.:.Chapter Two.:.
I stepped off the plane, my cell phone on my ear. I heard someone’s cellphone ringing close by. I looked up and squealed. It was Mrs. Jonas! I dropped my bags and ran to hug her. She gave me a huge hug.
“Denise! It’s so good to see you! Thank you so much for doing all of this, just so I could surprise them!”
“Not a problem, Tay! You have no idea how much they miss you! “
“Oh, I bet I do,” I said. “I miss them like crazy, too! Do they know you are here, picking me up?”
She smiled. “Not at all. I told them I went grocery shopping. Which is half true-I did. But what I didn’t tell them was that I would be bringing home more than some bread and milk.” She winked.
I laughed. I put my arm around her and said, “Well. Let’s go, then!”
We pulled into the hotel valet, where Denise helped me get my bags out of the trunk. I looked up. There was blue skies, and a sun that shined so brightly, my eyes hurt. I was in paradise.
Denise looked at me and asked if I was ready. Of course I was.
We walked through the revolving doors and into the hotel. It smelled like suntan lotion and coconuts. We walked over to the elevator and Denise pressed the 9 button.
“Are you ready?” She asked.
“Oh, you betcha!!” I could hardly keep the smile off my face.
The elevator bell dinged, and we stepped out. Right away I could hear a guitar playing, and the sound of rock music playing. I looked at Denise and asked her to wait a second. I took out my phone and dialed a number I had memorized by heart. I heard it ringing.
“Hey, Tay! What’s up!? I haven’t heard from you in forever!” I heard Kevin and Nick in the background, shouting their hello's.
“Heyyy Joe! I know! What’ve you been up to?”
“Stuff. In Florida right now with the brothers-we are playing a sold-out show tonight!”
“Woah, that’s awesome! What are you doing now?” I asked.
“Thanks! Um, playing Guitar Hero. Actually, I'm kickin' Kevin's......”
"TOTALLY NOT TRUE!" I could hear Kevin shout.
“Hahahaha." I laughed out loud. "Hey, Joe? Could you do me a huge favor?” I asked
“Um…sure. Not sure I can do much, though, since I’m in Florida.”
“Yeah. I know. That’s the thing. Your mom and I were wondering if you could open the door, please.”
I heard Joe yell to Kevin and Nick, and then heard a trample of feet coming to the door. The door swung open.
“NO WAY!”
“OH MY GOSH!”
“SHUT UP! TAY!? IS THAT YOU!??!?!?”
I just laughed, dropped my bags, and allowed the boys to bombard me with hugs and questions. They let go of me, with dumbstruck looks on their faces.
“Oh, my Gosh, it is Taylor!”
“That was amazing! How’d you get here?!”
I laughed again.
“Guys, You know I love you, but could we move into the room please?”
“Oh, yeah! Of course!” Said Kevin, as he and Joe grabbed my bags. Nick just stood there, and gave me another hug.
“Dude! You’re here!!”
“I know! Your parents and I have been planning this forever! Hahaha. I wanted it to be a surprise!”
“Well, it is!”
“Boys, let Taylor see her closet space and let her unpack, please,” called out Denise.
“Yeah. Sure thing, Mom.” Joe said, totally ignoring her.
“So does that mean you are coming to the show tonight?” Kevin asked.
“Um, duh, Kevin!” Joe said. “….wait. You are coming, right?” He said, looking over at me.
“Well duh!”
The boys high-fived me and started talking amongst themselves as I got to unpacking.
I looked over at them, looking at how much they’ve changed over the past few months.
Nick grew taller, and his curls were way more curlier than I ever remembered. Kevin’s hair too, had grown curlier, and he seemed super happy. I looked at Joe. Joe had changed. He was no longer the goofy kid I remembered. Just as I was thinking that, Joe burped, jumped up on the couch, and shouted, “Ohhhh Yeah!” I laughed. Okay, I thought. He still was goofy. But when I looked at him, I got butterflies in my stomach-something I never got before. I shrugged off the feeling-it was probably the fact that I was as happy as I’d ever been, and the fact that I was in Florida with my best friends to enjoy it.
“Tay-you coming with us to lunch?” Nick asked.
“Heck yes! Let me just go freshen up!”
“Since when do you put on make-up?” Joe asked
“Um, since I realized I was a girl.” I joked.
“Ha. That’s not what I meant!” He said.
“Yeah, Yeah. Whatever. Let’s just go!” I shouted.
“WOO HOOO!” Kevin screamed.
“Boys! And Tay,” I nodded in approval, “Behave, okay?”
“Yes Mom,” we all said, laughing.
