JUST GO AWAY, SCOTT.

TYLER NOTICED RIGHT AWAY WHEN KENNEDY JOINED HIM AT THE TRUCK — they'd agreed to meet five minutes before everyone else came down each morning so they would think the exes slept in the same room together.

Her legs looked as long and perfect as ever in the pair of heeled cowboy boots that she hadn't worn in months since the night he made a comment about not liking them one bit. And she barely made eye contact with him as she leaned against the side of the truck, looking at her phone screen — and he couldn't stand being ignored.

"Hmm," Tyler made a noise, rolling his jaw. "Didn't think you still had those old things."

"Well, thought they'd look better with my outfit today instead of my usual ones you got me," she informed him, looking down at the outfit. She was in a light blue, sleeveless sundress. Not the most practical for storm chasing, but she didn't really care.

It was the same shade of blue as Scott's bright eyes, a startling thought that she'd pushed to the back of her mind that morning when selecting her outfit. But she didn't let the thought make her change her attire.

"Suppose you're right," Tyler just said tensely, clearly upset with her.

But even he knew he didn't have a say in how she dressed anymore — not when he wasn't actually her boyfriend. And he hated that some of his control had slipped away that morning as Kennedy defied him.

☁︎

Kennedy was back in the gas station, grabbing another bag of Warheads as she'd finished off hers the night before. And that was when a strong arm reached past her and grabbed a pack of Sour Patch Kids. She turned and saw Scott, smiling up at him.

Because even in her cowboy boots, he was still four inches taller than her. God, she'd never met someone so tall.

"Morning, Scott," she greeted.

"Good morning, Kennedy," he said before a smug smile made its way into his face. "New shoes?"

Kennedy giggled excitedly while twisting her ankle to show off her cowboy boots. "No, old ones," she informed him. "Aren't they just the cutest?"

Scott just nodded, seeing a real smile in Kennedy's eyes as she looked at the shoes. How something as simple as a pair of boots made her smile more than her boyfriend did, he didn't understand. But it wasn't his place to ask.

"They're very nice," he told her. "And I'm sure Owens didn't mind."

Kennedy's smile dimmed a bit, which he noticed. "He ain't happy with how I look today, I don't think."

"I don't see why," he commented. "You look beautiful."

Scott regretted his slip of the tongue instantly, knowing he had no business calling another man's girlfriend beautiful no matter how true it was. But then again, he supposed it was worth it when Kennedy blushed, the crimson staining her skin so perfectly.

When was the last time Tyler had called her beautiful? Even before things started to fall apart, it was always 'hot' and 'sexy' coming from him. Never beautiful.

"Thank you, Scott," she said quietly. "That's sweet of you."

Scott chewed anxiously at his gum, so thankful that he hadn't made things awkward between them. "So, what kind of slushie are we getting today?"

"We?" she asked with a smile as they walked to the machine. "You gettin' one too?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "I've never had one before."

Kennedy's eyes nearly popped out of her skull as she looked at him in disbelief. "Oh, that's a crime, Scott Miller," she said. Then Kennedy grabbed the sleeve of his button up and dragged him quickly to the machine, making him chuckle.

Once they were in front of the machine, Kennedy grabbed two large cups and the matching dome lids, handing one to Scott.

"So, what flavor do you recommend for a beginner?" he questioned.

"Gotta go cherry," she informed him. "It's the classic — unless you don't like cherry stuff. Then don't listen to me."

"I trust your judgement," he said playfully before filling up his cup, Kennedy copying him once he was done.

He thought it was terribly cute how she watched him eagerly to appraise his reaction. So, dragging it out to make her antsy, Scott leaned down and slowly sipped from the straw.

"How is it?" Kennedy asked with a wide grin.

It was refreshing, sure, but not life changing — but he'd always humor her. Scott nodded very seriously before answering. "You're right. I should've been arrested for not having tried one."

She giggled before grabbing his wrist to pull him to the register so that they could pay. "Come on. We can try the other flavors on another day."

As they got to the register, Kennedy pulled out her wallet, but Scott was faster, quickly paying for both their snacks. And Kennedy smiled up at him gratefully for the small act.

"Thank you, Scott," she said. He was starting to like the sound of her saying his name so softly. "And I hope you have a good day chasing today."

"Just hope we can—"

"Ken?" Dani questioned as she walked into the store, spotting Kennedy smiling sweetly up at Scott as he paid for her food, standing quite close to each other.

"Hey, Dani," she said while taking a step back. But she cast one more look at Scott. "Bye, Scott. And tell Javi I told him good luck too."

Scott nodded to her and then let himself out of the store as Kennedy went to Dani's side, who was frowning. "What are you doing talking to that guy?" Dani asked as they stepped outside.

"He was just buying my snacks for me," she explained. "Can you believe he ain't never had a slushie?" She laughed, only for it to die out when she saw the disapproving look on Dani's face. "What is it?"

"Nothin'," she shrugged. "Just, uh, don't know if it's really appropriate to be lettin' another man but you food and stuff. Ain't fair to Ty, I don't think."

"Oh," Kennedy said, her face falling as she felt her throat tightening. She could feet it — the need to cry overwhelming her. "I - I didn't think of it like that."

"Hey, I figured you didn't," Dani said, squeezing her shoulder. "But just don't go hurtin' Ty or nothin'. He don't deserve you actin' like that."

As Dani turned around and headed back to the caravan, Kennedy tried and failed to fight off her tears. So, she turned on her high heel and rushed back into the store, heading right for the single stall bathroom as she began to cry.

Once inside, she leaned her back against the door and shut her eyes as if that'd help stop the tears — it didn't. Because god, how was this fair? How was she coming off as the bad guy? The bitch that was talking to other guys behind Tyler's back when all she'd been doing was talking to Scott in a friendly manner?

It wasn't fair. And yet she loved Tyler too much to go against what he asked of her and tell Dani and the others the truth.

But at least she was alone to wallow in her misery. At least, she thought she was.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the bathroom door.

"I - I'll be out in a minute," she said, hating that her voice so clearly sounded like she was crying.

"Kennedy?" Scott asked, sounding so concerned. "Are you okay?"

Kennedy's chest felt tight as she realized he'd seen her run for the bathroom, crying — maybe he'd even heard what Dani said to her. It was humiliating, knowing that he'd seen her get berated by her friend. And Dani hadn't knowingly done anything wrong. She was just looking out for Tyler.

"I'm fine," she said, though she didn't sound fine as she choked on a sob, so she quickly covered her mouth as her shoulders shook.

"You don't sound fine," he said, and she could nearly hear the frown in his voice. "Let me in."

"Just go away, Scott," she pleaded. "I really need you to go away."

And if Kennedy was already in pieces, the sound of Scott's retreating footsteps just made her feel a million times worse.

☁︎

Like she was making up for her mistake, Kennedy was extra attentive to Tyler as they all went out to the bar across the street from the motel. She brought him beers — she wasn't even old enough to drink yet, but the bar evidently had a thing for serving minors under the table, meaning she could serve Tyler as well as any waitress could.

She'd taken off her heeled boots and swapped them out for flats and let him pull her onto his lap in the booth as he talked to Boone about whatever was on his mind. Whenever any of the amateur storm chasers in town came up for them for pictures and autographs, she always stayed close to Tyler's side just like he wanted, a perfect, practiced smile on her face.

And thankfully, Dani didn't say anything to Tyler about Scott paying for her at the gas station and her being friendly with him, or all that effort might not have been enough to keep Tyler content.

After he'd had a few beers, he got a bit more handsy than necessary. Usually, she'd have welcomed his touch. But every time he slid his hand needlessly up her dress or began kissing her neck, she'd glance to the side, eyes falling on Scott, who was with the gathered StormPAR workers.

If he knew the truth — that she was letting Tyler use her — would he think less of her? Surely he would, and she didn't know why that thought made her so sad.

Scott was never looking back at her. Well, he had been, but she never caught his blatant staring.

Someone did, however.

"You're staring," Javi observed to his friend with a disapproving note in his tone.

Scott huffed and went back to their game of pool. "Am not."

"Are so," he said mockingly. Then he shook his head. "She's got a boyfriend, man."

"It isn't like that," he insisted.

But it was like that, he knew deep down even though he'd only known Kennedy for a few days.

"Just be careful. Owens seems the territorial type," Javi warned.

Scott tore his eyes off Kennedy, noticing the shoes on her feet as he did so before muttering stiffly, "Nothing to be careful about."

☁︎

"Surprised you're out here," Scott said as he walked up to Kennedy, who was sitting on the lounge chair on her own, a truly depressed look on her face as she looked at the pool.

"Why's that?" she asked, glancing at Scott who was once again in that white shirt. She was too tipsy and sad to comment on it — but at least she wasn't sloppy drunk like Tyler was, who'd she'd dropped off at his room.

"Well, you and Owens were all cuddled up together," he noted. "Figured he'd have you busy the rest of the night."

Kennedy's ears burned at the insinuation that they'd be having sex instead of her having time to sit alone outside. "Mine and Tyler's relationship isn't any of your business," she said defensively.

"You're right," he admitted, taking a seat next to her on the chair instead of sitting across from her like normal. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," she mumbled before rubbing her forehead.

"Are you okay?" Scott couldn't help but ask. "I've been... worried about you all day."

Kennedy quickly looked at him, surprised by his admission. "I'm okay now," she whispered.

But she'd been a wreck mentally up until the very moment Scott walked up to her by the pool.

"You know," Scott then said, "I don't think those boots match your dress near as much as the other ones."

Kennedy let out a sad, breathy laugh as she looked at her feet. "And you're just an expert on fashion now?"

"I have many talents you don't know about," he said with a smirk. "If you'd like to explore them sometime."

Okay, maybe Kennedy wasn't the only one that had had a few drinks too many. Scott would've never let himself flirt in his right state of mind, nor would he have leaned in closer.

Kennedy blushed a bright red before she raised an eyebrow. "And what kind of talents are we talking about?" she asked as innocently as she could.

His blue eyes traveled from her deep brown ones to her lips, thinking they looked so soft and perfect in that moment. And they were getting closer as she leaned in as well, her hooded gaze on his mouth that she so suddenly craved the feeling of.

The tension was thick as Scott's nose brushed hers just barely, and her breath hitched in anticipation for what was so clearly a kiss — a kiss that wasn't from Tyler. And yet she didn't have it in herself to pull away.

She was far too curious to know what lips so pretty tasted like — would they be rough like Tyler's always were? Would they taste like the beer he always drank or did Scott prefer something that Kennedy didn't hate the taste of?

Kennedy held her breath, staying so impossibly still as Scott's lips hovered less than half an inch away from hers — so close that she could feel his warm breath wash over her face. He smelled like the mint gum he was always chewing.

But then, a conflicted look crossed his face, Scott looking nearly in pain as he leaned away from her. Kennedy's shoulders sank with disappointment as she watched him clench his fist.

"I should walk you back to your room," Scott said after a moment of tense silence. "You're drunk."

She must've been drunk, he thought, for her to let him get so close to kissing her when she had a boyfriend waiting for her in the room.

"I—" Her words got caught in her throat, her not knowing what to say. Knowing she couldn't say what she wanted to say — that she and Tyler had broken up days ago. That she, for just a moment, had wanted to kiss someone else other than Tyler. She had wanted it so bad.

But she didn't say any of that. Kennedy just nodded and let Scott help her up from the chair. And as they walked up the stairs to her room on the third floor, she could've sworn she could feel the heat coming off his hand as he hovered it so close to her lower back, not quite allowing himself to touch her no matter how badly he wanted to.

"Night, Scott," Kennedy managed to mumble before disappearing inside.

Scott just sighed and leaned his forehead against the closed door, having no clue that Kennedy was mirroring his position on the other side.

"Good night, Kennedy."