"I don't want you to go!" Ella whined as she wrapped her arms around my waist tightly.
"I don't want me to go either but I have to go get ready for tour. I'll see you in two weeks anyways." I said ruffling her brown hair.
"I don't wanna wait two weeks!" Ella said before bursting into tears.
"Don't cry El, you're making this really hard for me." I said as I pulled her closer to me and rested my chin on her head as I rubbed her back.
"Come on Ella, don't cry." Nick said appearing beside us. He went to touch Ella but she pushed herself closer to me and away from Nick.
"I don't want you to go."
"Ella, shh, just stop crying for one minute." I said as I took her face between my hands. I wiped away the tears with my thumbs as she tried to calm herself.
Ella sniffled for a moment before stopping the tears and sticking out her bottom lip in a pout. Her face melted my heart and I frowned, I hated seeing my best friend so upset.
"It's only two weeks Ella and then we'll be together all summer, okay? Can you do two weeks for me?"
"I don't wanna."
I sighed and let my hands drop to my side. "Give me a minute, okay? I'll come up with something."
I walked into Ella's bathroom before shutting the door and leaning against the counter. I didn't know how to make Ella feel better without leaving and I needed to go home to pack for tour so I couldn't stay. I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair before it came to me. I pulled my cell phone from my pocket and dialed my mother's number.
"Hey John, where are you?"
"I'm still in Braintree mom."
"Oh, how's Ella and Nick?"
"Nick is great; Ella is having an emotional breakdown."
"Oh no, why?"
"She doesn't want me to leave."
"But you guys will be together in two weeks for the entire summer."
"I know that and she knows that but she's still upset. So I had an idea but I kind of wanted to ask you first." I said while I nervously messed up my hair.
"What is it John?"
"Can Ella stay with us until tour if her parents say yes?"
"Of course, she can." my mother said happily. Ella and her had never actually met but my mom had heard a million things about Ella from me.
"Thank you mom so much! I'm gonna ask her and then she's gonna ask her parents. I'll call you before I leave though, okay?"
"Okay sweetie, if you forget to call me remember to drive safe and that I love you."
"Love you too mom." I said before hanging up and putting the phone back into my pocket.
I walked out of the bathroom to find Ella sitting in the middle of her giant bed, tears going silently down her face again as Garrett, Pat, Nick, Halvo and Jared sat around her trying to coax her to stop.
"I have an idea so no more tears princess." I said as I climbed onto the bed and sat cross legged in front of her.
"What is the idea? Whatever it is though, it better be quick cause we gotta get on the road." Halvo said and I nodded.
"How about you come home with me for the two weeks?"
Ella nodded but Nick made a sound of disapproval. "Wait a second; you won't be eighteen until the third Ella. You have to ask mom and dad."
"They'll say yes." Ella said confidently and Nick gave her a skeptical look.
"I don't think-"
"I bet they will, watch this." Ella said as she twisted up her face again. Instantly tears began to pour down her face as she pushed through us to get off of the bed.
"I gotta see this." Nick said standing up and following after Ella.
The rest of us stayed seated on the bed and Jared looked over at me. "I bet you her parents will say yes."
"Dude, I know her parents are gonna say yes. Has she ever given you the face? It's like those stupid ASPCA commercials, you just feel so bad."
"Are you comparing her to a bunch of shaking puppies and kittens?" Garrett questioned.
"Maybe." I said and we all started laughing.
"He said yes!" Ella screeched as she suddenly appeared in the doorway and I laughed.
"Sweet!"
"Yeah but he wants to talk to you John." she said and I paled slightly.
"He what?"
"Wants to talk to you. Don't worry John, he's not scary."
Ella grabbed my hand and dragged me off of the bed and out of her room. She tugged sharply on my hand and led me down to the other side of the hall and into the room there. It was an office and Nick was sitting on the edge of the desk talking to a man who looked very much like Ella.
"Daddy this is John." Ella said and he smiled up at me.
"So you're my daughter's best friend, the reason I had to get her unlimited minutes because she was using them all talking to you." he said and I blushed.
"Yeah, I'm John O'Callaghan; it's nice to meet you."
"It's nice to meet you too." he said holding out his hand. We shook hands and then I let mine fall loosely by my side again. "So you live in….?"
"Arizona."
"You didn't tell me this Ella."
"I forgot." Ella said softly.
Their father pursed his lips before running his fingers through his hair. "Nick, go get your mother." he told Nick who nodded and stood up.
"Daddy!"
"Ella I just want to talk to your mother. I don't know why you need to go anyways, you're gonna be with each other the entire summer."
"Cause I miss him! I never see him!" Ella said as she dropped my hand and crossed her arms angrily over her chest.
"Calm down Ellie, I'm not saying no."
"Okay." Ella said but the pout on her face didn't leave.
I squirmed nervously as I waited for Nick to return with their mother. I had met their mom last year at the party and she was so nice. According to Ella she was the best mom in the entire world and very rarely said no.
"What is it Bernie?" their mother asked as she walked in behind Nick. If Ella was her dad's spitting image than Nick was his mother's. The similarities between the two were crazy.
"Ella wants to go to Arizona for two weeks."
"Why?"
"I just wanna hang out with John, who knows how often we'll be able to just hang out once tour starts."
"Alright but you have to call us every day and I want you to promise you'll behave yourself."
"Thank you mummy! I promise!" Ella squealed and I couldn't help but laugh.
"I just want to talk to John really quick, alone?" her father said and I tensed. Oh god, he's gonna kill me I thought as the other Santinos quickly left the room. "Relax."
"Uh, I'm sorry." I said trying to relax but it wasn't really working out for me.
"Don't worry, I'm not gonna kill you."
I nodded and he gave me a smile similar to Ella's which helped me relax.
"I just want you to promise you won't let anything happen to her, alright?"
"I wouldn't let anything happen to her, she's like my little sister." I said.
It was true, I had two little brothers and Ella was like the little sister I never had. Everyone thought we were more but my feelings stopped at best friends. But feeling as if she was my little sister left me more protective of her than if we were just friends. Every guy that she had dated since we had become friends had been subjected to my questioning, even if it was over the phone I wanted to let them know that if they did hurt her then I would be taking a trip up to Braintree.
"Good, just keep an eye on her? She tends to think everyone has a heart of gold and she gets hurt a lot."
It was true. Ella was too….nice. She was convinced everyone had a nice side and it drove me crazy. She was nice to everyone and she looked for the good in everyone, even people who treated her like crap. That was probably my only worry with her, she had a way of putting everything into a relationship and getting completely fucked over by some douchebag she thought was a saint.
"Okay, I promise."
"Thank you." he said and I nodded before walking out. I nearly ran Ella over who had her ear against the door and she smiled up at me innocently.
"Come on you snoop." I said picking her up and throwing her over my shoulder.
She giggled and let me carry her to her room where I threw her down on the bed. "What did my dad say to you?"
"He just wanted me to keep you from doing anything dumb."
"When was the last time I did something dumb?"
"Uh hello, yesterday!" Nick shouted and I looked over at him curiously. I couldn't remember Ella doing anything stupid yesterday.
"Shut up Nicolas Bernard Santino!"
"What did she do?" I asked curiously and Ella glared at Nick.
"Don't you dare Nicolas!"
"If you wanna go for first names I can throw that one out too!"
"Wait, Ella isn't your first name?" Garrett questioned.
"Yes!"
"No!"
"Nick I will kill you!"
"I don't think mom and dad will be too happy, they might ground you."
"You know very well neither of us has ever been grounded."
"Still!"
"Alright, I'm curious! What did Ella do yesterday?" I questioned.
"What's her real name?" Pat asked.
Ella glared at Nick who grinned, "She got caught between the headboard and the bed. I came in her and all I saw were her legs kicking as she tried to get out."
I laughed as I imagined Ella's feet sticking from the gap in the bed as they kicked. "It's not funny." she pouted and I pulled her to me.
"It kind of is."
"Shut up John!"
"What's her real name?" Pat and Garrett asked again.
"Annabella." Nick answered.
"That's it, you're dead Nick." she shouted jumping out of my arms and tackling her brother. He flew backwards off of the bed and she landed on top of him.
"Ella! Get off!" Nick shouted as Ella began to punch him. I knew her soft punches didn't do much to arms but Nick's face was a different story. I grabbed her around the waist and tugged her off.
"Don't kill your brother."
"He's stupid!"
"Brothers tend to be, trust me, I have two."
"Do you want three? I'm tired of Nick. They should have given you up for adoption."
"What do you mean? I was here first!" Nick shouted.
"I'm their favorite!"
"That's what they want you to think!"
"Nicolas and Annabella Santino! You better not be fighting in there!" their mother's voice came from down the hall and instantly they were both silent.
"Get out of my room!" Ella hissed softly.
"Fine! But I'm taking my friends!"
"Fine!"
"Come on guys!" Nick said and Ella looked up at me.
"Nick don't do this." I begged
"You guys were my friends first."
"But they like me more, you guys can stay." Ella said to the guys who looked caught between leaving with Nick and staying with Ella.
"We can't choose between you guys." Halvo said and Nick sighed.
"You're a brat, you know that right?"
"Apologize and you can stay in my room with your friends." Ella said while placing her hands on her hips.
"I'm sorry, okay?"
"Okay good cause I need your help packing."
"Oh god, you guys are gonna be here for days." Nick groaned before falling back on her bed.
Almost two hours later we had managed to get Ella packed and in the van. It wouldn't have taken as long but Ella insisted that she pack all her stuff and put it in Nick's room so he wouldn't forget anything for tour.
"Are you ready for me to show you around Arizona?" I asked Ella as I climbed into the back of the van with her. Halvo was stretched out in the row in front of us then Jared in the next row, Pat in the row in front of him and Garrett was in the front with Kennedy who was driving.
"Yeah!" she squealed as she put her head into my lap.
"I think you're gonna love it."
"I bet, so I get to meet your family."
"Yeah." I was glad she was excited to meet my family but Ross and Shane; my little brothers might be an issue.
"So how far away is Arizona?"
"About two days." I answered and she wrinkled her nose.
"I have to sit in the van for two days?"
"Get used to it, you're gonna be stuck in the van for two months." Halvo said and Ella frowned.
"It's not that bad El, you can sleep." I said.
"I hate sleeping, who just wants to sleep their life away?"
"Just calm yourself killer." I said as I began to stroke her hair.
Two days later we were finally to Arizona. Ella who hated being cooped up anywhere was bouncing around in the van and Halvo looked about ready to kill her. After we dropped all of the guys off we went to my house and when we pulled up in the driveway Ella's mouth dropped.
"It's so pretty!" she shouted before hopping out of the van.
"It's alright." I said and Ella glared at me for a moment before sticking out her tongue.
"It's hot."
"That's Arizona for ya."
"Can we go inside?" she questioned excitedly and I nodded before holding out my hand to her. We walked up the front stairs and I dropped her hand for a moment so I could dig my keys out of my pocket.
"Go in." I said once I opened the door. She stepped in then I stepped in behind her and then shut the door behind us.
"It's cooler in here."
"Mhm." I hummed before grabbing her hand again. "MOM! DAD! ROSS! SHANE!" I shouted as I walked through the house.
"WHAT?" someone shouted back.
"I think that's Shane." I said as we walked into the kitchen to find it empty. I stuck my head outside into the backyard and after finding that empty too I sighed.
"I think my brothers are the only ones home." I said as I led her up the stairs. I banged into Shane's room to find him lying on his bed playing video games, Ross on the edge beside him.
"What do you want?" Ross asked without even looking away from the TV.
"Not even a hello you twerps."
"No." Shane said.
"Fine then you won't get to meet my pretty friend."
"Wait!" both boys shouted and I grinned before pulling Ella gently in front of me.
"Hi! I'm Ross!" Ross said jumping up and sticking out his hand to Ella who giggled.
"I'm Ella."
"And I'm Shane." Shane said bumping Ross aside with his hip.
"How old are you?" Ross asked and I put my hands on Ella's shoulders.
"Too old for you." I said while pulling her closer and wrapping my arms around her.
"I'm almost eighteen." Ella said.
"Oh." the boys said.
"Where are mom and dad?"
"Working." Shane answered as they both sat back down on the bed.
"Oh, okay. Well I'm gonna show Ella the house and then I'm gonna shower."
"Kay."
"Come on Ellie." I said taking her hand again and leading her down the hall to my room. I pushed the door open revealing the mess I had left and she raised an eyebrow.
"Didn't we talk about keeping your room clean John O'Callaghan?"
"I was in a rush."
"Still, remember last time it was a mess and you almost broke your face when you were on the phone with me?"
"You trip over thin air so don't talk trash." I teased and she stuck her tongue out at me before walking across my room and falling onto my bed.
"It's so soft, I'm never moving."
"That's fine by me." I said as I jumped into the bed beside her and wrapped my arms around her waist before tugging her closer.
"How about nap first and then you show me the house?"
"Sounds good." I said before snuggling against her.
We laid together quietly and not much later she fell asleep. Her pink lips were open ever so slightly as she breathed through her mouth and her chest rose and fell softly. I grinned and moved the curls off her head then kissed her cheek. I was so happy that Ella was here with me and I was excited that we would be spending the entire summer together.