A/N I am a terrible person for making all of you wait this long (if any of you are still reading). School has not been nice to me, and I'm terribly sorry. But I've finally wrapped this up! Thanks to all of you who have been keeping up with this story and those who have reviewed and put it on their favorites and story alerts. It means SO much to me. Thanks!! I'd like to dedicate this chapter to Poet on the Run and Wyszlo, who have been faithful readers and wonderful reviewers. It was the thought of the two of you that pushed me to finish. Thanks so much!
Random note: I have an alternate version of this chapter. I couldn't decide which one I liked better but ended up going this one. If anyone is interested in reading the alternate version, let me know.
Disclaimer: I don't own JONAS. Way to depress me.
"So, little brother. Any plans for today?"
Nick barely glanced at Joe as he checked the assignments for the night. "Nothing but homework. Why?"
"I was just wondering if you were planning on hanging out with Macy."
He rolled his eyes. Joe was as subtle as a freight train. "She's got tennis today."
"Oh, I see." Joe casually shifted his notebook. "So have you talked to her lately?"
He was not going to give in. "Yeah."
"And have any of these conversations been particularly…revealing?"
"Not really."
Joe sighed, his limited patience giving out. "Will you just admit you're in love with her?"
"Because it's complicated." He opened his locker with a little more force than necessary, trying to control his temper. He really didn't appreciate everyone on his back about this; he wasn't ready to tell her yet. If she didn't feel the same, he'd lose her, and that was something he couldn't even begin to comprehend. "Can you just let it go?"
"Nicholas Lucas!"
He stiffened. Joe smirked at him. "Don't tell me you're scared of little Macy."
"Little Macy can pack quite a punch, Joseph." She stood in front of him with a fierce glare. "Now, unless you want a demonstration, I suggest you leave. I've got a bone to pick with your little brother."
Wide-eyed, Joe scrambled to grab his books. "Good luck, bro." He slipped away, leaving Nick to deal with an angry Macy.
"What's up, Mace?" He was honestly confused. What could he possibly have done?
"What's up?" She poked a finger in his chest. "What's up is that I just found out some interesting information about my new guitar!"
"Oh?" He swallowed a little nervously. He had a feeling where this was going, and he didn't like it. "And what information was that?"
"That it's a Taylor series GS, one of the best guitar brands out there. It also happens to be one of the most expensive, and that's without being customized!"
She really wasn't supposed to find out like this. Actually, he'd have preferred that she never found out exactly how much money he spent on the gift.
She pinned him with her gaze, arms crossed. "Well?"
He shrugged. "What do you want me to say?"
She threw her arms in the air. "I want to know why you spent so much money on a gift for me! I didn't need anything this fancy."
"Macy, money's not an issue with me. You know that."
"Just because you make millions of dollars doesn't mean you should spend it on random gifts."
Her comments stung a little bit, and he couldn't help the snap in his voice as he answered her. "I'm sorry for trying to do something nice for you. If it bothers you so much, you can give it back, and I'll figure out what to do with it." He slammed his locker closed.
She sighed and leaned against the lockers. "I'm sorry, Nick," she said in a softer voice. "I didn't mean to come across like I didn't appreciate it. It's the most amazing thing anyone has ever done for me."
Her soft smile sent his stomach into knots. "It wasn't a big deal."
"Yes, it was. Believe me." She took a deep breath. "I just don't understand why you would do something like that for me. I mean, I'm just another super fan who goes to your school."
"Macy, you're so much more than just another fangirl to me."
"Really?" All her anger faded away as she looked him in the eye, and he held back a smile at the hopeful expression in her face.
"You're one of my best friends. I don't know what I'd do without you." He had to laugh at the beaming smile on her face. "I bought you that guitar because I wanted to. Because you're special to me. And because I know you'll use it and take care of it. That's it."
"But…"
"No buts. It was a gift from me to you." He smirked at her. "I'm just as stubborn as you are, and I'm not giving in, so you might as well."
"Fine, but I'm not happy. Pull another stunt like this, and I won't give in as easily." She narrowed her eyes at him, but he saw the smile tugging at the corner of her lips and knew he had won.
"Duly noted." The two began to walk down the hallway when he noticed Macy fighting back another smile. He raised an eyebrow.
"Um, what are you laughing at?"
She shook her head, her braids swinging. "It's just…I heard Kevin, Joe and Stella talking this morning. They were saying how you have habit of making big gestures for girls you fall for, like writing a song. Then Kevin told Stella all that stuff about the guitar and said that you've never done anything this big and that must mean that…well, you know." She laughed nervously, picking at the end of her sweater. "Sorry I shouldn't have brought it up. I just thought it was kinda funny to think that you would even think of me that way."
His mind was whirling. She really couldn't have given him a better opening, and he'd be stupid not to take it. If he didn't know better, he'd think that…
He took in her sideways glances and her fidgeting hands, and it dawned on him that she was as nervous as she was. Maybe he had a better chance that he thought…
Well, the only way to know for sure is to try...and he knew that if he missed this chance, he'd be kicking himself forever.
He took a deep breath, wiped his suddenly sweating palms against his jeans and went for it.
"Would it be that weird?"
She stopped and stared at him with wide eyes. "Huh?"
"Would it be that weird if I…well, felt that way about you?"
"Oh…um, is that a hypothetical question?"
"What would you say if I said it wasn't?"
With that she shot him a look. "If you're not going to give me a straight answer, I'm not having this conversation."
He ran his hand through his curls. "Okay…it wasn't a hypothetical question."
"Oh…" She looked like the wind had been knocked out of her. "So you…have feelings…the romantic kind…for me?"
He nodded jerkily.
"For…how long?
His throat was tight as he tried to speak. It wasn't going the way he had imagined…somehow he had thought that he would be a little smoother than this. "I don't know. I normally fall at first sight, but with you…I didn't even know that I was falling for you until I was head over heels."
"Oh my…You're not joking, are you?" She spoke in a hushed whisper, her eyes beginning to shine.
His hands had found their way to hers, and he intertwined their fingers, tugging her closer to him. "Is that okay?"
Caught up in the intensity of the moment, she just nodded, a flush rising in her cheeks.
The relief that flooded through Nick stunned him. After all this time of hiding from his own feelings, he hadn't known how much he had wanted…no, needed Macy to feel the same.
Just in case, he decided to clarify. "So…that means that…we're dating now, right?"
"Are you asking me to be your girlfriend?" she asked breathlessly.
"Well, yes."
The brilliant, shy smile that grew on her face conveyed more than any words could. "Okay."
"Really?" He felt like he could fly at the adoration in her eyes.
"Yeah."
With each word, they had moved closer to each other until his face was hovering over hers, their eyes locked.
"Can I kiss you?" He whispered, his breath brushing against her cheek.
"What are you waiting for?" She whispered back. He smiled slowly and moved to touch his lips to hers.
A sharp ringing broke the moment and startled the couple back into the real world.
"What was that?" Macy gasped.
He groaned as he realized what it was and dropped his head against Macy's, who was looking equally frustrated.
"It's my brothers. They're waiting for me outside. We've got rehearsal with the band."
"They have the worst timing," she grumbled.
He laughed softly and pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead. As he pulled away, he smiled gently at her.
"We've got time," he murmured. "Let's take this slow, okay?"
"Okay. But not too slow, right?" She flushed but couldn't hide the anticipation in her eyes, and it sent shivers down his back.
"If you keep looking at me like that, I won't be able to help myself," he warned her, and she giggled.
"I've never had this kind of power over a guy. It's kind of exciting."
He groaned again. This girl was going to be the death of him. "Come on, let's go before Joe and Kevin actually come looking for us."
It wasn't how he expected to fall in love. No bells or insane song-writing sessions, or locker plastered with pictures. She wasn't the girl he had dreamed of. But as they walked down the hall, he decided that the unexpected worked out pretty well. After all, no dream girl could even come close to the very real one walking next to him, her hand fitting perfectly in his.
A/N: Finally done, and I'm kinda happy with the results, :) I know that a Taylor guitar really is pretty expensive, but I don't know much about other guitar brands, so if others cost more, please correct me! Oh, and please, please review! Any kind of review is MUCHO appreciated! Thanks for sticking with me people!