Chapter 2
“I still can’t believe you guys are going to stay a whole month.” I said in-between bites of ice cream. We were camped out in my room, eating my grandparents’ famous homemade ice cream. Kevin was sitting with me on my bed. Joe was sprawled out on the floor looking through all the books in my bookcase. Nick was sitting on the floor leaning on my bed, by my feet.
I shifted my weight on the bed, sitting Indian style. “Aren’t you going to miss doing shows and all that stuff?”
Joe pulled out a book and started flipping through it. “Labor of love, babe.”
“Hey guys, isn’t today July 1st?” Kevin asked.
“Huh, I think it is.” Nick said mischievously.
Joe got up and jumped on the bed beside me, throwing his arms around me. “Gabby, don’t you turn eleven or something on the 9th?”
I shot him a look. “Yeah, I turn a year older then you.”
Nick laughed. “Dude, you got poned!”
Kevin leaned over and gave me a high five. “Thank you. He needed an ego deflator.”
Joe slid off the bed onto the floor and sulked. I giggled at him. “Aw…woe is Joe.”
I flipped on the stomach. I was restless and the ice cream didn’t help that much either. I found myself staring into Nick’s curly hair. So I did the only thing that seemed logically at the time. I started braiding it. He just chuckled and let me do my thing. Nick was just awesome like that. “So Gabby, what are you going to do for your sweet 16?”
I sighed. I had been expecting that. I shrugged. “More than likely nothing.”
Joe’s head shot up. “What?” He asked bewildered.
“Oh man! I already got your stuff!” Kevin complained.
I concentrated more on braiding Nick’s hair. Stupid boys. Now I felt guilty. “I guess you can buy me stuff. If you have to.”
Joe shook his head at me. “No party.” Her tone full of disbelieve.
I rolled my eyes and threw a pillow at him. “Enough with the pity party, guys. I’ll think about it. If it makes you guys feel better, go buy me stuff.”
“Then a party?” Joe asked. “An itty bitty one?”
“She said she’d think about it, Joe.” Nick said, defending me.
“Thank you.” I ran my fingers through his hair and was shocked by the thrill that went through me. What scared me the most was how much I liked it.
Nick’s P.O.V
I sat on the floor, letting Gabby play with my hair. I wasn’t exactly sure of what she was doing to it, but it kept her happy and busy. Plus, I loved the surge of electricity that went through me, when she touched me. I felt her separate each curl and run her fingers through them.
I would never tell her. But I was the one that asked to stay longer. At first we were only to visit for a week or two. But I begged dad to let us stay longer. I had been getting restless to see her, and it was driving my brothers crazy.
I had never felt this way about any one before. I wasn’t even sure when it started. I wasn’t really sure of anything these days. I do know, though, that I almost had a heart attack when I saw her this morning. And when she slipped her arm through mine, I’m surprised I didn’t die right there.
“Nick, dude? Are you even listening?” Kevin’s voice cut through my thoughts.
“What? Sorry, I was thinking.” Joe gave me a smile. I hadn’t told my brothers yet, but I think they know. You can’t really have secrets in my family.
Kevin was still talking. “I was saying that we’re going to go get Janessa and Chelsea and maybe go to the mall.”
Joe smirked. “Unless you’d rather stay here and get your hair braided more.”
“Huh?” I put a hand in my hair. There were rows of loose wavy braids. “Aw, Gabby. That’s not cool.”
She laughed that musical laugh of hers and started to undo the braids. “Oh, come on. You’re no fun anymore, Nick.”
There was a knock at the door and Gabby jumped up to get it. I was no fun, huh? I growled playfully and grabbed her jean’s leg. I only meant to slow her done, but instead she started to lose her balance. I grunted as she fell hard into my lap.
She stated at me with wide eyes. Those big blue eyes. Then it hit me. I just pulled her into my lap. By accident, but still. Kevin and Joe watched us with amused looks. To my surprise, she smiled and wrapped her arms around my neck. “Why, hello Nicholas!”
I laughed, relived she wasn’t mad or going to cause me any physical pain.
The door opened and two girls walked in. “Um, are we interrupting anything?”
“It’s Janessa!” Gabby cried out happily, removing her arms from around me. She went to get up, but I slid me hands around her waist, keeping her down.
“Nick.” She hit my leg and I let her go. She ran and hugged the two girls.
“Are you guys ready to go to the mall, yet?” The shortest girl, Chelsea asked.
“I am!” Janessa said, combing her fingers through her short reddish hair.
“I second it!” Gabby chimed in, grabbing her purse. As if on cue all three girls rushed to the mirror, doing last minute touch-ups to their hair and makeup.
I rolled my eyes and pulled myself up off the floor, my brothers joining me.
“You three look wonderful.” Kevin said while walking out the door. “Now let’s go.”
Joe squeezed in the middle of the girls and mock fixed his hair, doing different poses in front of the mirror. We all laughed and headed out of the house. Maybe I’m just crazy, but the whole night Gabby kept watching me. She looked almost confused with her brow wrinkled. It’s the same look she gets when Joe tries to explain a math problem to her, but she just can’t get it.
Eventually we all ended up in the tour bus, watching a movie. I was on the couch with Joe on one side of me, Gabby on the other. We were half way into the movie, when I felt something lay on my shoulder. I looked over to find Gabby sound asleep, her head on my shoulder. I smiled and brushed her bangs out of her eyes. I yawned, suddenly tried. I laid my cheek on the top of her head and fell fast asleep.
OK, tell me what you guys think.