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Chapter 19.

Avery could feel the light shining through the crack in the curtains when she woke up. She could also feel the warmth of Nick’s body lying next to her. She opened her eyes. She was still wrapped in Nick’s arms like he hadn’t let go of her all night. She grinned from ear to ear. She laid her head back down on his chest and then glanced don at his foot. Her eyes grew big and she sprung up. “Oh my heck!” she said surprised.

Nick opened his eyes. “Avery? What is it? Are you OK?”

“I’m fine. It’s just…” She looked at his ankle again. “Look at your foot!”

Nick sat up and looked at his ankle. His entire ankle was black and blue and it had swelled up so much more through out the night. Nick tried to move his foot but then winced in pain. “Maybe it is broken.” He said.

“What should I do?”

“I don’t know. What time is it?”

Avery looked at the clock. “It’s 10:30.” She replied.

Why don’t you hand me some asprin and a cell phone. “I’ll see if I can get a hold of the guys while you shower and pack up your stuff.”

Avery gave him the painkillers and his phone. She kissed him and then disappeared into the bathroom. Nick dialed Brian first. “Hello?” Brian whispered.

“Hey, did I wake you up?”

“No.”

“What’s with the whispering?”

Nick heard a door shut and then Brian said. “I didn’t want to wake Natalie up.”

“You’re here in the hotel?”

“No. We’re at my place. Are you at the hotel?”

“Yeah.”

“Is Avery awake?”

“Yeah, she’s getting ready to leave.”

“Alright, I’ll wake Natalie up. We’ll come over there.”

“OK. See you soon.”

Nick hung up with Brian and then called the other guys. Everyone decided they were going to meet at the hotel at 11:30 to have one last meal together and say goodbye to the girls. Nick didn’t say anything about his foot to anyone because he didn’t want them forcing him to go to the hospital. He figured that they would take him after the girls had left. Avery came out of the bathroom and threw her wet hair up into a ponytail. “So is someone coming to the rescue?” She asked Nick.

“Everyone’s coming. They’re meeting us downstairs at 11:30. Brunch before you leave.”

“What about your ankle?”

“Later.” Nick shrugged.

Just then there was a knock at Avery’s door. Avery opened the door to see Brian standing there. He looked so tired. “Is Nick in here?” he asked.

“Dude! You look like hell.” Nick said as Brian walked into the room.

“I didn’t really sleep last night. You’re still in bed?” he said changing the subject.

Brian walked over and sat down on the bed. He saw Nick’s foot. “What the! What happened to you?”

“I was attacked by a nine year old.” He said.

“Actually she was 12 and a half.” Avery said mocking the snotty little girl.

Nick laughed at the impression. “I think it might be broken.” He said.

“Didn’t you have it looked at?” Brian asked looking a little pale as he stared at the bruised ankle.

“I tried to make him but he refused to go.” Avery said.

Brian gave Nick a weird look. Nick shrugged. “After the girls leave.” He said, “I just need your help getting down stairs. I can’t walk. It hurts like hell.”

Brian just stood there looking at him like he was crazy. “I’ll go see if the hotel has a wheelchair or something.” He said shaking his head. He laughed to himself on the way out the door.

A few minutes later Avery answered her door to see Natalie standing there with all her bags. “I’m all packed. You?”

Avery nodded. “Just waiting for Brian to come back.” She said.

“Where’d he go?”

Avery pointed at Nick sitting on the bed. “To find a wheelchair.

“Oh my gosh!” Natalie said seeing Nick’s condition. “You’ll have to explain that later.”

“We’ll tell everyone the story over brunch.” Nick said.

Natalie looked at the clock. 11:30 exactly. “Brian better hurry back.”

The minute Natalie said that, there was another knock at Avery’s door. She opened it to see Brian sitting in a wheelchair. He smiled and pushed himself into the room. “These things are kind of fun.” He said as he accidentally bumped into a coffee table.

They helped Nick into the chair and went downstairs to find everyone waiting in the lobby. Kevin, Howie, AJ and James were standing there talking. Natalie and Avery were surprised to see Laura, George and Steve sitting on a couch. They didn’t think everyone would show up. After everyone reacted to Nick’s foot, they decided it was best to have brunch at the hotel. The manager even set up a private table in one of their banquet rooms for them so they wouldn’t be bothered. Everyone sat around the table and listened to Nick and Avery explain their exciting night. After they were finished eating James and Kevin excused themselves from the table. Everyone wondered what they were doing. Steve turned on his camera one more time as Kevin and James came back. They were each carrying big gift bags. Kevin handed one to Avery and James handed Natalie the other. “Open ‘em.” James said excitedly.

“We stayed up all night putting these together.” Kevin added.

Natalie and Avery looked at each other and then began pulling things out of the bags. They laughed as they pulled out bags of gummy bears and cans of mountain dew. “I hope that’s enough to get you home.” Kevin said.

The girls laughed again. Then they pulled out copies of the new album. “Your song is the last track.” James said.

“We brought permanent markers so everyone can sign them if you want.” Kevin said tossing some markers on the table.

Last but not least the girls reached into their bags and pulled out a couple of photo albums. “That’s what took us all night.” James said.

“We developed every picture from everyone’s camera we could find. There is a blank page next to everyone’s pictures so that they can write whatever.”

They girls flipped through the pages of pictures smiling as they remembered all of the week’s events. On the front cover there was a picture of the whole gang. Both Natalie and Avery had tears in there eyes. They didn’t know how to say thank you enough. They passed the picture books around and everyone wrote messages to them. When everything was wrapped up and there was nothing left to do but say goodbye, Kevin stood up. “I guess there’s only one thing left to do.” He said. “We promised you ladies a song before you go.”

Kevin and AJ came around the table and pulled Natalie and Avery’s chairs away from the table and the guys all knelt around them except for Nick who was still in the wheelchair. Nick grabbed Avery’s hand and Brian took Natalie’s. With a few snaps of their fingers, the guys burst into harmony. The girls blushed when they heard the words to “I’ll Never Break Your Heart.” Chills ran through both of them and they were once again both fighting back tears. It was such a beautiful moment and a dream come true for both of them. Both Brian and Nick stared into Natalie and Avery’s eyes as if they truly meant every word. They both seemed so happy and yet so sad. Natalie couldn’t stand it anymore and she closed her eyes taking in every sound. When the serenade was over Nick kissed Avery. Brian wanted to Kiss Natalie but didn’t. Everyone got to their feet and went out to the front of the hotel where Natalie’s car was waiting for them. Their luggage was already in it. Everyone said their goodbyes and then pretended to be busy in an effort to give them some privacy as they said goodbye to Nick and Brian. They went inside but tried their best to peek out the doors to see what was happening. Avery bent down to hug Nick one last time and he was having trouble letting go. They kissed and kissed and kissed again. Nick smiled and said, “I’ll come see you every chance I get.”

“You better.”

Finally Nick opened the car door and Avery climbed into the passenger seat. “I’ll call you later.” He said.

Brian walked Natalie around to the driver’s seat and opened the door. They looked at each other. “Thank you for best week of my life.” She whispered.

She smiled and Brian smiled back. “I meant what I said last night.” he said.

Natalie hugged him. When she pulled away there were tears in Brian’s eyes. She wiped a tear that had rolled down his cheek. He closed his eyes as she touched his face. When he opened his eyes Natalie forced a smile and kissed his cheek and whispered goodbye. She turned to get into her car and Brian grabbed her hand. She looked back and Brian kissed her one last time. Avery thought she heard a scream. She looked up top see everyone staring through the hotel doors. AJ had put his hand over Laura’s mouth. George was crying and Steve was struggling to get a better shot in his camera. Avery smiled and then waved to everyone. They all waved back. Brian finally let go of Natalie and she got in the car. Brian stood there and watched the car drive off. Nick saw Brian wipe the tears from his eyes. “Hey. It’s not goodbye forever.” Nick said.

Brian looked at Nick and they seemed to exchange thoughts without speaking. Brian wheeled Nick back to the curb where everyone was still watching them. “Let’s get that ankle looked at.” Brian said the smile returning to his face.