The next two weeks flew by, the guys prepping for Warped Tour, and the girls and I were always on the beach or shopping. Brian and I had been spending a lot more time together, which was always great. It was the day before my birthday, and they had some ridiculously huge party planned. The girls and I were currently at the spa, getting facials, massages, manicures, and pedicures. I have an appointment later today to have my hair cut and colored, as a birthday present to myself. “So Brook, you’ll be 18 tomorrow, what’s gonna happen with Brian?” Valary asked “Well I’m not sure Val, I can’t predict the future,” I joked, “we’ll probably start dating, although I’m not one hundred percent sure I can trust him out on tour. I know how he is.” “Don’t you worry about a thing, I’ll be there the whole time doing merch, and I’ll keep the chicks off of him. I promise” “Thanks Val. When is the show in Long Beach?” I asked. “It’s our very last show of the tour. August fifth I think.” “Gosh, it seems so far away. I’m gonna miss you guys.” “Gee thanks Brook, what am I, chopped liver?” Leana joked. “You know what I mean Lee. The house is gonna be so quiet without Jim.” I said sadly. “I hate when he goes on tour.” “I know exactly what you mean. I hate it too B, but we can have tons of girl time, and watch the movies that Jim won’t watch with us, and have huge slumber parties in my room” Lee grined “Deal, but you’re washing your sheets first” I said with a laugh. We finished up at the spa and I headed to the hair salon. I didn’t do much, just colored my hair darker brown, and got a trim and some layers added into my hair. It’s taken me way too long to grow up my hair to mid back, there’s no way I’m ever going to cut it off again. Once I left the salon I called Brian.

“Hello almost birthday girl” he said as I smiled softly “Hey Bri, what are you up to?” “Birthday shopping, you all finished up at the spa with the girls?” he asked, “Oh yeah, I’ve already gone to the hair salon too.” “What? Did you chop your hair off like a crazy person?” “No way, are you nuts? It’s taken me two years to get it this long! I just colored it darker and got it trimmed. Added a few layers.” “Oh. Whew. You scared me there for a second. So, Miss Sullivan, would you like to spend your last night as a seventeen year old with me? I’d like to take you out for your birthday, dinner and maybe a movie.” He said, “Or we can do a movie marathon at my place, whichever you prefer.” “Sounds good to me Bri. Let me clear it with Jimmy first and I’ll let you know.” “Okay babe, talk to you later.” We disconnected and I continued my drive home. When I got home I found Jimmy on the couch, playing video games. “Hey JimJam, I need to talk to you” I said as he paused the game and turned to me. “What’s up baby?” he asked “Well, Bri wants me to spend my last night as a seventeen year old with him, wants to take to dinner and have a movie marathon at his place. You okay with that?” I asked “Of course Bea, just make sure you’re home at a decent time tomorrow, I’d like to spend the day with you before all those animals come to our house” he said, shuddering. “Okay Jim, I will. I love you, thank you!” I said as I hugged him and kissed his cheek “I love you too Brook” he chuckled. I ran to my room and sent Brian a quick text, telling him everything was good with Jimmy. He replied and said he would be here around six. I smiled and went to spend a few hours with Jimmy, playing our favorite game: Donkey Kong Country.

The next time I checked the clock it was 4:45, which meant Brian would be there in an hour and fifteen minutes. I ran upstairs and took a nice relaxing shower, then went to my closet to find something to wear. I decided on a pair of skinny jeans, red tube top, and my favorite black heels. I put my hair in hot rollers, and decided to make sure my makeup was perfect tonight, making my eyes extra smoky, and lashes extra dark. I unrolled my hair, and shook it out, making the curls go crazy. I sprayed a little more hairspray, and made sure I used my favorite perfume. I grabbed my black sparrow necklace and black wing earrings. I slathered on some red lipstick, grabbed my black leather jacket, and went downstairs to wait for Brian. “Oh, someone has a hot date tonight” Leana said as I walked into the kitchen, snatching a few carrots she was chopping, “only with Brian” I said as I sat at the breakfast bar, “You and Jim get to have a nice night to yourselves, you should thanking me” I joked, “she’s right Lee,” Jimmy said, walking in to kiss his wife, “we can walk around naked tonight” “Um ew, I didn’t need to hear all that” I laughed and covered my ears. The doorbell rang, and Jimmy went to let Brian in. “Hey Lee, smells good in here” he said as was walking in. When he turned to look at me the biggest smile formed on his face. “Hey Brook, you look gorgeous,” he said, walking over to kiss my cheek. “you ready? I made reservations for 6:30” “Sure, bye Jim, see ya Lee,” I said, stepping on my tip toes to kiss my brother on his cheek “love you guys” “Have a good time honey” Leana said, giggling.

On the way to the restaurant Brian held my hand and the radio played softly in the background. He refused to tell me where we were going “Just wait a little longer Tiny, we’re almost there” he’d say every time I ask. Finally we pulled up outside of my favorite Italian restaurant, Capone’s Cucina. “I knew it!” I shouted excitedly. “I love this place!” “Well come on miss eager beaver, let’s go eat” he said with a laugh. We walked in and he gave the hostess his name, and she led us to a private room in the back. Once we got into the room it was full of candles, and there was a bouquet of dark red roses and white calla lilies on the table. “Brian” I gasped “it’s beautiful. This was your idea?” I asked “of course it was my idea, I knew calla lilies were your favorite. I wanted to get you some.” “Thank you so much” I said and gave him a kiss “don’t thank me yet, the night isn’t over” he smiled. We sat down an the waitress came to take our order, I ordered my favorite, chicken parmesan. While we were waiting on our food, we talked about random things, like Warped Tour and college. “Are you excited about starting school soon?” he asked “I am, mostly because I know the sooner it comes the sooner you guys will be home. I hate when you guys go on tour.” I pouted. “Well next time come with us. Tour is a blast, I think you would enjoy it.” “I will, I wouldn’t be able to get into any of the bars, but I’ll definitely come.” I said with a smile. “Well, we can get you a fake ID” he joked “or I’ll just tell them to back up and let my girl drink” he grinned. “Speaking of my girl, I got you something.” he said, pulling a small square box out of his pants pocket. “Bri, you didn’t have to. What is it?” I asked “Well open it, I’m not gonna tell you” he chuckled. I unwrapped the packaged and opened the lid on the box. Inside was the most beautiful silver bracelet. It was a charm bracelet, only instead of just have a bunch of random charms it had three different strands with a charm attached to each strand. The first strand had a drumset attached to it, the middle strand had my initals attached, and the third strand had a guitar attached. “Brian, it’s beautiful. I love it so much” I said as he came over to help me put it on. “I’m glad you like it, I had the hardest time figuring out what to get you, and then I realized you didn’t have a bracelet.” he smiled, kissing me. “Thank you so much Bri.” I smiled. Our food came and we devoured it, I ate so much I was pretty sure Brian was going to have to carry me out to the car. We headed back to Brian’s house, laughing and talking the whole way home. Once we got there, I sat down on the couch and cuddled with Pinkly. “Babe, do you want a glass of wine?” Brian shouted from the kitchen, “no thanks, I’ll take a coke though.” I replied, kissing the adorable puppy in my lap. He came into the living room and turned on the TV. “Okay, what are we gonna watch first, it’s your birthday so you get to pick first movie” he said, sitting next to me while I decided. “Hmm..how about Boondock Saints? That’s always been one of my favorites.” “Good choice” he said, kissing my head and going to put the movie on. About halfway through the movie Brian looked over at me and said “It’s officially your birthday, and I get to be the first one to tell you happy birthday, so happy birthday beautiful” he said softly. “Bri, you’re such a nerd, thanks” I said, kissing his cheek. “So since you’re officially eighteen, does that mean you’ll officially be my girlfriend?” he asked, hopeful. “If you can promise me that you won’t do anything stupid on tour, I’d love to be your girlfriend Bri.” “I can promise you that babe. I’m all yours.” he said with a smile as he pressed his lips to mine. We finished watching the movie, and once it was over we went upstairs, he gave me a t-shirt and boxers to sleep in, and we curled up together and fell fast asleep. It was only a few hours past midnight and this was already the best birthday I’ve had.