Head Over Boots

1. Take Me Home Country Roads

I stepped out of the car, stretching after the long drive, and looked up at the Georgia house, my new home. All my stuff, besides what I had at college, had been moved in along with my little brother and mum over spring break. I grabbed my suitcase out of my car, knocking on the front door.

It wasn't a big house, they never were, but it had a well-landscaped front yard,a gorgeous flintstone path to the door.

The door swung open to reveal my older brother, Luke, he'd arrived home from college a week before I had. He pulled me into a tight hug as soon as he saw me, causing me to drop the handle to my suitcase. He always hugged me to the point I thought I was going to suffocate, but that's part of the reason I loved him.

"Luke, let the poor girl go," He releases me as I hear the voice of my mother scold from behind him, stepping back to let her embrace me. She was dressed as she always was during summer break, in paint-covered overalls, with paint-splattered brown hair pulled back in a messy ponytail. Most people took the summer break as a time to go on vacation, my mother used it as a chance to paint. Paint what? That was anyone's guess, it had ranged in the past from murals on the back porch, to masterpieces on canvas.

"What are you painting this year Mom?" I ask, pulling away and picking up my dropped suitcase as we walk into the house. I'd been to the house for a few days over spring break and my mother had given me a virtual tour over facetime (with the assistance of my younger brother, Charlie) to keep me updated with the new additions so I was not entirely unfamiliar with the house.

"It's a surprise," She told me with a wink. I should know better by now than to ask, she won['t ever tell until it's complete.

"She won't let anyone in the dining room at all," Luke complained, rolling his eyes. We always complained about my mother's hobby but we loved the end result of what she had created, it was always extravagant, rivaling Banksy and Picasso.

"Right, leave your stuff here, Luke will take it to your room, could you go to the grocery store for me? We are going to have dinner with my friend from work and I don't have any wine to take and you know your brother won't pick something sensible. It's not far, just walk to the end of the street and turn right." My mother spoke quickly, pushing thirty dollars into my hand and turning me around to walk out the door.

"Hold on Mom, I'm 19, I can't buy alcohol," I remind her, turning to face her.

"Oh I know you have a fake ID, just use that," She hurriedly tried to push me out the door again.

I shrugged my shoulders, unable to argue with that, and, barely ten minutes after I had arrived, walked back out the door.

I walked down the road, using the opportunity to take in the scenery of my new town, with the neatly manicured yards and the tall mountains looming behind me. It was a quiet, picturesque town, during my walk I did not see another person and enjoyed the chance to quietly stretch my legs after my drive.

I found the local Walmart easily, as my mother said I would, and located the wines. They had a small selection and not knowing much about wine, or my mom's friend that we were dining with, I picked up a bottle of red and white.

"You know, that white is expensive, but not that good, you should try this one," I heard a southern accent behind me. I turned around to see a tall guy holding up a bottle of what looked like a local white wine, he took mine from my hand and replaced it with the one he was holding. "Cheaper and better," he winked at me.

Looking at him now I could see he was not only tall but was also around my age with a chiseled jawline and dark hair.

"Uh, thanks," I replied shyly as he placed my original bottle back on the shelf.

"Good choice on the red though," he nodded approvingly, "you're not from around here are you?"

"What gave it away; my accent or my blatant lack of knowledge of wine?" I laughed, relaxing slightly.

"Definitely the accent," he chuckled back.

"I better go, my Mom will be waiting," I waved slightly, backing down the aisle towards the checkout.

"Sure, I'm sure I'll see you around, its such a small town," He nodded politely before turning to the wines as I turned away.

--

"Good choice," my mom said as I placed the wines and her change on the island in the kitchen.

"Thanks but I can't take all the credit, a guy at the store helped."

"Okay hun," she replied not really paying attention. "You better go get ready, we need to leave at six-thirty, there are towels laid on your bed and you have an en suite."

"Thanks, ma," I took note that it was already 5:30, meaning I had an hour to get ready.

I'd showered that morning before leaving college so I threw my hair in a bun before showering quickly to keep it dry. I tidied my curly hair with some gel after my shower, heading into my bedroom to pick some clothes.

Not knowing how cold the Georgia nights could get near the mountains I pulled out a baby blue sundress with my white sandals and a white cardigan.

"Avery, are you ready?" My little brother Charlie knocked on my door, poking his head into my room.

"Yep, just coming," I put the lid back on my mascara before heading grabbing my crossbody bag and giving him a hug. He'd grown so much since spring break and looked so much like Luke in his black shirt and blue jeans.

"Missed you too, but mom is going to kill us if we don't leave now," he informed me, linking our arms as we skipped down the stairs. Not being with my brothers was one of the things I disliked most about being away at college, we had always been really close, Luke and I often sharing friends as we grew up.

"Ready?" My mother asked as we skipped our way to the front hall where she and Luke were waiting, all paint removed from my mother, Luke carrying the wine.