Where The Heart Grows

Chapter 1

The sun beaned in through the skylight, car horns and tire screeching can be heard right outside the window. Aroma of coffee started to slither its way into my nose. Right when my eyes were just about to slowly peel open, they sprung open at the sound of the alarm. Grumbling I slowly pull myself out of bed. 

Resentfully I started my way to the bathroom, staring myself in the mirror I pulled my long curly hair in a messy bun. Grabbed my tooth brush, and started brushing my teeth. 

My phone started to ring from the nightstand, sighing I went and grabbed it. Looking at the calling ID it read "Mom". Rolling my eyes and taking a deep breath I reluctantly answered.

"Hey mom, haven't heard from you in awhile. What have I done to be blessed with hearing your sweet loving voice?" clearly nothing but sarcasm, calls me twice a week to ask when I'm moving back home.

"Jes, now before you hang up. Please hear me out..." oh boy, wonder where this is heading? Another guy she's trying to set me up with back home?

"I'm not going on a date with the barbershops son." Chuckling to myself

"No, it's your dad. He's back from deployment and he's not doing so good." I let out a sharp sigh of annoyance, that man is nothing but heartache after heartache and she knew it. But only for her I'll stay on the phone.

"He always turns out fine when after his trips." This man is 45 and in the best shape I have ever seen anyone be in. Looks like he's in his early 30's.

"Honey, it's more than that," before she could finish my doorbell rang.

"Mom I, gotta go. I'll call you later." hanging up I walked through my bedroom, into my kitchen then through my living-room. 

I'm still a bit on the weary side with living in New York to having people knock on my door, I'm from a small town down in Alabama. Where everyone knew everyone, but when I moved to the big city my old man insisted I always had a firearm and/or baseball bat in the house. I keep a revolver in my room in a gun safe, and a metal bat hangs up behind my door. 

Looking through the peep hole, while slowly gripping the bat; bright red hair was the first thing I saw. Rolling my eyes once more I unlocked the door, and as soon as the latch unlatched the bright red head bursted on through.

"JESSSSICAAAAAA!!!!" oh my dear friend Alexis, she was the first person who made an effort to make sure I felt welcomed to my job when I first started. She leaped into my arms while squeezing me tight, she's not a big girl at all and normally I'd be able to catch her and be perfectly fine. But because I wasn't 100% prepared for a hug attack we collapsed to the ground. Giggling we both looked at each other, her nose was pushed against mine. Her cheeks turned bright red and she blinked really hard and jumped to her feet. 

"Ahem," she cleared her throat and then reached her hand out to help me "Sorry about that! I just have some really amazing news!" 

"Alexis, I love how you come to me about all this amazing news you get. But may I remind you that it's 8 o'clock in the morning on a Saturday..." she shoved her finger against my lips.

"It, couldn't wait!!" she snatched her phone out of her pocket and read the following:

              'Dear Ms. Shardenell 

               'We are pleased to inform you that we have reviewed your video, and will be more than                      happy to see you preform on our stage tonight at 9 p.m. Please note you need to provide                  your own guitar.'

"I'm confused..."  scratching my head I looked at Alexis "I never summited a video?"  Then I put two and two together "YOU DIDN'T!?!?" I was beyond pissed. 

"I had to! You have been hiding your talent for far too long! I can't live my life knowing my best friend has such an amazing talent and wants to hide it from the world!" she gave me a very pleading smile to not go off.

"You have crossed the line here. I don't preform. That was a one time thing because you really wanted to hear." I'm am getting more and more heated by the second. She knows why I don't preform.