Dylan just nods in response and turns back to his work of sweeping. He knew Ashlee was just trying to be nice... and there really was a part of him that was grateful. He wasn't sure why she tried so hard - he didn't deserve it. But he was grateful anyway.
By the time supper rolled around though, the lights in his bunk would already be out. Quitting barn work early in the day, he'd managed to get some of his school done before crawling into bed. Someone checked on him once - Sparky? Later on, he wouldn't be sure since he'd been half asleep and just mumbled a response. By morning though, it wouldn't matter...
...Dylan had tried to get up three times. The last time, he'd been able to get up and pull on his jeans, but that was it before flopping back down in bed again. Curled up under his blanket, sweat poured down his face and he shook with chills, despite the warm temperature of his bunk. His stomach warned him not to move at all, lest he lose what little there was to lose. He knew if he didn't show up outside soon, someone would come looking for him. It wasn't unusual for him to skip breakfast, but he was supposed to work in the barn, then go check in with Rosetta for his schoolwork.
He pulls his blanket up a little farther and tries to ignore the shooting pain in his skull as he shivers again. He pries his eyes open to glance at the phone on his bedside table. But who would he call anyway? He'd been tempted yesterday to call someone who could help him get over this real quick... but somehow he'd convinced himself not to. He needed to beat this thing, not get in deeper. Now though... now he was in trouble. But asking for help... that meant telling the truth about what was wrong. He had a sinking feeling that people around here had figured out something at least... but he still didn't want to face them. Eventually though, somebody was going to notice his absence and come looking for him.
Struggling to stay awake, Dylan suddenly remembers that he was supposed to help Dan mend the corral fence this morning. Sparky had given him the task yesterday, saying he could do that this morning instead of cleaning stalls. But now what?
Dylan licks his dry lips and tries once more time to get himself up and out of bed. Slipping on a t-shirt and his boots, he walks shakily to the door only to sink down on the floor against the wall. No... he just wasn't going to make it. Dan would be on his own with the fence.
"Naw, you're good." Pete would have been willing to continue the conversation, but he knew better than to press it. "If I don't see you beforehand, I'll be around at about eight-thirty tomorrow night and you can ride with me to the party..."
...As promised, the next day Pete went home after work then returned a couple hours later to pick up Trey. He was dressed a little nicer than when going to the beach parties, but still casual. Wandering down to the lower level of TJY, he knocks on Trey's door.
"Ride's here," he announces. "Ready to party?"
3/18/12
Don't Expect
Sitting up again with his arms folded across Pete's desk. He gives a knowing nod as he thinks for a long moment about how he had acted the other night. Thinking about it he was still embarrassed it happened at all witch was a strange new emotion. Back home he wouldn't have cared one way or the other. So to now care....it was just strange.
"Well, I really don't expect her to, and...I think as long as I know she dosn't turn and fun the other way I'll be ok."
Trey was use to people not trusting him so he really was ok with that. It was kind the norm for him and he new it was his own fault. He just wanted her to know he was sorry, and try not to lose the friendship he's built.
"Was there anything else you needed me to help with or am I good?"
Placing her napkin down in her basket Misty gives another smile to Carson's suggestion. Maybe going to the late and just being together would be nice. After yesterday he extra time together would be well needed.
"I think I like the sound of that. Maybe we can pack some leftovers and have a little picnic."
Taking note to how much Dylan was sweating and the slight shake in his hand Ashlee wondered if everything was ok. She new he hadn't been feeling well and not eating much and it made her worry. Letting out a little sigh though she smiles anyways.
"Oh, ok...I hope you feel better. Maybe tonight if your still feeling bad I could bring you some soup."
Ashlee new not to agitate Dylan to much she understood when people were sick sometimes they just didn't want to be bothered. She just wanted Dylan to be ok too. It was hard not to worry about her friend now that he was back.
"Well, I really don't expect her to, and...I think as long as I know she dosn't turn and fun the other way I'll be ok."
Trey was use to people not trusting him so he really was ok with that. It was kind the norm for him and he new it was his own fault. He just wanted her to know he was sorry, and try not to lose the friendship he's built.
"Was there anything else you needed me to help with or am I good?"
Placing her napkin down in her basket Misty gives another smile to Carson's suggestion. Maybe going to the late and just being together would be nice. After yesterday he extra time together would be well needed.
"I think I like the sound of that. Maybe we can pack some leftovers and have a little picnic."
Taking note to how much Dylan was sweating and the slight shake in his hand Ashlee wondered if everything was ok. She new he hadn't been feeling well and not eating much and it made her worry. Letting out a little sigh though she smiles anyways.
"Oh, ok...I hope you feel better. Maybe tonight if your still feeling bad I could bring you some soup."
Ashlee new not to agitate Dylan to much she understood when people were sick sometimes they just didn't want to be bothered. She just wanted Dylan to be ok too. It was hard not to worry about her friend now that he was back.
Decline
Though Jade hadn't heard Dan approach, his sudden presence didn't startle her. She knew instantly that it was his arm that wrapped around her and she automatically leans into him. Her hand finds his and she locks her fingers around his too, just glad he was near.
She sighs and continues to stare out into the pasture. "I know," she replies softly. Another tear rolls silently down her cheek. "I just don't understand why he's doing this... I don't understand why Dad isn't doing anything.... It's like I'm just watching Dylan fade away and no one is trying to help. I know it has to be his own decision but... I don't know... I guess I'm just scared he's going to do something stupid and I'll never get my brother back at all."
Shifting around, she buries her face against his chest and wraps her arms around his waist.
Still scowling and trying to finish sweeping out the barn, Dylan's gaze snaps up at Ashlee. Any other day, he'd take her up on her request for company while studying. But today?
Sighing, he leans on his broom and wipes the insistent sweat from his forehead. His hand trembles slightly and he shakes his head. "Sorry, Ash..." He blinks away another bead of sweat, paling slightly as another brief wave of dizziness hits. "I um.... I'm not feeling so hot today."
He didn't mean to let irritation lace his tone, but he was having a very hard time today controlling his mood at all. His reaction to Jade proved that. He didn't want to upset Ashlee, though, and he tries to soften his tone. "I'll probably wind up in my bunk after I'm done here... thanks though."
"Mmm..." Pete leans back, putting his hands behind his head. "Knowing Ariel, yeah, she'll listen to you. She gives everyone a fair shake."
He squints an eye, studying Trey. "But whether or not she'll trust you again... that's something I can't answer."
Once more, Carson experiences relief flowing through his veins. Finally smiling, he moves his hand across the table to take Misty's. "Don't thank me... I just wish I had time to do more than just grab a bite. Maybe... we can take an evening drive out to the lake or something?"
She sighs and continues to stare out into the pasture. "I know," she replies softly. Another tear rolls silently down her cheek. "I just don't understand why he's doing this... I don't understand why Dad isn't doing anything.... It's like I'm just watching Dylan fade away and no one is trying to help. I know it has to be his own decision but... I don't know... I guess I'm just scared he's going to do something stupid and I'll never get my brother back at all."
Shifting around, she buries her face against his chest and wraps her arms around his waist.
Still scowling and trying to finish sweeping out the barn, Dylan's gaze snaps up at Ashlee. Any other day, he'd take her up on her request for company while studying. But today?
Sighing, he leans on his broom and wipes the insistent sweat from his forehead. His hand trembles slightly and he shakes his head. "Sorry, Ash..." He blinks away another bead of sweat, paling slightly as another brief wave of dizziness hits. "I um.... I'm not feeling so hot today."
He didn't mean to let irritation lace his tone, but he was having a very hard time today controlling his mood at all. His reaction to Jade proved that. He didn't want to upset Ashlee, though, and he tries to soften his tone. "I'll probably wind up in my bunk after I'm done here... thanks though."
"Mmm..." Pete leans back, putting his hands behind his head. "Knowing Ariel, yeah, she'll listen to you. She gives everyone a fair shake."
He squints an eye, studying Trey. "But whether or not she'll trust you again... that's something I can't answer."
Once more, Carson experiences relief flowing through his veins. Finally smiling, he moves his hand across the table to take Misty's. "Don't thank me... I just wish I had time to do more than just grab a bite. Maybe... we can take an evening drive out to the lake or something?"
Though it hurts...
Exiting the barn and seeing Jade at once of the fences Dan lets out a small sigh. He felt badly for Jade, and new this must be hard for her. To sit back and watch her brother destroy himself. He new for himself it was hard. Dylan was like a younger brother to him and he longed to help. Jade being blood and having a big heart like hers it must be ten times what he was feeling.
Slowly coming up behind her Dan puts his arms around her wast and leans his head on her shoulder. Just drawing her in close to him and sheltering her as much as he could. Sometimes he wished he could do more, keep her from the cruel world but he new he couldn't and what he had was the best he could do.
"He doesn't mean it you know. To be such a jerk and hurt you. It's him talking but...not really him."
Dan is quiet again for a moment. He wasn't trying to make excuses for Dylan and say what he was doing was ok. But this pattern Dan new it was hard to break once started. All they could do was hope and pray that Dylan could break the hold and he would become stronger in God to help overcome it.
"Though it hurts the best thing you can do is be there for him. He's going to need it, no matter what he says, no matter what he does. He's going to need your support."
Entering the barn Ashlee smiles as she spots Dylan. She had a feeling he would be here and she was happy to be right. Going over to him Ashlee gives a wave and a smile. It was a nice today out today and she wondered if he'd like to study with her.
"I was wondering if maybe you'd like to study with me a little bit? It's really nice out and after lunch I was thinking about going to the south field."
Ashlee gives another smile to Dylan. It was always more fun to do some work with someone than alone. It helped her in a way focus more and it was nice to have a break here and there to chat with someone. She just hoped Dylan would like the idea too.
Sitting at Pete's desk and just listing to him on the phone Trey taps his pen on the stack of papers he had just finished. It sounded like Ariel was being difficult and it made Trey a little nervous. Would Pete be able to get her to come?
As Pete finally gets Ariel to come Trey gives a smirk. Waiting till Pete hands up the phone before giving a nod and leaning back in the chair.
"Thanks Pete. Now I just hope she'll listen to me. If I was her....I wouldn't."
Letting out a long sigh Trey's look was one in deep thought for a long moment. He had all night to try and think what he was going to say tomorrow, but the biggest fear on his mind was rejection. What if Ariel wouldn't listen and the damage he had done was to great? What would he do that?
"Think she will listen to me?"
Sitting quietly eating her tuna wrap Misty was quiet. She really didn't have much to say and though she wasn't that hungry the wrap sure did taste good. As Carson finally says something Misty looks down at the wrap and than up at Carson again.
Just staying quiet Misty took a stray peace of lettuces and put it in her mouth. She was still pretty upset about last night But Carson was being pretty sweet now and to hear him saw he was sorry Misty could see in his eyes he did mean it.
"I forgive you. Sorry you were offended by my wording but put yourself in my shoes...thats how it looked. Next time I'll think a little more before I jump."
Taking the last bit of her wrap and whiping her mouth Misty does her best to give a smile to Caron. Her stomach was still in knots but she new that they would be ok now. and she would keep true to her word and think before she spoke.
"Thank you for lunch Carson!"
Slowly coming up behind her Dan puts his arms around her wast and leans his head on her shoulder. Just drawing her in close to him and sheltering her as much as he could. Sometimes he wished he could do more, keep her from the cruel world but he new he couldn't and what he had was the best he could do.
"He doesn't mean it you know. To be such a jerk and hurt you. It's him talking but...not really him."
Dan is quiet again for a moment. He wasn't trying to make excuses for Dylan and say what he was doing was ok. But this pattern Dan new it was hard to break once started. All they could do was hope and pray that Dylan could break the hold and he would become stronger in God to help overcome it.
"Though it hurts the best thing you can do is be there for him. He's going to need it, no matter what he says, no matter what he does. He's going to need your support."
Entering the barn Ashlee smiles as she spots Dylan. She had a feeling he would be here and she was happy to be right. Going over to him Ashlee gives a wave and a smile. It was a nice today out today and she wondered if he'd like to study with her.
"I was wondering if maybe you'd like to study with me a little bit? It's really nice out and after lunch I was thinking about going to the south field."
Ashlee gives another smile to Dylan. It was always more fun to do some work with someone than alone. It helped her in a way focus more and it was nice to have a break here and there to chat with someone. She just hoped Dylan would like the idea too.
Sitting at Pete's desk and just listing to him on the phone Trey taps his pen on the stack of papers he had just finished. It sounded like Ariel was being difficult and it made Trey a little nervous. Would Pete be able to get her to come?
As Pete finally gets Ariel to come Trey gives a smirk. Waiting till Pete hands up the phone before giving a nod and leaning back in the chair.
"Thanks Pete. Now I just hope she'll listen to me. If I was her....I wouldn't."
Letting out a long sigh Trey's look was one in deep thought for a long moment. He had all night to try and think what he was going to say tomorrow, but the biggest fear on his mind was rejection. What if Ariel wouldn't listen and the damage he had done was to great? What would he do that?
"Think she will listen to me?"
Sitting quietly eating her tuna wrap Misty was quiet. She really didn't have much to say and though she wasn't that hungry the wrap sure did taste good. As Carson finally says something Misty looks down at the wrap and than up at Carson again.
Just staying quiet Misty took a stray peace of lettuces and put it in her mouth. She was still pretty upset about last night But Carson was being pretty sweet now and to hear him saw he was sorry Misty could see in his eyes he did mean it.
"I forgive you. Sorry you were offended by my wording but put yourself in my shoes...thats how it looked. Next time I'll think a little more before I jump."
Taking the last bit of her wrap and whiping her mouth Misty does her best to give a smile to Caron. Her stomach was still in knots but she new that they would be ok now. and she would keep true to her word and think before she spoke.
"Thank you for lunch Carson!"
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