"Not so fast, young lady." Suellen Lackley's voice called after Maleena sternly. 

       Maleena turned away from the stairs ever so slowly to face her parents. 

      "When were you going to tell us that you and Dillion are now dating officially? Maleena, you hardly know the guy!" Suellen hardly ever raised her voice, especially at her children, but right now, she was livid. Maleena always told her parents everything, so Suellen was upset that now she was suddenly keeping secrets.

        "Actually, mom, I know him very well. We have known each other for a month now. We talk every day. We both agreed to tell y'all about our relationship together. It's not my fault he told y'all without my permission tonight." Maleena tore her eyes from her mom to look at her dad, the one person who seemed the most supportive of her and Dillion. "Dad, please back me up here." She said, defeated.

        Wayne opened his mouth to reply, but shut it, taking in a deep breath. "Maleena, honey, I'm sorry, but I have to agree with your mom this time. I'm happy that you have a boyfriend now, but your mom and I both feel like you have changed since you started hanging out with that boy more." 

         "That boy has a name. His name is Dillion, and how have I changed?" Maleena practically spat out. 

        It was Suellen's turn. "Well, for starters, you're much more edgy and sassy than usual. We all used to get along so well, but I'm tellin' you, Maleena, that boy is changing you, and not for the better!" Suellen shouted for the first time that Maleena could remember. 

         Wayne grabbed his wife's arm, telling her it was okay, and reminding her to not yell at their daughter. "Maleena, what your mom and I are both tryin' to say is that we really just want you to be happy, and...it doesn't seem like you are happy with a guy like Dillion." Somehow, Wayne was the only one keeping his cool. 

         "With a 'guy like Dillion?' What are you sayin'? I am happy when I am with him!" Maleena tried to convince herself, and her parents. "Maybe I just don't like it here. Maybe this move was very hard on me. Maybe that's why I'm not happy. Did y'all ever think of that? No, of course not! I wasn't even given time to say goodbye to my friends before y'all forced my out of my childhood home!" Maleen yelled at her parents. She didn't mean to shout, but she had pent up her anger towards everyone for way too long. 

        "Maleena Kae Lackley. You do not speak to your mother and me that way." Wayne's voice became stern. Pointing to the staircase, he clenched his jaw. "We are done with this conversation. You are grounded for a week. Go to your room." 

         Maleena didn't obey her father, instead, she let out a scoff. "I'm 17 years old. I'm too old to be grounded." 

         Suellen gasped at her daughter's uncharacteristic comment. "Maleena!" 

        "That's it, young lady. You just added another week. You're grounded for two weeks now."

        "What? You guys, this isn't fair!" Maleena protested. 

        "We are your parents, we can do whatever we want. And if you back talk one more time, I will add another week, and I will take away your cell phone. Your choice." Wayne's voice was still stern. 

          Maleena shook her head, walking away instead of repeating how unfair the situation was. "Unbelievable." She mumbled to herself as she walked upstairs to her bedroom and slammed the door shut behind her. 

         Once in her room, Maleena pulled her cell phone out of her pocket, instantly pulling up Dillion's contact. "Thanks a lot, Dillion. This is all your fault. I just got into a huge fight with my parents, and now I am grounded for two whole weeks. This is why I told you I wanted to wait to tell my parents. Now I'm not allowed to see you at all for two weeks because of your comment. Is that what you wanted? To not have to see me for a while, because you got your way." Every sentence Maleena sent as a separate text. Frustrated beyond all measures, Maleena grabbed a set of pajama pants and a tshirt, stripping out of her date clothes. Even though it was only nine at night, and she wasn't tired, Maleena laid down in her bed for the night. Checking her phone for the umpteenth time in a half hour, Maleena shot her boyfriend another text. "Why aren't you replying to me?!" Letting out a groan into her pillow, Maleena wanted to throw her phone across her room. 

           Today had been horrible. The only thing that would make it better would be taking a ride on the back of her horse, but she had learned the hard way to not ride at night, especially here where she didn't know the lay of the land yet. The thought gave her an idea. Checking her phone, Maleena saw two things: Dillion still hadn't texted her back, and she also saw that it was a quarter after one o'clock. Knowing her parents would already be asleep meant Maleena's new, thought out plan would actually work. 

         Slipping out of bed, Maleena pulled her hair back in a pony tail, grabbing her phone and a light jacket from her closet. Quietly walking down the hallway, Maleena peeked in her parents bedroom, making sure they were both sleeping before she made her way downstairs. 

           Once downstairs, Maleena slipped on a pair of boots, and grabbed her truck keys, needing a late night drive. Not sure where she should drive to, Maleena just turned down some roads until she could make up her mind.

         Making a final right turn, Maleena pulled into the rodeo grounds; the only comforting place in this whole town. Parking her truck next to the barn, Maleena cut the ignition. Taking in a deep breath, she slid out of her truck, letting the door slam when she closed it. Turing away from her truck, Maleena began walking towards the arena, a place that had always brought comfort to her, especially when she just needed some fresh air. 

          When Maleena was only about twenty feet away from her truck, she heard an eerie sound behind her, making her eyes go wide with immediate terror when she processed that it was someone cocking a shotgun.  

          "Stop right there, or else I will shoot!" The voice demanded. 

          Never been so scared in her life, Maleena didn't know whether to run, or confront the gun wielding person. Saying a quick prayer, Maleena ever so slowly turned around right as the person with the gun began walking closer to her. The man made no motion to drop the gun. 

           Before she knew what was happening, Maleena found herself staring down the barrel of a twelve gauge.