Picture Trails

by Piper Frost

  “What’s his name, darlin’?” That’s all he says and I smirk. He’s good.

  “I knew you wouldn’t,” she mumbles. “I should go. I have to study.”

  “Annie Marie Kenshaw. Hang up this phone, darlin’ and I’ll be flying out to give you a piece of my mind. Who’s got you distracted? He a good man? He treat you right? I’m not too happy I haven’t heard you got a boyfriend though.”

  “It’s not like that,” she blurts. “He’s not a boyfriend. I just...” She lets out one of her annoyed growls. It’s cute. And I wish I could see the line between her eyebrows she’s probably got right now from being so confused about all of this. “I need to focus on school. No one in the family’s graduated college before, Bo. I’m at the top of my class. I can’t have shit knocking me off of that spot.”

  “Let’s take a step back a minute, darlin’. For starters, I’m your uncle Bo. Don’t sass me over a thousand miles away because I’m not sure my back could take the drive to properly whoop you. And secondly, watch your goddamn mouth, you hear me? I know you’re a hotshot college student, but you’ll show the elderly some respect, and I’m sure as hell old. Clean it up, Annie. Let’s talk it out, darlin’.”

  I hear her take a deep breath and just as she starts talking there’s a knock at the front door.

  No! Dammit no! What are they going to talk out? She tells him to hold on but I dart to the living room before she catches me at the door.

  “I got it!” I call out and her door closes again. I huff and walk to the door, pulling it open to Jessica. “Sup?” I grumble, letting her in.

  “Oh. My. God!” I squeal and shove my phone into Able’s face. “Look at this picture!”

  Last night Corben whipped his junk out and started to helicopter it around and I snapped a picture just in time to capture when Candace puked on it.

  “Holy shit!” He’s laughing hard. I knew he’d think it was funny. My roommate didn’t. When he starts to zoom, I squeal in delight! Able and Corben! God I’d love to see that butt fucking!

  “Act like you’ve never seen his dick before!” I shove him and move farther into the room.

  He smirks but leans closer to the phone.

  “Seriously, you counting his pubes or something?” I move toward him and see he’s actually zoomed on him and Annie in the background. “Oh. Yeah I think you just proposed to her.” I giggle. “Actually, you always look like that when you’re around her.”

  “No I don’t,” he scoffs and hands me my phone back.

  “Uh, yeah you do. And she always looks like she just said yes. You guys are so gaggy. But how about that lap dance, huh? About time. And Teddy posted he has great footage on the campus’s hottest couple slash non-couple. That’s you two weirdos.” I start rummaging through their cupboards.

  “What the hell are you even saying?” Able snickers.

  “You two are boyfriend and girlfriend but don’t even know it.” I look up and see Annie. “Oh hey, Annie.” I smile at her. She looks rough. And like she’s been crying. “You, uh, you okay?”

  Her eyebrows push together before she masks it with that perfected look she’s always wearing. The one that shows she’s got her shit together even if she doesn’t feel like it. I wish I could wear that look...

  “I’m fine, why?” She heads for the fridge and grabs a can of soda. “What’re you doing here?” She sniffles once and acts like she’s got a cold, but those red rimmed eyes aren’t because of a cold.

  “Jimmy,” I say and watch Able swoop in like usual. Took him long enough. Usually he’s quicker on the draw.

  He’s huddled close to her whispering and she keeps trying to push him back. I quickly grab my phone and discreetly try to tape it. They are going to start humping in this kitchen and I’ll get it all. My followers will triple!

  He has her face in his hands and she’s still whispering she’s fine, she’s fine. I grin in excitement, raising my cell but then Jimmy ruins my shot. He walks right in front of my aim.

  “Jimmy!” I exclaim.

  “Jimmy,” Able blurts like we scared him. I think he forgot I was here.

  “Hey, Jimmy,” Annie says then heads out to the living room and I watch Jimmy stare at the two of them like he walked in on something.

  “What’s up?” He walks over to me and leans against the counter next to me. “You ready?”

  “Yeah.” I roll my eyes. I came to smoke down but that would have been great to capture. “You want to smoke with us, Able?” I smile at him.

  Poor puppy is staring lovesick after his non-girlfriend he’s in love with.

  “Uh, no. No thanks.” He leaves the kitchen and I follow before Jimmy gets creepy and tries to make out like he did last time.

  “Annie? You want to smoke with us?” I ask, plopping onto the couch next to her.

  Able’s in the corner watching her like he’s her personal bodyguard or something.

  Weirdos need to just hump and get it over with already.

  “Maybe I should,” Annie mumbles. “Maybe that’ll help the anxiety.”

  “Aw shit, Kenshaw’s getting lit!” Jimmy shuffles to his room and comes out seconds later with a tray of paraphernalia. “Can we record this?”

  “No,” Annie blurts, rolling her eyes. “I hate being recorded.”

  “God, look at this picture.” I push my phone toward her after bringing up the picture of Corben swinging his dick around and she covers her mouth laughing, then she zooms in. “Right, girl!” I say in excitement ‘cause I was impressed with Corben’s size too, but when I lean in, I notice she did the same thing Able did. She’s zoomed in on them in the background.

  What weirdos. Maybe I should be the one to tell them they need to fuck and get it out of their system. They’ll feel much better.

  “Can I look through the rest of these?” Annie asks, already scrolling.

  “Yeah, sure,” I mumble and roll my eyes because she’s already taken it upon herself. “Ooo!” I grab the phone and scroll back a few pictures. “Here, right here. You just fell.” I start pushing each photo to play live because in one of these pictures I captured something so freaking good! “Not this one.” I scroll, pushing the next. “Able picked you up. Bla bla.” God, I’ll die if I can’t find it. “Here!” I shout and Annie jumps. “So good. Remember when you fell? No, probably not, you were wasted. But you just fell and Able picked you up right before everyone noticed. I saw it of course, you freaking dork tripping over your own feet. But right here.” I shove my phone at her and she stares at the picture of her holding onto his neck staring into his face. “Play live, play live!” I bounce in excitement and she looks at me before holding her thumb to the screen.

  “I love y-” The picture stops the live after that but he said I love you.

  “Did you hear it?” I squeal, practically on top of her because I’m so excited for these two weirdos.

  She looks at the screen and plays it again. Then again.

  Then she looks at Able.

  “What? What is it?” He moves across the room and has to pry the phone from her grip. “What is it, Jessica?” he asks me.

  “Play the live. Do you know how to?” I stand to help him but he scowls at me, yanking the phone back, pushing his finger against it.

  “I love y-”

  His eyes go wide and shoot to Annie’s face.

  “Yams!” he blurts. “Look. Right there.” He’s pointing to the phone, his finger against it and it makes the live play again, he quickly yanks back. “It looks like yams on your shirt!”

  What a fucking weirdo! What is wrong with these two?

  “Nope!” I stand. “You said you!”

  “I said yams!” He is legitimately trying to argue this.

  “You said you!” I shriek.

  “Yams!”

  Jimmy is rolling around the La-Z-Boy while we go back and forth.

  “You remember, right? He said you.”

  “I wasn’t there,” Jimmy says, laughing. “But I believe you.�
� He looks at Able. “’Bout damn time, too, man.” He starts rolling a joint and hands one to Annie.

  “Thanks,” she mumbles.

  “You said you,” I say in a pout and sit next to her again. “Look at the next pic,” I tell her but she won’t pick up the phone, so I do and I hold my finger on it so they can hear everyone going wild like a celebrity just walked into the house. “And we’re all excited for you. Not because you like yams, you fucking idiot.” I scowl at Able.

  He stares at her a minute before leaving the room, not saying anything.

  “Okay then,” I mutter. “You heard him say you, right?” I ask her.

  She furrows her brows and looks at the joint in her hand, then hands it to me and stands.

  “Thanks for coming, Jess. But I have to go return a phone call.” She pauses on the way out of the living room, glancing at Able’s door before heading down the hall to her room.

  “Fucking weirdos,” Jimmy grumbles. “Pass me that.”

  “Right!” I move toward him and plop into his lap. I didn’t feel like making out, but being around those two makes so much sexual tension, I’m horny.

  This isn’t happening.

  “Pick up, pick up,” I mutter, twisting my comforter in my hand.

  I did not fall for my roommate.

  “The hell you doin’ you can’t answer my calls?” Bobby answers. He’s my uncle Bo’s son and I know when I hung up with Bo, he probably told Bobby to call me. Bobby and I were best friends growing up, which is weird with the age difference but he’s much more mature than most kids his age in high school. I’m like the sister he never had and he’s just another brother on my list of seemingly never ending siblings.

  “I was busy,” I murmur. “Sorry. Hey, I may be coming home.”

  Not that I want to, really. I want to stay and finish school here. But I can’t. Not when all I can think about is Able and the night together that I can’t even remember. Not when my mind has been obsessing all afternoon wondering what it would be like if I weren’t drunk. Wondering too many things that I shouldn't be.

  It’s almost dinnertime and I haven’t even had time to study. This is going to ruin my GPA.

  When he laughs, he sounds just like his dad. “No you ain’t. Shut up. My pops said you’re having some sort of break down. Now, I know I’m not older, but we both know I’m smarter.” He chuckles and I grin, rolling my eyes. Says the guy that intentionally tries to set off bear traps with his hand. “You can juggle school and a relationship, Annie. Stop acting like Aunt Affton before her and Uncle Tommy got together. A career ain’t more important than making connections with people.”

  I roll my eyes. I’m not sure why I thought calling him would make me feel better. Bobby’s never been one to coddle me.

  “I need to focus on school, Bobby. There's all the time in the world when I get home to find a man to settle down with. One that’ll understand the ranch lifestyle and schedule and not get jealous when I spend more time with the animals than I do with him.” I huff and realize Able has the patience of a saint. He’d be able to take it. Shit, listen to me. Able and I won’t...work.

  “Well, unless you plan on comin’ home and marrying Frank Wright, you’re shit out of luck. Best bet is bringing someone home with ya. This about your roommate? The one I met. Jimmy?”

  I laugh and cringe. “No. Definitely not that roommate.” I put him on speakerphone and grin, finding a photo of Able from the party last night and shooting it over to Bobby. “I sent you a pic of him.” I roll my eyes again, not sure why I’m doing this to myself. “He’s confusing, Bobby.”

  “Look at ‘im though. He’s dreamy.” He starts to laugh. “What, with them blue eyes and dark hair. Looks like ya’ll would make some great lookin’ kids.” He laughs harder. “I don’t know, Annie, I think I'm supposed to say this shit. But on the real. He a good man?”

  “He’s...” Perfect. Handsome. Reliable. Smart. Funny. “Yeah. He’s a good one.” One of the best if I’m being honest with myself. “But he’s kind of too good, you know?”

  “No. I don’t know. Ain’t no one too good for you. You’re a Kenshaw.”

  I laugh and lay back on the bed, sighing.

  “I’m a Kenshaw, but he’s a Porter. And he’s popular. And hot.” So, so hot. “And everything I’ve stayed away from because I’ve been warned about the pretty boys.” My dad made sure to drill into me that the better looking the boy the worse of an influence he’ll be. My mom tended to agree with him, which I think offended him a bit. He stole her peanut butter sandwich after that conversation, and most days he knows better than to mess with her peanut butter. “He’s always watching out for me, though. And he’s...comfortable. He’s real comfortable. But we’re not dating or anything because I refuse to date a roommate and all.”

  “I don’t get you city folk.” He chuckles. “You date who you like and treats you good. There’s plenty of fish in the sea, or whatever that saying is, but if you don’t snatch the right one, someone else will. You gonna give a damn if someone else snatches him up?”

  I scrunch my eyebrows together, recalling how it felt to watch Ashley all over him earlier. How I reacted in the lap dance video. And my chest tightens. I don’t want him with anyone else.

  But I can’t date him.

  “I shoved some bitch off his lap when she was giving him a lap dance last night,” I whisper, trying not to laugh.

  He laughs hard. “Hell ya! Don’t forget I only have enough money to bail you out of jail once. Sounds like you got it for the guy. You don’t do shit like that. You ain’t that kind of girl unless someone’s worth it.”

  “Yeah,” I muter. “I do like him, Bobby.” Probably too much. “But I need to focus on school and the ranch. I can’t let my dad down.”

  “Ha!” he barks. “Wait ‘till this story gets back to him. I’m not sayin’ your dad’s gonna be pissed, but I think your dad’s gonna be pissed when he finds out you didn’t follow your heart. You know he tries to tell his and Aunt Jo’s story like it’s the most epic love story of all time. What’s his moral every time? Follow your damn heart.”

  There’s a knock at the front door and I almost hang up to get it but I hear Able yelling he’s got it. And all I can do is grin.

  “Yeah,” I mutter. “But my damn heart isn’t going to keep the ranch alive.”

  “Whelp, Annie, sounds like this guy’s a total douche if he wouldn’t let you love him and keep the ranch alive. Sounds like you fell for a chump who could throw himself on the ground and still miss. Way to go, kid. Ya fucked up. Your daddy’s gonna be pissed.”

  “He’s not a douche! And he’s not stupid!” I snap. “He’s a gentleman. He’d move across the country for me without a blink of an eye,” I blurt then gasp. “Shit,” I whisper.

  “I think that concludes session de Bobby. You owe me a hundred bucks for this session. I’ll collect when I come see you in a few weeks. I gotta meet blue eyes anyway. We good? You feel better?”

  No. I’m more confused now than I was before and that’s saying something because before the phone call I was considering packing my bags and running away from everything and everyone I’ve ever known.

  “Yeah,” I say. “Thank you.”

  “Annie.” Able knocks on my door abruptly and I startle. “Someone’s here for you.” He doesn’t sound too happy about it, either.

  “Don’t thank me, just pay me. Love ya, girl,” Bobby says over the phone.

  “Bye, Bobby,” I mutter, ending the call. “Hang on!” I call to Able and run to the mirror to make sure I don’t look like a mess when I open the door to Able. It’s never bothered me in the past but now that I feel...something...I don’t want to gross him out. I need to shower. I probably stink. But after a spray of body mist and brushing out the tangles in my hair, I pull the door open and see Ryan Mayse standing just behind Able. “Oh my god. I completely forgot we had a study date.”

  Able didn’t look happy when he came to the door. I can’t blame him. If
I partied as hard as he did last night I wouldn’t be either if I were forced to stand vertically today. He’s not up for small talk, either, as we walk down the hall to Annie’s room. I tried calling her earlier but it went straight to voicemail so I showed up assuming she didn’t forget.

  She never forgets about our sessions. That’s one of the things that makes her so amazing.

  “Hey,” I say from behind Able when she swings the door open. Able’s body tenses and he doesn’t move.

  “Oh my god. I completely forgot we had a study date.”

  “Yesterday I told you I’d study with you tonight,” he says quietly to her, sounding pissed she seems to have replaced him with me.

  “He’s not here to study with me. I'm tutoring him,” she whispers like I can’t hear her.

  “I can come back,” I say, feeling like the third wheel.

  “No, Ryan, it’s fine. Give us a minute okay? I’ll be right in the kitchen.” She looks at me then back at Able and waits for me to head to walk away. I grab my textbook from my bag and set up my laptop as quietly as I can while listening to them whisper in the hallway.

  “Give me an hour, okay? I forgot he was coming,” she says.

  “No big deal, Annie. Take as long as you need. You need me, I’ll be in my room.” He knocks on the wall.

  Everyone that knows Able Porter knows when he knocks he’s trying not to pound something. Usually he puts his fist through a wall. There’ve been plenty parties that he’s plastering a hole he just made. I wonder what she did to get him so stressed.

  “Able,” she blurts. “We need to talk.”

  I wish I could see the look on her face right now. And his if I’m being honest. I also wish I didn’t get so plastered last night that I blacked out, because I heard there was all kinds of drama going on between the two of them.

  “Then talk to me!” The dude sounds like he’s about to cry...maybe I should leave.

  “After this session. I promise I will. Just...don’t leave, okay?” She sounds like she is crying. Shit.