Chapter 3
"You're-you're what? When did you find out? For how long? Nick, I've got so many questions, I..I can't believe it. I just...wow." I was at a complete loss for words, knowing what I wanted to say, but not how to say it. Nick looked at me, his eyes full of tenderness, and continued.
"Ali, babe, I just found out last night. Kevin told us when Joe got home. It's for about...five months..nationally, and a few dates in Canada. Believe me, if I could stay here, I would. We leave...tomorrow.....to start promoting for it, and the actual tour starts in two months. I'm so unbelievably sorry that this is happening right now, in the middle of everything. Oh baby, please don't cry...we're inseperable, right?" he said, wiping a tear that had fallen onto my cheek.
We sat there for a while, Nick holding me close. Our breathing was in perfect harmony, and even though there was an ominous cloud of bad luck looming over me, I was content. Nick was singing to me, and I could feel myself on the edge of sleep. He stopped singing and looked at me.
"Als...there's...there's more. The other day, when Cassy and Kevin were fighting...it was about the tour. And uhm...and you." he said softly. "Kev wanted you to come with us, finish school with me, and just...take it easy. Cassy got really upset about it, and I guess she is basically forbidding you from going. Kevin wouldn't really tell me everything, but I think it has something to do with the two fo you sticking together now..I don't know." he looked at his watch and told me he had to go, but that he'd call me later. Then he left.
I stormed into my sister's room, more angry with her than I'd ever been in my life She stopped what she was doing when she saw me, and her face turned frightened when she realized how angry I was. I knew that she only wanted to protect me, but it didn't matter to me. Traveling the country at Nick's side was exactly what I needed, and I was not about to let my know-it-all sister stop me.
"Cassy how could you? I can't believe that you told Kevin I'm not allowed to go with them! You know how much that would mean to me! I can not believe you!" I said, not trying to hide the rage that was racing through me.
Cassy looked at me, unphased by my ridiculous rant. "I don't owe you an explanation, Alexis. You are not missing an entire year of school to go on some stupid road trip. I said no, plain and simple. Don't argue with me, I'm not changing my mind."
"What makes you think that I have to listen to you? I wouldn't be missing school! Nick has one of the best tutors out there! You aren't the boss of me, I'll do what I want!" I knew I was sounding very much like a toddler, but Cassy was being completely unreasonable. I wanted to be with Nick more than anything- five months away from him would be too long. And it wasn't like there was anything keeping me there...my whole life had been in Colorado, but even that no longer had anything for me.
"You will not do what you want, Alexis! You'll listen to me and do as I say. And I say that you are not going! You're staying here and attending a normal school with normal people." She said, clearly meaning to end the discussion. That was fine with me, I only had one thing left to say.
"Just because you're the only family that I have left now does not mean that you're allowed to boss me around. You are not my mother." I whirled around and marched back to my room, slamming the door behind me. I had noticed that Cassy's room no longer had any pictures of Kevin, and wondered for a fleeting second if they had broken up.
Cassy left the apartment shortly after our fight, and I had no idea where she'd went. I made myself something to eat, watched a movie, and read most of a book. Cassy still had not returned, and I was about to try to take a nap. My plans were interrupted, however, by my cell phone ringing obnoxiously. I answered it, quickly figuring out that it was Joe on the other end.
"Don't ask any questions, I'm not allowed to answer them." he said monotonously. "A car will be arriving at your apartment in exactly ten minutes to pick you up. You are to simply get in and enjoy the ride. Don't question where you're going...it's a surprise. Just get in the car and go. Goodbye." he hung up before I could say anything in response.
I got up and grabbed my purse from my room, sliding my feet into my worn-out flip flops, and proceeded to wait by the door. As Joe had said, a horn sounded outside precisely ten minutes later, and I opened the door, stepping outside.
