A/N: And here is the FINAL chapter of What If! I will finally get to list this story as complete! It's been fun guys, and I hope you have fun reading the last chapter! Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Happy reading!
angellwings
Chapter Twenty-One: Exam Jam
"What do you mean you can't come on tour with us?" Joe asked Stella in shock.
"I—I have an internship in New York with a French designer, Joe. I can't turn that down," Stella said with a sigh.
"But you're our stylist," Joe said with a shake of his head.
"You'll be fine, Joe. That's why a tour has wardrobe assistants," Stella said as she rolled her eyes at him. "Stop whining."
Macy chuckled and stared at Stella in awe. "They're not so perfect now are they?"
"It's amazing what a school year of being friends with them will do, Mace," Stella said with a huff.
"Hey!" Joe protested. "I just…Stells, we had a plan."
"Plans change, Joe," Stella said. "Can we talk somewhere else? Somewhere a little more private?"
"Fine," Joe said as his shoulders slumped and he allowed Stella to lead him toward the roof access.
Kevin turned to Macy as they left. "You're still coming with us, right?"
"Don't I always?" Macy asked with a smirk. "Am I going to have to compete with your guitars for attention this time?"
Kevin chuckled. "No, I think you've edged them out just a little."
"That better be the truth, Mister," Macy said as she poked his chest playfully. He caught her hand and kissed the back of it.
"Believe me, it is," Kevin said with a wink.
"When did you become so smooth?" Macy asked with a grin.
"Oh, I've always been smooth. You've just never noticed before," Kevin said with a chuckle.
"Oh, whatever. I think someone's been working on his moves," Macy told him as she rolled her eyes teasingly.
Nick huffed and threw his bookbag down as he entered the loft. Macy and Kevin turned to face him in surprise.
"What's your problem?" Macy asked.
"I failed my geometry exam," Nick said with a groan.
"You…failed?" Kevin asked.
"Apparently," Nick said angrily. "I hate geometry. Why do I need geometry anyway? I'm a songwriter."
"Wait, if you failed then…that means…"
"No tour," Nick said as he kicked a bit of the wall next to him.
"Oh, dude," Kevin said sympathetically. "Is there anything we can do?"
"I talked the teacher into letting me take the exam again tomorrow," Nick told him. "She's sending over someone to help me study."
The doorbell rang and they could all hear Tom answering the door. "Nick! Your tutor's here!"
Macy turned first and let out a short barking laugh before she covered her mouth with her hand. "Oh this is too good."
"What?" Nick asked as he turned fearfully. He gulped when he saw Amy standing at the top of the stairs.
"Don't worry," She said with a grin. "I'm smoothie free. Promise."
"Just great," Nick said as he ran a hand through his curls. "This is gonna go real well."
"Joe," Stella said slowly as the roof access door closed behind them. "I can't go. I want to, but this is just too big of an opportunity. You know that."
He sighed. "Yeah, I know. It's just…I was looking forward to it."
She smiled softly at him and took his hand. "So was I. Not only that, but now I don't know how I'm going to keep all those other fangirls off of you."
Joe chuckled at her. "Stella, you don't have to worry about that."
"Yes I do," She told him. "I mean I guess I could cover everything, you know? Give those girls less to gawk at. That might work—"
"Stells, please don't. You'll have me sweating like a pig underneath the stage lights. I already sweat plenty but add layers of clothing to that and I just might pass out," Joe told her in amusement.
"But—"
"You don't have anything to worry about. I promise. You're the only girl that's gonna get that sort of attention from me," Joe said with a grin.
"You promise?" Stella asked.
"I said I did, didn't I?" Joe asked as he pulled her toward him and slipped an arm around her shoulders.
"Fine, but I'm gonna have Macy on alert. If some girl out there goes too far I'll know, and I will totally take them down," Stella told him with a smirk. "You're my boyfriend."
Joe grinned at her and nodded. "Yes, I am, and you're my girlfriend. So if any of those New York guys get fresh with you—"
"I'll tell them they have some tough competition," Stella said with a smile.
"Wait, wait, wait," Joe said worriedly. "You get to take down the girls that come after me, but the guys that come after you are competition? That's not fair!"
"Joe," Stella said as she put her arms around his neck. "Only technically. If it helps you'll always win."
"I better," Joe grumbled as Stella's hands slipped into the hair at the nape of his neck.
"Will you just kiss me already?" Stella asked as she wrapped a few of his hairs around her fingers. "Please?"
"But why is there even a competition to begin with?" Joe asked with a huff. "I mean I'm pretty sure I already won that competition once—"
Joe's sentence was cut off by Stella suddenly pressing her lips to his. He made a surprised noise before he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer.
"You're my tutor?" Nick asked as he and Amy settled in around the island in the kitchen with their notebooks and text books.
"I've got the highest geometry grade in our class, Nick," Amy told him with a sigh. "Why wouldn't I be your tutor?"
"You're not going to hold that elevator thing against me during all of this are you? I mean, you're not going to sabotage me to get revenge or anything?" Nick asked worriedly.
"Wow," Amy said as she rolled her eyes. "You must think I'm incredibly shallow and selfish."
"What?" Nick said in shock. "No! I just…well, what I did was pretty terrible. Most girls would want revenge."
Amy grinned at him. "Well, I'm not most girls. Besides, even if I did want revenge I would never go so far as to ruin a tour for you guys. That would be cruel."
"Right," Nick said suspiciously. "Would you like something to drink?"
Amy smirked at him. "Think you could run upstairs and make me a smoothie, Mr. Rockstar?"
Nick grinned hesitantly. "Funny."
Amy chuckled. "I thought so."
"Do you promise not to pour it on my head?" Nick asked with a smirk.
Amy held a hand over her heart. "Scout's honor."
He quirked a brow at her. "You're not a scout."
"Not a boy scout, no, but I did used to be a girl scout. Thank you very much," Amy said with a smirk as she crossed her arms over her chest. "So, do I get that smoothie or what?"
Nick chuckled and nodded. "Sure, why not. Strawberry-banana okay with you?" Amy nodded and Nick continued. "Let me run upstairs for it and I'll be right back."
"Thanks," Amy said with a smile. "I appreciate it."
"No problem," Nick said as he shrugged and turned to go upstairs.
Nick reached the loft and rolled his eyes as the curtain on one of Kevin's bunked pulled back slowly.
"You guys can come out now," Nick said with a sigh. "I'm not mom or dad."
Macy gingerly stepped out of the bunk and blushed deeply. "H-hi, Nick."
Kevin cleared his throat as he stepped out and straightened his disheveled look. "So, how's it going with Amy?"
"She wants a smoothie," Nick said with an amused grin.
"To dump on your head?" Macy asked.
"I hope not. She promised she wouldn't," Nick told them. "And what have you two been up to?"
"Nothing," Macy said quickly. "Absolutely nothing."
He shook his head. "I'm disappointed, Mace. You used to be a better liar than that."
She pointed at Kevin and sighed. "His fault. He's rubbing off on me. Are you being nice to her?"
"No, I'm acting like a total Neanderthal," Nick said dryly.
"Hey," Macy said with a glare. "Don't get so defensive. I was just checking."
"Have no fear, Mace," Nick told her. "I'm being a gentleman."
"Good," Macy told him as she watched him to get to work on the smoothie. "Keep it up."
"Meanwhile," Nick said. "Can the two of you go make out somewhere else? I need to finish this smoothie quickly."
Kevin rolled his eyes. "Sure, little brother." He took Macy's hand and led her to the stairs. "Let's go for a walk."
Kevin and Macy left the firehouse and took a walk to the small park down the street. Macy's cell phone rang as they sat down on the swings. She answered hesitantly.
"Hello?" she asked. "Hey, Coach. What? When did they…you're kidding?"
Kevin's brow furrowed and he watched her closely. Her eyes were wide and her free hand had tightened around the swing's chain.
"I—I don't know. I need to think about it. Yes, I know, sir. I'm aware. I just—I need to think about a few things. When do they need to know? Okay, can you tell them I'll let them know the day after tomorrow? Thanks, Coach. I'll see you at practice tomorrow."
Macy gulped and hung up slowly. It took her a few minutes to look up at Kevin. When she did she was biting her lip nervously.
"Uh oh," Kevin said with a sigh. "I don't like that look."
"Last week there were some scouts for a traveling ball team at practice," Macy said quietly. "This league they're a part of feeds directly into a few major college programs, and—"
"They want you on the team, right?" Kevin asked knowingly.
"Yeah, practices would start as soon as exams are over in a few days," Macy said with a sigh. "I told Coach Myers I'd think it over, but he thinks I should do it. He says scouts from all over the nation watch these games. Even Olympic scouts, Kev."
"Then you have to do it," Kevin told her sadly. "You can't pass that up."
"But what about the tour?" Macy asked.
"Well, if Nick doesn't pass geometry there may not even be a tour," Kevin said with a sigh. "So we might not have anything to worry about."
"But what if there is a tour?"
"Then we both do what we have to do. It won't be the end of the world. It's just three months," Kevin said as he forced a smile.
"I've never missed a tour. Not once," Macy said sadly.
"I know."
"And now that we're…why do I have to get this offer this summer? Why?" Macy asked.
"Macy," Kevin said with a sigh as he took her hand. "I can't let you look at this as a tragedy. This is a good thing. This is amazing for you, and I want you to be excited about it. Macy, this could get you a scholarship."
"But I want to spend the summer with you," Macy told him. "This is the first tour we've been on where I'm not worried you're going to be fascinated by some random girl, and I wanted to enjoy it."
Kevin chuckled and kissed the back of her hand. "You have plenty more tours like that in your future."
"I will?" Macy asked with a small shocked smile.
"You will if I have anything to say about it," Kevin told her with a wink. "I want to keep you around for a long time, Macy Misa."
Macy sighed and smiled sadly. "Then I guess I'm playing travel ball this summer."
"Will you have the July Fourth off?" Kevin asked.
"Usually they do, yeah," Macy told him.
"So will we. We plan on being home then," Kevin told her. "We'll see each other then. That's not so long."
"No, I guess not," Macy said as she smiled softly at him.
"We'll make it work, Mace. I know it," Kevin told her as he pulled her swing toward his and then turned her to face him.
"I know," she said. "I'm just going to miss you, that's all."
"Believe me, I'll miss you too," Kevin admitted as he leaned toward her. "I guess we have to enjoy the time we have left before you leave, huh?"
"How do you suggest we do that?" Macy asked with a grin.
"I've got a few ideas," Kevin said with a smirk.
"Care to share?"
"Oh, I'll do more than share them, Macy," Kevin said as his lips hovered just over hers. "I'll act on them."
Before Macy could say anything else Kevin's lips were on hers. A muffled giggle escaped her lips as she wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. Kevin's arms tightened around her and he dug his fingers into the ends of her hair. When they finally pulled apart Macy giggled again.
"That was a very good idea, Kev," Macy said with a smile and a wink. "You plan on doing that again, right?"
"Oh yes," Kevin told her as he pulled her close again and placed several kisses on her neck. "All the time, Misa. All. The. Time."
When Nick came back down with the smoothie Amy thanked him as she accepted it.
"So," Amy said with a smile. "Where's everybody else? I mean I saw Macy and Kevin leave, but where'd they go?"
"Kevin and Macy went for a walk. Probably to the park. It's where they always go," Nick told her. "And Joe and Stella are on the roof. Probably making out."
Amy laughed. "And it's probably not a stretch to assume Macy and Kevin are doing the same, right?"
"Probably."
"So everybody's getting some action but you, huh?" Amy asked with a teasing smirk.
Nick blushed and cleared his throat. "Yeah, I guess."
Amy laughed lightly. "I'm sorry, I couldn't resist. We should probably get to work. So, how are you with triangles?"
"Um, I'm okay with them. I mean we don't have any major issues with each other. None that I recall anyway," Nick said with a grin.
Amy giggled and shook her head. "Funny."
Nick grinned and shrugged. "I do, on occasion, have a sense of humor."
"Well, I would hope so or else you probably didn't appreciate how we left things," Amy said with a wink.
"No, I got it," Nick said as he ran a hand through his hair. "I was just too nervous to risk asking you out a second time. I thought you might say no just to get back at me."
Amy sighed and nodded before she grinned softly at him. "If you never ask then you'll never know, Nick. Anyway, let me see your notes. We'll hit the necessary highlights."
Nick handed her his notebook and then watched her as she looked through it. She had a point. Was hearing a 'no' really that bad? He'd already heard a no from her once. Would a second one be that big of a deal? And what if she said yes? What if she wanted to say yes and all he had to do was ask? She wasn't going to ask again. She'd told him that much. The ball was in his court. She'd made that very clear.
"Nick? Are you listening to me?" Amy asked. "This is sort of important. I know for a fact that it'll be on your exam tomorrow."
He shook his thoughts away, and realized he needed to worry about one thing at a time. First, the exam and then Amy. "I'm sorry, I got distracted. Say that again?"
She sighed and repeated herself. They both got down to work and crammed for his exam. They worked all day until late at night when Amy's curfew rolled around. She smiled at him as she gathered her things.
"I think you'll be fine, Nick. You're pretty well prepared. You'll definitely pass. I just hope you pass with a B or better. That's the only way you'll bring up your grade enough," Amy told him honestly. "You know, if you'd asked for help sooner this probably wouldn't have happened. I could have been tutoring you all along."
She winked at him and turned around to head out the door. He stared after her in shock. Was she really talking about tutoring him or…something else? He walked her to the front door and then held it open for her.
"Thanks for your help, Amy," Nick said honestly. "I really appreciate it."
"Happy to do it, Nick. Good luck on your exam tomorrow. Like I said, I think you're pretty well prepared. Let me know how you do whenever you find out, okay?"
He nodded. "Deal."
"See you later, Lucas," Amy said with a friendly smile. "It's been fun."
He watched her go and sighed as he shut the door. What was he going to do about her? He certainly had to do something. He groaned inwardly and decided to go back to studying. He needed to focus on this exam first.
He paced by the phone as he anxiously waited for a call from his geometry teacher. He didn't know how he felt about that exam. Usually he could gauge how well he thought he did, but not this time. Joe, Kevin, their dad and the girls were waiting with him. He honestly didn't want to think about how he would have done without Amy's help. If she'd manage to help him pass she would have, literally, saved him.
The phone rang and Nick immediately answered the phone. "Hello? Yeah? No. Yeah? No. Yeah? No. Okay bye." Nick turned and smiled victoriously at the group. "B on the exam! C+ in the class! The tour is on!"
The group cheered and the doorbell rang as they all started to celebrate. Nick was headed down to get something to drink anyway and volunteered to answer it. He smiled brightly as he recognized Amy through the door window. He pulled her inside eagerly and hugged her tightly. She gulped and looked dazed as he pulled away.
"Um, hi, Nick," She said slowly.
"I passed! You saved the tour!"
Amy smiled at him shyly. "You're the one that passed the class, Nick. Not me."
"I wouldn't have passed it without your help though," Nick told her with a smaller smile as he realized he'd hugged her. It had been an instinct. He didn't think about it all. He blamed Kevin. His tendency to hug was contagious.
Amy nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Congrats, then. I hope you guys have an awesome tour. I just…came by to bring back your calculator. I must have grabbed yours by mistake."
She held the calculator out to him and showed him the name label on the back of it.
"Right," Nick said with a nod. "Well, come on in. I'll get yours for you. It's probably in my backpack."
He led her inside and headed to where his backpack rested on the kitchen table. He grabbed the calculator he had out of the front pocket and traded with her.
"Well," Amy said hesitantly. "I guess I'd better go."
She turned to leave but Nick quickly grabbed her arm. "Wait."
She faced him and looked at him expectantly. "Yes?"
"I—I know I'm not going to be around much this summer," Nick said nervously. "But I was hoping before we leave we could…catch a movie or go to dinner or something?"
Amy smiled at him. "Nick Lucas, are you asking me out on a date?"
"That depends," He said with a small grin.
"On what?" Amy asked.
"On whether or not you say yes. If you say no then I was totally thinking we'd just hang out," Nick told her with hopeful smile. "So, what do you say?"
Amy nodded and chuckled. "Definitely. Yes." She bit her lip and then smacked his shoulder. "What took you so long?"
Nick sighed and then smiled shyly at her. "What can I say? I'm a coward."
Amy laughed. "Well, at least you admit it." There was an excited silence that fell between them for a bit before Amy cleared her throat and looked down at her watch. "I really should go though. I have a family thing in about half an hour."
Nick nodded and flashed her a small smile. "Right, of course."
He walked her to the door and then down the front stoop. Amy turned and smiled at him. She placed a hand on his shoulder and then leaned into his personal space. She very slowly kissed his cheek and then pulled away with a wink. "Call me. Let me know when you want to go out."
Nick nodded silently with wide eyes as he watched her go. She turned and waved flirtatiously as she walked away.
"G'night, Nick," She called.
"G'night, Amy!"
Nick gulped and went back inside. He was immediately greeted by Kevin and Joe.
"You finally asked her out!" Kevin exclaimed.
"Congrats, bro," Joe said as he clapped Nick's shoulder. "It's about time."
Nick rolled his eyes. "It's not like the two of you didn't take forever to ask out Macy and Stella."
"He's got a point," Macy said with a nod and a chuckle. "I practically waited all 16 years of my life for Kevin to ask me out. Amy has nothing on me."
"Macy," Stella said with a grin. "At that rate no one will be able to beat you. Ever."
Macy chuckled and smiled proudly. "You got that right."
"I'm not sure that's something you should be proud of, Mace," Joe said with an amused grin.
"Why not?" Macy asked. "I think it's romantic."
"Ignore them," Kevin said as he kissed her temple. "They're just jealous."
Nick shook his head as the two couples sat down in the living room. Sometimes his group of friends amazed him. They were silly, loud, and ridiculous and, though he'd ever admit it out loud, he loved them for it. He sat down in the arm chair and smiled softly as he watched them all interact. The next couple of days would be their last together for a while, and he planned on enjoying them. He was definitely going to miss this over the summer, but hopefully they had many more years of being together ahead of them.