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The carnival was packed at night filled with families, young couples, groups of friends at every direction all out enjoying the rides and food. It was the beginning of summer, so everyone that was everyone was here. You’d preferred to be out at night since it was much more breezy and dazzling, the sky had a beautiful contrast to the sparking carnival lights.
Walking past the twinkling lights you can’t help but look up at the sky past everyone’s piercing stares and murmured whispers. They didn’t even bother to be discreet at this point.
Your family had just moved into town in time for your new semester in college. News traveled fast in this small part of Kentucky, you found that out rather quickly.
No matter the curious stares, random welcomes, and the occasional side eyes from some people it didn’t bother you too much. It’s normal to be curious about new people disrupting this well formed bubble of a community. Given everyone here knows one another. It’s not something you’re use to and probably not your most favorite thing ever, but it’s your reality now.
You were the talk for the better part of the early summer.
Everyone knew your name, major, and where you came from by the end of the week. They might as well of have known what allergies you had. However no one really bothered to actually speak to you and get to know you that was until you went to orientation.
Enrolling into your new classes had felt isolating to say the least. You didn’t know anyone, you did try to have small conversations with people around you which was cut short. But you didn’t dwell on it, you’re here for a degree and then you’d probably leave right after graduation. Lucky enough your care free attitude caught the attention of one person, Charlie, who loved to gossip. Keeping you in the loop of who’s who, where to go for a quick bite, and even introduced you to her own group of friends. They were all like Charlie in the sense that they related to similar interests, mannerisms yet each one was so different and kind hearted. All four of them complimented one another nicely.
She wasn’t those stuck up people that made you feel bad or judged you for liking a particular thing, in fact she welcomed it. If it made you happy and did no harm so be it, she’d say.
After meeting her and everyone else it didn’t feel so lonely anymore. The whispers became one less thing to worry about. Eventually they became background noise, that was when you’re with them.
Alone it becomes the one thing you can’t ignore.
You came to the carnival by yourself.
Originally you hadn’t planned to go out tonight, but being stuck at home with your parent’s nagging concerns about choosing the “perfect” career was the last thing you needed.
They always made it a priority to be invested in your education, especially starting college.
You were grateful to that care, it’s not something you’d ever take for granted. Always bringing in decent grades, you wanted to make them happy and did as you were told. Yet, you’re not sure how far you’ll be stretched before you’d snap. You needed to escape the endless demands of which clubs you should join to get recognition or which professors to aid, on and on. It was becoming dreadful.
You know it comes from a place of love, wanting you to be secure and stable. Yet it was unbearably tiring.
So a night out was much needed.
You were swerving quickly past people under the twinkling yellow lights at each stand, the smell in the air was mouthwatering, you didn’t know your legs were pulling you towards it until the smell overpowered your senses. It tasted sweet like apples and baked brown sugar, and then blueberries with peaches right after. Searching to see where it wafted from, you decide right in that moment, before heading to your friends waiting for you at the Bull Riding bar, to head towards the spot luring you.
Mr.Daniel’s food stand that had baked pastries was intoxicating the air.
Since you moved in Charle did give you the inside scoop on everyone, that included who Mr.Daniels exactly was. You came to learn that he was a respected kind man that helped everyone as much as possible in town, supposedly. Although you never really met the man, however you knew of his son. Jack Daniels.
Charlie showed you a picture of him, she called him the rebel without a cause. It made you laugh knowing that was the title of a James Dean movie, possibly even fitting for him. He even showed up late to orientation making a quiet entrance not to disturb the speaker. He was attractive with his black leather jacket that was slightly too big on him but it worked. What caught your eyes was the innocent look in his eyes, they were gentle.
Charlie had whispered to you, “All the girls want him, but he just messes with them. So be careful not to fall for his tricks.”
You didn’t quite believe her, judging by the picture and watching him sit near his friends he seemed like a good guy, soft dark brown eyes with short sort of combed over hair, as if he did it in a hurry and said fuck it. But then again looks can be deceiving, so you had your guard up regardless. Better to be safe than sorry.
Heading down the path, you looked to the side to take in how far it stretched. And oh boy did it stretch, it went past 3 food trucks behind you. You’re almost passing by the group of people at the front, sneakily you look at the pies between the space of each person in line. Each pie was perfectly golden brown around the crust and shiny in the center along with a toothpick that displayed which flavor it was.
The closer you got to the front the stronger the smell out of the kitchen truck became immediately signaling your stomach to growl. You really wish you ate before leaving.
As your passing by each person craning your neck with your lip caught between your teeth, a tall dark haired man steps out of the truck’s kitchen. You can’t see his face only his forehead and hair. People are moving back and forth speaking to one another, through the movement you see him place down freshly baked pies with his hands covered in mittens. That’s when you realize it’s him, Jack.
He shoots his eyes up at the people admiring and praising the perfect way the pie’s crust are perfectly holden. Adjusting the display he quickly does a double take past the people in line to lock eyes with you.
Jack slowly analyses your face, maybe he remembered you from orientation, but you doubt it until he smiles at you as if he’s known you all his life. It was that same easy going smile from the picture that barely wrinkled the sides of his eyes. You returned the smile committing it to memory, but that was it. You turned to keep walking reminding yourself about what Charlie had said, stay clear of him.
Last thing you needed was your parents on your ass going on about how guys are a distraction, you heard it once and that was enough.
You fidget with your sweater’s sleeve walking slowly though, he did seem polite. Is he really that bad as Charlie says?
Taking the risk you look back one more time for the fun of it, but Jack was no longer there. Instead your eyes are met with the delicious pies making your way past Mr.Daniels, who’s speaking making another happy costumer laugh.
“Hold on there Miss! You just moved in correct?”
You stop dead in you tracks, Jack’s father called for you. His dad? Why on earth…
Suddenly the people first in line were eyeing you down waiting for your response.
You press your lips together forcing a shy smile, “Uh Hello! Yes, yes I did.”
“Welcome! I’m Mr.Daniels, my son…” he looks to his right wondering where he ran off to. “Was just here I could’ve sworn he just spo-. Well anyways.”
He cleans his hands bidding farewell to who he was talking to and shakes your hand.
“Which pie would you like? I heard you might have a sweet tooth.”
Might? Understatement. You do. But from who? None of your friends are in line or around you for him to possibly know that. Word does travel fast here…
You step closer eyeing the pies shaking your head, “I’d love that. But I couldn’t possibly skip everyone…”
You’d feel like a bitch, everyone got here in time to make the line. It wouldn’t be fair. You just moved here, the last thing you want is to be the center of a pie scandal.
Mr.Daniels raises his brows, a spitting image of Jack. It warms your heart instantly.
He reaches for the pie cutter, “Nonsense. You’re new here! This is our treat.” He points to, luckily your favorite flavor of pie, cocking his head for your acknowledgement. Watching him slice into the pie you wonder who who exactly told him.
You thank him for his kindness and welcoming you into town as return heading to your friends eating the pie happily along the way.
Whoever it was, thank god for them.
In a few minutes you reached the Bull Riding Bar however, you didn’t want to enter right away. Everyone was rushing to get inside spilling liquor on the ground bumping into one another, it was where everyone in college went to have a great time. A lot of the people entering were students you’ve seen at orientation, enjoying their summer before classes started.
There was a group of people to your right heading to the bar that caught your attention with their roaring laughs and shrieks from girls trying to escape their partner’s kisses. That’s when you saw him again, Jack was walking slowly behind the group talking to a pretty red head. He was making her laugh not once looking at her flirtations, but with his hands in his jacket.
You had to stop yourself from staring at him, you detoured walking in front of the group trying to avoid them from noticing and bumping into you to throw away the plate and to take a spot on the fence.
It was breezy outside leaning on the fence you placed a leg on the wooden panel admiring the kids that were playing with the ponies, their parents were taking pictures of them. Each one watching them carefully pet the horse’s beautiful mane.
You’d kill to be able to learn how to ride a horse you think to yourself crossing your arms on the fence to rest your head. You had just moved from the city so there wasn’t any time to learn, let alone an opportunity.
Often at times you feel at a disadvantage. A slight disadvantage. Only because everyone sounded so well trained, skilled with horse back riding meanwhile you barely even touched one for more than a few seconds. It was hard to bond with anyone. You vowed you’d learn one day. You have to, they’re beautiful animals. You feel like you could have a kinship with them, ridiculous as it is, horses somehow feel relatable. With their carefree personalities and free of any responsibilities.
You’re not sure if it was the draft or something else raising the hairs on the back of your neck suddenly.
Lifting your head you get a feeling someone watching you watch the horses, but no one is around you. Just an empty fence with the trash can as your companion. It didn’t feel threatening, but you take it as your cue to fix your outfit and start heading inside.
The bar was another place that was overly crowded. And not in the best way. You called Charlie to ask her where she was, when she responded she stood on the railing near the bull riding ring raising her arm almost falling over making you laugh.
They’re definitely drinking.
They were all next to each other side by side, leaning on the railing yelling to the rooftops for the person on the mechanical bull not to fall off and to keep holding on. You greet each of the girls who brought their partners, Charlie offers you a closed beer to drink.
Looking over Charlie’s shoulder at the bull rider, you find yourself cheering on for the person to keep holding. They had 5 seconds left to finish when the mechanical bull went into full gears throttling the guy off. He hit the mat so hard laughing, you figure it could be fun to try. Some people to your far right were even placing bets on those who stayed on the longest.
If you do fall at least you’ll get a laugh at it and get to say you did it. That is because, you’ve never done it before.
You poke Charlie and Oliver on their sides resting your chin on their shoulders between them, “Should I do it?”
You bite your lip anxiously, as they look at up each other before bursting laughing. Oliver wraps an arm around you, “That’s not your style, you’ll fall on your ass as soon as you step on the mat!“
You playfully hit his stomach, “Thanks for the vote of confidence jerk!”
Charlie laughs with along, “I’ll buy you beer if you can last 10 seconds on it.”
You raise your brows shooting a glare up at Oliver, “Oh well someone, at least someone believes in me.”
“I bet she could last more than 15 seconds. I can guarantee that.”
Oliver and Charlie dart their eyes past behind you raising their brows, Oliver slowly takes off his arm that was wrapped around your shoulders. You find yourself frozen at the sound of his deep southern drawl that came behind you. You hate to admit it, but you were excited to see.
You turn around feeling time stop just for you to see Jack Daniels, standing tall tilting his head to the side with his eyes glued on you, more specifically your body. In fact, he’s making it painfully obvious that he’s checking you out, only solidifying his "claim” when he shoots Oliver a glare.
You try to swallow absolutely nothing, cursing yourself for drinking beer.
“I’ve never done it before, so I wouldn’t bet on me if I were you.”
His eyes are drawn back to you at the sound of your voice, never once letting go of your gaze.
He furrows his brows together making a disbelieving face, “I’d bet on you gorgeous.”
Your heart thumps against your chest, you smirk at the nickname he gave you.
“Right..It’d be your loss.”
“Do it with me then,” Jack steps forward. “We can win it together.”
Charlie’s words were long forgotten at that moment, you wanted to give him a chance. Why not? If he’s game to teach you how to bull ride, what’s the harm? You finish your beer eyeing him just like he did to you. You’re going to need some liquid courage for what you’re about to do
Boldly you turn around to the front of the fence stepping on the railing leaning slightly forward on purpose to whistle sharply to the handler, “We’re next!”
Hopping off you catch Jack looking at you a little lower than he should be, but you don’t mind it. You softly tip his chin up loving the feel of his warm skin on your finger tips.
“Are you ready?”
“Only if you are darlin’.”
Standing behind the handler your nerves settle nicely stubbornly in as you’re listening to the ticker on the wall counting the seconds, before the girl falls off the mechanical bull. She’s loosely hanging onto the horn of the saddle by sheer will. Everyone is yelling to keep holding on as they count down from 10, only to fall in 5 seconds.
Your next with Jack.
You feel excited going with him, but you don’t want to fall on your ass in front of everyone.
Jack notices your leg bouncing along with your hands tapping on the sides of your thighs, are you nervous? It doesn’t cross his mind at all that you’d be nervous, you had this confidence about you. When he spotted you through the truck’s window walking by, you were ignoring every single glare focusing on the pies.
Instinctively Jack reaches down to intertwined his fingers with yours to be met with the same gesture giving him the go ahead to squeeze your hand.
“I’ve got you gorgeous. I’m not letting you go, I promise.”
You puff out air nodding up at him, the handler speaks pulling you both from your conversation.
“You kids ready?”
“We’re ready,” You nod stepping onto the mat still holding Jack’s hand.
You quickly search for your friends for some encouragement only to find them with their jaws dropped staring at you. Your eyes follow their direction down at your hand that’s still holding Jack’s.
Hastily releasing his hand, Jack clears his throat and raises his hand to pat your lower back getting your attention as he hops on first. Holding his hand out he guides you how to mount lifting you up and holding your waist firmly in place.
You hear whistles from people around gossiping at how close you both are, even your friends are in disbelief that you’re practically sitting on Jack. A well known player around town, you’d be lying if said you didn’t feel a little confident along side him.
Briefly eyeing the crowd you see the red head Jack was speaking to earlier roll her eyes whispering to her friend.
Automatically feeling bad thinking that you might’ve stolen her date or that he would’ve abandoned her.
Jack pulls you further back into him, “Listen gorgeous you’re going to have to get closer or we’re both falling off.”
Obeying his advice, you push your ass further pressing into his crotch turning back to him, “Your date seems mad.”
He looks down to you seeming genuinely confused, “What date?”
You scoff shaking your head, “The red head.”
“She’s not my date,” his voice darkens looking down at you, it sends a thrill down your spine. So he’s not seeing anyone…
Jack reaches to hold one side of the reins while instructing you to hold the other side opposite of where his hand hard. You caress the leather strap in your hand warming it up in your palm to match his grip. You look down to your side to see his lower legs overlapping yours locking you into place, essentially stretching your legs a bit wider making you push further back into him.
He clears his throat loudly placing his hand on the curve of your thigh, “You’ve got this darlin’. Don’t worry it’ll be fun.”
Surprisingly you trust him, the way his thighs feel behind you, strong and secure. Looking down to his hand tightly holding the reins giving you the impression he’s done this before.
You chuckle, “This is ridiculous! But thank you for doing this with me.”
You would’ve never guessed you’d be here months ago. Pressed up against a handsome southern guy right before starting college. To hell with what your parents thought. Maybe you can enjoy dating and having fun, you might as well.
The handler announces he’s going to start the countdown.
“Don’t thank me yet sweets.”
Did he just call you sweets?
Before you could inquire on the nickname, your both jolted immediately forward and back feeling your ass rub against him. Secretly you liked it, wanting to do it more. You heard him yell for you to raise your arm up and to have fun bringing you out of your thoughts. Without processing you did as he said and focusing on the way you both moved together in a fluid motion. With 15 seconds left to hold on and moving together you start laughing hearing Jack curse every time you went back cause of gravity. His laugh started to come out at every sorry you bellowed when you hit his chest with a sold thump and your hair whipped him in the face.
At 10 seconds, Jack squeezed his legs pinning yours down to the side of the mechanical bull. You had to shift a little to accommodate which at this point along with the back and forth jolts that kept speeding up you were basically sitting on Jack’s crotch. He didn’t seem to mind it since you couldn’t get a hold strong enough not to slip off and take him down with you. You really didn’t want to let him down, so you squeezed your thighs tightly holding the reins for dear life. Those last five seconds went by so incredibly slow trying to maneuver the bull’s frantic turns from the side to side.
If you did happen to fall you didn’t care one bit, this was the most fun you’ve had since you moved. In a matter of seconds Jack made you feel welcomed and happy. He kept laughing long with you at every abrupt turn the machine made, at one point the turn was so fast both your hands touched that made his heart jump.
Everyone started to count down those last five seconds cheering.
Jack held onto you just like how he promised till you both succeeded, you slouched back on his chest resting your cramped hand on his muscular thighs feeling his arms wrap around your waist laughing. He rested his forehead on your shoulder somehow you knew he was smiling incredibly hard.
Exhausted he manages to speak, “I knew we could do it in 15 seconds, maybe next time it’ll be longer”
Your cheeks burn squeezing his thigh, “Well aren’t you cocky? So sure there’ll be a next time.”
He chuckles patting the sides of your ass which you take as your cue to hop off. Swinging your leg over is absolute pain, you feel the strain of each muscle and weakness trying hard not to wobble waiting for him to dismount.
Jack reaches for your hand providing stability, “Listen sweets, I’m not the one that was sitting on my crotch pressing down.”
You bit your lip laughing up at him, he loved seeing that shine in your eyes.
Exiting the bull riding ring, Jack leads you both to the bar area to get celebratory drinks together. He lets you sit on the one stool available, most likely noticing how tired your legs were from holding on. He stands behind you with one hand resting on the bar table while the other signals for two beers. You find yourself loving being pressed to his chest, like he’s shielding you from everything bad in the world even the constant whispers.
You turn your body slowly to look up at him from under your lashes slowly opening your legs for him to fit closer between. Jack steps forward titling his head down a little using his arms on the table to balance himself. He finds himself a bit shaky in the knees watching you look up at him with those eyes, the same eyes that looked at him earlier with such joy. He needed to get to know you.
He leans forward barely touching your forehead testing the waters with you and what you’d allow from him. The bartender already placed the beers behind your back, but they were completely ignored.
“You called me sweets earlier, why?”
There was no possible way he wasn’t the one that told his dad to give you that pie. The gesture itself made you ignore everything Charlie ever said about him, he could’ve just stayed with the red head if he really wanted to get laid or flat out ignore you. You just wanted to hear him say he thought of you in his own way.
His eyes darken staring down at your lips, he shrugs “I had a feeling you might have a liking for sweet things, I noticed you eyeing it, and you looked like a sweetheart..”
He looks down at your body biting his lower lip smirking, “But something tells me you’re not just a sweetheart…”
You grin raising your hands that were resting on your thighs up to the line of his jeans hooking a finger in the center teasingly side to side, eventually bringing him in closer slowly, “That was a good guess. I do like all kinds of sweet things. Sweet candy, pastries, even sweet guys that help you learn how to ride a fake bull.”
Jack holds back a deep groan from hearing you say that about him. Everyone in this town thinks he’s no good which isn’t true he’s not a kid anymore, but people here don’t forget. They’re always waiting for him to mess up, but with you it’s not like that. He wants to know more about you, but right now all he cares about is what you taste like. He’s desperate to kiss your lips, feel how soft they are.
Watching him lean closer you lick your lips in anticipation taking in his cologne that further draws you to his lips.
With all the noise around you both vanishing, all you cared about was Jack.
You reach up to feel his plump lips meet yours, kissing him you feel him moan savoring your taste. Jack loves the way you still have the lingering taste of the pie you chose and the beer. It’s as if the combination was made for specially for him with your lips in mind. He roughly growls wrapping his arms around your waist at the feel of your hands grip his hair.
Parting slowly away you both come back to the reality of where you are. You chuckle wiping off your kiss from his lips with your hand that he catches bringing it up to his lips, kissing your knuckles noting the strong grip you have.
Jack reaches for the beers opening each cap handing yours smiling as you both take a sip.
“So you told your dad about me huh?“ You asked playfully raising your brows.
He rolls his eyes grinning so hard that the corner of his eyes form small creases.
Without hesitation he asks if you’d like to meet him to which you happily jumped off the stool agreeing to the idea. You tell your friends you’ll be leaving for the night letting them know you’re okay and will talk to them tomorrow. Heading back to Jack’s dad you both walk silently together with his arm lazily wrapped around your shoulders dangling and yours holding on to his waist.
This time you both pay no mind to the whispers and glares of people walking by at the carnival.
Only having eyes for each other.