Second Chances and Open Skies

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 her for a moment. This wasn't the Jade he remembered. She grinned.

"C'mon. Mom and Daddy are anxious to see you before they leave for the summer." Jade linked arms with the bothof them.

They greeted her parents. "Thanks so much for letting us stay here." Chris and Ben said at the same time.

They laughed, "Not a problem. You guys get settled, we have plenty of room."

"You guys have a safe trip!" Ben smiled.

"Keep an eye on Jade." They smiled. They said goodbye to their daughter and left.

"Can we go to the bar tonight? PLEASE." Chris laughed to Jade.

Jade smirked, "Glad they are finally gone. And I doubt that's what they meant about keeping an eye on me." She winked at her friend as they climbed into Jade's super nice truck and headed to the house.

Ben looked at Jade again, "So...you grew up."

Jade laughed, "So did you. How was she anyway?" She smiled at him so he knew she was playing. One of the many rumors going around was that he was sleeping with a married actres.

Ben sighed, "Pretty good actually." Jade laughed again.

&*&*&

Three hours later...

Jade and Chris stood in Jade's room, dressing for the night.

"I think Ben is pretty taken with you." Chris joked. Jade smiled.

"Too bad I have Lucas."

(Can we make his name something else..My girl's falling for Luke Bryan the country singer but he won't be famous...Luke..Lucas..might get a little confusing haha he's going to just play music locally..around the state maybe a state over etc and he's been running his father's farm because he's sick. Jade and he aren't friends or anything but they know who each other are)

"Taken women are his favorite." Chris laughed as she applied some eyeliner and fixed her hair. She was looking forward to going out somewhere fun but normal, no photographers, no long lines to get in, no need to wear party dresses. She just wanted to drink some beers and have fun!

Jade laughed, "You'll probably my man tonight."

Ben dipped his head in, "Alright come on ladies lets go!" He was getting impatient. Twenty minutes later they were at the bar.

Chris approached the bar and ordered three tequila shots, three vodka shots, and three Heineken to start everyone off. As she waited she looked over and saw Ben and Jade chit chatting standing around their bar table. She paid for the round, tipped the bartender, and went to take the tray which was heavy and full.

"Let me get that, Miss." Said the dark haired man sitting at the barstool next to her as he stood up.

"No, really it's o-" He had already taken the tray.

"Thanks. I'm Christina." She smiled as she pointed to where they were sitting.

"Luke. Nice to meet you." He smiled as they walked over.

The three of them drank rather heavily. They were celebrating!

Jade and Ben were dancing as Luke walked on stage with his band. Chris's jaw dropped.

"Jade! Isn't that Luke?"

"Yeah, they play here sometimes." Jade shrugged.

Chris sipped a beer and watched him. She laughed slightly to herself at the last song.

You need hands, rough not soft
To come and warm you up up in that cold hayloft
Let me hold you little darling in my big strong arms
Can't get these kind of muscles anywhere but a farm

Hey I'm a country man a city boy can't do the things I can
I can grow my own groceries and salt cure a ham
Hey baby I'm a country man

I've got a jeep with camouflage seats
That play nobody sees us parked back up in these trees
Your little i-pod loaded down with hoope and stink
Don't be a tape player hater girl were cruising to Hank

Hey I'm a country man a city boy can't do the things I can
Ican hotwire your tractor and plow up your land
Hey baby I'm a country man

You like the ivy league hum-v tennis sweater type
But girl I'm here to tell you don't believe the high

Hey I'm a country I can wrestle hogs and gators with my two bare hands
Girl you better move quick I'm in high demand
Hey baby I'm a country man

Hey I'm a country man huntinh me a good ole'
country girlfriend
Why don't you come and join me in my new deerstand
Hey baby I'm a country man
Hey baby I'ma country man

"Did you like the music?" Luke asked when they were finished as he approached Christina at the bar.

She nodded, "You guys are good."

They smiled at each other

"So you're a local celeb?" She teased.

(*(

Ben kissed Jade's neck, "Let's go back to your house"

"Hardly." He laughed, "So where are you from? With that accent not around here."

"Just moved down from New York City today." Chris smiled.

*&*

"Mmm..I don't know." Jade whispered.

he looked slightly impressed, "How long are you staying?"

878

Ben smiled, "How many drinks do I need to get in ya?"

Jade rolled my eyes, "We can't leave your sister here!"

"Don't know. I guess we'll see how the summer plays out." Chris shrugged, "Just had to get out of Manhattan for a while."

*&*

Ben sighed, "She's fine. Trust me. This place is tame."

In her drunkenness, Jade shrugged and they left. She text Chris though.

*&*

When Chris read Jade's text, she sobered up fast and i a hurry, "Awesome. They fcking left me."

"Everything okay?" Luke asked.

Chris nodded, "It's fine. Just my friend and brother left and I'm not exactly sure how to get back later."

"Where is it?" He asked her. She told him Jade's name and he nodded, "They don't live far from me. Tell me when you're ready and I will take you. And no worries, I'm not drunk."

Christina smiled, "Really? Thanks a lot."

"Of course." Luke nodded, "Now can I buy you a drink?"

She grinned and told him what she'd like.

He came back with her drink, "So how do you like it here so far?"

"It's only been a few hours but it's nice. It's really quiet but very beautiful. I'm kind of a city girl though." Chris smiled.

He smiled, "I love this town. But I like the big cities too. Maybe you'll come to love it here as much as we do."

Chris shrugged, "Well, maybe. I kinda doubt it. Jade's told me all about the drama in these small towns."

Luke laughed, "True."

"Then again there's drama everywhere. New York was the same way." Chris sighed.

"It is hard to escape." Luke smiled slightly.

"Does your family have a farm as well?" Chris asked.

He nodded, "I'm actually running it right now. Which leaves me almost no time for my music."

"Wow. That is a big responsibility." Chris nodded.

"What about you? College? Work?" Luke asked.

"I just graduated from Columbia. I studied Political Science and History. I took the LSATS and all and well I guess I'm supposed to be heading off to Law School but I just don't know anymore." She sighed. "I have no idea what I want."

He smiled, "So coming here is your way of figuring it out?"

"I guess. I really love photography. I thought maybe I'd take some time here and just focus on things I love like that." Chris smiled then added softly, "I also broke up off my engagement two months ago..."

He nodded at her sympathetically, "I know how break-ups are. Thank God I chose not to enter very many of them."

She laughed, "It just wasn't want everyone was expecting. It seemed like everyone wanted us to get married but me. So I had to get away."