"Ella, are you coming?" my brother Nick called from downstairs.

"Nick, I need ten more minutes!" I shouted back and I heard him groan before feet started up the stairs.

I wrapped my towel around myself more tightly and began to search for something to wear in my giant closet. I had way too many choices and it was just too much for an indecisive person like me.

"You're not even dressed yet Annabella?"

"Nick Santino don't you dare call me that or I will kill you." I threatened stopping what I was doing to glare at him.

"Okay, I'm sorry. You don't need to give me the look."

"You better be sorry."

"Okay evil, why aren't you dressed yet?"

"I don't know what to wear!"

"How are you gonna be late for your own graduation party?"

"Nick, when was the last time I was on time for my own party?"

Nick was quiet for a moment as he tapped his chin thoughtfully. I giggled knowing he wouldn't be able to think of a time as I stepped back into the closet. I was pushing through the clothes when Nick made a funny sound.

"I got it! Your fifth birthday party, I was seven. You were on time; actually you were waiting in the window for everyone to show up."

"Woo hoo Nicky." I said and Nick glared at me.

"Can you just get ready?"

"Can you get out so I can get ready?"

"Not until you chose what to wear. I know you, I'll leave and come back a half hour later and you will still be here trying to find something to wear."

"Fine! Just help me Nick." I whined.

"Okay, wear this." Nick said pulling a dress from the hanger and I wrinkled my nose.

"No."

"Then wear this." he said pulling a shirt and a pair of jeans down next.

"That's not nice enough for the party!"

"Ella! Just chose something. You are so difficult."

"Nick, it's my day and I will be as difficult as I want."

"El, every day is your day. I've never met anyone so spoiled."

"But you know you love me."

"Of course I do but you're driving me bananas." he said before stopping for a moment and looking at something in the back of my closet. "How about this? It still has tags on it."

Nick pulled a navy blue strapless dress with flowers on it and a bow at the waist from the back. I took it from Nick and looked at it. I ran my fingers over the fabric and then looked up at Nick.

"I don't even remember buying this."

"Well it's cute. Wear it." Nick said before walking out of the closet and then out of my room.

I went over to my dresser and pulled out my bathing suit. I put on the cute blue and white striped bikini before slipping on the dress. I looked into the mirror and I made a noise of approval, I did look nice in this.

I walked back to my closet just as I heard the door open and I looked back to see Nick's best friend Eric Halvorsen in my doorway. "I missed you Ellie." Halvo said as I scrambled to get up and over to him.

"I missed you Halvo! I didn't think you were going to come!" I said kissing his cheek.

"Well I didn't think I was going to but then John suggested we drive up here so we took a road trip."

"John and the guys are here?"

"Yes."

"I'll be done in five minutes!" I said.

Halvo walked out and I ran around my room straightening it up a bit so I wouldn't have to later before I ran out of my room. I shut the door softly behind me before I hopped down the stairs. I slowed when I saw my German Shepherd Princess. I patted her head gently and then ran into the kitchen and to the glass sliding door.

My backyard was already crowded with various friends and family members as I stepped out onto the deck. I stood on my tippy toes as I tried to spot Nick, Halvo, John or one of the other guys. I sighed and stuck out my bottom lip in a pout when I couldn't spot any of them when there were suddenly arms around me.

"Ellie!" someone shouted as they lifted me up.

"Stop! My dress!" I shouted as my dress began to ride up.

"Oops."

The person dropped me and I landed on my feet nimbly before tugging my dress down. I turned and saw John O'Callaghan was standing in front of me and I squealed.

"Johnny!"

"I missed you Ellie."

"I missed you too." I said as I jumped into his arms. He squeezed me to him and I let my head rest on his chest.

"How are you doing my love?"

"I'm good. I graduated!"

"I noticed El; I mean this party is for you."

"Shut up John." I said pushing him and he caught my wrists.

"Oh calm down princess…..speaking of which, where's the tiara?" John teased and I put my hand on my hips.

The first time I met John was last year at my seventeenth birthday party. Nick had invited The Maine boys (The Maine is John's band.) and Halvo who had just joined my brother's band, A Rocket to the Moon. John had been the first out of all the guys to introduce himself and offer me a happy birthday. I had worn a tiara that night and John never stopped teasing me about it but I didn't mind, I loved John. We had become close, talking every day and when he could he came to visit me which wasn't very often.

"Where are the rest of the guys?" I asked while bouncing excitedly.

"They're somewhere around here with your brother and Halvo." John said searching around for the guys. John had a good ten inches on me and could see much more then I could.

I looked up at John's face and smiled when I realized he hadn't changed much in the past year. He was still just as skinny and tall while his brown hair was still just as long if not longer. John was smiling widely and he had his hand on his bony hip.

"There!" John pointed towards the pool and I jumped off of the porch before running towards the pool.

I ran towards the guys and jumped on Kennedy who was closest to me. He fell back into the grass and I straddled his hips. "Kenny!"

"Ella, is there a reason you tackled me?"

"I missed you, I missed you so much!"

"I missed you too….but you tackled me!"

"I got that Kenny." I said as I climbed off of him and pulled up the top of my dress so it would cover my chest and then pulled down the bottom where my butt was hanging out.

"Nice ass." Halvo said and I jumped so my butt was facing the pool instead of him.

"Shut up dude!" Nick said punching Halvo's arm.

"Sorry."

"Ella, please don't run around in that dress like that. I don't want anybody to see your butt."

"Why? It's nice….right Halvo?" I cooed and Nick flicked my ear.

"Stop that, stop that right now." Nick said.

I laughed and stared up at him. We were so different it was crazy. My hair was light brown, Nick's was dyed red. I had big brown eyes, Nick had greeny blue eyes. He was 6'2, I was 5'4. Our only similarity was that we were both really skinny. Everyone was always amazed when Nick said I was his little sister.

"How are you boys? I thought I was going to have to wait until the end of June to see you guys." I said hugging both Pat and Garrett at once.

"We're good. And are you ready for tour?" Jared questioned as I threw my arms around him.

I nodded happily. As I said before my brother was in a band and so were the guys. They would be touring this summer with another band called All Time Low. I had never met the All Time Low guys but according to my brother and the rest of the guys they were awesome.

"I can't wait!"

"Good. Maybe we can actually make you work for once. You're gonna have a blast being merch bitch." Nick teased and I glared at him.

"I work!"

"Really? Doing what?"

"I was on the field hockey team and on the softball team! Plus I was in all AP classes!"

"Yeah but did you ever have a job?"

"I had a lot of other stuff to keep me busy."

"Mhm. Okay."

"You're a brat."

"I try." Nick said and I punched his arm.

"Ow." I hissed and Nick laughed.

I glared at him before stomping off away from him. I walked over to one of the tables where the food was. I quickly grabbed a plate and piled a bunch of fruit on it before sitting down beside the pool and sticking my feet in. A lot of my friends were already inside and some yelled hi to me. I waved back and started to pop a piece of pineapple into my mouth.

"What's the matter brat?"

I turned and saw John was beside me. "Why am I a brat?"

"Because, that face. Looks like a brat's face."

"What do you mean?"

"That pout, you have it down."

"I'm a daddy's girl, what do you expect?" I questioned as I kicked my feet in the water.

"I don't know, you're not your typical daddy's girl."

"Why do you say that?"

"Well you aren't ditzy, you aren't a bitch, you aren't a brat and you don't expect everything to be just given to you."

"Oh."

"Yeah, so are you excited for tour?"

"Yes! I'm gonna be sleeping in your van a lot because I'm not sleeping in the same enclosed space as Halvo."

"It's cool, you can sleep with me." John said winking and I giggled before pushing him away.

"Ha, very funny John." I said and he gave me his crooked smile.

"I didn't mean it in a sexual way. I mean besides Garrett you're my best friend." he said leaning his head on my shoulder.

"You're my best friend too."

"Good, so I'm gonna be keeping an eye out for you this tour."

"I can take care of myself."

"I know you can but I don't want you falling victim to any pretty band boy's charms."

"Band boys are gross, they smell like Halvo and Nick." I said and John laughed.

"Just please keep that mentality, I don't want you hooking up with any band guys."

"Okay John, stop being so protective, Nick is already too much."

"I'm sorry, just worry about you. You're my girly friend and I don't want any dumbasses breaking your heart."

"Alright John, spit it out. Who are you thinking of?" I asked. I knew he had to be talking about one guy from one of the bands on tour. I knew my brother's band and The Maine would never hit on me so it had to be one of the All Time Low guys.

"No one."

"Johnny!" I whined and he sighed.

"Alex Gaskarth, okay? He's a man whore and you're exactly the kind of girl he'll go after."

"What do you mean?"

"You're smart, funny, cute, you're prime game and he's got a record."

"Oh don't worry John, I'm not gonna fall for some douchebag who thinks he's a hotshot." I said and John gave me a doubtful look. "Come on, let's forget about this. Let's go swimming." I said and John nodded before standing up.

I watched him walk away to go get his bag from the car so he could change and I shimmied out of my dress. I threw it on the chair beside my mother before running and jumping into the pool. The water was cool against my hot skin and I floated on my back as I thought about what John said. I was interested about this Alex Gaskarth kid and what he had done that was so bad that he had John worrying…