Chapter 1 - City Slicker

Miley's POV

He was coming today to a tiny town in the middle of Tennessee. Most people would wonder why he would want to visit such a small town so far off the map. The answer? He doesn't. He is being forced by his parents to get an attitude adjustment; to remind him that everything in life isn't just given to you. He has never known hard work, and yes by "he" I mean none other than Nate Grey. My dad, being the kind of guy he is took Nate's dad up on the offer of keeping his son for a whole summer, which means I'll spend my whole summer babysitting a good for nothing city boy who probably doesn't even know the meaning of the word 'plow.' My daddy couldn't see why I was so upset. I remember when he first told me.

"Dad! You can't just bring him here! Why is he even coming anyway? Like I want to have to spend my summer with him." I had jumped up from my sitting position on the couch. My Dad had just told me the horrible news.

"Come on, Miles. I don't see what the big deal is. Ain't girls everywhere just dying to meet this boy? I thought you'd be excited." I could see the hurt on his face, but that wasn't going to stop me from putting up a fight.

"Yeah, other girls who are silly enough to believe that he'd fall for them. I on the other hand know that he is just a spoiled little rich brat. Isn't that why he's coming here in the first place?"

"No, he's coming here to learn the meaning of hard work."

"Once again; spoiled brat."

"Miley Ray! That is enough! This boy is coming this summer whether you want him to or not, and I'm not gonna have any more complaining. You hear me?"

"Yes sir, I hear you."

And that was that. He was coming and I kept my mouth shut for the next few weeks.

"Miley Ray, you want to go with me to pick up the boy?" I gave my dad such an evil look that he just smirked and walked off saying, "I know you're mighty upset Miles, but his dad's a great friend of mine and I couldn't turn him down. That just wouldn't be right of me." I softened a little, my dad was right, it's not his fault his friend needed help, only thing he could do was to offer it.

"I guess you're right Daddy, but I ain't going with you. I'll stay put right here 'til you get back." I might understand my dad's situation, but that doesn't mean I gotta go do everything with him.

"That's fine by me. Why don't you go ahead and get dinner going." He said as he tugged on his work boots. He wore those things everywhere; to work, to the store, to church. Come to think of it, I hadn't ever seen my dad go somewhere without them.

"Sure thing, Daddy." I said and he walked out the door. That's how it worked at my house. I cooked, cleaned, and went to school. Dad worked out on the farm and took care of fixing the things that needed to be fixed. We have had this system ever since my mom died two years ago. It was okay, I guess. I don't hang out with friends much because I hate leaving Daddy home alone. I go to major things like town parties or school events and every now and then I go see a movie with my best friend, Demi. It's just hard to do the things most teens do when you have so much on your plate. Now watching after this city slicker was going to be another thing.

I decided to start on dinner, but had no idea what to make. I didn't know the kind of things they ate out west, or if Nate would even like the things I was going to make. So I decided that I was going to make a nice southern meal for him, and if he didn't like it then he didn't have to eat. I peeled the potatoes and breaded the chicken. After I put the chicken in the oven I started on the Mac N Cheese. It was my dad's and mines favorite side dish and we ate it almost every night. Once that was done I started mashing the potatoes, and cooked the green beans. I had just finished when I heard my dad's old truck pull up the gravel driveway, and I knew I was in for one heck of a night.

Nate's POV

I was sitting in this truck with this stranger. He sat over in the passenger seat mumbling about the work I will be doing. This guy was supposed to be my father's best friend? They couldn't be more opposite each other. My dad wore a suit, always, every single day, his hair neatly combed over to the side, and shiny, black dress shoes. This guy was wearing a plaid flannel shirt, a pair of faded blue jeans, a pair of old worn out work boots, and his hair was in a mess. I laughed silently to myself at the thought of those two hanging out.

"Here we are." We came to the end of what I thought was a dirt road; instead it turned out to be his driveway. His very long drive way. I looked at the house, and it was different than I expected. It was nice. It had two floors and a wraparound porch with two rocking chairs sitting on it. I had expected a tiny shack that could barely stand up by itself out in the middle of nowhere. Well I got the out in the middle of nowhere part right.

"So do I just leave my bags here and you'll get them later or what?" The man just laughed at me.

"Is there something wrong with your arms?" I looked at the man confused but he just continued to look back at me.

"No, there is nothing wrong with my arms." I told him just as seriously as he had asked me.

"Then there must be something wrong with your brain if you think I'm gonna carry those dad-gum bags for you. The only people I carry bags for are women and the elderly and seeing as you are clearly neither of those I believe you can get them yourself." After that he just opened the truck door and walked out. I just sat there staring at his back dumb-founded. I had never had someone say something like that to me. Come to think of it I have never carried my own bags before.

I got out and then went around to the back where my bags were. I hoisted them onto my back and into my arms and then walked inside the house. Immediately the smell of food hit me. I laid my bags in front of the stairs and walked in the direction of what I assumed to be the kitchen. I saw Billy Ray, the man who picked me up standing there with who I assumed to be his daughter. She also wasn't what I had expected. She was beautiful to say the least; plain, but beautiful. She wore her hair loose so that it fell in gentle waves down her back. She didn't wear much make-up but then again it didn't look like she really needed it. She had a yellow sun-dress on and a pair of cowboy boots, and was glaring at me with full force.

"Nate, I would like to introduce you to my daughter, Miley Ray, but you can just call her Miley." I glanced back to her but she was already busy setting the table.

"Hi." I said, but she just ignored me and continued with what she was doing. That was definitely not something I was used to. First the glare and then ignored my greeting; something told me she wasn't very happy about having me as a guest this summer. What happened to southern hospitality?

"Well, Nate, I'll show you to your room but first, let's eat!" I sat down at what I guessed would be my spot. Billy took the head of the table and I sat across from Miley, making a little triangle. I looked at the food and started to load up my plate.

"We say grace first." It was the first words she had spoken to me, but I can see the anger in her eyes at my ignorance of their tradition. I sat the spoon to the mashed potatoes down and Billy said grace. Afterwards they loaded their plates so I assumed it was safe to do the same. Miley and her dad discussed town events and the big town dance going down in someone's barn. That's when the conversation turned to me.

"Well that's great." Billy said. "That's a perfect time for you to show Nate the town and to introduce him to some of your friends." I smiled at this. I wouldn't mind some personal time with Miley, but apparently she did.

"What, Dad? No! Why should I be stuck babysitting him? I had plans of my own to do that night! I don't want to have to come home early because he couldn't handle it!" Ouch, babysitting?

"Include him in your plans." He said as he simply continued eating.

"UGH!" She stormed from the table with only half of her plate finished. I started to wonder what I did to piss her off so badly, but didn't get too far into my thoughts.

"Well, come on Nate, I'll show you to your room." We got up from the table and went up the stairs to a room that was the second door down the hallway. I opened it to find a twin sized bed, a dresser and door that lead to a Jack-N-Jill bathroom.

"Where's the TV?" I asked as Billy was about to leave the room.

He once again just laughed, "There ain't one. And Miley's next door and I'm down the hall. You need anything just ask." He chuckled to himself as he closed the door, and I knew one thing, this was going to be one long summer.

Author's Note: Hey guys! I hope you like it! Let me know what you think! Review pleaseeee! (: