the way it goes ( o p e n )

[arzu]

She chuckled as Jazzy tucked her head around her hoofs, Alyssa stood thanks and Cal is a handsome horse despite how old you say he is. She took a step towards him and then another one, until she was against him, she wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder, I have missed you. She spoke softly just loud enough for him to hear her, she stepped back, sorry she spoke and looked down again. He seemed like the same but different. Jazzy had picked up on her owners mood and stood stock still watching the man before her, Alyssa turned and with skill, slipped the saddle upon the mares back and cinched it. So after he told her how he really felt she could leave quickly.

[Phantom]

Jason's smile faltered for a few more moments and then he smiled again as he reached around to pet Cal and then he watched as Alyssa placed the saddle back on her horse. He thought for a few more moments, he had found himself dumbfounded yet again. He wondered what he should say, but he wasn't quite sure if he should say what he was thinking, he was thinking of three words that he hadn't said in such a long time, and he had only said those words when he really meant it. He slipped his free hand in pocket and suddenly said "I love you..."

[arzu]

She was ready for anything and then he spoke those three words, words that were spoken before he had left. Words that she thought she would never hear again, she looked up at him her eyes on his, I love you too she said. She stepped near him and kissed him softly, im glad I came up here is was time to do something for myself. Jazzy whickered to the gelding, in a greeting. Then there was a bee! She squealed and pulled free of her owner and bolted, Jazzy come back, the mares reins were dragging on the ground, that was an accident waiting to happen. She kicked a rock on the ground, and looked off were the mare had ran.

I was running, bolting more like it fear in me, there was a monster back there and I wanted no part of it. I continued to run, that was until the reins wrapped around a branch and pulled me to a halt square on my rump. I pranced and flicked my ears hmm no buzzing sound but Alyssa was not here with me and I knew she would be upset for my little bolt. I was ashamed and hung my head waiting.

[Phantom]

Jason looked down at the ground for a few moments after Alyssa had kissed him and then he looked back up in surprise when he realized that Alyssa's horse had bolted and it had seemed as if a bee had spooked her. He stood speechless for a few more moments, not quite knowing what to say as his gelding nickered suddenly and threw his head up when he too realized the the mare had run off. "Umm..." Jason hesitated "Should we go after her? he said rather dumbly, all of a sudden he was unable to think straight and he didn't really know why.

[arzu]

She walked over to him, hey now there is no reason to be stumbling over your words nor should you not be thinking straight its just me Jason. She gave him a little smile and kissed his cheek, I will walk it and see if I can find her, she headed off. It was not long before the mare came into view, her head low and a look of sorrow in her eyes, hey now whats got my girl in a down mood if you though I was going to yell you are wrong. The mare looked at her and whickered picking up that the women was not mad more worried. She raised her head as Alyssa undid the reins and lead her back, you are just fine girl. She spoke, the mare nickered to the gelding again and sidestepped to miss the shadow, something weird she had always done.

[Phantom]

Jason turned around and rubbed the gelding's face for a few minutes as he thought quietly to himself as Alyssa went to retrieve her horse. It wasn't late in the day yet, so Jason didn't have to home yet but he figured that his older cousin would run amok in his house and possibly eat everything that was in the fridge. Jason shook his head trying to clear his mind and then he slowly wiped his face with his hand and then patted the gelding's neck. He was speechless, tongue tied and everything else in between today. Maybe his heart had leaped into his throat. He didn't know, but he wanted to find out. He looked over his shoulder a heard the nicker of the horse.

[arzu]

As Jason came into view, she gave him a smile. Stopping she looked down at her boots, scuffing them against the ground. She did not make eye contact with Jason, things still seemed off she sighed and shook her head, she could get on her horse and say good bye or tough it out, she decided on tough it out just because he had said he loved her and she believed him. She continued to stare at the ground horse , in hand and head and heart some where else. She just kept telling herself over and over again it was fine everything was fine but some how it did not feel fine? Soo she spoke and waited.

[Phantom]

Jason smiled as he saw Alyssa again and he looked back at his horse for a few more moments then dropped the gelding's reins on the ground, knowing that the gelding wouldn't wander off or anything. He turned back around and looked at Alyssa for a few moments. He walked over to her just so that he was standing only a few inches away from her. He looked down at her, had he messed up again? Had he said something wrong? The he realized he had said next to nothing at all to her, perhaps she thought they he no longer loved her anymore. But did he love her still? "Hey...I'm sorry" he said smiling down at her, he really did mean that he was sorry. Did he love her still? Yes, yes he did.

[arzu]

She watched him as he stepped near, she did not have to worry about the mare unless there was a bee so she dropped the reins and closed the space between them. She wrapped her arms around his neck and put her head on his shoulder, she sighed she loved being close to him. Its ok she spoke into his shoulder smiling as she did so. She stepped back and took his hand walking to the tree, she sat down and patted the spot next to her, she smiled im happy to see you it was so hard the last few months and right after you left she spoke. She did not want to state the reason why it was hard, it was not hearing his voice, not seeing him and the anniversaries were the hardest. She shook her head and looked at Jazzy to make sure she was still here, then back at Jason waiting.

[Phantom]

He smiled happy as he sat down beside her. He looked up to the sky for a few more moments then he looked back at Ayssa. "I couldn't stand staying at my dad's ranch anymore" He smiled again "I left alot of things behind, alot of them I didn't mind forgetting, and I still want to apologize for letting you slip from my mind. I'm so sorry" He paused for a few more moments "I came here, almost by accident, as I tried to forget everything. And then my cousin moved in with me" He sighed and ran his hand through his bronze hair and looked away out into the distance "I am so sorry" He apologized again. He was starting to ramble and he had to stop himself from saying anything more.

[arzu]

She listened to him and when he was done she sat on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck, you are such a suck up but I love that about you, and its fine how ever now we will have no alone time with your cousin here but then again there is my house. She chuckled and kissed him, you are a goof you had to do what was right for you and that was getting the heck off that ranch. She smiled, I finally realized that with the help my father hired and my sister was old enough that I could leave, I mean ya im sad that I left them but its what I wanted at least I got Jazzy and now I have you. She smiled and then sighed looking up at the sky and waiting.

[Phantom]

Jason laughed at what Alyssa had just said and he kissed her cheek softly. "Yeah I know I am suck up, no need to tell me that" he said smiling. He looked up at the sky "Don't worry about my cousin, he's more of a goof then I am, I can kick him out temporarily if the time came" he said smiling then winked at her as if he was hinting to something but he didn't say anything else. But he pushed whatever he was thinking to back of his mind and forgot about it. He wrapped his arms around her waist and sighed softly, lost in thought.

[arzu]

She chuckled, fine I wont bring it up and more and what if I wanted to come stay with you then what would you do and trust me I think the time has come. She winked and then rested her head against his shoulder a sigh leaving her, she was content looking up at the sky, thoughts filling her mind as she rested against him, she felt his arms around her waist and she smiled this was right.

[Phantom]

Jason sighed again and he rubbed Alyssa's back gently then he murmured "You do not want to stay with me" it was more or less a statement then a demand but it really did sound similar to a demand. Jason had thought about it, he couldn't bring himself to let a girl stay with him, he barely allowed his cousin to stay there as it was, but his cousin pulled his own weight and he didn't get in his way and he was family. He unwrapped his arms from around Alyssa's waist and said suddenly "I think its just about time I went home" he said softly. He didn't want to sound mean or rude, but he really thought it was time for him to go home, he felt as if he had made a big mistake by coming to the forest at all and he sighed again, his body had seemed to tense up and he shook his head slowly, he couldn't do this, he was supposed to leave everything behind, wasn't he breaking a promise to himself?

[arzu]

She stood when he tensed, ya I should probably get going. Jazzy stood, feeling her owners emotions she was in tune with then and she could tell they were going to be doing some running. Jazzy trotted over to her and Alyssa mounted quickly a circled the mare who raised her head and was tossing it, biting at the bit like a wild horse. She did not even say good bye to him, She just kicked the mares sides and she flew off. Maybe she would go back to Texas were she belonged the more she thought about this, this was just a huge mistake. The mare moved with ease back the way they had come over the clearing and to the truck, the mare just trotted into the trailer, she quickly tied her to the wall and shut the door. Starting her truck she pulled out of there, tears starting to run down her face and the rain beginning.