“what a beautiful couple.” hazel eyes fixate on the genuine happiness radiating from andy’s smile. an announcement of her impending marriage graces the fifth page and hayden’s stomach turns at the thought that this could be his last chance to tell her how he feels. folding the newspaper, hayden stashes it under the passenger side seat. it has been five years since hayden has been to his home --five years since he lost his best friend. five years since he’s seen the love of his life. hayden has filled the time building his career; his band is successful, they’ve just finished a tour and are taking some time off and for hayden it couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. for the past year he has been following andrea’s engagement --along with the rest of their hometown. apparently marrying some fancy Los Angeles Doctor is big time news.
the sun shines through his windshield as he turns into the parking garage and hayden pulls up to the ticket machine, leaning out of his window the pluck a small stub. finding a spot is easy enough and hayden makes quick work of parking. looking in the rear view mirror, hayden adjusts his curls, suddenly nervous to put in motion his big plan. it is not every day you attempt to break up an engagement and while there is no apprehension (he believes he is doing the right thing) there is doubt that andy will do anything besides kick him to the curb as soon as she opens her hotel room door. the chirp of the car alarm echoes in the empty garage as hayden makes his way to the elevator. his mom had texted him the information on where andy was staying and it wasn’t too hard to get her room number from the girls at the front desk --they were friends in high school and he’s here with a wedding surprise. a few autographs later, and hayden is making his way to the elevator.
once hayden is standing outside of andy’s hotel room door, a thousand reasons why he shouldn’t be there are stomped down as quickly as they form. too long has he waited to follow through with a plan he made years ago. it may not happen in one day, but hayden will get his girl; he’s willing to do whatever it takes. anxious fingers straighten his jacket as hayden shifts his weight from one foot to the other. he’s played for thousands of people in hundreds of cities, yet waiting on the precipice of this decision makes him more distressed than a crowded venue. with his palm covering the peephole, hayden knocks three times on the hotel room door (a shared rhythm he hopes she remembers) and waits for her answer. @driftingrose | plotted sweet home alabama starter.