The Best Of Me

Chapter 6

Brantley

       I turned over the little coin I'd gotten in my meeting this morning. One Year. A whole year since I walked away from the bottle. It was too late though. Amber had married some other guy. She hadn't waited for me. Just like she said she wouldn't. Was it really worth it though? To quit drinking? Some days were so hard. And it's not like I could just stay away from the temptation. I played shows in bars. Even when I wasn't in a bar there was always alcohol. I didn't have anyone to keep me on track. The only thing I even had to live for were my songs. Girls threw themselves at me but I didn't want any of them. The only one I wanted belonged to another man. Fuck it. I picked up a glass and poured some whiskey. I flipped the coin over a few more times in my fingers. Whiskey in one hand a year of sobriety in the other. I dumped the glass into the sink. It was time to go out on stage.

Man it felt good walking onto that stage every night. It was better than any drug, even alcohol. The only thing that would be better would be to walk off that stage into the arms of the woman I loved. But she'd been gone almost 6 years now. I had a text from my mom wanting to know when I was going to be home. We had to celebrate. I hadn't had a drink in a year. I did have more to live for than just my music. I text my mom that I'd be home in a few days. I lived in Nashville but Georgia would always be home. I just hoped I didn't run into Amber. Last I heard she had moved away anyway. It was a nice night for a ride so I got my motorcycle out and rode out to the country. Nothing but me, the stars, and my thoughts for miles around. The sound of my bike was the only noise I wanted hear. NIghts like tonight I felt free. I wish they could all be like this. When I got back to my apartment I pulled out my guitar and started to write.

"Mom? Kolby? Anyone home" "Hey bro" "Hey where's mom?" "Ran into town she'll be back soon. You should have come home yesterday. It was the last day of the fair. It was so much fun. The band wasn't all that great though." "Why don't you get a band together? You're just as good if not better than me" "Nah, man singing is your thing. Got any plans tonight?" "Not tonight but tomorrow I have a show in Athens. You wanna come?" "Hell yeah you know I do. How bout tonight we get a few of the guys together and have a fire? It'll be fun." "Definitely. Maybe invite a few girls though or it won't be as much fun" "HA right. Man, Speaking of girls I wish I'd gotten this girl's number last night. It was really late and she was all by herself and crying so I sat with her until some older guy came and picked her up. I think she was on a bad date or something. It was really dark but she was really pretty even with her eyes all puffy from crying. Oh well. Nothing I can do about it now." "Yeah man. She was probably too good for you anyway" "Whatever. Ass. I think she said she was from Athens. Maybe we'll run into her tomorrow." "That would be nice. I would love to meet this mystery girl of yours."

"Hey, Son. It's so good to see you.""It's really good to see you too mom" "How have you been?" "Well it's been a really rough year but it gets easier as time goes on" "I'm so proud of you Brantley. You're doing so good" "Thanks mom. I'm starving. What's for dinner?" "You'll just have to wait and see" It felt so good to be home. I sat down in the living room and turned on the t.v. Today I would spend time with my mom and brother, Tonight I would hang out with a few old friends, Tomorrow I would play a show in Athens, Then the next day back to Nashville. I lived a busy life but it kept me going. I was worried what would happen if I slowed down even a little bit.

I walked my bike down the driveway before jumping on and starting it. Dinner with mom and Kolby had been great and all but I needed a little time to myself before I was surrounded by people who remebered me being with Amber. I knew they would mean well later when they asked how I was doing. Without realizing it I had drove into town. Everything reminded me of her. Maybe I shouldn't have come back home so soon. There was the place I first told her I loved her. And there was the place we'd had our first kiss. I stopped at a red light and heard a familiar voice say my name. I turned to see Amber's best friend. "How are you Brantley? I ahven't seen you around here in awhile" "I'm great. Never been better. How are you?" "I'm good" I was never so glad when a light turned green. I took off like a bullet out of a gun. I just needed to get back to the house. I don't know why I even came into town.

The bonfire was fun and all but everyone was drinking and talking about things I had no idea about. I hadn't been home in forever. Everytime Amber's name was mentioned everyone would go quiet which would bring more attention to it. I couldn't handle it so I just went back inside. I walked into my old room and flopped down onto my bed. I didn't even bother taking my shoes off. I looked around at all the pictures and memories of a lifetime. My favorite picture was one of me and Kolby with out parents. Next to it was a picture of me and Amber back in the early days. I got up to flip it over. I just couldn't escape her memory when I was home. She was everywhere. But then again the memory of her lived inside me so she was everywhere I went. There was just more of her here. I had been excited to come home for a day but now I just wanted to get back on the road.

I pulled into the bar and all the old band was already there. Tonight was going to be great. The crowd wasn't really much different either. We set all our gear up and did a quick soundcheck. The guys all grabbed a drink and I grabbed a water. It was time to play. Dont get me wrong I loved playing for thousands in arena's but there was nothing like playing in a crowded bar. Absolutely nothing could compare. We played a lot of older songs and a few of my newer ones too. When I was on stage all my troubles and worries disappeared. Even if only for an hour or two.

We decided to take a break for a few and I sat at a table. Across the room I recognized a girl who had been at almost all of my shows 6 years ago when I was a regular here. She was with a guy. Judging by their smiles and the rings on their fingers they were married. I walked over to say hi. "Hey, Melody is it? It's so nice to see such a familiar face in the crowd tonight?" "Oh. Hey I didn't know you knew my name" "Yeah I think you told me one night. You were at most of my shows. Kind of hard to forget a girl like you" "I bet you say that to everyone" "No only you. How have you been?" "I'm great. I was so excited when I came into town this morning and saw you were playing tonight. My sister is a fan and I tried to get her to come with me but she wasn't feeling up to it. Maybe next time" "If your sister is anything like you I would love to meet her" "I'm sure she would love that, too" "Well I have to get back on stage. It was nice seeing you though" "You, too."

I threw myself into bed as soon as I walked in the door. I could unpack later I was just so glad to be in a place that had no memories of her. This place was so quiet and empty though. Maybe it was time to move on. I really needed to start dating again. I had a few days until I had to be on the road again. What was I going to do with myself until then? I pulled my one year coin out of my pocket and played with it for a minute. I would figure it out. Whatever I did I had to get through the next few days. Then I'd be too busy to think about anything but music. A different city every day. A different audience every night. Maybe I'd even meet someone I wanted to get to know better.

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