Carly Pearce as Charlotte "Lottie" Cross

+++

"You're wastin' your time. Y'ain't even good at it." Chuck spits, tossing another empty beer can into the direction of the trash can, grunting when it bounces off the rim and onto the linoleum kitchen floor. "A singer? Yeah right. You're wastin' your breath and you're wastin' my time."

Lottie stands with a trembling lip that she hides as she clears her throat. "Fuck you." She whispers back, surprised by her own words.

"Excuse me?" Chuck grips his fourth beer tight in his rough hand. He stands, that angry look that only she can cause makes an apparence on his face. "What the hell did you say!?"

"Fuck you." She repeats, clenching her jaw and not backing down when he gets in her face.

"You can't talk to me like that! I'm your father!"

She scoffs, tears forming in her eyes. "Oh yeah? Some fuckin father you are." Chuck back hands her. She blinks back her tears as she cups her bright red cheek.

"Get out." He says in a low voice.

"What?"

"Get out!" He screams in her face, spit flying from his lips and landing on her flushed freckled skin. "Now! I don't want you here no more!"

Lottie scoffs again, spinning on her bare heel to head to the bedroom she shares with her older brother, Calvin.

Within half an hour, she's got her minimal amount of valuables packed up. Lottie has her book bag on her back, her duffel slung over her shoulder and her guitar case tight in her left hand.

"You're still here?" Chuck snaps, standing from his ratty recliner. "I thought I told you to get the fuck out!"

"Relax, asshole." She says, stepping into her boots. "I'm gettin' the fuck outta here." She slams the trailer screen door behind her.

"Don't ever come back, Charlotte." Chuck states from the front step. "Ever!"

"Save your fuckin' breath, Chuck!" She yells back, throwing her bags in the back hatch of her 1970 GMC Jimmy. She turns and flips her father off before she steps onto the lift of her SUV and closes the door behind her. Lottie holds herself together up until she makes it to her best friend's front door.

She knocks on the door quietly, waits a few seconds before she pounds her fist against the nice wood frame. "Riley!" She shouts but it sounds like a choked cry. "Riley, please!"

The door opens and an older woman almost immediately pulls Lottie in a tight embrace. "Oh baby, what's wrong?" Riley's mother, Karen says, running her hand over the back of her messy hair. This woman loves Lottie as if she was her own child. Her son and this girl have been best friends since they were able to walk.

She used to be pretty close with Cathleen, Lottie's mom, in high school but things started to change when Cathy got pregnant in high school. She had Calvin when she was sixteen but ultimately went back for her GED. Karen helped Cathy study for it and before she tested for it, she got pregnant again with Lottie.

Cathy and Karen reunited when she wanted to try for her GED again. While Karen helped her high school friend out, that's when their children met.

Riley and Lottie have been attached at the hip ever since that day.

Lottie sits back on the couch, wiping her face before she looks up at the woman she wishes was her mother. "What time is it?"

"Almost eleven." She responds, tucking some stray hairs out of her face, her hand rubbing up and down her arm.

"I'm sorry." She whispers, pulling her knees up to her chest. There's soft thumping that makes it's way down the wooden staircase and Riley appears in a pair of gray sweatpants, shirtless and barefoot.

Karen stands and presses a kiss to Lottie's head before she gives her son a kiss on the cheek then heads upstairs, probably back to bed.

"Ri." Lottie watches him cross the floor to the spot next to her on the couch where she wraps her arms around his strong shoulders.

He wraps his arm around her waist and holds her close, his other hand holding the back of her head as she starts to cry again. "Lot, baby, what's wrong?" He asks, worry saturating his strong, sweet southern drawl.

"Can I crash here tonight?" She asks, glancing up at him with tearful eyes.

"Sure, yeah." He nods, rubbing her back. "C'mon." He stands, taking her hand. She follows him up to his bedroom where he cracks the door. "You need a shower or anythin'?" Riley asks, pulling some clothes for her out of his drawer.

"Yeah." She takes the shirt from him and heads to the bathroom across the hall. Riley sighs as he lays back down in his bed, flicking his bedside lamp and his TV on.

It's not uncommon for Lottie to spend the night with him. It's actually kind of weird when she doesn't. Karen knows they're just friends and Lottie's got a boyfriend so she's got nothing worry about.

And Lottie's folks don't give a shit where she's at.

Lottie joins Riley in his bed with his favorite t-shirt on and cold feet. She slides under the sheets next to him and pokes his legs with her freezing toes.

"Hey!" He says, pulling away from her. She giggles, cuddling into his sheets. Riley has always been able to uplift her mood within seconds of being together. "C'mere." He pulls her against his warm side, his arm around her shoulders. "We can skip tomorrow, if you want."

"Nah, you've got your last football away game and I've got that rehearsal for the, uh, music booster's fundraiser thing." She whispers. "Sue keeps sayin' she's got high expectations for me."

"You're definitely Mrs. Daley's favorite." Riley says, brushing his thumb across her cheek. Her eyes flutter shut and she hums quietly but she fights away that urge to sleep and he smiles. "Get some rest, Lot." She nods half asleep, her face pressed against his bare chest.

+++

It's Lottie's last choir concert with it being her senior year. Riley has driven from his current residence in the outskirts of Nashville to come support her. He moved there when he graduated high school last year to pursue his music career and to help Lottie out with her own when she graduates.

She's been somewhat living with Riley's parents and partially with her boyfriend, Hoss but fuck she misses Riley.

Lottie's about to take the stage with a handful of covers that she's stoked to play for the audience for her final school choir concert. She's incredibly nervous yet excited. She's pacing around the practice room while she's trying to calm her breathing when she hears her name being called.

"Lot!" She glances over her shoulder and her face immediately splits into a huge, relived grin. She carefully sets her favorite wine acoustic on her stand then leaps into Riley's arms.

"What're you doin' here?" She asks with a small laugh. "I thought you was stuck in Nashville?"

"You not happy to see me?"

"Shut up." She grins, her fingers twisting in the denim button up he's wearing over his famed Halo Waterfowl tee. "I missed you, Ri." She tells him, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

"Hey, after you're done, let's go out and, y'know, celebrate."

"For sure! I've just got a couple songs."

"...Lottie Cross!" Sue Daley, the choir director, announces followed by mediocre applause. The two make it out to the wings of the stage.

"Go get 'em, baby!" Riley says, wrapping her in a tight hug. Lottie takes a deep breath as she slings her wine colored acoustic over her shoulder.

Lottie stands center stage, alone and in front of the mic. She glances off stage to Riley who sends her a calming smile in return which instantly makes her feel better.

She starts with Lynyrd Skynyrd's Gimme Three Steps which gets the audience involved then she goes to Take it Easy by the Eagles. After that she sings You Shook Me All Night Long then Alan Jackson's Gone Country and finishes with a modern banger; Eli Young Band's Even If It Breaks Your Heart.

She loves the rush she gets from performing and can't wait to do this in Nashville with her best friend Riley Green by her side.

She bounces off the stage into Riley's arms once again and she giggles. "You sounded great, Lot!" He says, spinning her in a small circle.

"Can we somethin' to eat? I'm starvin'." She says when she's set on her feet.

"Sure, yeah." He smiles, watching her gather her things up.

"Hey, where's Hoss?" He asks, picking up her guitar case. "Thought he'd be here."

"Really? I didn't." She mumbles, her car key between her teeth as they walk to her SUV. Those words sting. Lottie deserves better than who she's with. If she was with Riley, he's be bending over backwards for her like she fucking deserves.

They find themselves sitting at a table at Lou's Dairy Depot on the outskirts of the trailer park Lottie lives in.

"Hey Louie!" Lottie greets the large man hunched over the counter. "How's it goin'?"

"It's one of those days." He responds in that bellowing voice of his. "Sorry I couldn't make it to your last concert, darlin. My wife's helpin' out with some church fundraiser tonight."

"It's no biggie." She smiles back. "Just make sure y'all come and see us in Nashville."

"We wouldn't miss it." He matches her grin. "The regular? Double dip of Mint Chocolate Chip and an extra thick Chocolate shake?"

"You betcha." Lottie says, handing him a ten.

Lou has been playing that father figure Lottie's been missing out on. Her own father is a drunk asshole who borderline hates his daughter so it's nice to have someone fill those boots.

"Here y'all go. The regulars for the future country superstars from the Dirty South." Louie announces, sliding their order to Lottie. "Enjoy, darlin."

"Thanks Louie." She picks up a spoon and a straw then joins her best friend at the splintering wooden picnic table. "Bone apple teeth." She says in a goofy voice, handing him his spoon.

"Thanks, baby."

They spend probably over an hour chatting and catching up. Lottie's been incredibly lonely with Riley gone and Hoss is always either at the gym or at some army meeting. He wants to go into the Marines when he graduates.

"I can't wait to get outta here." She says, looking down at her styrofoam cup. "Away from here, y'know?" Riley nods. "Less than a hundred days til I can finally leave!"

"And I'll be right back here for graduation." He tells her, his hand wrapping around hers. "I promise."

"You better, Riley Green." She smiles back, chewing on the end of her straw. "I'll kick your ass if you don't."

"That I'd like to see." He smiles back. "C'mon, we've got songs to write, Lottie Cross." She grins and tosses their trash away as they head to his truck.

+++

"Charlotte Mackenzie Cross." The principal at the podium says, applause following. Lottie stands and adjusts her red graduation gown, that big beautiful smile of hers on her face as she crosses the stage.

"Yeah Lot!" Riley shouts, his voice booming over the applause as he stands with her. "Woo!"

She shakes the three outstretched hands then sits back down and waits for her boyfriend's name to be called.

"Caleb Joseph Hicks."

"Woo!" Lottie cheers for him, reaching over to give his hand a squeeze. "Love you, Hoss." She says. He leans down and kisses her before heading to the front of the stage.

Riley feels a sharp pangs of jealousy in his chest at the sight. Lottie and Hoss were seen like royalty in the halls of the high school and everyone knows that they're together.

The 'it' couple, as it were.

As soon as the ceremony is over, Riley is there with open arms for the new graduate. "I'm so proud of you, Lot." He says into her ear, holding her tight.

"Let's hit Lou's then get to packin'!"

"Lottie." Hoss calls from behind them. "Can we talk?"

"Sure." She nods before turning back to Riley. "I'll meet you back at your truck." Riley gives Lottie's arm a squeeze before heading to his old squarebody Chevy.

"We graduated!" She grins, wrapping her arms around her boyfriend.

Hoss forces a chuckle before prying her arms from around his neck. "I'm going to basic training in the fall."

"Good for you!" She smiles but it falters when she sees his expression. "What?"

Hoss sits them on a nearby bench. "It's in South Carolina." She swallows hard, knowing where this is going. "And I'm gonna be gone for a few months."

"Just say what the fuck you wanna say, Hoss."

"I'm breakin' up with you." Knowing and hearing those words is totally different. "I don't want you to be tied down when I'm not even in town. That ain't fair to you."

She nods, looking down at the program and cap in her hand. "Thanks, I guess. That's pretty considerate." She stands. "Just as well, I'm leavin' soon, too."

"You're actually goin'? To Nashville with him?"

"Yep. You've known that."

Hoss nods as he stands too. "Good luck then." He gives her an awkward, slightly forced hug then walks away.

Lottie manages to keep tears in as she walks to Riley's truck. She plasters a fake smile to her face as she throws her cap and gown into the cab of his truck. "What did Hoss want?"

"We broke up." She says nonchalantly.

"Oh Lot, I'm so sorry."

It is what it is." She shrugs. "Said he's movin' to Carolina and didn't want me bein' tied down."

"At least he was thinkin' 'bout you, y'know?"

"I don't- I don't want to talk 'bout this anymore, Ri. Can we just get my stuff?" She sniffles quietly, looking away from her best friend as he shifts into drive and heads to the trailer she's currently residing in to finally collect her things so she can get the hell outta Alexandria, Alabama.