that they could grow their business. Not a lot of opportunities out here, the city is where it's at. But I've always loved it out here."

"How frequently do you come?"

"Once a month, usually.I try to come more often but it's hard with school and sports. Now that I can, I want to move back over here."

"Oh that's cool. So like after this year?"

"Yeah but probably after I get a job. Okay now tell me something about you. How'd you get into ridding?"

"Well, my Dad loved horses so when I was little we used to go to our cousin's family ranch every Christmas. I loved their horses so much that he finally signed me up for classes. It was one of my favorite things to do. Once he left it didn't seem right for me to be on a horse anymore."

"Oh I'm sorry I didn't realize- "

"It's fine. That was a long time ago. I'm fine with being on a horse.I shouldn't let that limit me."

"So you have experience on a horse.."

"Yeah..."

"Race you to the front door. My grandmas making chicken and waffles." And just like that the mood was brightened.

~*~

Sorry I know this chapter is probably  full of typos but...hope you still liked it!