Nick In Real Life
"You can do it! Its just family! Come on Nick!" I reassured myself as I pulled into my parents driveway, I climbed out of the car slowly and walked up the drive to the front door. I hadn't even knocked before the door was opened and I was pulled in. "Nick!" I was immediately bombarded with hugs as soon as I entered my parents house. "Mom! Hey." I hugged my mom tight and gave her a kiss on her cheek. "I have missed you so much." my mom said as she ushered me into the living room where everyone else was sitting around the fireplace. I took in the scene and couldn't help but smile.
The room was warm like every room in my parents house. The walls were a deep red and flames from the fire flickered shadows against the wall. The best part of the room was the towering Christmas tree. Each branch was covered in a assortment of expensive and homemade ornaments. Underneath the tree, gifts were spread all around it. It was just like any other Christmas. Lastly I took in my family who were sitting together and laughing.
Kevin my oldest brother was sitting on the floor holding his sleeping two year old daughter Anna in his lap. Beside him sat his wife of four years Carley. It had been love at first sight for the two. Carley had taken her sister to one of our concerts and the whole night the two couldn't take their eyes off each other. Carley was gorgeous with long honey blond hair and blue eyes. Her stomach bulged out slightly and was holding their second child. Anna looked just like both of her parents. She had blond hair that fell in soft curls and her fathers hazel eyes.
Lounging in an armchair was Joe my second oldest brother. Currently he was sitting in the chair and trying to slyly shake a present. I noticed that his hair had grown out quite a bite since the last time I had seen him. Other than that though he looked like the same ole Joe. and My father and Frankie were sitting on the couch playing a card game. Frankie had grown up a ton since the last time I had seen him. Everyone said that he was a mix o f me and my two brothers. In looks and personality.
Almost as quick as my mom had greeted me everyone jumped up and hugs were given from the rest of my family. After the short reunion I sat down next to my dad on the couch. "So Nicholas! Any new girlfriends?" Joe asked me with an amused look. I glared at him and just shook my head as an answer.
"What about you Joe? Where is your girlfriend?" I asked him with a grin. "Oh! She is coming ! She just got caught up in traffic." Joe shot back at me and I raised an eyebrow. "I can't wait to meet her Joseph" my mom spoke up as she sat on the arm of the couch and smiled happily at her family.
"Ah! The infamous girlfriend! Are we finally going to meet her?" Kevin asked and shot me a smirk that made me laugh. "Yes!" Joe pouted and stuck his tongue out at Kevin.
"Is there really a girl at all, Joe?" I tried to keep a straight face as I said this. "YES! She is a real person who I am dating. I swear! Guys she is real! Ugh! Mommm make them leave me alone." Joe whined and throw a couch pillow at my head. I ducked and the pillow hit the wall instead.
"Nick! Kevin! Leave your brother alone." A smile was on my mom's face though so I knew she wasn't too serious. "I'm sure there is a girl honey." Our mom reassured Joe and then winked at everyone else. Making everyone but Joe bust out laughing.
Anna's sudden coughing fit interrupted our laughter though. Kevin sighed and felt his daughter's head, "She's still warm." Carley gave Anna a sad smile and looked up at my mom, "Denise, do you have any kid cough medicine?" My mom got up and walked into the kitchen to check. A minute later she came back and shook her head.
"I'll go to the store then." Kevin stood up and checked his pocket for his keys. "You stay. I need to get some stuff anyways." I lied and motioned for Kevin to sit back down. Kevin shot me a thankful smile and I got up and grabbed the jacket I had just taken off.
"I'll be back in a few." I shouted to my family and headed outside. The cold air bit at my nose causing me to grip my coat closer to my body. I got in my car and turned up the radio. I laughed slightly when I heard my own voice belt out my newest single. My solo album was coming out at the beginning of the new year. Yep solo! After we all found out that Carley was pregnant he decided to take a break from the band. This turned permanent after the baby was born and Kevin said that he wouldn't go on tour until his little angel was grown up. Now with another one on the way it seemed like it would be a long time before our reunion tour.
So now I live in California working on my music and doing the Hollywood scene. Kevin has settled down in New Jersey and lives near my parents. He has been running the music center at the church that Dad works at.
Joe now lives in New York, he has been working on his dream of becoming a director. No luck yet, but he is working on it.
We don't see each other often but we were still as close as always.
I was lost in my thoughts and almost pasted the road that turned into the grocery store. I made the trip quick grabbing the medicine and paying. I was almost to my car when I noticed a small music store open. It looked neat enough and I had been looking for a CD. I walked into the store and walked around searching for the M's. I was at the K's when I ran into someone making us both fall on the ground.
"Ow" a girl's voice sounded muffled and my face turned bright red as I saw that I was on top of her. I immediately jumped up and offered her a hand. "Thanks." she mumbled and rubbed her head. I took that moment to take her all in. She was beautiful.
She had dark brown hair that fell in soft waves over her shoulder. Her body curved in all the right places and the red dress that she wore fit her to a T! I admire the fashionable black pea coat that she wore over her dress. Her eyes were what really memorized me though. They were a penetrating green and I couldn't stop looking into them.
"Falling for me already?" She asked with a grin and I snapped out of checking her out and blushed. This only made her grin widen. "I'm Lorelai." she held out her hand and I stared at it for a moment. "What? You can fall on top of a girl but you can't shake her hand?" Lorelai teased me and I finally regained myself. I grabbed Lorelai's hand and smiled at her, "I'm Nick. Sorry about the whole falling on you thing."
"No problem! Happens all the time." Lorelai smiled at me and I felt my knees go weak. "Really?" I heard myself say and regretted it the moment it came out. "Oh Yea! People fall on me all the time. I think its because of my skin. I mean I am so pale that I'm almost see through. I am like the invisible women." She answered sarcastically and I let out a chuckle. She reminded me of Joe a bit.
We both stood there for a moment, neither of us saying anything. It was getting a bit awkward. "So..." I let out the word with a sigh. Just then I spotted the CD I was looking for behind Lorelai. I moved forward a step and grabbed the CD, "YES!"
"Metro Station." I realized that she was reading the name over my shoulder. "Nice choice. Interested in helping me find a CD?" she asked and I smirked at my luck. I could tell that she was at least a little interested in me and I was extremely interested in her.
"Sure! What are you looking for?" I put on my best serious face and popped the collar to my coat. "Well...something good...and older. I am thinking 80's possible." She stroked her chin as if she was deep in thought.
"Hmmm..." I thought about it for a moment and then walked around the isles of CDs with her behind me. I picked up two CDs and then turned to Lorelai with a grin. "Now here we have some great 80's choices!" I pulled an Bangles CD from behind my back, "The Bangles! With some great song choices such as Eternal Flame and Walk Like A Egyptian!"
Lorelai grabbed the CD out of my hand and read the back of the CD humming Manic Monday slightly, "Great choice." I nodded and then pulled the second Cd from behind my back, "Now here I have Corey Hart! You never can go wrong with Corey Hart. I mean truthfully his songs inspire my life." I whipped a pair of red ray bands out of my coat pocket and put them on. "Oh yeah! I wear my sunglasses at night."
Lorelai started to laugh and pulled a pair of sunglasses out of her own coat pocket, "So I can watch you weave." We both started to laugh and she headed toward the cashier with me close behind her.
"I like this and.." I handed her the other CD, "and this." Lorelai paid for the CDs and waited for me while I bought mine. "Thanks for the help." Lorelai smiled that teasing smile of hers while I opened the door for her. "No problem. So I guess this is goodbye?" I questioned as we both stepped out into the bitter cold. "Doesn't have to be." Lorelai smiled and waited for me to say something. "Can I see your cellphone?" I asked suddenly out of the blue.
"Sure?" Lorelai looked at me like I was crazy but nonetheless handed me her cell. I quickly entered my number into her contacts despite the cold air that had frozen my fingers.
"Ah." Lorelai looked down at her new contact and smiled. The phone in her hand started to buzz and she looked down at it her smile disappearing. "I need to take this. It was really nice meeting you. Bye." Her sudden change in mood confused me. She seemed almost guilty as she answered her phone and walked to her car. She had drove off without a wave before I had even got to mine.
As I walked to mine I wondered if I would ever see her again. The whole way back to the house all I could think about was Lorelai. Her beauty, her laughter, her sarcasm...
Before long I was back at my parents house and I was in such a dreamy mood I didn't even notice the new car parked in the driveway. I found Kevin waiting by the door anxiously for me and the medicine. "Thanks." he said as I handed him the bag with the medicine in it.
"You look happy?" Kevin noticed my ever growing smile. "Well I met this girl at the music store. She was amazing, pretty and funny. I can't stop thinking about her." I smiled dreamily thinking about her. "Aww! Nick's got a crush." Kevin grinned at me and I just rolled my eyes. "Speaking of girls, Joe's mystery girl arrived and boy she is a looker." Kevin nodded toward the living room and my eyes got wide.
We went separate way Kevin to tend to his sick daughter and me to check out Joe's girlfriend. I walked into the living room and what I saw was totally unexpected. "Hey! Nick meet my real girlfriend." Joe jumped up and pushed forward a beautiful girl happily.
"Hey Nick! I'm uh...Lorelai."