A Country Rebel Love Song

Chapter Eleven

*One month later*
Me and Kir have became really good friends. I learned that he is from Ukraine and he does most of the singing for his band. My doorbell rang and I pulled my hair into a messy ponytail. Max jumped down from the couch as I walked through. Kir was leaning against the door frame with a handful of daises. I smiled as he handed them to me.
"Why thank you my kind sir."
I say.
He chuckles and shoves his hands into his pocket as he follows me to the kitchen. I put the flowers in a vase full of water. My phone rings from the counter. I glance at it and it is the rehab center. I knew that it was probably Andy, telling me about how his therapy secession has went.
"I gotta take this."
I say, grabbing my cigarettes and my lighter.
"Alright."
He says.
I walk outside answering the phone.
"Hey McKinley!"
Andy says happily.
"Hey Andy."
I say, lighting up my cigeratte.
I blew the smoke from my lungs.
"How's everything going?"
He asks.
"Same old same old. I have the lead singer of a band from Ukraine that is working on some songs with me since our next album is going to be more rock. He just got here."
I say, taking another pull from my cigeratte.
"Oh, so he isn't like staying with you?"
He asked.
"Oh no, he stays with some of his friends in Atlanta."
I say.
"Guess what?"
Andy says, you can hear the smile in his voice.
"What?"
I ask, a smile spreading across my cheeks.
"They said that if I keep doing well in my therapy that they might can cut my therapy down to six months."
He says.
"Oh my gosh, Andy that's amazing! Andy do you know what that means?!"
I say.
"What?"
He says.
"You'll get to be here for my birthday."
I say, through the phone.
"You know, I never asked when is your birthday?"
He asked.
"July fourth."
I say, through the phone.
"That's a pretty unique birthday."
He says.
I chuckle.
"Yeah, what about you are they going to let you go out for your birthday?"
I ask.
"They are going to let whoever come and spend the entire day with me. They are going to let them bring in a cake and presents and such."
He says.
I smile.
"Looks like I better get to booking a flight then."
I say.
"Really? You are coming all the way out here for my birthday?"
He asks.
"Of course. You are my best friend. Why wouldn't I?"
I asked.
"I don't know. I thought that maybe you would be to busy with that Kir guy."
He says.
"Andy you are my best friend. Besides I don't know him as well as I know you."
I say.
"Well, if you are going to for sure get a plane ticket you better hurry up and order one. They will be gone before you know it because it's right after Christmas."
He says.
"I know. As soon as we hang up I am going to order a ticket and put it in with my manager that I am flying out and staying for a few days. I may stay until after new years."
I say.
He starts singing his song, 'New Years Day.' I laugh and shake my head. Then there was talking in the background. He sighes.
"I have to go to lunch and then I have my group therapy. I'll call you tomorrow though."
He says.
"Okay. I'll see you soon."
I say.
"Okay, I can't wait."
He says.
"I can't either."
He says.
With that all was left was the dialtone. I smiled and walked back inside. Kir was leaned against the counter playing on his phone.
"What was that all about?"
He questuons.
"One of my friends. His birthday is coming up and I'm going to California to visit him."
I say.
"Oh that's cool. When do you think you will be leaving out?"
He says.
"I'll be leaving out Christmas day so I'll be there on his birthday and I'll be back sometime after the first."
I say.
"Is your manager even going to allow that?"
He asks.
"Well, my thing is that I've been in the studio every day since I got off tour and I haven't had a break. I mean it would be maybe a week. The person that I am going to see means a lot to me and he can't stop me from going to see him. I would quit right now if he asked me to, if he needed me to."
I say.
Kir looks at me shocked.
"This guy means that much to you that you would give up your entire career if he asked you to?"
He asks.
"Exactly. He is my best friend and nobody knows what we have been through together."
I say.
After that he is quiet, his phone then rings and he steps onto the porch to answer it. He comes back a few minutes later and runs his hand through his hair.
"My band is coming tomorrow apparently they want to meet the person that I am doing vocals with."
He says with a shrug.
"Cool."
I say.
I scroll through my phone and book a ticket for noon on Christmas and to come back on the second of January. My manager called.
"Why didn't you tell me that you were going out of town?"
He hisses.
"Because I just made the plans and I was about to call you. Daniel, get your panties out of a twist, I'm going to see Andy for his birthday. I haven't seen him since we left him at that place and it's the one day that he gets a free day."
I snap.
"You better watch yourself. You forget that I can drop your record deal."
He hisses.
"Oh but you wouldn't because we are one of your bands that bring you in the most money."
I snap.
He huffs.
"Don't try my patience today McKinley Taylors."
He says.
"Don't try my patience Daniel Pauls."
I hiss.
With that I hung up. Kir looked at me concerned.
"Everything okay?"
He asks.
"I'll be glad when our contract runs out with these dicks where we are at so we can transfer to a new label."
I say.
He chuckles.
"Come to Sumerian. The recording guy is hilarious and he always has a new story for us."
He says.
I sigh.
"It depends on what road the band is persuing when we get released from this label. I've been there since I was sixteen and I've never meet such dicks."
I say.
"I don't know, I've met quite a few in my lifetime."
He says.
"Well, you've traveled the world. I've never been out of the U.S."
I say.
"Really?"
He asks, shocked.
I nodd. There is a knock on my door. I jogg to the door and Brantley is there.
"Hey shortie, I heard you want off on Daniel again."
He says with a laugh.
"Yeah, he got all pissy because I'm going to L.A. to visit someone for their birthday."
I say.
Max comes running through the house when he hears Brantley's voice. He jumps up and puts his paws on Brantley's chest. Brantley smiled and petted him.
"Hey there Max, do you miss being at the house so you can play with Sy all the time?"
He asks.
Kir walks in, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.
"I'm going to head out. The guys want to hang out at the bar tonight."
He says.
"Okay Kir, I'll talk to you later."
I say.
I hear his car crank and him leave. Brantley fixes his hat.
"That kid doesn't like me very much."
He says.
"He doesn't like anybody that I hang out very much. It's like he wants me to himself like a clingy boyfriend."
I say, with a shiver.
"Oh yeah, mom wants to know if you want to come over for dinner tonight."
He says.
"Sure, but no football like last time."
I say.
He chuckles.
"Yeah, I don't think we'll play football this time."
He says.
"So dinner is the normal time?"
I ask.
"Yeah, same time as always."
He says.
"Okay, well I have to shower and what not."
"Alright, well I still have to go by the house and pick up Amber and what not."
He says.
"Alright."
I say.
He walks out and I go upstairs and pick out an outfit. I get an black and red flannel that I had stolen from one of the guys, black skinny jeans, and black converse. I also grabbed my red infinity scarf that matched the red in the shirt. I grabbed under clothes and went into the bathroom. I took a quick shower and got out. I quickly dried off and got dressed and then blow-dried my hair. I added a little bit of makeup to my tanned skin and then went back downstairs. I quickly made up some cookie dough and heated up the oven. Once it was heated, I placed it into the oven. Once they were almost done, I pulled then out so that they wouldn't be hard. I waited for them to cook and then put them into a container. I then grabbed my messenger bag and my keys. I walked outside and climbed into my truck. I drove to Aunt Beckys house. Brantley's truck was already there. I got out with the cookies. I locked the door and left my messenger bag in there. I then went inside. Aunt Becky smiled when she saw me.
"Hey McKinley, how you doing hun?"
She asked.
"Pretty good."
I say.
I handed her the container of cookies.
"They are fresh. I just made them."
I say.
She smiled.
"You didn't have to."
She says.
She then carried all of the food into the dining room.
"Where's your friend that you had with you last time?"
She asked.
"Um... it's a long story."
I say.
"Did you two get into a fight?"
She asks.
"No."
I look down, biting my lip.
"McKinley, what's wrong hun. Do you need someone to talk to?"
She asks.
"I'll explain after dinner."
I say, adjusting the flannel that was sliding off my shoulder.
"Okay. Just remember, if you ever need someone to talk to I'm here to talk."
She says.
I hug her.
"Thanks Aunt Becky."
I whisper.
We go into the dining room and sit down. With that Grace was said and we began eating. Once we were finished, Aunt Becky pulled me into her bedroom. She sat me down on the bed and then sat down beside me.
"Now talk."
She says.
"The reason Andy isn't here is because he is in rehab. During the first month of tour, he tried to commit suicide. He saw his ex girlfriend with another guy and his depression went off the deep end and so did his anxiety. He didn't want to get any medicine because he was scared that if he had to take them that he would lose himself. I was that one that pretty much found him. I stayed with him the week he was in the hospital under suicide watch. They wanted to keep him in rehab for a year because along with the suicide attempt, they found herion in his blood stream. He said that he used it so that he would be numb. He didn't say how many times that he used it though. I'm going during my Christmas holiday to see him for his birthday. They are going to excuse him from his therapy and let his family and friends spend the day with him since he doesn't get to leave for Christmas and what not. They also said that he might get to leave early because he is doing so well."
I say.
I didn't know I was crying until a teardrop hit my hand. I quickly wipe under my eyes and take a deep breath.
"Oh honey, why didn't you call?"
She asked, wrapping her arms around me.
"He didn't want to make a big deal about it. His fans don't even know yet. He says that he wants to make a video when he gets out though. He wants to explain everything from start to finish."
I say.
She nodds.
"That's ubderstandable. Now come on Brantley and Amber have news for us."
She says.
I giggle and wipe at my eyes again. I then follow behind her downstairs. Brantley's face fell when he saw my red and puffy face.
"Are you okay?"
He asks.
"I was just telling her about Andy. You know how hard it is for me to talk about the situation."
I say.
He nodds and then smiles. He then wraps his arms around Amber and rests his hands on her growing belly.
"So we wanted you two to be the only ones to know the gender of the baby. Because you are the grandmother and McKinley we want you to be the godmother."
Amber says.
Tears fill my eyes.
"Really?"
I ask.
Brantley nodds.
"Yes, we want you to be the godmother and she wants to ask Andy to be the godfather."
Brantley says.
I throw my arms around the both of them as tears rush down my cheeks.
"I take that as a yes."
Amber giggles.
I nodd quickly.
"I thought since you were going to see Andy for his birthday we would FaceTime and ask him then."
Brantley says.
"That would make his day."
I say.
Brantley nodds.
"That's why we wanted to do it then. We talked it over on the way over here."
He says.
Then Amber claps her hands together.
"Now for the gender."
She says.
She goes over to a box and opens it, soon she pulls out a pair of camo overalls. Brantley grins and hugs her tightly. She smiles as he kisses her.
"I've been keeping it a secret from him as well."
She says.
"He's going to be just like his daddy."
I say.
Brantley groans.
"I hope he's not as bad. I'll bang my head against the wall if he's half as bad as I used to be."
Brantley says.
I chuckle.
"True. We were pretty bad kids."
I say.
Becky and Brantley agree. I hug all of them and we sit down for dessert. I yawned.
"I have seriously got to catch up on my sleep. That week in the hospital with Andy screwed up my sleeping schedule. I was running for soda and candy at all hours of the night because he loves to have midnight snacks."
I say.
Brantley chuckles.
"Its a man thing."
He says.
I shrugg. We all sit around and joke. Around eight I drive back to my house. I change into an oversized t-shirt and a pair of leggings. I then throw my hair into a messy ponytail. I took off my makeup and climbed into bed. I quickly fell asleep.