Wondering Why ~ [ INCOMPLETE ]

05 - Touch

~ 2024 ~ back to Present day ~

~ Waylon ~

"[...] You'll know her better after tonight." My sister grinned at me as I drove through town.

That's exactly what I'm afraid of. Last time I tried to get to know a girl, it did not end well. I was really glad that Dakota had finally found a good friend, one as good as Catalina seemed, but I couldn't bring myself to talk to her.

As I pull up to the rodeo's parkinglot, Catalina whispers some sort of French curse beneath her breath and shrinks into the seat. "What is it?" Kota turns to look back at her.

I pull into a parkingspot and look at her through the rearview. She points as a black new bronco. I grimace at the look of the thing, squatted with thin tires and rims that are way too bright, Rock lights on the underneath like a beacon. Said bronco is slightly rocking back and forth, the windows too tinted to tell exactly what's going on, but it's not hard to assume that sex is involved. Kota looked at the car, then at Cat. "Is- what-?"

"That's my ex's car. I'd recognize the fucker anywhere." She seemed shaky, I could hear the tremble in her voice.

"The hell is he doing Here?" Kota sounded pissed, but I was confused. "Ways, take Cat ahead. Once this guy comes out, I'm gonna give him a piece of my mind." I nod slightly and shut off the truck, hopping out and walking around, opening both Cat's and Kota's doors.

Cat gets out, shaking her head as kota steps down to the ground, I shut the doors. "Dakota, don't.." Kota walks to her and whispers, I step away, lighting a cigarette and placing it between my lips. I hear something from Kota. "If that fucker touches you, or even looks at you wrong, I will fuck him up."

I glance back at them, furrowing my brows. I hear the click of a door opening, and slamming shut, and I turn my head over to see that man getting out of the bronco, zipping up his jeans and not giving a shit about the woman who was clung to his arm. He even looked like a piece of shit. I turn to the girls and nudge my sister. "He's out. Let's go."

Kota furrowed her brows. "Take her, I'll give him some shit." She took my hand and locked my arm with Cat's as she stormed over to the man. I just watched her, and Catalina freaked out a little. "Kota, stop-" she tried to go after her, and I gently grabbed onto her arm. She tensed up under my touch and flinched, turning to me with this look in her eyes. I immediately let go. "I'm- im sorry. Just.. let her do her thing.." I shoved my hands in my pockets as I huffed cigarette smoke out of my nostrils. She held onto her arm where I'd grabbed her, rubbing her arm. I immediately connected the dots. That man, her ex, was abusive towards her when they were together. The way she'd looked at me when she first saw me, the way she flinched when I grabbed her arm, and the nervous fidgeting when she was in the back seat of my truck.

She looked over at the man, who was now fuming at Dakota. He looked so scared that it was almost funny.

"Cmon. Let's get our seats, she'll be around shortly." I look down at her and she nods, and a shout from the man's direction pulls a jolt from her, grabbing onto my sleeve.

"You okay?" She looks up at me and quickly let's go, straightening my sleeve out gently, softening the wrinkles that her hand made.

"Sorry- yeah, I'm alright." She walks ahead, and I easily catch up with her.

"No need to apologize, it's fine." I twist my cigarette between my thumb and index finger and drop it on the ground, stepping on it to put it out. I kept walking, and realized she wasn't beside me anymore. I turn to see her picking up the cigarette and putting it in a nearby cig disposal stack. "The hell're you doin?" I look at her as she jogs to catch up with me, and I keep walking.

"You shouldn't litter. Especially cigarettes."

I chuckle softly at her and nod. "Yes Ma'am, my bad."

I turn back to see that black bronco driving off, my sister nowhere in sight. Just as im beginning to worry, she pops around the corner and nearly barrels into Catalina. "Imma go get a drink, y'all want anythin?"

"Water, please, Kota."

"A vodka N' tonic."

She nodded. "Alrighty. Yall two get closer! Have some fun, relax! Don't get in any fights, little bro. Cat, you keep an eye on him, yeah?"

Cat smiled at her. "Oh ofcourse." She was fidgeting with her hands, seeming anxious when Kota left.

"You Alright?" I looked down at her, and she seemed to jump a little.

"Uh- yeah, just... a lot of people.. everywhere.. I have kind of a fear of crowds.." she picked at her cuticles.

"Oh. Here.." I held my arm up a little for her to hold onto and she shook her head, looking down. I cocked a brow, and kept my arm there. After a second, she gave in, and slid her hand to the inside of my elbow, a slim hand and nimble fingers cold on my bare forearm, but soft. It seemed out of anxiety when her thumb slid up my sleeve, rubbing on my bicep shakily. I tucked my arm close to my body, her arm wedged between my elbow and side to let her know I wouldn't let her get lost in the crowd. Her head tilted down when I did.

I couldn't help but zone out at her touch on my skin. I hadn't felt soft touch like that from anyone but my family in a very long time. I began to tear up a little, and my whole body stiffened, holding my breath as to not cry from touch deprivation. I lead her up the bleachers, and her hand slid gently off my arm as I let her pass to sit down at the top, pushing that tear past the brink. I didn't even have to blink, a set of tears traveled down my cheeks and got caught in my stubble.

As I took the seat beside her, I let my eyes shut, taking time to pull it together before Dakota got to us, because god knows she would make a big deal of it. I went to lift my hand to wipe the tears from my jawline, but I felt a soft touch there before I could. I flinch at the touch on my cheek, making the girl beside me jump. I look at her, a concerned look on her features.

"I'm sorry—"

I shake my head "It's okay."

"What's wrong?" She cautiously reached out again and brushed the tears off my jaw, I looked down as more formed in my eyes.

"Oh nothing's wrong with him, he's just super touch deprived." My sister's voice made me and cat both jolt up, and she laughed softly. She handed me a waterbottle, and Cat her drink, sitting beside me, opposite of cat.

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