#midwestgals

                      gloves clap together as the evening sun beats down on the back of shane’s neck, his dark eyes shifting from the now empty truck bed to the barn behind him. dark would be coming around soon and for all he was, he didnt wish to be kept out in the night for too long. the old stories his grandmother would preach to him and denis every night still ringing in his ears. his skin pricks and body jumps when melissa’s hand claps the side of the tailgate, a softer smile tugging at his lips as his head shakes. 

@midwestgals​ said:  “  you’re not a bad person,  you’re just a little lost.  ” ( Jules to Tyler ! )

                What a lamb to the slaughter. Gentle in nature and candor; only wishing to help and aid where needed. He can see why she was the way she was, hell he was home the day they all got the call that Jules and Mel had been in a wreck with not just them two but their mama and sister. He can remember it like it happened mere minutes ago, the way his mother caught the phone and practically sprinted to get their dad and dart off leaving the boys in the fog. Maybe they were trying to protect them, maybe -- or maybe they didn't wanna scare Colton to damn much. It didn’t change the fact that he went to be the blonde hero he always was packing up a bag and heading straight for the hospital, like some pre established husband figure it would seem. 

               Aaron was upset and went out to find Scarlett, and where did that leave Tyler you ask? Home. Home tucked away in his room sitting there staring at the never changing poster that hung on his tan walls, he didn’t quite know how to feel. Granted he wasn't close to Mel, but there in the pit of his gut he did feel something of grief for the idea that Mel and Jules may not make it out. It could’ve been grief for Colt and the possibilities, it could’ve been anything hell he couldn't tell a happy emotion from a piss poor one at that point. Yet it made sense to him now, to see Jules and her earnest nature and how she handled herself. Tyler understood grief and loss, and he knew when it was masked. 

              “ I am a bad person sugar. “ The nickname rolls off his tongue and its accurate, she was sweet as sugar and just about as gritty as it too when it come down to the real need for it. He didn’t have a damn thing against her, but then again he didn’t know if he had anything for her. Kindness made him flinch despite his best efforts to remain stoic, and here was a perfect example. 

@midwestgals​ said:  ❝ i’m afraid to need you. ❞ ( melissa to colton ! )

                            He understood. If it was one thing Colton Marshall did better than anything else, it was listening. Absorbing every detail that was told to him and stowing it away like some vault, and he did. Even others emotions were absorbed and tucked away, tightly wound and neatly folded into bins that he turned away from and slowly but surely allowed to rot inside his mind and chest. It was a burden to be the eldest, it was a burden to be the strong one; he’d been strong all his life and eventually he’d grown tired. Beyond the breaking point of what he could it was Tyler, shockingly enough, who suggested he go see a therapist. 

                          That was six years ago, and now he was better. Hell he was worlds better, he could speak without his throat closing up and his lungs threatening to collapse when the word emotion came out of his mouth. It was torture those years before and he could still remember each feeling, and how easily it felt that if he didn’t keep swimming he’d be sucked beneath the surface and drown in his own silence. It’s what he could see when he looked at Melissa the same waves that once threatened to capsid him now rushed at her, sweeping dangerously close to the edge of her mind and daring to flood her with that sinking feeling. 

                         Her words are soft and shaken, swallowed back with whatever other feelings brimmed over into her mouth. Colton had known Melissa for a long time now, since they were kids practically. She’d never needed anyone, not even after her mother and sisters passing; she’d remained strong for everyone in her family. It made him wonder who stayed strong for her and who put her pain first. 

@midwestgals​ said:💢 ANGER ( for aaron ! ) from this meme 

💢 ANGER - what are some habits they have that will take some getting used to?

    Aaron had quite a few ticks and habits that are something that will take some getting used too, like he his morning ritual. He likes to wake up everyday at 5:30 am, this gives him thirty minutes of time he can choose to do as he likes. He prefers showering in this time frame so he can grab breakfast at six o’clock and then get straight into work at six thirty, however it is normal for this schedule to deviate due to the unpredictable lifestyle the Marshall men lead. 

   When Aaron comes into the house another habit of his, and one he’s had since he was probably eight is he takes his boots off and turns them upside down. It became such a deal that his uncle Cordell made him a boot stand to sit them upside down, the logic behind it? He doesn’t want a rat, snake, or spider in his boots to hurt his feet. 

    He has to check all the windows and doors in the house three times. Its a ritual of his and he as to do it every night or he can’t sleep, which for credit this has helped everyone else in the home sleep better as well since they can rely on Aaron to ensure all the door and windows are locked. 

    When he is at a rodeo show, he has to wear his father bolo tie. Its a ritual and something he swears brings him luck and protection.