One hour later…….

I put the finishing touches on my pastel purple and pink nails. It was a funky kind of combination, but it was kind of cute.

I stared at the clock. It’s been an hour already?? Where is Nick??

I stared out the window. No Nickie in sight.

Oh well. I turned on the tv.

Barney, no way, Authur, um, maybe, Bugs Bunny, no, Cow and Chicken, rerun. Was there nothing that good on?

I got down on my knees and hunted for a movie in the cabinet.

As I popped in Scream, the doorbell rang.

Finally. I opened the door. “Nick!!! Where were you???”

“I got mobbed. I never even made it to Sam Goody. I walked across the street and this fan came screaming at me. Her friends came, their friends came, and-”

“Boo-hoo. It really sucks to have a thousand girls crawling over you, huh?” I asked sarcastically.

He glared at me. Obviously this was a ‘traumatic’ experience for him.

I laughed. “I was just kidding. At least no one kidnap you.” I grabbed my strap bag on the chair. “C’mon, let’s go!”

“Hey guys!” I smiled at everyone brightly. My mood had went way up since this morning.

The guys greeted me. Hugs, hugs, and more hugs.

“All aboard!!!!!!” Brian bellowed. He rang the bell that was on the ship.

I laughed. “So, what island are we going to?”

“I found this deserted island on Key West.” Nick explained. “It’s just a couple miles from here.”

I suddenly noticed one head missing from the group. “Hey, where’s Howie?”

“He brought a date.” Kevin answered.

“Yep, they’re down there…..all alone.” AJ said suggestively.

I gagged. “Grow up. I SO did not want that image in my head. Eww…”

“Don’t lose your appetite. Nick’s gonna cook some fish or crap.”

“Hey!” Nick said indignantly.

Brian laughed. “Knowing Nick, it’s gonna be crap.”

“It’s not like you’re cooking anything, Brian.” Nick pointed out. “Anyways, fish is my specialty.”

Howie came up from the bottom floor. “Hey, guys. Hey birthday girl!” He gave me a small hug.

“Hiya Howie. Everyone tells me you brought a date!”

“Yep. She’s in the little girl’s room right now. We brought you a present.” He handed me a package.

“Omigosh, thanks!” I smiled brightly.

“Sorry I didn’t go to the theater with you guys.”

I shrugged. “No biggie.” I shook the package. Howie didn’t say anything, so I guess it wasn’t that fragile. I shook it harder.

“Melissa, really, how old ARE you?” AJ rolled his eyes.

“Oh puh-lease. Like you don’t do this.”

“I don’t.”

Nick laughed. “Right. He’s much worse.”

“I am not!”

“You are too. Last year birthday party-”

Kevin laughed. “Oh yeah. Last birthday, your mom tried to reunited with your best friend and you went bizerk trying to find out what she was doing.”

“And last year’s party-” I reminded.

AJ laughed. “Okay, you got me.” He turned to me and gave me a small peck on the cheek. “I got you a present too.”

“Really? Thought you guys already gave me a car!”

“So? I got enough money to go around.” He handed me a small package. “Happy birthday.”

“Thanks!!”

“Welcome.”

Somebody on the boat turned on Destiny’s Child song “No, no, no”, loud.

I smiled. This was turning out to be a nice and small birthday party.

Suddenly, a brunette head popped up at me. “Hi. I’m Charisima. Howie’s date.”

“Hi! I’m Melissa.”

She grinned. “Obviously.” She pointed to the ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MELISSA’ banner.

I laughed. “Gee, I didn’t notice that.”

She laughed too. “They stuck it in a stupid place. I made it, though. You wouldn’t believe Brian. He was going crazy. ‘No, that’s not perfect.’ ‘That’s not right.’ ‘No, purple’s her favorite color.’ Blah, blah. He was completely wigging.”

“He did that??”

“Yeah.” Her eyes widen. “Oops, I don’t think he wants to have that told.”

“It won’t kill him.”

She laughed, letting her dark brownish hair wiggle. “Yeah, that’s the attitude.”

Howie went over to where we were standing and gave Charisima a kiss. “Wanna dance?”

She gave me a questioning look.

“Sure, go ahead.”

The couple skittered their way to their own little world.

I smile wistfully.

“Wanna dance?”

I turned and found myself staring at AJ’s sheepish face.

“What?”

“Wanna dance?”

“Sure.”

He pulled me to a small corner.

I could hardly hear the music, but we pulled into a slow dance.

“My fault for not inviting any girls.” He smile slyly.

I giggled. “Your life can go on without a girl.”

“Yeah, but then I’ll turn gay.”

I laughed. “Shut up, AJ.”

“Think they’ll notice the birthday girl missing?”

“Nuh-uh. Last time I glanced, they were fighting over who gets to ice Nick.”

“Ice Nick, huh?” He rolled his eyes. “What’d he do now?”

“I don’t know. He always finds something to stir up.”

Kevin appeared in the hallway. “Melissa! We can’t eat cake without you! Nick’s going to start bawling if you don’t come.”

“Hey, I heard that!” Nick called from somewhere.

I laughed. “Alright, already.”