That Was Then, This Is Now

Part 1

Based loosely off of the song Like We Never Loved At All. Written as a flashback to start with. Bare with, hopefully it makes sense

Tim POV
Her name is Faith, and I first met her at a radio convention. I was dating someone at the time and my ex, Christine, said that she didn't want me to talk to her anymore. But she's gorgeous. I mean really stunning, the kind of good looks that take your breath away and leave you wanting more even if you haven't seen her face for 3 seconds. We spoke for a while about our music and what we've got planned for the next while.
"I think I might just throw in the towel and watch George Strait for the rest if my life." I told her. She laughed and I swear to god if her singing is half as beautiful as her laugh she's going to win all the Grammies.
"No, don't be silly. You'll be headlining a tour in no time." She said to me. I was hooked already.

Since that first meeting in 1995 a lot has happened. In 1996 I booked my first headlining tour and my corresponding album absolutely killed the charts. Christine and I were still together at that point but she irritated the shit out of me. We were together for a really long time and I did love her it's just at that point I didn't think we were on the same life path. We wanted different things and there's nothing wrong with that, it's just that we couldn't stay together on a different path. I don't know, maybe I was just being dramatic and we we're going to sort it all out.

Faith had been doing really well. Like really really really well. I'd seen her around at a few events and we always had a great time. She got engaged as well, to her old producer Scott. I was really happy for her, she deserved it.

I was on my way to see my manager. I was to leave for my tour in 2 months and we needed to finalise the contracts with our opening act today. I didn't know them but I'd been told that they were great. I walked into the offices and I heard yelling from the conference room.
"What do you mean you can't tour with us anymore!?" Shit I think that was my manager Jack.
"Look, things are out of my control. I've been offered something else, and it's in my best interests to take it. We aren't even contractually bound!!" A man yelled in a cowboy hat storming out. He rushed past me without even looking at me. I walked in to join Jack.
"Hey man, what's up?" I asked him trying to sound calmer than I was.
"Well that was our opener, he's off the tour." Shit. We were supported to hit the road in 2 months. What were we going to do? But it's fine 2 months was plenty of time to find someone, they might not have had time to rehearse but I think we would've found someone.
"Well we've got 2 months." I said to Jack hoping to calm him.
"Actually we don't. The promoters screwed up. Your first concert is in 3 weeks, Arizona." Well fuck. "But don't worry Tim, we're going to find you someone great. Sandra is making up a list of artists who are available. We can go through it now." As he finished speaking his assistant came through with a piece of paper.  He looked through them and then handed me the paper. "They're all great. Who do you want?" I looked through the list and by the second name I had already made my decision.
"Number 2." I said handing it back to him.
"Faith Hill?" And that was the beginning of the end.

Faith POV
I was trying to write a song but it just was not flowing. I was in the studio just me, a guitar and some paper. No matter how hard I was trying it just was not working.
"Hey Faith! Good news." My manager Gary said coming through the door. He sounded pretty excited and I was not really into the song that I was working on so I put it down.
"Yeah? What is it?" I asked him.
"You've been asked to open for the hottest tour of the summer. Spontaneous Combustion." The name rings a bell but I couldn't remember which artist it is. Gary saw me staring blankly. "Tim McGraw!"
"Wait, I thought he already found someone?" I asked remembering that I had heard Tim mention something when we had seen each other last.
"That arrangement fell through, and now they're asking for you specifically." He said.
"So I'm plan B." I had told him. I wasn't mad, any opportunity to have gotten myself out there was great and Tim was and still is huge. He had been selling so many records so I guess it would've been a really good tour for me to be apart of. "Sign me up." I told Gary throwing caution to the wind. Scott hated Tim, but this would've been good for me. If he loved me he wouldn't've held me back.
"The tour is 8 months. Are you sure? Might cut into wedding planning?" Gary said double checking. I nodded, certain that I wanted to do this tour.  I was not ready to get married again. I really liked Scott, for sure, but I just didn't think we were ready yet. Being engaged is one thing but taking the plunge is another. And if you're going to marry someone shouldn't you only be able to see a life with them? Right then  when I thought about my future I couldn't place Scott into it, he just didn't seem like a natural fit. People like my friends Gaye and Martina fit, Tim I could see throughout and it seemed like that's the way it should be. I still feel that way despite it all. I didn't really know though, he loved me I knew he did and he was really good to me. Maybe I just needed to be more invested and it would've come for me too. But I was excited to go on tour with Tim. He was such a good friend, we didn't see each other nearly enough so I though it would be great. He was so funny, and kind, and boy was that man cute. I always thought that he was going to make some girl very happy one day. Gary came back in.
"Okay, it's all a go. We are going over there tomorrow to sign the contracts and then there will be a CMT press conference. First show is in 3 weeks, Arizona. Apparently we leave in 2. That way you can get all rehearsals and stuff done and get to know the stage crew, and Tim." He explained.
"I already know Tim. He's lovely." I said to him. He looked at me like I'd just said we were cousins or something else crazy.
"Faith, you cannot become involved with him. He's technically your boss. Don't try and tell me there's nothing there, I heard your voice just now and any man would be crazy not to feel the same way. Just don't." He warned. I had never thought of Tim in that way before. Okay that's a lie, he's very attractive, I just didn't  think that he thought of me like that. We got along really well and had so much fun when we were together but he was with Christine and I was with Scott. In another life maybe.
"You have absolutely nothing to worry about." I reassured him.
"Yeah sure." He said walking out. "Wear something nice tomorrow, not for Tim for the conference." And he shut the door. I love Gary. But he was right, me and Tim needed to stay friends we were great like that. Shit, I still needed to go tell Scott about the tour.

Scott was less than impressed. A few choice worlds were yelled and some even better phrases like "If that prissy tries anything I'll kill him." And "if I hear you were on his bus I'll kill him." Or "he's such an ugly asshole." Yeah I had a very mature fiancé. But his actions that night secured himself a night sleeping on the couch. I left early that morning to avoid having to speak with him and to get to the meeting on time.
"Your here." Gary said as I approached him.
"Yep, let's make this official." I followed him into a conference room where Tim and a man I assumed was his manager waited.
"Faith!" Tim exclaimed as I walked in. I smiled immediately. "It's so good to see you." He said hugging me "and I'm so glad you're joining the tour."
"Well I'm a little mad that I was your second choice." I joked with him. We sat down and ran through the contract. Gary and I were very happy with the terms so I signed on all the doted lines and the four of us made our way to the press conference.

Tim POV
I was so glad Faith was going our tour. I thought that she was such a great artist, I still do, and I also just liked her company. Christine was pissed, went and stayed with a friend because she didn't even want to look at me. I had decided to break up with her, before we went on tour. I was going to give us another chance but I just couldn't anymore. I needed to be in a calm and stable situation. What we were doing wasn't good for either of us and I think we both needed to step back.
"Okay Tim, you'll go first." Jack said to me as we entered the interview room. "Here are a few one liners" he said handing me some paper. "Just make up some stuff about how you're excited for Faith to join our tour, you can wait to see her preform and people need to come see her." I didn't need to make anything up, she's brilliant.
"Faith then you need to say what an honour it is and really play up how excited you are and how you can't wait to work together." Her manager Gary says.
"Okay you two, go ahead. We'll be right here." Jack said. God I hated publicity.