Summer Lovin'

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

We never had the conversation about me staying in California again for

the rest of the summer. No more tears, we'd promised after that night.

Even though I knew I'd cry when I left, but being a 17 year old girl,

that was a little inevitable. We made the most of our time together.

The band stuff became less frequent as the end of summer came close.

So Nick and I had more time for each other to be alone. Even though we

only went out a few times I no longer complained. We laid around in

the backyard and talked, about everything under the sun. Some days I

thought I was beginning to know him better than I knew myself. The way

he would make a small smile when he saw something that pleased him. Or

how he would roll his eyes and smirk at something he found ridiculous

- mostly his brothers. And the little funny remarks he always made.

Everyday I fell further in love with him, and I liked to think that he

did the same for me. Always touching me, a graze of our hands, or

catching a stand of fly away hair, or a hand on the small of my back.

Most times it was little touches here or there that showed his care,

others he would grab my hand and not let go for hours. Then the awful

day came. I did my laundry the day before and Nick and I had remained

home alone - even though Nick was supposed to go to an interview with

Kevin and Joe he refused to leave me and lose any amount of time with

me that was left. We sat on the couch watching tv in between loads.

Sometimes I would fold what was finished and others I sat curled in

his arms our hands laced together. Every time I got up from he couch he

would follow me silently not letting my hand go. When it was all done,

we went upstairs to my room while I packed it all in my suitcase.

"Mandy?" He said when I had put all my things in the bag.

"Yeah?"

"I have something for you, wait here." He got off the bed where he'd

made space to sit among my clothes. I nodded and continued packing, I

picked up the black dress, I held it in my hands for a minute

remembering what had happened that night, was that only a few weeks

ago? A tear fell and I quickly swiped it away, Nick had finished

whatever it was he was doing in his room and had come back into my

room. He had a package in his hands that was fairly large.

"What's this?" I asked as he came to stand in front of me. I looked up

into his brown eyes - lost in the warmth of them for a moment.

"Just something for you to remember me and this summer by better." He

handed the box to me. I took it and pushed my bag further up the bed

so we could sit together. I gingerly pulled back the plain wrapping

paper that was wrapped poorly around it.

"I'm not very good at wrapping gifts." Nick said with a little laugh,

I smiled at him and laughed too.

"Its okay. It's the thought that counts right?" I said and continued

to pull the paper off and tossed it on the floor, underneath was a

plain white box with a fold over lid that had been tapped down several

times over.

"Wow, a box!" I joked, "This thing is like the Scotland Yard, Nick.

How am I supposed to open this?" I said laughing again. It felt good

to laugh today - as if it would hold off tomorrow. Nick smiled and

pulled a pocket knife out of his pocket. He sliced through the tape

swiftly then returned it to his pocket.

"Sorry I get tape happy too." I pulled the top up and folded it back

against itself. Inside was pink tissue paper that I dug through until

I found what was inside. I pulled it out and looked at it. It was a

brand new iPod touch - the one that had just come out a few weeks ago

with the video camera. I stared at him.

"Nick..."

"I've already filled it up with music." He interrupted me, "All the

music that made me think of this summer and of us. There's a playlist

made, but you have to promise me that you won't listen to it until

your on the plane." He said. I nodded, "I promise Nick. Thank you so

much. What am I going to do with my old one?" I said with a laugh.

He'd been teasing me about it for weeks when he first saw it. It was a

first gen iPod nano in electric blue only 4 gigs. The poor thing had

seen more falls then Humpty Dumpty.

"Do you like I then?" Nick asked.

"Yes! I'd be crazy not to!" I set it back in the box and set it all on

the floor before throwing my arms around his neck. I let go and pulled

it out again, then walked over to my purse to put it in there so I

wouldn't forget it tomorrow.

"What time is your flight again tomorrow?" Nick asked moving back to

his front row seat for watching my pack.

"Its at 12:15 I believe. Are you going to be able to come say goodbye

at the gate? Or do you have to wait outside?" I asked - not sure LAX

allowed unticketed people into the terminals like the airport back

home did.

"I'm not sure. But it couldn't hurt to ask." He said.