Thanks so much for your support! Here’s a little surprise!
Jade
I’m so exhausted from dance and all I want to do is catch up on Pretty Little Liars. As I flop on the couch my mind drifts to the new city girl I met in class today. She may have a hoity-toity attitude but man can she dance. I hope she decides to give the studio a shot. We could really use her on our team.
Barrick flops down on the couch and steals the remote.
“Hey, I had that first.”
“So. We’re not watching your Liars again. At this point, they could all be A.”
“You know you love Pretty Little Liars.”
“Well, I have to admit, they are hot.”
I start cracking up. I know he says he hates watching the show, but I love that he’ll watch it just for me. He’s a great big brother.
“So, I met Ms. Mae’s granddaughter today. You didn’t tell me how cute she was,” I say casually, trying to gauge his reaction.
“Oh yeah?” Barrick keeps his eyes on the screen.
“Yeah. She came in the studio and she’s freakin’ amazing, Bare. I’ve never seen anything like that.”
“Yea, she is pretty impressive. She’s been helping me, if you can even call it that, on the farm so Ms. Mae would agree to take her to dance.”
“Wait, when did you see her dance?”
“Whenever she gets pissed off, she runs off and dances out on Ms. Mae’s back porch.”
“How am I just hearing about all this now?”
“I don’t know, I guess I just didn’t think about it.”
“Uh huh. She’s been here all summer and you’ve been working with her but you never thought we should meet?”
“Look, I just thought you already have one friend with an attitude, why have two?”
“You know Maddie’s not a true friend. I just don’t want to be on her bad side. So, what’s up with Cadence anyway? Does she have a mama and a daddy? She’s got an accent that makes her sound likes she’s better than everyone else and the attitude to go with it.”
“Oh, she’s got an attitude alright!”
“So, come on, spill. What do you know?”
“She and her mama came from New York. I don’t know where her dad is but I don’t think they have a good relationship. Ms. Mae’s been riding her ass about being respectful and somehow thinks having her help me on the farm will set her straight. I sure wish I knew what I did to deserve that. She’s the most frustrating person I’ve ever met. But, I have had some fun showing her the ropes.”
“Oh, no, Bare, what did you do?”
“Oh, nothing.”
“Bare...”
“Let’s just say I enjoyed watching her take the wheelbarrow of manure down to the compost pile.”
“The wheelbarrow? Don’t you use the tractor to do that? Bare, you’re terrible. What happened?”
“Well, she may have fallen into the pile while dumping out the wheelbarrow.”
“You are awful. That poor girl.”
“You only just met her, Jade. She is a major pain in the ass.”
“Well, you better be nice. I want her to join the studio and I don’t need you running her off to New York.”
“Fine. Now aren’t we supposed to be watching your Liars?”
Two Days Later
As I’m walking out the door to go to dance class, the phone rings. “Hello?”
“May I speak to Jade?” a female voice asks.
“Speakin’.”
“Hi Jade, it’s Cadence.”
“Hey Cadence, I’m just walking out the door to go to the studio. You’re still coming aren’t you?”
“Yea, that’s why I’m calling. Gran can’t take me to the studio today. I know it’s last minute but can you pick me up?”
“Sure. I told you I could pick you up anytime. I’ll see you in five,” I say as I grab my bag and rush out the door.
I speed down the driveway and park in front of Ms. Mae’s house. Cadence runs down the steps and hurries to my car.
“Hi Jade, thank you for picking me up. I’m so glad I don’t have to get all my dance clothes dirty in Gran’s truck.”
“Like I said, I can just start picking you up on my way.”
“Okay, I’ll tell Gran she doesn’t have to worry about taking me anymore.”
As I turn the car around to leave, I see Barrick outside the barn and wave. I notice Cadence gives me a strange look.
“What?” I ask.
“Do you like him?”
“Barrick?” I try to hide my smile as I pull out onto the main road.
“Yea, he helps my grandmother on the farm and he’s made my life a living hell.”
“Really?” I almost giggle but need to hold it in because I want to hear what she has to say about my brother.
“Yea, he’s been a complete asshole. I mean he’s freakin’ hot so if you want to call dibs, I can see why but you should know he’s not nice.”
I can’t control my laughter any longer.
“Why are you laughing at me?” Cadence asks.
My eyes start to water and I consider pulling the car over until I can control myself. “I can assure you I’m not attracted to Barrick.”
“You aren’t?”
“Nope.”
“Not even a little bit? I mean have you seen his ass in those jeans?”
“Cadence, stop, I can barely see the road from laughing so hard.”
“Fine but will you tell me what exactly is so funny?”
“Cadence...Bare...Barrick...is my brother!”
“What?! You’re kidding me, right?!”
“Nope, seems no one told me about you either. You’ve been here all summer and he never thought to tell me about this awesome new dancer in town.”
“Oh my God, you’re not going to tell him I think he’s hot are you?”
“Girl, no way.”
“So, since someone didn’t think to introduce us, care to help me pull a little prank on your brother?”
“I’m listening.”
When I get home from dance, Barrick is pacing the floor.
“Hey, Barrick.”
“Jade. Did Cadence say anything after you waved to me at the farm?”
“Why do you want to know? You like her or something?”
“I just want to know if she said anything about me.”
“Yea, she may have said some things about you.”
“Jade...come on, what did she say?”
“Hmm...something about how she can’t believe you never introduced us, how if I liked you, I should be warned that you are an asshole. I almost had to pull the car over from laughing so hard.”
“She thinks I’m an asshole?”
“Yea, but if you don’t like her, why do you care what she thinks?”
“I don’t but you know I’m not really an asshole. Did she mention all the crap she’s done to me?”
“She may have mentioned something about a prank.”
“What?”
“Oh, nothing, but Bare, be careful, she might have mentioned something about Rascal and your jeans.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I don’t know but I’d watch your back, hottie-sexy-pants,” I say as I cackle and head to the shower.
“Hottie-sexy-pants? Does that mean she thinks I’m hot?” he calls after me. I continue to laugh as I shut the bathroom doo