Open Mic Night

My guitar was in its usual place when I arrived for my Friday shift at the Rammer Jammer. When I bought the place, I implemented an open mic night every Friday, and then a band would play Saturday nights. It's become a tradition over the past few months for me to play every Friday. Everyone seems to enjoy it, and it helps me get out some of my balled up emotions without having to actually tell anyone about it. They all knew anyway, but I would never admit to anyone that I missed Zoe Hart. She's been gone for almost six months now, and I didn't know what to do with myself. You'd think that since I am a new business owner that I would busy, but it seems far from it. Sure, I was taking a few classes in Mobile a few nights a week, but I try to work the night shift at the Rammer Jammer to keep myself from my own thoughts. It kept me busy, and it was a nice distraction so I didn't mope around the house, reminding myself how stupid I was.

I put my jacket in the back and rolled up the sleeves of my red flannel. The dinner rush was over, so there wasn't much food being ordered, just drinks. I grabbed my notepad though, just incase. I glanced at the watch around my wrist, 8 pm. Y shift ended at 2, but I could tell it was going to be a long night already. I walked out to the bar and looked over the sign up sheet that had been sitting out since last week's open mic night.

"Anyone good tonight?" Shelley peered over my shoulder.

"Just the regulars, but you never know. There might be a spontaneous volunteer. Maybe Tom will do another drunk rendition of Royals," I couldn't help but chuckle at the memory. That was one of the few moments in the past six months that I had really laughed, and as ironic as it was, it was all thanks to Tom Long. What a guy.

"That would be a good ending to the summer, don't you think?" Shelley laughed and walked away with a platter of drinks. I watched as she carried them to a table and sighed. These people certainly made the day-to-day easier, especially the people I worked with. They were a huge part of helping me realize that there is life after Zoe Hart. I just wasn't too sure of that yet.

"Alright Bluebell, first up tonight we've got George Tucker. Give him a hand." I announced when I reached the microphone. He usually sang originals, which everyone liked. Another way that I would never compare to Golden Boy, I only sang covers. I had no issue with George, he was a great guy, but his life just seemed too perfect. He was engaged to my ex-wife, talk about a weird situation, and I was going to be the best man at their wedding in a few months. They all clapped and George went to stage. I returned to my place behind the bar and took a few people's orders. I was too busy getting their drinks than actually listening to Tucker, but I wasn't surprised when everyone started dancing to his upbeat song. He was happy though, so I wasn't going to hold it against him. It wasn't his fault that I wasn't happy. It was my own. He played a few more songs before he put his guitar down and walked off the stage. I hopped back up there to announce the next person.

"Next we have a woman whose voice can call the angels, Wanda Long!" Wanda sheepishly got onto the makeshift stage I had built and sat on a stool. Her voice was great, really, but she was always so nervous. Tom stood right up front at the stage, which warmed my heart. He loved her so much, and would support her through anything, but it just made my heart ache more.

"What can I get ya guys tonight?" I leaned over the bar as George and Tansy took seats next to each other at the bar.

"Just 2 beers for now." Tansy answered for the both of them and I popped the top off of them and slid them over.

"So Wade, when are you gonna get up there?" George asked after taking a sip of his beer.

"Well we can't all be as perfect as you Tucker," I joked and rolled my eyes in good fun, "but I'll get up there sometime before the night's over. You never know, might be singin' bout you Tans." I winked at her and walked off to help another customer.

"Yeah right, we all know who you're singin' about up there Wade. Maybe one day you'll surprise us all though." She yelled over to me. I cracked a half smile.

"Not tonight I won't." I walked back to the kitchen to start some fries. I could hear that Brick and Bill were on stage. They were a crowd favorite too, an unlikely pair, but their voices went well together for the kind of music they were singing.

As the night went on, the singers became few and far between, so I decided to take the stage around 10. I grabbed my guitar and sat on the stool.

I didn't say an introduction, in what Shelley would call "true Wade fashion." I just started to strum the chords.

I walked this earth to find the road in which you're leading

I found the path that brings me home and keeps me breathing

You fill the room with something only angels see

Nobody knows me like you do and leaves me weak.

My eyes stayed fixated on my guitar because I knew I had a guilty look on my face that symbolized my knowledge that all of Bluebell knew who I was singing for.

You are so beautiful

You're all that I know; all that is true

You are so beautiful

I gained more confidence and picked my head up, but my eyes were closed. I was feeling the music come through me and in that second I felt that feeling I felt every Friday since she left. Nostalgia. Guilt. Pain.

My eyes opened when I heard the bell over the door chime, notifying us that there was a new customer. Out of instinct, I kept my eyes fixed on who was joining us. I was shocked to say the least when my eyes were met with big brown ones. It was a weird sensation; they were familiar, but distant. Like so much has happened since I was previously acquainted with them. I struggled, but had to continue my song as to not embarrass myself. Except I could feel the heat creep up my neck as I kept my gaze fixed on her. She wasn't trying to look away though, either.

I found a place in life it's where I rest my head now

You opened up a side of me and let it out

What I believed is only half before I met you

I'd drop it all without a doubt

You are so beautiful

You're all that I know; all that is true

You are so beautiful

She paused where she was, leaving her suitcase behind her. She was aware that everyone was watching her, including me. She didn't make a single move though, except for a small, sad, smile that made its way to her lips.

And I know why it is

I'm... so taken, so easy and I can't hide it

The way I've been feeling you shine a light

You are so beautiful

You're all that I know; all that is true

You are so beautiful

She wasn't her usual self, and I could tell automatically, without having a conversation with her. She was dressed different. She had on a pair of leggings, rain boots, and an oversized sweatshirt. Her glasses were resting on her nose, a rare occurrence. She had no makeup on, and her eyes were puffy and bloodshot, probably from traveling most of the day.

You are so beautiful

You're all that I want

So beautiful

So beautiful

So beautiful

I strummed the last chord, but everyone remained silent. After a few seconds of awkward silence throughout the whole restaurant, someone saved me and started clapping. The rest of the people followed in suit and applauded, but I wasn't thinking about the applause, or work. She was the only thing on my mind.

I hopped off the stage and debated whether I should go confront her, or wait for her to come to me. I decided to wait for her to come to me because if I went to her now, it would be a very public ordeal. I scampered behind the bar and quickly looked for a distraction before anyone could mention her name to me. I filled up all of the empty glasses, even if they didn't ask for a refill. Hell, I would give it to them for free if they didn't want it, I just needed to make myself busy, make it seem like I wasn't waiting on her to come back.

I could hear everyone talking about her unannounced entrance, some seemed angry that she was back, while some didn't seem to mind. But I heard my name on all of their lips when they discussed her. I had to stretch my hearing to see what was going on between Dash and Zoe, the first to approach her.

"Well Dr. Hart! Look at what we have here! If I dare to be so rude, but what are you doing?" Zoe looked a little startled at all of the inquiries.

"I'm home, for good now."

"Well if you think this is your home, you better think again. You're going to have to do your hardest to get back in the good graces of the people of Bluebell. You left us without so much as an email and you expect to come back here after half a year and think all will be forgiven?" Lemon, of course, had to make herself the center of attention and be the first one to condemn her for her actions. Zoe nervously tucked her loose hair behind her ear and bit her lip.

"About that, I'm really sorry guy-"

"Why did you come back now?" Dash interrupted Zoe's explanation.

"What do you mean? I came back because I was ready to come home."

"But why not three months ago like you said?" Someone from the crowd asked now.

"I had the intentions of coming back on time, like I said, but my mom got really sick. I couldn't leave. I came back as soon as I could." My heart broke for her when she said her last sentence. That meant that nothing was tying her to New York anymore, which only meant that her mom had passed.

Everyone who was upset seemed to cower away with their tails between their legs for being so intrusive and rude when she had clearly been through a tough time these past few months. She nervously played with the ends of her scarf while her eyes welled up with tears. Her mother was definitely not her favorite person, but if anyone knew how it felt to lose a parent, it was me.

Lavon stood up from his table and wrapped Zoe in a hug, and it brought a small amount of comfort to me that someone was making her feel at home. They whispered a few things, I'm guessing that he was telling her that she was free to again stay at the carriage house. He lifted her suitcase and took it out to his car while she tried to make her way to the bar. Shelley stopped her on her way over to me though, and I was thankful. I hadn't even thought about what I was going to say.

"Listen, maybe you should wait. He isn't in a great place right now. I'm glad you're back, and I'm sure he is too, but I'd wait for it to be more private than here, where everyone's listening…" Shelley informed Zoe, who nodded. She smiled at her, and thanked her, followed by a hug. Shelley went back to getting orders and Zoe bit her lip and looked like she was going to cry again. I wanted so bad to go over there and scoop her into my arms, but I knew I couldn't do that anymore.

Her eyes wandered the bar, searching for mine. She found them quickly and gave me another slight grin and shrugged her shoulders. I gave her a small smirk and nodded. Then, she turned around and left.

I exhaled a breath I didn't know I had been holding and sighed. I rubbed my head and took a second to regain my senses. The only thing I could do was go back to serving beers.

"Hey Wade, you alright?" Bill asked me as I grabbed him a beer. I nodded, said I was fine, and went back to work, acting like nothing had happened.

The next few hours went by painstakingly slow. There were only a few people left when I closed up since there weren't too many night owls in Bluebell. I locked the door behind me and tiredly walked to my car. I started it and drove the few minutes back to the plantation. I turned the car off and pulled the key out, daring to glance at the carriage house.

All of the lights were out, but that's what I had expected since it's 2 in the morning and she had been traveling for the better part of the day. I opened my car door and tried not to slam it, just incase it would wake her. I walked the short distance from my car to the bottom of the stairs to my porch. There she sat, on one of my couches on the porch, curled up and sleeping. I wonder how long she's been there? I panicked and didn't know if I should wake her or leave her there. I knew that since fall was upon us in Bluebell that the night had a chill to it, so if I wasn't going to wake her, I'd need to cover her with a blanket at least. I didn't need to make that decision though because she started to stir when I took the first step up to the porch.

"Wade…" She also seemed like she was at a loss for words when she realized where she was. I was frozen in place on the first step.