I'm lucky I'm still alive, seriously, my mom was by beyond mad, she was furious, I've never seen her like this and it crushed my heart, thankfully she calmed down a little and grounded me, I can't go out without her knowing who and where I'm going and video calls me every five minutes. I've never gotten this much attention from her and it actually bothers me that she's giving it to me because of the flask thing. About Elliot, we still haven't talked yet, I've been avoiding him. I know that he wants to do the right thing and talk to me saying that he's gonna take responsibilities for his actions because he's a Matthews but I won't let him, it's already too late now.
Oh, you won't guess what Riley and I did. Since now I have a lot of free time we entered Lucas to 'The Annual Mutton Busting Tournament'. Zay told us a story on how he fell off Judy the sheep and I wanted to help him rebuild his reputation. Guess I'm a pretty good friend after all.
"We have changed the life of somebody in this room!" Riley says as she walks in the classroom
"Oh please not me" Zay replies
"I'm happy with my life the way it is. I got tall and my teeth came in nicely" No Farkle, not everything is about you
"Yeah, we're not talking about you two"
"Oh no. What'd you do?" Right answer Huckleberry
"Oh Lucas, in your whole history, we know what has always been your biggest regret" I smirk as I try to imitate the sound of a sheep
"baaaah..."
"What's that, why would you do that?" I smile and repeat it
"Baaah! You used to be a champion sheep rider at the mutton bustin' rodeo, until you fell off of Judy the sheep"
"And then you gave up, but you never got over it"
"That is my deepest, darkest secret! No one knows I fell off Judy the sheep except..." he realizes Zay told us
"They, they made me Lucas, they, they made me!"
"How did they make you?"
"I said, 'Y'all wanna hear a great Lucas story?' They said yes!"
"Okay it doesn't matter, I'm over it. I don't think about that day at all... I fell off that sheep so fast. No one likes me!"
"Lucas, you can fix this! Get back on that sheep and be a sheep champion!"
"We have made that possible"
"How? How'd you make that possible?"
"Show it to him" I pull out the letter
"We have entered you in..." Riley completes my sentence
"The Annual Mutton Busting Tournament!"
"In Austin, Texas!"
"In front of everybody you know!"
"Yay!" we shout in unison but the cowboy still looks upset
"You can't enter me in Mutton Busters, you can't be over 8 years old or over 55 pounds"
"You are wrong, young Lucas. We entered you last week and your application's been accepted" Wait, did I call him Lucas? Nah, I didn't. Riley reads the paper our loud
"Congratulations, Lucas Friar. You are an official entry in this year's Austin Roundup Rodeo! You will be riding Tombstone the sheep"
"What? Tombstone? Oh, woah, that's the end of you" Why is Zay saying that? It's a sheep
"Why is it the end of him?" I ask
"What's the difference between riding Judy the sheep and Tombstone the sheep?"
"Read it again" Maybe Riley read it wrong so I decide to read it out loud now
"Blah blah blah, over the age and weight limit for Mutton Busters, blah, you will be placed in the adult rodeo where you will, blah, ride Tombstone the sheep"
"Ooh! You only got one word wrong!"
"Let's see if they find that one word!" I roll my eyes and reread it
"Blah blah blah blabady blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blady blah... Oh! Bull!"
"Ah, she found it"
"You signed me up to ride Tombstone the bull!" Even better!
"Are you excited?"
"What's the difference between riding a sheep and riding a bull?"
"Death! Death is the difference!" What? It can't be that dangerous, right?
Mr. Matthews enters the class
"Alright. May we begin class?" everyone sits on their places
"The Railroad" What?
"I don't get it" Yeah, me neither Farkle
"What do you mean you don't get it, Farkle?"
"How does this relate to what's going on in our lives, Hambone?"
"You're just gonna let him call you 'Hambone', Matthews?"
"The railroad allowed us to travel great distances. The railroad allowed us to see how other people live. When you see how other people live, it changes you. And I like 'Hambone.' It's cool" You know what? Mr. Matthews has actually been pretty chill about the alcohol situation. He's treating me as if nothing happened, actually, he examines the people I hang out with.
"Riley, rip it up before he finds out!"
"Who?"
"He's gonna find out and when he does, nothing will stop him!"
"Who?" I ask
"Oh you'll know who. You'll hear a big boomin' voice. He'll say somethin'. He'll say somethin' like..." just then a man opens the door
"This country was built on railroads. I, myself just arrived on the noon train from Austin, Texarcanada and Arkadelphia. Guess why I'm here?" He must be one of Lucas' relatives! He has the same Texan accent! I smile widely
"Anybody?"
"Haha! I'm here 'cause I could not be more proud of my grandboy Lucas"
"Pappy Joe. That's your Pappy Joe! That's Pappy Joe! Yes, more stuff!"
"That right there's the first Friar that ever had the courage to ride the most ferocious creature in all of Creation"
"Are we talking about Judy the sheep, Pappy Joe?"
"Haha! Judy the sheep! Remember when you fell off Judy the sheep for about two seconds, boy? Remember that? And we all said it was okay 'cause you were only five years old? So we said it was okay, but it wasn't okay because you were a disgrace to the community and you dragged your family name through the mud-hole right up to this day. You put us in the mud-hole, remember boy?!" Lucas looks down
"Yes. There is one moment in every man's life that shapes who he is forever. My moment was Judy the sheep"
"Well you know what, Lucas Friar? Forgiven! You get on that bull for more than three seconds, and you will be the master of Tombstone the bull. And I'll tell you I love you. And that's something I never said to another human"
"Can we talk about this?"
"Time for talkin's over. I got a permission slip. Babineaux, I got one for you too. Come on boys! Let's go ride"
"Yeehaaw!... That slipped out" Honestly, I love their Texas' side, it makes them more interesting
"You did this!"
*In the train to Texas*
Yes, Riley, Farkle, Elliot and I took a train to Texas just to see our friend succeed, it was my idea actually. I wanna see him proud of himself because I know that he's gonna kill it, no doubt about it.
"Maya" Right, Elliot is sitting to my right
"What?" I ask him casually
"About the flask-" I shush him
"Don't worry, everyone is asleep except for us, they can't hear us" I sigh in relief
"I just wanted to thank you for what you did"
"You're welcome"
"And that I'll take responsibility for what I did" I frown
"You can't, it's too late now"
"Maya, the alcohol was mine, just like the flask. I am the one drinking here"
"No Elliot, people expect that from me, I'm the screw up. You're Mr. 'Teenage America', especially on the eyes of your family. They've got you in this pedestal and I'm not gonna let you fall off, got it?" he groans in defeat
"How can I make it up to you?"
"Just don't drink anymore"
"If that's what you want then I won't"
"Thank you" he whines and I roll my eyes
"What now?"
"This still doesn't feel right"
"Elliot-"
"Let me help you with Lucas"
"What?"
"I know you like him" I blush
"Stop saying out loud"
"Why?"
"It just makes it...more real"
"Stop hiding your feelings. Listen, I'll make sure that you two spend some time alone-"
"You're not gonna do that, you won't, it'll crush Riley, she loves him"
"We both know that she does, but as a brother"
"I don't wanna-"
"Good morning" Riley says yawing, that looked kinda fake but I don't pay much attention to it
"Hey, how are you feeling Riles?"
"Kinda tired" I nod
"Yeah, I can imagine"
"Why won't you sleep a little bit?"
"We're almost there"
"Sleep!" Woah, okay
"Fine, fine, I'll sleep a little" I rest my head on her shoulder, and fall asleep quickly.
*after their travel, in Texas*
"Surprise!" We say together as we come in Pappy Joe's house
"Heeeey, it's all my friends..." Lucas says with fake enthusiasm, he could've at least faked it a little bit. After a while Riley and I leave the room to change and come back.
"Well, look at you two little darlins" Pappy Joe says to us but I ignore him. I'm too busy looking into Lucas' eyes. They are looking at me the same way they did when the council wanted to cut art class. He's looking at me as if I was the only thing that mattered at this moment. I get distract by Riley's comment
"Hm. Told you this was the best way to spend all of our allowance money on the first day"
"Quit lookin' at us, Huckleberry" I say with a nervous chuckle as I slightly blush
"I'm sorry, Maya. You look good"
"Oh! Thanks" Its' really hard for me not to grin at this moment
"Yeah, you both look good" Elliot frowns and decides to end this beautiful moment
"You know what this place needs for you girls? A bay window. Bay window right now"
"What's a bay window?"
"Oh, you know, a safe place where the girls have their private talks" Oh, well, then! I'll make sure those two stay right there forever" how kind of him.
A man rushes in, he looks very scared, what could've happened?
"Pappy Joe! Pappy Joe! Pappy Joe!"
"Whoa, whoa. Don't be alarmed. It's just Cletus"
"Tombstone the bull gone crazy! He everywhere all over the place at the same time like one of them Houdini bulls"
"Use your words, Cletus"
"I am using my words, garducky. Tombstone the bull gone bananahooey!" I grin
"I love him!"
"What did Tombstone the bull do?"
"He done tore up the China shop, ironically. It's true what them say"
"You mean he broke out of his pen?"
"Oh, he brammoed the pen! What's them, a bay winder?"
"Uh, that's Riley and Maya, Cletus"
"Oh, well, how dee do"
"Well, how-" I complete Riley's sentence
"Dee-"
"Do"
"Lukey. Thissar Lukey! Gah! Oh!" Cletus and Lucas hug
"Wait, did they get Tombstone back in his pen, Cletus?"
"Yes, sir! Yes, sir! We shot him fulla sleepy juice, but I seen the look in them red eyes just before he went nighty night. And when he wake up, huh-huuuurrr!" Woah, he just didn't. Please tell me he didn't! I can't resist. I walk up to them
"What?" I ask as calm as possible
"Huh-huuurrr!" I nod
"Oh" I turn Cletus back towards Lucas, and adjust him to be eye to eye to him. Then I walk over to Lucas to do the same with him
"What?"
"Huh-huuuurrrrrr!" I smirk
"I know it's early, but my life is complete"
"Well, thankee"
"No, thank-ee!"
"All I know is, I feel sorry for the po' fool gonna ride on Tombstone. Did I tell you what he done did today?"
"Lucas is gonna ride old Tombstone in the rodeo, Cletus"
"Oh. Oh. Oh no. Lukey... Lukey... Bye, Lukey" he leaves, damn, I'm starting to get worried
"Goodbye" he sits down on the couch with a concerned expression.
*At the rodeo event*
"Oh, hi, yeah... I just saw Tombstone the bull, and why do you hate me?" Lucas says as soon as he approaches me and Riley
"Come on, a bull is just a man cow" I smile to reassure him, honestly, I'm starting to get worried for him as well. Maybe this wasn't a good idea after all.
"You're a-scared of a man cow. A-mooo!"
"You two have never actually seen a bull, have you?"
"No, but what we'd like to see are some cold drinks inside an air conditioned refreshment tent" I point at the tent behind us
"Oh, lookee here"
"I just think you may react differently when you actually see a 'man cow'" I hear Lucas whisper behind us as we come in
"Hey, Zay, what are you watching?" Riley asks him.
"Not anything you wanna see"
"Now, for your viewing pleasure, some of last year's greatest hits. These, here, are what we call 'love taps'" I see the TV and just now I understand why Lucas was so scared of his, it's a bull! A real one! And a pretty big one too! He can't drive Tombstone! I can't watch him get hurt! I walk up to him
"I don't want you going anywhere near that bull"
"Yeah, that makes two of us"
"I want you to take off that stupid outfit, and I wanna get outta here"
"Maya-"
"I saw the bull. I don't think the bull knows this is supposed to be fun!"
"Okay. Maya, let's not shake Lucas' confidence. You can do this, right? You can just ride a bull for four seconds and win the Master of Tombstone Award?" how can Riley be so chill about this?!
"Lucas is gonna need a tombstone! There isn't gonna be any more Lucas!"
"He's going to do great, Maya. Zay, tell him he's going to do great"
"You'll do great"
"Truth" I instruct him
"You're gonna die"
"I believe in you. I believe you can do anything you want to"
"Riley, why do you want him to do this?!" Unbelievable
"Because this is better than riding Judy the sheep, and I don't want him to be a disgrace to his community anymore"
"Well, I don't think that I'm actually a disgrace to the community-"
"You are. I've been talking to people. They have long memories around here"
"I have to do this"
"Okay. Then go out there, and be the hero I know you are" No! He's not a hero! He's a human!
"Thank you, Riley"
"The mutton busters are getting ready to ride; then it's you, Lucas"
"Make us proud, boy" Another man enters the tent
"Friar"
"McCullough"
"I'm talkin' to young Friar. So, you fixin' to ride again, huh?" Lucas nods
"That's right"
"Well, don't think about last time. Heh-heh, you don't want that in your head! Let's watch my grandson, Timmy master Judy the sheep. Oh, you were about two seconds on Judy the sheep, as I recall. But don't let that be in your head" I swear if that man wasn't the double as me he'd be already on the floor because of me
"How come you ain't out there with your grandson?" Pappy Joe asks him
"Well, then I wouldn't have the pleasure of watching him right in front of your face" the announcer starts talking
"And now, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it's mutton bustin' time! And here they come, the mutton busters! And now, everybody's favorite, Judy the sheep, who will be ridden this year by Timmy McCullough!"
"That's my grandson!"
"And the gate opens, and Timmy McCullough is holding on!... No, he's not" ha! In your face!
"Ha! That's his grandson!"
"Pappy Joe!"
"Sorry, Riley. Stereotypical cultural reductions are all I have left"
"And now, for the event you've all been waiting for, bull ridin'! And this year, will we finally have a master of Tombstone? The record on Tombstone is three point seven seconds. Will someone finally beat it? But first, riding Buttercup, is Eddie Callaway! Oh! Eddie, that had to hurt. Looks like Eddie's gonna have himself a little lay down for a moment" I can't even watch
"Are you out of your mind?" I can't let him do that! I don't wanna see him hurt!
"Lucas, you're serious, right? You can seriously do this?"
"Yeah, I learned from the best, actually" Elliot frowns
"Who's the best?"
"...Eddie Callaway"
"Coming up, our main event. Lucas Friar tangles with Tombstone"
"Well, you're here, boy" I stop him before he can go outside
"Lucas, look at me. If you do this, I will never speak to you again"
"Maya!"
"Riley, why are you for this?!"
"Because I-I want him to succeed, I want him to make his grandfather proud" I raise my eyebrows in disbelief
"You're not proud of him if he doesn't do this?!"
"I think you have a fine grasp of the general situation, yeah. In my opinion, it's about facing life, which runs harder than any bull. You gotta face your fears. You ride them, or they ride you" I look down, I cannot believe it. I wish I could stop him, I wish I could hug and tell him how much I love him, I wish I could kiss him and reveal my crush for him but the only words that come out of my mouth are-
"I'll never speak to you again" I leave, I can't watch, I just can't. I find a fence not too far from the ring, I still wanna see him. I wanna make sure he's okay
"That's Lucas Friar right there climbing up onto Tombstone. Let's see how old Tombstone feels about that!" I hear through the loud speakers
"Here we go, folks. Time for the moment of truth" I stand up to have a better view of what's happening
"And the gate opens!" Lucas manages to ride the bull but falls after what it felt like an eternity. My heart stopped beating. Is he fine?! I have to check on him! I stand up but the announcer starts talking again
"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, that is an official time! He's done it! Let's hear it!" I sigh in relief and the crowd cheers him. He's fine, everything's fine.
I'm soon approached by Riley
"I saw he's all right"
"He was wonderful. How are you?" I take a deep breath
"I couldn't watch. I don't know why. I just... I couldn't watch" I perfectly know why, I just refuse to tell her
"I know why. I know that you think I love him like a brother" What?
"You know?"
"I know that you thought that for a while" I look away from her, I can't watch her as she discovers the truth about me
"Riles, whatever you feel, that's... that's up to you, I-"
"Maya, it's up to you to tell me whatever you feel. You shouldn't be afraid to tell me anything. You're my sister, and I've always wanted a sister"
"Me too"
"Sisters should tell each other their secrets, don't you think?" she knows, I feel it.
"You couldn't watch him because you were afraid something would happen to him. Because you like him. You make fun of him because you like him. And you've never told me that either" I refuse te look at her, I just can't, it's too hard.
"Well, you're right. I love him like a brother. That's how I love him" what? For real?
*later that night, outside Pappy Joe's house*
"Hey, Lucas, can I talk to you?" my best friend asks him
"Actually, I have something to say to you, Riley. If it wasn't for you, I don't know if I would have gotten on that bull. And if it wasn't for you, I don't know I would have survived in New York. You're really important to me" Damn, he still likes her. How could I ever think that I had a chance with him?
"You are really important to me too, Lucas. We've always been really good at talking to each other. But we've never been too good at holding hands. And then we tried being a couple, and we couldn't even talk to each other. I don't want that. I want to know you're always there to talk to. You're my brother, Lucas. And I'm your sister" I can see Elliot smirking, almost as he has a plan. What's going on inside his head?
"That's what you think we are?"
"That's what I think we are. I love you, Lucas. And now I know how. How do you feel about him, Maya?" Why?! Why did she have to say that?! Everybody except for Riley and Elliot looks at me in shock but I just don't answer. I can't. I truly can't.