Second Chances and Open Skies Redo

Ben and Christina walked out of the Tennessee airport and looked around. "Sis, what the fuck are we doing here?" Ben sighed, skeptical of their semi-drunkenly devised plan.

"Look, we need different. This is different." Christina sighed.

The brother and sister were both in their early twenties and their lives had been all mixed up. From a prominent NYC family they had been in the social scene as long as they could remember. Ben was an underwear model, who was now mixed up with some tabloid scandal and having trouble finding work. Chris just dumped her club owner boyfriend and graduated from Columbia University with no idea of what she actually wanted to do. Both were fed up with the gossip, materialism, and shallowness of their world. However, neither really knew much about the country either. They decided to go stay with family friends, who graciously invited to move down with them. Ben and Chris hadn't actually been to the Tennessee ranch since they were thirteen.

"I'm guessing you can't just hail a cab here." Ben mumbled.

"I called ahead. I didn't want to bug Jade." Christina said as she led him to the cab. As they drove to Jade's family ranch she looked around. Tennessee was absolutely beautiful but completely different from everything she was used to. She was both excited and scared. Finally they arrived at the ranch.

"CHRIS! BEN!" Jade hugged them as she opened the door.

Ben stared at his childhood friend. The three of them had grown up together. But he as the older brother had often ditched them for the guys. Jade was more of a friend to Chris than to him. This girl was no longer a girl. She was tall, curvy in all the right places and just downright beautiful.

"Well hell-o Jade." He said sweetly. He pulled her into a hug. Jade laughed and pushed him away.

"Mom and Dad are about to leave. Let's go say gooood bye! Then we're having a par-tay at the river." Jade grinned and hooked arms with Chris.

"Sounds great!" Chris smiled as they walked inside. They hugged and kissed Jade's parents and soon they were out the door.

"Here." She led them upstairs, "Throw your stuff in the guest rooms so we can go have some fun!"

As they were leaving, Ben caught sight of Jade's ride. A very nice, very brand new, Ford pick-up.

"Please let me drive." He begged. Jade laughed and shrugged.

"City boys don't get to drive pick ups." Chris teased as they all piled in.

Ben smirked, "I do what I want."

Jade chuckled, "We all know that, darling. Was she good?" She smirked and he knew she was talking about the rumors circulating that he had slept with a married actress.

"Sadly, I really didn't sleep with her." Ben sighed.

"How unfortunate." Jade laughed. "What about you Chris? How's Mr. Rolex?" She joked about Chris's somewhat sleazy club owning EX.

"He's now the ex boyfriend." Chris smiled.

"Hell yeah!!!" Jade exclaimed, "Three single hotties! This town is going to go crazy."

"Aren't we supposed to be getting away from crazy?" Ben laughed.

"I have a feeling this a better type of crazy." Chris said.

"Yeah. You should be happy Ben. You get to fuck a bunch of just out of high school girls."

"I'm trying to stay in the 20-25 age bracket lately." He laughed smugly.

"WOW! I'm amazed." Jade said sarcastically.

Ben smiled at her, "You've grown up so well."

They pulled up to the river and the large party.

They unloaded and Ben pocketed the keys.

A few hours later....

Ben was getting swarmed by a few little girls and he looked so miserable that Jade decided to help him.

"Hey there." She walked up to him with a small.

*&*

"Can I get you a drink?" A southern accent said behind Chris.

"Oh. Here's my girlfriend!" Ben exclaimed. All of the girls shot Jade hateful looks and scurried off.

"Girlfriend, huh?" Jade laughed, "Let's go get a beer."

*&*

"Please do." Chris said before she turned around.

"Thanks for saving me." He breathed.

*&*

She was happy to see a very handsome cowboy.

Jade stopped walking and he turned to her with an inquiring look. She smiled and pulled him towards her. She kissed him, tentatively at first and then more passionately. Finally, she pulled away.

"I've been dying to do that. I'll see you later." She grinned at him and then practically skipped away.

*&*

"I'm Chris." She grinned.

Ben stood there. In complete shock.

*&*

"Luke." He smiled and shook her hand then handed her a beer. "What brings you to the country?"

"Just taking a little break from city life." Chris smiled.

It was hard to shock Ben. Finally he shook it off and wandered away from the party. He really didn't feel like drinking so he just strolled down the river bank.

*&*

He nodded, "It's nice here. And somewhat peaceful."

He looked at the view and thought about what living there would be like.

*&*

Chris nodded, "What do you do?"

"I run my late parents' ranch." Luke explained, "It's just south of town."

He didn't hear anyone come up but suddenly, Jade was by his side.

"Sorry." She said with a smile as he jumped.

*&*

"Sorry about your loss." Chris said softly.

"Jesus woman." He mumbled and laugh.

*&*

"Thanks. It was a long time ago." Luke said. "So how long you in town for?"

Chris shrugged, "I have no idea."

He smiled, "That's pretty cool."

"Sorry about the kiss. Had to lay claim to you in front of everyone."

"I wonder what the thought about little Ms. Debutante and the yankee underwear model." He chuckled.

*&*

Chris smiled at him, "Yes. I needed a change of scenery."

Jade laughed, "You're ridiculous."

*&*

"Want to see the best part about these parties?" Luke said.

"Sure do." Chris smiled, as she followed him to the river (far from Jade and Ben). Luke started to drop his clothes on the river bank. "What are you doing?"

"Swimming." He laughed as he jumped in.

Ben rolled his eyes. He sat down on the bank and made her sit next to him. It was like they were twelve again.

"I've really missed you." Ben said softly. It was the truth.

*&*

She couldn't help but grin and then follow his example.