My creativity just really sunk in… You are all in for some fun surprises from here on out! Here's chapter 4, please keep the great reviews flowing… Enjoy!
Chapter 4: Surprises? Or Just Secrets?
Destiny walked toward the entrance of the bar as the time was going on five-thirty. The place didn't open till six o' clock but, workers and performers had to be there an hour ahead to set up. Destiny always walked in with a smile but today her grin was even wider, as she greeted her fellow bartender and best friend Ryanne.
"You're late" Ryanne shot
"Sorry! I lost track of time" Destiny squealed hugging Ryanne shortly "But, I'm glad you're back from your vacation"
The tall, slim, blue-eyed, sandy blonde Ryanne stared strangely at an extra excited Destiny as she danced throughout the room.
"What?" Destiny smiled taking off her jacket seeing Ryanne staring at her
"What's with all the joy?"
"I can't be happy?" she asked "I'm always happy"
"But not this happy" Ryanne said sitting on the counter "What's up? Is it Beau? You two finally hooked up?"
Destiny's smiled turned into a slight frown
"No Ry" she said grabbing a stool and sitting near Ryanne
"Then spill it?"
"Well my best friend from my childhood is coming to California!" she squealed
"Do I know him?" Ryanne asked
"No, he left for Nashville about a year before you arrived, and he's been touring with his band and some singer for the past year or so, so we haven't spoken or seen each other in awhile" Destiny explained
"Was he on tour with someone famous?"
"Not sure, I told you we haven't spoken in almost two years, so you can imagine my surprise when I got a call from him this morning!"
Ryanne chuckled lightly at her friends' excitement
"When's he coming?"
"He should be here tonight around seven the latest eight" she said looking at her watch
"Is he hot?" the promiscuous blonde asked
"Uh, he's my best friend Ry, I don't see him like that" she scoffed "I just remember me and him, sitting in the park by the lake, playing music together" she replied as she got weary eyed in thought
"You really miss him, huh?"
"You have no idea"
"I think I do" she smirked nudging her friend lightly
Destiny sighed and stared around, at the work to be done
"Let's get this over with" Ryanne said hopping down from the counter, as the two started to prepare for opening.
Ryanne and Destiny turned up some pre-recorded music. Songs like Leann Rimes Can't Fight the Moonlight to Kenny Chesney's There Goes My Life blasted throughout the bar as they wiped down tables, set up stools around the bar, got fresh ice cold beers and other alcoholic beverages, and set up the sound equipment on stage for their nights' performers.
Simultaneously, Beau's light blue pickup truck had just pulled up in the back alley with Chiles in the passenger seat. Beau got out of the car and put out his cigarette, casually dressed in denim jeans, a brown button down and his signature ten gallon hat.
"Are you sure the set producer here won't mind if I perform?" Chiles asked as she got out of the truck slamming the door shut, dressed in a long jean skirt and a red and white striped but down top, and her usual black boots.
"I don't know, it depends on how many acts he has already lines up, but it doesn't hurt to ask" Beau replied grabbing his guitar case "And besides you're Chiles Stanton, he'd be stupid to turn that down"
Chiles smiled as Beau came around the truck. She wrapped her arms around his waist as they walked toward the back entrance of the bar.
Ryanne and Destiny were just about finish when they heard the back entrance door open. Seeing Beau and Chiles walk in together couldn't ruin a still very enthusiastic Destiny!
"You're about forty-five minutes late Nashville" Destiny did her ordinary teasing of Beau.
"I know I'm sorry" he smiled sitting down his guitar on stage
"Don't be, she was thirty minutes late" Ryanne butted in before noticing Beau's arm candy "Holy shit!" Ryanne said aloud at the superstar "Your Chiles Stanton" she squealed
Chiles smiled and nodded
"Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you she was here last night" Destiny replied
"How could you forget to tell me something like this" Ryanne said coming from behind the bar "I'm like a huge fan" she told Chiles shaking her hand
"Thank you!" Chiles smiled sweetly
"Why the hell didn't you tell me you knew Chiles Stanton, Beau" Ryanne shot hitting Beau in the gut
"Sorry" he chuckled "But, Chiles this is my crazy yet aggressive friend Ryanne" he chuckled as Chiles nodded "And Destiny was here last night but I didn't get a chance to introduce you two" he lastly replied
"Nice to meet you" both Chiles and Destiny greeted each other in unison
"Did Jim ask about me?" Beau asked about the manager of the club "Did he notice I was late?"
"He's not coming in tonight, we're in charge" Ryanne told
"We?" Destiny stared at her
"Okay, Destiny's in charge" Ryanne rolled her eyes pulling a cigarette from her purse which laid on the bar
"Thank you" Destiny chuckled at her friends' animosity.
Beau laughed lightly at the girls' bickering
"Hey Des does that mean you're in charge of the sets tonight?" Beau asked
"Uh yes!" she answered
"Hey Beau you got a match?" Ryanne asked with a cigarette hanging out the side of her mouth
Beau quickly reached into his pocket and pulled out his lighter before tossing it to Ryanne who went out the back door…
Beau quickly nudge Chiles who sat in a stool, before walking over to Destiny who made herself occupied with cutting up some empty boxes to avoid clutter in the joint.
"So, is tonight's line up full already?" he asked her
"Uh, I don't think so I was kind of hoping to get two more acts in" she told him "Why?"
"What about Chiles?"
"What about her?" she asked
"Can she have a set?"
"Chiles wants to perform here?"
"Yeah, I told her I could talk to the set producer but since that's you tonight, I'm asking you" Beau said
"Uh, sure if she wants to" Destiny shrugged "It'd be an honor"
Beau smiled and pulled Destiny in for a light hug.
"Thank you" he said "You won't be disappointed"
"Well, duh she's Chiles Stanton" Destiny chuckled, continuing her duties
Beau smiled before he turned to walk away. He quickly stopped in his tracks to turn and face Destiny again. Not that he didn't enjoy the non-dramatic Chiles reaction from Destiny, he was just surprise how calm she was about everything.
"Hey Des can I ask you a question?" he said
"Sure, something wrong?" she said referring to his tone of voice
"I just wanted to know" he stated "Are we okay?"
"Yes" she smiled "Why wouldn't we be?"
"I don't know"
"I told you leaving me last night was not a big deal" she assured
"You know I was still here" he said looking down catching her attention "Guitars just don't get up and walk outside and wait for their owners" he thought "You saw me and Chiles kissing last night didn't you?"
Destiny finally stopped moving around, as she stared down
"That's why you left?" he asked
"So what if I did?" she spoke folding her arms
"Des, I'm…" Beau started
"Beau it's no big deal, I promise"
"No it's not because I know we had something, Right? We did have something or was I just imagining it?"
Destiny sighed and nodded
"And Chiles shows up and everything with me and you is all messed up" he explained
"Beau listen?" she told him "I'm fine! Chiles seems like she makes you happy and that's all that matters" she said picking up the pieces of boxes she cut up…
Beau stood there in silence, as he leaned on the nearby wall
Destiny started to walk away but notice Beau unsure facial expression
"Hey" she called out
Beau looked up and laid his blue eyes on the small blonde
"We're good" she smiled "I promise"
Beau nodded and put on a slight grin before Destiny turned with the cut up boxes in her hands, heading for the back alley.
Destiny struggled to open the door as she stumbled a bit. She managed to reach the outside as she walked past a smoking Ryanne and toward the dumpsters.
"So how do you feel about that?" Ryanne said sitting on the steps
"About what?" Destiny asked tossing the trash out
"Beau… Chiles Stanton"
Destiny stared at Ryanne with a blank expression as if she was clueless
"Their together!" Ryanne told
"Yeah I know!"
"And you don't care?"
"Nope, not really?" she lied
Ryanne shook her head and chuckled sarcastically, before inhaling another hit
"Yeah right!"
"Yeah right what?"
"You know you and Beau had a thing, and now that is over you can't tell me you don't care" Ryanne shot
Destiny rolled her eyes and shot past Ryanne
"It's time to open" she shot back before going in.
"Ready guys" she skipped past Beau and Chiles and other performers already in the bar as she went toward the entrance and turned the open lights on, causing a few customers who were lined up outside already to enter.
In no time, the place was beginning to crowd.
Destiny and Ryanne took their place behind the bar as Beau made his way to the stage hand and hand with Chiles being the night's openers.
"Tonight I have a little surprise for you all" Beau began to speak in the microphone as the citizens of California began to cheer "My friend Chiles Stanton will be performing for you all tonight"
Hearing Beau speak of Chiles performing caused the cheers to elevate. Chiles smiled as she heard fans cheer her name and show their support.
"I miss this sound" she whispered to Beau, who smiled
"This first song, maybe some of you heard it is called Give In To Me" he replied before he started playing.
"I'm gonna wear you down
I'm gonna make you see
I'm gonna get to you
You're gonna give into me"
Beau sung as he stared at Chiles with the same affection behind his eyes as he always had.
"I'm gonna start a fire
You're gonna feel the heat
I'm gonna burn for you
You're gonna melt for me"
Come on, come on
Into my arms
Come on, come on
Give into me
"Look at the way he looks at her?" Destiny slightly smiled as she and Ryanne watched their performance "She's sensational"
Chiles smiled at Beau before her verse came in…
You're gonna take my hand
Whisper the sweetest words
And if you're ever sad
I'll make you laugh
I'll chase the hurt
My heart is set on you
I don't want no one else
And if you don't want me
I guess I'll be all by myself
Come on, come on
Into my arms
Come on, come on
Give into me
"Maybe I did like Beau once upon a time" Destiny confessed to Ryanne as the performance continued "But how can I compete with that… How can I compete with her" she said watching how good of chemistry Beau and Chiles had on stage.
I'll use my eyes to draw you in
Until I'm under your skin
I'll use my lips, I'll use my arms
Come on, come on, come on
Give into me
Give into me
Give into me
The song finished as the crowd went wild for the two great performers, including Destiny and Ryanne.
Beau and Chiles smiled at each other then at the loving audience.
"I'm going to let Chiles perform this next song alone" he announced next handing off his guitar to her
"Hi everybody!" Chiles said in her sweet southern tone "This next song is an original, entitled A Little Bit Stronger" she introduced
"Woke up late today, and I still feel the sting of the pain.
But I brushed my teeth anyway, got dressed through the mess and put a smile on my face.
I got a little bit stronger."
Beau stood of to the side of the stage as Chiles continued to perform the rest of her set with songs such as A Little Bit Stronger and Words I Couldn't Say.
Meanwhile, Destiny and Ryanne continued to run the bar. With all the commotion Destiny almost forgot her reason for happiness that day.
He got out of his van standing six feet tall, with dark hair, dark eyes dressed shaggy in denim jeans a plain button down, brown coat and his guitar in hand.
"Home sweet home" he said with a smile to himself before making his way into the familiar bar…
The bar was extremely busy that night, Destiny and Ryanne usually would make conversation with the people who sat bar side but they had so many customers they had to play the night by ear, they didn't even have time to look up at their customers.
"What can I get you?" Destiny asked someone she saw approach through her peripheral vision, as she was multitasking
"How about a brew and a hug" he replied
The weird response finally cause Destiny to look up, the view causing her eyes to widened
"Surprise" he smiled seeing her expression
"Cory!" Destiny squealed quickly and excitedly hoping over the bar
Cory smiled as he picked Destiny up and twirled her around in a hug.
"I take it you missed me" he smiled
"Too much!" she said; now back on her two feet
"Good" he replied taking a look around "This place has changed"
"I know it's more live nowadays" Destiny told
"No performers tonight?" Cory said looking at the stage which was now empty
"Of course we do" she answered "Believe it or not we just had Chiles Stanton perform"
Cory stared at Destiny strangely
"Wait… What?" Cory asked
"Oh wait! You got to meet my best friend Ryanne" she excitedly but unintentionally ignored him, as she pulled him behind the bar where Ryanne was still busy.
"Ryanne!" Destiny smiled, stepping in front her
"A little busy here" Ryanne replied
"I know but remember my childhood friend I told you about" Destiny said "This is Cory!" she introduce
Ryanne stopped and smiled
"Nice to meet you!" she smiled, before smirking flirtatiously at Destiny
Destiny smiled and rolled her eyes playfully seeing Ryanne expression
"If you don't take him I will" she whispered to Destiny, but Cory also heard
"Listen, I want to introduce him to Beau, can you handle the chaos here for awhile?" Destiny asked
"Sure, just don't be too long" Ryanne shrugged tending to more customers as they approached.
"Thank you!" Destiny said snatching Cory's guitar from him and placing it safely behind the bar and pulling him into the opposite direction
"Who are we going to meet again?" Cory asked as they made their way through the crowd
"My friend Beau, you'll like him" she yelled over the music that was playing over the system until their next performer was up "He reminds me so much of you, the kid is so talented"
Cory shrugged as they finally reached backstage where Beau was tuning his guitar.
"Beau" Destiny squealed as he was initially sitting with his back toward them
Beau turned and immediately grinned
"Beau this is my friend…" she started but was interrupted
"Cory Younts!" Beau finished
"Beau Hutton" Cory smiled as Destiny stared strangely "How are you?" he replied shaking his hand
"Good man, what are you doing here?" Beau asked
"Wait!" Destiny interfered "Am I missing something, how do you two know each other?"
"When I was on tour Cory was one of my band members" Beau explained "How do you two know each other?" Beau retaliated
"Cory grew up here; he's been my best friend since we were children" she told
"Yeah, I just came to visit though, me and the guys are doing pretty well in Nashville" Cory said
"What a small world" Destiny exclaimed "So you must know Chiles Stanton too"
"Yeah" Cory nodded
"Where is Chiles?" Destiny asked Beau "I'm sure she would be glad to see you again too"
"Wait! Chiles is here!" Cory asked surprised
"Yeah, I told you we had her perform"
Cory stared strangely then shook his head.
Meanwhile, Chiles had just come from the bathroom freshening up her hair and makeup. She looked around and immediately saw Beau, Destiny and a third person she couldn't see all that well.
She shyly walked up, coming from behind Beau. Her always delighted smile soon turned upside down
"There she is" Destiny smiled, seeing the dark hair beauty
"Chiles you remember Cory right?" Beau asked
"Yeah" she said appearing to be a little less then pleased "What are you doing here?"
"Visiting my friend Destiny" he said
"Oh…" she said staring down
"Well, you three should catch up I have to get back and help Ryanne at the bar before she kills me" Destiny joked before walking away "Drinks on the house if you guys want them" she lastly said
"Actually, it's just you two I have to get on stage for my set" Beau said looking at the time "But, we can have a smoke after I'm done" he finished as he grabbed his nearby guitar and walking on stage,
Chiles folded her arms and stared at Cory, as they heard the crowd screaming for Beau
"Okay Younts, what are you really doing here?" she shot
"I really just came to visit a friend" he said "The real question is what are you doing here?"
"I came for Beau" she answered
Cory chuckled and shook his head
"Look! I am!" Chiles argued quietly
"You don't need to lie to me Chiles!" Cory said "We both know why you're really here?"
"Yeah Beau!"
"Yeah right!"
Chiles stared down then back at Cory realizing his rights.
"But, I'm not going to say anything!" he told her
"Really?" she asked "Why?"
"Because though you're being selfish, I like Beau and he's a good man, he doesn't deserve to have his heart stomped on…" Cory said "Again!"
Chiles watched as Cory walked away, before she made her way to the side of the stage where she could watch Beau perform one of his best hits Chances Are…
"Hold me like I mean it. Stay 'til you believe it.
And we'll see if we can fill an empty heart.
But I won't tell you what the chances are."
Chiles stared at Beau, and smiled slightly
"Chiles what did you do?" she finished rubbing her forehead, disappointed in herself as Beau finished his song…
"One foot on the narrow way, and one foot on the ledge.
Sifting through the devil's lies, and what the good Book says.
If I'm going anywhere, I'll probably go too far.
And probably away from you, chances are.
Chances are…"
Please Review!
(Sorry if the ending sucked =(..I tried to end it the best way I knew how!)
Question: Am I putting in too much music? (Please let me know so if so I can stop!)
Pointless note: When watching Country Strong one thing I always said was "Damn, I love how Beau looks at Chiles"… Did anyone else notice how beautifully he stared at her during Give In To Me and the ending (*melts*)lol… But, that's why I had to add it in my …
Also: Cory Younts played in Country Strong as one of Beau's band members. He sung backup for Hard out Here and Chances are. He also had the infamous line, at the scene near the elevator "Beau you're an asshole" (lol)… A picture of him is on my profile if you don't remember and also one of Ryanne (who is not a real character).
Disclaimer: A little bit Stronger is originally by Sara Evans and belong to its rightful owners. The Words I Couldn't Say is sung by the Rascal Flatts and belongs to it's rightful owners!
STAY TUNED TO SEE WHAT'S NEXT TO COME!