Chapter Text
The town always had a "back to school" rodeo, to celebrate all the highschool competetors in the association.
Rodeos were a big thing in this town, which was evident by just how many damn people showed up.
Rick Neven was one of them. The few weeks he'd been in school, he'd managed to befriend Iceman and Slider. The two of them had convinced Rick to come, since they were going anyways for Wolfman.
The three of them sat down in the crowded metal bleachers. The sun was starting to set, and they hadn't turned the arena lights on, so everything was cast in an orange and pinkish dusky glow.
Hollywood glanced around at all the other people here, he felt oddly out of place, as most dressed the same, and he had just thrown on trousers, not jeans. Atleast the townsfolk didn't make fun of him to his face.
The arena lights cut on. They weren't abrupt, they were a dull glow, before slowly getting brighter, as to not startle livestock or blind any people.
Hollywood nudged Slider's arm. "So.. I've never been to one of these before, what's it like?" He questioned Slider.
"Oh, so basically, we do like the national anthem first, then the announcer talks about the kids that are competing... uh... then the rodeo clown does his stunts." Slider paused, getting a breath from his rambling "Then I think today it's Bareback riding first, then Saddle Bronc, then Breakaway, then Team Roping.. some other stuff, but they save Bullriding for last, since most people just come for that." He gestured to some of the people in the pens, the gate, and some of the cattle as he spoke.
The chute was underneath the wooden booths, which was where most of the competitors would come out from. There was the boxes where a few Bareback riding horses were already loaded, and some Highschoolers all stood up on the slats of the pen, waiting for it to actually start.
After a hour of the announcer speaking, the national anthem, and introduction of competitors, and a couple of disapointing runs from the Bareback riders, Iceman nudged at Hollywood.
"Wolf does Saddle Bronc, so he should be up soon." Iceman glanced back to Hollywood "Dont know if you like the guy or not, I haven't seen y'all talk at all."
"He's.. fine." Hollywood shrugged "I don't know him too well."
"He's a damn asshole is what he is." Slider huffed "He beats me every time we play cards."
"Doesn't make him a bad person, Ron." Ice rolled his eyes, before looking back to Rick. "He's a good guy, he's just.. well.. a roughie, so he's a kid who's a daredevil."
Hollywood's attention drifted from the two bickering guys next to him, to the boxes where the next event was preparing. The pickup men were all sitting on their horses in the arena. One of them was riding a paint, the other, just a white quarter horse.
The announcer came back over the speakers, and Hollywood perked up. A boy that looked about the same age as Rick was about to go, it wasn't Wolf, so he just frowned and watched disinterestedly. The boy settled into the saddle, grabbed ahold of the strap on it, raised a hand in the air, and nodded. The bronc came out of the box rearing, which was a bad thing, since it put the rider offbalance. It was difficult to see through the rising dirt cloud, but the horse bucked the boy off. The crowd still cheered, some gasped "oohs", and many clapped for the boy, even if he wouldnt place.
"Wolfman's next." Hollywood heard Slider say loudly and excitedly to Iceman
It was true, Hollywood could spot the boy's blonde hair from beneath the cowboy hat he wore. Wolfman was waiting for the older guys to finish, before he climbed the gate and settled in the saddle. He grabbed ahold of the strap, and raised his hand in the air like the other boy. He gave the man a grin before nodding, and the gate swung open.
The bay bronc bucked, but unlike the other, only started once he was past the box. Wolfman was leaned back in the saddle, holding tight. There was a cloud of dust and dirt starting to rise from the hooves hitting the ground as the bronc jumped. Wolf's hat flew off at one hard buck, but he held until the buzzer. He sat back up, and was just hanging on the bronc until a pickup man rode next to it. He then hung onto the man, as the older guy slowed down, set Wolf down, then chased the bronc into the chute.
Leo grinned as he pumped his arm in the air, celebrating the good ride he'd just done. The crowd cheered loudly, as they had done all night. Wolfman ran to pick up his hat and shoved it back on his blonde mop. He jogged to the chute and climbed the gate to sit atop the one behind it and watch a little of the ropings. After they were done, he'd be bullriding.
Hollywood couldnt help but grin at Wolfman's performance, it was endearing to him, a little odd, but endearing. He didn't know Wolfman too well, but he couldnt really help himself but admiring the strength it took to actually compete in a harsh sport like that. Wolf must have had some sort of muscle behind the scrawny look.