The Good Stuff - Kenny Chesney
The bartender glanced around the empty bar lazily as he wiped an old glass clean for the fifth time that hour. It had been a slow night, and it didn't seem like it would pick up at all. But hey, that was expected for this place during the week. Most folks went to SOS anyway, only a few hazarding a trip out to the small bar a few miles south of Pine Valley. His eyes caught a peek at the ring on his finger, and he smiled softly at the image of his wife the simple sight evoked.
The sound of the door creaking open knocked him from his reverie, and he looked over to see a short blonde girl stagger in. She strode up to the bar and threw herself onto a stool, not saying a word. He slowly made his way over to her, taking his time to look her over. She didn't look much older than his youngest child. Her youth wasn't what made him pause, though. It was the hint of utter devastation that glimmered behind crumbling defensive walls.
This one was hurting.
"What'll it be?" he asked, reaching her.
"The good stuff." Frankie rasped, not caring at the moment that she left her fake id at Opal's along with a few empty bottles of beer. She didn't worry that she didn't have enough money for anything. It didn't even occur to her. Her mind was too focused on the way Bianca looked as she stormed away, voicing that she was done. The way the words had fired out like a bullet from a gun, ripping her carefully guarded heart to shreds, had her sniffling and rubbing at her watery eyes.
The bartender nodded to himself and turned around. He bypassed the shelf of liquor and skipped the array of beer bottles and taps. He leaned over into a small side refrigerator and pulled out a carton of milk. He poured some into the glass he'd been cleaning and set it down in front of her.
Frankie blinked, and narrowed her eyes in confusion at the drink, "What the hell is this?" Her voice cracked and she cleared her throat roughly.
He smiled at her, "Milk."
Frankie pursed her lips, "I said the good stuff."
The bartender tapped the side of the glass, "You can't find that here, kid."
Frankie gulped down the emotions threatening to pour out and forced a glare, but it came out more as a grimace, "What?"
"The good stuff," he peered down at the ring on his finger as his eyes misted over, "is the very first kiss. It's when she says yes even though you're so nervous that you drop the ring into the spaghetti. It's seeing her eyes sparkle when they land on you and knowing that the love in your heart is the same thing she's feeling." His eyes landed back on her, "That's the good stuff."
Frankie smashed her lips together, valiantly keeping inside the words that wanted to spill out.
He pushed the glass closer to her, "What'd he do?"
Frankie's eyes dropped to the bar top, and she crossed her arms protectively over her chest. Her words came out in a whisper, "She."
The bartender took this in, "What'd she do?"
Frankie's arms tightened. What had Bianca done? Told her she cared about her. Wanted to hear that Frankie would stay and not run away. That there was something between them. She wanted something from Frankie that the teenager never even thought was possible. But, nothing had ever hurt like seeing Bianca walk out that door.
"What'd you do?"
Frankie's stare flickered up to his understanding face, "What..." she licked her dry lips, "It doesn't matter."
He sighed, "No, it doesn't." He studied her, "This isn't where you belong though, kid." He rubbed his hands together, "Whatever you're feeling, she's feeling the same."
Frankie snorted, but her eyes shimmered and her chin quivered.
"You go on home, and you talk to her. Tell her you're sorry, and she'll say she's sorry. 'Cause kid, whatever's going on inside of you, those feelings you have for this girl, are a whole lot stronger than anything you can find here, and they're a lot better for you. So, go to her. Get your sorries out there, and make up. She wants that just as much as you do right now."
Frankie stared at him for a full minute.
Then, she slid off the stool and walked to the door.
The bartender watched her go and grinned. She'd figure it out.
