Scars [An Exclamation Point Fan Fiction]

PART 25

Lyndsay is still out when I get back to the room, so Paul ends up staying with me while I pack. I start to think about my conversation with Lyndsay, about me not doing anything with Paul. I get distracted and fold a pair of pants over and over again. Paul stands behind me and grabs the pants from me.

"Everything ok?" He asks.

"Yeah. Just got a lot on my mind."

Paul sits on the chair behind us, and pats his leg telling me to come sit with him. I sit in his lap, wrapping my arms around him.

"What are you thinking about?" Paul asks.

I shake my head. "It's embarassing." I say blushing.

Paul laughs. "You know you can tell me. I'm not going to make fun of you." Paul puts his hands on my stomach. "I'll tickle it out of you." He says. He starts tickling my sides and I squirm out of his lap.

"Stop it." I say laughing. He continues to try and tickle it out of me. Thankfully I'm saved by Lyndsay walking in the room. She walks in and sees me on the floor squealing, and laughing so hard I'm crying, and Paul over me tickling my sides.

"Am I interrupting something? Cause I can leave." She says. I blush and stand up pushing the hair out of my face.

"No you just saved me. He was torturing me." I say smiling.

"Sounded like you were enjoying it." Paul says standing next to me. I blush again, and Lyndsay busts out laughing. I look down and something shiny on her left hand.

"What's that?" I ask pointing to her hand.

She smiles widely and lifts her hand to show a huge diamond ring. "Mike proposed!!" She squeals. "We went out after the show and he asked!" I run over and hug her.

"Oh my gosh congrats! That's so awesome!" She shows me the ring. "Lynds it's gorgeous!" Her smile still hasn't gone away. "Where's Mike now?"

"He's flying back to New York later tonight. I'm leaving tomorrow morning." She looks around our messy room. "Guess I better start packing."

Paul walks over and puts an arm around me. "I better get going so I can pack too." He kisses my head, then goes to hug Lyndsay. "Congrats Lyndsay." He says and walks out the door.

We start packing our things and talk about our time here.

"So why was he tickling you?" She suddenly asks.

I drop my make up bag and pick it up. "I- uh- I, I got distracted and wouldn't tell him what I was thinking about."

"It can't be that bad. What was it?"

Heat rises in my face. "Uh you know, it's uhh- kind of along the conversation we had recently." I say avoiding eye contact with her.

She thinks for a second then her jaw drops and she smiles. "No freaking way. You're ready?" She says.

I blush. "I don't know. Maybe, but.. Ugghhh." I groan and throw myself on the bed. "What if I bore him? I feel like that's the only way to keep him with me." I look over at Lyndsay. She puts down the shirt she's folding and sits by me on the bed.

"Nikki. Paul is crazy about you. Everyone can see it. I promise you he's not after just sex. Nate's made you afraid of relationships, and that's understandable. But you need to let go. Sex won't make or break your relationship with Paul." She lays down next to me and faces me. "I'm going to tell you a secret. Mike and I have been together for almost five years. We did it for the first time after three years. I promise you," She grabs my arm and lightly squeezes. "We got one of the few good guys left." She smiles at me and walks back to her stuff. "But talk to Paul. See if he's even thought about it. You guys have been together for almost two months right?" I nod my head. "There's no need to rush into it. Don't do it because you're bored, and afraid he'll leave. Do it because you know he's not going to leave either way."

I smile at Lyndsay and stand up. "How did you get so smart?" I ask.

She laughs. "I'm older, I've got more experience." She says winking at me.

"You're barely twenty-one. I'll be twenty in April. You're not that much older." I say laughing at her.

We finish packing close to one in the morning. We go to sleep shortly after. Lyndsay gets up around eight to catch her flight out to New York. We say a tearful goodbye.

"I'll send out Save The Dates soon. I want you and Paul there. And Danny."

"We'll be there." I say smiling at her.

"Don't forget to call anytime." She says hugging me one last time.

"Same for you." I say holding on tight.

She waves and walks out the door.

Later that day I go to EDGE studio and register for my audition coming up. After I'm done I realize Christmas is in four days. I have no idea what to get Paul so I call Danny.

"Hey Nikki what's up?" He says.

"Hey, what would Paul want for Christmas?" I ask.

"No clue. All I know is you're going to love your present."

I groan. "I guess I'll figure something out." I say. "Thanks anyway Danny."

"Wait Nikki. Don't try too hard. Honestly if he spent his Christmas just with you, that would make it. He doesn't need much. But he likes Nutella, and Penguins. So if you go off of that it should work." He laughs.

I join him laughing. "Thanks for the help Danny. See y'all later."

"See ya! We're leaving for the airport around seven!"

I check my phone. It's already almost four. I shop around for an hour and find him a giant stuffed penguin, and a Rolex watch. I'll finish shopping back home, where I can buy my family stuff too. I get to my room and hide Paul's gifts in my bags. He walks through the door, right as I zip my bag.

"Ready to go?" He asks.

"Yupp. Just finished packing." Paul helps me take my bags down to the Taxi waiting for the three of us and we make our way to the airport.