"Oh. Hey." She hadn't bothered to hide the disappointment in her voice as she flung open the door, the smile slipping off her face. Her dirty blonde hair swept just above her shoulders, falling in loose curls; while big doe like eyes stared up at me no frames to conceal them.

"Hey, is Dustin here?" I offered a small smile, though she ignored it and moved along with the door allowing me room to enter.

"Yeah, he'll be down in a sec." She hauled a stray piece of hair behind her ear and her arm immediately went to cradle onto the opposite one's elbow. She wore a plaid skirt, that had blue and white running in opposite directions, her navy blue tank was tucked into it and the white cardigan she wore overtop said she was getting ready for a big night.

"You look very pretty, Mabel." I complimented and watched as the slightest bit of red ran up her neck.

"Thank you." She replied and glanced once up the staircase.

There was a sitting area off to the side, small with a loveseat and rocking chair, I moved to sit in the loveseat while Mabel shut the door trapping the cold air outside. "Are you waiting for someone?" I took a moment to take in the décor which was without a doubt courtesy of Mabel, if Dustin were in charge the cozy country look would have had more of a hunting lodge vibe with deer heads mounted on every wall, though one was tastefully displayed above the fireplace.

She shot her head in my direction as I said this and stuttered before conjuring up a proper answer, "Huh? Oh, yeah yeah." My palms sweated the slightest bit as I expected a snappy answer but was left with a rather polite one.

"Well, I'm sure he'll be very impressed." I winked at her and she offered a shy smile before huffing out a breathe and drawing her eyebrows together; making quick footwork over to where I was sitting.

She sat down next to me and twisted her body so that she was facing me, "thank you, and I just want you to know that I am sorry." Mabel said this all in one breath, I know it was difficult for her. She fiddled with a button on her cardigan and refused to make direct eye contact with me.

"There is nothing you have to be sorry for, I'm the one who should be apologizing." Reaching across I placed my hand on her shoulder in what was supposed to be a kind gesture, though she flinched which caused me to retreat my hand. "Sorry."

"It's quite alright," her voice was soft and her accent was just barely noticeable, "if it hadn't been for my big, stupid mouth you and Dustin wouldn't have had that argument." Her refusal to meet my eye told me that she felt an immense feeling of guilt.

"It's okay, truly, if it wasn't then I wouldn't be here." I pointed out and a soft laugh flowed from her. "Now, who's the lucky boy." I wiggled my eyebrows at her, she looked up seeing this and scrunched her freckled nose.

"Ew, Dustin does that." I laughed at her expression and examination, "but his name is Wyatt." My smile faltered for the slightest moment though I regained composure. Part of me was disappointed to not hear Colton's name slip from between her lips, though it wasn't my decision.

"He sounds familiar." I answered, instead of interrogating her about Colton.

Her eyes seemed to grow bigger at hearing this, full of happiness, "well he is the best first baseman this school has seen in a long while." She smiled, her tone telling me she was proud of knowing this.

I mirrored her smile, "just make sure he treats you right."

"That's right, or else he'll have me to answer too." Dustin's voice struck through the air and I felt a chill down my spine closing my eyes as he wrapped a muscled arm around my shoulders. "Hey girly." He greeted me and I smiled while mouthing a 'hey' back at him. There was the slamming of a car door that was followed by a knock at the door a minute later, Dustin was fast to head for the door with Mabel hot on his heels.

"Dustin." I warned as he placed his hand on the doorknob, he whipped his head in my direction; a smirk already forming on his lips. "Come here." His eyes pleaded with me, Mabel's expression told me she was grateful for my attempt at distraction.

His mouth fell open and his gaze went to Mabel who looked at him with her head tilted and a pout on her already full lips. "Alright." He mumbled feeling defeated and pulling his hand from the doorknob, Mabel started to do a short-lived victory dance quickly replacing her brother and twisting open the doorknob.

A bouquet was thrusted into the doorway and I sat trying to awkwardly angle my head to get a look at the boy who was responsible for those actions.

"I brought these for you, I hope you're not allergic." Beside me Dustin had settled deep into the cushions and crossed his arms over his chest looking like a toddler who had been sent to bed without dessert. The boy's voice was eager with a hint of awkwardness cascading through each word.

Mabel broke into a fit of laughter, that made the joke out to be funnier than it actually was, "unless you have shellfish hiding in those flowers I think we're good to go." She laughed.

"No, I don't." He sounded almost defensive as he said this and Mabel reached for them, bringing them to her nose and taking a sniff. I lifted my bottom from the couch and caught a glimpse of his dark brown hair, that was slicked back.

"They're beautiful, thank you." She set them aside on one of the steps that was directly behind her.

"Just like you." I nodded in appreciation to his quick comment though Dustin rumbled out a low growl. My hand flung over to give him a small, powerless slap on his chest that he ignored. Mabel's face was bright red at hearing this and she gazed at her shoes, old, beat-up converse that she didn't go a day without wearing, I winced once I realized she was wearing them and knew there was nothing I could do about it. I saw his hand outstretched once more and watched as Mabel's smaller one was engulfed by it, she was swept out the door that shut behind her.

I turned to Dustin who was still sporting a look that said he was upset about the idea. "Oh, come on now." I stood and reached for his hands, feeling the calluses rub against the smoothness of mine. "I can think of a few things to take your mind off of it." His eyes were fixated on the picture window, and I looked as Mabel was whisked away in a Ford ranger that was as red as a fire engine.

"I can't believe she just got into a Ford." He noted, shaking his head as it drove off.

I frowned, "my first car was a Ford." I pointed out, not understanding the sly comment.

He looked at me and a mischievous smile crawled onto his features, "yeah and you're first boyfriend was also a shitty hunk of metal." He jabbed at Ace, causing a string of laughter to echo from within me. "Then you met me." He was standing and wrapped his muscular arms around my waist, drawing me closer.

"Mhmm," I nodded, placing my hands on his chest, "and I suppose you're some kind of hot-rod."

"You got that right." His grasp tightened, his thumb running along the small of my back in a swift motion and he leaned down to place a quick kiss against my lips sending my heart into a frenzy. "God, you are so perfect." He pulled his lips back but his forehead stayed glued to mine.

"Oh you're just saying that to flatter me." I teased, though the blush that burned my cheeks said otherwise.

"I don't know what I would have done if I never met you." His voice was slow and his southern charm was accentuated by his accent.

I reeled back from him, "well you probably would have died alone, I mean, who else would have wanted a big old grumpy rebel such as yourself." I joked whipping my head to the side dramatically, if I had looked into his eyes I would not have been able to get through that without a giggle escaping. Though they were pouring out as Dustin moved his hands to my sides and began tickling up and down.

"Take it back!" He shouted as I wiggled in his grasp, barely able to keep myself from falling to the ground in a fit of laughter.

We landed on the couch and he continued his attack until he was able to grab hold of my arms and pin them above my head, straddling me as not to crush me under his bodyweight. "Take it back." He leaned in closer and when I refused to speak he started laying kisses along the outside of my neck. "Now's your chance." His hot breath fanned across my collarbone.

"What if I don't?" I countered, he brought his head up at this and pulled himself off of me.

"Suppose you won't get to ride this hot rod tonight." He motioned at himself; giggles fluttered out of me and he began walking off towards the kitchen.

"That's more of a punishment for you than it is for me." I called after him and watched as he said a curse under his breath, hanging his head a bit and then making his way back to me, his face telling me he was determined. His dirty-blonde hair had grown out and now lay on top of his head in a messy do that looked as if he had just got done doing the dirty every time he ran a hand through it.

His knee was pressed between my thighs while I settled into my nest of blonde hair, the red highlights standing out vibrantly, feeling small under his shadow. "It is, isn't it, girly?" It was a rhetorical question that sent a knot to tie itself in the pit of my stomach. I could only muster up a nod as he regained control of my wrist, clasping them into one hand. "And this is all about punishing you." He continued, feigning innocence.

He looked thoughtful for a long moment, as if he was thinking up the worst thing he possibly could, "what do you say we do a little play a little game." He settled on. Curious, I tilted my head to the side, silently telling him to continue. "I mean, you seem to like them anyway, Miss. Matchmaker." Dustin says this with a tone of teasing lacing his voice and I felt a surge of strength then smiled up at him.

"Oh you are so gonna get it!" I shouted as he hopped off me and made a beeline for the bedroom, with me following closely behind.

"Oh I'm so scared!" He mocked as we enter the bedroom and shut the door behind us.

A smirk fell onto my lips as I watched him intently, "I may have majored in English Literature but I can still teach you a lesson about a few other things, cowboy."