Cold Desert---Let's go home* {Nayeli}

[BRAXTON NIBS]

{Just some background information on this thread....
This occurs in the past. I'm placing it here for now because there isn't a board for threads like this one (and i'm too lazy to create a time warped board right now.) I'm also using Nicole Kidman as an unofficial PB as Brax's mom.. Please feel free to use her as a normal PB if you want to. I'm just using her temporarily and have no claim on her. Thanks! }}

It had been months since he heard from his mother.
The last time he talked to her, she was planning on coming to New York to see him. That was all he could talk about for weeks. He planned on all the places he would take her around NYC and the conversations they would have over expensive tarte tartin, soupe de fraises, ile flotant, crème brûlée, mousse au chocolat. She promised him that she would come to New York and they would talk about his father- his real biological father.

But she stood him up. Braxton was crushed.

It seemed like everything she told him was a lie. It had been a long time since he thought his mother was being real with him. He questioned what her motives were when she sent him to Baum Academy... Did she subconsciously want him to find the facts about his real dad in the chest drawers in her office? Did she send him all the way to the coast so he was close to his real dad and could meet him? Did she really think that would fix everything? It was hard for him to believe, but he had no idea on what to believe at this point. He was baffled.

It didn't really matter too much though at this point. He found out that his dad had died a year earlier and it was too late to get to know him. So that put him back to zip, nada, zero... He had no idea what to think and he'd gotten no where with his mother.

The week before she left a voicemail message reminding him that Thanksgiving was coming up. She knew that the school closed over holidays so there wouldn't be a point in him staying there alone. He was cornered. She had him on a rope and there was no where to go but in circles at her lead. He was like a horse on a bridle and he knew there was no point in fighting. But get too close to a stallion and he'll buck.

It would be great to go home. He'd been homesick since he left Texas. Braxton couldn't wait to go back to his ranch and ride his horse across the acres of open field. NYC was loud, crowded, noisy and smelt like hobo piss everywhere. He couldn't wait to get back to that southern hospitality he grew up with where everyone treated each other like family- or pretended to. At least he was comfortable with that kind of game. And boy was he ready to play his mother's game. It took two to play after all, right? He was going to throw her for a loop that would knock her into next week Tuesday.

Braxton sat in front of his computer that he put in front of his window. He leaned back in his desk chair and put his hands behind his head as he looked out the window towards the the bright lights of NYC. He smiled and booked two tickets for a round trip to Bedford, Texas. A knock at the door. "Right on time," he thought as he closed the tab and shut off the screen.

[NAYELI ROY]

When Nayeli had gotten Braxton's text, she had been rather surprised. She didn't bother replying. Braxton would know she was coming. She always came when her friends needed her.
She strolled confidently down the sidewalk, even with the dark sky overhead and the shadows on the street.

As she walked, her mind wandered. Mostly on whatever Braxton was scheming. His ideas tended to have some type of adventure thrown into the mix. They were always fun, and nearly always got them into trouble, but she sometimes wondered about Brax's train of thought.

She eventually reached his door and knocked lightly.
What was this all about?

[BRAXTON NIBS]

"Right on time," he thought as he closed the tab and shut off the screen. Pushing his chair back he rushed over to the door to open it for Nayeli. The night was cool and he felt goosebumps creep over his legs and up his arms to his neck.

"Come on in!"

He said and gave a crooked smile, happy to shut the door and keep in what was left of his warm air. It was getting pretty cold in New York as fall started turning into winter. Back home it would still be shorts and tshirt weather. The south was so much warmer than NYC in all aspects. He couldn't wait to show Nayeli his home, and she didn't even know about it yet! It made him smile inside his head. This plan was like an adventure.

He thought about home. Nayeli would love it there and she would have to see all his favorite places to talk about. Thinking about home made him even more excited though. Brax was practically shaking with excitement, or cold from goosebumps. He actually started to fidget standing there waiting for her to ask why he asked her there. Whoops. Making a mental note to stop moving a bit, he ruffled his hair and watched as she turned around with arms crossed and gave him a look like, "Well why am I here?"

"What are your plans for Turkey Day?" he asked with a mischievous look.

Of course he already knew the answer to his question! She was going home to Texas with him for the holiday. It was a surprise to Nayeli and his mother. His mother would be so out of her element. He could almost picture the look of surprise and steely anger through her expression of picture-perfect southern hospitality. This was going to be a great holiday, he just knew it, since he was going to share it with Nayeli and show her why the south was better than the north any day.

[NAYELI ROY]

Nayeli watched warily as Braxton bounced on the balls of his feet. He was certainly excited about something. She sighed and crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow inquisitively.

He asked about her plans and she beamed.

"Actually, I have no plans. I've been disowned. For lack of a better term. I told my parents to kiss my ass, ratted out my brother for his trouble making, ratted out my mother for her affair and said I didn't care to see them anymore. Anyway, I'm out on the streets, I guess."

Elle's face became suspicious, "Why?"

He looked positively gleeful and it made her rather nervous.

[BRAXTON NIBS]

His smile grew as she explained that she had no plans for the school break. The more he smiled the more obviously uncomfortable she got. Nayeli was a lot of fun, but she wasn't into getting in trouble. Trouble seemed to be Braxton's shadow. It just followed him and his actions no matter what he did or how safe he played it. Still, he hoped Elle knew she could trust him. No need to be nervous. He hadn't even told her what they were doing so she couldn't be nervous yet anyways!

"Ah, well that don't sound good, Elle. Disowned? Really? Shoot, well i'll be darned..."

He whistled and gave a sigh. Man oh man.. He couldn't even imagine someone being disowned by their family. At a loss for words he ruffled his hair absentmindedly. What if she wouldn't be able to go? Or didn't want to go because of all the family stuff she was goin' through. Brax felt bad that he didn't have an idea about any of that stuff goin' on with Nayeli.

Braxton didn't even think about what her reaction would be. He just assumed she would love to get out of Baum for awhile. She'd told him that she would want to see the south when he talked about home before. Of course it didn't cross his mind that she could end up saying no. It was too late for that though; he already bought the tickets round trip first class. Oh well.

Here goes!
He opened his mouth to speak and almost started to laugh out loud when he stole a glance at her nervous face. Brax put his hands into his pockets and rocked back on the balls of his feet. A nervous habit of his. "Tha's good 'cause I was thinkin' tha' you could just come on home with me!"

A second passed and he could'a swore his heart stopped for a second. He'd never brought a girl home before and now he was flying them both out for an entire break.

"What'd you say, Nayeli?" He gave a hopeful smile and crossed his fingers mentally.

[NAYELI ROY]

"Ah, well that don't sound good, Elle. Disowned? Really? Shoot, well i'll be darned..."

Nayeli smiled proudly as he gave a low whistle of disbelief. She waved her hand dismissively.

"I'm not torn up about it. It's oddly freeing."

He stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jeans and grinned widely, looking both excited and a tad unsure.

"Tha's good 'cause I was thinkin' tha' you could just come on home with me!"

She watched him for a moment, lost for words. Go home with him? To Texas? She loved the sound of the warm sun and bright blue sky, so wide and deep that if you stared long enough, you might fall into it. Braxton loved to talk about his home. The small town, riding his horses, the fresh air.

The more Elle thought, the wider her smile became.

"What'd you say, Nayeli?" He gave a hopeful smile.

Nayeli squealed happily, jumping forward to throw her arms around his shoulders.

"Are you kidding?! I'd love to! When? How are we getting there? Is it okay with your family?"

[BRAXTON NIBS]

Family had been an important part of life where Braxton came from. It seemed sacrilegious to agree with Nayeli that it was freeing to not be close to family. It was true though, he knew that much since he'd never been really close to his mom. He especially didn't like his mom right now. This was better that she wasn't all torn up about it.

"Tell me about it," he gave a sigh of relief and frustration. His eyebrows raised and mouth tugged into a frown.

He got lost in his thoughts for awhile as Nayeli contemplated his offer to bring her home for Thanksgiving. She seemed to be thinking about everything that meant. Her sudden scream of excitement brought him back to the present just in time to catch her as she jumped at him like a big catfish.

"Are you kidding?! I'd love to! When? How are we getting there? Is it okay with your family?"

Braxton recovered and started laughing while she was still attached to him. He gave her a quick hug back before she let go. "Sunday until the week after Tuesday. I booked us plane tickets!" He expertly avoided the question of family since he knew she was so excited she'd look past him not answering that.

[NAYELI ROY]

Braxton began to laugh and she giggled with him, pulling away.

"Sunday until the week after Tuesday. I booked us plane tickets!"

Elle grinned widely.

"Oh my gosh, Brax, you are fantastic. I cannot believe you're bringing me to Texas! I've never been to the South! Oh my god, I get to see all that you've talked about! You have no idea how excited I am that you're bringing me home!"

There was a slight pause and she gave him a suspicious look.

"You didn't answer my question."

Nayeli watched him for another moment then sighed.

"You know what? Forget it. I'm too excited to care, and I'm sure you have a good reason."

She trusted Brax.

Nayeli hugged him again, laughing a little.

[BRAXTON NIBS]

{{FASTFORWARDING TO AFTER BOARDING AIRPLANE AND HEADING TO BRAX'S HOME BECAUSE I'M TOO LAZY TO CONTINUE THEIR CURRENT SITUATION...!}}

In just a few short hours they would be landing in the Lone Star State. Brax couldn't wait to be home. There were just so many things that he needed to show Nayeli and he was ready to start running he was so anxious.

Tomorrow was Thanksgiving and he knew his mom would be busy getting the house set up and she'd be calling all the different catering, cleaning, decorating buisnesses to coordinate when they would arrive so everything would be up to par for when her guests arrived.

He had to hand it to the woman - she could throw a party for all of Texas without losing her cool. She was hard as nails without ever raising one hair on her blonde head.

On the other hand, Brax was feeling like butter he was so anxious. He'd never tried bringing home a friend from Baum before. Especially a yankee who didn't know a thing about southern living.

Oh...... Lawdy.

Brax spent all his time wonderin' what his mother would think when he strolled in with Nayeli crashin' her perfect holiday party. He didn't ever plan on what Elle might think.. Darnit. Maybe he better fill her in on what to expect a little.

Or not. It could be more fun that way!

He held out his hand and waved the flight attendant over. "Can I get another sweet tea?"

"Sure thing, sugar! Can I bring you anythin' else?"

Brax shook his head no and looked over at Elle to see if she was enjoying the perks of flying first class. Sure enough, she seemed to be as comfortable as an ol' hound dog with a backyard bone. They'd be landing soon at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport where a car would meet them and bring them over to his ranch in Bedford. Only another hour before he was home sweet home.

[NAYELI ROY]

Elle was one of those people that could instantly fall asleep in any moving vehicle. This included airplanes. Although she was sure that she had slept for at least an hour (and she may or may not have used Braxton as a pillow), she was awake now, and happily reading a book. "Can I get another sweet tea?"

The attendant gave him a bright and shiny smile.

"Sure thing, sugar! Can I bring you anythin' else?"

Braxton shook his head, then looked over at her as the flight attendant walked away.

Elle smiled at him. It was so nice that he had asked her to join him for Thanksgiving. She wished she could invite him to a family event. But now that she was essentially disowned and she had no interest in introducing him to her family, that was out of the question.

"What's your family like, Brax?"

Were they going to like her? She wouldn't like to be an intruder in their festivities.