This Is Fisherwood

Breaking Down Walls

Mike sat beside Ivey, watching Carrie do sound check for her concert tonight. He was in town visiting Mark and Ivey for a while, and he met Carrie today when the couple dragged him to her sound check with them.

He watched the blonde put every ounce of energy she had in her tiny little body into each song. You could feel the emotion and power with every lyric she sang and he couldn't keep his eyes off her.

Although she seemed happy to be on stage, you could see in her face that she wasn't happy. She seemed hurt, she seemed sad, she seemed almost broken.

Mike had absolutely no idea why, but he wanted nothing more than to take away the pain she seemed to be hiding and make her happy.

"You cannot stop looking at her, can you?" Ivey said, breaking his trance.

"There's something special about her, I can't put my finger on it. Do you think she'd go to lunch with me tomorrow?" Mike asked, looking at Ivey beside him.

"Honestly? No." Ivey stated, causing Mike's heart to drop. "Mike, Carrie's been through a lot. She puts on a good front in the public eye, but inside she's a completely different person. She's had a lot of people hurt her and the last one really did her in. It's going to take a lot of work if you want to try to be with her."

"I'm willing you work, I'll do whatever it takes. I just want to see her smile, it's the most gorgeous smile ever." Mike smiled. Ivey knew he was sincere and would love for them to be together, but she was afraid of what Carrie would think.

"God Mike, I would kill for you to bring that smile back. But it's going to take time, you've gotta get through the shell. You have to prove to her that you want to know Carrie, the sweet innocent small town girl. Not Carrie Underwood the superstar or Carrie Underwood the hot blonde with a good body. She's had too many people try and get with her for her money or body, she's been used one too many times. You're going to have to break down some major walls." 

Their attention was averted to the stage when Carrie spoke softly. "I want to sing So Small."

"Are you sure?" Mark asked, glancing over at Ivey with an unsure look.

Carrie nodded. "I miss singing it. I want to try."

"Oh my, this isn't going to be good." Ivey sighed, putting her head In her hand.

"Why?" Mike asked. He seemed to be the only one that didn't know what was wrong with the song she wanted to sing.

"She hasn't sang it since she left her last boyfriend. It was his favorite song when they started dating and it means a lot to Carrie, especially now. She's not going to be able to get through this, just watch." Ivey sighed.

The music started and Carrie glanced down at Ivey. Ivey nodded, the two best friends having a conversation in their mind.

"What you got if you ain't got love" she started, her voice starting to crack with the first line.

Ivey watched her best friend sing as tears started running down her face. It broke her heart to see her best friend in so much pain. She missed the Carrie she became friends with so many years ago.

"I'm sorry." Carrie choked, her voice cracked and she ran off stage.

"Crap" Ivey mumbled, jumping up and running after her best friend.

Mike awkward stayed seated in his front row chair, unsure of what to do.

"I saw the way you looked at her, you like her don't you?" Mark said, sitting down beside Mike.

"Yeah, but your wife already talked to me about it. I know there's a lot of walls I have to break through." Mike said, looking up at the empty stage in front of them.

"Just be careful, she doesn't need any more hurt in her life. But if you could make her smile again, man that would be great."

"I'll try my best."

_________

"I think Mike's going to ask you to lunch tomorrow. But not as a date, just as friends. He wants to get to know you, I know that scares you, but he would be so good to you Carrie. He's the kind of guy you need." Ivey told her best friend as they sat outside behind the arena after she'd calmed her down from her meltdown on stage.

"I don't want another guy." Carrie replied, messing with the ends of her shirt.

"I know Carrie I know, nobody is asking you too. I just wanted to give you the heads up, and I think you should go. He's not going to rush you into anything I promise, he just wants to get to know you."

"Look at me." Ivey said, turning to face the blonde. "He doesn't want you for your money, or your body. He's not going to abuse you, or take advantage of you. He wants to know the real Carrie, the Carrie that I know and love with all my heart. Let him in, give him a chance, I miss seeing you happy."

Carrie now had fresh tears running down her face as Ivey pulled her in for a tight hug.

Ivey held her tight, whispering in her ear. "I love you Care, it's gonna get easier I promise."