"The most beautiful people we have known

are those who have known defeat

, known suffering, known struggle, known loss,

and have found their way out of the depths.

These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity,

and an understanding of life that fills them

with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern.

Beautiful people do not just happen."

                                                           -Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross        

 WYATT

It's been a little over a year since I bought this ole rig. And honestly, it's gone way further that I ever imagined it would. I had my doubts, especially when it broke down in Oklahoma. I ended up getting stuck there for five weeks, working little odd end jobs, just to scrounge up enough money to replace the battery, misfiring coil packs and a dry rot tire. I slept in my car for a few days near the mechanic shop to save on renting out a rundown Motel room. Until Charlie, the Town's mechanic knocked on my window one morning, offering me a fresh cup of coffee and a job.

Accepting his offer immediately, I started bright and early, sweeping floors and shining the shops windows, eventually moving up to help organize parts and doing most of the heavy lifting.

Charlie was a short and round fella, with silvering hair. He was a father of twins who kept him on his toes with mischief and on his feet with afterschool activities. He knew I was only passing through and on my way to Colorado but was still generous enough to keep me employed while paying me with cash under the table. Even letting me sleep in his small, overcrowded office. And at times he and his wife Renee would invite me over for dinner. I'd close shop for him on the days he would have to leave early to pick up the boys from Baseball practice. And on Friday's I started tutoring his boys in Math and English. Charlie was smart and did well with fractions, but didn't have the patience for formulas, theorems, or comprehending classic literature such as Macbeth or Beowulf.

He took me under his wing, and I managed to learn a little about engines and started to enjoy fixing cars before leaving. It was nice to learn a new craft with my hands, something different other than mending fences, herding cattle, and tending to the horse stalls. But without having a solid source of income and a Technical School not even being an option, I decided to enlist in the Military, once in Denver, the city had plenty of Recruitment Centers.

It's been a month since I Graduated from Ordnance Mechanical Maintenance School. And the boys have been up my ass about going to some pub on Thursday's for a lame ass "Ladies' night" to meet up with Weston's sister and her friends. I know this is his way of setting me up. After I fucking told him I wasn't interested in picking up some bar slut.

"Look man, maybe if you get laid, you wouldn't be such an asshole and snappy" he says with a cocky grin.

"Besides we gotta eat dinner and I hear they have one of the best BBQ burgers in Boulder!"

"Wes, has it ever occurred to you that maybe I'm an ass because you annoy me?"

"Ouch, I'm just saying there is more to life than working and staying at home all the time. When was the last time you went out on a date? Asked a cute girl for her number, or flirted with someone random in a checkout line?"

"Shut up, I'm not ready man. Just stay out of it."

"Fine, just think about this," He tosses his hands up for mercy.

"Our hearts are capable of finding love in many people. Just give someone else a chance."

Capable of finding love in many people. Different people. It's been a year since I've seen her or heard her laugh, eight months since I got to Boulder. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe she wouldn't have wanted to live outside of the city in a small area like Rollinsville. What if Weston was right, I was pining over a girl who may have moved on, who I knew possibly never felt the same.

"Wes, wait up!"

An empty stomach and six beers in, I'm relaxed, and my "asshole" mood is tamed. Maybe I do need to get laid. Or start off slow with getting a phone number?

Somehow, I'm sitting on a broken barstool, pushed into the corner of the hall leading to the restrooms. This girl managed to catch my attention when I overheard her talking about a fishing spot out in Glacier lake. We struck up conversation over a few beers and one way or another, I'm here.

I close my eyes, feeling her hot breath on my ear as she lowers her mouth to kiss my neck. Her perfume is strong, and her hair is the same color as Abbie's. Abbie. She places one of her hands on my chest, tucking the other behind my neck along the bottom of my hair line. She is leaning against my leg, propped up on the bar running along the bottom of the stool. She has started to grind her body against mine, her hand once on my chest trailing to my jeans, when my eye's flicker open as someone bumps into us. Continuing to walk, she glances over her shoulder to shout an apology in our direction in a far too familiar voice.

Abigail? I sit up, pushing the girl and myself off the bar stool, taking a step forward. Her hair is shorter, and isn't the deep brown I remember, but the way she motions to tuck her hair behind her ear out of reflex, has me searching her body in entirety. Could it be Abbie? In a bar? Would she have cut her long hair? Of all the times I played out seeing her again, it never dawned on me, what if she might have changed? The version I knew of her loved her hair, what if the new Abbie no longer has the same ambitions mine once did, what if our souls are no longer the same? My stomach is in knots, fear taking over at the realization that even though I may have found her, doesn't mean she is mine.

I watch the small girl walking away lose her balance, falling into a guy whose hands are far too friendly. Is she drunk? Does she know him? Had Abbie found someone to make her happy?

But her swatting at his hands quickly answer my list of questions. She pulls her body away, but he manages to grip her forearm, yanking her back to his side.

"Com'on, what's a pretty girl like you doing alone in a place like this?"

By the time I shove my way across the bar, a small blonde girl has already joined Abbie's side and is pulling her away.

"Back off, you dirt bags! And keep your grimy hands to yourself!" standing in front of Abbie, she shifts her infuriating drunken eyes on me, giving me a once over of pure disgust, as if I did something wrong.

"Don't touch her!" the blonde shouts poking my chest as if trying to scare me.

I'm grateful for the fact this woman is defending Abbie from harm, but honestly, she is pissing me off with her accusations.

"I was just trying to help, I saw him-"

But she cuts me off, "We don't want it!"

Finally annoyed with this chick's attitude, I'm shouting back at her, with gritted teeth, "She's my wife! Who the hell are you?"

Her eyes widen and flutter as if trying to comprehend what I had said, stepping back-

"You're- ah, Pectin?"

"Wyatt. yes" I say softening my tone, Abs talked about me?

"Holy Shit Abs! You weren't lying! He is gorgeous, no wonder you've been pining over him!" Within an instant her hand flies over her mouth realizing what she has said in front of me.

Abbie belts out a laugh "ha, it's ok Alivia! This isn't Wyatt, this is Buff Wyatt" she slurs with a wide grin, attempting air quotes.

"The one I've been seeing in town". She turns, while giggling, pointing at my hair.

"Wyatt wouldn't cut his hair like that, OR shave off his scruff." She pats my cheek with her hand. She has no clue how gorgeous she is, nor the effect she has on me. I clinch my jaw and swallow, as the touch of her hand lingers on my flushed skin. She runs her thumb along my smooth jawline, with her eyes nearly closed and a beaming smile.

"Hm, so soft, like butter" she whispers before turning on her heel, intertwining her arm with Alivia's.

Alivia whirls around walking backwards still alongside Abbie.

"I'm sorry, she is a little more drunk than me, I guess she thinks she is seeing things again." She says in a low and barely audible voice.

I have no choice but to follow her if I want to hear anything else, she is saying to me.

"Come on handsome, I'll get us a ride, you can crash at our place! I'm sure our girl would love to see you in the morning. I don't think she has ever been drunk before. Actually, this is the first time she has done any of this since I've known her, I had to beg her to come out with me, that's all she ever does is work. Our apartment is on the second floor so I guess "Buff Wyatt" will be of some use after all! You can show me what those guns are made of and carry her upstairs!" She giggles with a subtle snort.

Alivia is spunky and around Abbie size. But the way she carries herself screams confident and strong-willed, she weaves through the crowd with ease and Abbie still on her arm, as if it's a runway and everyone else seems to notice, giving her hungry eyes, flashing smiles and receiving whistles here and there. Near the door she taps the shoulder of, Weston?

"Bring me home twerp, I need a ride. How much have you had to drink?" She says in demand, but when he doesn't turn to face her, she pushes the back of his head.

Twerp? How does she know Weston? He turns and nods at me, rubbing the back of his head where she pushed him.

"Ugh, what now Liv?"

"Hey, Wyatt how long have you been standing there?" he shifts his attention to me, before gesturing to Liv, " I see you met my sister, real firecracker and a pain in the ass huh?" his eyes bouncing back and forth, searching her face then mine, all of a sudden, he looks pissed.

"Wait, oh shit man, Wyatt! that's my sister! I brought you here to meet chicks but not Alivia!"

"Oh, hush you pig! I'm not like that and you know it! She shouts back, while rolling her eyes, she goes quiet for a fraction of a second to draw her composure.

"So, you mean to tell me, this is your Army friend? Your Wyatt, is Abbie's Wyatt, who is the "buff Wyatt she has been seeing in town?

Realization washes over Weston's face. "Oh man this is Abagail? Dude she is so fucking H-." His excited smile is wiped from his face and he quickly cough and clears his throat. "Ughh, come on let's get in the car." Quickly walking out the door as we trail behind.

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Just finishing up  some details for the rest of the this chapter, any guesses of what's about to happen in the second half? drop them in the comments.