chapter one

I’m taking a break from it all. I’ve done three albums with my previous group, I’ve done two solo records that have been successful and now I’m taking a break. I can’t take the spotlight anymore, it’s too much. My mom finally suggested I come home for a while and think about what I want to do next. I agreed and found myself on a plane back to Tennessee for some serious thinking. I rented a car and as I drive through the small town, I realize just how much it hasn’t changed.

I take the familiar turns towards my house and watch school children play on the jungle gyms during recess. The local stores are still owned by the same people who were there fifteen years ago. I haven’t decided whether that’s a good thing or not. The radio is almost always playing country and I play with the dial when a familiar song from Tim McGraw comes on the radio and I remember the first time I ever heard the song.

Flashback-

“Come on Justin.” Emily said, pulling me into the woods by our lake.

That’s what we called it, “Our Lake.”

“I’m coming Em.” I remarked, catching up with her strides.

You said the way my blue eyes shined,
Put those Georgia stars to shame that night
I said: "That's a lie"
Just a boy in a Chevy truck,
That had a tendency of gettin' stuck,
On backroads at night
An' I was right there beside him all summer long
An' then the time we woke up to find that summer'd gone

“Isn’t it great that were going to be Juniors in the fall? Then we’ll really have great dances.” Emily said, ignoring the tension between us.

“Yeah, I thought I’d never make it through high school.” I try to laugh.

Emily wrapped her arms around me, “Promise me you won’t forget me.”

“I could never forget you Em. This is my big break though, I need to do this.”

“I know, and I’m so happy for you. I just need to know that you’ll still be my J. Mine.”

I kiss her hard, “I’ll always be your, and you’ll always be mine. Were inseparable.”

I turn on the radio and Tim McGraw starts to play as I sit in the grass with her.

But when you think: Tim McGraw,
I hope you think my favorite song
The one we danced to all night long:
The moon like a spotlight on the lake
When you think happiness,
I hope you think: "That little black dress"
Think of my head on your chest,
An' my old faded blue jeans
When you think Tim McGraw,
I hope you think of me

September saw a month of tears,
An' thankin' God that you weren't here,
To see me like that
But in a box beneath my bed,
Is a letter that you never read,
From three summers back
It's hard not to find it all a little bitter sweet,
An' lookin' back on all of that, it's nice to believe

: Em puts her head on my shoulder, “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

My hands squeeze hers and I notice her hand fits entirely in my palm like it did when we were five.

“You will be coming back anyway and when you do, I’ll be waiting.”

I smooth her hair down her back, “And I will come back for you.”

When you think: Tim McGraw,
I hope you think my favorite song
The one we danced to all night long:
The moon like a spotlight on the lake
When you think happiness,
I hope you think: "That little black dress"
Think of my head on your chest,
An' my old faded blue jeans
When you think Tim McGraw,
I hope you think of me

And I'm back for the first time since then:
I'm standin' on your street,
An' there's a letter left on your doorstep,
An' the first thing that you'll read is:

When you think: Tim McGraw,
I hope you think my favorite song
Some day you'll turn your radio on,
I hope it takes you back to that place
When you think happiness,
I hope you think: "That little black dress”
Think of my head on your chest,
An' my old faded blue jeans
When you think Tim McGraw,
I hope you think of me
Oh, think of me,
Mmmm

End Of Flashback-

I stop reminiscing about that night. It was only the end of a period in my life. Nothing more. My cell phone starts to ring and I flip the phone open, “Hello?”

“Hey honey, where are you?”

“In town, I’m just getting some gas and coming home.”

“Go to that gas station on the corner, they redid the inside and I want you to see it.”

I roll my eyes. “Oh joy mom, nothing could be more exciting.”

“Just do it hon. I’ll see you when you get here.”

I relent and pull over to the local gas station , going inside to pay for the gas. Apparently swiping a credit card is too advanced for the town. I walk inside the store and go up to the cash register.

“What can I do for you son?” the old man behind the counter asks.

“Fill up the tank. I want about twenty bucks worth.”

I hand the man a fifty and he goes to ring me up. He tries to open the cash register, but it refuses to budge.

“Damn thing is always breaking. Hey Pumpkin, could you help me?” the man yells.

A blonde girl walks out of the back room and goes behind the cash register, taking a key from her pocket and putting it in the slot, turning it until the drawer popped open.

“Sorry about the wait sir, the thing is always breaking down at the worst times.” She laughs, looking up at my face for the first time as she gives me my change. Her smile quickly leaves as she freezes mid air.

“Emily?”

“Justin.” Her voice flat, void of any emotion.

“That’s all I need.” I say quickly.

Em plops the money in my open palm and spins on her heels, going into the back room once again. I leave the store and pump the gas I need before driving out of the parking lot like a bat out of hell.

You said the way my blue eyes shined,
Put those Georgia stars to shame that night
I said: "That's a lie"

Taylor Swift- Tim McGraw

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