My heart started racing faster and faster as I heard his footsteps coming closer and closer.
I quickly put my head down when I heard the footsteps get to the doorway to the kitchen.

"Mikey, who's-" I looked up, and my heart skipped a beat. Hair disheveled, and tie untied around his neck, stood Gerard. We locked eyes and he stopped talking. I felt my cheeks flush and a blush started creeping up his neck and up to his cheekbones.

"Gee you alright?" Mikey laughed and I let out a small giggle. He was just so cute.

"Wha oh uh yea! I uh wasn't.. I didn't know you were gonna have friends over.." He stumbled back and tripped over his own two feet, causing himself to almost trip and fall backwards.

Everyone started laughing and his face turned bright red.

"SO. I"m going to go and um do work stuff so I'll come down when I'm done." Gerard rushed out and the familiar footsteps quickly ran up the stairs.

---

We went downstairs and I made the guys all show me their instruments.
"Soo Nat do you play anything?" Frank walked up to the couch I was sitting on and he took a seat right next to me.
"Yeah! I've been playing guitar for the past 3 years. It kinda comes natural to me. I got that from my dad. He taught me before he um.. passed" I say quietly and try and hold back tears. Frank can tell I'm getting upset, so his smile disappears and he pulls me into another one of his amazing, comforting hugs. I exhaled and hugged him back tighter and buried my head into his shoulder. The rest of the guys are oblivious because they're so into the music they're making.
"I am so sorry Natalie. Your dad would be very proud of you. You're a beautiful, kind, caring person and I am so lucky to even know you. If you ever need anything I will always be there for you no matter what." Frank whispers in my ear and I nod and hug him tighter.

After a minute of just sitting like that, I look at Frank. "Can you help me get my mind off of it?" I ask.
Frank smiles and nods. "Of course."
He stands up, grabs his guitar, plugs it into the amp, and waves me over.
"Play something." He commands.
"Like what?" I laugh
"A song you love!"
"What about The Only Exception?" I ask
"Sure. But you have to sing."
"DO I have toooo?" I whine
"YES!" The guys are all yelling at me now.
"FINE!"

I start to play the chords I learned when I first fell in love with the song, and I began to sing.
I've always been self conscious of my voice, but when I looked up at all the guys in the middle of the song, they all looked enchanted.

When I was done, I looked up again and everyone's mouths were wide open.
"Natalie where did you learn to sing and play like that.." Mikey said in awe.
"Guitar- My dad.. singing- I never really tried." I laughed.
"Well thank god we pushed you to because I think we just discovered something beautiful." Mikey laughed.
"Ok well I hate having everyone focused on me so now you guys have to play something too!"
Everyone carried on like before, spread out practicing something, so I slipped upstairs to get something to drink.
I walked into the kitchen to be greeted by a familiar face I see every day that takes my breath away.
"Natalie!.." He says with a nervous smile on his face. My stomach does a flip and I feel a stupid nervous grin spread across my face.

Oh shit.

Notes