**Alexis's POV**

Today is my 18th birthday and my whole family is coming to celebrate...even my favorite cousin, Jimmy, who just recently got done with the west coast leg of Avenged Sevenfold's tour, said he would stop by. It's been almost a year and a half since I've seen Jimmy face to face and I'm sure that he will be surprised at how much I've physically changed.

The last time he saw me, I was an awkward 16 year old girl who had major body issues from all the constant bullying from the kids that went to my school. They would constantly pick on me and spread nasty rumors that I was dating one of the teachers and pregnant with his kid just to make me seem like a slut. They would call me a fat, worthless whore who was nothing but a waste of space, and it made me so depressed that I would actually start to harm myself in secret. I didn't have the heart to tell my family that I just wanted to die but Jimmy saw the signs and would always do things to try and cheer me up....he literally saved my life and I wouldn't know how to thank him enough for that.

Fortunately, I graduate from the hell-hole that is my high school next week and I really have no plans to jump right into college...to be honest I need a break from people...or at least people my own age.

I can hear people starting to arrive downstairs so I begrudgingly decide to drag my ass out of bed and hop in the shower briefly before tossing on a pair of black skinny jeans, converse high tops and my favorite Avenged Sevenfold t-shirt. I curl my brown locks into loose waves and put on a little bit of makeup, but nothing over the top.

I hear Jimmy's voice yelling something about finding his 'favorite cousin' and the sound of him leaping up the stairs, two at a time, before my bedroom door busts open and he wraps his long arms around me.

"Haven't you ever heard on knocking?" I say sarcastically because usually Jimmy will knock on any hard surface within his reach just to hear the sound it makes.

"Lexi Poo? Is that you?! Oh my...you've really grown up!" he says and I roll my eyes at him.

"Jim Jam, please don't call me that....no respectable nickname should ever include the word 'poo' in it!" I laugh and he kisses the top of my head before pulling me back to look me over. I hate when people look at me...I feel like they are judging me, so I squirm uncomfortably and shut my eyes and pretend like I'm actually going to disappear...if only it were that easy.

"Hey...it's just me, remember?" Jimmy says sweetly and I reluctantly pry one eye open to look at him. "Nice shirt!" he says smugly and I playfully shove him away from me.

"Ok Mr. Mega-Rockstar, I'm soooo honored that you would grace my party with your presence" I joke and he swoops me up in his arms and starts to carry me down the steps...he's extremely tall and I really hate heights, so I begin to freak out a little, "Jimmy you're going to trip and both of us are going to break our necks...please put me down!" I beg but he scoffs and twirls us round while still standing on the steps just to prove to me that he isn't going to fall.

"I have a surprise for you, Lexi P..." he starts before I cover his mouth with my hand as a warning that he better not call me that around anyone else. I hear him mumble it out underneath my hand so I let out an exasperated sigh of defeat....it's impossible to win a fight against Jimmy. He places me down at the bottom of the stairs and everyone else is staring at us..

..this is just great!

**Jimmy's POV**

Alexis doesn't know that I asked our band to play at her 18th birthday party but I'm sure she will be excited. The guys should all be getting here within the hour but I want to make sure it stays a surprise, so, I have to keep her distracted.

She looks like a deer caught in headlights right now, "Come on birthday girl...I have a surprise for you" I whisper and tug her gently on the arm while leading her out towards the garage. I turn on the light and she lets out a small gasp when she sees the drum kit that I bought and set up for her.

"Jim Jam, it's too much!" she cries and wraps her arms around my waist.

I unwrap her from me and smile, "Nonsense...you're my favorite cousin and I would have gotten you more but your parents weren't exactly thrilled about this...I guess they don't realize that music is in our blood." I say and she lets out a small chuckle.

"No they are right...not everyone in our family is a musical genius like you...and besides, who's going to even teach me to play these?" she asks and I just smile.

"I will!" I exclaim and she rolls her eyes because she knows I have to go back out on tour in two weeks. I hear the truck pull up that's got all of our gear on it and she gives me a weird look at the sound....quick, think fast..."um here, sit and let me show you some beats" I say and push her down behind the drum set.

I show her how to hold the sticks and grab another stool and scoot up right behind her. "Jimmy, I feel stupid" she sighs and I rest my chin on her shoulder.

"Alexis, you are the smartest person I know...relax, you got this" I whisper and grab ahold of her arms and guide them over to the correct places and we start to jam out to 'Clairvoyant Disease' and I can see the smile creeping onto her face. "Do you like them?" I ask and she nods her yes while trying to concentrate on the beat. I slowly let my hands fall back down away from her and she doesn't even realize that she's a natural.

The side garage door opens and Matt, Brian, Zacky and Johnny are standing there watching us but she doesn't notice until Matt stupidly starts singing the lyrics, causing her to drop the sticks.

"Wow, you are incredible! Honestly, for a second I thought it was Jimmy playing!" Matt says and she buries her face in her hands. "Hey, I'm not trying to embarrass you...I was just...well you know...saying you rock!" he says.

"Jimmy, what are they doing here?!" she whisper angrily at me.

"I invited them...we were going to play a few songs for you at your party...I thought you'd be happy" I say sadly because she always used to love hanging out with us all..

..but, maybe that changed over the last year and a half.

**Alexis's POV**

Oh shit...Jimmy invited the whole band to my party! I don't know whether to be extremely honored or pissed off at the moment. I can't really assume that he would know how uncomfortable I am around his group of drop dead gorgeous friends...guys just don't realize these things.

The issue is...I've had a major crush on one of them for years now but never had the confidence to say anything to him. I had been told by my classmates for years that no guy would ever find me attractive so I never got my hopes up for fear of being crushed in the end. Plus, with the exception of Johnny who's only 5 years older, all the rest have 8 years of relationship experience over me....why would they want an inexperienced girl when they have drool worthy, model-esque, women falling all over them?!

Oh that's right...they wouldn't.

Notes

Thank you again to the amazing @ Grazy Bubbles for letting me write this for her :)

Any guesses on who her crush might be?
@ Grazy Bubbles...no giving it away!!!