ROLEPLAY HQ - one-more-day

@Nymphy ⸙ @Deleted User

VaVaVicodin

@Nymphy ⸙ @Deleted User

thank you!

Auburn skies mixed with purple hues as the black Mercedes car sped down the winding road, nothing but flat land surrounding the highway as it headed toward its destination. The weather was hot and humid making the air feel sticky. The windows on the Mercedes were opened, an arm hung out of the driver side window as a singular woman navigated the road. Her delicate hand riding the force of the wind, radio full blast playing songs she had tried hard to forget. Plump red lips mouthing the words to a song about heartbreak. Loose purple waves of hair flying behind her headrest and moving around wildly. If she was honest with herself, she craved the feeling of freedom that she felt as she headed back home. The Mercedes slowed to a slow ten mile an hour pace as she came to the dirt road, her heart was hammering like a bucking bronco. The woman took the turn that would lead her home, to him... To the one thing that had her running from here all those years ago. She came to a stop as her car crept up to the old rusted iron sign Crossroads Ranch Her hands clenched tightly on the steering wheel as she leaned forward and stared. A lump the size of her fist rose to her throat as she slowly drove through that last barrier that was keeping her heart safe.

10:14

The house was what one would imagine. White siding with accents of warm maple wood, a large wrap around porch with very worn rocking chairs. Large windows evenly spaced, with boxed planters filled to the brim with vibrant purple and pink flowers. The front door a vibrant red with delicate floral patterns decorating the corners. She shut off her engine and sat there a moment, a flashback of a tall young cowboy leaning against the railing, a smile that any woman would die for plastered on his face. She shook her head and the image faded, leaving nothing on the porch but the wind. It was now or never. She pulled the door open, one long heeled foot touched gravel, she pulled herself out and slammed the door. The wind picked up causing her hair to dance around her face’s delicate features. She walked to the trunk and pulled out her suitcase, as she shut the trunk the front door swung open to reveal a very homely woman with peppered gray hair. “Oh, my darlin! My baby...” She rushed forward, her floral dress swishing in the wind. Thick arms wrapped around her pulling her into a hard hug. “My baby’s home. Oh, my sweet Annabelle.” Her mother pulled herself back to get a good look at her daughter. “Darlin, what in the world did you do to your precious hair? It’s purple! Well, I’ll be. Let me see you, turn ‘round.”

10:16

Annabelle obliged her mother’s request slowly turning, her heels grinding into the pebbled gravel. Her mother made unapproving sounds and shook her head. “You lost too much weight girl, where’s all yer curves? You’re as skinny as a rake! Well. I’ll fix that soon enough. Now come on, the boys are just about done for the day, an I got supper warm on the stove. Oh, your daddy will be so happy you’re home sugar.” Her mother pulled her along up the three front steps and into the home she had grown up in, the smells were the same as if she had never left, the smell of honey, hay, and biscuits. A small smile could be seen on the corner of her lips. Annabelle removed her sunglasses as her mother took her suitcase, she looked around, a pang of guilt hitting her hard as she heard that warm familiar drawl coming from the dining room. Annabelle felt her palms grow clammy and her heart felt like it stopped beating. Her mother grabbed her hand, unaware of the inner turmoil her daughter was currently experiencing. “Boys! Look what the cat dragged in on the wind!” Her mother shouted with excitement as they stopped right through the doorway to the dining room. Her eyes falling on that very familiar, very muscular back she had pined over in her teen years.

One hard, long day later, Jonathan Wayne looked at himself in the mirror of the Montgomery family's bathroom. After washing his hands and face, he could tell in his own eyes, he had a rough day. It started at 6am with feeding the cows, chickens, goats, pigs, and horses, followed by jumping in the tractor to trim through the remaining harvest of the year. Richard didn't have a lot of help, he had Rick and Jonathan, or Jon Boy as Richard would affectionately call him. So, chores were a plenty and were often. But, Richard made sure that he was ton right. Along with paying Jonathan $1,000 dollars a week, he let him live in the guest house on the farm and made sure he was feed breakfast, lunch, and dinner whenever he wanted it. It was hard work, but it was good work. The guest house was a small one bedroom, one bath with a living room kitchen on the bottom floor and a bedroom on top of the house. He felt at home with the Montgomery's. Even going back to the days when he ran around the farm with their daughter Annabelle. Boy, Annabelle was certainly the one who got away. They had thought about giving it a go before we went away, but she didn't want to try something if she couldn't expand on it and she was worried about taking away the help from her father. He looked down in the sink, the dirty water began to move down the drain. He wiped his hands on a towel hanging from the rack about the sink before heading to the kitchen. Richard and Rick had sat down and were already talking about tomorrow's plans as he sat down and joined them. That is when Annabella and Ann-Marie walked in, he got lost in her beauty as she entered.

Annabelle was still standing as her mother went to sit, her eyes still stuck on Jonathan. She needed to look away, needed a distraction from the pull he had on her like gravity. Thankfully, it didn't take long before her father was up and swarming her with the biggest bear hug this side of the Mississippi. Her heart squeezed at the guilt for having fled home for all those years. She hugged her father back, her eyes closing to hide the few tears that had formed at the corner of her eyes. "Dad, missed you too." Her father let go but kept a hand on her shoulder as he turned. "Look at my girl Jon Boy, she sure is something, yeah?" He beamed a prideful smile at the boy and looked over to Rick who was currently getting up to give her his own squeeze. "Hey sis, missed your freshness around these parts." His hug was quick and short before he was back to situating himself in his seat, clearly eager for the meal that was about to be served. Richard Sr. looked back to Jonathan and huffed, "Well boy, what ya waitin' for, come give your childhood friend a hug!" He rubbed her shoulder before sitting back down himself, a spark of mischief in his eyes. See, he may be old but the man wasn't a fool. He knew what went on on his farm, and what hadn't. Poor child got too scared and fled, but he wouldn't blame his baby girl, nah siree. She'd made somethin of herself at some college in the city and he was proud she could stand on her own two feet. But now, well, there was no harm in an old man playing matchmaker.

Jonathan smiled as he stood up, straightening himself out. His western style flannel properly tucked into the Wrangler jeans that all together covered his 6'3", 225 pound frame, he walked over to her, "Hi, Annabelle." Greeting her like Richard commanded with a hug, it brought back a world of nostalgia. The small world they lived together on this very farm not more than 10 years ago. He soaked in those memories as he held her for a moment. Hell, she even still smelled as sweet as she did back in the day. Jonathan did agree, he knew everything that happened on his farm, and ol' Dick Montgomery was playing matchmaker in his old age. He had talked about Annabelle going to college over them bailing hay and picking stones out of the field often. He had it in his mind that she was gonna settle down and run the farm business like Ann-Marie did now and whoever her suitor was would run the farm. Did ol man Montgomery want him to be the suitor? He would never know, but he was convinced that this was going to happen. Seeing Annabelle back, Richard was looking to bring up the idea, he just knew it.

Annabelle felt the pit in her stomach growing larger as Jonathan made his way over. When he stood over her she looked up, her eyes on his lips as he said her name. "Jonathan." Damn the man, all he had to do was walk in a room and the girls would swoon. She inhaled deeply, taking in his scent as he pulled her into the hug. She didn't know what to do with her hands and stood there momentarily locked in memories. The pit in her stomach burst leaving behind only butterflies as he embraced her. She didn't realize it but she had been holding her breath as if wanting the moment not to end. It took all her willpower to pull herself out of the hug, but she managed it. Annabelle offered an awkward smile before looking at her mama. "I should go freshin' up before the meal. Please excuse me..." She turned on her heels and fled the room as slowly as she could manage. Once in the bathroom she splashed her face with water. Bluish gray eyes stared back at her with judgement. "Get a grip Annabelle Montgomery..." She whispered to herself and slapped her cheeks, "It's just Jonathan." She was trying to be convincing as she stared at herself. Jonathan Wayne, the man you didn't choose. Can't go down that road. She shook her head, her purple waves brushed her cheeks. One more deep breath and she pretended to flush to toilet before heading back in. Annabelle went for her usual spot, right beside her mama. Well, that had been the plan but as her eyes would land on her chair she would see Rick sitting in it. Which meant the opening spot was...right beside Jonathan. She gave her daddy a knowing look before sucking it up and going to the seat that everyone apparently thought she should have.

As Jonathan sat across the table from the family waiting for Annabelle to return, he could feel knots growing in his stomach, was she the same girl that had left this little town? Was she still the Belle he fell for all those years ago? He couldn't let himself settle for the moment, just continuing to let thought after thought roll through his mind. As the family sat, still waiting for Annabelle, he noticed that they had arranged themselves in the same particular way since Annabelle left, with the only seat remaining next to him. He smiled to himself. Ol' Montgomery definitely knew what he was doing. He smiled and watched as Annabelle entered the room again. "Food sure smells good tonight, Mrs. Montgomery, what are we having?"

Annabelle pulled her chair out and sat down, picking up her napkin and setting it in her lap as Jonathan asked about supper. Her eyes still on her daddy who was clearly up to something. "Whatever it is, sure smells like heaven." He winked at Annabelle before looking at his wife. "We're havin country fried steak, my roasted potatoes and some greens, and biscuits with enough gravy for it all. Now y'all help yourselves before it gets cold." Mrs. Montgomery waved a hand. "I know how you boys get, eat up eat up. For dessert I made baby girls favorite, my blueberry cobbler." Annabelle reached for the pitcher of sweet tea and poured her a glass, her arm lightly touching Jonathan's as she put it back down. "Sorry..." She tried her best to ignore the little jolts of electricity she had felt. Thankfully her brother passed her the biscuits bowl and she took it, placing one off her plate before handing it off to her father. "So you done with college yet? Went for business major?" Her brother plopped to large serving spoons of greens onto his plate. Annabelle had just put some potatoes on her plate, and absentmindedly handed the potatoes to Jonathan. "Yes. But I plan on going back for a masters degree after this break. I really enjoy the city." Her father placed a steak on her plate. Richard clicked his tongue on the roof of his mouth. "Whats the need of some fancy degree. We just got ya back and yes talkin but leavin." He shook his head, "Got all the business you need right here; at home..."

09:22

"There's not a reason for me to stay here longer than necessary daddy. You've got Rick and Jonathan helping out and this isn't like when when was my age.. Women can work,, women can do anything a man can do and I'm not just some doll to be sat on a shelf to look pretty." She huffed, her arms crossing as she stared at her father. "I won't hear it.. And you apologize to your mama right now girl. Your words undermined all that she does and more." Annabelle opened her mouth but closed it, her cheeks flushing. "Sorry mama, I didn't mean it that way." She gave her mother a soft look before looking down at her food. "Hush now, I know. I'm not some delicate flower I can't defend myself. Now eat, you could use some meat on them bones." Her mama was right, now was the time to eat not argue her caseb she would do that later. She picked up her fork and stabbed a potato before biting into it. The starch practically melted on her tongue with butter. She silently chewed her food. Annabelle hoped the rest of dinner would be quiet.

As her arm brushed his, he felt a tinge of delight, mistakingly saying, "It's okay, darlin'," before catching himself, "Uh, sorry..." He smiled as the food began to be passed around, helping himself to a couple piece of country fried steak and biscuits on his plate before covering them with the homemade gravy. He couldn't get enough of Ann-Marie's cooking. It was amazing with every forkful. He began eating as the family talked, mentioning her college education, asking about the business major. He listened intently for a few moments, as he was taught to do from a young age, to contribute to conversation if asked. Once she handed him the potatoes, he smiled at her, "Thank you," he said to her as he smiled, watching as she went back to the conversation and he began to pile potatoes on top of the gravy. Hearing her say she enjoyed the city almost broke his heart... Maybe this wasn't the same Annabelle anymore. Jonathan tuned out of the conversation for a few moments, letting Richard have his piece of the conversation with Annabelle. She was an independent woman, who could do anything she wanted, he remembered the conversation they had when they were kids. She hated that country women lifestyle and was damned and determined to break out of it. Jonathan remained quiet at the table for a few moments, smiling if making eye contact with anyone, acting like he had not been involved in an intimate family discussion.

The rest of dinner went by rather pleasantly. They made small conversations here and there about little things and Annabelle's would eventually relax enough to not sit so rigidly. The cobbler helped her the most,, so much that she had a second helping of it. When it looked like everyone was done for the night, Annabelle stood up when her mother did "I'll get these mama, you rest." She started to carefully stack plates like she had been taught at her old part time job. Her mother sat back down and smiled. "There's my sweet girl, thank you." Her mother wasn't one to ever turn down free labor from her children. Her mother looked from Annabelle to Jonathan, then her husband. She gave him a look and ever so slightly moved her head. The old man could read what his wife was getting out and smiled. "Rick, let's go have that discussion about that pick-up." He stood and led his son out of the room. Mrs. Montgomery had moved into the sitting room by the fireplace. Logs already had been lit and warming up the place. A content sigh left her as she watched her daughter walk through to the kitchen. Annabelle sat the stack of plates in the large rectangular sink. She rolled up her sleeves and prepped the hot water as she scrapped the remnants of dinner off the plates. Her mind focused on the task at hand.

As small conversation was made around him, Jonathan tried his best to say something, anything, to Annabelle, but the words would not escape his lips. He continued to push for conversation with Richard, Rick, Ann Marie about the projects around the farm, the animals, and the houses, but he could not find something to talk with just Annabelle about. He frowned to himself. As dinner winded down, Annabelle grabbed the dishes from around the table and begin moving to the kitchen to wash them. Richard and Rick stood up and began to walk towards the office to discuss the animal pickups tomorrow and what that entailed, which meant Jon would have to do all the work tomorrow morning alone, 'Great' he thought to himself. Before getting up and moving to the fireplace, Ann Marie looked at Jonathan, "Go talk to her," she whispered as she walked past, "you have been looking for a reason all night." She was not his mom, but boy, she could read him like a book when she wanted too. He sighed and stood up, straightening himself out. As he walked into the kitchen, Annabelle had already began to wash the dish and some were set out to dry. "Do you mind if I help?" Jonathan asked with a gruff tone and a scratchy voice, grabbing a towel from the oven's handle to dry.

Annabelle has just finished rinsing a plate when Jonathan walked into the oversized kitchen. Though currently she felt like the kitchen was too small. She swallowed her nerves and offered a smile, "You're welcome to help if you want to." Annabelle wondered if her voice sounded as shaky to him as it did her as she held a dripping wet plate to the man. She grabbed the next dish out of the soapy water and began silently scrubbing a small food stain. They worked together in an awkward silence until she grew up a nerve to break the silence. "How are things with you and Stacey Mae?" It'd been a few months since she had gotten the scoop on the latest news through the Fairlawn grapevine. Her storm blue eyes watching him through her hair. She honestly had no clue how things had turned out, had told her aunt that she hadn't wanted to know any more news. She didn't like the awkward silence, the distance that was clearly between them. Once upon a time Jonathan had been her one constant. The one she would run to to confide in, the shoulder she went to cry on. She tried to shake away the memories that bubbled on the surface, her hand wringing out the water from her dishcloth. Those memories were long ago, and it was better this way. There was a reason she had left home, left him behind. This wasn't high school anymore, no more curtseying the line between will they won't they. Before she realized it she was reliving it; why she had chosen to leave home. A flash of Stacey and Jonathan making out after graduation underneath the old oak tree at the center of town. She had finally grown the nerve back then to tell him how she felt, to cross that line only for it to have been shattered. Her heart ached at the memory and she cleared her throat. She had never asked for an explanation, instead she had said goodbye the following day, having chosen to move off to college in the big city with her friend Mary.

Jonathan took the dishes, one after another, and dried them, sitting on the drying rack as he finished, but he kept silent, not wanting to push for conversation that was wanted with Annabelle. He smiled in the moment though, flooded was his mind with memories of the two together back in time doing this exact same thing after one of the several thousand family dinners he attended. He couldn't help, but feel peace when he was around here, even if it was heartbroken kind of peace. As she spoke up about Stacey Mae, he cringed a moment, "Word travels fast even out of town, eh?" He said was a smirk, "Well, it didn't work very well. She ended up going back with Tony." He frowned, but it was quickly followed by a smile, "Guess it wasn't something too important to her. Enough so that she didn't let me know she was still seeing Tony while she was seeing me. It kinda sucked for a few moments."

Annabelle felt relief wash over hearing that it hadn't worked out, but then guilt for feeling the relief at his failed relationship. She handed him the last dish and pulled the plug on the water as he finished telling her about Stacey. "Well, she's been like that since high school, don't know why people are shocked each time..." She spoke out loud and shut her mouth quick when she realized it. "Ah...sorry, my mama raised me better than that." She wiped her hands on the extra dry dish rag and turned to lean on the sink, her eyes finding themselves staring at his chest; not quite able to meet his eyes. "I'm sorry she broke your heart Jonathan." She pushed herself off the sink and tilted her head toward the back door. "Up for a walk? I haven't been to see the horses, and I've missed Starlight something fierce since I been gone." She of course, was referring to her mare that she had been given as a gift on her sixteenth birthday from her daddy. She remembered when she had challenged Jonathan to a race, winner got to choose the prize... That had been her first kiss and she knew now what she didn't back then, he had let her win. Her eyes moved from his chest to briefly look him in the eye before she made her wait out the back, the small string of bells on the door jangled as she pulled it open. The early summer night was warm with just a hint of a cool breeze as she stepped out. The sun had fully set during dinner and the stars were coming out in full force. She paused to gaze up at the moon and sighed, you couldn't see a view like this in the city.

Jon finished helping her cleaning the dishes and placing them away as she finished her portion of things. He gently patted his hands dry on his pants, as his were not as wet as hers. He smirked when she made that comment about Stacey Mae and nodded his head in agreeance, "You mama also raised you to tell the truth," he smiled, "And its okay, everything has a reason and a plan. I am up for a walk, definitely." As they made their way out onto the farm ground, the 400 acres of land that the family owned housed many different things, horses, cows, goats, pigs, and a fresh farm full of any kind of vegetable you could imagine, but the major export being potatoes. He had walked these lands so much in his lifetime that he could probably walk and map it in his sleep. His booted feet hitting gravel, he began to walk in the direction in the horse pens before stopping and making a 'bold move' in his mind. He stopped and lift his arm, motioning for her to go ahead and hook onto his arm as they walked.

Annabelle turned to see him offer his arm and she took it, her heart skipping a beat as she did. Once she did she couldn't help to notice how much more toned he had gotten since they were teens. No longer a boy but a man before, he was a sight that she wanted to devour. She shivered at the thought, or maybe it was the chill in the nights air. Either way Annabelle moved in closer to Jonathan as they walked. The silence was a pleasant change from the hustle and bustle of the city; the only sounds around them were that of the animals and the crunch of gravel beneath their feet. She looked down as they walked, her hair falling to obscure her face from view. She was quiet for a while as they walked until she felt the need to say something, anything. "So, not going to comment on the hair? Mama did. Surprised daddy didn't..." She peaked at him from beneath her bangs, her eyes admiring that chiseled jaw of his; he really was the handsomest man in town.

"Well, I didn't know if you wanted anyone to make a fuss," he said with a smirk, "Right now, I am just admiring that you are actually back with us." Us? What a weird way to put it, he thought to himself as he walked along side of her, God he would love to have her back. As they walked, arm in arm around the farm, they quickly and almost completely quietly walked across the farm grounds over to the horse pins. As they walked up, Jon let out a small whistle, more distinct than a normal whistle. "Here Starlight," he bellowed into the darkness, moments later a horse came barreling up to the fence in front of them, "Starlight, mom... Mom, Starlight."

Annabelle inhaled a deep breath hearing his comment. She wanted to point out that she was more than likely going to leave again but bit her tongue. No need to ruin the current mood. When he whistled and she heard those familiar hooves coming their way she let go of his arm and up to the fence. Tears welled in the corner of her eyes as the black horse with a white diamond on her head came up to them. She choked back the tears as she took that beautiful muzzle into her hands and put her forehead on it. This was one of the main reasons she had missed home, and the guilt hut her harald. "Hey my beautiful girl, missed you..." She closed her eyes and stroked the hair on Starlight, the horse clearly enjoying it. "Who's been taking care of her all thus while? Please tell me it ain't Rick..." She turned her head slightly to look at Jonathan. "Love my brother but when it comes to horses...he ain't the brightest." Annabelle gave her one last nuzzle before lifting her head, a pat on her nose and she let the horse go.

"Actually," he said with a smirk, "It has been me, we have grown quite close in your absence. She has actually become my riding horse for when we are herding or making trips around the farm. Starlight and me have become best friends. Ain't that right, beautiful?" He gave Starlight a little scratch on the head as he let Annabelle enjoy her time with the horse. He remembered when she first got the horse, he was at the party and the look in her eye sent shivers down his spine at even such an early age, he knew that he wanted her to be in his life forever. He smiled as she enjoyed the time with Starlight, watching as she let Starlight go. Starlight went right straight back to the pens with the other horses. Assumingly to fall back asleep since she was not actually being take out of the pens. She really was a smart horse. He smiled over and let his arm out again, "Anything else on the farm you have been missing?" He really wanted her to say him...

Annabelle never thought she'd be jealous of a horse but currently that was very much so the case. When Starlight started to trot back, Annabelle turned and looked at Jonathan, a smile still plastered on her face. He was offering her his arm again and it tugged on her heart, but his question was another thing entirely. "Yes, just so happens that I missed my best friend." Annabelle thought for a brief moment before she wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling him into a hug. She couldn't hear much but her own heartbeat in her ears. When she finally pulled herself back she put her hand on his arm and looked up into his handsome face. "How you been Jonathan, really? Daddy ain't workin you too hard, is he?" There was a look of worry for him in her face as she asked.

His body wanted to melt at the sound of her saying that she missed her best friend, he loved the sound that she missed him. Not so much the best friend. He honestly wasn't trying to be best friends with her, he wanted to be her lover, with her continually forever. He sighed and smiled as she wrapped her hands around his waist though. He looked down on her, his head almost resting on top of her head. He let his hands wrap around her shoulders and down her back. Smiling, "I have been okay," He said, "And no, he works me about as hard as he use to do. I really feel like he treats me like Rick. Another son." A thought crossed his mind and he leaned down to kiss her on the forehead as if she was a little kid again, he use to do it so often as teenagers that it was just expect when affections or hugs were exchanged between the two. Just like old times. "They even upgraded the old guest trailer and bought an actual house back there now," Jon said excitedly, wanting to show off his new home, "Want to come see it? I am sure it is not like your executive suite in the city, but it is pretty nice!"

When he bent down to kiss her forehead Annabelle felt her insides turn to mush at the same time as her heart felt like it froze. She wanted that kiss to be planted on her lips, and she had the thought to try and do it herself but thought better of it. He had said that things were over with Stacey, but she had planned to go back to the city and she wasn't sure starting something with him was the best idea at the moment. Afterall, it was her first night back. He was inviting her back to his place and she froze, her arms still around him. She took a few minutes to calm herself, he probably didn't mean anything by that. Just a friend showing their home, nothing more. She pulled back reluctantly and nodded her head. "Alright, let's go see."