Centre of His World

Chapter 17

"Leah, where in the world are you taking me?" Caroline asked for what seemed like the millionth time. Leah was driving through a familiar neighbourhood and Caroline couldn't quite put her finger on it. Why did this place seem so familiar.

Leah pulled over on the side of the road and parked the car with a smile. "We're here."

Caroline was confused, she turned to look out her window. Tears welled up in her eyes. It was the home she grew up in. The one where she kissed her first boy. The home where she learned to walk. Where she buried her first dog. Where she told the first boy she ever loved that she loved him. The house was full of her firsts and even some lasts.

"Leah, I can't believe you took me here. Why?" Caroline whispered, still in shocked.

"I think this will make you understand who you really are. Luke fell in love with the old Caroline, this isn't the old Caroline, this is the new Caroline. The new Caroline didn't like who the old Caroline fell in love with, so she ended it. I want the old Caroline back. The girl that would tell her stupid father off like she used to. I want to her to see who she really is."

"And?"

"Well, and I want you to remember what it was like to have a father growing up, because soon, your kid won't have that."

Caroline gave her a puzzled look. "Why wouldn't they have their father?"

"Caroline, you don't even want to talk to him. He's not just hurting because he lost you, he also lost his baby. He's losing something that he help create. He's only got Kelly, and that's not enough. He wants he woman he loves."

"Well, I'm done hearing about Luke, I want to see the house!" Caroline said excitedly and hopped out of the vehicle. She and Leah slowly made their way up to the front door. They knocked twice before a woman with a baby on her hip opened the door.

Her facial expression proved that she wasn't expecting them. After Leah explained that Caroline grew up here, she let them into the house. Caroline smiled at the memories.

She remember how she had dreamed of her prince charming. She remembered how she used to jam out to country music. She smiled at the thought of having a love like Johnny and June Cash did.

She ran her hand along the banister as she climbed the stairs to where her childhood room use to be. There was the memory she loved dearly.

"Look, Mama!" Caroline smiled widely. There was her six-year-old self handing her mother a journal.

"What's this, sweetie?" Her then younger mother asked.

"It's my notebook of wedding things! Look, I want to marry him on this beach. And I want him to wear this. I want that dress. I want my bridesmaids and his groomsmen to wear these. Mama, will you help me make this happen?" Caroline begged her mother.

"Of course, Carol. But you need to understand that he gets to pick some things too. And he needs to love you dearly if you marry him."

Caroline giggled. She knew that whoever she married would be just perfect. "I know, Mama. I want what you and Daddy have."

Caroline looked down. She had that. She already had what her mother and father have. She ruined it, though. How was he taking it? She wish she could take back what she said.

She slowly rubbed her hands on her pregnant belly. "Maybe I shouldn't have left your daddy. Maybe he just was hurt."

Caroline continued on back down the stairs and into he kitchen, where another memory flashed back into her eyes.

"Jared isn't just some bad boy!" Caroline, at twenty, yelled at her father. "I'm an adult, I decide who I love, not you!"

Caroline's father was furious. "You say you love him, but do you really? There is many other men your age! Date them!"

"Daddy!" Caroline yelled. "My love life, my choices! Okay?! I decide. You're like this with every damn boy."

Her father sighed. "That's because I need to make sure you love that boy. It's a good thing if you get defensive. But, you say the same things. One day, you're going to be so upset when you find the right boy, because I will do this. And when I do, you will give in. That's when I know he's the one, because you'll be scared of me hating him. Just you wait, it'll happen."

In that moment, Caroline ran back to Leah. "Daddy doesn't hate Luke, he got like this with every boy I dated!"

Leah stopped Caroline and smiled. "Slow down, what are you trying to say?"

"I need to apologize to Luke, but what if he's moved on or doesn't want me anymore?" Caroline whispered.

Leah smiled wide. It worked. "Just tell him you love him. One kiss, and he'll be attached to you like glue to paper."

Luke laid back on the couch. He had just got finish with feeding Kelly and putting her to bed. His energy was just drained out of him. He wish he didn't need to care for a baby on his own.

He took out his phone and started scrolling through his mentions, tweeting fans every once in a while. That's when Carter dropped a stack of papers on the coffee table.

"What's this?" Luke said, taking his feet off the table and then looking at the paper.

"Songs. Old songs. We never released these ones on albums," Carter explained.

Luke raised an eyebrow. "And?"

"I'm thinking I Don't Know If I Can Do That should be performed at a show. I can get Black Mike to record it and turn it into a music video type thing. We could also have Ethan livestream it to the fans on the app just because. The video will be given to Blaine and Leah to make into a movie for Caroline, telling her how much you love her. And, if Leah and Blaine can do it, we can have you and Caroline make up and kiss in the pouring rain at the end of the video. She'll love it and might fall back into your arms."

Luke was flabbergasted. "Carter, that's genius! And, the part about us kissing in the rain, that's so romantic!"

Carter shrugged. "Eh, you're a hopeless romantic, so I just put muself in your shows to think it up. Also, what do girls love? Scenes where the boy falls into the girl's arms and kiss her passionately in a stormy rain, right?"

"True," Luke chuckled. "Awe, buddy! This might just do the trick to heal my broken heart!"

"I hope so, you seem to love this girl an awful lot," Carter pointed out.

Luke smiled wide, he was very excited and hoped it'd work. "I do, I love her more than you can even imagine. You can even count all the stars in the sky and that won't even come to a close match to how much I love her."

_______________________________

A/N: Well, it's that time of year again! Bo's birthday! He's growing up way, way too fast! The first bit of this chapter was inspired by Miranda Lambert's music video for The House That Built Me. What did you think of what Leah did for Caroline? What did you think about Caroline's memories? What about what Carter is doing for Luke? Is it gonna work? ~Kelsea

Alright, I'm babysitting my cousins, Keva and Bodhi, on Monday, so I can't update. Just thought I'd let y'all know.

7 comments to update!