SPRING BREAK�
"Oh geez, Rain�I'm so nervous," I said at the airport waiting to board my flight to Mississippi.
"Why?" Rainbow asked.
"What if his dad hates me? What is his mom is disappointed that it's just me? What if I'm not good enough?" I asked frantically.
Eddie came jogging up. "Sorry I'm late- my alarm clock went off late�"
"They're not gonna like me!" I exclaimed. "They're gonna hate me!"
"Osh! Calm down!" Rainbow said.
"Yeah, no kidding. You're having a cow over nothing, O," Eddie added.
"Lance's mom and dad will love you," Rainbow said. "They will not hate you."
"Look at you- how could they hate you? You're too sweet to hate," Eddie said with a smile.
"You're not the only one worried here, Osh. I'm meeting JC's mom and dad too you know," Rainbow said.
"I know, I'm sorry. They will love you, Rain. You are so awesome," I said as my flight was called to board the plane. "Oooohh. There's my flight!"
"It's okay, Osh. Breathe in, breathe out," Rainbow replied with a grin.
"In with the good, out with the bad," I said taking a deep breath. "Thank you so much you guys. I guess I better go."
Rainbow hugged me. "Have fun."
"I will." I hugged Eddie tightly.
"Osh, I'm gonna miss you," Eddie said.
"I'm gonna miss you too," I replied. "I'm gonna miss both of you."
"Call us as soon as you get there," Rainbow said. "Call my cell though�I'll be in Maryland."
"And I'm gonna be in Mississippi."
"And I'll be at home. Vegging out. Maybe BMXing," Eddie said sadly.
I laughed. "Don't get too much TV time. Okay, bye you guys!"
I took a deep breath as I stepped off the plane trying to calm my nerves. On my way to the luggage belt, I heard a reporter yell, "There she is!" I paid no attention since I wasn't famous.
"Ocean! Look here!" a photographer shouted.
"Oh crap," I muttered.
"The perks of fame, huh?" a woman standing next to me said.
"Oh yeah," I replied grabbing my bag off the belt.
"Ocean! Are you and Lance getting married?" a reporter yelled.
In my mind, I tried to frantically remember where I was supposed to meet Lance until a comforting hand slipped into mine.
"Come on, Miss. Ocean," a deep voice said and I looked up to see Lance wearing a baseball cap.
"I'm so glad you're here," I sighed.
"I'm glad you're here too," Lance replied.
"Lance! Ocean! Look here please!"
"Let's get outta here- what do you say?"
"I say- let's go."
"Terrific- my family is dying to meet you."
"Riight�"
"Really- my mom is cooking up this huge dinner just because you're coming and my sister and her husband came home for this," Lance said as we got into his car.
"Why?" I asked.
"To meet you- duh," Lance said with a laugh as he drove out of the parking garage and pulled into the light traffic.
"Why are you making a big deal out of this?" I asked. "It's just me."
"Don't be nervous, Osh," Lance said with a tiny smile.
"I- hey!" How had he known I was nervous? "I'm not nervous."
Lance looked at me disbelievingly at a stoplight. "Oh really?"
"Yeah."
"I don't believe you for a second." Lance reached over and squeezed my shoulder gently. "It's okay, don't worry about it."
"Lance?"
"Yeah?"
"The light's green."
"Oh- right."
I watched Lance with an amused look as he hurriedly pressed on the gas pedal and we zoomed along. A few minutes later, we pulled into the driveway of a large two story house in a picture perfect neighborhood. The lawns were an even shade of green and were neatly cut. Trees were planted in perfect rows and sounds of children playing floated to our ears.
"This is like, a movie neighborhood," I said, stepping out of the care. "You live here?"
Lance laughed. "Last time I checked."
"Ever see Edward Scissorhands? This is that neighborhood," I said as Lance took my hand and led me up to the house, my suitcase in his other hand.
I guess I was holding Lance's hand tighter than I should have, because at the front door, Lance dropped my bad and turned to me. "Sweetie, relax- my family is gonna love you."
I smiled weakly.
"I'm glad we're spending some time together," Lance said and gave me a kiss- not too long, not too short. It was just the right length to calm my nerves.
I smiled. "Me too. Well- let's go inside, shall we?"
"We shall."