Over the next month I learn how to ride really well. On this particular day Uncle Austin walks up to me.
"Hey three more weeks till camp, you gonna be a councilor?"
"Sure!" I said.
"Cool! and another question, your aunt and I have talked and we want to know if you would be interested in riding Veto in a rodeo"
"Like in barrel races?" I ask.
"Sure!"
"YES!"
"Then get up for practice! You have a competition the first week of our two month long camp."
"Really?"
"Yep! start by walking him around the barrels in the right order. Then slowly start speeding up. When your ready I will continue your further coaching but for today just walk him."
"Yes sir!" I say.
"Get to it!" He says.
~~~~ Time skip~~~
In two weeks time I was running the barrels at the time of 14.3.
"Some of the councilors will arrive today for orientation." Aunt Sierra says at breakfast.
"Okay thanks!" I say.
I quickly eat my eggs then run out to the barn to ride veto.
The first car pulls up and the boy that climbs out catches my eye. I jump off Veto and tie him up to the fence.
I climb over the fence and as the boy talks to Uncle Austin and Aunt Sierra, I run and jump on the boys back. I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him cheek.
"MATT!" I yell.
He shakes me off and I laugh.
"And that's our niece..."
"ALYSSA!" Matt yells. He pulls me up and hugs me tightly. He buries his head in my hair and kisses my cheek.
"You know each other?" Aunt Sierra asks.
"Yeah she lived with me for a while, and then she left.. I woke up and she was gone.. oh my god I thought you were hurt or dead or that I would never see you again." he says not letting go.
"Alyssa you have some explaining to do." uncle Austin says.
I ignore him and bury my head in Matts neck and I ignore my aunt and uncle and just stand with Matt.
After we let go so Matt can go put away his stuff uncle Austin takes me to my room.
"You shouldn't be all over him like that." he says.
"Why not?" I asks.
"He's not perfectly innocent. I've seen him here a couple years ago with another girl. He shut her out and it hurt her."
"I know why he did that unlike you!" I yell.
"Oh really? Why would you ever deal with a boy like him?! He's a jerk! All he wants to do is hurt you!" he yells back.
"Whenever his dad died he shut people out okay? But I got through! Why can't you trust my judgement?!" I scream
"BECAUSE YOUR JUST AN ORPHAN TEENAGER WHO HAS NO RAISING!" he yells back at me.
"Please don't yell at me!" I sob. The memories that hadn't haunted me for over a month came back and I cowered.
"I will yell all I want!" he screams.
I break down and begin crying. My door bursts open and Matt rushes in.
"QUIT YELLING AT HER!" He screams at my uncle.
"No Matt! I want you out!" he yells.
"No! I don't care what you do to me but stop yelling at her!" he screams. Then as my uncle yells he sits down on my bed and wraps his arms around me. My body racks with sobs.
"Matt get the hell out of my house!" he screams.
"UNCLE AUSTIN STOP! MATT IS MY BEST AND ONLY FRIEND! AND I WANT HIM HERE! AND BY THE WAY, MAYBE IF YOU LISTENED WHEN YOU YELL AT ME MEMORIES OF BEING BEATEN COME BACK! HE ALWAYS YELLED WHILE BEATING ME!" I scream while tears fall down my face.
"Oh my god I didn't realize..." uncle Austin says.
"What can I do?" he asks.
"Let me handle Austin... I've got her." Matt said.
Uncle Austin nods and leaves the room.
Matt kisses the tip of my nose.
"I'm here. It's okay." he says softly.
I cry into his shoulder.
"Matt?" I ask after a minute.
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I'm here we are together. I won't let you get hurt." he says.
I lay my head on his chest and sighed.
"I love you too by the way." he said. I smiled and then kisses his chin then his cheek and then his nose. He kissed me and I lay my forehead on his.
"I learned how to ride." I said.
"Oh really?" he asks.
"Yep. I have a rodeo next week."
"I'll be there."
"Promise?"
He entwines our fingers and kisses my forehead.
"Promise."