We Make Our Breaks {Solo}
“Hey,” Alex said the moment Levi stepped into their dorm, and he tossed his phone at him. “Do you know what Clara’s talking ‘bout? She said to ask you.” He’d been racking his brain for a while, trying to figure out what starfish had to do with horses but he’d come up with nothing. Knowing Clara, it was probably something rude, however, he still wanted to know.
Alex turned his attention back to his textbook whilst Levi read through all of the text messages he’d been sending to Clara that day, and so he missed his best friend mutter “I cannot believe you’re so blind” underneath his breath. He shook his head, and tossed Alex’s phone back to him.
"Man, why do you never read the urban dictionary posts I send you? Starfishing is when a girl ain't involved when you're laying it down. You know like..." Levi said, and he started to demonstrate but Alex immediately looked away, his face flushed bright red. Why had Clara even said that? They were just going to ride a horse, not do anything like that. Levi’s explanation of Clara’s words made him imagine him and Clara in that position for just a split second, but Alex quickly pushed the image out of his mind, just like the few dreams he’d had about her. It was way too weird, and it just felt wrong. He liked Tess, not Clara.
"But my real question here, and now I'm just sayin' this as your best friend, is why the hell would you let Tess enter you in a bull riding contest? You used to see a bull and be like... 'AH MOMMA' so you know agreeing to this is bull. No pun intended,” Levi said.
Alex looked up at his best friend, and simply shrugged. He knew Levi was right. He didn’t have a good reason for letting Tess go ahead with it other than how could he possibly say no to her. There was no excuse. He was terrified about it, and he really didn’t want to do it. But, Alex didn’t want to let Tess down. He wanted to impress her, and she’d been so happy when she’d told him about it. “It’s for a good cause, and I don’t wanna disappoint Tess,” Alex finally said. “She’s real excited ‘bout it.”
"You know what she gon' be real excited about? When she gets to live out her fantasy of being your nurse when the bull bucks you off and you break every bone in your body,” Levi said.
Alex paled at Levi’s description of what could happen. What would probably happen. Horse riding he could do, and he’d been forced to have a go at mutton busting once as a kid. But bull riding? That was a no go area for Alex. He was okay around them now, but not okay enough to want to climb onto one and hold on for dear life. He knew it was dangerous, and his momma would probably yell at him for even thinking about doing it. But, he had no choice. He had to do it. “I’ll be fine. Nothing bad’s gonna happen,” Alex said, desperately trying to convince himself. “You’re gonna come, right?”
"Man, I'm your best friend. Of course I'll be there. Besides, you think if given the opportunity I'd miss your funeral? Nah. I want to see it all unfold." Levi tossed his dance bag to the floor, and headed into the bathroom, leaving Alex alone with his thoughts once again.
With a sigh, Alex flopped backwards onto his bed and rubbed a hand over his face. He really didn’t want to go along with it, and he really hated how annoyed and mad he’d been at Tess when she’d told him the news. But, he was signed up, and he wasn’t going to be the one to wipe the smile off Tess’s face. He’d just have to go along with it, and hope for the best.
