Nick was standing at my front door smiling casually.
"Nick!" I exclaimed, throwing my arms around him.
"Alex," he sighed, stroking my hair gently.
"I can't believe you're here!"
"How could I not wish you a happy birthday in person?" he said, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.
I finally released him and smiled up at him.
"So happy 15th birthday," he whispered. "And now, it's time for us to go celebrate."
"Oh, you really don't have to take me out-"
"Alex. How could we not go out when you already in such a stunning outfit?"
"You like the dress?"
"You look absolutely breathtaking."
I blushed deeply, silently thanking my family for making me change.
"Alex?" My mom called. "Who's at the door?"
Ok, if your mom asked that, do you really think that you would believe you if you said, 'Oh, just my boyfriend, Nick Jonas'? So instead I said, "Come and see, Mom."
My mom walked toward the front door, looking down at her list of who I have to write thank-you cards to. When she finally reached where I was standing, she looked up.
"Aren't you-"
"Nick," he said holding out his hand for her to shake.
Instead of shaking his hand, my mom turned to me and whispered, "What is a Jonas brother doing in my house?" At that point, Nick self-consciously lowered his arm.
"He, umm, wants to take me out and celebrate my birthday," I said cautiously.
"And how does he know you?" she asked, crossing her arms.
"We… we met while I was on a talk show promoting my book." Yeah, that was a safe answer.
"Fine," she said, "because I know you can take care of yourself, you can go. But take your cell phone!"
"Thanks! Later!"
I grabbed Nick's arm and hurried him out of the house, shutting the door behind me. I couldn't believe I had made it out. It was true that sooner or later I would have to tell my parents; but right then, I chose later.
I saw that he opted for subtlety and his car (a Mustang!) was parked outside my house.
As Nick opened the door for me and I stepped in, I asked him where he was taking me.
"Oh don't ruin the surprise!"
Before he started the car, I just had to lean my head on his shoulder and stroke his hair; I just couldn't comprehend that Nick had come all the way from… wherever, just to be here. Actually, where had be come from?
"Hey Nick; I thought that your tour ended, like, yesterday?"
"Yeah, it did."
I looked at him incredulously. "But I thought you were in, like, Europe?"
"In Italy."
"That's like a 10 hour flight! Did you get any sleep last night."
Man, was he looking guilty. "I got a few hours. Ok, 3."
"Nick!" I said at him. "You shouldn't have come just for me, I could've waited to see you!"
"But I couldn't have. You have no idea how much I missed you, Alex."
"Oh, I think I have a pretty good idea."
Changing the subject, he said, "You know, it's going to be a lot easier to take you places now that we don't have to put up with a sprained ankle. Please try not to faint again, ok?"
"Ha ha, very funny."
The rest of our drive was spent filling each other in on what had been going on during our time apart. Nick told me about his time in Europe (and made me with that I had been there!) and I told him about my (much less interesting) book tour and how sales were strong. I also told him about how much I'd missed him, and how, as much as I wish he'd waited until tomorrow to come see me so that he could get some sleep, that I really was glad he'd come; the last few days without him had been the worst. He said he wished we could've talked more, but we were both so busy, and I totally got it. Nick was saying it was hard for him to be on tour without his brothers, that he was lonely. I couldn't believe that we had spent so little time together and could still miss each other so much; I also couldn't believe that out of the thousands of girls he could choose from, he liked me, it was all still a mystery to me. But whatever the reason, now that he was here (and I was 15) I felt a lot closer to him.
