AN: Ok I know I said it was a oneshot, but then my sister's birthday was coming up and I wanted to do something for her. This chapter is the result. She has given me permission to share this with you. Please R&R.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize.

Chapter 2: Happy Birthday

Charissa and Nate had become great friend over the course of the summer. They spent more time with each other than anyone else. She had learned guitar, as she had promised her mother she would, but the rest of her time was spent largely talking and roaming the camp with her famous guitar tutor. They had, with his persuasion, performed at several of the camp jams, her only rule being that she didn't perform alone. Before long rumors were flying around camp that they were dating, they continuously admitted that they were only friends, though they new the media wouldn't see it that way if they got any pictures.

"I don't know what my friends back home would do if they went to the store and saw a us together on the cover of a magazine." Charissa told him during one of their walks.

"Well we could stop hanging out if it worries you," he said, starting to unlink their arms.

"No!" she exclaimed. He smirked and arched an eyebrow. "I mean…"

"You think it's worth the risk?" Nate asked.

"Yeah," she said looking down, and kicked the pine cone in front of her.

Nate's smile brightened, "I think so too."

On the last day of camp she and Nate sat on the steps outside class room where they met and talked about the summer, and everything they had done. Before long they had stopped talking, just enjoying the moment. Suddenly Nate's phone rang. Startling them from what had been a comfortable silence. He sighed and answered knowing it would mean the end of his stay at camp.

Charissa looked regretfully at the small piece of technology. She had developed a bit of a crush on her friend and was in no hurry to see him leave. The summer had been like something out of one of her sister's stories and she really didn't want to go back to her normal life back at home. She watched Nate as he subconsciously paced while on the phone.

"Does it have to be right now?" He asked whoever was on the other end of the line. "Well I was hoping for a few more minutes." There was a pause and Nate smiled. "Paint still needs to dry. Jason you are awesome and your birdhouse rocks. Thanks so much. Ten minutes is enough I guess, yeah, see you in a few." He shut the phone, turning back to Charissa. "That was the guys, looks like we are leaving pretty soon."

She nodded sadly. "I figured."

"Hey, no sad faces," He claimed, lifting her head with two fingers under her chin. "I actually have something I want to talk to you about."

Charissa was curious, "What's left, we've talked about everything."

"I was wondering if you would be my girlfriend." He said softly, it was somewhere between a request and a question.

Charissa couldn't do anything other than stare. Really? Is he serious or is he going to smile and say "just kidding" any minute now she thought to herself.

Nate misinterpreted her silence, "Shoot, I'm sorry, I just really messed things up didn't I. I'll take it back, things can go back to how they were, don't worry about it."

"Yes," she mumbled. She had just gained enough of her brain back to answer his first statement. Of course she wanted to be Nate's girlfriend.

"What?" Nate was slightly shocked. He could've sworn that she liked him too. Well I've been wrong before I guess, can't go back on my word now.

"Yes, I'll be your girlfriend," she explained. Nate's look of rejection instantly transformed into one of relief and then to one of total happiness. He wrapped her in a hug and kissed her on the cheek. She giggled.

"You have no idea how nervous I was," he confessed.

"I could tell a little," she laughed, holding up her fingers indicating how little. He laughed a long.

"What the speed talking gave me away?" He joked.

"Well that and your hands were shaking. But other than that, no signs at all." They both smiled but then he turned serious.

"This isn't going to be easy; I'm going on tour, and then the studio," Nate frowned this time. Why did his schedule have to be so crazy?

Charissa frowned too, but remembered what he had said earlier, "What did you say about sad faces again? There's got to be a way. It's not like you are falling of the face of the earth."

"Yeah, you're right I guess." He smiled again, "we can do this." Just then he got a text message. "Looks like we are actually leaving this time," he sighed.

They stood up and walked to the front of the camp hand in hand. When they got to the band's limo Nate turned to her.

"See you later baby," he said sweetly. She smiled and he kissed her on the hand and the on the cheek.

"Bye," she replied as they hugged. He got in the car and Charissa watched as it pulled away, waving until it turned the corner out of sight.

- - - - -

It was now November and Nate and Charissa were still together. They talked on the phone as much as possible, she had been able to go back stage and spend time with him when the tour came to her city, but other than that they didn't see each other very often.

"Come on Charissa," her sister, Samantha, complained. She was trying to move a table out onto the back patio. It was Charissa birthday and her party was due to start in fifteen minutes and the decorations weren't finished yet.

"I am!" She called back. She was hoping to hear from Nate. It was her birthday after all. As her mother put the finishing touches on the streamers the doorbell rang. Charissa's friends all arrived with in the first half hour as the party was in full swing. She and her friends were in the middle of watching a Connect 3 concert when the doorbell rang.

"Can you get that?" Charissa asked her sister, who was sitting on the couch reading.

"I think it's for you," she stated simply and made no sign that she would be getting up. Charissa huffed, paused the DVD, and went to answer the door. Samantha moved to the hallway to see who it was as well.

Charissa opened the door and her jaw dropped.

"Happy Birthday," a familiar voice said.

"Nate! Oh my gosh." She had so many questions but more than anything she was thrilled to see him. She opened the door to let him in. He handed her a bouquet of flowers and gave her a hug and a quick kiss. By then all of her friends had come to see who was at the door. Most of them stood like statues, to stunned to really do anything.

"Well I heard you were having a party, and being I'm your boyfriend I figured I was invited." Nate was thrilled to see Charissa again, it had been too long and he had missed her. Talking on the phone just wasn't the same as being around her.

"How did you?" She couldn't finish her sentence but he knew what she was saying. He motioned past her to her sister, who was still standing, amused, in the hallway.

"I told you the door was for you," she said smiling.

"Thank you so much!" Charissa ran over and hugged her sister before returning to Nate.

"Oh, I hope you don't mind but I brought a couple of friends with me. Is that ok?" He asked, knowing her answer.

"Um, sure."

He turned towards the open door, "Hey guys, come on in." Muffled squeaks could be heard around the room as Shane walked in followed by Jason.

"Wow, ok, Connect 3 at my house… for my birthday." Charissa was in shock, though not nearly as much as her guests. Samantha decided to take charge and guide things back towards into the house.

"Ok let's move back into the family room shall we. Hi, I'm Sam, Charissa's sister." She introduced herself to the band as she led everybody back down the hallway.

"I've got a birthday present for you, well two actually."

"Nate I told you I didn't want anything," Charissa said for the hundredth time, she had been saying that to everyone, so far no one had listened. He rolled his eyes.

"Would it make you feel better if I said I only bought one of them?"

"Maybe," she said slyly. Everybody had moved back into the family room. Some of her friends were talking with Shane; Sam was talking with Jason as he took his guitar out of the case that had been on his back. Charissa turned her attention back to Nate.

"Good. Here," he handed her a small bag, she opened it and pulled out a leather bracelet with her name branded into it, with a butterfly and a flower on the ends.

"I love it," she said as she undid the snap to put it on.

"I hoped so, now we have to go into the other room for your second gift," he stated and winked. He took her hand and led her back following the sounds of the party. As they came into the room Charissa realized why the other two members had come along. The room had been set up for an impromptu performance.

"No way," Charissa said as Nate guided her to a seat next to her cousin. He headed to the piano they had moved to the front of the room and sat down.

"I've been working on this for a while now and I think I've finally got it right. I want to know what you guys think when we're done." He really wanted her to like it. He had started writing it the day they had met. It had taken until last week to get everything perfect. "I wrote this for you Charissa and you know what?… I love you." She blushed and looked down for a moment. He tapped his foot to set the tempo and they started playing, from there the song blossomed and they began to sing.

If the heart is always searching,
Can you ever find a home?
I've been looking for that someone,
I'll never make it on my own
Dreams can't take the place of loving you,
There's gotta be a million reasons why it's true.

Nate thought back to two days after they met. They had taken a walk and were on the dock. Charissa had tripped, sending both of them into the lake.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry!" She had been mortified. He just laughed and splashed her.

"Hey." She shouted as she splashed him back.

"Hey nothing, I'm a popstar, I can do what I want."

"Psh," she said defiantly and splashed him again. The battle lasted until Jason had found them and said it was time for dinner.

When you look me in the eyes,
And tell me that you love me.
Everything's alright,
When you're right here by my side.
When you look me in the eyes,
I catch a glimpse of heaven.
I find my paradise,
When you look me in the eyes.

Charissa remembered the first time she saw Nate after camp. It was backstage after their show in her town, Sam and Alisah had gone with her and gone on a tour of the stage while she sat with Nate.

"I've missed you," he said releasing her from a hug.

"Me too. Well I've missed you…not me," she hung her head and looked back up at him, embarrassed. He smiled and kissed her. It was the perfect first kiss. The stared at each other in silence for a few moments afterward, neither one able to speak. On one of their later phone calls he told her that the kiss had inspired one of the verses of their newest song "Lovebug."

How long will I be waiting,
To be with you again
Gonna tell you that I love you,
In the best way that I can.
I can't take a day without you here,
You're the light that makes my darkness disappear.

He remembered stopping by her school to surprise her.

He found her helping out in after care with some first graders, trying to help them with her homework. He smiled, and held a finger up to his lips when one of the children saw him. He crept up behind her and covered her eyes.

"Guess who," he said softly. She gasped. I guess she knows. He smiled.

"Nate?" She removed his hands and turned around.

"The one and only," he held his arms open. She hugged him tightly.

"What are you doing here?" He was supposed to be in LA in the recording studio.

"Thought I'd come visit my girlfriend. Is that allowed?" He laughed as he saw her smile widen at the word 'girlfriend'.

"No, you have to leave immediately." She responded sarcastically.

They spent the rest of the afternoon playing with the children. Once they had all gone home Nate pushed Charissa on the swings and sang her some of the songs the band was still working on.

When you look me in the eyes,
And tell me that you love me.
Everything's alright,
When you're right here by my side.

Charissa thought of the many performances at camp that she was brave enough to do, just because he was standing next to her.


When you look me in the eyes,
I catch a glimpse of heaven.
I find my paradise,
When you look me in the eyes.

They stared at each other, seeing nothing but perfection. I did get the words right Nate thought as he sang I see heaven.

More and more, I start to realize,
I can reach my tomorrow,
I can hold my head up high,
And it's all because you're by my side.

She had helped him so much more than she realized. He remembered a specific phone call.

He had been having a rough week, the label didn't like the new music that they were working on, he hadn't gotten a full night's sleep in over a week, and he hadn't had the chance to talk to Charissa at all. Currently, he was listening to a lecture about their image from their publicist. He got a phone call and answered it, not caring who it was as long as it was a distraction.

"Hello," he said blandly.

"What's wrong?" Charissa's worried voice came from the other end. Nate's mood instantly lightened.

"Oh, hi, sugar. Long week, that's all. The label isn't thrilled with our new stuff."

"Is there anything I can do? I know! What if I get a bunch of people to leave comments on your website about the new sound?"

"I don't know, that might work. Maybe the change won't work after all."

"I know you guys can do this. You sounded amazing at camp, just don't give up."

"Thanks, I have to go. I'll call you later. Promise," he had forgotten how her voice helped his mood.

"Ok, keep your head up, let them know what you want. You're the star."

"Charissa, I love you." Nate blurted out, without thinking. He'd known for a while but he'd told her yet. There was a pause on the other end.

"I love you too Nate," she responded.

"It sounds great to hear you say that."


When you look me in the eyes,
And tell me that you love me.
Everything's alright,
When you're right here by my side.
When I hold you in my arms,
I know that it's forever.
I just gotta let you know,
I never wanna let you go.

Nate watched Charissa as he performed. I wish I didn't have to leave all the time. I could spend everyday with her. She's so amazing.


When you look me in the eyes.

And tell me that you love me.
Everything's alright,
When you're right here by my side.
When you look me in the eyes,
I catch a glimpse of heaven.
I find my paradise,
When you look me in the eyes.

The music faded. Charissa was speachless, that song was so beautiful. She couldn't seem to form words, still lost in the memories.

"What did you think?" Nate asked, mildly insecure.

His voice was enough to bring her back to reality.

"I don't want to let you go either," was all that Charissa could think to say. Nate smiled and lifted her up in a hug.

"Happy Birthday Baby," he whispered in her ear, "I love you."