On a Friday night, you could find Darla at the hottest parties in Farswood. There was nothing better to do on the weekends then to get high and drunk. But, you only ever saw the popular kids there. Darla had spent the entirety with Farswood high schoolâs football star.
Austen Rhodes theyâd never been official, but they hooked up enough to make them seem like they were dating. Austen kept handing her drink after drink, until sheâd lost count and ended up sleeping with him. She glanced to the clock, the red digital numbers reading 4:00 am. She jumped up quickly, slipping her clothes back on.
âWhere the hell are you goinâ?â Austen asked sitting up and slipping his jeans back on, walking over to her side of the bed, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her hard. She shoved him away picking up her shirt from the ground and tugging it over her head, pulling her long brown hair out from the collar. âThat right there, is exactly why you ainât my girlfriend.â He said lighting himself a cigarette.
DJ rolled her eyes grabbing the cigarette from his fingertips and pressing it to her lips. âNo sweetheart, I ainât your girlfriend, because I could do a whole hell of a lot better.â She smirked, handing the cigarette back to him. âSee you Monday Rhodes.â She said slipping out of the bedroom as she adjusted her skin tight short leather skirt.
She pushed past the teenagers who were still partying, she could hear Austen calling after her but she didnât stop as she slipped out of the house, feeling like shit for once again letting Austen take advantage of her but she pushed the thought from her mind as her eyes fell on the sober red head sitting on the porches railing alone. Her best friend Mabelle was the sweetest, most innocent girl sheâd ever meet and she wasnât entirely sure why the two of them were friends or how Mabelle was even popular, but they complemented each other and Mabelle was the only person whoâd stuck by her side through thick and thin when he life had fallen apart.
âMay, you ready to get out of here?â she smiled to her friend and watched as she jumped off down from where she was sitting ad linked arms with her looking up at her with a soft smile.
âI thought youâd never ask.â She laughed as the two headed out to Mabelleâs car. The drive was long only because the Jenningâs ranch was on the outskirts of town. The two drove in silence as Darla tried to keep from falling asleep. Once they got to the driveway, the car came to a stop and Dee glanced to her friend.
âYou sure you donât wanna stay the night?â she asked and May simple shook her head, her parents were extremely strict and sheâd be lucky to if she didnât get in trouble for staying out so late. âAlright.â She said leaning over and kissing Mayâs cheek. âThanks for the ride.â She smiled stepping out of the car.
The drive way was long and Darla had way too much time to beat herself up about what had happened at the party. Come Monday, there was no telling what awful rumor Austen would have started about her, he was good for making her look like a total whore. She walked around the back of
her house because she knew her father would be awake and sheâd be in deep shit coming home this late. She went straight to her window only sheâd forgot to leave it open so she went straight to Liamâs window and tapped on it, a second later he was at the window. He always waited up for her, it had almost become a tradition.
âWhere the hell have you been?â he whisper yelled and she rolled her eyes as she climbed through the window, head pounding and still fairly drunk. âBecause of you, I had to lie to
your father.â He spat in his faded British accent.
âCan it, my head is killing me and youâre not helpin it.â She sighed. âI was with Austen and Mabelle.â She smirked. âAt a party.â She shrugged.
âThat guyâs nothing but trouble Dee.â Liam sighed as she headed towards the door, she wasnât in the mood to be lectured by him, not now anyways.
âWhatever Will, thanks for waiting up.â She spat sarcastically slipping out of his bedroom and heading down the hall towards hers. She opened the door only to be greeted by both her dogs. She slipped out of her cloths leaving her in her bar and underwear as she climbed into her bed exhausted. Lucy laid at her feet, while Maverick laid on the floor next to the bed. It took less the a second for her to fall asleep, exhausted from the night.
Liam had spent the night hunting, it was easy to slip out of the house after everyone was fast asleep. If Mr. Jennings or his sister, Lottie found out what he was doing he could guarantee theyâd both be extremely unhappy. Darla however wasnât home and she knew he was a hunter, simply because heâd been the one to save her from the wolves. Heâd had no luck and heâd started heading back, climbing through his bedroom window and taking a quick shower, exhausted from being out all night.
There was a tap on his window and he rolled his eyes already knowing who it was. He opened the window and tried lecturing Darla, but sheâd only ignored him and left. He climbed into bed passing out instantly. Only he wasnât asleep long before he heard his bedroom door open and his sister and her dog were gently waking him.
"Billyyyy. It's time to wake up!" his sisterâs voice woke him, but he kept his eyes closed groaning miserably as if he had a hangover, throwing his arm over his eyes.
"Now, I have to check on the animals at the clinic and i'll probably take Bear with me since it's not like he'll let me go along." he listened, too exhausted to comment back.
"And I think you have some horses to feed. I'll be back soon, and i'll come see you when I go to give Starling her carrots." he nodded letting her know he was listening.
She rested her cheek on his chest and he lazily rested a hand on her back. They were close, he had practically been her father when they were younger. When heâd been kicked out it nearly killed him and when heâd seen her again it was incredibly to know she was alive, let alone safe, because heâd been worried sheâd been dead or something had happened because he hadnât been around to protect her from the wolves or her parents. Although it was slightly hard to deal with Darlaâs jealousy and Lottie, the two of them both meant a lot to him, but they didnât get along, but that was mostly because Darla wasnât fond of sharing anything.
"I really missed you, big brother. Love you, Billy." he could hear the grin in her voice and a second later he heard his door close and he was alone again, he let out an exhausted sigh.
âLove you too kid.â He mumbled like she was still in the room. He laid there for a while longer trying his hardest to fall back asleep, but when he couldnât he sat up and got dressed for the day. Slipping on his jeans and a plain white shirt as he headed into the kitchen, Mr. Jennings was already dressed in his uniform, reading the newspaper sipping his coffee, like he as every morning. âMorning Mr. J.â Liam smirked pouring himself a cup of coffee, joining Beau at the table.
âThere was an attack last night.â Darlaâs dad, sighed laying the newspaper down, pretty brutal, Iâm head out in a minuet to check it out.â Liam tried to keep the shocked look off his face, attack? But, heâd been hunting all night. He thought to himself confused. âOld man Rylie, itâs a shame, he was a good man.â Beau continued letting him know whoâd been attack, standing up. âYou think you can handle the ranch today?â he asked and Liam nodded taking a sip of his coffee. Mr. Jennings normally had Saturdayâs off and in return gave Liam Saturdayâs off.
âYou got it, tell Mrs. Rylie Iâm sorry for her loss.â He said sighed pissed at himself for having let that happen. Mr. Jenningsâs gave Liam a simple tip of his cowboy hat as he grabbed his keyâs and head out leaving Liam alone only he wasnât alone long.
âHey! Did daddy just leave?â Annabelleâs voice came from behind him, Liam nodded turning to look at the younger Jenningsâs who resemble her sister. âDamn.â She breathed âWell in that case you mind helpin me saddle up Dream?â she said wicked smirk on her lips that matched Darlaâs almost perfectly.
Liam raised a brow. âDreamâŠcatcher? Darlaâs Dream?â he asked watching Anna nod. âAlright, but donât come cryin to me when Darla kicks your ass.â He laughed heading outside with Annabelle.