That don't sound like you... no that don't sound like you (PAFP/Guy Needed)

This is an archived version of FeralFront. While you can surf through all the content that was ever created on FeralFront, no new content can be created.
If you'd like some free FeralFront memorabilia to look back on fondly, see this thread from Dynamo (if this message is still here, we still have memorabilia): https://feralfront.com/thread/2669184-free-feralfront-memorabilia/.

    Girl, I'm glad you called, first heard you talk

    Took me a second cause i couldn't hear your drawl

    And that don't sound like you

    No, that don't sound like you

    That don't sound like you, Lee Brice


    Madigan Rogers looked at the phone that night. It had been three long years since she had moved from her small town in South Carolina to New York City. Three years since she had even spoken to her best friend, (y/c), she had yelled and screamed at him the last time they had spoken. Now she knew he was right. The phone was against her ear as she heard it ring. Ring. Her eyes closed as she replayed the last time they had ever spoken and yet she wanted nothing more than to hear her friend's voice.


    "He isn't good for you, Mad!" His (y/c) voice was loud as he yelled back, shoving the other male, her boyfriend, away from her. She moved to step between them but the two were already throwing punches. Her boyfriend being the larger of the two as he easily overpowered her friend.


    Ring.


    "Stop! Stop!" She shoved herself between them, forcing them to stop.


    "He gave you bruises, Mad! Stop defending him!" (y/c) spat out, pointing at the bruises on her arms and then to the other man.


    "It was an accident, (y/c). He didn't mean it and you have no right to step in." She was toe to toe with her best friend as she glared up at him. "Back off, (y/c)."


    Ring.


    "Come on, Madigan, let's get you packed." Her boyfriend gently pulled her away from the fuming friend and when she went from her home to the car to travel from the small town to the Big Apple, (y/c) caught her arm gently.


    "Please, Mad, don't go with him."


    "Stay out of my love life, (y/c). You had your chance and you blew it, (y/c), and now that i am happy you want me to be yours. Not gonna happen, not now and not ever. Good bye." With that she set the last box in her boyfriend's car and climbed into the passenger seat for the long drive to her new home.


    "Hello?" The voice sounded tired, but familiar with the familiar southern drawl. She remained quiet for a moment and heard him say again, "Hello?"


    "Hey. It's Madigan... I'm calling to say hi." She spoke cautiously over the phone as she entered the Taxi. It was eleven at night, and she was tired, fresh bruises covered her arms and she sported a black eye under the makeup. She handed the address to the cabi and glanced up at the apartment building fearing her ex would come running and drag her from the taxi demanding she get back inside.


    Her once long brown hair was cut to shoulder length and her dark chocolate eyes watched the city streets slowly pass by. "I'm coming back... not for long, but for a little while need a break from the city." She spoke calmly, "Maybe we can meet up? Catch up." She forced the happiness into her voice, and anyone who knew her extremely well knew that she wasn't smiling as she spoke.


    Madigan hesitated now before adding, "Do you think I can stay with you? My parents are still away travelling and I don't have a key to their home anymore." That wasn't a full lie. She had a house key to her parents, but they were away and she wasn't sure what her ex will do when he finds out she left in the middle of the night with all her things. Her parents' place would be the first place he would look/call and she wasn't sure what she was going to do when he started blowing up her phone. She had made it to the airport three times before this before she went back to her now ex. She wasn't going to turn back. Not this time.



    General Plot:

    M/C was in an abusive relationship for the last four years years. Three of those she was in NYC living there instesd of in the small South Carolina Town (Buckley : made up). She is returning to Buckley, and hoping to find shelter at y/c house. Y/C, had/has strong feelings for her and never truly got over her. This is healing plot and also a romance one. He teaches and shows her how it is to be truly loved by someone, even though at first she extremely skeptical and even flinchy and flighty in his attempts to be sweet.


    Based off of: That don't sound like you by Lee Brice ; I Know Want To Know What Love Is by Foreigner


    My character:

    Display Spoiler

    to join just post a response to the above with a picture, name, and age don't need a full form :)


    Advanced for me means 400-600 words per post or a 3 paragraph minimum.


    Fade in/out as needed


    I am playing the girl and you the guy, keep him the same age or a year or two older (max)


    This is a healing / romance so there will be difficult topics coming up as she tells hik what happened in her relationship such as: physical/mental abuse, depression, self harm, and rape. This is your warning. I won't get too graphic, but i do want to forewarn.

    Benjamin Carver


    It was eleven o'clock pm and Ben had decided to turn in hours earlier after a rough day of breaking in horses at his uncle's ranch. It had been a long, hard, hot day and after a long, cool shower and some good old left over mac and cheese and corn bread, he'd fallen into bed, not planning to get up again until about six the next morning. When the phone rang, however, the groggy cowboy hesitated before even checking to see who was calling at such a late hour. After three rings, however, he decided he couldn't just let it ring itself off and sat up, his thin sheets falling around his naked torso. Bringing the phone to his ear without checking the ID, he answered with a rough, sleepy voice.


    "Hello?" he mumbled, exhaustion contorting his voice to a deeper octave. When there was no reply, he decided to try one more time, just in case it wasn't a telemarketer trying to sell him car insurance or something stupid like that. "Hello?" Then he heard her voice and for the first time in a long time, Benjamin sat straight up in his bed, fully awake. "Madigan? Well I'll be darned. Hey." Speechless, the young man fumbled for the metal string that would flood the small room with light as he spoke to his old friend for the first time in years. The memory of their last encounter wasn't a pleasant one, but hearing her voice now... it was like hearing the voice of an angel... a very tired angel.


    Flinching as the light came back on, Ben stifled a yawn. "So you're heading home, huh? City life driving you up the walls?" Naturally, he was dying to ask her so many questions, but there was no way to approach the subjects he wanted to address without stirring up trouble. Instead, he decided to keep things casual as if he were dealing with a frightened animal. "I'd love to catch up." The feeling of relief and excitement warmed his skin a bit, a feeling that would've otherwise been unwelcome in the southern heat. Even in the dead of night, the humidity was uncomfortable enough. "Sure thing. When are you going to be in town?"


    The next part of her request caught him a bit off guard. She wanted to stay here? In the cabin with him? Memories from that night three years ago were still fresh and confusing, but this had to mean she'd left that monster she'd gone to New York with in the first place, right? She wouldn't be speaking to him again if that man was still in her life. "Stay here? Oh... of course you can, Madigan. My folks up and retired last year'n decided to leave me the house as they traveled the world, so it's just me in the same old house from when we were kids." His southern drawl dripped off of every word as he spoke into the phone, a testament to the undeniable blood that ran through his veins. "You remember the address and all, don't you?" He was prepared to give it to her if she had forgotten, but a small bit of his heart wanted her to say it. He wanted to know she hadn't put away every memory of him and the lives they'd had together.


    Thoughts swam around his brain as he waited for her sweet voice to say something in response to him. He had kept up with her folks since she'd been gone and he knew that they were out traveling. While they loved their daughter very much, it wasn't hard to imagine that she had thrown her key to their place out or misplaced it. After everything that had gone down upon her departure, there had definitely been some bad blood left behind. Ben had tried to console her parents, but there was nothing he could do. She wouldn't take his calls and eventually, he had stopped trying. He had been hurt by her words, and angry with himself for not going after her. He'd known, even then, that the boy she'd decided to shack up with was a no good donkey's rear end. But he'd had no choice in the matter. She had always been a stubborn one and Benjamin had ended up letting her slip away for what might've been forever... might've been had it not been for this call at eleven o'clock on a Thursday afternoon in the middle one of the hottest summers ever.

    //thank you! Kind of my brain child at work and then had tp wait until I got home to type it up XD//


    Madigan couldn't but relax, hearing Benjamin talk was a relief. Not to mention he seemed happy to hear from her despite her cutting him out of her life. The brunette sat quietly for a moment, thinking of how to answer his question on City life. She responded, forcing the happiness into her voice once more, "Nah, City life is great....just a little home sick." The came way easier than she thought, and she felt a pang of guilt rise for lying to Ben, but at the same time she felt too ashamed to say that he was right. She never should have left. Should have stayed back home. Once again the smile was no longer in her voice even if the happiness was there.


    When he agreed to let her stay with him she visibly relaxed some, at least she could hide out there until she got on her feet once more. As Benjamin asked about the adress she subconsciously nodded, "Yeah I remember. Go past the little firehouse. Next left, and down the road to the dead end." She couldn't remember the adress, but knew where his parents place was.... it was down the street from her parents'.


    She watched as the Cab eased through the streets. The Cabi saying something about how once they get out of the central part they should be fine until Newark Airport entrance. She shifted in her spot in the back of the cab before speaking once her, her once thick southern drawl had dwindled quite a bit, "I'm coming back tonight. My flight is for one two am, if on time, and I should be landing around three or four in the morning." She informed him before changing the topic and saying, "How have you been? I've seen you on tv now and again for the professional rodeos." She wanted anything but to have the topic switch back to her, but knew it would. How could it not?


    She listened, her eyes closing as she found it just soothing to listen to his voice. Madigan shifted in her seat she coupd feel the tears sting her eyes as she tried to hold them back. Her face turning blotchy as the silent tears fell. She drew in a shaky breath, unsure of what to say. Madigan hesitated before three words fell from her lips before she could stop them, "You were right." She stopped herself from saying anything else, as she forced herself to remain quiet. The cab was moving quicker now, as the busiest part of the city was behind them. Madigan made no attempt to elaborate why he was right, as she felt that was dumb.

    Despite the late hour, Ben could've gone on talking to her forever. Relaxing back into his bed, he lied on his back and sighed. "You can take the girl out of the country but you can't take the country out of the girl, I guess." He was smiling softly as he spoke, even though she couldn't see him. It was so good to hear her voice and all those old feelings began to shuffle around inside him again. He stared up at the old creaky ceiling fan as he spoke with her, feeling like a teenager in high school. It had been a long while since he'd stayed up late to talk to a girl.


    A small smile tugged at his lips as she spoke the directions to get to his home. So she did remember. "Good to hear you still remember how to find us. It'll be great to see you." He got quiet again as she mentioned the time she would be arriving. "Three or four in the morning, huh? Woo! That's awful early." The thought that he needed to get up at six am haunted him a bit, making his muscles ache at the thought. "Well, I guess I'll see you at the airport at three or four, then." Before she could argue, he chuckled, "Buckley's not New York, now. There aren't any taxi cabs that'll bring you this far out of town. And before you can argue with me, it's no problem. I look forward to seeing you."


    As she changed the subject to him, Ben felt himself grimace a bit. Hoping she couldn't detect the discomfort in his voice, "Yeah... I've been well. Taking a break from the rodeo stuff for a while. I'm still lassoing bulls and helping out when they need me, but this old bull rider's on leave for a bit." He didn't want to go into much detail about his job for the time being, but he doubted he could have much more of this conversation without her worrying about him. Besides, if she really had been following him on the television, she'd have probably heard about what'd been going on with him. Of course, she would've had to've been watching pretty regularly to catch his accident.


    "What...?" The entire feeling of the conversation shifted as she said those three words. The smile faded from his face as he listened to the deafening silence. You were right. Frowning, he sat up a bit more, searching the empty wall across from him for words to say. "Madigan... what happened? Are you alright?" He tried not to sound too eager as he asked these questions, hoping not to scare her off. It had been so long since he'd spoken to her and knowing the man she'd left with, he hated to hear the pain in her voice. He hated that he'd been right.

    //sorry It's so short, I'm falling asleep //


    Madigan listen to him speak, but after the three words slipped out, she heard the change in his voice and her eyes closed tightly at the realization of what she said. "Nothing happened, Ben." She gave a nervous laugh as she looked out of the window as they made it onto a brudge on the way to the Newark Airport. The brunette wasn't sure how to go about the next part but found herself lying, "You were right that the -uh- city was driving me crazy. Nothing like the country." She gave a fake smile, as if trying to convince him like he was in the cab with her.


    "I can't wait to lay under the sky once more in the grass. That is something one can really miss here in the city...." She tried to continue her train of thought but trailed off unsure where to go with it now. "Why wouldn't I be alright, Ben?" She asked her eyes still watering as the tears continued to flow. She couldn't help the the shaky breath she dragged in again. "I'm perfectly fine. Just Peachy. In fact, I couldn't be better." Madigan shifted in her seat once more. She sat thinking for a moment but thought better of responding and instead remained quiet.


    The brunette sat quietly in the back of the cab. Phone to her ear, as she stared out the window watching the other cars and lights of the city. She half wanted to tell him what has been happening the last few years, but the other half thought better of it. She tugged at the sleeves of her hoodie before looking at her legs. She felt smaller and smaller each passing moment and she shrank into the seat of the cab even more. "We are almost at the airport." She said, "are you sure you want to pick me up? I can find an Uber or something." She felt bad that he insisted on picking her up, but wasn't even sure why she felt so horrible as she knew it was a nice gesture from an old friend. "I'm sorry about the things I said to you the last time I saw you."

    ooc;

    no worries at all, my friend! it's 2:35 as i'm writing this now, so i understand completely!


    ic;

    Benjamin wasn't convinced as she tried to play off the words that had slipped from her mouth. He was her oldest and closest friend and he knew when she was lying as well as she could tell when he was. Neither of them had been very good at it and they both knew it. But hearing the slight panic in her voice, he decided not to push it. She was on her way home... back to him... He could not allow himself to ruin that by upsetting her. "Oh... yeah, I guess you're right about that..." He chuckled a bit, trying to play off his own excitement as she commented on the bustling nature of the city. He knew he'd overreacted but after everything he'd seen her go through... well, how could he not?


    Frowning as she continued to speak, he closed his eyes and sighed softly before opening them and speaking again. "I was just checking, Mads. You know I'm a worrier, just like my ma. But if you say you're fine, I believe you." Hoping they could drop this awkward mess there, he was quiet for a moment. "You know, I think the South Carolina sky may be shining a little bit brighter tonight just for you. No light pollution or car horns, nothing. Just crickets and stars waiting to welcome you back." Even though he couldn't see her face, he hoped he'd made her smile. The idea, alone, of her crying brought a pang to his heart. He'd always been a sucker for something like that, and ever the charmer to fix it if he could.


    "I'm sure, Madigan. It's not a problem. I'm getting up early for work tomorrow anyway. I'll just start my day a little earlier is all." Running a hand through his messy hair, he glanced at the clock and grimaced. It was getting close to midnight and while he'd turned in a few hours earlier, he obviously hadn't managed to get much sleep. Tomorrow would be another rough, hot, exhausting day, but he'd make it through. After all, he'd have his old friend back tomorrow to make him feel better. Couldn't ask for much better than that.


    As her voice spoke over the phone again, he felt a bit of sadness weigh on him at the memory. That had been a hard night for everyone. Still, he had failed her. He'd let her walk away with that worthless piece of trash of a boyfriend, knowing that he was hurting her. Ben had tortured himself over that decision for months. His heart had ached for her and more so to know she was okay. This was the first time they'd spoken in three years. "Hey... no hard feelings, alright? I wasn't exactly the most sane and rational person that night either... Let's just put the past behind us. How bout that?" He wanted so badly for it to be that simple. He wished they could just clear the slate and start over... But life was rarely that easy and he doubted this time would be the exception.

    OOC sorry! just got really busy

    IC



    Madigan smiled as she heard him talked, the first real smile in a long time. "I'll hold you to the fact that those stars are shining brighter tonight." She laughed lightly, Madigan relaxed and as she knew it got closer to the airport her face fell slightly. She was terrified. She wanted to and she nodded, "Alright... and just starting over, something new." She smiled half heartedly as the taxi pulled to a stop infront of the airport. "Hey, I got to get going. I can text when we are taking off and the actual arrival of the flight. See ya soon, Ben."


    With a goodbye from him she hung up the phone, and for the first time she actually made it onto the plane. She texted him when she was landing, the airport, and the time of departure as the plane was currently on time and then she didn't respond. The time it took from her checking in, boarding, and finally landing in South Carolina was exhausting and felt like ages for her. She grabbed her small suitcase from the overhead compartment and left the small airport, texting a simple, 'Landed' to Ben. It wasn't until she felt the warm summer night of the South Carolina air outside that airport did she finally relax. Poking out of her small handbag was her old stuffed rabbit, Buzz, she had as a child.


    She felt her nerves take over and she was fussing with her hair and checking her makeup in her reflection of her phone to make sure any signs of a bruise was covered. However, she could tell her eye was puffy and she knew if she took off her jacket she would be revealing the bruising on her arms. She ran a hand through her now short brown hair as her chocolate eyes watched the cars picking people up. She shifted in her spot, jumping when someone offered to call a cab or an uber for her but she declined saying she had a ride and they were on their way.


    Checking her phone again she saw that he was on his way, and she shifted uneasily in the small airport's dim lighting. Then she saw him. He got out of his (vehicle) and was smiling at her. She moved towards him, stopping a respectable distance away and she looked up at him. "Hi." She said nervously. He seemed more... mature. Than when she had left and he seemed to be genuinely happy to see her. She shifted before moving forward and wrapping her arms around him. "Thank you." She mumbled, extremely grateful that he had indeed come and picked her up.

    ooc;

    Don't worry about it at all! I understand that completely!


    ic;

    When she'd hung up, Ben had decided to go ahead and catch a couple more hours of sleep before waking up to go pick up Madigan at the airport. He figured he would call his uncle a little closer to a reasonable hour and take the day off. He'd still have to tend to his own land for the day, but Uncle Hank probably wouldn't take too well to a tired ranch hand working around the horses and heavy equipment. Still, by the time three am came around, it felt too early.


    Getting up and hopping in the shower, Benjamin cooled off in the water before getting dressed in a button up flannel t-shirt and a pair of his cleaner jeans. Running a hand through his hair, he shook himself like a dog, dispatching the excess water. By the time he was done getting ready, straightening up what little needed to be done around the small house, he grabbed his keys and headed out the front door, pulling it closed behind him. From there it was just a short walk in the dark to where his navy blue truck, a shiny 2014 Chevy Silverado, sat parked in the yard. The only noise surrounding him as he made his way out here was the chirping of birds and the distant hoot of an owl in the trees. He knew there was more out there, coyotes and other critters, but none of them seemed interested in bothering him that night. Climbing into the driver's seat, he pulled himself up and started the engine before taking off down the long dirt driveway.


    The drive into town was about thirty minutes long and by the time he reached the airport, he had received a text about them landing. Pulling up into the pick up lane, the young man killed the engine and stepped out, moving around to enter the building, looking for her. He wasn't inside too long when he saw her and his breath escaped him for a moment. After three years, he couldn't believe she was standing in front of him now. Taking a breath and exhaling slowly, he took a few steps forward, making eye contact with her about the time she noticed him. His stomach got all jittery when those chocolate brown eyes met his and he couldn't help the genuine smile that spread across his face.


    Stopping, Ben looked down at the girl he'd practically grown up with, filled with emotion upon seeing her again. He had always been taller than her, save about a month when they were ten. Since then he'd grown to a startling 6'3 and was definitely not the little boy he'd once been. "Hey there Mads..." he said. He stared down at her uncertain for a moment before she closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around his waist. Letting out the slightest breath of relief, he wrapped his strong arms around her back, He held her for what felt like forever, just drinking in the reality that she was really back. "Welcome back..."

    It took Madigan a few seconds before she finally pulled away from him. She gave a small smile up at him. To say she was nervous about what was to follow from ger staying with him was an understatement. She was downright terrified. She was afraid of him seeing the bruises on her arms or her swollen eye, or even the fact that she pretty much flinched at any human contact not started by her.


    A series of 'what ifs' flashed through the brunette's mind. She wasn't sure what to do. He could end up just like the man she left behind, what would she do then? The man, James, she left behind had started off sweet and caring and then slowly became more and more possessive, controlling, and domineering. Her fiery spirit had been crushed under him and she jumped slightly as someone bumped her and they apologized quickly for doing so.


    "You look, different.. a good different." Mads smiled up at him, but her eyes didn't fuly squint as she smiled like her true smile. "What have you been up to?" She nervously brushed a lock of shoulder length brown hair behind her ear. She had never had this short, and James had hated it long. So she just cut it one day to make him happy. She had loved her long locks that came halfway down her back, but she had changed for a man who she had loved, and yet was terrified of.


    She half wondered if her makeup was still alright, as her left eye was throbbing and she knew it was swollen, if only slightly. Madigan, however, did not want to find out what that black eye looked like now, as it was about eight hours since her ex had given it to her. "So, once we get away from the airport, I'm holding you to your word that the stars better be shinning brighter just for me." She teased, a light genuine laugh coming from her as she teased him.


    She only had two bags. Her purse and a small suitcase. She had lpts of clothing but only these were hers... hers that made her feel safe and like herself. Not the preppy-snobbish her that lived in New York City and hated everyone and everything and feared everyone.


    She allowed him to help her to the truck where she climbed intk the passenger seat and sar quietly waiting for him to enter the driver's side. She jumped slightly as he moved toturn the truck on and even to shift the truck into drive as his hand came closer to her. She sat in silence, her eyes growing heavy but she sat up when she heard the soft tune coming from the lowered radio. It was a song the two of them had loved as kids, and she half started to reach for the volume to turn it up but stopped and pulled her hand back to herself. Instead she asked, "Sleep well these passed few hours?"

    He watched her closely as she pulled out of the hug, still smiling at her through those irresistible green eyes. He had missed her more than even he had realized. "Different, huh? Well, it's been a few years. I suppose I've grown up a little since then," he said, a crooked smile on his face. Benjamin Carver was handsome in a rugged way, his features chiseled and cut nicely. A field of stubble sprouted around the bottom of his face, enough to make him look like the cowboy he was. On top of that, he'd really filled out, getting a lot of exercising in training for his career.


    Grabbing her suitcase, he lifted it with ease. He decided not to comment on how light the bag was, but rather just carefully dropped it into the truck bed as they arrived. By the time he'd put the bag up, she had already opened the door for herself and was sitting in the passenger seat waiting. Running a hand through his messy blonde hair, he let out a long exhale before moving around and climbing into the driver's seat. Closing the door behind him, he allowed his body to relax into the seat for a minute before reaching to start the engine. As the truck came to life, vibrating rhythmically around them, he smiled to himself before glancing at her. He caught the nervous look on her face, but he decided to chalk it up to her being home for the first time in three years and said nothing. "Sorry it smells like dog in here. Duke's over at my uncle's place and I haven't had a chance to get some new car fresheners yet." The smell wasn't that bad and Ben had managed to keep his truck relatively clean despite the German Shepherd's tendency to shed everywhere.


    Shifting the truck into reverse, he glanced over his shoulder, backing out before switching to drive again and heading out towards the road that would take him back out of town. "Hey, I bet you haven't even seen stars since you left. With all the light pollution in cities like New York, I've heard you can't see a thing." Grinning, he looked at her coolly. "So you're really in for a treat in about five minutes." In about five minutes they would be exiting the small town. The drive back to his place was pretty much void of street lights and other cars. Once he got out of town, his house was thirty minutes out. This would give them plenty of time to chat or listen to the radio if she wanted.


    Noticing her hand go for the knob, only to retreat, he glanced at her with a slightly raised eyebrow. "You can turn it up if you want. I'm not gonna bite." It was a good-natured tease and while he didn't know what had happened to her once she'd boarded that plane three years earlier, he could sense her hesitance around him. "That's our song, isn't it?" Turning it up a little, himself, he smiled as the memories came to him. "We danced to this at junior prom, didn't we? The year we rebelled and decided to go with each other rather than actual dates?" Of course it had been more to him, but then again, he'd loved her for years. Pushing that thought out of his mind, he let out a small, happy sigh before chuckling at her question. "Y'know, normally I'd say getting just a few hours of sleep wasn't a good thing, but I've been so bone-tired lately that even four hours of sleep is a blessing. Old Hank's been running me hard. You'd think the old coot would give me a break after what happened in the ring, but since I've taken a break from bull-riding, he's been doing everything he can to keep me active and busy. If you ask me, he just doesn't want me to go back."


    It had been less than a year since his accident and honestly, Ben wasn't sure how he was still walking. Bull's were nasty creatures, violent and angry, but then, he guessed with a clamp around his balls he wouldn't be the most pleasant person to be around either. But, his ride had been shown on the television as he was the fifth best bull rider in the world. People all over the world had seem him come off the bull and had watched in horror at the scene that had followed. The memory made the young cowboy sick to his stomach. For reasons he couldn't explain, though, he knew he wasn't done. He knew that once he was cleared by the doctors and physical therapists, he would want to get back out there. He knew he could be the best, he just had to get around this little hurtle.