Annabelle Banks was everything the infamous Tyler Owens was not: she was introverted, fear ridden, and buried so deep within herself that she saw no way out. He was determined to show her that life was more than just routine, and the world seemed to glow brighter than ever before when she learns to let go with the help of a certain cowboy.
warnings- depictions of domestic violence, harassment, sexually explicit, drug and alcohol abuse, etc. minors dni!
Hey sexies! This currently an ongoing story I have on my wattpad also @amaliasnotmyname :) I will be making abd updating actively on both!!
American Honey
Blown Away - Carrie Underwood
If there was one thing Annabelle hated the most in the world, it was a gnarly storm. Hail fell from the sky like golf balls and each blinding flash of lightning was followed by a frightening clap of thunder. Every noise sent shivers up her spine, her body flinching and curling into herself even more as the time passed.
The panels of her window shook with ferocity from the wind, threatening to implode. She bit her lip nervously, having half a mind to go to the storm cellar under the convenience store her apartment sat on top of, but she barely made it to the door before a giant boom of thunder shook the sky and sent her flying back to her bed, ducking under the covers. Her sleep shirt clung to the cold sweat on her back, her anxiety rising with the clouds.
She worried for the storm, scared that it might be another tornado forming. The recent outbreak sent everyone into a frenzy and Belle into a constant state of panic. She wasn't exactly sure of why she was so scared of storms, but the paralyzing fear creeping into her body and making her blood run cold always appeared when rain went from calm to callous. There was something looming in the uncertainty that frightened her to no end.
She watched the window, seeing a small funnel cloud whipping from the sky onto the ground, ruffling the cornfields and dragging debris along with it. Her mouth suddenly ran dry and her eyes were wide, unable to close or look away from the horrifying tornado. The darkening sky seemed to be coming straight for her, growing in size as it rounded it's way to the small town streets of Geraldine, Oklahoma.
As her eyes were glued to the sight, she jumped with surprise as red and blue fireworks burst through the top before the funnel slowly dissipated into the sky and all that remained was falling ash diminishing into thin air. All she was able to think about was who in the hell would be stupid enough to drive into the eye of a tornado?
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"Now who in the hell put salt in my sweet tea?" Wade's voice echoed through the kitchen of Red Star saloon, one of the main attractions in her hometown. The wood plank walls were slowly rotting from water damage and the bar taps locked up half of the night, but Belle could never find it in her to let go of the staff that had grown to be a second family to her. They took her in as a waitress when she moved out of her dad's and into her own place. They were more of a family to her than her blood family was. Since then, she was promoted from floor waitress to bar manager throughout the six years she worked in the shithole by none other than Wade Callum.
Wade was an eccentric and old fashioned man. He never married, preferring to stay the untamed beast he was and spending his money on dirt bikes instead of children he never preferred to have. The most eligible bachelor in town, yet wholly and completely unattainable. His only love was the bar he started in his twenties and grew into over the last two decades.
"Hi cutie," Wade rounded the corner into the main bar and wrapped his arm around Belle's shoulders, kissing her hair and smiling. He had become the main male figure in her life since she moved into her own place, never hearing from her father once. He lived about twenty minutes into the town over, and made no effort to contact her. Belle owed everything to Wade. "Now who was it?" He pointed a thick finger around the room, swaying in his boots and squinting his eyes.
"I'm sure you'll figure it out." She smiled before patting his shoulder and walking up to the customer taking a seat on the far side of the counter. He was older with the faintest wisp of hair on his head. Donny was a regular, always coming in for a cold beer and to watch whatever game was on the TV. "Hey honey, your usual?" Belle leaned against the sticky countertop and smiled.
"Now you already know the answer to that," Donny's gaze drifted down to her very visible cleavage for a split second before jumping back up to her eyes and smiling. She nodded before filling a glass with draft beer and sliding it across the bar to his hand awaiting the glass. "Thank you darlin." He nodded to her before focusing his gaze on the screen. More people filtered their way in as the blistering summer sun started to set into the horizon, music pumping through the bar growing louder when the night band came in to play. Tables filled and voices sang along to the trashy cover of Gods Country.
"When is it that your gon' get up there and sing for us?" Emmalee walked up behind Belle, tying her hair up and effectively spooking the girl. Belle gasped and jumped around, facing the other night shift bartender. Both girls always got the most tips, Wade swearing that pretty girls bring in the cowboys. Emmalee was quite the opposite of Annabelle, with platinum blonde hair always pin straight, a violently dark tan adorning her skin and making her bright blue eyes look even more striking against her complexion. She always wore a brown cowgirl hat and stood well above others, the same height or taller than most men.
Annabelle was much more of a natural beauty. Her hair was a golden blonde, with a reddish glow in the sun. She had warm green eyes that drew more attention than any of her other features. She always admired Emmalee's height, wishing she was taller than she really was.
"I see you got a sense of humor up in there," Belle smirked before rolling her eyes and pouring whiskey into a glass for the waitress next to her.
"We all know you can sing," Emmalee rested her hands on her hips and smiled. "Damn, you know it too. Don't even try to deny it! I've seen your closing acts when you think you're the only one left." Her cheeks burned as she thought about how loud she belted out the lyrics to Something's Got A Hold On Me.
"Take it to the grave." She pointed a slim, manicured finger up in Emmalee's face, a smug grin growing wide as she walked off the help the many customers.
"Can't promise anything!" Belle sighed before walking away to tend to the other side of the bar. There was a loud group at the end, with echoing laughter rising. She tugged the hem of her red tank top down slightly, letting her cleavage show through the top.
"Hi, folks! How can I help ya'll?" The group of friends stopped talking before turned to look at her. The girl on the left had long dreads and a tie dye crop top on, but she couldn't help but stare at the man on the right. He was tall and large, with rough stubble and beautiful sparkling eyes that she couldn't seem to tear her gaze away from. He saw her stare, smiling and making her swoon even more.
"Four beers." He kept smiling, watching her cheeks flush into a deep shade of crimson and nod hesitantly.
"Of course. Uh, bottle or draft?" Belle tilted her head to the side and smiled lightly.
"Draft." He winked before looking away, but he couldn't help the way his eyes drifted from her long ponytail to the hem of her jeans, watching the way her hips swayed as she walked.
Emmalee grinned when Belle walked back over to her. "I saw that."
"Saw what? Me choke on my words?" She rolled her eyes and poured the first glass.
"No, I saw the way he looked at you. He watching you now, you know." Belle sighed before pouring the other three.
"Don't lie to me now!" She shook her head dismissively before grabbing all four glasses and walking back over to the group and setting them down, stooping down slightly and giving the gorgeous man a perfect view of her breasts down her top. He let his eyes wander ever so slightly, but he focused on the way her lips pouted slightly and how the dimples on her cheeks creased as she smiled. "Anything else I can get ya'll?"
The man slowly nodded his head side to side, "'Preaciate it," he dropped his sentence off, waiting for her to say her name.
"Annabelle." She internally cursed herself, wondering why she would say her full name when she didn't even let Wade call her Annabelle.
"Annabelle." He licked his lips and pressed them together. The way he said her name sent shivers down her spine and heat straight to her core. "I like that. Thank you, Annabelle."
"You're welcome, baby." She mustered up the last bit of courage she had and winked at him before walking away. Her breath caught in her throat and she coughed into her elbow the second she walked out of earshot. Belle has flirted and went out with a fair share of different guys, but none of them ever had any effect quite like him. She didn't even catch his name. The crowd cheered as the band ended their latest cover.
"Belle! I have a surprise for you, but you have to promise not to get made at me." Emmalee grinned with a wild look in her eyes. Belle knew her well enough to know that the crazy look on her face meant she was up to something.
"Why would I be mad at you?"
"Thank you, thank you folks. Now before I take a small intermission, I would like to bring out one very special guest to sing for you today. Now would miss Belle Banks please join me up on the stage?" Emmalee pulled Belle's tank top up slightly and tightened her pony tail before pushing her forward.
"You bitch." Belle whispered towards the blonde before slowly walking up to the stage. She felt everyone's eyes glued to her back, Wade whistling at her trembling frame. The lead singer, Matt, smiled before looking out at the crowd of people staring up at them.
"Now Belle here is a phenomenal singer, or so I've heard." He winked at her and the crowd whooped. "Emmalee told me to play Blown Away, you okay with that?" Belle nodded slowly, eyes wide like a deer caught in headlights. "You got this, hon. I've heard you before, your gonna blow them away." Matt pulled the mic back to his mouth before speaking again.
"Now we can do better than that!" The crowd cheered loudly, whistling and clapping. "Ladies and gentleman, Annabelle Banks!" Matt passed the mic to her shaking hands, picking up his guitar and strumming all the right cords for the intro of the song. She sucked in a deep breath and scanned across the crowd nervously, feeling every pair of eyes following he revery move. Her heart hammered in her chest, the sound growing so loud that all she could hear was da-dum. Da-dum.
Her eyes caught on the devilishly attractive man from before, his eyes focused on hers with an intensity she's never seen before, gaze unwavering and impowering at the same time. She smiled slightly before taking a deep breath.
"Dry lightnin' cracks across the sky," Her voice started off quietly, unsure of how loud the mic was. Matt continued playing and nodded encouragingly towards her. "Those storm clouds gathered in her eyes."
She smiled and let herself get lost in the song, the sound of Wade wooing in the background leading her on. As she reached the melody, her voice was confident and proud, body language following the lyrics. She danced around the stage, watching the crowd listen to her with smiles on their faces.
Her eyes wandered back over to the corner of the bar, locking her gaze onto the man from before. He smirked at her, relishing in the way her powerful voice sounded coming from such a shy girl. He leaned forward, biting his bottom lip and never looking away from her soft green eyes staring back at him.
When the last of the song was finished, Belle looked away to smile at the cheering people in front of her. They were so loud that they almost didn't hear the tornado siren sounding from outside the building, effectively shutting them up. She froze in fear, looking around the room and watching the way everyone scrambled to get up, running out the doors.
When she finally looked back over at the bar, the man and his friends were both gone, leaving Annabelle both confused and terrified.
Tyler spent each morning after his trip to Red Star with lingering thoughts of a very certain strawberry blonde. Every thought that passed through his head was followed by the glint in her eyes and the sexy swing in her walk, intoxicating his brain so much that he couldn't even function normally. The rest of the team looked past his odd, dazed behavior, assuming it was due to the eerily calm few days since the last storm. It had been three long, antagonizing days, and they finally got themselves a pretty little EF2.
At this particular moment, the gorgeous funnel cloud itself was heading in the opposite direction Tyler was driving.
"Dammit, Ty!" Boone yelled out as he curved farther and farther from the twister. "Hit the fucking gas! What the actual hell are you thinking!?" He groaned and sucked in a deep breath. Tyler just huffed obnoxiously, thoughts too preoccupied by the woman in his head to focus on the task at hand. Boone immediately cut the cameras, watching the tornado drift into the distance.
"Calm your tits." Tyler hummed, pursing his lips and watching his beautiful little twister disappear into thin air.
"Jesus man. What the fuck are you doing?" Boone threw his hands and the air, shaking his head in frustration.
"It's okay, Boone. We'll get the next one." Lily's grounding voice filtered through the radio, Tyler smiling at her optimistic attitude.
Tyler stayed quiet, not wanting to admit that the thought of him asking Annabelle out scared him much more than getting caught up in an EF5. He was Tyler Owens: wild tornado wrangler and master of the ladies. His ego felt bruised knowing how much his chest felt tight when he tried to plan out what words to say to her.
He had to do something, and fast. If he waited much longer, he would be Tyler Owens: worlds shittiest (single) tornado wrangler. Instead of continuing the conversation, Tyler just put the car in drive and booked it back to the shitty Motel 6 they were staying in.
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A soft knock at the front door spooked Belle and sent her jumping in the air, flying out of her vanity chair. She quickly realized that it must be Tyler, looking at her phone. 7:30 on the dot. She huffed slightly, putting the last touches of lip gloss on before ruffling her hair and spraying her perfume. She wore her most prized possession: a pair of bootcut jeans with red star patches on the back. Her boots poked out the bottom just right and the red tank top she wore sinched right under her bust.
After a few more mirror checks and a nervous smile, she grabbed her phone and keys, walking to the door. She heard soft whistling before she pulled the door open, finding Tyler leaned against the brick wall and looking up at the sky. He immediately turned to her and smiled, pushing off of the wall and facing her.
"Damn hon." Tyler let out a low whistle and cocked his head. "You're a stunner alright." Belle twirled in a circle and smiled, both laughing and walking to the road. His fat truck sat proud on the side, standing out like a sore thumb on the antique downtown road.
"This is your truck?" She stopped in front of the pickup, gawking at the odd attachments and sheer size. Tyler laughed behind her.
"Yes ma'am." He walked forward to pull open the passenger door, smiling as he gestured for her to get in. Belle bit her lip and climbed into the truck, watching Tyler follow her movements intently, shamelessly staring at the stars on her ass. He closed the door with a smirk and walked around to them other side, jumping in effortlessly. He rested his arm on the center console, looking over at her with a lopsided smile. "You ready?"
"As I'll ever be." She smiled at him, watching as he nodded at her before revving the engine and turning the radio on high. The windows all rolled down at once and the evening breeze whipped her hair every which way.
The ride to the town over was short and bumpy. She zoned out while watching the sun slowly disappearing over the horizon, just the smallest bit of yellow still peeking out from the trees.
"Tell me Tyler," Belle turned to the man driving, responding with a hum and a glance her way. "What do you do when you are in the eye of the tornado?" He smiled widely, Belle turned to him with her hand holding her hair.
"Well we usually light her ass and watch our fireworks go out the top. Makes for a pretty nice view." He had a smug look on his face and turned onto the next road.
"What do all these buttons do?" She pondered, leaning forward and lifting the covers to look at every one.
"Everything. We have one to ground us, one to film, one to- don't touch that one!" Tyler freaked out as she hit a random button, sparks flying from the top of the car. She smacked her hands over her mouth, face burning with humiliation.
"I'm so sorry oh my god!" Belle was mortified, but she jumped when she heard explosions bursting in the sky. Tyler took a deep breath and started laughing, red and blue streaks of embers spreading in the night sky. She gasped, looking through the back window, slowly standing up in her seat to put her head through the sunroof. She started laughing as she watched the fireworks explode with wide eyes.
"Careful up there!" Tyler laughed and wrapped a strong arm around her thigh to support her body. She just watched the sky like a wonderstruck child, standing still and feeling the wind blow through her hair. Slowly, the lights dissipated into the air and returned to the dark night once again, Belle sighing lightly. Tyler watched her through the sunroof briefly, deciding to shoot off the rest of the fireworks. She jumped when she saw them fly up, but her heart thumped heavily in anticipation. Pink and orange sparks exploded all across the sky, smoke lines from the ones before becoming visible. She laughed loudly, smiling with an open mouth.
Tyler couldn't keep his eyes off of her, smiling ear to ear at her reaction.
Once the very last ones drifted into nothing, she carefully lowered herself into her seat once again, listening to the loud radio with a smile. She looked over at him, laughing quietly before bursting into loud laughter. He furrowed his eyebrows with a smile, laughing along with her. She struggled to catch her breath, wheezing shamelessly. Tyler laughed even more at the funny sound she made whenever she let herself laugh with her full body.
Both quieted down as they pulled into the dirt lot for the Rodeo, people everywhere and loud country music blasting through speakers in the air. He parked the truck close to the edge so they could pull out easily before jumping out and running around to get her door before she had the chance. She rolled her eyes at his silly antics.
"I can get my own door, y'know?" Belle smirked, bumping his shoulder lightly. Tyler then rolled his eyes.
"Now what kind of gentleman would I be if I let a lady get her own door?" He laughed, bumping back into her before steering her to the right with his hand on the small of her waist. He stayed in the same spot even after she was walking the right way. She felt his skin burn on hers, lighting her ablaze. "Why don't we get a few drinks before the line picks up?" She nodded before pulling him to the line. He felt his heart skip a beat at her gentle touch.
Both ordered a beer and corndogs before following the mass of people to the metal stands, music still playing over the speakers as they continue to get their riders ready.
"I haven't been to the rodeo since I was probably ten." Belle bit into the top of her corndog, Tyler already halfway through his. He raised his eyebrows in surprise as he chewed, swallowing before wiping his mouth with a napkin.
"I practically lived here as a kid. Spent a few years riding into them myself." He licked his lips before leaning back slightly. She gasped at his confession.
"Did you ever get hurt?" She leaned in to hear his response subconsciously, but the sheer proximity had him sucking in a sharp breath. Her mouth as a mere few inches from his, wide sage green eyes staring into his blue ones.
"Bound to happen. I once got swung off and the horse I was on stepped on my hand and crunched my wrist all up." He held his wrist out, showing the scar where he had to have reconstructive surgery. She widened her eyes even more, tracing the jagged line down his thumb to his wrist, the touch sending sparks through his nerves. Her corndog sat forgotten next to her, as well as the half drank beer.
"That must've hurt like bitch!" She bit her lip and looked back up at him. He stared into her eyes, both standing still in their own world, but then the music stopped and everything got dark. Spotlights focused on the entrance for the riders before they appeared and the crowd roared with applause. She watched intently, jumping lightly when they started yelling and riding like maniacs. Tyler set his warm hand on top of hers, settling his fingers into the crease of hers. Belle smiled, but continued watching the riders. The entire night was so perfect to her, so unexpected yet so pleasant.
Until Tyler gripped her hand tight. She looked up at him with furrowed brows, but his gaze was focused completely on the withering cloud above.
"We need to go. Now." He held his grip on her hand tight as he stood up and pulled her with him.
"Why? What's going on?" As if they heard her question, the tornado sirens sounded through the event with a deafening whine, sending everyone flying out of their seats. He started running with his hand holding hers close, but she tripped when leaving the stands over another persons shoe. She cried out as she felt a sharp pain jolt through her ankle. People trampled over her as she tried to move, but she completely trapped. Her eyes watered at the realization and she curled into herself to avoid more feet pummeling her.
Tyler pulled her up, carrying her bridal style in his arms as he ran as fast as he could away from the fast approaching winds. "Fuck, I'm so sorry. We have to get out of here before it touches ground!" Belle nodded rapidly, rain pelting down and mixing with her frightened tears. He looked around swiftly, spotting a hole in the ground where tree roots were uprooted.
He booked it with all his might and lowered her into the hole before climbing in on top of her, shielding her from the winds. Her entire body was shaking like a leaf and she was curled into a ball, gripping Tyler's arms for dear life. The hole was just barely big enough for both of them, his head popping out slightly. His hands wrapped around her waist tightly gripping onto her and holding her as far down as she could with all of his might.
The wind seemed to grow even stronger, getting louder as the tornado approached the area they were in. She couldn't hear anything except the sound of his breathing in her ear and the wind whipping violently around them. She whimpered when the tree beside them got ripped from the ground with no roots to keep it in place.
"We're ok. I won't let anything happen, I promise." Tyler spoke into her ear and pressed her down into the ground as hard as possible as the tornado passed right through their spot, barely grazing them before disappearing into another direction. When the wind seemed to grow silent, he poked his head up to see the damage. Once he saw the coast was clear, he sat up and looked down at Belle, who was sobbing violently, body trembling with fear. He wasted no time helping her turn her body around and pulled her into his side, her hands grabbing his torso and her head buried into his side.
"Hey, look. It's gone. We're safe." Tyler brushed the dirt out of her hair as her cries slowed to a sniffle and she poked her head up sheepishly to make sure he was telling the truth. Her breathing seemed to finally catch up to her as she saw the night standing perfectly still.
"Annabelle Jolene Banks!" The sound of her father's voice came from the ceiling, indicating that he was in fact awake. She froze, petrified that he knew she snuck out. Quickly, she rushed to take her shoes off as quietly as she could and pull the bottom of her hoodie over her jean shorts. Her clothes were completely wet from the intense rain, cutting her friend's bonfire short.
"Get your ass up here!"
Cursing internally, she slowly walked up the wooden stairs, each step dipping and whining under her weight. Each breath she took felt heavier than the last, the air sticking to her lungs and suffocating her. When she rounded the corner to her father's room, she saw the TV light through the crack in the door, and could faintly hear Wings playing in the background. His back was turned, sitting on the edge of the bed. She stopped in front of the door, pushing it open softly and listening to the way it creaked open, almost in slow motion.
"Yes daddy?" Her voice came out small and shaky. He sighed, drooping his head down and leaning on one hand. She could see the whiskey glass in the other.
"Where in God's name have you been?" He ticked his jaw. "And don't lie to me, girl." She blinked harshly. She was fucked.
"I was just with a few friends daddy, I promise." Belle tucked her hair behind her ears, looking down at her star covered socks. He mumbled something under his breath before getting up and turning around the walk closer to her. He put both of his hands on either side of her head and leaned down to look her in her terrified eyes.
"You hear that?" His withering brown eyes stared at her through a squint, his aged face contorting into a sick smile. She could smell the alcohol in his breath. "I said did you hear that?" He spoke firmly, raising his voice slightly. Belle shook her head violently side to side, her eyes wide and fearful.
"No, daddy." She could feel her stomach drooping to her feat, heart beating a mile a minute. All she wanted to do was run, but her feet seemed to be glued to the floor beneath her.
"I said," he huffed heavily. "That your a FUCKIN LIAR!" He screamed at the top of his lungs, smashing the glass in his hand against the wall and making Belle jump back just as a loud bolt of lightning flashed from the sky. Her limbs shook with fear and she sunk further into the wall. Tears streamed from her cheeks much like the way rain ran down the windows. He huffed at her like she was an idiot.
"Lying little BITCH!"
He drove his palm right into her cheek, sending instant flashes of red hot pain through her skin and making her cry out, falling to the floor. She scrambled to move, crawling out from under his feet and struggling to get back up. She fought to get on her feet and ran into her room at the end of the hall, locking the door behind her and hunching into a ball and letting her tears fall freely. She sobbed heavily, heaving as she heard his heavy footsteps trudging down the hall.
"Open the FUCKING door!" His thundering voice roared through the door, fists soon pounding and attempting to bend the wood.
"No!" Her voice cracked, tears still streaming down her cheeks. "You're the devil!" He screamed at the top of his lungs, but then the banging stopped.
It was quiet.
Too quiet.
Belle furrowed her eyebrows, but she had little time to think before she felt his entire body smash against the door, fighting to bust through with all his might. She whimpered and looked around, trying to find an escape. There was only one way out, and that was the one window against her bedframe. Her breathing sped up, knowing that it was at least a fifteen foot drop from her window to the ground.
This was her only chance.
She stook up, trembling as she rushed the open the window. She was met with icy wind, whipping her straight in the face. Her fingers fumbled to remove the screen, but the banging on the door made her jump each and every time. She cursed internally, knowing there was no time to keep trying to mess with the screen. She took one deep breath before kicking the screen out, falling through the hole in the wall. Rain pelted her falling body, eyes watching lightning strike above her, followed by deafening thunder before she finally landed on the ground, going completely stiff and gasping for air.
Each movement stung as she pulled herself up, but thankfully she was caught by a large bush, cushioning her fall just enough so she wouldn't break a bone. She hissed as she took careful steps to the blue Chevy in the driveway, limping as she moved.
The sound of feet running down the stairs made her move faster, crying out as she reached the door and took a deep breath. She yanked open the door, water quickly soaking the fabric seat as she pulled herself up. She watched in horror as her father ran from the front door and beelined straight for her, gripping the handle just as she pulled the door closed and pushed the lock button.
Her freezing fingers trembled while she fought to fit the keys in the ignition. He smacked his hand on the window and yanked at the door, but to no avail. "You BITCH!" He hissed through the window, rain soaking his grey hair as he stood there banging. Belle finally shoved the keys in the hole, turning them to the right and the truck roared to life.
Wasting no time, she pressed her foot on the gas and took off down the dirt road that lead to her secluded home, away from the rest of civilization. Her eyes stayed wide and watered with hatred as she continued to cry silently. All she heard was the thumping of rain pounding down onto the roof of the car as she left her own personal hell behind.
She had no idea where she was going, instead dialing the radio up and hearing the lyrics of Give Me One Reason filling the truck as she drove into the night.
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The sound of glass shattering sent Belle jumping into the air, the hairs on the back of her neck rising as she turned around to find Wade hollering into the sky and beating his chest like a gorilla. A Jack Daniels bottle lied shattered at his feet. Sucking in a deep breath, she rolled her eyes and pulled the blanket around her shoulders tighter. Fire crackled from the pit centered in the grass, warming her up in the cool night air. Emmalee and her boyfriend stood across from her in matching camo hoodies, smiling ear to ear. Everything about Nash was sharp, from his pointed features to his jet black hair and clean cut stubble.
In all honestly, he made Belle uncomfortable with his withering glare and egotistical attitude, but Emmalee's life was Emmalee's to live, so she had no place to say anything. She instead chose to awkwardly laugh along with whatever he was rambling on about, speaking of his new cattle for way too long. She nodded along absentmindedly and observed the way Emmalee's eyes rolled ever so slightly, eliciting a small chuckle from Belle.
"Is that an MIT sweater?" A unfamiliar male voice spoke behind her, and she turned to find an extremely tall man with a grey hoodie and a baseball cap. He scanned her up and down, eerie chills drifting through her body. His eyes lingered on hers with an uncomfortable squint, no smile in sight. He was massive, looking down at her figuratively and literally.
"I'm sorry what did you say?" She blew a small piece of hair from her face. He pursed his lips.
"I said is that an MIT sweater." He spoke firmly with no kindness laced in his words. His hands were stuffed in his jean pockets and he was definitely not a local. His voice sounded so robotic. She looked down and sure enough, she was wearing some vintage MIT sweater she bought at a random Walmart a few years back in Tulsa.
"I guess it is." She laughed awkwardly, forced a strained smile on her face. This whole interaction was awkward and uncomfortable.
"You didn't attend MIT." He stared her down intensely once again, making her shuffle her feet and look down, pulling the grey blanket even tighter than before.
"No, I didn't." She gave him a tight close lipped smile before walking past him to the drink cooler that Wade brought. He followed behind her to much of her dismay.
"I would remember a girl like you." He smirked, but it seemed to have the opposite effect than he intended and made her cringe. "Girls like you don't go to MIT."
"And what do you mean by a girl like me?" Belle scoffed, feeling very offended by his insulting stab.
"I don't mean it in a bad way." He rolled his eyes. "I just mean a southern belle like you doesn't study STEM. Male dominated field." She huffed at his blatant ignorance. He reached out to cup her cheek, but she quickly slapped it away and scowled.
"You better watch your next move." Belle popped the lid off of a beer bottle and took a fat swig. "You ain't up north no more, and a southern belles words are as good as gold. Wouldn't want no rumors running amuck, would you now?" She winked at him and watched his feature twist into an unpleasant scowl. A low whistle came from behind her, immediately making her smile as she felt the familiar arm of Tyler Owens wrap around her shoulder.
"You heard the lady. This ain't your place, Scotty." Tyler blew a kiss towards the prick before looking down at the strawberry blonde next to him. He just barely felt the way she shook under the blanket. Scott slowly walked away, cursing Tyler under his breath and rolling his eyes in annoyance.
"You're quite the firecracker, huh?" He gave her a lopsided smile and laughed dryly. "Remind me not to test you." She rolled her eyes, scoffing and shoving him teasingly.
"Please. He had it comin." Belle smiled and downed the rest of her beer. Tyler just chuckled beside.
"You ain't wrong on that one." He dug for a beer himself, popping the lid between his teeth. "Who you here with?" Belle nodded over at Emmalee and Nash, who were in the middle of an argument, her shoving him back and storming off. Wade was trashed, passed out and propped against a hay bale. Tyler laughed at the sight.
"Quite the party."
Belle snorted and rolled her eyes. "You can say that again. What about you?" Tyler pointed over his shoulder at the group from the bar, with two new additions.
"Care to join us?" Tyler raised his eyebrows down at the girl.
"Why the hell not." She followed behind Tyler, who kept looking back with a smile. When they got close, she could make out four different figures. They watched with amusement as Tyler trailed the girl like a lost puppy, smile evident on his face.
"Who you got there?" The girl with dreads chuckled and raised her eyebrows. "I'm Lily." She stuck her hand out.
"Belle." She smiled politely as she shook Lily's hand, pulling back to stuff her arms back under the blanket.
"That's Boone, Dani, and Dex." Tyler pointed at each member of the team, each either sending her a smile or a head nod. They marveled at Belle with an odd look in her eyes, making her squirm nervously. She suddenly felt like burying her head under the blanket and never coming out. She felt as if they were judging her, following her every move. She tried to shake the nagging feeling, but it would not go away.
Little did she know, Tyler had never brought any girl to meet the team his entire life.
For the past three days, Belle waited patiently for the mysterious blonde-haired man from before to return. Three days in a row, she would put on a more flattering outfit than usual and find a new style for her hair than her usual ponytail.
By the fourth day, she was grumpy and impatient.
She had accepted that he was never coming back, and threw on her everyday bootcut jeans and a white tank top. She tied her hair into a lazy bun on the bottom of her neck and left without a second glance to work her shift. The bar was busy for a Wednesday, but Red Star was always busy being one of the only bars in town. Belle worked mindlessly as the only bartender, Wade jumping in when she was getting backed up on orders and her usual flirty spark was gone.
"Jesus, Belle. What's got your panties in a twist?" Wade complained when she accidentally slammed a glass down in front of a customer a little too loud and he jumped.
"Nothin, Wade. I'm perfectly fine." She grumbled before walked away, leaving him standing there with a sour look on his face.
"Bullshit." He mumbled before helping a customer. Conversation buzzed through the rustic bar, people flowing in and out. Once nine o'clock hit, almost every stool was full and half of the tables were occupied. She immediately went into autopilot, brushing stray hairs from her eyes and pouring countless beers and the occasional whiskey.
"Can I get a cosmo?" The familiar southern drawl from nights before made her freeze in her tracks. Of course he would come the one day she looked a mess. Belle sucked in a deep breath and threw on a happy face.
"Since when did cowboys drink cosmos?" She tilted her head with false confusion and leaned against the countertop. Sure enough, he was there with a shit eating grin and a beige cowboy hat on top of his head.
"I don't know about you, but that sounds awful judgy, don't you think?" He smirked and played along, letting his joke become reality. She scoffed.
"One cosmo," she smiled teasingly, "comin' right up." Sure enough, she poured him a cosmo, making it extra fruity. He furrowed his eyebrows, looking down at the fruity drink in front of him. "Drink up."
He took it as a challenge, reaching forward and sipping the berry flavored drink if front of him, involuntarily scowling as the lemon juice reached his throat. Belle snickered at the reaction, his face contorting into one of disgust.
"What, you don't like it?" She let a smug grin take over her features, watching him push the drink away from him.
"A delicacy. Thank you, Annabelle." He leaned back, feeling her eyes examine him.
"I don't think I caught your name the other night." She reached over to pour a beer for him and watched the way his chest rose and fell slowly in his white T shirt. She was practically drooling over his toned arms.
"Tyler." He stuck his hand out for her to shake. She licked her lips at the way his hand felt in hers, his grip firm. Goosebumps rose on her arms. "Tyler Owens." She nodded at him, their hands tied together for entirely too long, touch lingering until she reluctantly pulled away, his hand instead going to the cold beer in front of him and pulling it up to his lips. She watched the way his lips moved, the way his Adams apple bobbed as he drank from the glass. She wanted him. Bad.
Belle looked away when she saw an all too familiar customer walk to the counter. She nodded at Tyler before walking with a sexy swing over to Donny. "Hi Donny, how are ya today?" She poured him a glass without even asking and slid it to him just like every other day he would come in.
"Good as can be. Thank you, Darlin." Tyler felt a twinge of jealousy over the way she smiled at him, calling him Hon and walking away. He didn't like the way Donny's eyes followed the curve of her ass when she walked, or the way he bit his lip when she leaned down to pick up a straw wrapper.
"Tell me, Annabelle." Tyler leaned forward once again and looked her in the eyes. He couldn't help but admire the way her eyes shined in the dim lighting, the setting sun filtering through the windows. "What are you doin' this weekend?"
"Depends. Why do you ask?" She smirked at him while wiping the countertops with a wet rag.
"The rodeo is this weekend. Go with me." He smiled confidently, pulling a toothpick out of the wrapper and chewing on it.
"Now why would you be asking me to a rodeo? You barely know me." She smirked, squinting her eyes at him. He laughed lightly.
"I want to take you out. Always gotta take the chance when there a pretty girl." He raised his eyebrows and fidgeted with the toothpick. "Now what do ya say?"
Belle was taken aback by his bold and upfront attitude, never having a man be so honest. Her dates normally play cat and mouse for a few weeks before asking her out.
"I don't know, I mean I don't know anything about you." She smiled wickedly, tilting her head to the side and raising her shoulders, shrugging helplessly. He rolled his eyes with amusement.
"Well what is there to know about me?" He tapped this side of his head and pursed his lips. "I mean I'm pretty much perfect. I'm adventurous, hilarious, all around good company. I'm a real looker too." He winked playfully, making her let out a loud laugh, throwing her head back. She wheezed lightly, slapping a hand over her mouth and widening her eyes. She felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment. "Now most importantly, I wanna hear whatever the hell that was again." He chuckled and his chest shook lightly.
She coughed dryly, sucking in a deep breath and raising her eyebrows. "You drive a hard bargain." She whistled before making a thinking face. "What if I say yes?"
"Well, if the pretty lady says yes, I would pick her up like a gentlemen, of course. We would watch the very entertaining rodeo while eating greasy fair booth food, and have a damn good time." He squinted and leaned forward. "And if I really nail it, she might even agree to drinks after." He whispered the last part, Belle laughing at his eccentric acting.
"Hot damn. You really got it all planned out, huh?" Tyler nodded happily, hiding the fact that he had never been nervous asking a woman out ever in his entire life. His heart felt like it was going to explode out of his chest when she looked at him with her welcoming green eyes.
"Course I do, been brewing the plan up for days. Now what does the little lady think of said plan?" Belle let him sit in his pile of nerves for a few moments.
"Belle!" Wade yelled from across the now almost empty bar. "I'ma need you to close up, okay?" Belle looked up at the clock, showing the time was a quarter till eleven, which was closing time on the weekdays. Normally, Wade would wait for her and walk her home, but he seemed pretty occupied by the brunette lady hanging on his arm with a smile.
"You gonna make me walk home all alone?" She furrowed her eyebrows and let her hands speak for her, holding them in front of her.
"You'll be fine!" He shook his head dismissively and walked out the door with his focus on the girl next to him.
"I'll walk you home." Tyler nodded at her before shelling out a twenty from his leather wallet. "Now back to our conversation from before." He awaited her answer to his drawn out question.
"Hmm, I think the little lady say yes," Tyler whistled with a smile, but Belle cut him off. "On one condition."
"Yes." Tyler spoke with a serious face.
"Wait I didn't even tell you what it was yet?" She stood with a puzzled look on her face, stopping her cleaning to look at him.
"I don't care what it is, answers' yes." Tyler emphasized the yes like it was the most obvious answer in the world.
"What if I told you my condition was a pair of designer shoes? You would laugh in my face." She stared incredulously at the daring man in front of her.
"You underestimate me, because if that was your condition you would be pullin' up to that rodeo in a brand new pair of red bottoms." He winked at her before standing up and taking a rag from the counter and wiping off tables, stacking chairs so she could sweep easily.
"What're you doing?" She looked at him like he was being utterly ridiculous.
"What's it look like I'm doing?" He shook his head before wiping another table. Belle just blinked and continued cleaning the bar as he wiped off the rest of the tables. Once she was done, she swept through the main area and turned all the lights out. Tyler stood by the door, waiting patiently for her to grab her purse. Once she skipped up to him, she paused up to look at his relaxed face. She never realized how tall he was, as he was always sitting when she was next to him. He made her look like an ant in the road, towering over her at least eight inches.
"You ready?" She nodded before walking behind him, Tyler pausing to hold the door open for her. They walked quietly on the barren roads. Geraldine was completely dead, and they were alone on the sidewalk besides the occasional car. Everybody knew everyone, and Belle was surprised when she saw Tyler and the other newcomers.
"What brought you to great Ol' Gerry?" Belle looked up at him as they walked, her apartment only a few blocks away from the bar.
"Twisters. I chase them all over." He smiled at the thought of his job. He loved being a storm chaser, and the outbreak was giving him all the content he needed and more.
"Ain't that something." She nodded lightly, feeling herself internally shiver at the thought of willingly chasing a storm. "I'm not much of a fan."
"Why's that?" He looked down at her on his side, giving her his full attention.
"I don't know, they spook me I guess." Tyler chuckled and stopped walking when he realized she stopped in front of a small general store. "Well this is me."
She looked up at her windows as Tyler stood in front of her. "Before you go up," he fished his phone out of his pocket and opened messages. "So I can talk to you." He smiled a kind, genuine smile. Belle saved her number as Annabelle <3. Something about the way he said her name made her giddy instead of annoyed.
"Alrighty then. I'll text you." Tyler dipped his hat at her.
"I'll look forward to it." Belle smiled softly before going to unlock her door, Tyler waiting until she is safely inside before walking back to his truck. She couldn't shake the smile growing her face as she made it to her bed, jumping on and squealing happily.
One single vibration in her pocket hade her jumped before rushing to read it.
Unsaved Number
Couldn't wait any longer. Have a good night Darlin.
