It's late but present:
Chapter 9
“Why are you wearing my sweatshirt…?” Nick asked when he saw me with his sweatshirt on. I glanced at him as he sat next to me.
“Because it’s the first one I saw..and I was cold.” I explained and continued to watch tv. He scootched closer to me and wrapped an arm around my waist. I felt a little uncomfortable and asked, “Um..what are you doing..?”
“Keeping you warm.”
“I was cold before..but now I’m fine..so you can just..take your arm out now.” I said making a hand gesture towards his arm.
“But-“ he said as confusion crossed his face. “We’re cool..right?”
“Yes, Nicholas..but not cool as in it’s-okay- to- just- do- things-like- we’re- together- cool.” I said trying as hard as possible not so sound mean.
His eyebrows shot up, “We’re friends though..”
“Friends..and friends don’t do this.” I pointed to his arm.
“But it’s just harmless-“ I cut him off. “You know what? Forget it..I need to take a shower anyway.” I smiled at him and got up from my seat taking off the sweatshirt, handing it back to Nick.
I pulled out a pair of black skinny jeans and a bright red tank out of my bag. I gathered my items and headed to the bathroom. Once I got in, I locked the door, turned the shower on , undressed and got in the shower.
Ten minutes later, I got out of the shower refreshed, and dried myself off. I got dressed in my fresh clothes as I tied my hair in a loose bun letting my bangs fall to the side.
I got out and chucked my towel in my bunk along with the clothes into the suitcase. I got out my makeup bag and applied my make up which consisted of black eyeliner, black mascara, concealer, and some chapstick with lipgloss. I took my hair out of the bun and decided to was best to let it air dry in my natural waves. Once I was happy with how I looked, I walked out to the front of the bus and sat on the couch with everyone else watching tv too.
“Alright, babe. I’ll see you in a couple of hours..bye.” Joe said as he put his phone back in his pocket.
“Were you talking to Julia?” I asked.
“Um..no.” Joe said looking at me like I asked him something so stupid. “Julia and I have been over months ago..that was Emily I was talking to just now.” He explained.
“Oh..that’s…nice!” I said as I turned my attention to Morgan walking in looking fresh and clean.
“Someone’s squeaky clean this morning!” I said to her. She smiled and sat next to me.
“Soo..is it safe to ask if there’s anything happening between you and Nick?” she asked cautiously after a while, eyeing me from the corner of her eyes.
“Yes and nothing’s happening, Morgan..and when something does..” I smiled “I’ll let you know.”
About three hours later, we pulled into the Texas venue. Joe got off the bus excitedly pleading with Mrs. Jonas to take the car, drive down to Emily’s house and pick her up. Morgan and I made our way into the auditorium and up on stage to check out the view.
“Wow..it’s amazing!” I said admiring the vast amount of space. “I think this is the biggest one yet!”
“Nah..you’d be surprised at how much bigger the venue’s can get, Mel!”
I laughed and left her to Kevin who came in right when I was leaving. I smiled at him as I left. I made my way back to the dressing room to find Nick silently strumming his guitar.
I sat down quietly on the couch opposite from where he was sitting and watched him play. When he was done he set the guitar down and sighed.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Nothing..just..confused.” he said pensively.
“Come on..you can talk to me..” I got up and sat next to him, nudging him in the side smiling cheesily. He chuckled.
“It’s just that..I don’t know if I should take it slow or take it fast..”
“Take what slow..or fast..?”
He looked at me for a while before he said “My..My guitar playing on stage. Joe told me to take it slow and cherish the moment and when the time comes, it’ll go fast..naturally of course,” He seemed unsure of what he was saying. To be honest, it sounded like it had something to do about me and him.
“Nick..can I ask you something..honestly and you won’t think I’m circling this around me?”
“Shoot”
“Are you making the guitar playing an analogy of you and me?”
We sat in silence for quite some time before he said, “Yeah..I am.”
“Nick..I like you and everything..but it’s just that I’m afraid-“
“Of falling in love?” he finished my sentence for me. “I heard Kevin talk to Morgan about it.”
“Oh..” I whispered.
We sat in silence again, both of us unsure of what to say.
“I think..” I trailed off frightened of what I was getting myself into and what I was going to say.
“We should..give it a try?”
Nick’s head shot up in excitement as he looked into my eyes with joy. “Really?”
I nodded slowly gulping down the fear. “I would have to get over it some time..right?”
His face fell rapidly in sadness. “Mel..” he began. “Are you doing this just to get over you’re fear or because you have the same feelings for me as I do?”
I averted my eyes from his. He sighed. He knew my answer. “I’ll wait then.”
“Why-“
“Because I’m willing to wait for you, Mel. You are so precious and beautiful that if it takes forever for you to fall in my arms, I will wait. For as long as it takes..I will wait.”
“Nick..I-I-“ I said tears beginning to form in my eyes. He moved closer to me and wiped my tears away.
“You are an amazing person, Nicholas.” I whispered as I closed my eyes. He leaned his forehead against mine. “So are you..”
The door swung open and walked in Joe with his girlfriend. Nick and I quickly broke apart. “Mel, Nick, I want you to meet Emily! Emily, this is Mel and Nick!”
for
“Hello! It’s finally nice to meet you!” I said wiping the tears away from my face while shaking her hand. “You too!” she said shyly. I gestured for her so sit down and sooner or later, Kevin and Morgan walked in introduced themselves and sat down joining in the conversation.
I looked to my left and smiled at Nick, he returned a smile and I sighed contently as I watched the ones I loved, once again, right in front of me the whole time.
