Shadows In Durango
51

*****Sofia's POV*****

Daryl pulls up to Vincent's house, the car coming to a smooth stop in the driveway as he occasionally turns to glance at me - not saying much.

"I need to head straight back out again, so you two behave and text us if you need anything ok? Make yourselves comfortable and take whatever you want from the kitchen!" Daryl recites, as we both nod and climb out - as I feel a little crushed that he hadn't taken much notice of my transformed look.

"Yeah thanks, Daryl, for picking us up." I say, giving him a grateful smile as I open the car door to get out to which he just watches me and nods.

"Yeah, thanks!" Emma echoes after me, following me out of the car.

Daryl pushes a smile, watching as we gather our shopping bags from the trunk and make our way towards the front door. "Call if you need anything," he reminds us before driving off.

He was acting strange...

We enter Vincent's house, and the quiet atmosphere of the place contrasts sharply with the bustling mall we had just been at.

It's a relief to be back here, as I take a deep breath, feeling a sense of calm wash over me.

"That asshole didn't even notice your hair!" Emma groans, speaking my thoughts as I giggle and try to act unbothered about it.

"I thought he would have melted when he first saw you! Though, he did keep staring at you so maybe he just didn't want to say anything when I was there?" Emma continues to rant as we head upstairs to my current room.

"I know but who cares what he thinks? There is something I still have to tell you though..." I remember about last nights heated kiss, walking into my room and staring over at the bed where it had happened. "What now?!" Emma hurries the information out of me, as I laugh.

"Vincent kissed me... again." I admit, suddenly embarrassed at how ridiculous it all sounds.

"Vincent did?! But didn't you just kiss Daryl a couple of days ago? You have them both wanting you Sofia how the hell will you keep up?!" Emma rambles, suddenly pausing to laugh at my panicked face.

"I don't know, it's hard to explain! I just get so caught up with them both individually! Daryl is a true sweetheart, despite that he didn't notice my hair, and Vincent has shocked me lately with how much he has done to help me out..." I groan, allowing for my head to fall back as she shakes her head and smiles at me.

"This could be a TV show! A wild love triangle if I've ever seen one!" Emma retorts, as I remove the contents of our shopping trip and put them on the bed.

"Ughh no, I wouldn't call it a love triangle! I'm pretty sure Vincent only flirts with me when he's bored and Daryl is hard to figure out sometimes too... I'm just going with the flow at this point." I sigh, as Emma nods and gives me a 'sure' look. "Let's just get ready and have some fun!" Emma says, her excitement contagious. "We don't want to be late for Maggie's western night." She puts the cowboy hat on her head and begins to dance around the room as I giggle and perk up again.

After a quick shower avoiding wetting my newly styled curls, I start getting ready. I pull on the shorts and waistcoat, adjusting them until they fit just right. Next, I carefully place the cowboy hat on my head, feeling a thrill of excitement seeing the bright pink making my blonde hair pop.

This night was going to be so fun - judging by the outfits alone!

Emma pops out of the bathroom next, fully dressed and looking fabulous. "How do I look?" she asks, striking a pose.

"You look amazing!" I say, genuinely impressed. "How about me?"

"Perfect! You look like a total western diva," she replies, giving me a thumbs-up.

We finish our preparations by adding some light makeup and a touch of glitter. Emma and I take a moment to admire ourselves in the mirror, giggling like little kids going to our first party.

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"All set?" Emma asks.

"All set," I confirm.

We grab our charged phones and head downstairs before Emma insists on snapping some pictures of one another on our phones before we took some selfies together.

We mapped it and found that it was only a fifteen minute walk from Vincent's place and so with that, we set off walking.

The evening air was thankfully warmer than expected as we step outside, the sun just beginning to set. We make our way to Maggie's, chatting excitedly about what the night might hold. Maggie's western night had only opened last week and Emma said it looked great on social media, known for its lively atmosphere, great music, and fun crowd.

When we arrived, the place was already buzzing with energy. The decorations were on point, with hay bales, string lights, and western-themed props everywhere - even a mechanical bull ride.

"Hey, girls!" A guy dressed up as a cowboy greets us at the entrance, dressed in his own Maggie's clothing to show he was staff. "You two look fantastic! Come on in and join the fun." He leads us towards a free table as we thank him. "Need anything tonight, you two just let me know!" He states, dipping his hat at us as we both beam.

He was pretty handsome... most of the staff seemed young and pretty in here from what we could see. They all looked to be in their early twenties.

People were already up dancing, laughing, and enjoying themselves as we admired the atmosphere of the place.

"Ok so what's the plan? Do we risk getting a drink at the bar?" I suggest, eyeing up the bar staff and making eye contact with a cute guy towards the end who smiles in our direction.

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"By the looks of it, he will serve you!" Emma giggles as I blush and hope that she was right.

The guy was tall with dark hair, but his face was young and mischievous... it was almost as though he was teasing me to approach him with his eyes.

"Here goes nothing!" I breathe out, as Emma cheers for me and wishes me luck.

I make my way to the bar, feeling the adrenaline rush through me. The cute bartender watches my approach, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Hey there, what can I get for you blondie?" he asks, his voice smooth and inviting.

I glance over the menu briefly before deciding. "I'll have a strawberry margarita, please - two." I ask, praying that he wouldn't ask questions.

"Coming right up," he replies with a wink, expertly mixing the drinks. As he works, he glances up at me. "First time here?"

"Yeah, my friend and I heard great things about this place. We decided to check it out," I say, trying to sound casual.

"Well, you picked a good spot, hopefully I'll see you here more often." He grins, as I turn back to glance at Emma who was watching the exchange. "I'm Ryan, by the way." He adds, as I nod slowly. "Sofia," I reply, taking the drinks and giving him a smile. "Thanks, Ryan."

"No problem, Sofia. Enjoy your night and be sure to come back over here for more drinks alright?" he drawls out as I walk back towards my friend feeling suddenly flustered.

What did the night have in store for us both with alcohol involved?!