CHAPTER SIX

Silence hung between them as Deacon pulled out of the parking lot. It was well after 8pm and her head was hurting. Every minute that passed made her regret the number of drinks she'd had. She couldn't even remember an exact number; Liam hadn't gotten around to clarifying how many she had had. It was all a little fuzzy. Deacon hadn't spoken a word since he'd blown up inside. He had simply led her to his car and opened the passenger door for her before hopping in himself.

As they sat in the quiet, Rayna was grateful he was here at all. She had thought they were well and truly over. Rayna couldn't have been more wrong. Here he was picking up the pieces, her pieces. She had heard the way Deacon had threatened Liam when she'd left the room, curiosity encouraging her to stop mid step and listen. She stood wide-eyed at the words that came from both of their mouths. Rayna wished she hadn't lingered as long as she had because Liam only baited Deacon with things that would hurt him, throwing her vulnerable confessions in his face. She turned cherry red, feeling the sting of the things Liam had no right to share. Deacon's abrupt exit had given her no time to recompose herself so she had simply followed, painfully aware that he was just as confused as she was.

"Deacon…" Rayna tried.

"You kissed him." He replied flatly.

"He kissed me actually."

"You kisse-"

"Seriously? I thought you of all people would have known me better by now…I don't just kiss anyone." Rayna shot, crossing her arms.

"That's for sure." Deacon gripped the steering wheel.

"I've had a real bad day, don't be make comments like tha-" Rayna began.

"Like what?!"

"You know exactly what I mean." She shook her head. "Why were you even here?"

"Why was I even…? Maybe I was here because Teddy called me telling me he couldn't get a hold of you…I knew that if he was calling, something had to have gone down…he never calls me."

Rayna sat in silence as he continued.

"I went looking for you, no one knew where you were. Not Bucky, not anyone. You just disappeared. I thought I'd find you huddled somewhere by yourself. Instead I walk in on you and Liam in a drunk and passionate embrace." He spat the last words out.

"It's not what you think." She said weakly. Her head was beginning to hurt.

"What is it then?" He gripped the steering wheel tighter as they pulled to a stop at a red light.

"You know how the tabloids said Teddy was having an affair? Turns out I was the only one stupid enough to believe he didn't do it…" Rayna let out a nervous laugh as she looked out her window.

"I told you he was chea-" Deacon started.

"-And I'm telling you now...so let me talk…" Rayna exclaimed. "Teddy's having an affair…at least I think he is ok."

They sat silent for a while.

"That doesn't explain Liam."

"Hmm? I was sure that we were talking about Teddy?" Rayna said facetiously.

"Liam?...What I walked in on tonight?" Deacon explained.

"Deacon, he offered me whiskey after a long day. He was being a friend. That's all." She bluntly offered.

"He did more than give you whiskey. He came on to you Ray... That's mighty friendly of him." Deacon spat.

"I didn't kiss him ok? He came onto me. I think it had a lot to do with all the alcohol. We were both pretty woozy…I'm still pretty woozy…" Rayna pressed, fanning her face.

"Friends don't pull those kinds of moves Ray." He spoke calmly. Rayna bit her tongue, trying to ignore the tinge of bitterness in his voice.

"I know." She agreed as he pulled into her driveway.

"Because if that's what friends did, I would have done that along time ago." He looked out his window, avoiding her eyes.

She stared strangely at him, hoping he'd look at her. Had she just heard him right? He had just confessed that he wanted to kiss her. Or was she hearing things? Rayna blinked, trying to clear the haziness in her mind. She remembered Liam's attempt to get Deacon to admit he wanted to kiss her, but this was different. Rayna wasn't imagining it, she was sure she had made the right conclusion. No wonder he couldn't look at her. Deacon wasn't mad; he was hurt because she hadn't been honest with him. He'd found out how she really felt, second hand from Liam who in essence only told him out of spite. Deacon had thought that she didn't care about him like he did her. Rayna reached for the rights words but nothing came. Touching his hand, she squeezed it, hoping she could make him feel what she did. He responded, before quickly letting go.

"Well we've always been more than friends…" She whispered finally, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.

He searched her face, trying to figure out what she meant. Rayna wasn't being much help because her eyes were intently focused on her fingers.

"Haven't we?" She asked a little self-consciously. "Please don't leave me hangin-"

Deacon reached out his hand; intertwining his fingers with hers, he pulled her hand to his mouth and gently kissed it. Rayna shut her eyes tightly. Tilting her chin up so he could see her face, Deacon waited to see that she was comfortable with him being this close to her. When Rayna didn't move he looked at her lips, slowly leaning towards her. Rayna shivered, her breathing heavy as she followed his lead. They were inches apart when light flooded through the misty car windows. Rayna jumped, shielding her eyes. Deacon swore, scratching his head irritably.

The porch light had turned on and they both looked out the window cautiously. Teddy was obviously trying to state some point that he knew she was outside and he was waiting for her. Collecting themselves, they uncomfortably looked around the car. Rayna cleared her throat, twirling her hair into a messy twist, letting it fall loose over her shoulders. Deacon took this as his cue to talk. He cleared his throat.

"Do you want me to walk you to the door?"

"No, I think I better do this on my own."

Deacon nodded and they both sat quietly, fidgeting.

"Look about what jus-" Deacon started.

"-Let's just forget it…" Rayna tried, nervously looking in his direction to see if she had finished his sentence correctly. She sensed she hadn't finished like he would have hoped.

"Is that what you want?" He asked. Rayna nodded indecisively, her eyes saying everything words could never do.

"Is that what you want?" She asked. He clenched his jaw, rubbing his hand over his face, hesitantly nodding.

"Well…" Rayna reached for the door handle, relieved that she was escaping the awkwardness.

"Is he going on tour with you?" Deacon said flatly. Rayna swore under her breath.

"Liam is coming to record with me in between shows." She said shakily as she watched Deacon grip the steering wheel tightly.

"You'd better go." He whispered, not looking at her.

Rayna wanted nothing more then to stay in the car with him, but reality was too cruel a reminder that inside her home was World War III waiting to happen. She tried to think of something to say but came up with nothing. Settling with saying thank you and goodbye, she hopped out of his car and walked to the front door. She turned around to wave goodbye but he was already driving out the gate. Rayna cursed herself as she stood, staring out into the darkness. Not only had she lied when she had told Deacon she wanted to forget it, she knew he had lied too.

-NASHVILLE-

As he drove down the street Deacon picked up his cell phone and dialled Juliette's number.

"Hey, does the offer to come on tour with you still stand?"

"Sure it does…hang on, aren't you touring with the Revel Kings, like tomorrow or something?" Juliette asked.

"I won't be if you take me."

"Alright. We leave tomorrow, 7am."

"See you then." He went to hang up the phone but Juliette spoke.

"Why?"

He put the phone back to his ear. "Why what?"

"Why now? Why tour with me after making it clear you didn't want to before?"

"Sometimes you just need a change. It's something I need to do."

Juliette didn't buy it.

"So this has nothing to do with Rayna?" She questioned.

"I'm not gonna leave you high and dry and switch bands mid tour if that's what you're asking." He answered.

"That's not what I asked."

"Listen, Ray…Rayna is the last person I should be playing guitar for at the moment. She fired me remember?"

"So this does have something to do with her…. As an artist who wants the best of the best I say, come on tour with me! But as a friend I say, do you think this is a good idea?" Juliette settled.

"Can we just leave it alone Juliette?" He begged.

"As long as you know that I think that this may be a real bad idea. I hope she's worth it Deacon."

"Noted."

"Alright, if you're sure. Welcome to the team. I'll see you tomorrow at the airstrip. 7am." Juliette hung up.