Wondering Why ~ [ INCOMPLETE ]

03 - Mr. Lonely

~ Dakota (shorter background chapter)

~ Thursday Night, 22:00 ~  (10PM)

I was sitting on the couch in the living room when my little brother came inside. Waylon's only a few years younger than me, but I still think of him as a baby brother.

I look over at him. "Ways, Cmere." He looks up when I call his name, the face of a lost puppy displaying how tired he was. He walks to the couch, looking down at me as I stand infront of him. "You okay, Bubba?" I carefully straighten his hat, crossing my arms. He nods.

"I'm alright."

"Mm. Sure. ... you go on and get cozy clothes on. I wanna talk to you bout somethin."

He turns And heads upstairs, and I collapse once more on the couch. I watch The TV, Which Just had college football on at the time. I surfed through the channels until I found a nature documentary, and clicked for it to be on in the background as the sound of the shower upstairs hissed through the pipes.

I stand and walk to the bar by the kitchen. We may have grown up poor, but it wasn't always that way. This house and everything in it had been in the family for generations. It was a poor decision on our mother's part that lost us all our money. Her addiction to drugs got us into million dollar debts, so much so that it rendered the family virtually empty handed for a couple years, until dad eventually got a job after mom's death, and Waylon started working with him. Since then, we get several million a year. I run the old motel that my mom used to own. It used to be her old house when she met dad. Now we use it as a bed and breakfast for those who come to town.

I pour some whiskey on ice in a glass, and sip on it as my brother descends the staircase. He walks to me and I slide a second whiskey on ice to him. He thanks me and takes a sip.

"Whatsit you wanted to tell me?"

"Soo... there's a new girl in town."

"Oh, Damn it dakota."

"Just hear me out, Mr Lonely! Okay?"

He stared me down for a second before a reluctant huff. "'Kay."

"Her name is Catalina. She's from France but she's here because of a photography class. I invited her to the rodeo with us this upcoming weekend so she could get some pictures."

He nods, taking a sip from his glass of whiskey. "And you want me to talk to her."

"Yeah. Kinda. But not like that. I Just mean.. be yourself, yeah? Don't close yourself up around her like you usually do around people.. I feel she could really use someone like you. As could you, someone like her. She got here on Monday, and we've been out and about a few times these last couple days. I've shown her around."

He pinched his nosebridge, his eyes shut and brows wrinkled.

"Buttt I was also wonderinggg.."

"Oh no."

"Shush! Damn!" I smack his arm and shake my head. "I thought she might be able to come to our ranch while you're working and get some more laid back pictures. She has a western theme for her photography assignment, and I think some action photos from the rodeo would be good to be accompanied by some working photos.. don't we move the cattle in a week?"

He nodded. "We do.. And we'll see. I don't know this girl yet, so I'll need to actually meet and get to know her before we go letting any strangers onto dad's ranch."

I nod and smile. "Oh thank you!" I gently kiss his cheek and ruffle his damp hair. "Get some rest, ways. I'll Cya tomorrow."

"Night."

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