Page 2 of Wasted Oil

“Talk to me Goose.” I say as I close my book and lean in.

"Word is when Janelle went to visit Juilliard over spring break she was partying like nightly—”

Yeah, Janelle won the scholarship from the Senior Showcase no real surprise. I mean her father is the freaking principal. Mine and Alex’s set to Landslide from The Chicks was legendary. As bummed as I am about losing we both kind of knew the outcome but we sure went out with a bang.

"So yeah, she cheated dude, she met a guy and they got real down and dirty. What a hussy right?" She tells me and I can’t help but think of my cowboy and how he must feel completely broken. As much as I hated him with Janelle I genuinely loved seeing him so happy but to hear that Janelle cheated infuriates me.

"No wonder why Rhett has been nothing but Mr moody broody and distant.” She adds.

"Hey I’ll text you I’ve gotta do something” I say and before she can respond I'm moving to the student parking lot and digging my phone out.

Me: Hey cowboy wanna take a drive?

Cowboy: A drive with you Boots sounds perfect. Meet at my truck.

I blush at his use of my nickname. I guess it was bound to come up since the item of clothing I always choose is my boots and I dress up according to what pair I choose that day. Like me with my love for boots, Rhett grew up obsessed with Tombstone and always said he wanted to be a cowboy when he grew up which led to him getting his first black stetson hat. The moment I saw him in it he became my cowboy.

As I spot his truck, he’s already walking to the passenger side to open the door for me. His momma sure raised him right. I smile at him with a thank you then he closes the door, rounds the front and climbs in the drivers side. He hands me the aux cord and starts to head to an all too familiar place. Not just because it's the backroad behind his farm but it's just a place that seems so far away from everywhere else.

We sit on the bed of the truck looking over the fields around and just talk about anything other than what's happened. I know he doesn’t want to dwell on it but move forward. So we talk about our futures like we always do, I just leave out the part where he is my future and that I want him in all kinds of ways possible.

Chapter one

“Shut the front door, really?”

Melanie

Five Years Ago

“Ladies and Gentleman, I give you the Class of 2011!”

I see a wave of Red and White graduation caps fill the night air. Alex and I are now officially out of high school ready to take on the outside world.

“We did it! We are finally done with high school! I still can’t believe it!” Alex says as we walk towards Rhett and Johnny, our other friends. Alex and I have been best friends since day one of kindergarten. I can still remember the day that I came to Alex’s rescue like it was yesterday. I was swinging on the monkey bars minding my own business. When from across the sand box, I saw the two inseparable boys of the kindergarten class were pulling a little girls ponytail and making fun of her bangs. Then pushed her down that had her crying holding her knee with a scrape on it. While the boys ran off giggling to each other, my little legs hit the sand and I ran to grab a teacher aide. After the teacher came over we had gone to the nurses office. I didn't leave her side as she cried while the nurse cleaned up the cut on her knee.

"All done miss Daniels, you are all better.” The Nurse left and brought back a lollipop for both her and I.

"And thank you miss Alvarez for staying with her and making sure she is okay.” I gave a toothy grin as she returned back to her office. I climbed up on the tiny bed and sat right next to her.

“I’m Meowanie Awvarezz.” She wiped away the tear on her cheek and looked up at me with a red face.

"Awexandra Danels.” I gave her a hug next, she then wrapped her arms around me too.

"We gonna be best fwiends foeva,” I tell her.

We have been inseparable ever since. Those two little mean boys from the playground you may ask? Well they are the two boys we are currently walking to, Rhett and Johnny.

“I know, I can’t wait to start focusing on writing music and being able to come and go as I please.” Alex nods her head as we reach the boys.

“Babe!” Johnny yells as he grabs on to Alex lifting her up twirling her. I still have no idea what exactly Alex see’s in him, but she swears up and down that he is the one. Honestly, I really feel like she’s stalling and or in denial of her true feelings and just living in the moment. I wonder if she is going to her dads lake house this summer, maybe I should tag along this time.

As I push that thought to the side, I move over to where Rhett is standing and give him a side hug. I know he hates those so he turns to face me picking me up off the ground.

Rhett Parker is beyond gorgeous. With sandy blond hair and piercing green eyes. It was hard not to develop a crush, and by crush, I mean fall absolutely in love with him. I always thought he was cute when we were younger.

Once we reached high school he had a growth spurt the summer right before 9th grade and finally grew into his body. He is the high school boy every young adult book I’ve read talks about. Being around him always brought out the awkwardness in me though. A stuttering mess, nothing but looking down at my boots trying to avoid his knowing gaze.

I feel like if I were to look him in the eye he might be able to see that I’ve been in love with him for years. He would never go for me though, where I was more silent, he was the popular one.

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