Heath's had been the only good place in
town since the town's creation. That had always been Miley's favorite hang out
since high school. She credited it to the cheese fries. Heath credited it to him
giving her a job when she needed one, not wanting to admit he had the most
amazing cheese fries. Others credited it to Heath having karaoke. Miley had
always made her love of karaoke known.
Every once and awhile, Heath would have a live band. It was
never really anything big, just some local talents looking for a paying gig.
Heath didn't mind helping pay someone for chasing after their dream. Plus, it
gave him a break from hearing the more frequent sounds of people butchering
Elvis of Gloria Gaynor.
Miley walked into Heath's and smiled. The table was rather
easy to find, even with none of the guys there. It was right up in the middle of
the table by the stage. Close enough to tell who was packing what in their
pockets, but far enough back to make a game out of it with your girlfriends.
As she sat her purse on the table and pulled of her coat, she
looked around for the guys. She wasn't quite sure of what Lance was trying to
hide from her, and it actually kinda scared her. She had paced her room at her
mother's, trying to figure out what Lance had been talking about but wasn't able
to come up with anything.
"Here's some cheese fries for my favorite customer." Heath
said, walking over to the table. "Bacon sprinkled on top, just how you like it."
"You remember how I like my cheese fries?" Miley asked,
looking at Heath with a small smile.
Heath Garrington's family had been on of the founding
families. They had started Heath's, due to the Heath being a family name. The
bar had been passed down from generation to generation. Heath had always owned
the bar, and had been working so hard there that everyone was surprised his
marriage hadn't fallen apart. But, Heath was the proud father of two boys and a
happy wife.
He was called everyone's grandfather, and acted like it. He
had chocolate brown eyes that crinkled at the ends when he smiled. He was tall,
about 5'7" and had salt and pepper hair that still had some brunette hints in
it. He was always smiling and laughing, and always dressed in a t-shirt and
jeans. He claimed his fashion sense was inspired by Miley, as they usually would
wear the same outfit at work.
"Why of course, Mrs. Timberlake." Heath replied.
"Actually, it's back to Hart. Justin and I are in the process
of divorcing." Miley said, watching Heath sit down next to her.
"Now that's a nasty rumor that you don't want to get around."
Heath replied.
"It's not a rumor. It's true." Miley replied.
"Miss Miley, if I wasn't so personally invested in your
marriage, like three-fourths of this town is, I wouldn't mind you admit
something like that. But, you and Justin are as much a town staple as the fall
festival, Homecoming week and the winter carnival. Granted, you two did get
married young but you two were fine." Heath said, causing Miley to smile.
"We weren't that big of a deal." Miley said.
"You guys were always together, always smiling and laughing.
You were so helpful to people and it was refreshing to see two people so in
love." Heath said.
"Maybe we just finally grew up and left la-la land." Miley
replied, as Trace Ayala come over to the table.
"Well, well, Miley Grace Timberlake." Trace said, smiling at
his best friend's wife.
"It's Hart, people! It's Mindy Hart!" Miley said, groaning a
little.
"Well then miss Hart, can I get you something to drink?"
Trace asked.
"Just a cola. I came her for business." Miley replied.
"Someone apparently has this big idea that she's getting a
divorce." Heath said, as Trace chuckled. He opened his mouth to say something in
response but Miley held up a hand to stop him.
"If one more person mentions how he won't sing the papers,
I'll kill them." Miley replied.
"I take it a lot of people have mentioned that little fact.'
Trace asked, still chuckling.
"I figure my lawyer will be the next one to inform me." Miley
replied.
"So, if you're trying to get rid of him, why are you here?"
Heath asked.
"I don't know, honestly. Lance told me to meet them here."
Miley replied.
Heath and Trace exchanged a look. "You don't know?" Heath
asked.
"You're going to need something much harder than a cola. I'll
bring you a hurricane, ok/" Trace said, walking off.
"Heath, what's he talking about?" Miley asked. She watched
his eyes crinkle shut as he thought hard. Heath then slowly opened them and
looked at his watch. "What's going on?" She asked, as the lights dimmed.
Music started and a voice started signing. She instantly
recognized it as Justin. "They've been singing her for over a year. They do
covers of anything and everything. Some nights, they have a set list. Other
nights, they let the crowd choose what they sing." Heath said, as Justin, Lance,
Chris, and two other close friends- Joey Fatone and JC Chasez all came out on
stage.
"He's singing?" Miley asked.
"They go out there and have fun." Heath said. "Besides, I
always heard stories that you two were quite the singers."
"I was always surprised that he never did anything with
singing. He has such a beautiful voice." Miley said.
"See, its things like that sentence that make me really
doubts that you want this divorce." Heath replied.
"Trust me, it's for the best.' Miley replied, as Trace
returned and joined them. "You said that they've been singing her for over a
year, but I was here a year ago. How come I never knew?' She asked, sipping her
drink.
"That, I honestly don't know." Heath replied.
"The next song is one that is very dear tome. There's a long
story behind it but I won't bore you with it. Anyways, here's a classic from..."
Justin said, his eyes scanning the crowd and landing on Miley.
He felt his mouth stop working as he looked at her. She
looked rather surprised about what was going on, and especially about the song
choice. She knew the one they were about to sing. A song he wouldn't have chosen
to sing if he had known she was going to be there.
After Miley just randomly showing up, he felt it was time to
finally listen and sing the song again. After she left, he had wanted nothing to
do with it, claiming it brought back too many memories. He had even left a
Wal-Mart once because the song was playing on the radio.
But, it felt like he had to sing it, just once more. One more
time and he'd be over it all. He'd be done with that hold she had over him. He'd
be done with her.
Now, it didn't quite feel that way.
"Here's a song from my childhood. It's called 'Kiss the
Rain' by Billie Meyers" Justin quickly finished.
"This is a new one." Heath said.
"Not really. He's been singing this one for years." Miley
said, feeling a lump in her throat and a couple of tears in her eyes. She took a
deep breath and another sip of her drink, hoping that the rum would get rid of
that pesky lump. "I haven't heard it in a year.' She added softly.
Kiss the rain
Whenever you need me
Kiss the rain
Whenever I'm gone, too long
If your lips
Feel lonely and thirsty
Kiss the rain
And wait for the dawn
"This is one interesting song." Trace said. "It's not one of
their usual styles."
"It was our song. I told him when we were ten about my fear
of thunderstorms." Miley said, smiling.
"I take it it's a good story if you're smiling like you're
remembering the first time you had sex." Heath replied.
"We were out on my back porch, watching a storm come closer
one summer. We were only ten so I was still deathly scared of storms at that
point and was major freaking out as the storm came closer. He asked me what was
wrong and I told him about my fear of thunderstorms. He looked at me with the
sweetest look in his blue eyes and asked me, "Why? Haven't you ever kissed the
rain?' My mom played this song for us later that day. It became our song years
later and he used to call me when we were apart and sing the chorus to me."
Miley said, a few tears slipping out.
She looked up at the guys, noticing that Justin seemed
oblivious to the song's meaning and how much it was killing her to hear it being
sung.
"I have to go get some fresh air." Miley quickly said, wiping
tears away. Heath nodded and watched her make her way out the front door.
Miley leaned up against the brick building, allowing the
tears to fall. She wasn't supposed to feel this way over one silly song. She
wasn't supposed to be allowing her body to shake with these tears.
The door to Heath's opened as she felt a body come to stand
by her, watching her cry. She wanted to open her eyes or give the person a piece
of her mind, but she wanted to cry all her tears. She wanted to cry until she
couldn't feel anything anymore.
"If I had known it would have hurt you, I wouldn't have sung
it." She heard Justin say.
Miley opened her eyes, looking for the first time in a year
into his eyes. His blue eyes were filled with concern and worry. "I shouldn't
feel this way. One stupid song should not affect me like this." She said.
"But you do, and it has. And that's why I keep putting up my
fight." Justin replied.
The sky chose at that moment to add in a few tears of their
own. Miley shook her head and looked back at Justin. "Not to sound too 'Sweet
Home Alabama' but no one finds their soul mate when they're a kid.' She
replied.
"Sometimes people do. They just have to believe that they are
allowed to." Justin replied.
Miley shook her head. "It's over Justin. It has been for
awhile." She said, watching as he stepped closer. She was pinned up against the
wall. The scary part of it all was that she was enjoying it.
He leaned his head close, as if to kiss her. "It's never been
over." He replied.
One raindrop rolled down his nose and onto hers. She took a
deep breath and in a split second, closed the distance between them with a kiss.
Kiss the rain
Whenever you need me
Kiss the rain
Whenever I'm gone, too long
If your lips
Feel lonely and thirsty
Kiss the rain
And wait for the dawn
Keep in mind
We're under the same sky
And the nights
As empty for me as for you
If ya feel
You can't wait to morning
Kiss the rain
Kiss the rain
Kiss the rain