Maleena threw her truck in park, hopping out of the cab, keys in hand, as she walked across the dry, dusty, dirt lot, smiling at the sound of the cowboys hollering at the rough stock in the corral behind the arena, getting them ready to be loaded into the chutes for today's practice runs. 

       Just as Maleena walked over to the arena, she saw Cody siding onto the back of a dun, bareback, bronc, his hand grabbing the rigging. With that grin never faltering from her face, Maleena jumped up onto the fence rails, shielding her eyes from the bright, hot July sun shining down.  

     Cody tightened his hand around the rope, sliding his free arm on the top of the chute gate, leaning back slightly as he nodded to the guys, telling them to open the chute. With a swift pull of a rope, the chute gate opened, unleashing the dun beast. 

      Like an expert, Cody rode the horse's bucks through. After eight seconds, the buzzer sounded loudly and Cody let go of the rope to dismount. As he did so, he happened to catch the horse in the middle of a buck, making him land hard on the ground. 

    From her spot on the fence, Maleena sucked in a breath through her parted lips at he sight of her boyfriend's poor dismount from the bareback bronc. Peeling himself off the ground, Cody finally looked up and saw Maleena waiting for him. Walking over to her, a slight limp on the ankle he landed weirdly on, Cody hopped up onto the fence, removing his cowboy hat to drop a kiss on Maleena's forehead. 

      "Well this is a nice surprise." Cody commented, smiling at his girlfriend. "Sorry you had to see me have a crummy ride." 

      "It's alright. The ride was good, but the dismount wasn't great." Maleena chuckled. "Plus, it was just a practice run." 

      Cody nodded, climbing up the rest of the way on the fence, hopping over. Maleena jumped down, joining Cody. Reaching out, he grabbed her hand, leading her towards the chutes, Cody's spur rowels clicking with every step he took. "Well, you look really nice today, all dressed up. Do you have a hot date tonight?" He teased, resting his hat back on his head, trying to give himself some relief from the hot sun. 

      "I wish. No, I have to go pick up my work shirts from the feed store, and wanted to look nice so they don't think I only own jeans and t-shirts. Plus, I am getting my picture taken for my ID there, so I wanted to look put together." Maleena explained as they arrived behind the chutes. "Afterwards, I am headin' out to meet the horse I am ridin' in the futurity race." She clicked her teeth, smiling wide. Ever since she got the email that she was one of very few riders chosen to ride for the barrel racing horse futurity, she had been out practicing, perfecting her runs, becoming more and more excited, but also nervous, the closer it came time for the rodeo. 

     "Well, you look beautiful like always." He grinned, dropping a kiss on her cheek. Cody let go of Maleena's hand to slip off his riding glove, tossing it into the duffel bag sitting at this feet. Taking a seat on the wooden platform behind the chutes, he let out a sigh. "I'm actually really glad you came out here today. I wanted to talk to you about something." He refused eye contact, his tone turning serious.  

      "Yeah? What's up?" Maleena asked, taking a seat next to Cody, sitting so she was facing him.

      "Well, my family and I are goin' out of town for a couple days to tour some colleges. We are headin' out to Colorado first, and then working our way back here." Standing up from the platform, Cody unbuckled his chaps, sliding them off, stuffing them in his bag before sitting down again. 

      "Colorado? That's a good six hour or so drive down there. You aren't seriously considering a college there, are you?" Maleena knew it wasn't her place to tell Cody where he should, and shouldn't go to college, but she knew a school that far away would make things tough for them, she was sure of it. Most long distance relationships were difficult, especially considering that Cody and Maleena hadn't been dating very long.

        "I mean, it's in my top five choices. Why?" Cody asked, grabbing a pair of boots from his rodeo bag, turning to look at Maleena. 

       Maleena let out a sigh. "It's nothin'." She fibbed. 

     "Obviously it's somethin'. You're never this quiet." He winked at her so she knew he was joking. 

        "I just mean...that's a really long drive, and I am just worried, I guess." Maleena didn't look at Cody, instead, she kept her gaze down at the square toes of her boots. 

      Slipping his hand behind her back, Cody replied, "Honey, I'm not sayin' that I am for sure goin' to school in Colorado. I am just going to check it out. Who knows, I might hate the campus once I get there. You never know. Either way, I know we will be okay, and will make it work." He gave her a grin, but when her reply was an unsure nod, he planted a kiss on her cheek, right on the corner of her mouth. "Right?" 

     The kiss forced a smile to form on Maleena's lips. "Yeah, I guess you're right." She gave in. 

    "Good answer." Cody shot her a wink, taking his hands back to remove his riding boots, slipping into his comfortable boots. 

    "So when do y'all leave?" 

     "We are leavin' the day after tomorrow and gettin' back early Sunday morning before church." 

      Maleena did the math in her head, becoming disappointed when she realized he was going to miss her ride on Saturday. "So, almost five days you will be gone for." She made the statement. 

      "Yeah." Cody shot a glance at Maleena, seeing how upset she was. He stopped what he was doing to turn and face her, stretching out one of his legs on one side of her to face her completely. Grabbing both of her hands in his, he asked, "Darlin', why are you so concerned about this? I promise I will call and text you every night. And I will send you pictures of all of the campuses. Either way, I'm not makin' my final decision to accept any of the applications until I talk to you first, because you're a huge part of the decision." 

      Maleena gave Cody's hands a slight squeeze. "I'm just goin' to miss you is all. This is the longest we will have ever been apart. And to be honest, sometimes I don't like that you're a year older than me because we have to deal with you bein' at college while I am still in high school and such. I know I am being selfish in wanting to spend all of my time with you, but I reckon I am just sort of bummed that you won't be able to see me ride Saturday in the rodeo." 

      "Oh, the futurity race? That's this Saturday?" Cody closed his eyes, groaning as he tilted his head back when Maleena nodded. "I am so sorry. I completely forgot it was this weekend. Could you ask Rose to record your run for me, please?"

      "Yeah, I can ask her." She refused to look at Cody since she was sure she would get choked up if she did so.

       "Malie, I can tell you're upset. What can I do to make it up to you?" 

       "I'm not upset, Cody. We both knew that we would have to deal with this, and that this time would come. I'm just emotional is all." 

    At that moment, two of Cody's rodeo buddies walked past them, interrupting the couple's moment to give Cody a pat on the back. Letting go of Maleena's hands, Cody shook hands with his friends. "Great rides tonight, Cody." One of the men congratulated. 

    "Thanks, man, you too." Cody replied, turning back to his girlfriend when the guys walked away. "How about I drive you to the feed store and wait for you to pick up your stuff, then I will take you out for a chocolate milkshake and brownie date afterwards? Oh, and dinner of course, but I reckoned you were in need of some chocolate."

     Maleena sniffled, chuckling. "Yeah, that sounds good. How did you know it was my time of the month?"

    "Well besides the fact you told me the other day, it's because I know my girlfriend really well." He patted a hand on her thigh, rubbing his hand up and down it. "What time do you have to be there?" 

      "By four she said." 

      Pulling his cell phone out from his duffel bag, Cody checked the time. "It's quarter past three now. Do you want to start headin' over there?" 

       "Yeah." Maleena hopped off of the wooden platform behind the chutes, patiently waiting for Cody to get his gear and bag together. 

      As the couple walked to Cody's truck, Maleena quickly texted her brother and mom what her plans were for the night, thankful Cody was going with her. 

      Tossing his duffel bag in the back seat of his truck, Cody opened the passenger side door for Maleena, allowing her to hop in before shutting it. 

    Taking his seat behind the wheel, Cody buckled his seat belt as he started his truck. Grabbing Maleena's hand, he asked, "You all ready to leave?" 

      "Mhm." Maleena grinned, thankful to have a boyfriend who cared so deeply about her and her feelings. She just wished he didn't have to leave so soon for college. 

                                                                 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 

       Cody waited patiently in his idling truck that was sitting in the parking lot of the local feed store that Maleena had just walked into to pick up her items since she was the newest hire. As he waited, Cody's eyes drifted up to his sun visor where he had two pictures pinned up. One picture was on the inside of the visor, but the other one was on the outside of the visor. Moving the fishing hook clip to the side, Cody took down one of the pictures, inspecting it closely. With a grin at the memory of when they took that picture of them together, Cody rubbed his thumb over Maleena's beautiful, smiling, face on the glossy picture paper. It was just then that it hit him just how hard it was fixing to be to leave her when he went to college, no matter which University he chose. Letting out a deep sigh, Cody said a prayer that God would direct his steps; he needed guidance. The last thing in the world he wanted to do was leave Maleena. 

                                                                 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A/N: Hey, y'all, my greatest apologies for the extremely delayed update. I had to take an unexpected hiatus from writing for a bit just due to busy schedules, work, school, and personal matters. I am sorry that I never had the chance to tell y'all I was taking a break, but I didn't have a warning myself that I wouldn't be able to write for a bit. I should be able to update pretty regularly again, however. Anyways, I hope y'all enjoy this update, as short as it is. Please let me know what y'all think, and if y'all have any suggestions for future chapters. :)