16 The Barn Yard

...AUSTIN POV...

Now that was a close call, not that I don't mind seeing her, but I wonder what has got her so spooked. And why was she crying? It breaks my heart to see her hurt; I wish I could pull her in my arms and take the edge of the pain that is written all over her gorgeous face. Though she did say she was going on a date, maybe she is just nervous about that.

It does not make sense; why would she flirt with me if she is seeing someone else. I hate to think that she might be like her sister, which we all know of the rumors that had been going around her. Maybe if I moved a bit faster, it would be me that she is spending tonight with.

But I cannot dwell on things that I have no control over. What I have control over is the ache in my heart, and what better way to take the pain away than drowning yourself in your sorrows. So I do what I rarely do around here, I stop at the local bar to have a beer before I head home.

And do I regret coming here for it is packed. I forgot the big game is on today, not that I am a big football fan. But it is kind of a big deal around here. Now you find every who's who squashed in this small pub.

So I am just minding my own business during half time when a conversation catches my attention. And as I look over my shoulder, I hear Eddie talking to Steve.

"Man Steve, did I tell you that I am taking Summer to TheBarn Yard tonight?"

"Damn, Eddie, you have your finger in that pie again."

"Oh, believe me, I am really getting my fingers tangling in that."

"Fuck, you might even bend her over that car like you always wanted to."

"Suzie is coming with, but I am sure I can get her alone in the bathroom for five minutes."

"Hahaha. A five-minute man."

Oh my god, if I have to listen to these dumb buffoons any longer, then I might just become as dry and dull as them. I mean, who the fück says pie these days and do not even go to the bending part. Is this idiot in high school still. Best, I make my exit before I am punching someone in the face again.

But not before I give him five scents of my mind. So as I walk past him and Mr. Personality, I grab him by the neck and bend his head forward over the table.

"How does it feel like being bend over Eddie?"

But the damn thing stutters so much that I cannot hear a single word that he says. So I rip him up straight again and look the asshole into the eyes.

"Don't let me teach you how to treat a woman."

With that, I slap him against the head and make my way out the door. Now I am angry all over again. This is the second guy that I have hit over Summer. What is this girl doing tome?

As I make my way home, I cannot help laughing at myself. I am truly living up to my bad-boy reputation today, but what would make it better is if I sweep in and steal the girl. So with a new twist of evilness, I decide to make an appearance at The Barn Yard tonight. You know, to make sure Eddie got the message and maybe even because I want to see Summer again.

So as I pull up in front of the house, I dash inside to go and change for the date I have arranged for myself. Talk about Mr. Personality; I am more like Mucho Ego Man. Damn, this woman is messing with me. I am even...

"Talking to myself."

So I am standing in my favorite pair of black boxers and a tight-fitting white shirt in front of my closet, trying to decide which shade of denim I shall wear tonight.

I start whistling to my favorite tune. Yes, I think it is official; my heart drums to a different beat when I think of Summer.

Then as I get closer to The Barn Yard, I feel little butterflies start tickling my insides. What if she does not want to see me and throws her drink in my face. Well, at least I got some reaction out of her.

With the nervousness setting in, I step through the door and immediately start scanning the room for her. And then my eye catches her. She is still as beautiful as ever, though that sadness is still on her face. Now how do I get her attention, for she is sitting with the bubbling Eddie? As they say, throw caution to the wind and do for what your heart says.

I casually cross the floor and make my way towards her; she does not see until I am right in front of her.

"Seems like we are bumping into each other again."

"Oh! I didn't see you there!... Hey"

I watch as her cheeks go a shade darker than her rosy lips. She looks so damn, irresistible. And now, I find myself staring at lips for a fraction longer than I should. But I am soon ripped from my trance as I realize what I am doing.

"Drive into anyone lately?"

"Cocky as ever. I'll have you know that I'm a very skilled driver. I just had...well, let's call it a momentarily lapse in judgment."

"Mmm...did not know I had that effect on you. I must be doing something right then."

But then Loverboy decides that he needs to interrupt our conversation, not that she was enjoying his in the first place, but this man is so full of himself he just has to get his five cents in.

"Can you not see that the lady is with me."

"Oh, I thought that she was a pie?"

And maybe I should not have said that for now, she is curious. There is no way I will lie to her either, so as she asks, I cannot help have a smirk on my face.

"Pie? What pie? What are you talking about, Mr. Pierce."

"Oh, Eddie here likes having his finger in your pie."

"Eddie, is that true?"

Then Mr. Casanova starts choking on his words; he struggles to find that one word to apologize to her. And much to my surprise, she slaps him through his face so hard that his head snaps to the left. It takes all my self-restraint not to burst out laughing.

"Let that be a lesson, now scoot along and go find another pie to play with."

But as I say that, Summer gets off her chair and makes her way towards the door. I grab her softly by the arms to stop her from leaving. She gets such a huge fright from me holding onto her that she immediately pulls her arm back. I look down at my feet, feeling like an idiot for doing that. Then I start begging for her to stay.

"Please, please don't go. Have a drink with me, please?"

"I don't know...I should probably go..."

"Please stay. I need you...No...I want you...I mean...Dammit!Please stay."

She smiles at me and nods her head. I lace her fingers in her hand and lead her to an open booth. And as I hold her hand, it feels like I can nearly die. I can stand the whole night just holding her hand, and I will be the happiest man alive. But then the stuttering becomes worse.

"Can I have you...Fück...Can I get you...Ugh... Do you want a drink?"

She looks at me from underneath her fluttering eyelashes as she says yes. After a few seconds in uncomfortable silence, she speaks.

"So Mr. Pierce, you feeling any better after I've seen you this morning?"

"Nothing that an open road and fresh air could not fix."

I move a bit uncomfortable in my chair; I hope she does not ask me more about it; instead, I change the subject.

"So that near bumper bash had you spooked. Are you feeling better?"

"Oh, no...I wasn't spooked. I was perfectly fine. Why would you say that?"

"That is not what that mascara lines over your beautiful face said. I was worried, I mean, I was concerned. Argh! I did not like seeing you cry."

"Oh, that! Well...there....uhm...was something in my eye. So nothing to worry about. Now, tell me, Mr. Pierce, how did you come to have the label " Bad boy?"

"I see what you did there, Ms. Knightley. It is not going to work with me."

Then she starts to shut off and stops letting me in. So I gently place my arm on her shoulder.

"Ms. Knightley, I know all about being the odd one out, and something gives me the idea that you feel like you don't belong anywhere. But let me tell you this, I will be here for you no matter what your last name is."

I watch as it hits her hard; I know my words have given her something to relate to. Then I see the tears start to tickle in the corner of her eyes, just waiting to burst its banks and come streaming down her face.

Then I take her hands into mine and gently squeeze them. The soft tenderness of her skin and the way her fingers touch my palm send seven sensations of heaven through my body. Every second her skin touches mine; it feels like I am slowly dying over and over again as she awakes a beast that had been dormant in me for a very long time. The tighter I hold onto her, the more that warmth grows that I feel building up in my core. She is setting my body alight.

But then I watch as her eyes grow wide, and she immediately pulls her hands from mine. And as I turn my head in the direction she is looking, there is only one word that comes to mind.

"Fuck."