"Honey, I'm really sorry." The woman's voice on the other side of the phone was filled with comfort and remorse. "We'll see you later, I promise. It's just things come up. The boys are really disappointed they couldn't make it."

"It's okay, really." I lied into the phone. It wasn't okay, really it was anything but okay, but it wasn't their fault and there was nothing I could do. There was no use complaining about it. "I look forward to seeing you guys later." I tried to fill my voice with excitement. I couldn't tell if it had worked.

"Aw, thank you for being so understanding honey. Have a wonderful seventeenth birthday." There was a slight commotion on the other side of the phone. "Joe wants to talk to you. Bye honey."

"Hey J-Dawg." A familiar voice appeared on the other end.

I laughed. "Yo, Joe." I said in a low voice. I heard him chuckle.

"Look, I'm really sorry we won't be able to make it up for your birthday party." He really did sound sorry.

"It's cool. Thats life, right?" I tried to sound like I didn't care. I tried as hard as I could. It worked pretty well except for the fact that I actually cared alot.

"Yeah, something like that." He gave a half-hearted laugh into the phone.

"What are you going to miss anyways? Total chaos as Cassidy shoves things, including MY promise ring, by the way--yeah still angry bout that one--down the garbage disposal, Millie runs around barking and then throwing up, and Liam and some friends almost burn our house down." I sighed into the phone. "You should consider yourself lucky to miss all that." I was the second oldest in a family of 6 kids. 

"Dude, I love your fam. They crack me up." He laughed. Then I heard him talking to someone and trying to muffle the phone. "I gotta go, babe. Have a good seventeenth!"

"Thanks. Have fun doing whatever it is you guys have to do tommorrow."

"I will. See ya."

"Bye." I heard the phone click down. After holding onto the phone for a few seconds I hung up too. A sudden wave of lonelyness swept over me, but was immediatly was interrupted as my brothers started wrestling directly in front of me and tripped me as I tried to walk away.

My mom walked over towards me. "I'm sorry they couldn't come. They really wanted to." She pulled me into her arms. "Denise said that the boys were heartbroken they couldn't come up." She paused as she rubbed my hair. "Especially Joe."

I rolled my eyes. My mother was so subtle, wasn't she? "Okay mom." I pulled away. "I think I'm going to go to bed now."

"Okay, honey." My mom squeezed my hand. "Oh, and Joanie, sleep in as long as you want. Meaning, stay in your room until at least 10."

"Okay?" Confusion filling my words. "Why?"

"Just do it. Good night honey."

I walked into my room and closed the door. I pulled on my pajamas, got into bed and tried to go to sleep. Yet all I could do was lie there.

My parents have been friends with the Jonas' ever since I can remember. Mr. Jonas used to be the pastor of our church, and my parents lead the worship team. Our parents had been best friends since before any of us were born, and I saw them at least 3 times a week if not more my entire life; that is until we moved to colorado and they moved officially to L.A. I missed Saturday lunches and Sunday game nights. When our two families got together there was never a calm quiet moment--- it was pretty much one big hurricane--- but all in all we were really one big, happy family. I love Mr. and Mrs. Jonas as if they were my own parents. They might as well be.

Everyone in our families have always been convinced that Joe and I were in love with each other. He was the one who was closest to my age so he was the one I always hung out with. He was one of my best friends, basically like my brother, but sometimes I felt as though I loved him as more. I even found my heart beginning to pound when I found out they were coming to visit for my birthday and I was going to get to see him again

But they weren't coming to my birthday party tommorrow, so it didn't matter. I didn't know what I was going to tell my friends and family, and I didn't know what we were going to about entertainment, but for some reason that wasn't the worst part. The worst part was that I wasn't going to get to see Joe.

Rolling over I forced myself to fall asleep.

I woke up at 10:30 the next morning. I jumped out of bed and ran into the bathroom. I had an hour and a half before the guests started coming and so much I needed to do. Forgetting about my sadness from the night before, I jumped into the shower even before it had gotten warm. After my shower I put on my pink spring dress and my sister curled my hair as I attempted to put on my make up without moving. Sitting still in general was difficult for me. By the time I had gotten ready it was five minutes past noon. Within seconds friends and family began to arrive and my party began.

The next hour was full of greeting people and putting present after present under the tent in our backyard.  Music played in the background as we played games and ate food. Every once in a while I got a twinge of pain. I would wish that Joe and the rest of the Jonas' were here with me, but everytime that feeling came I forced myself to forget about them. They couldn't make it and that was that. I might as well have a good time. I sat down outside on our porch step as people milled around me, playing games and talking. Suddenly I saw my mom take the microphone. Oh no. I thought. Mom, put the microphone down, please!

I groaned as she began to speak. "As most of you know, Joanie, here, is turning seventeen today." I could see tears fill in around my mother's eyes. "The past seventeen years have blown by. It hasn't been an easy ride, but all the hard times have been worth it; seeing my baby girl grow up into a strong, kind, careing, beautiful woman." Tears streamed down my mothers face as she looked at me. I could feel my own eyes begin to prick. "We thought that she deserved to have the best birthday ever. So did some other people who are very close to both mine and Joanie's heart." My mother turned her voice towards me." Joanie, some people would like to say something to you." She put down the microphone.

Confusion and curiosity overcame me as music began to play. My Girl? I said to my self. Why was someone playing My Girl? I thought that someone wanted to tell me something? Just then I heard a familiar voice begin to sing.

I got sunshine

On a Cloudy day

When it's cold outside

I got the month of may

Just then Joe walked out of our house, singing into the microphone and Nick and Kevin came out playing instruments. Joe walked up to me, took my hand and pulled me up next to him. " I guess you'd say,

What can make me feel this way?

My girl, my girl, my girl

Talkin bout my girl

My girl!

He squeezed my hand as he sang to me. I loved him. I denied it before, but I loved him, I couldn't ignore it anymore.

I've got so much honey

The bees envy me

I've got a sweeter song

Than the birds in the trees

I guess you'd say

What can make me feel this way

My girl (My girl, my girl)

Talkin bout my girl

my girl!

Just then, before I realized what was going on, Joe pulled me towards him and kissed me. I melted into a puddle right there on our back porch. I completely forgot everyone was watching. To me, there was no one else around. "I love you Joanie. I've always loved you." Joe whispered as he rested his forehead against mine. "Happy seventeenth."

I was speechless. "You came. You said you weren't but you did." I breathed.

"Of course I came. I'd never miss your birthday party. I've never missed one before and I wasn't planning on missing one now." He smiled. "I'll always be there for you, babe."

"I love you too, Joe." Some how those words seemed insignificant compared to what I felt. "I love you too."