♢♡Craig♡♢

I stand in front of the steps and Brian smiles meekly at me, but father's grimace never falters. "Son" He says, that's all. "Father" I reply, smiling just a little. "Dinner won't be for awhile now, and Brian is going to stay here and discuss security with me. Make yourself scarce until seven" Father orders. If I were a dog, my ears would be drooping.

But, I do as I was told, I walk the way I just came. Jonathan isn't here anymore telling me a storm is coming, there's no lull of collective footsteps, no birds singing at this time of day. Just the wind, but the air is warm enough that I'm not cold. I walk down a different row this time, one that's already been plucked so the plants are lacking the soft cotton, nothing but gnarled, black sticks.

My eyes narrow when I see Tyler again, sitting at the end of the row. I don't have a rifle on me and I bet he'll be gone by the time I get back with one, so I'll just warn him to get going before father has men out here with guns. I march up behind him, growling when I reach him. His back is facing me, but he rolls his head back to look at me. "Why hello" He says, smirking. I growl again.

"You're on my property!" I snap, crossing my arms. "No sir" Tyler says, pointing to the path I'm standing on. "Lookit a map and you'll learn that there's your property, but this here is no man's land. Or as I like to call it, my land" Tyler hums, fixing his head. "I'm just enjoyin' the view now, eh? Lemme be" He sounds bored with me, but I stomp my foot for being beaten.

"My father will be out here with guns in no time and you'll have your nigger-loving head blow off, faggot!" I shout, I don't usually burst like that but he's making me mad. Tyler sighs and stands up, my eyes widening when I realize he's at least a head taller then me, his shoulders just as broad as Evan's, maybe more so. "Y' shouldn't use language like that, sir" Is all he says, stuffing his hands into his pockets. I grit my teeth.

"You can't tell me what to do, filth" I'd spit at his feet but that's a low move. "I ain't any of those names, sir. I'm Tyler" He says, flexing his shoulders and rocking on his heels. "I already knew that" I grumble, jutting my chin out at him. "Oh yea? I sup'pose so, I saw y' wit Jonathan. He ain't no fan of mine. Ev' is good though, he gives me money" Tyler snickers, grinning at me when my eyebrows draw together.

"Evan gives you money? For what?" I scoff, crossing my arms again. "For livin', I sup'pose" Tyler smirks at me when I huff. "Quit your sass. Why on Earth would Evan just give you money?" I ask, glaring him down. "Why, so I can feed myself. My parents kicked me out for bein', as Jonathan calls it, bein' a 'nigger-lovin' faggot'. But to each their own, eh?" He says, turning on heel and strolling off.

"Hey, I wasn't don't talking to you!" I shout, stepping closer to him. Tyler doesn't even slow down, smirking at me over his shoulder. "Please, Mr. Thompson, you were done talkin' to me the second y' saw me in your fields!"