Blond hair, sweet green eyes that look like emeralds, a smile that I can't get enough of, that's how I would describe Bonnie. 

I still remember the day I met her. Flynn and I were in college our junior year when I came back for the holidays Bonnie was all grown up. Looking at her as it were my first time, we are 4 years apart, so as I went to college she was graduating high school.  She was a country girl, simple, pretty, she grew up with me. When I ask her to be my girlfriend she said yes, it was that simple, no complications and that is enough for me. 

"Are you lost, Miss?" I tease her. "What are you doing here?"

she pleasantly smiles back, "Do you remember what today is?"

She waits for me to respond by analyzing my facial expression. I adjust my hat to buy me some time. It's not her birthday, I learned my lesson by forgetting it. My mind goes blank, I have no idea what today is other than it being Monday. 

I sheepishly smile, "Monday?"

Her smile is exchanged for a serious expression, "Austin, it's our anniversary."

Dang, it! 

With training and the competitions happening soon, I totally forgot about our anniversary. In reality, I don't know much about Bonnie but that we grow up in the rodeo life. I look at Bonnie and give her a smile, "Let's go out. We'll go to the beach this weekend."

"But our anniversary is today," She insists

"Then. Let's go for a ride," I suggest. 

She furrows, "I can go for a ride any day. Why don't we do something different? You know, like go to the boardwalk. It's early, I think we can go and come back if we go right now."

"Bonnie, I have early training tomorrow. We can go another time," I try to reason with her. 

"Fine," She frowns walking away knowing she's mad. 

"Wait, bonnie. Don't be mad. I promise we'll go somewhere this weekend or something."

My father always taught me to treat girls with respect and if you really care for someone to show them you appreciate them. I feel bad for not celebrating something important to her but training and competing are important to me. 

"I hate this," she looks at me as her eyes start to tear. "You always prioritize your training and always cast me aside. Is riding more important than me?"

I hesitate, "No..." It is. Riding, the rodeo life is important to me, but I can't tell her that. 

"We've been together for almost 4 years. Are you ever going to propose?" Her eyebrows knitted.

I start to panic, " O.K, Let's go to a boardwalk. We'll go and have fun." 

---------- 

On our last try of tossing a ring to its target, I hand the ring to Bonnie encouraging her to win a stuffed animal. 

"You almost got it," I encourage her. 

She tosses her last ring but misses the target.

"Aww, man," She pouts. "I almost had it."

I hug her, "It's O.K Bonnie. Let's go get some cotton candy."

As we are eating our cotton candy, we sit on a side of the boardwalk. There's a lot of people walking by, having a good time, and no couples to lack from a public place. 

"It's such a hassle living in the outskirts, I will like to live in the city where we can go to different places without having to drive an hour to get there. Don't you think?" Bonnie wonders.

My life is here, maintaining the ranch, riding bulls, and training horses. It never crossed my mind to leave Texas, because I have become attached to my home, the rodeo, and riding. I like it here and would never trade it will the city life. 

"I actually like it here. I rather live in the countryside than the city," I respond.

"But when we marry-"

"Marry?" I interrupt her, surprised on hearing her mention marriage. 

"Well, we've been together for almost 4 years. Making plans are part of dating, isn't it? Are you not thinking of every proposing?" Her eyebrows knitted.

I choke on my drink. Looking at her, "Propose?"

Yes, I'm 24 years old but marriage has been more of a far way thought, than a possible reality. I thought I wouldn't have to think about marriage for a while. 

"Are ever going to?" She looks at me attentively.

With a bunch of cotton candy on my mouth, I respond, "Yes?" It comes out more like a question than a statement. She gets up abruptly without saying anything, "Bonnie, wait!" 

She scowls, "I'm going to the restroom."

I let out a stressful sigh. My intention wasn't to hurt her, I just can't promise her something I am not ready for. Continue to wait along the side of the boardwalk, since I am not about to anger my girlfriend further. 

Turning to the direction Bonnie left, I bump into a lady with an ice-cream cone, "Watch it! " 

"I'm so sorry, Miss. Here, use this," I hand her my handkerchief as soon as I notice I caused her to stain her clothes with her ice cream. 

The lady scowls at me, "What you have eyes on the back of your head?"

She wipes the ice cream with the handkerchief off her clothes vigorously. I look at her noticing her short hair, "Mona?"

Surprised she looks at me, "Austin?"

"Wow, Mona. You look great. How are you?" I smile at her wide.

She gives me a disgusted look, "I'm fine, thanks." She tries to wipe some of the stain left on her clothes. 

"What's wrong? Are you not happy to see me?" I knit my eyebrows together. 

It's been a few years since we lost touch, but as far as I remember we drifted apart on good terms. 

"Still dating that blond bimbo?" she sasses. 

Bimbo?

Mona was always a straightforward person and I really liked that about her, but sometimes she can be rude. 

"Look, Bonnie is a great girl-"

"For you, sure, but she's not the one you love. Everyone knows that including you," She boldly says.

"Based on what? Mona." She sounds just like my sister, she can imply all she wanted but to boldly declare you know me. 

"You used to be different. You were nice, gentle, but ever since you started going out with Bonnie, you've really just forgotten about everyone." She softens her face, "I thought you loved-"

"Mona!" I stop her from finishing that sentence. I've spent years forgetting about her, I am not about to have her remind me of what has already passed. The reason I blocked Mona out on purpose was because of her, Mona would have just reminded me of her. She doesn't know what I've gone through to forget all that. "Mona, I got to go. It was nice seeing you."