Against The World // Brantley Gilbert

4.

Chase's POV

I watch as Brantley's eyes don't waiver from my blonde best friend the entire time, she's in the booth. It looks like he's holding onto every word that comes out of her mouth, every emotion that she feels he's feeling right along with her.

Originally, she only came in here with one song in mind that she wanted to record. However, after she finished recording the first one, her and Dan went through everything else in her notebook.

They ended up recording 6 songs in one night, something I've never seen her do before.

Everleigh's way of healing has always been through music. Ever since her first album, she has put every emotion she has felt into a song, it's how she connects to her fans and others in the industry.

Her getting all of these emotions out shows me that she's finally ready to move on from Braxton, something I've been waiting to see her do.

While I thought that her time in Georgia had changed her in so many ways, I don't think anything could have prepared her for what I think could me one of the greatest experiences of her life.

Neither of them has said anything, but I can see the way Everleigh and Brantley watch each other, the way she looks towards him for advice, or just a comforting face.

They're clearly both falling for each other.

As soon as Everleigh steps out of the booth for the final time, I can see the tears running down her face. She's finally letting go of all of those emotions she's held in for so long now.

Before I can get up, Brantley is out of his seat, wrapping one arm around her and using the other to wipe the tears off of her face.

Once I can tell she's calmed down, I approach the two of them.

"That was amazing Eve" I tell her.

"Thank you, both of you" Everleigh responds, a small smile on her face.

Later on that night, Everleigh, Brantley, Dan, and I are all sitting in Brantley's backyard around the firepit. I watch as Brantley and Everleigh talk between the two of them, smiles on both of their faces as they listen to each other talk.

"How do you feel about that one?" Dan asks.

I look at him confused as he motions his head towards the two of them.

"They both deserve to be happy. I haven't seen either one of them this happy in a long time" I respond.

"Do you think it'll go anywhere?" Dan asks.

I let out a sigh, leaning back in my chair. "I do, only if they are both ready though. They've both had rough pasts with relationships, however Everleigh's is fresher. Along with Everleigh comes a different level of attention, and Brantley has to be able to handle that. On the other hand, Everleigh has to be willing to accept a man that will do anything for her, and that she isn't alone anymore" I respond. 

"Well, I will say I hope that I get another chance to work with her. She's so damn talented" Dan says.

"Considering that Eve basically is starting fresh on that end, and you two worked so well together, I see it happening" I tell him. 

Brantley's POV

"What has you so happy son?" my mama asks from her spot in the kitchen.

It's been a few days since Everleigh recorded just about a full album in the booth. The girl I saw walk into that booth was a completely different girl than the one that walked out. It was almost as if she let all of the weight she was carrying around fall off of her shoulders, like she was actually able to relax. 

She just needed to get it all out. 

I won't lie, after Amber and I broke up for good, I never thought about moving on. I put all of my focus on music, and my family, and that was enough for me. 

 However, Eveleigh has somehow slowly wormed her way into my heart, something I wasn't expecting. It wasn't until Chase had made a comment about the way I was looking at her that got my mind really thinking about it, and now I can't think about anything else. 

I just won't act on anything until I know she's ready.

However long that may take.

I look up from Everleigh's message to my mama, who has a sly smile on her face, almost like she knows something just without me telling her.

"Nothing mama, just something online" I tell her, pocketing my phone.

She rolls her eyes at me, before pointing the spoon in her hand in my direction.

"I know you better than that, Brantley Keith. That's the smile of someone who met a girl, tell me about her" she responds. 

"There's nothing to tell right now" I answer, honestly.

She raises her eyebrow at me, clearly wanting more information.

"Do you know the name Everleigh Bennett?" I ask her.

Mama lets out a sigh, putting the lid on the pot, before turning to me, a frown on her face. 

"That poor girl, getting her name ruined by a man. I don't think that the story he's telling is the whole story, but lord knows a woman can't ever speak out against a man without being called a liar. I hope she's doing okay, she's too young to be dealing with all of this" she says. 

"She's doing just fine actually, she's sitting out on a porch reading a book at the moment" I respond, casually.

Mama stops her movements, before looking over at me, wide eyes staring back at me. 

"And how in the world would you know that?" she asks.

"She's in Georgia, right down the road actually. Chase wasn't able to make it down to see her a few weeks ago, so I took her some stuff for him. I've been checking up on her since" I tell her, shrugging my shoulders. 

"You're falling for her, aren't you?" she questions.

I let out a sigh, "I don't know mama, maybe. Would that be a bad thing if I was?" I ask, rubbing my hands together nervously.

"I honestly don't know son. She's been through a lot, and I don't want to see you get hurt if she's not ready for another relationship right now, or ever. You also have to think about the age difference between the two of you, that is something that will be pointed out a lot if this thing ever goes public. If you were to step into that situation, you need to be ready for anything that can come up and be ready to protect her from what may come up when everything comes to light" she tells me. 

"But I would like to meet her, maybe I can help her some. Give her someone else to talk to around here, I'm sure her family isn't local, might be nice to have a mama nearby if she needed it" she adds, giving me a soft smile. 

"I can do that" I respond.

There's a reason I call that woman angel, and she just proved once again that she really is an angel.