Chapter 23

Three days had passed and it was now Samantha’s 18th birthday. Nick or nobody else had mentioned it and Samantha wasn’t going to say anything either, after all she was leaving to go home the next day. Nick had already booked her a flight from Lexington where they were that night and the next night.

She sat there in the back of the bus, watching the news on the TV when all of a sudden she heard some people singing and she sat up on the bed to see Nick and the others open the door, holding a cake with 20 candles, and they were singing “Happy Birthday” to her.

“Blow out the candles.” Said Brian as Samantha smiled at Nick and blew out the candles as they all clapped.

“Now I want a piece of cake.” Said AJ as Samantha started to laugh.

“Hey she’s pregnant, let her have all the cake.” Said Nick as they all stopped and looked at him.

“Do what?” asked Kevin.

“You’re pregnant?” asked Brian as they all looked at Nick.

“Hold up.. no.” said Nick.

“Yeah.. me and my boyfriend Jake… we’re having a baby.. it’s due the day before Nick’s 19th birthday.” Said Samantha.

“Oh my god, congrats girl.” Said AJ as he hugged her and so did the others, except for Nick.

“Whoa.. What’s your parents say about this?” asked Kevin

“They don’t know yet..” said Samantha as she looked over at Nick.

“What about your boyfriend?” asked Howie as AJ agreed with him.

“He doesn’t either… I just found out the day I got here.” Said Samantha as Nick looked away.

“Whoa… how’s Jake gonna take this. I can tell he gets pissy some and I’ve barely been around him.” Said Brian as Samantha and Nick looked at each other at the same time.

“He’s gonna like it. We’ve talked about being together forever and starting a family and all… just .. it’ll happen a little earlier than expected.” Said Samantha.

“Well you’re out of high school now… ” said Kevin, “A lot of people start families early.”

“Yeah my parents married young.” Said Samantha smiling as she took a little piece of icing on her finger and tasted it, “That’s good.”

“So presents…” said Kevin as he looked over at AJ as AJ pulled a big box from behind his back.

“Sammy, it’s for you.” Said AJ, “It’s from us five.. plus I think Nick got ya something else.” As Samantha smiled.

“You didn’t have to get me anything.” Said Samantha as she sat the box down on the bed and opened it up to see a leather Backstreet Boys tour jacket, “Oh my god… this is too much.”

“Nah, hey you’re on tour with us.. it’s summer but hell you can wear it in the winter.” Said Howie as she hugged him and then hugged Kevin, Brian and AJ. She was about to hug Nick when he stuck a little gift bag out in front of her.

“Here ya go.” Said Nick as he looked and noticed she was wearing the earrings he had given her for Christmas.

“The jacket was enough.” Said Samantha.

“Nah I wanted to get you this at Christmas too but I thought Jake would get too jealous or something.” Said Nick as Samantha looked in the little gift bag and pulled out a long jewelry case.

“Nick…” said Samantha as Nick motioned for her to open it as she looked at him and looked down at it.

“Shit I gotta see this.” Said AJ as he pushed through Howie and Kevin as Samantha opened the case to see a diamond tennis bracelet that matched her earrings perfectly, “Ohhh….”

“Nick!” said Samantha as she looked up at him in shock.

“You like it?” asked Nick.

“Umm yeah… I love it but… I can’t take it..” said Samantha as she handed it back to him and he looked confused.

“Huh? Why?” asked Nick as he handed it back to her.

“Nick.. I mean these earrings and then a brand new car, and then this bracelet, Nick, I can’t take all this stuff…” said Samantha.

“You’re one of my best friends… what’s the problem. I want to and I can, so why not?” asked Nick as the other guys walked to the little kitchenette of the bus with the cake, shutting the back door.

“Nick, just… I love it trust me, I love the earrings, I love the car, and this bracelet is just beautiful but… you can’t be doing this all the time.” Said Samantha.

“Jake isn’t it?” asked Nick as Samantha looked down and looked back up at him, “You don’t even have to tell me. He’s jealous of us isn’t he?”

“No.. I just think he’s jealous of the things you give me because he can’t afford all that.” Said Samantha.

“I’m not trying to out due him… I just have this thing I like to buy people that I love and care about stuff. I do it for my family all the time. I’m buying my family a ranch out in LA, and I’m happy I can do that, just like I’m happy that I can afford a present like this for my best friend on her birthday and then when this baby comes, don’t think I’m gonna go to Wal-mart and buy it something, it’s gonna have the best of everything.” Said Nick as Samantha looked away.

“You know Jake won’t let you.” Said Samantha.

“You know what, I’m not buying it for Jake. I could give a shit less what he thinks.” Said Nick, “I bought you a bracelet and I put a lot of thought into it, so if you don’t take it..” as he started to sniff like he was about to cry, “I’ll just die from a broken heart.”

“I love it..” said Samantha as she looked up and smiled, “It’s not like I’m gonna be a spoiled bitch and say ‘Oh Nickolas the diamonds are way too small’.”

“I’ll be damned.” Said Nick as he opened the jewelry box and put the bracelet on her wrist, still seeing some of the bruises.

“Nah.. I love it.” Samantha said as she put her arms around his neck tight, giving him a big hug. Nick just put his arms around her and held her tight. They just stood there a minute hugging, as they stopped and looked at each other when Samantha started to smile as she looked at her wrist, “It’s beautiful.”

“Thanks…” said Nick as Samantha started to laugh and Nick came out of his daze, “Huh?”

“Nothing, where’s that cake at?” asked Samantha as they walked into the kitchen.

The day after her birthday, Samantha left Lexington on a flight back to Tampa. Her and Nick left on good terms, he was happy that she was going to have a baby. He just wasn’t happy that she was going to give up college and her dream of being a doctor just so she can have a baby and be with Jake, but he knew he had to stand by her in whatever she decided.

Samantha’s father picked her up from the airport and took her back to their home. After she told her parents that she found out she was pregnant, she left in her car that Nick bought her to go and see Jake at his apartment.

“Hold on just a sec baby.” Said Jake as Samantha looked around confused. He didn’t know she was coming.

“Okay.” Said Samantha as Jake opened the door to see Samantha, grabbing her hand and pulling her in.

“Where in the hell have you been?” asked Jake as Samantha looked scared.

“I went out for a few days with Nick and the guys. I told you I was leaving.” Said Samantha.

“Oh you couldn’t go to Miami with me, but yet you go off to God knows where with Nick?” asked Jake, “You could have told me you were going. Damn don’t you see what happened last time you went off and didn’t tell me. Megan died.” As Samantha looked at him.

“That wasn’t my fault..” said Samantha, “Don’t yell at me alright I just need to tell you something.”

“Tell me something?” asked Jake as he put his hands around her arms squeezing them, “Listen to me, don’t you ever, ever leave and go off with Nick with out telling me alright…” as he started to shake her a little, “Never.”

“Jake stop, damn I’m pregnant!” yelled Samantha as Jake stopped shaking her, “Don’t hit me or anything, I’m pregnant okay.”

“You’re pregnant?” asked Jake as he let go of her arms and she nodded her head yes, “It’s mine?”

“Is it yours? Jake! How could you even ask me that… of course it is.. I’ve only been with you once, and that was what you did to me after prom.” Said Samantha.

“Oh my god.. we’re gonna have a baby?” asked Jake as he smiled and put his hands on her face.

“Yeah..” said Samantha as she smiled, “It’s due January 27, the day before…” as she paused, “before the 28th.”

“Oh my god.” Said Jake as he kissed her and picked her up hugging her, “We’re gonna have a baby.” As they kissed again, “I’m so sorry for getting mad, I’m sorry. You were probably scared, that’s why you left right? Tell me that’s why.”

“Yeah that’s why.” Said Samantha as Jake hugged her.

“Ohh.. it’s okay. I’m not mad baby…” said Jake as he stopped hugging her and they kissed again, “We’re gonna move in together, we’re gonna get a damn nice place, better than this dump, and we’re gonna be a family. No more of this other crap, I promise.”

“You promise?” asked Samantha as she smiled, with a tear falling from her eye and Jake wiped it away.

“I promise…” said Jake as he started to laugh, “We’re gonna have a baby!” He hugged her again as Samantha looked around, looking scared, but Jake was on cloud 9.