Best of Me

Chapter 12

Isabella's POV

Ben is carrying 2 dozen coral rose arrangement and I tell him that I wouldn't take his job, then I ask BG if some of his fans sent them and to my surprise he said they were for me. I just stand there in shock. Who would send me roses?
I take the roses and pull the card out and it said,
Iz,
Good luck on this year's tour, I know you will do great like always! When you come to NC, we will hang so hit me up.
I love you!
Junior

I laugh and take the flowers and set them on the counter and just leave the card laying there. I should have known that it was Junior but I always forget.
I ask BG if they are ready to put on a show worthy of my photography skills and he laughed and said"try to keep up with the big dawgs tonight" I told him payback was coming. He draped his arm over my shoulder and we headed to the stage. I got some great shots of him and then of him and the fans.
  I was able to get some great shots of Justin during his performance and I think he's gonna love them.  BG just started his set and he is all over the place. I make my way around behind Ben and take some of him and then I stand up behind him for just a minute and I am able to shoot BG and the crowd. He kneels down paying tribute to the guys in the band and I am able to capture that shot. I move around and get some of all the band members and then I make my way to the pit area and get some good ones of him performing . I am making my way back to the side stage and he starts singing One Hell of an Amen. Tonight it was just a little to raw and I start crying. Justin is there and pulls me into his arms and I pull away and head back to the bus.
   I grab my phone and send Brady a text he will never get.
I love you Brady and I am so proud of you! I miss you so much today. Chase well you know I haven't talked to him in a while, it just hurts too bad.

I change clothes and wash my makeup off and grab my computer and climb up in my bunk and I cry while watching the videos of me Brady Chase Junior and Kelley. I guess momma was right it is time to put the past to rest, I know Chase didn't kill Brady and Brady would be so mad at me for shutting him out but all I saw when I saw Chase was Brady. I saw everything I had lost when Brady was killed. Chase tried to be there for me but I shut him out. I know he has always kept in touch with momma and daddy over the years and I'm grateful because he was like a son to them. I was there when his dad died that was before Brady was killed. Chase was the best friend I had to say goodbye to so he would follow his dreams. As I watch the videos I know I have to tell Chase I'm sorry but it hurts to know that Brady is gone. They were best friends and did everything together that is except join the navy. Brady did that on his own and was one tough son of a gun. You have to be to be a SEAL. I was so proud of him I never thought we would lose him, he was my big brother and invincible. After his funeral I told Chase goodbye and that he needed to follow his heart and work on his music. He had a gift and he needed to share it with the world. Junior and Kelley and I stayed in touch over the years and usually visited each other about every 3 months if we could work it out. He always sent roses on the first concert date since I had started touring said it would have been something Brady would have done and he sends 24 because that is how old Brady was when he died. I was 22 when he was killed on a mission and  I blamed Chase cause he wasn't with him. It doesn't make sense now because if he had been I would have lost him too. Guess it's all apart of growing up. I love BG's song and it has never bothered me before now but tonight I guess the roses and hearing it and knowing that Chase was trying to see me just brought it all back to the surface.  I watch the videos and I start smiling and laughing at their antics and the way they aggravated me to no end. Junior was always my saviour from those two. I decide to text him and thank him for my roses.
I: Hey brother! Thanks for the roses they are beautiful and it sounds like a great plan to meet up and hang. I will let you know when we get closer!
J: You're welcome Iz, I know it's hard and you miss him but he would want you to live you life and be open. Now I know Chase has asked about you, have you talked to him yet?
I: no I haven't but I know it's time and it needs to be face to face so sometime on this tour I'm sure our paths will cross.
J: that sounds like a plan little sister. Have fun on tour and see you when you roll into town. I love you Iz!
I: I plan on having lots of fun it's a BG tour!! I will see you then and I love you too!
J: Do I need to worry little bit?
I: nah I won't get in to much trouble
J: that doesn't help my feelings at all little bit
I: Don't you go all alpha male on me like Justin has please. I'm enjoying it so far.
J: okay but know I can kick butt if I need to.
I: I know give Amy my love and I will see you later.
J: Goodnight Iz.

I start watching the videos again and this time I smile and laugh at the good times and decide that I need to make the first move to bridge the gap between me and Chase. So I get my phone and I pull up his number for a message. I have no idea if he has the same number since it had been 5 years but here goes nothing...
Iz: Hey Chase  got time to talk?
I send the message and then wait. I continue to watch the videos and then start through my pictures even back then I always had a camera or my phone. They all griped but now I know they are glad I documented everything. We have a record of our times with Brady and each other before the celebrity status hit them all.  I hear Brantley come on the bus and he stops by my bunk and told me he was getting a shower and then the boys were gonna jam and write for a little bit. I asked him if I could take pictures and he grinned and told me that was why he was telling me. Then he looked at me and said," I know something's bothering you and I'm here if you need to talk or just hang watching movies and eating junk food. But first I have to work." I told him that I might take him up on the offer after we both finish working tonight and he gets a shower cause he smells. I laugh until he picks me up out of my bunk and then I growl at him and tell him I have to change now. He laughs and tells me I can change in his room since the front was full of the guys. I go to his room and pull a pair of Nike spandex shorts out of the drawer and put them on along with my Kenny Chesney concert tshirt that is worn and faded.