Plains

Chapter 12: Love

June 24th 11:15am Bailey's POV 

It had been a few hours since my mom kicked me out. 

After she did, I grabbed my bike and rode around for a couple hours before I found myself in the neighboring town Preston. I've been sitting next to a long crumbled white brick wall contemplating if I should call Douglas. 

Though to be honest, I was really tired after riding for a couple hours on a highway.

Thankfully I still had a few dollars in my pants from our shopping spree, so I bought some fries from the local gas n' go for breakfast.

I was just getting finished eating when a familiar purple haired girl walks into view. "Hey, bale of hay, watcha doing in this neck of the woods." she smirked sitting down beside me.

"Got kicked out, so I'm just wandering, as wanderers do. What are you doing here? Did you get a vacation from robbing people of their hard earned money?" I ask, resting my head against the hard brick.

She laughed lightly. "Not exactly. I live here, and I'm sorry to hear about your situation, but you know this is why you're in Familia, so you'll always have someone to lean on when your back is against the wall, and to make a little dough while your at it." 

"Ha! That's rich, I never wanted to be apart of your little gang. I was basically forced to. Besides I only really agreed, if you can call it that, is because Familia murdered my father, and I want answers. Why am I telling you this? You're just the same." I mumble the last part quietly. 

She smiled a small smile. "I guess I just have a vibe that makes people open up. For what it's worth, we didn't kill your dad, I have no idea who did either, honestly I don't even know why Jose said you needed to join so bad, I went along with it though, but you know if you don't," she drew her finger across her throat. "But that's just the downside of being in a gang. If it means anything, I'm glad Jose picked you." she said in a small voice, her eyes looking away to stare at the grass slightly overgrown onto the road.

"Thanks." I said. It took a minute before what she said completely registered in my head. "Wait. Familia didn't kill my dad?"

"No, we don't kill people unless the circumstances are extremely special." she said.

Of course I knew she could be lying, but at this point I wasn't sure who to believe. "All I know is that my dad was murdered, and not long after I was attacked at a gas station by Familia, they threatened my family, so of course I went, but so far nothing has really happened, just a bunch of weird meetings, then my mom kicks me out, I just don't know what my life even is anymore. A month ago my life was perfect. I was the most popular girl in school, I had dad, I had a home, I had everything I've ever wanted, well, almost. Now it's all gone, everything." I said, becoming much more emotional than I had expected. 

"I don't know what to tell you. I do know though, that that boy that tags along with you everywhere, is special, keep him close, it's hard to find people like that, especially now days." she said, a shimmer of sadness showing itself momentarily. "You need somewhere to sleep?" she stood up now.

"No thanks, I know a place." I smile, seeing Eva in an entirely different light. Not just as some goon that does whatever Jose says, but as a friend. 

"Okay. Just remember, if you're in a spot Familia has your back." she said walking away, and eventually disappearing around a corner.

Sighing, I stood up and finally gave in and called Douglas.

Thirty minutes later, Douglas pulled up beside me in his dad's black Toyoda Tacoma, the windows rolled down and his head sticking out giving me the look 'what did you do this time?' 

I smiled sheepishly, a single tear rolling down my face as soon as I see him, feeling suddenly woozy at seeing him. The face that was so familiar. The face I'd known for so long. The face that had seen so many terrible things, the face that still had a smile plastered across it, the face that I held so dear, the face that held me close while the earth fell away to reveal nothing more that sadness and despair, but most of all love. Because when everything's been taken from you, it makes you realize just how much love there all is. Not in some weight loss magazine or in some clothes, or even in the way meticulously try to pull everything together only for it to fail, but in your heart. Deep inside, that comes out in the way you laugh while reading a book, or try to see the good in people even when all they've done is hurt you, it's when the flowers bloom and you stop to smell them because they're your favorite scent. It's all tucked away in you heart, trying to shine but being pushed down by people telling you you're not worth it. When you are. You were always worth it. Because no matter what they say, your heart will always be beautiful and most of all, full of love. 

"Are you crying?" Douglas said getting out of the truck and hugging me.

"I love you Douglas." I said, digging my tear soaked face deeper into his shoulder.

I hear a soft whisper slightly distorted by trying to stifle tears. "I love you too Bay."

We stayed that way longer than either of us meant to, but not being able to let go either.

...............................

Hello everyone, I hope you enjoyed this chapter of Plains! It's been almost a year since I last updated this story, but since the covid-19 pandemic things have been hectic. I write this story on my laptop, which broke, and I didn't want to order non essential things, so it's been quite a while since the last time, but I FIANLLY have a new computer and wrote this chapter on it, I have much more free time now, so hopefully I'll be able to update it more often. Sorry if this chapter is a little much, but I was listening to a sad song and got in my feelings. 

I hope you can all understand my absence. Please vote and comment if you like this chapter it's greatly appreciated. Love you all.

IHeartDennis <3