Chapter 24
Brantley’s Point Of View
I hated lying to Kaleigh about what I was doing, but I couldn’t deal with this shit anymore. Jana has been texting me and calling non-stop and it’s driving me up the damn wall. Ever since she found out about my being engaged again to someone else besides her she just won’t leave me alone. I blocked her number at one point, only for her to contact my manager and eventually get different numbers to contact me with.
So I agreed to meet up with her, only to set the record straight though. I was with Kaleigh and that was that, there was no chance I would get back together with her anymore. She fucked up one too many times and I met someone who loves me and cares for me for who I really am, not for the publicity that Jana wanted.
So I watched Kaleigh get in her truck to leave and go to her brother’s house. She seemed down that I wasn’t going with her considering I went with her to his house quite often and helped James out with things that he was working on. I frowned and turned around, heading back into the house and grabbing my guitar out of the music room and bringing it out with me into the living room. I began playing notes to different songs before I finally settled on one that appealed to me at the moment.
“She comes home late at night,
Kicks her high heels off and sighs,
And lays down on the bed,
She says it’s been a long day at work,
I couldn’t wait till I got home,
Just to be with you again.
And lord I love just to watch her sleeping,
Yeah, I just pull the covers up,
And wonder what she’s dreaming
When she’s wrapped up with a t-shirt on,
Got the lights turned way down low,
Radio’s got her favorite song,
And she’s singing right along
Let your hair down,
Baby let it fall,
Rip the phone cord out the wall,
Whisper I love you while we’re drifting off again,
Whenever we’re alone yeah”
My singing was interrupted when a firm knock sounded on the front door and echoed throughout the house. I sighed, standing up and setting my guitar on the couch where I just was. Stretching my arms, I made my way towards the door, opening it only to see Jana standing there with a smile on her face that I knew very well at this point was reserved for those she wanted to sweet talk.
“Brantley!” She smiled and happily exclaimed as she came into the house.
“Hello Jana,” I replied, trying to seem as business like as possible because that’s all I wanted this meeting to be, business and only that.
“How have you been?” She asked as she set her purse down on the stand in the mudroom just inside of the door before following me into the living room.
“I’ve been pretty well actually. I am really happy, I’ve got a great fiancé and I’m getting ready to go out on tour, the new albums doing great. But let’s get to business now shall we?” I asked as I picked my guitar up and started off towards the music room.
I knew she wasn’t happy that I said what I did about Kaleigh, but frankly I don’t care what she thinks. Her opinion is the last thing I care about anymore. I heard her heels clicking on the hard wood floor behind me as I walked into the music room and put my guitar up on the stand before sinking down onto the couch and gesturing for her to sit in the chair opposite from me.
I watched her movements which appeared to be pretty stiff after the whole fiancé comment and how I brushed her off, but they were starting to loosen up as she sat down and crossed her legs the way she always did when she wanted a man to stare at them. I’m not stupid and knew exactly what she was trying to do, so I focused in on her eyes and got to work.
“Okay, so it’s common knowledge between the two of us that you’ve been basically stalking me, am I right?” I got straight to the point.
“Well I wouldn’t refer to it as stalking,” she said defensively as she straightened up her posture now knowing where for sure this meeting was going.
“Umm, yeah I would say it is. Considering that you’ve been calling and texting non-stop from various numbers and even contacting my manager to get a hole of me ever since you found out Kaleigh and I are engaged. I would say that is stalking.” I said roughly.
“No, stalking is following you around and watching your house at times and knowing what you are doing every second of the day.” She said with a smart ass attitude.
“Jana, I didn’t call this damn meeting to put up with your shit, in fact I actually called it to tell you to knock it off. I don’t want you anymore, I am happy with Kaleigh and we are engaged. You fucked up a long time ago, you had your chance and it’s done and over with.” I told her.
“I don’t even know why you are with her anyways; she doesn’t deserve you like I do. I was there for you when you needed someone! I deserve you more than anyone Brantley!” She popped off, her face getting flushed from anger.
“Jana, you don’t deserve me at all. You went out and slept with how many people when we were together! I trusted you and you fucked everything up! I don’t want you anymore, don’t you understand that.
She started to reply but before she could we were interrupted by Kaleigh walking in with a crowbar in hand looking murderous.
“Yeah Brantley, you had shit to do didn’t you? You mean little sluts over here like-“ She started but cut off as she changed her view from me to Jana. “Miss Jana Kramer. What the fuck are you doing in my house.” She growled, her hands gripping the crowbar so tight her knuckles began to turn white.
“Kaleigh, I promise I can explain.” I told her as I stood up calmly and started to make my way towards her, hoping that I could get her to understand.
“I swear to god Brantley James Gilbert if you take one more step this crowbar will be up your ass.” She threatened, raising the crowbar higher to put emphasis on her statement causing me to step back.
“Kaleigh, please just listen to me.” I begged as I felt my heart ripping to pieces. I never stopped to think what this would look like if she came home. I just wanted Jana to know I wanted to be with Kaleigh and to leave me alone. I never expected Kaleigh to react like this, and this time I was the one who fucked up, big time.
“No, I thought you were better than this Brantley. You promised me you wouldn’t treat me this way after I’ve already been through it. Yet you turn around and go back to this dumb whore? That’s bullshit, fuck you!” She yelled, ripping her engagement ring off and flinging it at me, before turning and clocking Jana right in the face, breaking her nose that she had redone when we were together. Then she proceeded to turn on her heel and leave the room leaving me with my mouth hanging open and Jana holding her bloody broken nose looking pissed.
I jumped up off the couch after a moment of shock and ran out of the music room and making my way outside to see her getting in the truck and starting it. I ran towards the truck hoping she would stop and talk to me but I knew it was a long shot. She pulled out of the drive, glancing at me with a hard look set on her face before she gunned it, making dust fly up behind her as she pulled onto the road and took off.
“Dammit,” I swore as I took my hat off and threw it towards the drive as I ran my fingers through my hair and pulled it out of frustration.
“You really fucked up this time Brantley,” Jana said as she came out of the house with a smirk on her face as she held a paper towel to her nose to hold off the bleeding a bit.
“Shut the hell up Jana, I don’t want to deal with your shit right now.” I snapped at her.
“Well, either you do or you don’t you still fucked up with Kaleigh. I may not be with you anymore but even I know that if I was and I walked in seeing you with your ex I would be pissed and call everything off.” She told me as she got in her car.
“You know what Jana; just get the fuck off my property!” I yelled at her, causing her to flinch slightly but at this point I didn’t care anymore.
“Fine, but you’ll regret this Brantley!” She yelled at she started her car.
“I swear to god Jana if you do anything to harm Kaleigh or I in any way I will personally leak every little thing about you that I know from when we were together.” I assured her sternly, causing all the color to wash from her face because she suddenly remembers just how much she’s told me about herself.
“Okay, I won’t do anything. I’ll leave.” She said, backing out and leaving.
I grabbed my hat off the ground, squeezing the bill of it in frustration as I made my way back into the house. I slammed the door behind me making the picture frames on the wall shake before making my way to the kitchen and grabbing a bottle of jack out of the cupboard. I didn’t drink anymore, I’ve been two years sober but right now the urge to crack open the bottle and pour some on the rocks was itching inside me.
I wanted to feel the burn of the whiskey go down my throat, I wanted to feel it more than anything. I knew it would numb the pain but another part of me, the more sensible part, was saying that Kaleigh would be disappointed in me if I did do it.
So I fought to shove that itching urge back down inside of me as I reached back up to the cupboard and put the bottle away before turning around to the fridge and grabbing a bottle of water. I opened it, the seal cracking as I did and chugged it before grabbing another and leaving the room.
Making my way to the music room, I fell down on the couch and threw my hat down on the floor, rubbing my head. How could I be so damn stupid? I just lost her, and in her eyes it was the way that I promised her it wouldn’t end if we ever did split. Jana was right, I fucked up. I fucked up big time.
I sat up and grabbed one of my guitars off the rack and started playing. I grabbed a notebook and started writing.
“She was crying out my name
Standing in the driveway
Little bare feet wearing her cotton dress in my way
I still see the rain chasing tears down her face
It was back in October when I said it's over and hid
Behind the door
Behind the shame of my conviction
Beside myself
Beside some empty pill prescription
Can hear her screamin' now
No baby don't, you making my heart hurt
Don't say those words
Take it back
You know you don't mean that
You swore when I wore your ring
It meant forever
I've got it on baby
How can you say I lost it
Oh, you promised
Started crying while I was sleeping
Waking up and reaching out
To a bed as empty as the heart inside my chest
So I gathered up some pictures
Said I had some things to give her
I let her read a letter
I had written her to give her on the day we tied the knot
I saw the tears
I saw them fall as she read the part of my growing old
I heard her words
I heard her say it'll never work
And hit my knees and cried
No baby don't you're making my heart hurt
Don't say those words
Take it back
You know you don't mean that
You swore when you wore my ring
It meant forever
You've got it on baby
How can you say you lost it
Yeah and you promised
We were different people then
Look at all the hateful things we've said
And I'm just as guilty
But girl that's no way to be
Take it easy baby I'm still broken
Memories enough to tear me wide open
When you see me girl you curse my name
Makes me wanna say
No, no baby don't
You're making my heart hurt
Don't say those words
Take it back
You know you don't mean that
You know when you wore my ring
We said forever
But you took it off baby
Safe to say we're through
No matter what you do
You know I'll always love you
Well I have to
'Cause I promised”
My music was interrupted by a firm knock on the door, so I place my guitar on the couch hoping it would be Kaleigh coming back to listen to me. Whether she was pissed at me or not, god how I hoped it would be her. I just wanted her to listen to me. I wasn’t cheating on her with Jana at all; I was telling Jana to leave us alone.
I stood up and hurried to the front door, knocking over a few things on my way but at this point I could care less about what I broke. Items were simply just that, items. They didn’t have the real meaning that I was feeling the loss of at this moment.
“Kaleigh, please just listen to me. It wasn’t what you think-“ I started but was punched in the face. “What the fuck?” I said holding my nose and straightening up to look and see who punched me.
“I should be asking you that,” James said shoving past me and letting himself in the house.
“Why did you punch me?” I yelled in shock.
“Why did you fucking cheat on my sister with a walking STD?” He snapped back as he grabbed me by my shirt, preparing to hit me again.
“James I didn’t cheat on her I swear! Just let me explain.” I yelled back, I get he cares about his sister but calm the fuck down and give me a chance to explain I mean damn.
“Alright Brantley you have five minutes so hop to it.” He growled as he sat on the recliner and gestured for me to begin.
So I told him what happened, from Jana texting me to everything she did. Then proceeded to explain that I called the meeting to tell her to leave Kaleigh and I alone. I know that I explained everything in more than five minutes, but as I did I could visually see James calm down and begin to loosen up the tension.
Once I was done I sat there and waited for him to speak. I know Kaleigh had to have went to their house for him to know, but was she still there? Or did she leave? I hope she was there with Mariah, still safe and not out somewhere where something could happen to her.
“Dammit Brantley, You realize she came to my house and lost it don’t you? She thinks you were cheating on her with Jana, and she’s been through this shit twice apparently. Once with my best friend and I didn’t even know about it!” He yelled frustrated, not necessarily mad at me now but you never know.
“I know James, and I would never cheat on her. I know better than that, I love her I really do. That’s why I told Jana to leave us alone, I’m happy with your sister. I just don’t know how to fix this, I really fucked up.” I groaned, allowing my head to fall into my hand, my elbows rested on my knees.
“That you did there bud.” He started but was interrupted by his phone going off. “Hey Mar, what do you need?”
You could hear a frantic voice on the other end of the call, and slightly hear sirens in the background causing my heart to race. Was Mariah and the baby okay? Was it about Kaleigh? Was she okay? I watched James’s face pale suddenly as he stood up and ran out to the truck with me hot on his trail.
“I’ll be there soon; I’m bringing Brantley with me. Trust me Mar it’s not what it appears to be. I’ll explain everything soon.” He said jumping in the driver’s seat with me in the passenger’s seat.
I waited until he hung up until I asked what was wrong, and part of me wished that I never would have.
“Mariah had to call 911, Kaleigh got into a four wheeler accident, and they are taking her to the hospital. They aren’t sure if she will make it Brantley.”
A/N:
Okay, so late update but this chapter was filled with DRAMA, DRAMA, DRAMA!!
Also holy shit!! 19k reads!!! YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!!
So I left you with a cliffhanger, but I hope this chapter answered some questions, whereas others are still left unanswered.
Let me know what you guys think!!! =) I would appreciate it!! I love all the votes, comments and feedback!! It means the world to me!!!
P.S- this chapter is dedicated to brittanykenz, if you don’t follow her you should!! I love her fanfictions and she is a very supportive reader! Thank you for that!!
~Katie