The Best Of Me

Chapter 8

Harmony

         I was way too embarrassed to go back out there so I just went into the bedroom to lay down. Any other time I would have jumped at this opportunity to meet Brantley Gilbert and I was hoping to eventually run into Kolby while I was here. Just not like this, not today. Why were Kolby and Brantley together anyway? Were they friends? I'd ask Leann later. There was a knock on my door. "Go away I don't feel good" Whoever it was must have known I was serious because there wasn't another sound on the other side of the door. I was so exhausted despite the fact that I just woke up. I rolled over and closed my eyes.

When I opened my eyes again it was starting to get dark. I couldn't believe I slept all day. I grabbed my phone off the nightstand and saw I had a few missed text messages. The first couple were just Melody and my mom seeing how I was doing. The second was a picture from my dad of him and his best friend out on the boat on the lake. He was just rubbing it in that I wasn't out there. The next text took the smile off my face. It was from Justin and it was the first time I'd heard from him in a week. "Okay seriously babe when are you coming home? It's been two weeks. I'm sorry for whatever I did to make you leave. I'll make it up to you I promise. Just come home. Maybe we can go to Nashville this weekend. Please. I'll do anything." I was so conflicted. What if he meant it this time? What if he could change? I know if I tried hard enough I could save him. But if I tried and failed who would save me? If I went back everyone would be mad at me. I'd be on my own.

Leann walked in the door and I jumped at the sudden noise. Ever since Justin's text I'd been a little on edge. She didn't say anything just took my hand and led me toward the bathroom. "Where are we going?" She didn't answer me just walked into the bathroom and closed the door. A few minutes laster I was staring down at a stick with two pink lines on it. Holy shit. What now? Leann tried to say something but I wasn't listening I just got up and walked out of the back door into the woods. For hours I just wandered aimlessy. I wasn't worried about getting lost I'd spent 80 percent of my childhood out in these woods. I walked through some overgrowth and uncovered this huge flat stone that used to be my favorite spot to think. It was obvious no one had been out this way in years. I sat down and just watched the creek. The water was pretty high we'd had a pretty wet year. It had already been getting dark when I left the house and eventually it was pitch black and I couldn't see anything. Still I didn't move. It started to rain and I just sat. What was I going to do? My phone rang and I jumped. I forgot I even had it in my pocket. I didn't bother to check who it was.

I don't know how many hours passed as I just sat there. Every so often I heard someone yell my name so I knew they were out there looking for me. I felt horrible that they were out in this weather because of me. I wanted to yell back I wanted to get up and go to them but I couldn't move. I think I might have dozed off because next thing I know I was being carried out of the woods by two big strong arms. I don't know who they belonged to but it felt really nice. I wasn't scared because Justin was scrawny compared to whoever was carrying me now and he was the only person I was truly afraid of. I put my face into his chest and let him carry me into the house. He smelled so good. I didn't even try to look up to see who he was I was just too exhausted. I heard Leann's relieved voice "Oh good you found her. Just take her in here and set her down I'll get her out of these wet clothes. Just go find everyone else and tell them you found her." Leann was talking to me but I couldn't hear a word she said. A few minutes later someone else was picking me up and carrying me to bed. I heard a male voice say "Did something happen to her today? She seems like she's in shock." and Leann answered "Yeah. Her whole world just changed again." No words had ever better described my life.

The clock on the dashboard said 4 A.M. when I pulled out of the driveway. I waited until I was halfway down the street before turning my lights on. I knew I was being stupid and reckless. That's why I was leaving before the sun came up. I knew no one would be okay with what I was doing. Leann had slept on the couch tonight so I didn't have to worry about waking her while I grabbed my things. When I pulled into town there was a gas station open so I stopped for gas and to get something to eat. I hadn't eaten all day the day before and now I was starving. I couldn't do that again. I was eating for two now. I pulled back onto the street and turned the radio on.