"Hello?" I said answering the persistent phone. It was 8:00 on a Friday morning in May. I had come home for summer break two weeks earlier.

"Amanda?" the person on the other end replied.

"Jacob!" I answered, immeadiately recognizing the voice of the person on the other end of the line.

"It’s so nice to hear from you. I haven’t talked to you in forever."

" Two weeks is hardly forever Manda." Jacob replied laughing.

" Yeah, well... So what’s up? By the way why’d you call so early?"

" Well, I was wondering if you’d like to fly down to Orlando and come visit me."

" I’d love to, but I don’t have the money right now."

" Don’t worry about that it’s taken care of."

" Aww, Jacob...you didn’t have to do that."

" I know, but I wanted to. I haven’t seen you in forever."

" Well, thank you. When do I leave?"

" A little anxious aren’t we?"

"Oh ha freakin ha Jake. So when?"

" Today... at 2:00pm. That’s why I called at so early. You can pick up the ticket there."

" Well, gee, thanks for the notice."

" Your welcome." I giggled at his reply.

" Ok well, then I guess I’ll see you when I get there. Are you picking me up or should I be prepared to look for a dude with a sign with my name on it?"

" No, I’ll come pick you up."

" Alright, see ya later Jake."

"Bye Manda, I’m glad you can come. I’ve missed you."

" I’ve missed you too Jake. Bye."

I walked off the plane carrying my carry-on. As soon as I rounded the corner I saw Jacob. I was so excited to see him that I ran the rest of the way and jumped into his arms. He gave me a huge hug (which I, of course, returned). After hugging for a few more minutes he let me go.

" Manda, I want you to meet my frie-..." I cut him off as soon as I saw who he was talking about.

" ASHLEY! OH MY GOD!" He looked up at me and a huge smile appeared on his face when he saw who it was.

" AMANDA!" He picked me up and spun me around. He continued to hold me tight in his arms even after he had set me down.

" I can’t believe its actually you." I sad with tears in my eyes.

" How in the world do you two know eachother?" Jacob questioned, breaking our little moment.

" Well, you know how I lived in Redding and then I moved to San Diego when I was sixteen." He nodded so I went on "And you know how I always talked about my best friend from Redding." He nodded again so I finished. " Well, this is him."

" Oh, how come you never told me it was Ashley."

" Well, both of you know that I didn’t really keep up with the band. I knew that Ashley was auditioning for some band and I knew that he made it but that was about it. I was a silent supporter for both of you. I knew that you’d make it Jacob and it hurt to think that I’d have to have another best friend ripped away from me. I hated the band but this was your dream and I wasn’t about to stand in the way of it. I support you but I had absolutely no desire whatsoever for your face to be thrown at me on TV or in magazines. So I didn’t pay attention to any of it. Somehow it never clicked with me that the two of you were in the same band. This is so awesome. Gee, and Josh was jealous that I was spending a month with Jacob, wait until he hears that you were here too."

" Who’s Josh?" they asked in unison.

" My boyfriend." I answered slowly looking at both of them. " Didn’t I tell you guys that?" they both shook their heads at me. " Oh. Well, Josh is my boyfriend." They both laughed at me. I grabbed their hands and suggested that we go get my bags and head back since it was staring to get late.

"We’re back!" Jacob yelled as we entered they’re house. Three pairs of feet came stampeding towards the foyer where we were. I jumped behind Ashley, letting my eyes just barely peek out from behind his shoulder. All of the guys laughed at me and Jacob introduced me to Dan, Trevor and Erik.

"Hello." I said coming out from behind Ashley.

" Why don’t we go sit down in the living room." Ashley suggested as he started walking towards the living room. I stopped to yawn halfway there.

" I’m tired I announced as I sat down on the big fluffy sofa next to Ashley.

" Do you want me to show you where your room is so that you can go on to sleep?" Jacob asked sitting down next to me." I yawned and nodded in response. I got up and said goodnight to everyone as I left the living room, Ashley in tow with my suitcase. We climbed the stairs and Jacob lead me to a room on the other end of the hall.

" My room is at the other end of the hall and Ashley’s is right next to yours through the bathroom. Ok?"

"Sure." I replied yawning again. Jacob laughed at me and I gave him a what’s-so-funny-about-me-yawning-look.

"Go to sleep Manda. I’ll see you in the morning. I’m glad you’re here." Jacob said giving me a hug and then heading towards his room. I opened the door to my room and Ashley followed me in. he put my suitcase up against my dresser and then sat down on my bed. He patted the spot next to me and told me to come sit down. I shook my head ‘no’ and he pouted.

" I’m gonna go change into my PJ’s first."

" Oh. Ok, I’ll go change into mine too. I’ll be back in a few." He said dashing out of the room. I changed into Ashley’s superman shirt. It was his from when we were 15. I spent the night over at his house all the time and one time I didn’t have PJ’s with me so he let me borrow a pair of boxers and his superman shirt. I went home early the next morning because we were leaving for vacation and just sort of never gave them back, although in my defense he told me that I could just have the shirt since I wore it so much. Those boxers and that superman shirt had become my favorite pair of PJ’s.

As promised Ashley came back a few minutes later wearing a pair of red plaid PJ pants and a wife beater. He came and joined me on my bed, where I was laying holding the teddy bear he had given to me for my 10th birthday.

" You still have that?" He asked, referring to the teddy bear.

" Yup. I’ve slept with it every night for the past 10 years."

" Oooo...lucky bear."

" ASHLEY !! " I yelled hitting him with the bear. " That was NOT funny."

" Then why are you laughing?" I just scowled at him. I didn’t stay that way for too long though. How could I? He was adorable. It was impossible to stay mad at him. I smiled and shrugged.

"So." I said breaking the silence that had enveloped us.

" So what?"

" I don’t know you’re the one that wanted to talk. What do you want to talk about." I asked wiggling my way under the covers, only to be joined by Ashley moments later.

" Stuff. It’s been a month since I last talked to you and I wanna know what’s happened in your life since then."

" Erm...well, let’s see. I started dating Josh about 2 1/2 weeks ago, I finished my sophomore year in college, I’ve been on summer break for two weeks now, and now I’m here, spending a month with my two best friends in the entire world. What about you, what’s been going on in your life since the last time we talked?"

"Uhm, rehearsals, recording, tour prep stuff, and me and Shelli got back together."

"You and Shelli got back together?"

" Don’t sound too happy or anything."

" I’m sorry Ash, I’m happy if you’re happy and if she makes you happy then I guess I’m happy."

" I’m happy, Shelli make me happy."

" You sound more like you’re trying to convince yourself than you’re trying to convince me."

" Well, I’m not. Shelli makes me happy! Now can just drop it? PLEASE !"

" Fine, I’m just trying to look out for my best bud." I said rolling over.

" Listen Ash, I hat to cut this whole binding time thing short but I’m really tired so I’m gonna go to sleep. I’ll see you in the morning."

"No you won’t."

" Huh?" I questioned, turning over to look at him.

" We’re leaving at 7:00 for practice. So unless you plan on getting up really early tomorrow morning then, no you won’t."

" Oh, ok. Then I guess I’ll see you sometime tomorrow. Night Ashley."

" Goodnight Amanda." He said turning out the light as he left my room.

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