If Only

Chapter 8: A Different Paisley Jo

A few days later Paisley had her aunt pick her up. Her aunt Abbi took her to hair salon. Abbi dyed her hair a dark brown color. When Joe got home that night he was not happy with the color change.

At dinner that night as they were eating. She finally spoke "Daddy I want the bedroom downstairs." She said

"Paisley honey..what is it? What has you so upset?" Joe said

"Daddy just answer my question please?" She said with tears in her eyes.

Joe sighed. "Sure honey I will help you move this weekend. Im off this weekend." Joe said

"Thank you daddy." She said then left the table.

Winnie saw that she barely ate her food. She looked down and shook her head. After everyone went to bed Bucky walked down the hall to Paisley's room.

He saw her wiping tears when she walked in. She saw who came in and rolled to put her back to him. He walked over to her and rolled her to face him.

"Paisley..what is wrong? This isnt like you to be depressed or quiet." He said

She kept her gaze at the wall. He made her look at him. "Paisley Jo darlin what is the matter?" He said

She shook her head no. He pulled her into his lap. "I want you to talk to me Paisley. Something is wrong tell me did a boy at school hurt you or something." He said

She looked down. "Paisley darlin..I know I havent been the best person to you. But you can talk to me just tell me what is wrong." He said

She shook her head no. "Yes you can Paisley." He said as he held her cheeks.

He looked at her "whatever it is." He said

She swallowed hard. He used his thumbs to wipe her falling tears.

"I like you..but you l-l love Addie.." she whispered.

He let go of her face as it all fell into place. His announcement is what hurt her. "Pais..sweetheart you are 14 Im 17..Im sorry that I hurt you but darlin you need to date someone your own age. I .." he said

She climbed off of him as she broke into tears. Bucky looked up and blinked away tears. He got up and went back to his room.

The next day he pulled his mom aside. "I may be staying with dad a few nights a week if thats okay. Um if thats okay with you?" He said

"Yeah baby. I know you two have been getting close." She said

"Thanks mom" he said

Paisley was standing behind. "Um Winnie..dad is looking for you." She said then walked away.

She went downstairs and started to paint her new room purple as well as the bathroom. She turned up "Every Rose Has Its Thorn."

The next song that started was "War of Hearts." By Ruelle. Bucky could hear the song and looked down. He started to pack some clothes to keep at his dads house.

Bucky headed to his dad's house. He pulled in James met him on the porch.

"Son? Everything okay?" James said

"No..but Im going to spending a few nights a week with you." He said

"James..what happened?" James said as he followed him inside.

He sat down on his bed at his dad's house. He let out a breathe and shook his head. "Im the reason why Paisley is hurt." He said

"What?" James said as he sat beside him.

"Paisley has feelings for me. And I go and rub it in her face my love for Addie my engagement. Not realizing that Im hurting her in the process." Bucky said

"Oh son.." he said

"She told me last night. I tried to make her see that we could never work and that made it worse. So I figured it would be best if I stay over here a bit more than just weekends. Give her some distance from me." Bucky said

"Yeah.." he said as he hugged his shoulders.

Bucky was gone three days that made her broken heart worse. Steve came up to Buck at football practice.

"Hey man where you been?" Steve said

"At dads. Everything okay?" He said

"Not really." Steve said

"Your sister.." he said

"She has pretty much locked herself in her room and keeps playing sad music." Steve said

Bucky said "Ill be home in a few days.."

"Buck whats going on?" He said

"Nothing." Bucky said as he got into his truck and drove off.