Hi! It's been a while, hasn't it?
When Kendall reaches me I can tell that I'm smiling like an idiot.
"You look beautiful," he says and takes my hand, leading me back up the beach towards the car.
"Thank you," I say, and for some reason I feel shy around him.
"I'm going to take you out for dinner and then there's a small surprise afterwards," he says and I feel myself smiling as I get into the car.
"You know that I don't like surprises," I say to him as he gets in. He just shrugs and starts the car, pulling out of the driveway. Once we get out onto the freeway he takes my hand and out of the corner of my eye I can see him with a small smile on his face. We drive for about an hour with a comfortable silence while Kendall draws patterns on the back of my hands. The only that he lets go is when we reach the restaurant and get out of the car, but grabs it again after handing the keys to the valet. He tells the host our reservation and she leads us to a table, and Kendall, being the gentleman he is, pulls my chair out for me and kisses my hand before sitting across from me.
"You really didn't have to do this," I say to him.
"I know, but I did because I wanted to do something special for you," he says and smiles at me.
The waiter comes up to get our drink orders, and then walks away again. Kendall and I fall into comfortable conversation while waiting, and then order our food. When the food comes, Kendall and I eat and talk, and then when we're done and it's paid for, he clears his throat and suddenly looks nervous.
"What's wrong?" I ask nervously.
"Nothing at all," he says and smiles. He then takes something out of his pocket and opens the box, showing me a beautiful necklace.
"Kendall…" I start, but get interrupted.
"Look, I just want everyone around to know that you're mine, and that I care so much about you, I want you to always have a reminder of me," he pauses to take a deep breath. "I want you to look in the mirror and always know that I love you."
Hearing his last words, I freeze.
"Allie, I know you're scared. I don't expect you to say it back; I don't expect you to even feel the same. I just want you to know that I do, and I'm not ashamed, or scared, or embarrassed. I just wanted to tell you," he says, standing and putting the necklace around my neck. He takes my hand and helps me up. "Do you like it?" he asks, smiling.
I nod back and put a small smile on my face. Kendall's smile grows wider.
"Okay, well now it's time for the surprise," he says and takes my hand, leading me out of the restaurant.
As I'm sitting in the car, my mind is in overdrive. Suddenly I don't know how to act around Kendall. I don't know what to say or do, everything about me is awkward. I don't even remember the drive to where we are now, and when I get out I have no idea where we are or what the surprise is. We walk a few blocks and then it hits me. We're at the show that James let slip at dinner. Kendall walks by security and waves, the man says both of our names, nods, and then leads me backstage.
"Allie!" I hear a scream, and then I feel Lily's body crash against mine and squeezing me into one of her famous hugs.
"Hey," I say and smile weakly.
"What's wrong?" she whispers and I just put a small smile on and shake my head.
"Hey Allie," Logan comes up and hugs me. I respond with a hey and then realize Kendall is nowhere to be found. "He's getting ready, he can't really wear a tux on stage," Logan answers for me and chuckles. He notices the necklace and smiles. "So I see he told you, huh? I'm really happy for you two," he says and smiles again. The next thing I know is that my feet are off the ground and someone is laughing really hard behind me.
"Allie! How are you!" Carlos says and sets me back down on the ground.
"I'm doing alright, how are you doing Carlos?" I say and pull him into a hug.
"I'm great. I think you're really going to like this show," he says and smiles a knowing smile at me.
"Really Carlos? Why's that?" I say and can't help but smile.
"No reason," he says and suddenly turns to walk away.
"Carlos! You can't do that!" I yell to his back and he just turns to smile at me before turning a corner.
"Looks like it's just me and you, sis," Lily says and leads me around backstage, giving me a tour. "So James told me this is usually where they hang around when they're all done changing and getting ready but waiting for the show to start," she says and pulls me into a room with couches, a TV, and Xbox. James walks in a few minutes later, places a kiss on Lily's cheek and turns on the Xbox.
"So how was your dinner this evening?" James says and smiles at me.
"It was good," I say slowly and watch as he nods, then continues playing his game. Soon after, a man walks in with a headset and clipboard, telling James that there is about 15 minutes until he has to be onstage, then leaves just as quickly as he came.
"I think I'm going to get something to drink," I say and stand. I leave the room, and although I have no idea where I'm going I just keep walking down hallways. As I'm walking I hear faint screaming, and follow it to the stage. Eventually I reach where it is and decide to stay where I am, since I'll probably be here in a little bit anyways. I look around and see people rushing everywhere. Most of the people are wearing headsets and talking into them, but there are others. One girl I see is wearing tight leather pants and yelling at someone with a clipboard at how someone's shoes aren't teal, but chartreuse. I smile and turn to look around some more. I see some bottles of water on a table across the room, and decide to get one since I actually left Lily and James to find something to drink. Once I get over there I reach for water, but someone grabs my hand and I freeze.
"I'm sorry, but those are only for the talent," a girl with a mean look and hair that's threatening to fall out of her messy bun says to me and moves my hand away from the bottles of water.
"Uh, alright.." I say and walk away. I didn't understand why I couldn't have one bottle, the whole table was filled with them. I decide to disregard it and walk back to where I was on the side of the stage. I peek out the side of the curtain and see tons of people. Screams are filling my ears and I don't know how Kendall can perform in front of that many people. As I'm thinking, I feel someone's hand slip into mine and I look up to see the familiar hazel.
"I'll see you after the show," he says and places a kiss on my lips, then runs out on the stage with the other three boys following. I hear the fans go crazy, then the songs start. They sing, dance, pump up the crowd. All until the worldwide girl comes on, then Kendall comes and pulls me out from behind the curtain.
"What? No, Kendall," I start but before I know it I'm already on the stage and being seated on the stool in front of Kendall. I see Lily is sitting on James', but she's enjoying it. She's smiling and I can see that she and James are truly happy together. I smile, then hear the song starting. Afterwards, Kendall takes my hand and looks out to the crowd.
"I just want to let everyone know that this is Allie, as most of you probably know. And as most of you probably know, she's a pretty good singer, and she's my girlfriend," Kendall says and wraps an arm around my waist. I hear screams, and see flashes of light that I know are cameras. He waves to them and then leads me off-stage. "I have to go get changed, do a few more songs. I'll see you after the show," he says and runs off somewhere backstage.
I'm overwhelmed. I can't process thoughts correctly, and I can't help but let a few tears slip. I mumble to Lily about the bathroom and then wander down the hallways. I find the exit that Kendall led me in, and hear the security guard say something.
"I'm sorry, I didn't hear you," I say.
"I asked if you were leaving already. I know that the show doesn't end for about another forty-five minutes," the large guard said.
"Oh, I just have a headache from all the screaming. I told Kendall I would catch a cab home," I say, forcing a smile onto my face for the guard's sake, and he nods. I walk about a block, then feel myself running. My heel catches on a crack, and I feel myself fall down onto the ground. As I stand back up, I know that something is wrong with my ankle, but I tell myself I can't stop. I walk back to the vicinity where I know the car is, and then hail a cab. I tell him the address to the house, take off my heels, and rub my throbbing ankle, knowing that it will swell on the car ride. We reach it in about an hour and a half. I know that Kendall is done with his show, but I hope that he is doing something with the boys and not on his way here because I'm not good with goodbyes. When I reach the house, I tell the cab to wait and hand him a bunch of bills, not even bothering to count. I practically run into the house, ignoring the pain shooting up my leg, grab my suitcase from under the bed, and just grab blindly for the clothes in my dresser drawers, throwing them in the suitcase and then limping into the bathroom and throwing the rest of my stuff in the suitcase. I grab a pen and paper, scribble a note on the piece of paper, leaving it on the bed. I know that I have about an hour's head start on Kendall, but I have a feeling that he's on his way here, and I feel a few tears fall. I bring my suitcase outside and tell the cab to bring me to the airport, and schedule the next flight back to LA, without bothering to check the price. I pull out my credit card that I share with Lily, and book it. I was lucky enough to catch the next flight back in forty five minutes, and by the time I'm out of security, I'm boarding the plane and I'm flying over the pitch black ocean and looking out at the stars.