Hardcore Country

Back Home

"Baby!" His grandmother called, loudly as she ran down the front steps of the house he'd known for the early parts of his life

Seth smiled when she reached him and took his hands in hers

"Oh, look at you," she cooed and looked at him then his grandpa came down

"Well I must be getting cataract, when did my gap toothed little grandson who left years ago turn into a handsome young, successful man, give me a hug my boy," he said as he made it down and Seth smiled and hugged them both.

They gestured him to the house and he grimaced when he felt the heel of his Armani shoe sink slightly in the mud

"Take em' off before you come inside bug," his grandma scolded, adjusting her apron before she stepped inside, followed by his grandfather who took off his cowboy hat and placed it on the hook above the door 

Seth toed off his Armani shoes and picked them up, opting to scrub them and put them in his suitcase later on

He looked around at his childhood home, it was the same as when he left, but the colour of the walls had changed from a dusty yellow to a pale pink and it suited the place

Seth had stood by the kitchen doorway, pulling off his suit jacket from his body

"Alright ma, I got the bathtub all up and running, there anything else you need me to do befo-" the girl came tracking down the steps and she albeit froze when her eyes caught sight of him

Seth squinted at her as she stared back at him, he knew this girl.

"Oh thank you Dakota, you're a sweetheart, we got it covered from here, you have fun at the fair," his grandmother replied and Seth's eyes widened

Dakota. His best friend when he was here, the cute little girl with the pigtails that bounced and who laughed at everything. My god, she changed so much he barely recognized her

"You remember Dakota sweetheart?" his grandmother asked, pointing him as she came over and he slowly nodded, still staring at her

"Hi." He said and she just nodded to him

"Hey Seth," she replied and gave him a quirky smile

"You gonna meet that nice Allen boy tonight sweetie?" His grandmother asked her, playfully elbowing her and Seth noticed her smile brighten

"Yes ma'am, although I told you that Allen is just a friend," Dakota explained and his grandmother laughed

"Who's Allen?" Seth asked, unable to be left out of this conversation any further

"Allen is the boy that my daughter is taken with," his grandfather explained, wrapping an arm around Dakota's shoulders and she laughed

"Pa!" She said embarrassed, the man did always like to embarrass her like a father would their daughter.

"Now Seth, you should go to the fair with Dakota, would be nice for everyone to know that you're back in town," his grandmother said and he watched Dakota bite her lip

"Sure grandma," he agreed, anything to make her happy

"You should probably change though, don't wanna get your precious silks or whatever that is dirty with peasant sweat," Dakota bit at him before going into the kitchen

Seth furrowed his eyebrows and shrugged before tracking upstairs to change. He decided on a pair of his blue skinny jeans and an under armour undershirt and his sneakers before he went back downstairs

"Alright you kids, make sure you don't stay out too late," his grandma said

"And make sure to keep an eye on Seth," his grandfather added

"I don't need protection," Seth said, rolling his eyes

"Obviously, that's why it wasn't you that was on the news as the actor who got his ass kicked outside a club?" Dakota dug at him again and Seth was about to retaliate but she was already out the door and he had to jog to catch up

Seth noticed nothing in this town really changed, same faces, same environment

"Sugar!" They heard and Seth caught some guy, a little shorter than himself, who had shoulder-length brown hair, hug Dakota and she laughed as he spun her

"AJ" She called back, same excitement in her voice and Seth bit his lip slightly when this AJ character put her down

"Seth, this is Allen, Allen this is Seth," she introduced and Seth had a brief 'oh' moment before jutting out his hand that was met with a firm handshake

"Let me take you up on that ferris wheel sugar, what'dya say?" AJ asked, boyish smile plastered on his face that Seth wanted to punch off

"I'd love to! But Seth-" she said and Allen shook his head

"He don't bother me none," he dismissed and Seth gritted his teeth

"I can find something to keep me busy," Seth said and walked off without another word

He sat on a bench, looking around at everything with some cotton candy, he watched as Dakota and AJ came over to him laughing, their hands joined in the middle

"Alright sugar, I gotta turn in, Mr. Michaels has got me running horse training tomorrow, I'll see you okay?" He asked and pressed a kiss to her cheek

"Bye AJ," she replied and he waved and gave Seth a parting greeting before he left and Seth decided at that moment, he hated that guy

"Remember that old ring toss game we used to play together when we'd sneak off to come here?" She asked as they walked through the fair grounds

Seth bit his lip and tried to rake through his memory but she huffed

"Of course you don't," she muttered, shaking her head before looking ahead

"Let's get something to eat. Bet all that calamari and raw fish you been eating in Hollywood don't got none on our burgers and baby back ribs," she said confidently and grabbed his hand, dragging him over to the food shack

"We should get back. I got an early morning tomorrow on the farm," she said, shooting him a charming smile as they got up and began their return journey

Seth didn't know if he was happy or not to be back home