Just a Little Bit of Love, Barrels, and Horses

Chapter 12

School was a blur. I didn't pay attention to class. My friends finally gave up trying to start a conversation with me. All I could think about was that insult. Normally that stuff wouldn't even phase me, but when Alec said it, it really stung. It felt like a blade to my flesh.

"McKenna. McKenna. MCKENNA!" Abby yells.

"What?" I ask startled.

"What do you want for lunch?" Abby asks.

"Oh," I say. After scanning the menu for lunch today I decide to have a slice of pizza, fries, a Dr. Pepper, and some ranch. After ordering we go sit at our usual lunch table. It's called the "rodeo table." It's where all the people who compete in rodeos sit. I wouldn't call us popular, but we were well known. I try to sit as far away as possible from Alec as I can. Then all of a sudden somebody taps my shoulder. I look up and see a senior. I roll my eyes.

"So me and my friends were just wondering, did you win that belt buckle?" He asks.

I roll my eyes. "Well if you're implying that if bought it then you are clearly mistaken. I won it," I say.

"Wow. That's awesome. I didn't win my first buckle until I was like 16," he said in awe. "By the way I'm Aiden. Aiden Washington," he said. Aiden Washington? That name sounds so familiar. "You might recognize me. I compete in steer wresting," he says clearly gloating. Okay look. Don't get mad at me for saying this, but usually these guys are the HOTTEST. I mean he's no exception either. Dark brown hair, piercing green eyes, and a strong build. But he's a senior. WAY to old for me.

"Impressive," I say trying to act bored with the subject.

"Well hot stuff what do you do?" He says clearly hurt.

"I pole bend, barrel race, and rope," I tell him.

"Are you good?" He asks curious.

"Sure. If you call 2-time state champion pole bender, 3-time state champion roper with my partner Ellie, and 4-time state champion barrel racer, then yeah I'm pretty good," I say matter of factly. His jaw literally drops.

"Are you joking?" He asks me.

"I bet you can guess who I am now," say giggling.

"You're McKenna O'Brien?" He asks startled.

"The one and only," I say bluntly.

"Well McKenna. I was just going to start a conversation to try to ask you to come to my bon-fire, but now you have no choice," he says bluntly.

"Why?" I ask.

"Because you are going to be my date," he tells me. I scoff.

"No," I tell him.

"Why?" He asks me clearly shocked. Obviously he needs to be knocked down a few pegs.

"Because guys like you only want one thing. And that is a one night stand. I'm only 13, so goodbye now," I say mad.

"It did sound like I wanted that didn't it? Look I really wanted to go out with you. I wanted because you're cute and," before he could finish I cut him off.

"If I agree to go will you shut up?" I ask him annoyed. He just nods and pretends to zip his lips and throw the key away. I laugh and throw a fry at him, but he catches it in my mouth. What the hell? So I take a French fry and dip it in ranch and flick it. Ranch goes all over him. I was to busy laughing at his face to realize that a piece of pizza was on my face. People are giving us weird stares, but I don't care. I throw it back at him and it lands in his hair. So I do the only thing I could think of when he picked up the ranch container. I ran. I ran through the hallways and I feel that I'm being picked up.

"Say you're sorry," he warns out of breath.

"No," I tell him chuckling.

He tries to think of a comeback, but is breathing to heavy. I use that to my advantage. I knee him in the knutz and take the ranch dressing and run back to the lunch room. After that he comes back. Mad. So I laugh. He comes back to the table and I'm laughing.

"Why so mad?" I ask him clutching my stomach.

"Because I just got outsmarted and humiliated by a 7th grader," he mutters.

"So same time tomorrow?" I ask. He just smiles and nods. "Okay I'll bring the ranch and you bring the pizza and fries," I say.

"Nah. I feel like using ketchup tomorrow," he says half joking.

"Deal," I say grinning. Then I look over at Alec and he looks like he's about to explode. Then he gets up and walks over to me. Uh oh. This can't be good.