[ NOTHIN' ABOUT ME IS UGLY ]

A SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD TYLER OWENS sat in the medical tent at the rodeo in Kansas, a mostly-melted ice pack held to his aching head. He'd been competing in a bull riding competition, and he won, as always — the boy was making quite a name for himself in the bull riding community.

Just so happened this time that the rodeo clown couldn't distract the bull before it lightly grazed Tyler on the side of his head. The on-staff medic didn't think he had a concussion, but he'd have a horrible headache and be sporting a bruise for a few days, which he wasn't looking forward to.

His eyes were shut as he laid back against the pillow, trying to rest. But that promise of rest was thrown out the window as two familiar people rushed into the tent, very loudly as they did so.

"Tyler!"

"Ty!"

August and Boone rushed right to him, both clearly worried about his condition. They'd both ridden over with Tyler from Arkansas, never having missed one of his competitions. And they'd been in the stands, cheering louder than anyone for Tyler as he rode the bull right up until he was thrown off.

When Tyler tried to sit up to greet his best friends, it was August, who was now fifteen, who gently pushed him back down.

"No, keep lying down, Ty. You need to rest," she said softly while studying the already dark red spot on the side of his head. "Let me get you more ice — Boone, turn the camera off!"

"I'm documenting his rise to bull riding stardom!"

Tyler smiled weakly at the two of them, watching how August tried to push Boone's small, handheld camera out of Tyler's face.

The year before, Boone learned that he liked to be behind a camera — whether film or photography, he didn't care. So, August was so extremely delighted when he asked her if he could film some kind of music video for her after she wrote her first real song.

And of course, Tyler, ever so conceited, had to be the star in it.

It was nothing serious, but when it was finished, they all proudly posted it on YouTube, officially starting a channel for August and her music. From then on out, Boone filmed every live performance of hers, and slowly — very slowly, the follower count grew, which made her so giddy ever time she saw a new comment or like.

As August slowly advanced her music career and Boone learned his way around a camera and video editing, Tyler kept at bull riding, getting quite a name for himself in the sport. And Boone wanted to document that just as much as August's music.

That included the brutal injuries.

"How are you feeling?" August asked Tyler in a gentle tone, giving up on stopping Boone from filming.

"I've had worse," he reminded her. Concussions were unfortunately very frequent in this particular sport — and he'd even broken a few bones before.

"I know," she said with a deep frown. And the longer she stared at Tyler, or rather, the bruise on his head, the more her eyes watered. "Ty, I hate you doing this."

Tyler sighed heavily — it wasn't the first time she'd made a comment like this.

"It's so dangerous," she whispered as he reached for her hand comfortingly. "You could get so much worse than a head injury. And just last year, the rider in Texas died and—"

"Hey, now," Tyler said, sitting up and pulling her to sit next to him on the cot. "I ain't dyin' or anything. And I ain't quittin'."

As a tear fell down August's cheek, Tyler wiped it away.

"Auggie, I love it," he whispered. "And when you love something, you don't just give up on it. But just don't say you're gone stop coming with me to my competitions. I'm always doin' better when I know you and Boone are cheering me on."

She nodded in understanding, leaning into his touch. "I'll always be there for you, Ty, even if it hurts watching you get hurt like this." Then August leaned in and gently kissed the side of his head.

"Awe," Boone cooed, coming to sit at Tyler's other side, still filming a little too close to their faces. "Love when you two kiss and makeup. Now, let's get a close up of this ugly bruise."

Tyler scoffed and turned his head to look at Boone. "Nothin' about me is ugly."

"Got that right," Boone said, winking at Tyler as August giggled. Then he leaned past Tyler and shot her the same flirty smile. "You the two best lookin' things in the world."

Ignoring the blush on her cheeks, August just rolled her eyes, used to Boone's constant joking flirtatious comments. "Girls don't like being called things, Booney."

"Boys neither," Tyler said, shaking his head.

"And besides," August said while sliding off the cot. "You're the prettiest of us all, Boone." Boone's smile faltered a bit, knowing she was just being nice but wishing she was flirting back with him. "Now, I'm gone get you some more ice, Ty."

As she walked to the other side of the tent, the two boys watched her longingly. Both knew they were in love with the girl — they had been since they were fifteen. But realizing that they both liked her, they made a pact that neither of them would make a move. Of course, that didn't stop them from things like holding her hand and complimenting her to try and make her blush.

"She thinks I'm pertty," Boone bragged quietly.

"She kissed me on the cheek," Tyler reminded him.

Boone huffed before swooping in to kiss Tyler's cheek. "There. Now it's less special."

Tyler just gave Boone a knowing look, ignoring how the tips of his ears turned red.

Things with Boone and Tyler, they weren't the same as their dynamic with August. She was so clearly a girl that they loved and adored and craved. But as of late, the boys were internally learning that those same feelings were arising between each other, not that they'd ever discussed them. It wasn't as if boys liking other boys was the norm in Arkansas. Boone and Tyler just didn't grow up around it.

So, they were dancing around each other in the same way that they were dancing around August, who was coming back with a fresh ice pack in hand.

"Here, Ty," August said as she sat back down. Rather than give it to Tyler, she gently held the ice pack to his head, him closing his eyes for a second and sighing in relief as she did so.

"Thanks, Auggie," he said softly, looking at her once more. "You're too good to me."

August just hummed and focused on his head, taking in the soft look in his blue eyes. "Well, you know I'd do anything for you," she said before looking at Boone. "Both of you."

☁︎

Fifteen had been good, but sixteen was the best year for August. Just two weeks after her birthday, a producer from Nashville came across her YouTube videos and invited her out to record some of her songs to put on a demo CD. Because of that, she was spending a lot of time going back and forth from Tennessee and Arkansas.

And even though it was all she'd ever dreamed of, she got something else that was even better.

She got Tyler and Boone.

And it was all thanks to an asshole named Chase McAlester.

Boone and Tyler had been furious when their classmate invited August to the Senior Prom after his girlfriend, Millie, dumped him last minute. Because if anyone was going to take August on her first date, it should've been one of them.

And they'd had to listen for weeks as August went on and on about how perfect it was going to be — she was the only person in her Sophomore class invited. About how her dress was red, and Chase was going to match his tie to it. She hoped they slow danced and he'd walk her to her door and kiss her goodnight. She had a perfect date built up in her mind.

Well, it was almost perfect.

It didn't matter how handsome and charming Chase was because he still wasn't Boone or Tyler, who she was an absolute goner for.

August figured Chase asking her out was for the better because she knew she'd never be able to choose between Tyler and Boone. She loved them both so much and equally that it hurt at times, knowing nothing would happen between them all — not that the teen even knew something between them all was an option.

So, when Chase approached her at her lunch table with Boone and Tyler and asked her, she excitedly said yes, not seeing the displeased scowls on Tyler and Boone's faces.

On top of having a date — a real date — she was invited by the planning committee to perform a few songs during the dance. So, August knew it was going to be a perfect night. Especially since Boone and Tyler didn't have dates — not that she was hypocritically smug about that or anything.

Though what she didn't know was that they were secretly going together, having nervously planned it weeks ago for it to be a trial run of sorts.

Tyler got dressed up in his tux and drove to pick up Boone in his truck, both thinking the other looked mighty handsome. But the thought of their August in a date with the biggest dick in their senior class was looming over their heads, already ruining the night before it could begin.

"I bet she's gone look gorgeous," Boone said, thinking on the bright side as they walked into the gymnasium where the Prom was being held. It was underwater themed with blue and green decorations all over.

"She always does," Tyler said with a sad smile. "But look, we'll just be happy for her, you know? This is a big deal for her. She ain't never been on a date before. We can't ruin it with our sour moods."

"I know," he sighed. But then Boone smiled up at Tyler. "Least I got you by my side."

Tyler glanced around, seeing that no one was around and paying attention, so he reached for Boone's hand and pulled him close, their chests brushing. "Thanks for comin' with me tonight. Means a lot."

"Thanks for askin'," Boone said, feeling a bit shy. Then he nodded toward the doors. "Let's go find her. She may be on a date, but we're gone hog her all night."

"I think being menaces counts as ruining the date," Tyler said flatly before following Boone into the gym.

It was full of their fellow classmates, all of them dressed to the nines and dancing and having fun. They passed a friend of Boone's from the soccer team trying to spike the punch, making them snicker.

But they couldn't find August in her red dress.

"Hang on," Tyler said, only having to crane his head a bit since he'd finally hit six feet tall. "I see Chase...with Millie?"

"What's he doin' back with her?" Boone asked as Tyler started pushing past people to get to the couple, wondering where August was in the mix.

Determined to find that out, Tyler walked right up to Chase and Millie, glaring at his classmate a bit. "Hey, man."

"What's up, Owens?" Chase asked, nodding as he slid an arm around Millie's waist.

"What's up? Where's August?" Boone asked, crossing his arms. "You're meant to be here with her. You was picking her up."

"Oh, right," he said, chuckling a bit. "Well, uh, was just trying to make Mills here jealous. Worked, huh, babe?"

Millie rolled her eyes but didn't slide out of his hold. She just didn't want to admit she was jealous of a Sophomore.

"What? August was in on it?" Boone asked.

But Tyler didn't even think that for a second. "No," he said, his jaw tight. "No, she wasn't."

"It's no big deal," Chase shrugged. "She'll get over it when she figures it out."

"What the hell do you mean 'figures it out'?" Boone asked as Tyler took a step forward. "August knows about this, don't she?"

As Chase avoided eye contact nervously, Tyler took another threatening step forward, his fist clenched.

"Don't she?"

☁︎

August felt pathetic as she sat on the swing in her backyard. Chase was meant to pick her up two hours ago, and she'd waited a full hour and forty-five minutes like a complete loser by the door. And when she finally realized he wasn't coming, she just ran out do the house crying before her parents could ask her if she was okay.

God, she didn't even like Chase all that much before he'd asked her out. But he'd gotten her excited to go to the Senior Prom, which hardly any Sophomore was lucky enough to go to. She'd gone and gotten such a beautiful new dress and spent hours getting ready all for nothing.

And she couldn't even think about still going to the Prom to perform, knowing it'd be too humiliating given that everyone knew Chase had asked her out and then stood her up. August rightly assumed he'd gotten a better date or Millie took him back.

She should've seen it coming, but she didn't, and so there she was, crying as she stared down at her lap, swaying back and forth on the swing set.

"Well, don't you look pertty."

At hearing Boone's voice, August quickly looked up and wiped her eyes, trying to hide the proof of her crying even though he and Tyler had already seen.

She thought they looked perfect in their suits with their usually messy hair combed back. And they thought she looked beautiful in her dress with her hair perfectly curled. Though there was mascara smudged around her eyes.

"What are you doing here? You're missing Prom," August mumbled halfheartedly, trying to keep from crying even more now that they were there.

"What'n't any fun without you anyhow," Boone said as they came closer to her.

It was then that through bleary vision that August made out the blood staining Tyler's bottom lip as well as his split knuckles.

"Tyler!" August exclaimed, forgetting all about how sad she was as she rushed to his side. "What happened?"

And Tyler selfishly leaned into her touch when she cupped his cheek to inspect the only proof that Chase knew how to throw a punch.

"Nobody stands our girl up," he said simply, some of that anger and tension still built up inside of him.

"You should've seen it, Auggie," Boone said with a proud grin. "Beat up on Chase like it was nothin'."

Though August was touched, she shook her head in disapproval while gently studying Tyler's red knuckles. "You shouldn't be fightin' for me. I ain't worth getting in trouble with the school."

"I'll decide what's worth it or not," Tyler told her. "And you are. Trust me. Just wish'd I could've done it before he made you cry."

She sighed, more tears falling from her eyes. "It's just embarrassing. And I was so sure I was gone have a good time. Was even gonna make you both dance with me. I ain't never danced before."

"You know we'll dance with you anytime," Boone told her sweetly. Then, he perked up, reminding her a bit of an excited dog as he came closer, grabbing her hands. "We gone dance now."

"What?" she asked, giggling as he pulled her into his arms.

"You heard me," he said simply before turning her under his arm, making her laugh again.

With a smile on his face, Tyler leaned against the frame of the swing set and watched them dance to the clearly upbeat song that Boone was singing in his head. He loved the sight, Boone making August so happy after some asshole had ruined her night. And this was far better than going to Prom would've been.

And Boone didn't stop dancing until the tears stopped flowing from August's eyes. She was on cloud nine as Boone kept quickly spinning her and dramatically dipping her, making her practically giddy from something so simple.

"Alright," Boone said after a few minutes. He put his hands on her waist and turned her toward Tyler, who just raised an expecting eyebrow. "Now it's Ty's turn. Go on and ask him to dance."

Tyler smirked as August came closer, a pleading look in her eyes. "Dance with me, Ty?" she asked sweetly.

But he just chuckled and shook his head. "Naw, Baby, I don't dance."

Ignoring how her whole face heated up at him calling her 'baby', August just widened her eyes and stuck out her bottom lip while coming closer. She placed her hand on Tyler's chest, almost not hearing how he sucked in a nervous breath.

"Not even for me?" she asked softly.

"Don't give me those eyes," he groaned while covering her hand with his. "You know I can't say no."

"So, that's a yes?" she asked excitedly.

In response, Tyler just nodded and grabbed her other hand with his. But rather than start twirling with her like Boone did, he placed her hands on his shoulders before putting his on her waist. He pulled her close until her chest was against his, beginning to softly sway.

"Look at that," August whispered. "Tyler Owens slow dancing with little ol' me. I must be real special."

"You know you are," he said earnestly. Then he smiled teasingly. "But it ain't happenin' again."

As August giggled, Boone just shook his head. "Then I'd better go get my camera. Don't y'all dare move."

Both grinned as Boone rushed back into the house and to the drive way, leaving them alone. And August was content to sway with Tyler, staring into those pretty blue eyes of his.

"Thank you," August said. "For beatin' Chase up. Even if I don't agree, it was sweet of you."

"I can be sweet sometimes. But only for you and Boone," he admitted, shaking his head. Then his eyes scanned her features slowly. "You know, you really do look beautiful, Auggie."

She ignored how it made her flustered and scoffed. "Yeah, right," she muttered while wiping underneath her eyes were her makeup was smudged.

"Yes, right. You're always beautiful," he told her. "So beautiful it makes it hard to think around you some times. Just hate all the effort tonight went toward Chase. I know how much you liked him."

And Tyler adored how her cheeks flushed from his compliment — had he ever called her beautiful before? He'd have to do it more often if this was the incredibly adorable reaction he'd get.

"I didn't... like Chase," she murmured, looking down. "Not that much. I think I just liked the idea of him, you know. Dancing at Prom with a senior boy on the football team. Him taking me home and kissing me goodnight. Sounded so perfect."

"Well, I ain't on the football team," Tyler sighed, holding her a little closer. "But if you're just dying for that kind of night, I certainly wouldn't mind helping you out in that department."

August's lips parted in surprise, knowing they were already dancing and at her home, so there was only one thing he could've been talking to. Her eyes fell on his mouth, which was fixed in a nervous smile.

"Unless you're gonna squeal and push me off again," he teased to cover up how anxious he actually was.

Rather than do that, she slid her arms further around his neck, pulling herself close and up on her toes — he was half a foot taller, after all. "I suppose you'll just... have to see and find out."

Tyler let out an airy laugh through his nose before nodding, beginning to lean in. It was all so overwhelming to August — the heat coming through the fabric of her dress as he held her tightly, his warm breath washing over her face, the smell of the aftershave she knew for a fact belonged to Boone and not him.

And then he was kissing her. So softly and tenderly in a way that took her breath away. And August didn't quite know what to do, never having been kissed before, but that was okay as Tyler cupped her cheek and guided her in the kiss.

It was short and sweet, Tyler not trying anything more than a gentle first kiss that he knew she deserved. And when he pulled away, she looked up at him like he was one of the stars in the sky or something.

Tyler swallowed thickly, eyes on her smudged lipgloss. He reached up and wiped his thumb just along her bottom lip to fix it.

"Was that okay?" he asked, hoping so desperately that he hadn't just fucked things up between them all.

"Yeah," she said, her knees still feeling weak. "It was perfect."

Tyler nodded and then went back to swaying with her in his arms, leaning down and pressing his forehead to hers so that he could stare into her deep blue eyes longingly.

Things had changed then. It wasn't just some kiss to help her get her first out of the way, both knew. No, it meant something so much more even though neither was voicing it.

"Hey, guys," Boone interrupted the moment, rushing up with his camera in hand. He also had his iPod, which he began playing music from to add to keep them from swaying to nothing. "Good. Y'all are still loved up. Keep at it. Pretend I'm not here."

August couldn't help but giggle and turn her head to the side to look at him, forehead still pressed to Tyler's. "Boone," she said softly.

"The man said dance, baby," Tyler murmured, squeezing her waist. "Let me enjoy having you in my arms for a little while longer."

If Boone noticed a difference in the way Tyler and August were looking at each other and their lips, he didn't voice it. No, he played the dutiful camera man, documenting their first of many dances together.

But August didn't let him stay out of it for long. As soon as the song changed, she made him set the camera up against the base of a tree so that she could pull him in, all three of them having a party of their own in the back yard.

And by the time they all crowded into her bedroom to go to sleep — it was hardly the first either of them had slept over at her house and vice versa — August couldn't even remember what she'd been crying about in the first place.

☁︎

[ boone's time to shine is coming. don't worry

and as always, giggling and kicking my feet over gifs by -illyrian ]