This is my first Nashville story, set after Will has been dropped by Luke Wheeler. It's just a short little opening but there is more to come. Hope you enjoy it. Would leave to hear what you think, so if you have a few moments to spare please, please leave a review. Thanks...
"Where've you been?" Layla asked Jeff as he came in through the door, before continuing, as she stood up from the bottom stair where she'd been waiting for him, without giving him a chance to answer. "We need to do something for Will!"
"What," Jeff flippantly replied, as he put his bag down, "like wash his car or put his trash out?"
"No," Layla said, deadly serious, "we need to help him. I saw him today and he looked so, so…" she paused, remembering how Will had been when she'd seen him that afternoon, "lost… lost and sad. I mean not about Kevin," she added quickly, smiling slightly at the memory of how he'd been when he'd talked about how things were going on that score, "but everything else," she continued, shaking her head. "It's all such a mess and he doesn't have a clue how to get things back, so we need to help him."
"Hey," Jeff asked, "since when did I become Will Lexington's guardian angel? And why do you care so much anyway? You've got the most reason out of anyone to hate him, after what he did to you."
"I could never hate Will," Layla replied simply, "he's far too nice for that. And you're in no position to talk about what he did to me – you knew and did nothing. And besides which, you're not telling me you think what's happened to him is fair – having his album shelved, losing his record deal, being thrown to the wolves by that Gabriella woman."
"That's a bit dramatic," Jeff replied, continuing quickly when he saw the look on Layla's face, "but of course I don't think it's fair! But that doesn't matter. No, it's not fair – but 'that Gabriella woman' was just doing her job, looking after Luke Wheeler's interests, like she was paid to. And she's right – I mean, maybe if Will had handled things differently with the whole coming out thing, if they'd been able to manage it better… But as it is – I know why Luke did what he did. And no, I don't like it and, if it's any comfort I know he didn't like it either, but sometimes…"
"What," Layla demanded, "sometimes you have to throw your friends under the first bus that comes along?"
"Hey" Jeff countered, "that was business – pure and simple. With something like that, the brand comes first – you have to put friendship to one side."
"No," Layla insisted, definitely, "Luke had to – we don't! Will's my friend and I want to help him!"
"OK, so let's just say that I do want to help him," Jeff answered, "what in the hell do you expect me to do? Suddenly make everybody in Nashville gay friendly? Turn Will straight and give everybody collective amnesia about the last few months? You tell me – what am I meant to do to help him?"
"I don't know," Layla replied, "pull some strings… work your evil magic… do something!" Concluding with the word Jeff could never resist, no matter how hard he tried, when she said it, "Please!"