THANK YOU ALL FOR THE MESSAGES! Y'ALL MAKE MY DAY! The song in this chapter is I Can't Unlove You by Kenny Rogers. I think it says what Rayna is feeling.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or the song used.
"This key is for Deacon's cabin." Rayna tightened her lips. "Realllyyy? You have a key to his get away?!" Tandy exclaimed. "Mhmm yeah I do, I took it when we were together because when we were younger we used to meet there sometimes and I never have the key back." "Wow babe! Your sneeky." Tandy and Rayna laughed. "Yeah I am! I miss that cabin sooo so much! It was our get away, where we could be alone and love each other freely without interruptions." Tandy gave her a compassionate smile. "I know babe. You can always go up there it's only an hour away and you have a key!" "You are right! I think I will go up there after the show and I can have three days to relax by myself." Rayna smiled and hugged her sister. They both laughed. "You know you could come with me." "Yeah I could but I'm busy this weekend and I think you need some time to yourself." "I don't think you'll have as much fun here but okay I'll go by myself." Tandy left the room leaving Rayna alone. Lyrics to a song had been dancing in her mind for forever and so she wrote them down. She was thinking of singing it at the show and so she went downstairs and played the song with the piano and it sounded great.
She called Bucky, "Hey ummm do you think it will be possible to get a piano on that stage tonight? I wrote a new song and I would love to play it." "Yeah we'll make it happen. You know the show is going to be on live television right?" "Yeah I know. I still wanna sing it." "Okay I'll see you in a half hour so we can head to the arena." "Okay see you soon."
When Rayna got to the arena she walked on the stage and saw that Scarlet was sitting in the seats and she walked up to her and sat next to her. "I'm so scared! Are people going to like me? Are they going to like my songs? My style?" Rayna smiled. "Don't worry sweetheart they will love you. Who wouldn't love you? You're adorable and your songs are great. The important thing to do is never loose yourself in this business and most of all to have fun." Scarlet smiled back, "I already did my sound check and I was shaking like a leaf but I know I'll be fine after the first song. After I see everyone here." "that's the spirit! Do you know if your uncle Deacon is coming?" Rayna had to ask her. "My uncle has been really weird, he broke it off with Megan and I have no idea if he is coming. I think he wants to be alone for a while and he misses being on stage. I'm sure he will watch it on TV though." "Oh okay, thanks for the update." They both laughed. Relief flushed through Rayna. He broke it off with Megan! Maybe I have a chance now. She was also glad that he wasn't going to be there because the song she was singing was going to send a straight message and if he was going to be in the audience there was no way she could sing it. She wanted him to hear it though because she wanted him to get the clear message so she was glad he was going to watch it on TV. Also, she didn't want him to know she was going to his cabin and he would probably ask why she had a backpack with her. "We should get ready now. Come on." They walked down together and went into their dressing rooms. Rayna was going to wear a simple black V-neck dress that went to her mid thigh. It wasn't tight it flowed nicely over her. She wore high silver heels and her hair was down in beautiful curls. Luke then walked in. "You look beautiful." "Thank you." Rayna smiled. "Okay, so Scarlet is going to go first then I'll go and then you'll take it home." Rayna laughed, "that's a lot of pressure for one gal with only five songs." Luke laughed too, "you'll pull it off! You always do." Rayna smiled, "thank you. Now go! Get ready!" Luke smiled and left.
Scarlet and Luke were perfect and now it was Rayna's turn. She sang her four songs and left the new one for last. Deacon was home watching the whole thing and thought she looked beautiful. Then all of a sudden a piano was rolled in and he was surprised. Rayna laughed, "y'all might be wondering what all this is for." the audience cheered and rayna crinkled her nose. "I wrote a new song and no one has heard it yet. It hasn't even been recorded. The lyrics had been dancing in my mind for a while." Rayna sat at the piano and continued, "sometimes not everything turns out the way you hope for and when it doesn't and you loose people you love, you miss them a lot." Deacon braced himself for what was coming. Get to it already he thought to himself. The first few notes started to fill the arena. And Rayna started singing.
"Postcards and letters
And pictures made to last forever
To be boxed up and tossed away
Knickknacks and souvenirs
In an afternoon, they're out of here
They'll disappear without a trace
But what they mean to me
Can never be replaced"
Rayna thought of the pictures she had re-seen today and memories flashed in front of Deacon's eyes.
"I can't unthink about you
I can't unfeel your touch
I can't unhear all the words
Unsay all the things
That used to mean so much
I wish I could unremember
Everything my heart's been through
I'm finding out it's impossible to do
Oh, it's no use
I can't unlove you"
The honesty of the words hit Deacon. He remember the feeling her touch gave him, and he shuddered. He remember all the times they said I love you to each other. he knew she still loved him
"Interstates and old songs
Like time they go on and on
I guess I could learn to do the same
I could wake up without you
These two arms not around you
Tell myself it's meant to be this way
No matter how I try somethings I can't change"
They both thought about their road trips and all their songs. He missed her arms around him and he missed not waking up with her. She missed waking up with him too. They were both emotional and Rayan was trying not to loose it on stage.
"I can't unthink about you
I can't unfeel your touch
I can't unhear all the words
Unsay all the things
That used to mean so much
I wish I could unremember
Everything my heart's been through
I'm finding out it's impossible to do
Oh, Oh, it's no use
I can't unlove you"
They could never un love each other it wasn't possible, it wasn't in them, they didn't have the strength to walk away.
"I wish I could unremember
Everything my heart's been through
And finding out it's impossible to do
Oh, oh, it's no use
I can't unlove you"
The song ended and Rayna had tears in her eyes. She missed him so so so much and she hoped he missed her too. He did miss her and he wanted to run to her right away but couldn't she had to find him. He started pacing. He didn't want to run to her and comfort her, and he needed to get away if that's what he had to do, he was going to go to the cabin.
Rayna thanked her audience and then ran to her dressing room and cried till she heard the door open. It was Bucky. Thank God it's not Luke she thought. Bucky walked towards her and hugged her. "You need to tell him how you feel." "I know I do. I'm just so confused. I'm going to the cabin, I have the key. If someone asks where I am just say I went home." "Okay text me when you're there so I know you're safe." "Thanks Buck. I will text you as soon as I open the door."
Then Rayna got in the car and drove to the cabin. Deacon hadn't left his house yet, so Rayna arrived there first. She texted Bucky and Tandy, letting them know that she was safe. She opened the door and inhaled and then sighed. It smelled like wood and just how she remember it. She walked around and then went to turn on the water and electricity. When it was on she walked to the bedroom and dropped on the bed. She laughed remembering everything that had happened on that bed, everything she wanted to happen again. She opened the drawer of the dresser and Deacon's scent filled her lungs. She took of her dress and slipped one of his shirts on. It went to above her mid thigh. She opened the next drawer and the smell of her old perfume came out. She was shocked. Some of her clothes were still there. He hadn't thrown it out she thought. He wanted to keep me here. She smiled at the thought of Deacon looking through her clothes to remember her. Then she heard a car outside and she walked to the window. Deacon's car was outside and he was getting out. She went to the door and opened it. "What are you doing here?" He asked. "How did you get in?" He was surprised to see her in his shirt. "I-I-I'm sorry I'll leave. I have a key that's how I got in." She walked inside to go change back into her clothes and stopped when he said, "stop, Ray. I heard your song." She turned around. "I miss you Deacon I miss you so much and I love you. I can't fight it there is no way I'm fighting this; but I'll give you time." She turned her back towards him but stopped when she felt arms around her and kiss on her neck. "You aren't going anywhere. I'm going to keep you here and show you that I love and miss and need you too." He whispered into her ear. She giggled and turned around. "Mmmm I can't wait." He kissed her with such a force that she stumbled backwards. Their bodies were already reacting to each other and she wrapped her arms and legs around him as he carried her to the bedroom.