A/N: I posted outfits for Macy and Stella on my profile for the festival part. (=
Everyone was getting in the spirit of this New Jersey festival; the town is full of posters talking about how fun the festival is. The festival takes place one week before winter break, meaning it's bound to start snowing any day now.
"I'm really excited for today's festival, aren't you?" Stella closed her locker and turned to face me.
I nodded, "I am. How is it?" The flyers around town made the festival seem like it was the best day of every year.
"Oh you know, food, games, a lot of people, and a lot of cute boys from almost everywhere in the world. It's right by the pier, so it looks really nice every year." I smiled, it did seem like a lot of fun.
"Wow, I actually can't wait!" Although I wouldn't be able to scope out the cute boys from everywhere, I knew there was one boy I would be able to get to know more. "So do you think Joe's going to make a move tonight or what?" I put my hands into my pockets and watched the grin on Stella's face grow.
"I just hope so, I mean, I don't want our friendship to be ruined either, but sometimes you just have to try. So, I don't know, we'll just have to see." She giggled a little at the thought of Joe asking her on a date.
"How about you? Your future husband?" I laughed at those words.
"I think my mom wants me to spend some time with her. She practically told me not to go to practice just to go to the festival." Stella nodded. I told her how my mom was about everything that has happened in my life.
"Well, anything could happen." She nudged me as we walked into the classroom.
I ran to practice to let Coach Turner know that I couldn't make it today, only to find a note on the door say 'Practice cancelled. NJ Festival today, have fun girls!'. I walked past the choir and music room and saw Joe practicing his 'asking out Stella on a real date' skills.
"I-I, uh, Stella.. date.. me.. I don't know." He slapped himself across the face, and I walked in.
"You seem to be having a hard time there." I chuckled. He sighed, taking a seat on the risers.
"Believe me, I am. I never knew asking Stella out would be this hard."
I could tell Joe had been crushing on Stella for quite a while. Every time he's near her, it's like he's only focused on her.
"I think you should ask her out tonight at the festival. The weather said it's going to be snowing lightly tonight. That would probably be one of the cutest ways to ask a girl out; in the snow." He thought about it, and winter was always his favorite season. "And don't be nervous!"
"I'm not nervous! Pfft.. what are you talking about?" He acted like I didn't see anything before I walked in.
"Okay, but.. a girl likes it when you are sweet and just, I don't know, you. Just be yourself." I smiled at him as he took in the idea.
"Thanks Macy, I'll do just that." I nodded. I was about to walk off to the gym when he stopped me, "So, how are you and my brother?"
I turned around and was a little surprised by the question. "Oh, um, I guess you could say we're at an 'okay' level. I think I can see him start to change. Just a little bit." I put my hand up, demonstrating how little with my thumb and index finger.
"Yeah, I think so too. He hasn't gone to the festival in about, four years, and all of a sudden when he hears you're going, it's like he's never missed it in his life." He faced directly towards me and his eyes widened. "Don't tell him I said that."
I opened my mouth to respond, but to my surprise, I didn't say anything. Instead a closed my mouth and smiled at him.
"Are you okay with this marriage? I know Nick isn't exactly Mr. Sunshine, but he is a good guy." He sat on the table and looked at me.
I stood there for a while thinking about it. "A part of me is, but the other part isn't. Being forced to get married right now isn't really what I planned, you know? I'm almost seventeen, I wanna be a teenager." I snickered a little, "And I know he isn't exactly the happiest guy in the world, but I really don't know him or how he is. So I guess I'll have to see." He nodded, looking at his watch.
"Wow, I didn't know it was almost 3:30, I gotta get home." Joe gathered all of his things and waved at me, "See you tonight, Mace!"
"Are you two almost ready?" My mom walked into the room, wrapping a scarf around her neck. "I can see little tiny pieces of snow right now." Stella and I looked out the window to see small snow flakes floating in the air.
"Aw, yay! It hasn't snowed at the festival in four years, you know." Stella raised her eyebrows with a wide smile on her face.
"Alright girls, we have to get going." My mom walked out and we headed out the door.
At the festival, there was Christmas music, food, little games and contests, and a lot more than I had imagined it to be. It's like everyone knows each other, and if they don't, they're not afraid to go ahead and get to know them. Great vibes everywhere.
"I don't see Stella anywhere." Joe searched through the crowd, looking for the always stylish blonde. As he scanned everywhere, he spotted my parents knowing that I would be with them, and that I would be with Stella as well. "But I do see Macy." Kevin and Joe started making their way over, and once they realized that Nick wasn't following, they turned around to see him standing there looking a little nervous.
"Are you alright, bro?" Kevin walked back and watch Nick stare right past him. "You seem nervous."
"Uh- yeah, I'm okay." Joe followed Nick's gaze and traced it back to none other than myself. Once he realized who Nick was looking at, he instantly knew that I was changing him in some sort of way.
"You sure?" Joe headed back to where they were just at, "Because you're never nervous." Kevin and Joe watched Nick gulp a bit, "Especially about girls." With that, Joe smirked.
"I'm not nervous about any girls here, okay?"
Joe crossed his arms and let it go, "Alright then, whatever you say. Let's go over to Macy then, she probably knows where Stella is." The two older brothers began walking, and with a little pep talk to himself, Nick started moving his legs and following.
"Hey boys, where are your parents?" Stella and I were focused on the singing act that was up on the little stage when I heard my mom talking to someone. I turned around to find the Lucas brothers pointing towards the food area.
"Hey you guys!" I walked over with Stella behind following. After hugging the first two, I looked to Nick who was just standing there. I didn't know whether or not I should hug him or..?
While Stella, Joe, and Kevin started up a conversation, I walked up to Nick, "Hi." He smiled at me, not saying a word. Was he ignoring me this time or..?
"We're going to go look for a trumpet playing otter!" I heard Kevin yell out, and he walked away with Joe and Stella, leaving Nick and I to ourselves.
I watched as Nick stood there, looking around, but not at me. This was kind of confusing!
"Um, I'm gonna go.. get something to eat." I smiled at him before turning around and starting to walk, but I could feel Nick right next to me. We walked in silence, just watching the people go by holding around their drinks and such. Nick seemed a little different from his usual self and it made me wonder what was wrong with him. I stopped walking. "Are you okay, Nick? Did I do something wrong this time, because it seems like-"
"No, I'm fine, Macy. You didn't do anything, it's just I haven't been here in almost four years and I'm kind of nervous." He managed to say it all under one breath.
"Nervous? About what?" He put his hands in his pockets.
"Well, I'm kind of nervous about being here.. and about yo-" I widened my eyes a bit as he was about to finish his sentence, but he was interrupted by the loud screaming of the little audience. I waited for him to continue, but he didn't and just grinned, "Let's go get some food."
I stood there waiting in line for some hot chocolate when some guy came up from behind me. Stella was right about the cute guys, but I sure wasn't interested.
"Hey there. You seem a little lonely, why don't I stand with you here for a bit?" He smiled at me, putting his hand arm over my shoulder. "What's your name?" For someone I didn't know, it was a little awkward and too forward.
"Yeah, I'm Macy, and I'm fine with standing here myself." I gave him a sarcastic smile and shied away from his arm, but he wouldn't leave me alone.
"Come on, it's not every day I meet some girl that's as pretty as you. I'm Alex, and I think I'm we'd be the perfect match!" How lame could this guy be? He started laughing and took a few steps closer.
"Just, leave me alone, okay?" Yeah, he didn't get the message.
He tried to grab my waist, and at the point, I couldn't take it anymore! "Hey, I'm just tryna have a little fun!" I tried to get away, and once I did, I looked at this Alex guy. He wasn't exactly smiling anymore, and he narrowed his eyebrows. He looked past me, and as I turned around, Nick walked up next to me and grabbed my hand.
"Hi, I'm Nick. You are?" He held out his hand, but Alex just backed off. "Did you have your 'little fun'?" I turned to the side of Nick's face and could see him smiling at the guy.
"Whatever, dude." He walked away, and I honestly couldn't believe Nick would do that. He turned to me and held my hand tighter.
"Are you okay?" This was the Nick I liked to see. The one who cared and was just a total sweetheart! I looked at Alex who was walking away and back at Nick.
"Thank you." He nodded. We grabbed our drinks and walked through the festival. And not once after the incident did he let go of my hand.
"Where did Kevin go?" Stella looked around for the curly haired boy, but he was out of sight.
Joe threw way his hot chocolate and wiped his mouth. "He said he's gonna go look for that otter, but I doubt he's going to find one. I mean, it's winter! Pfft." Stella cocked her eyebrows. It wasn't likely to find a trumpet playing otter, ever.
"..Okay?" She and Joe watched the little acts that were being played out on the stage. Stella turned her back to the stage and saw something she thought she would never, ever see. "Oh my gosh.. Joe, look!" She smiled from ear to ear.
Joe was too consumed in the performances, but replied, "Did Kevin find that otter after all?" She rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"No, Joe!" She shifted his body towards where she was looking. Both their eyes landed on two people; Nick and I.
"So I was right!" Joe put his fist up, acting as if I had won something. He watched Stella gaze at the two, smiling liking an idiot.
"That's so sweet and they're holding hands! So you think they do both like each other?" Joe scoffed, thinking 'Of course they do!', although we both haven't admitted anything yet.
"It's so obvious. And I think that if two people like each other, they should let each other know." Joe looked at Stella, and thought about telling her too how he felt. "Stella.."
"Yeah Joe?" She turned to meet his gaze.
Taking in a deep breath, he thought now or never. "Stella, I've known you for, well forever, and I just wanted to ask you if you wanted to go ou-"
"I found the closest thing to a trumpet playing otter! It's so cool!" Out of nowhere, Kevin shows up interrupting Joe's big moment. He just wanted to punch Kevin right now.
"What is it, Kev?" Joe glared at his older brother, hoping he would say it then leave.
"It's a skateboarding dog!" Kevin smiled widely. "Come on, over here!" He pulled Stella's arm and called Joe to follow.
"Really?" Joe rolled his eyes and stomped his way behind them. Who knew the oldest of three teenagers would be the most childish!
"I don't think I've had this much fun since I've been here in New Jersey." A smile came over my face as I looked out onto the cold water. Stella was right about the pier, and pretty much everything else she said the festival would be.
"Yelling at me and telling me to leave you alone wasn't fun?" I leaned against the railing that stopped people from falling off the pier and rolled my eyes at Nick. "I'm kidding."
He chuckled a bit. "No, actually, it wasn't." The silence made it a bit awkward, but it really didn't seem like it.
"Yeah.. I know." He sighed, taking a seat on one of the benches that overlooked the water. "I know I haven't been the nicest guy and I know I've apologized for being that way, but I just want to say that you are one of the nicest people I've ever met. You're like.. my exact opposite. But I just want to thank you for putting up with me." I smiled at him. This was probably the best conversation we've had ever since I met him. I sat down next to him.
"Hey, if you're going to be my.." I coughed a little, trying to process the fact that I was going to marry this guy. I honestly still couldn't believe it. "..my husband, then I have to put up with you." He grinned at me and continued to look out into the ocean.
"You know, when my parents told me I was going to meet the girl I was going to marry soon, I freaked out. I was so scared out of my mind. And I know we got off on the wrong foot, but.. I'm glad the chose you." You could say I was blushing at that moment! He looked at me with serious eyes, and I knew that I felt the same way after we settled things between us.
I stood up and leaned against the railing again. "I wanna tell you something.." I said without looking at him. He got up and stood next to me on the railing.
"Go ahead." He put his cold hands in his pockets to keep them warm.
"Okay, where do I start.." I took a deep breath. Was I really going to tell him I liked him? I hate admitting my feelings to other people, but with Nick, I just wanted to let him know and get it out of my system. I was about to confess to him, when he blurted something out.
"Wait.." He drew my face away from looking at the water with his hand, and made me look at him.
He closed his eyes shut and started to come in closer to my face. Surprisingly, or not so surprisingly, I let my eyes shut themselves. I knew he was going in for a kiss, and I knew I wanted it to happen. Our faces were inches away from reaching each others, when a loud roar came over the speakers. They had just announced the winner of the performances, and that's when we broke apart.
I chuckled a bit, "Were we just going to..?" He smiled and nodded.
"I, uh, I think so." We stared at each other for what seemed to be hours. The announcer came on the speaker again.
"Thank you everyone for coming out to the yearly festival! This year's festival was great with the snow and the lovely performances we had! We hope to see you all next year! Have a good night!"
"Maybe we should head back over there." He pointed his thumb back to where everyone else was. Nick and I made our way back near the booths and looked for Stella, Joe, and Kevin. Everyone starting packing up their canopies and loaded their trucks to head off. As much as I didn't want tonight to end, it just had to.
"Macy, honey, over here!" My dad called me from one of the booths he was standing in front of. I looked back at Nick who waved at my parents then looked at me.
I smirked at him, "I guess I should get going." He nodded, looking at his parents who were walking off to their car.
"I should too," He stuffed his hands in his jacket and shrugged. "I'll see you around, Macy."
I nodded yes and before he turned around, I grabbed his hand. "Thank you for today. I, surprisingly, enjoyed it." I giggled a bit.
"I did too." I tip toed to reach his face and planted a little kiss on his cheek.
"Bye, Nick." I let go of his hand, and he put it up to his cheek before waving and walking off.
I started heading towards my parents when Stella ran up next to me.
"Did you have a fun time today?" She winked at me.
I nodded looking down at me feet and smiling to myself. "Actually, I did." She smiled at me and we headed back to the car.
I could tell that my feelings for Nick were changing every single day. I think I could change him, I mean, look at how much he's changed within the past week. And one thing I knew was for sure...
With him, I knew this wedding was going to be okay after all.
A/N: OMG OMG OMG I'm sorry this chapter took so long! I kinda got a little carried away, and I was super duperly busy that I never really had the change to finish it! But here it is! TADAAAA! (= I hope you guys like it, it was some what hard to write, but I got through it! Read and review! 3