Her Cowboy (Book One Of The Brave Series)

Chapter Twenty

Chapter 20

A.

"God damn it!" I hollered as my fist landed on my locker. Riley jumped as Daniel just stared blankly at me and Axel started chuckling. Madeline has been consistently avoiding me for the past week now. The city sheriffs had yet to catch her father and per my mother, her mom and her were welcome for as long as needed. She had been dodging me well for the whole week, sitting in a different spot in classes we had together and working late.

This morning Madeline had completely ignored me all morning and when we finally got to school she just walked away with Anna trailing behind her. Axel's laughs were not helping with my irritation. I turned on him.

"What's so damned funny?" I growled.

"Just how badly you screwed up dude. I just really want to see how you fix this." I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Thanks, you're so helpf-"

"Hey Hun." My blood froze, and I turned. Chloe stood right behind me leaning on my now dented locker. I turned my glare on her. "What do you want?"

She batted her eyelashes, something that used to pull my heartstrings long ago. But now it made my body cringe as I realized that I used to be wrapped around her evil little finger.

"Is that any way to talk to the girl you said you loved?" that grated on my last nerve. She was the reason Madeline was so upset. The reason that all the walls I had broken down between us for three weeks now were right back where they started if not stronger and higher than ever before. It pissed me off that she was trying to pretend that she wasn't a liar and a cheater. That she had a right to even remotely think we were anything but over and done for. I glared down at her.

"Love-ed past tense and I'm pretty damn positive now that I think back on it that I, in fact, never loved someone as cold and heartless like you. I'm done with your fake attitude and whatever game you're trying to play. You need to stay away from me and my friends, and damn sure stay away from Madeline. Matter of fact, go back to your parents or whereever you ran off to before, because you are not needed nor wanted here." Closing my locker with a solid slam, which made her jump, I turned and walked away.

"Dang bro, I never thought you'd talk to her like that!" Axel said as he walked beside me.

"I gotta say that was a good one." Daniel said, "Did you see how her eyes widened when he said she wasn't wanted here?"

"Priceless." Riley replied.

"So, you told her off, what's the next step?" Daniel asked shocking me. Usually he's not very interested in anyone or anything outside of Anna.

"Next step is to get your crazy girlfriend to help me out." he sighed as he hung his head.

"Aaaand I'm guessing that I get to be the one to talk her into it cause she's still mad at you?"

"And Bingo was his name!" I said as I turned into my next class.

"I hate you all."

M.

"Are you kidding me? I can't believe your own flesh and blood could be so cruel!" Anna cried as her eyes teared up. I had just finished telling her what had happened with my family and the circumstances surrounding why I was really at her house. It had taken a week, but I was finally ready to share. I felt that I could trust her with almost anything at this point, so I figured she deserved to know.

"It happens, and a lot of people have it worse than me, so you don't need to cry Belle." I called her the nickname that always made her smile. And just like every other time it worked too.

"I'm so glad we're friends!" Anna laughed and before I could process what was happening I fell back into the wall we were currently sitting by in the outside cafeteria as she hugged me tightly. I chuckled and hugged her back.

"Me too."

"Hey, hey, hey, that's my girlfriend!" I looked up to find Daniel standing in front of us as he started to peel Anna from me.

"Nooo, this is my bestie, I wanna stay with heerrrr!" she cried as she struggled to hold onto me.

"Can't...breathe!" I said as she used my neck for her last pillar to hold onto. Finally, she let go and I fell back to catch my breath only to have it knocked from me once more as Riley landed on my lap.

"Holy cow!" I cried as he snuggled into my chest. I froze.

"Soft." He mumbled.

"Hey now, better watch where you're putting your face there, buddy, that's a lady." Axel's voice brought my head up to meet his gaze. He smiled at me and I smiled back as he pulled Riley back by his collar. Riley looked up at Axel and pouted and that's when I noticed just exactly how Riley looked at Axel that made it different.

"Oh." I whispered, and Axel looked back at me.

"What?" he asked, and I shook my head as I smiled. His eyes widened, and I put my finger to my lips. He gulped and nodded.

From the corner of my eye I saw movement and looked over. My smile faltered but I forced it back up. I stood then and that's when he tried to speak to me.

"Madeline can I-" But I simply ignored him and walked past him.

"I'll be right back Anna, going to go get lunch!"

"O-okay." She said, "I'll keep a seat open for you."

"Okay." I said as I hurriedly walked to the cafeteria. I only got half way there when I felt him walking behind me.

"Madeline. Hey. Hey!" furious, I turned around.

"What!" I yelled.

"Look, the thing with Chloe I-" but I didn't want to listen. Hear him try to weasel his way out of it.

"I get it Asher, you're a liar and a cheater! Or at least you tried to be one. I know you were trying to kiss me that weekend! And cuddling up to me on the couch? What respectful person would do that when they are dating another person?" I felt my throat tighten and the sob I was holding in caught my breath. I paused, a took in a sharp breath.

"You know what really sucks? Is that I was starting to like you, to trust you like I've come to trust Anna. But that idea was crushed before it even started taking shape. I appreciate the help that night with my mom, I do, just as I appreciate letting us stay in your home. I get it, and you don't have to explain anything to me because I'm not your girlfriend. So just stop." My voice broke as I turned and took off the opposite direction. Away from him, and away from the tightening pain in my chest.

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EDITED VERSION

Grammatical

J. Vas