Notorious Hope

2. Cowboy

September 8th,2019

''What do you want?''

Cocaine, her escape from the world, a cloud of smoke breezing through the air. Her mental scars will never disappear, not even a handsome cowboy hailing from Sunshine Land can change that. 

''I was going to see if you were alright after what happened in there''

Squinting her eyes at the emerald eyed teen crouching next to her. Her reaction hardens at the sudden movement of him sitting beside her.

''Well I'm fine and if you respect a woman as much as your Momma has clearly taught you to, you'll leave me alone. I just find this unacceptable that you think I should be allowing you, a complete stranger to talk to me when I barely know you. In my opinion, all, you clearly are is a Texas Sunshine who needs to get his head out of the clouds. Why should I trust you?  You could've come out here to rape me for all I know. Although this wouldn't be my first experience with a rapist.  So I need you to leave me the hell alone.''

Brushing him off like a piece of lint. Breezing past him as if he's someone who'll easily become enemy number one if he's not careful.

Topanga's Diner, September 8th, 2019

''That brother of yours has no clue what he's in for, chasing Riley out there. The luckiest you'll be is if you pick him up from the hospital with a broken leg.''

Strutting back into the diner, a bland expression across her face. The blonde following quickly back inside.

''He's alive! Wait, why is he alive, Riley?''

Vigorously, with the kick of a heel, pushing a chair behind him as he lands on his ass

''He's a rich boy from the countryside, why do think he's still alive, dumbasses? Two words, Erica Friar.''

His mother is the to-be ex-wife to McCallister Friar. She's a self-made millionaire and he's a billionaire from his family-made company, from the upper west-side. Rumor has it, their divorce has been caused by an affair with the town's mayor.

''What about my mother? How the fuck do you have connections to my mother?''

Pouting her lower lip in a sarcastic manner, her arms folded across her chest with her eyebrows furrowed. Leaning over so that she'll get a good view of his facial features. How the hell he that unaware of what was really going on in his own home?

''You really are as moronic as you look aren't you? All I need you to do for me is to get your mother to come here tonight at 6 o'clock. Make no mistakes, I have allies that are watching, you little Cowboy. And I just need you to remember, I caught the Goolies, I caught my father's kidnappers and I caught my rapist. You know what they all have in common? They're all 10 feet under. Consider yourself lucky. Let him go, guys.''

The piercing glance is a clear indication that they should listen unless they want to suffer the dire consequences.

''What? That wasn't the deal, we take him to Dad in return for the contract to be signed. Do you want to have what happened last Summer, happen again?''

Elliot's words seep into her brain, his breath causes goosebumps to transcend down her spine.

''Of course not, but we need them as close as possible. You know the saying, keep your friends close but your enemies closer. You know as well as I do that the moment he slips through our hands, the contract is done. Do want another dead ally?''

Reminiscent over the previous outcomes, the endgame hangs in the balance. Untangling his ropes which are currently cutting off his circulation.

''I'll get my mother back here tomorrow night, can you please just let me leave?''

A stone-cold demeanour on the exterior, although on the interior rests a girl afraid to love 

''We'll let you leave, but we need to take you to a location where you will bring your mother to tomorrow. Do you understand, now?''

Her piercingly intimidating persona gives her the upper hand. 

''Deal, although considering I have school tomorrow what time do you want to see me?''

Pouting her lip as the sarcasm spreads across her face. Patting him on the cheek, slipping her hands into her back pockets.

''Huh, aren't you just the teacher's pet? Fine, I'll meet you down in the back alleyway of the school, be there by the end of 4th period, otherwise, I'll send them after you. Although I do imagine that you'll be little Mr Pretty boy by the end of 1st period. Guys will want to befriend you for the sweet satisfaction of popularity, girls will fall at your feet. So I imagine, that I'll do the dirty work and go looking for you anyway.''

Her back leans against a graffitied wall, her arms crossed against her chest.

''I'm just going to give you one piece of advice, girls like Maya and Missy, they only want one thing, They'll get you to get into their pants and then they'll drop you as they do to their handbags. Just, remember that.''