The Long Run

Hi my Name is Sophia Hudson. I'm 23 and I'm in college full time. I moved away from home as soon as I graduated high school and moved to Florida. I got a scholarship, a full ride actually. I study nonstop and never go out. I am currently in my room right now studying and my head is starting to hurt. I've been studying for hours upon hours without a break. "Soph" Casey says walking into my room "No I'm busy" I tell her "Come on take a break please?" She asks pouting "No I can't" I tell her looking back down at my book "Please. Your leaving in two months and I want some time with you outside this room or my room" She says whining now "Fine but i'm not wearing those boots" I tell her After she picked my outfit I got dressed. She had picked a short cute dress and of course I had on the cowgirl boots. "Are you sure this is ok?" I ask her "Of course. We are going country dancing" She says "But it's a club?" I ask "Yes it is. But we are leaving early to go to the fair grounds for a few rides and some fair food." She tells me I nod and grab my phone and some money and we walk to my truck and climb in. I know I don't like cars i'm a truck girl. My ex helped me pay for this baby. It was in my name so when I left him he couldn't take it even though he helped me pay for it. I was smart when it came to that type of thing. I don't know how long I was in my own world til I pulled into the parking lot to the fair grounds. I jumped out and locked my doors and shoved the keys in my bra and we walked over to the gate buying wrist bands. "There is bull riding going on today. Let's go look then ride?" Casey asks "Sure come on" I tell her She was a sucker for cowboys so I couldn't tell her no. We made our way over and we sat watching for the longest time. We moved closer when I noticed a gorgeous guy getting ready to ride. The bell rung and the gate opened and he flew out on a bull riding him like crazy. Soon the bell rung again and he flew off and so did his hat. It landed right in front of me and he jumped up and went to walk away. I bent down and grabbed it and ran over to the gate. "Hey your hat" I call He spun around and grinned showing off his dimples. "Keep it" He says winking at me I smirk and wink back at him and his jaw drops and I smirk even bigger. I place the hat on my head and Casey high fives me. "I see you still have it" She says "Baby please I have better game then any man does." I tell her "Come on let's go ride some rides" She says I nod and we run off to ride some rides. We run around riding every ride twice and we get some food. I run up to a stand wanting a funnel cake when someone bumps into me. "What the hell?" I shout "Oops sorry" Someone says I look up to see the guy from earlier and a girl clinging to him. "Well hello gorgeous" I say smiling "Can I have his hat back?" The girl snaps "No I don't think so. I mean he did tell me to keep it" I say still looking at him "Krystal get off me. Your not my girlfriend so don't act like it. I told her to keep it besides it looks better on her" He says smirking "Are you busy right now?" I ask him "Not at all" He says "Wanna split a funnel cake with me and go dancing with me?" I ask "I would love to" He says I smile and we get the funnel cake and we walk around eating it. "Well well well look who found a hotty" Casey says smiling "Luke this is Casey my best friend" I say "Nice to meet you" Luke says to her "Likewise. Ready for dancing?" Casey asks me "Absolutely. Luke can you dance?" I ask "Of course" He says smirking "Well your in for a run for your money" Casey says I smirk at her and we take off to the parking lot to drive to the club. I pull my keys out and unlock my truck and Luke's jaw drops. "What?" I ask "You drive a truck?" He asks "Yeah" I tell him I open my door and raise my leg to step up on the step bar and my dress rides up to my hip and I step up and I feel luke's hands on my hips helping me in. "Wanna ride with us?" I ask "Sure." He say opening the back door "No Luke you ride up front. I'll ride in the back" Casey says climbing in the back Luke nods and runs around climbing in. I back out and pull out to the main rode. I step on the gas and I race down the highway. I rolled down the window and turned on some music. I started singing and Casey sung with me. When i pulled into the club it was packed and I grinned. I rolled up the windows and Luke hopped out and came around and opened my door. I grabbed me keys and phone and I stood up on the step bar and Luke grabbbed my hips lowering me down to the ground. I slid down his body and tensed. I shut the door and lock the truck up. I shoved the keys in my bra and we walked in. I smiled when I walked in and seen what all was going on. Casey grabbed my hand and I grabbed Luke as she drug us to the bar. We stood there as we waited for the bartender and we he walked over Casey started ordering her drink. "What are you drinking?" Luke asks "I don't drink" I tell him looking away from him "Are you sure? Just one?" He asks "Only one. I have to drive" I tell him "Ok. So what's it gonna be?" He asks "Give me a shot of whiskey" I tell him He looks at me wide eyed and the bartender pours it in a shot glass. He slides it over to me and I pick it up and look at Casey and she looks at me with wide worried eyes. "Are you sure you want to do this?" She asks "Yeah it's only one" I tell her She nods and I throw it back swallowing it with ease. Luke looks at me with wide eyes and I roll my eyes at him. I grab Casey and drag her to the dance floor. We start dancing and I loosened up some and then I looked up to see Luke watching me and I smiled and waved him over. He walked over to me and I started dancing with him. I was smiling and laughing and when I looked at him I felt this instant happiness. When he spun me around I caught a glimpse of someone I thought i'd never see again. I tensed and stopped dancing and I started towards the excit. Once I made it outside I took in a deep breathe and sighed. "Hey you ok?" Luke asks "I'm great just tired. We have been dancing for hours" I tell him "Want to go back to my place for a movie? You can even sleep in the spare room if you don't want to drive all the way back to campus" He asks "Sure. Casey is going home with Justin anyways. She always does" I say laughing He nods and we walk over to my truck. I pull my keys out of my bra and unclock the truck. I open my door and climb in and Luke climbs in. I crank up the truck and it rumbles to life. "Where am I going?" I ask "Go out and take a left then go down to second light and take a right. Take that road to the very end and take another right and then it's going to be the only driveway on that road" He says I nod and turn on some music and drive down the road. About thirty minutes later we pulled up to a dirt road and I pulled down it. "Wow it's beautiful" I tell him "Thanks. It's a lot of work but I love it here. After my grandfather died he put it in his will for me to get the family ranch when I reached eighteen or if I went to college I got it after college. I took it at eighteen and my parents or mom didn't like it. My dad loved that I took it and did what my grandfather wanted. My mom on the other hand wanted me to go to college and become some big ceo so she could be in spotlight all the time" He tells me "Well it sounds like you did what you wanted to do and you obviously love this place. Hell I just got here and I love it. My dad is like your dad. As long as I'm happy he is happy. My mom is like your mom but she's my step mother. I hate that b***h" I say "Well come on. Let's go inside" he says I laugh and nod and push my door open. I hop down and lock the doors and I run around and jump on his back. He chuckles and carries me inside. I slide down off his back and I look around. "Come on." He says chuckling I smile and follow him into a theater like room. I plop down on the huge couch and sigh. "What movie?" I ask "The Longest Ride" I tell him "Alright then" He says I smile and he sits down and presses play on the movie. I lean my head back and stare at the screen. He reaches down pulling my shoes off and dropping them to the floor. "Can I barrow a t shirt?" I ask "Sure come on" He says standing up I nod and we walk to his room and it's huge. He walks over to a dresser and pulls out a white t shirt and tosses it at me. I sit it down and pull my dress over my head and I hear him suck in a breathe and I smirk. I slip the t shirt over my head and when it slides over my face he is standing super close to me. He grabs my hips and pulls me to him and kisses me. I instantly pull back and lower my head. "I think I should go" I tell him "Why? Are you ok? I didn't mean to upset you" He says "It's not you. I leave in three months for New York." I tell him "Just stay the night it's late. I promise not to try anything. Just sleep" He says I nod and he gives me a small smile and lifts me up and lays me down on the bed. He pulls the covers over me and kisses my forehead. He goes to walk away and I reach out and grab his hand. "Sleep with me?" I ask "Um" He says "Just sleep. PLease?" I ask He nods and walks around the bed and strips down to his boxers and slides in the bed. I roll over and place my head on his chest and sigh. It felt good to fall alseep in a man's arms again. I don't know how long I layed there but I finally dosed off. When I woke up the next morning Luke was still sound asleep so I slid out of bed and slipped my dress on. I ran down to the theater room and grabbed my shoes, keys and phone and walked out the front door. I climbed in my truck and drove away from his house without looking back. When I made it back to the dorms I was exhausted. I walked straight in my room to see Casey waiting on me. She looked at me and sighed and opened her arms to me. I couldn't hold it back anymore I let the tears flow down my face. "What happened?" She asks "He was perfect. I like him." I sobbed into her shirt "Then what's the problem?" Casey asks "I leave for New york in three months. He loves his ranch he would never follow me to new york" I tell her "Then you sacrifice and stay here and work at the company here. You already did three internships and they already want to offer you a CEO postion. You wouldn't have to work from the bottom. You would run that s**t like a pro." She tells me "I can't" I tell her "Ok then promise me something" She says "What?" I ask her "Keep seeing Luke. Date him, maybe fall in love. Don't make your final decision til a week before your suppose to leave." She tells me "Fine. But he probably isn't going to wanna see me again. I done the walk of shame this morning on him" I tell her "You snuck out?" She asks "I did. I was afraid if he woke up to see me leave he would ask me to stay for breakfast." I tell her "Would that have been so bad?" She asks "I guess not. Case you know I haven't dated since Weston. Weston done me dirty. He abused me, starved me, and wouldn't let me have a life. I finally got away from him and he's back. I saw in him the club last night" I tell her "What? Oh hell no. You aren't going anywhere alone. We have spring break coming up and me and you are going to see your dad." She tells me "You want to piss my mom off" I say smiling "You bet your ass I do. And your inviting Luke to come with us" She tells me "Um ok" I say nervously "Good. Now let's feed my favorite girl, shower her, and dress her and then we are driving back to Luke's so you can sit down and explain this to him. If you like him like you say you do then you need to tell him your story" Casey says "I can't" I say standing up pacing "Yes you can. I will be there with you the entire time. I won't leave you." She says hugging me "Fine" I say sighing She nods and goes to get me food while I shower and get dressed. I slip on some skinny jeans with rips in them and a low cut shirt and my boots. I curl my hair and do my make up and slip Luke's hat on and smile. Casey walks in and stops dead in her tracks and grins. "You look beautiful" She says "Thanks. I'm nervous Case. No one knows my story but you" I whipers "It's gonna be ok. Now let's go i'm driving" She tells me I nod and we head to Luke's. When we pull in he walks out of the barn shirtless and covered in sweat. "Damn girl. You got a good" Casey says and hops out of the truck She comes around and opens my door and I hop down and we walk up to Luke. "We need to have a chat" Casey says "Sure. Let's go inside and talk" He says Casey nods and takes my hand and Luke leads us in. I take a seat on the couch and kick off my shoes and pull my knees to my chest and sigh. "Our girl here needs to tell you why she left and her story." Casey says "I met this guy in High school. His name is Weston. We got together freshman year and went through high school together. After we grauated we moved in together and it was perfect. One day he came home and everything changed. I wasn't aloud to leave the house alone or have friends. it started as harsh words and then a slap here and there. Then he would beat me and tell me I was fat and starve me. He locked me in a room and wouldn't let me leave ever. One day my dad had come over and Weston was home and he found me barely alive locked in a closet. When we got to the hospital my dad put out a warrant for him. But there was no proof that he was even living with me at all. I was to weak to protest it so he got away with it." I say whiping a angry tear off my face I started breathing harder and harder and started digging my nails into my palms. Luke kneeled in front of my and wrapped his arms around me as I cried. "Do you like me?" He asks "Yes" I say "Do you want to date as in a relationship?" He ask I nod and Casey reaches over and grabs my hand and squeezes it. "Well ok then" Luke says kissing my forehead There was a knock on the door and he walked over to open it. "Cody" Luke says nodding "Luke. I was in the area and I haven't seen you in a while so I thought I would come by." He says He notices us and walks over and comes to me first. "Don't speak. I'm not interested but Casey is single" I say walking over to Luke Cody's jaw dropped and Luke busted out laughing and kissed my temple. "Hey so you two can get to know each other what do you say to a sleep over? Maybe movies?" I ask "I'm in" Cody says "Are you cooking?" Casey asks with sparkly eyes "Yes I will cook for you baby" I tell her "Chili?" She asks "Yes love" I tell her "Then i'm in. I have been starving" She says "Are you ok with that sweetie?" I ask Luke "Your gonna cook?" He asks "Duh" I say ]He nods and I smile. "Ok let's go to the store. Cody get clothes. And you mister I want you showered by time I get back. You sweaty and sticky" I tell him "Yes ma'am" He says Casey laughs and we all walk to her truck. "Be careful it's suppose to start storming soon" Luke says "We will. Be back in a hour" I tell him He nod and I kiss him and he chuckles and lifts me into the truck. We drive down his driveway to get clothes. I reach over and grab Casey's hand giving it a squeeze. "Thank you" I whisper "Your my best friend, my other half, my baby. I'm always gonna be there for you" She says "I love you" I tell her "I love you more" She says smiling "Forever" I say "Always" She says