Chapter Text
Two weeks ago Gwen had been approached by a representative of a country artist. The artist was trying to make a come back and wasn't too comfortable writing his own songs. They asked her to meet with him for a few sessions and see what they could come up with. So here she is on her way to the studio to meet him. Gwen had written numerous hits in so many genres of music but her typical lane was pop; so working with a country artist was always a challenge, but a challenge she enjoyed. Since she could remember her dream had been to become a singer-songwriter and for a little while she thought she was going to accomplish her dream. However, her dreams were crushed early on by the one person she thought she could trust. She had been with her boyfriend for two years and they recorded some demos that she had written, but when they turned them into a few labels here in LA, they were turned down. Tony blamed her. He said that if she could have actually carried a tune they might have made it. So one day he decided to try to start a career and life with out her. Gwen gave up singing then and focused all her energy on writing. She worked so hard because she was determined to show Tony he had made a mistake leaving her.
She did just that. After writing hit upon hit upon hit, he came crawling back. He didn't come back because he loved her or missed her. He came back wanting to try again but she knew better, he only wanted her fame. He was hoping her fame could help his own career. He damaged her so much so that she convinced herself that she was unlovable. The dream of having a love like her parents quickly fading away.
She pulls into the parking lot in her white Jeep, gets out, and heads inside. Seeing her walk across the parking lot in her vans sneakers and white checkered hoodie, you would think she is the coolest person around. Most of the time in LA that look was paired up with a stuck up personality, but not Gwen. She has a presence that will calm anyone's nerves, that's part of the reason she had so many hit songs. The artists are so comfortable with her that they let their walls down and that makes room for them to come up with some amazing songs. When she enters, she is in a small lobby with a front desk and a receptionist.
"Hey Stacie! What studio are we in today?" Gwen asked the perky blonde with the pixie cut running the front desk
"Studio 205. Get up there and write some more hit songs for us. These people suck!." She says referring to the artist on the radio. "oh and Gwen you are really lucky this time. Sexy." She says raising her eyebrows
Gwen chuckles and rollers her eyes. She gets in just as the elevator doors start closing; taking the ride to the second floor and heads for the correct studio.
"205. Studio 205. He is a country artist. This should be an interesting session." Gwen tells herself
Gwen makes it to the door of the studio and she can hear a guitar playing on the other side. She stands there and listens for a few minutes before finally knocking on the door and walking in. As soon as she walks in the man put his guitar down and stands to introduce himself. The first thing she notices is his shear size. He has to be at least a foot taller than she is. The next thing she notices is his hair. It's a bit wild but the curls in it make her want to run her fingers through it. She is taken aback by the thoughts rushing through her head and stops them immediately. Next she notices his shy smile as he reaches his hand out to shake hers.
"Blake. I'm Blake Shelton."
"Hi Blake. It's nice to meet you. I'm Gwen."
"Nice to meet ya ma'am."
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Blake was excited as he pulled into the parking lot of the recording studio. He is finally getting back into what he loves! That's not saying he didn't love the life he had without music. He just couldn't stay away forever. The music was too ingrained into who he is. It was part of his very being. Once he finds out what studio they would be working in, he began tuning his guitar. He looks at his watch and notices he is about 20 minutes early. So he still has time to kill before she got here. Blake wasn't entirely sold on this whole hiring a writer idea. Yeah she had tons of hit songs out there, but were any of them country? Nope. He had really been hoping they had gotten Shane McAnally or even Lori McKenna, but he promised the label he would give her a fair shot. Who knows maybe they could write a massive hit together.
He was playing this melody, one that kept on popping into his, on his guitar when he heard the knock on the door and she walked in. He practically dropped his guitar the minute he laid eyes on her. In walked the most beautiful woman that he had ever seen. Her hair was a perfect blonde that hung down to her shoulders. She was tiny compared to him and he felt some innate need to protect her. He next notices her eyes; the big brown orbs have the perfect mix of browns. When she smiles at him, however, he notices that her smile doesn't reach her eyes. He wants to know why so he can fix it for her. Then again he doesn't because he knows that if he did, no man would be able to resist her. He snaps back to reality as he realizes he is staring. He offers for her to sit down and get comfortable. She roots through her bag until she pulls out a brand new note book, that was a fitting blue, and a pen.
"Ok Blake. They tell me you were pretty big at one point in your career. What made you leave? And what's brought you back now?" Gwen asks getting right to work.
He admires her drive; maybe she will be the perfect match for him.
"Well I had some personal responsibilities come up that required my immediate attention back then. Now I just miss music. I want that life back. I want to be where I feel like I fit in."
"Any ideas what type of album you want to make?"
"I want it to be a fun one. Up beat and happy, there is plenty of time to be serious now a days. I want to give people permission to let that go for two minutes and be happy."
"Wow that's....that's so rad. Are you from Nashville?"
"Nah. I'm from a tiny town in Oklahoma called Tishomingo. I moved to Nashville when I was 18 and moved back to Oklahoma after I made it. I have a big ranch there now."
"Ranch? So that like makes you a real cowboy doesn't it?"
Blake just chuckles at her excitement and used of the word cowboy.
"I don't know, I guess it kinda does."
"That's like even more rad! What's your favorite thing to do on the ranch?"
"I really enjoy going out on the lake in my boat. Ya know normal stuff....drinking by a campfire, hunting, and I do enjoy cooking on the grill."
"Wow! You must have a ton of land! How big is it?"
"Well I have two properties but they are both pretty big. What about you now? What do you like to do?"
"Me? Wait a minute this isn't about me. It's about you."
"If we are going to be writing songs together and trying to write hit, I think we should get to know each other. There maybe a subject that we both like to tackle but if I can't get to know you to how are we suppose to know that?"
"Ok good point. Well let's see....I love animals, especially birds they are my favorite. I love dogs and horses too."
"Ever been horseback riding?"
"No but I have always wanted to."
"Well how about this? If we can get one number one hit off this album I'll take you to my ranch and we will go riding."
"Really? We can go horseback riding on your ranch?"
"Absolutely! Now what else?"
"Well family is very important to me, I love going to the beach, and music. Any kind of music."
"Any? I bet you can't name a country song outside of the ones you wrote and I sure doubt you have ever been to a country music concert."
"Well you're wrong. My first concert was a country concert, I'll have you know. My parents took me to see Emmy Lou Harris."
Blake laughs at first, surprised she even knows that name. However he realizes she isn't laughing. She is serious.
"You're serious!"
"Of course I'm serious. I would never lie. I hate liars. They ruin things for good people."
"Wow. I never would have guessed that."
"Yep it's what started my interest in music. My focus is on the story or meaning behind the lyrics. People take to songs that mean something and that they can relate to."
They sit and talk for what seems like hours to them, even when it has only been minutes, wrapped up in only each other. Blake making Gwen laugh and his smile becoming bigger every time she does. Soon a comfortable silence falls between them. Both would be content to stay there for a while but Gwen suddenly realizes that they had been talking for three hours.
"Holy cow! It's seven! I guess we need to hurry up and get out of here; neither of us have had dinner."
"Wow really! Well we could always grab a bite to eat together? If you're not busy and if you even want to. Totally up to you."
"Cowboy of course! I would love to grab a bite to eat with you!" Gwen smiles.
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They enter a small quaint Italian styled restaurant with a dance floor and everything. Blake instantly likes the atmosphere, homey but with a zest of fun. The waiter took them to a booth and Gwen slid in while Blake took a chair across from her.
"This place is pretty cool." Blake says looking around
"Yeah one of my good friends showed me one day. I had been complaining about the paparazzi and not being able to go anywhere with the artists I work with. She told me about this place."
"It's definitely a great place!"
The waitress comes to their table to take their order. They talk for about thirty minutes before Gwen suddenly releases a shrill sound scaring Blake.
"What's wrong? What happened?" He asks, worry etched all over his face
"This is my song! I wrote it for a band! They are amazing and it's my favorite song I have written! Come on let's dance!" She says as she begins to get up, pulling them onto the dance floor.
Blake protests all the way to the dance floor but watching her let go and dance he decides to fake it so she can have her fun.
"Hey baby Hey baby Hey!" Gwen sings at the top of her lungs
"Hey your really good!" Blake yells over the music as they continue to dance
"Thanks it was so fun to write!"
"I meant your singing."
Gwen stops dead in her tracks. No one had ever told her that outside of her family and voice coach. She felt the tears well up in her eyes. All the memories of how Tony had told her she sucked and he could do better came flooding back. In that moment she is so in her head she doesn't even realize that the song had ended and a new one came on. She is suddenly brought back to the present as he wraps an arm around her waist and brings her to his chest. The music played and she brought her hands around his neck. The atmosphere around them had changed. Blake had to fight to keep from falling apart when she did. He felt the need to protect her from everything that had ever caused her pain. He kept his hands at a respectful place on her back and her head had fell to his chest. He didn't know what was happening or why it felt like things were changing between them. It's not until the next song comes to an end that Blake pulls back and grabs the bottom of her chin pulling it up to look in her eye. He wants to say something. He wants to make all the pain she is clearly holding in go away. He doesn't want to let her go. What he doesn't know is how just by holding her he is erasing the pain and that she doesn't want him to let her go. Before either know what is going on they begin leaning forward, their lips getting closer and closer together until they both jump at the sound of Blake's phone ringing in his pocket. He reluctantly pulls back to look at his phone.