You Need the Darkness to See the Stars.

Songs To Heal The Soul

MacKenzie's POV

With everything that's been happening it wasn't hard to convince Rachel to give me some me time. I promised that I'd keep writing and working on my music but being in Nashville probably wasn't the best place for me to be right now. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go back to Chicago though. As much as I wanted to see my parents, I couldn't. If Charlie caught wind that I left Nashville on vacation, I can guarantee that Chicago would be the first place he'd look. So it was out of the question.

Brantley had been doing everything he possibly could, aside from begging me, to get me to go back to Georgia with him. His efforts weren't going unnoticed either. But I wasn't sure that was the right idea either. That meant meeting his family and I wasn't sure I was up for all that jazz yet. Brantley would be riding back between Thursday and Saturday, pending the weather. So I really only had three days to think about this.

Brantley was busy at the studio today. Him and Justin Moore were doing a track together. Justin was gonna be out here til Thursday. I was at home working on my own music. Brantley had done a good job fixing the room up. He patched up the walls and started sanding the patches down last night. Unfortunately 'Lucky Lucy' wasn't as easily fixed. Yes, I named my guitar.

Since I hadn't gone to get a new one yet, I found myself in front of the black piano. I hadn't sat in front of it for months. Back when I posted Modern Day Prodigal Son on my YouTube channel. I remembered back to when I first gotten it. This thing was my anchor right there at the end of me and Charlie. I had done a whole lot of healing with this piano. I thought about how fitting it was that I was sitting here again. Trying to heal from the wounds and scars Charlie had left behind.

The moment I pressed the first key. I couldn't stop writing. I had wrote a whole song in matter of an hour. And I finished two other songs I had started writing a while back. I even called the band over so that the session wouldn't go to waste. A few hours after everyone got there and had learned the music, we were ready to record a song.

"No pressure guys, we can always clean it up in the studio. Lets just give it a go and see how it sounds all together." I said. The guys all nodded and agreed. I counted us off and then started singing. "Your probably three girls over this. But your lips are last I've kissed and that was months ago. Running round all alone. Got nothing with me but the ghost of your love woes." I slammed the keys down and started playing. "I thought that you were the one. I was foolish. I was young, oh I still am. But fools and jokers are the same. You took my heart with your ace. I never stood a chance. You had me believe, I was your queen. In a paper dress and a plastic crown. Look at our kingdom now. Look at it coming down. For awhile it was good. We sparked a fire with what we could. And it kept us warm but with the heat came the smoke. I couldn't see, I didn't know you were building more. I thought that you were the one. I was foolish. I was young, oh I still am. But fools and jokers are the same. You took my heart with your ace. I never stood a chance. You had me believe, I was your queen. In a paper dress and a plastic crown. Look at our kingdom now. Look at it coming down. You kissed me like it was love. Held me like I was enough. I fell for everything. You left me there on the ground. Walked away without a sound. You still think your the king. You had me believe, I was your queen. Blessed my head with a plastic crown. Look at your kingdom now. Look at me tear it down. Look at me tear it down." I finished and everyone clapped. I saved this file as Fools & Jokers (by Emily James).

I thanked all the guys for coming out and headed back into my music room to keep on working. Trying to come up with a melody for one of the two songs I had finished writing lyrics for earlier. The song writing gods were speaking to me, I'd be a fool to walk away now.

Brantley's POV

Before going to the studio this morning I went and bought MacKenzie a new guitar. I knew she had to be going crazy with out one. I knew it would be difficult for her to play because her hand was still a little tender. But if she wanted to play that bad, I knew she would play through the pain.

When I got to the studio Justin Moore was there waiting. We had laid down part of More Middle Fingers but most of our time today was just spent shooting the shit and catching up, while I strung up the guitar with strings I knew Kenzie used and tuned it up.

I told him about MacKenzie and he told me how his wife was doing. Before I knew it was time to pack it up and head home. I had texted Kenz letting her know that Justin, PJ and I were headed back to the house. But she never responded. So I figured she was working in the music room with her headphones on.

When I got there I was surprised to hear her playing the piano. I hadn't seen her in front of it since Modern Day Prodigal Son, that had be months ago. I was even more surprised that the door was open. She was playing freely like she had just gotten it down. So I stood on the other side of the wall, quieter than a mouse so I could listen. The guys caught on to what I was doing and did the same. I didn't blame them. She sounded amazing.

She finished playing and then I walked in. I walked behind her wrapping my arms around her. Whispering in her ear, "That was really beautiful babe." I kissed her cheek.

"Thank you." She smiled. And not just a -I'm doing this cause you're making me- smile. It was a genuine one. One I hadn't seen since before Charlie came back. This made me feel fuzzy on the inside. My girl was working her way to the surface. Slowly coming back to me. Healing a little more each day.

"Justin and PJ are here. I texted but I'm glad you didn't stop working to answer." I smiled kissing her again. "Join us for dinner?"

"Sure." She smiled. We walked out of the music room and she saw the guitar sitting on the island in the kitchen. She stopped dead in her tracks. I couldn't help but smile. Her eyes lit up.

"Yeah, that's all yours baby girl." I said, referring to the guitar. My smile growing wider with her reaction. She covered her mouth and walked over to me. Pulling me into a kiss. When she pulled away she buried her face in my neck.

"Thank you so much babe. I don't know what I did to deserve you but I fucking love you so much." MacKenzie said.

"I love you too, darling." I said kissing the top of her head, squeezing her tight. I never wanted to let go.

MacKenzie and I cooked dinner for all of us and we all talked and hand a good time. Justin and Kenzie got to know each other more which was great because Justin was one of my best friends. And we were about to go on tour together. So she had to know I was going to be in good hands when she wasn't around.

It was good to be laughing and smiling again. Seeing MacKenzie start to revert back to the person she was when I met her, excited me. Maybe it was the thought of getting out of Nashville that helped. Hell I'd like to think it was inviting her to Georgia with me. But she hadn't given me an answer yet. I prayed she would say yes. I was silly for giving her up until Thursday to decide. The suspense was killing me. But I knew if I didn't push it, she would eventually come around.

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will kenzie go down to georgia or
will she find a refuge somewhere else?

So there you have it. This chapter is a little bit of filler. But I'm excited to write the next chapter. Which I plan on doing tomorrow. But until then...