rascalflattsfans101

My POV

We were supposed to be watching tapes of my gymnasts doing their skills so we could figure out what we could do to make them better. But, somehow the remote got hijacked and we had Good Morning America on. I should’ve know they were gonna want to watch it. After all, they all think it’s unfair that I get to date the hottest guy in country music. I for one wasn’t looking forward to watching it. I knew it would make me miss Joe Don even more. I had talked to him this morning at like 5 a.m. I know, very, very early for Joe Don. But when he has Gary on his ass for something important he gets up when he has to. Now, if only he would do that for me.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

After a stressful day of coaching gymnasts I decided I needed some retail therapy. So I ventured out to the mall on my own for some serious splurging. I wasn’t even driving for 5 minutes before my phone started ringing. I looked at and saw that the screen read ‘My Baby’. I smiled and put it on speaker phone as I answered it.

“Hi honey!”
”Hey. So did you see us on TV?” Joe Don asked jokingly.
“Nope. I made them work…and stop acting like you’ve never been on TV before.” I replied sarcastically
“Fine…” he said pretending to be sad, “So how’s your day so far?”
“Good. I’m my way to do some shopping. How about you?”
“Tiring… we had to wake up at 5 AM and I just don’t get up that early…”
“Ohhh stop your complaining. I’m up that early every day.” I laughed.
“Yeah, and I don’t know how you do it.”
“Probably was all those years waking up early to take care of 20 horses…” I said trying to think of I reason I rarely ever sleep in.
“Maybe…Well, I better go. We have like, 30 more radio interviews to do today.” Joe Don said.
“Okay, I love you.” I said
“Love you too babe. Bye.”
“Bye.” I said hanging up the phone. I hated that part. Saying goodbye. It just seemed to get harder and harder every time. Wasn’t it supposed to get easier?

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

4 hours later and down about $600, I was feeling better. I was walking up to my front door trying to find my house key. I reached the door and set my bags down so I didn’t have to struggle to unlock it. When I tried to put the key in, it wouldn’t go in at all, so I flipped it over and tried it that way. Still no luck, so I looked at it and I immediately realized the problem. I was the key for Joe Don house. I thought it was funny that I instinctly pulled out that key rather than the one for my own house.

I set my shopping bags down in the living room and went to check my messages. The first one was some telemarketer, the second was from my brother. He wanted to know what I was doing for birthday. He acted like I knew. I had an idea that something was up because Kati wouldn’t tell me what we were going to be doing on Saturday night. She just told me I had to dress nice. I didn’t understand why but I was going to listen to her.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Joe Don’s POV

I’ll be honest. I was nervous. Not for our promo performance in Chicago, but something much bigger. We were flying from Philly to Chicago and I couldn’t sit still. So I stood up and paced back and forth across the jet as I kept looking at the little black box that was in my pocket.

“You know, there’s a thing called turbulence, and if we hit any your going to the floor.” Jay said looking up from his book. Obviously, he was annoyed by my antsyness.
“Very funny Jay. I’m just so nervous.” I replied.
“What do you think her dad will say?”
“I don’t know. Hopefully yes. I talked to Justin about it and he said he wouldn’t doubt it.”
“Hmmm…that’s good. So everyone knows about Saturday night except for Alexa?”
“Yep. And hopefully she doesn’t find out.” I said knowing that Kati has a big mouth. I was praying she wouldn’t say anything more than where they we’re going out to eat.
“Yeah. But seriously man, you need to go lay down or something, cuz you’re startin to stress me out. That ain’t good for the Jayster.” He replied only making me roll my eyes.
“Why do you call yourself that?” I asked.
“Because that’s what the ladies call me over on the fan club.” He said.
“Right…I bet they do.” I laughed as I sat down in a seat and listened to my ipod.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

My POV

“Okay seriously, why do you have so much crap at your house?” I said to Joe Don over the phone. I was over there trying to figure out where I was going to put all my stuff.
“It’s not a lot, it just looks like a lot.” He said trying to defend himself.
“Right that’s why I’ve already picked out like a hundred things that I’m going to throw away.”
“You did what?!?!?”
“With your permission of course.” I laughed. “Besides it’s stuff that you don’t really need.”
“Like what? I need everything in that house.”
“Oh okay. So you need the little presents from the ladies at concerts huh?” I laughed.
“Well, no. You can through that away but anything else you better check with me.” Joe Don said.
“You mean you might want that cardboard guitar you still have from when you were like 5?”
“Yes. It’s sentimental.”
“Seriously?” I asked.
“No, you can throw that out too.” He laughed.
“Well I was thinking about sending it to your mom and leaving a note saying do you remember when Joe Don made this?” I said sarcastically as I put it in a garbage bag.
“You know what, she probably does.”
“Probably.” I said.
“So what are you planning to do when you’re done tearing apart my house?”
“Tearing it apart? It was already torn apart. I’m putting it back together! But I don’t know. Maybe a late lunch with your sister. That’s if I finish this before midnight.” I replied.
“Very funny. Well whatever you do, have fun.” He said.
“Okay, I’ll try.” I laughed.
“Well, since I’m already way over on minutes for the month, I’m gonna go.” He said.
“Alright. I love you. See you Sunday.” I replied.
“Yep. I love you too baby.” Joe Don said hanging up.

I put down the phone as I looked around the room. I laughed thinking to myself that I was doing exactly this 7 years ago with my own stuff when I was leaving for college. I couldn’t believe how much crap I had kept from when I was younger. I decided that I wasn’t going to finish the living room without Joe Don’s help so I moved onto cleaning the kitchen.

The first thing I decided to do was clean the counters. So as I was getting all the junk off of them I noticed a pile of receipts. And it’s not that I’m nosey, I’ve just developed a habit of looking through every receipt mainly for financial records. I was at about the fourth one when I noticed that it was from a jewelry store and I instinctly looked at the total. My eyes probably came close to popping out of my head when I read it. The first thing that came to mind was ‘He’s crazy…’ and with that I quickly got back to cleaning.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Joe Don’s POV

Most of the time I enjoy playing golf because it usually helps me get rid of stress. This time however was different. I was playing with Alexa’s dad Tony and I was pretty sure he knew why I was there. Thankfully we only had one more hole to play because the anxiety was getting to me.

“So what did you want to talk to me about?” Tony asked as we waited to tee off on the 18th hole.
“I’m sure you know…” I said trying not to sound nervous.
“I’m sure I do.” He replied smiling.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Kati’s POV

It was Friday night, the night before Alexa’s birthday. Us two and some of our friends decided to celebrate early and hit the town and party a little. We were walking down the street when something popped into my mind.

“Hey Lex, are you excited for Joe Don to come home tomorrow?” I asked not realizing what I had just said.
“What? He comes home on Sunday, the day after my birthday.” She replied giving me a look.
“Opps, I meant Sunday. But whatever, are you excited for him to come home then.” I answered trying to cover up the fact that Joe Don was really coming home tonight. That’s why we had to get Alexa out of either of their houses.
“What do you think?” Paige, Alexa’s friend from work, chimed in.
“I think she would want him gone for like, oh I don’t know, a month?” I laughed.
“Hell no! A week is long enough.” Alexa stated making our whole group laugh. They were all in on the secret and the surprise party tomorrow night. We just had to remember to get crazy enough to actually tell her about it.
“So I take that as a yes.” Another one of our friends said. All Alexa did was turned her head and smile.
“Oh yeah, I have another question for you.” I said.
“What now?” Alexa complained.
”Okay seriously, if Joe Don were to propose like, right now, would you say yes?”
“Why are you asking me that?” she replied with a suspicious tone in her voice. The rest of the girls gave me this look like ‘I can’t believe you just said that!’
“I don’t know. I just wanna know. Because I think I know the answer.”
“Then why ask it if you know the answer?”
“Because I’m not sure of the answer, but I have a pretty good idea of it.”
“Girl, then you do know the answer!” Alexa laughed.
“Oh my gosh! Seriously, you would say yes?” Paige said.
“Yes.” Alexa said with a smile.
“See, that’s all I asked for. A straight answer.” I added.
“What are you? Like a spy getting all of these answers out of me for Joe Don?” she question.
“No. It’s just you’re my BFF and I should know these details…” I laughed and everyone else joined in. We always went back to our middle school way of talking when we were together.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Alexa’s POV

I woke up the morning of my birthday with a headache. ‘What was I thinking, spending the night out with my girls?’ I thought to myself. I walked downstairs and I knew I could smell something burning. I turned the corner into the kitchen and I couldn’t believe what I saw.

“Oh my gosh!” I said freaking out.
“Hey baby, happy birthday.” Joe Don said coming up to me and giving me a hug. I couldn’t even say anything. All I could do is look at him in disbelief.

“Why am I here, right?” Joe Don asked and I nodded.
“Well, you see, about 3 ½ months ago I met this amazing woman. And let me tell you I fell for her real fast. And last week she was complaining about how I wasn’t going to be home for her birthday, so I decided to make some changes and surprise her.” He explained.
“Stop. You know I hate surprises…” I complained.
“Yeah, well you’ve got a few more coming today…”
“Great…like a burnt breakfast?” I said
“Hey, you gotta give me credit for trying.” Joe Don said laughing.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Joe Don had taken me out to lunch since Kati and Paige were taking me out to dinner that night. We were driving to Joe Don’s house, which I didn’t really understand because I was just going to have to go back into town anyways later. We pulled into the driveway, got out and walked into the house. The first thing I heard was something that sounding like a puppy coming from the kitchen so I headed over there giving Joe Don a look like ‘What the heck?’ When I walked into the kitchen I saw the cutest little Border Collie puppy and I freaked out.

“Oh my gosh, Joe Don! She’s so cute!” I screamed as I took her out of the cage she was in.
“How do you know it’s a she?” he laughed.
“Wait, it’s a she right…?” I asked.
“Yeah.”
“What’s her name?”
“I don’t know. You tell me.”
“Hmmm…give me a couple hours…I’ll think of something.” I said taking her outside knowing she probably hadn’t been outside in at least 6 hours. I watched her run around for a couple minutes when Joe Don came up next to me.
“You know, if she was a boy we could name her Jay. I mean she is about as obnoxious as him.” He said sarcastically.
“Hey, leave her alone. She’s just a puppy.” I replied defending her.
“Well we need to have a name for her by tomorrow because she only answers to sweetie, baby, and hey you. And I call you the first two so that’s not going to work out.”
“And I call you the last one when you ignore me.” I added.
“Your hilarious you know that.”
“Yep.” I laughed as I whistled to get my puppy’s attention. It surprisingly worked so I clapped my hands to get her to come to me and she came running.
“How’d you do that?” Joe Don asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe she just likes me better.” I said picking her up and taking her back inside.

We basically just sat around for the next few hours and played with the puppy. Joe Don had also given me my real birthday present. The one I’d been meaning to buy myself just never got around to it. My guitar. It was the exact one I wanted. I had showed it to him when we went to the Gibson warehouse about a month earlier but I didn’t think he would get if for me because I told him I was going to buy it myself. I should’ve figured he would anyways.

I was getting ready to leave so I could get ready for tonight when I looked around the house. It looked like a tornado had run through it, and I had just cleaned it the other day. That’s when it came to me.

“Storm.” I said.
“What?” Joe Don asked confused.
“That’s her name. Storm.”
“Because she tore apart the house?”
“You got it.” I laughed as I gave him a kiss.
“You leavin?” he asked
“Yep. Gotta go get ready for tonight.”
“Okay, have fun. I love you.”
“Love you too hunny.” I replied as I walked out into the garage and to my car.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Three hours later we were in Kati’s Infiniti and on our way to some fancy restaurant. Once we got there and the valet took the car Kati pulled out her phone and started to text someone.

“Who are you texting?” I asked trying to look at it.
“No one…” she replied pulling the phone away and sending the message.

I totally knew something was up but had no idea what it was. Once we got inside Kati whispered something to the hostess and she looked at me then led us to the back of the restaurant.

“Right in there and pick any table you want.” The hostess said and walked away. We turned the corner and started towards the doors. Someone who I assumed was an usher opened one for us and we walked in.

“Happy Birthday Alexa!” was the first thing I heard. I looked around and saw all my close friends, most of my extended family and then I realized that some of Joe Don’s family was there. I looked at Kati and mouthed ‘Who did this?’ and she pointed in front of us. I looked and I saw Joe Don standing there. My first instinct was to run to him and give him a hug.

“Happy Birthday baby.” He said and kissed the top of my head.
“Did you plan all this?” I asked with tears in my eyes.
“Yes. Well, Kati helped. But it was my idea.”
“Oh my gosh.” I whispered looking around making him laugh.
“Com’on. Let’s go sit down. You look like you’re going to faint.” Joe Don said taking my hand.

We sat down at a table with both my parents and Joe Don’s. I was still trying to figure out why his family would take time off work for my birthday. Then I realized there was something else going on that I didn’t know about. I was deep in thought when Joe Don’s voice interrupted.

“Hey, you okay?” he asked.
“What…? Oh yeah…I’m fine.” I replied.
“Sweetie are you sure? You seem a bit spacey.” My mom asked.
“Mom…I said I’m fine.” I snapped back.
“Whoa, someone’s a little crabby tonight when she shouldn’t be…” she said giving Joe Don a look that I couldn’t even read.
“What was that?” I asked.
“What was what?” she said back.
”That look that you gave Joe Don. What else do you think I was talking about?”
“It was nothing.”
“If it was nothing you wouldn’t have given him that look.”
“Alexa! Stop this!” my dad said snapping, which he rarely did. I immediately shut up. I may be 24 but I’m still the tinniest bit afraid of my dad. He was always the disciplinary model in the family and when he calls me Alexa, not Lexi, I should know that I’m in trouble.
”Sorry.” I said realizing I just made myself look like a complete bitch in front of Joe Don’s parents.
“Wow, you can be a bit feisty. Joe Don have you already seen that side of her?” Joe Don’s mom asked.
“Yep.” He said
“Thanks hun. Make me look even better.” I said rolling my eyes.
“What he’d do?” his mom asked me.
“I don’t even remember but it was something stupid.” I laughed.
“Yeah, you’re going to have to get used to that with him. He’s always doing something stupid. They wear off on him…especially Jay.” she said pointing behind her to Gary and Jay.
”Yeah they do. That’s why I try not to spend a whole lot of time with them.” I replied.
“Thanks baby. You’re supposed to defend me.” Joe Don said.
“Defend yourself. You do act like an idiot when you’re around them.” I said, “But I still love you…”

Just then our food came, which was a good thing because everyone was starting to nag on us, coming over and wishing me a happy birthday. Not that I didn’t accept them graciously, it was just starting to get tiresome. The dinner was delicious, which was one of the reasons I always loved going there when I had the chance. And the waiters aren’t constantly nagging you about how you think the food tastes.

After dinner, I was ‘surprised’ with Gary, Jay, and Joe Don leading the room in singing Happy Birthday; like I didn’t see that coming. After cake I went around and caught up with a lot of my family that I hadn’t seen in awhile. I was talking with my cousin Kelly, who I might as well be sisters with—our birthdays are only 5 months apart…to the date—when I felt a pair of arms wrap around my waist.

“What do you want?” I asked knowing it was Joe Don.
“Come with me…” he whispered into my ear and kissed my cheek. I rolled my eyes as Kelly and her husband Kevin awed at us (side note***YES, I know Joe Don does have a sister named Kelly and Gary has a brother named Kevin—but I really do have a cousin Kelly and her fiancé’s name IS Kevin).

He led me up to front of the room and everyone quiet down like they all knew what was going on. I looked around and saw that our parents were whispering something to each other—specifically my mom whispering something into Jo and her response was a nod and a smile.

“So I wanted all of you to be here when I give Alexa her last birthday gift; mainly because it’s so meaningful.” Joe Don said turning to me and grabbing my hands. I noticed something small in between our hands. I looked at him and watch him take a deep breath as if to calm himself—next thing I knew, he dropped to one knee and I knew exactly what was about to happen.

“Oh my God…” I whispered to myself as I cover my mouth with my hand to keep from screaming.
“Alexa, you are the absolute love of my life and I couldn’t imagine spending my it with anyone else…baby, will you marry me?” Joe Don said and tears poured down my face. I couldn’t even say anything…all I could do was nod. I was shaking so much as Joe Don put the engagement ring on my finger. He stood up as everyone clapped and wiped whatever tears from my face he could and kissed me. It seemed to last an eternity, but in reality, it probably only lasted maybe ten seconds. We pulled out and he pulled me into the best hug ever. I couldn’t begin to describe what I was feeling at that moment. Maybe the best way was to call it mixture of extreme happiness and shock. Joe Don wiped more of the tears from my eyes, said that he loved me and led me back the table with our parents. I really could not stop crying.

”I’m so excited for you guys!” Kati said coming up to us and giving us each a hug.
”Don’t you wanna see the ring?” I laughed.
“Nah, I’ve already seen it. I helped pick it out.” She replied looking at Joe Don. He mouthed a big ‘thank you’ to her and smiled at me.

I sat back and thought about everything that had happened today. It was by far, the best birthday I had ever had.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The next few days had flown by. It had been three days since my birthday. That day after we basically just laid around the house doing nothing and making up for lost time. It was crazy to think that I was going to marry Joe Don. I had ALWAYS joked with Kati and Alicia back in college that someday I would date him…but I never thought I would ever get that chance, much less marry him.

But the past two days we had started to plan the wedding. We knew we had to have it sometime next spring because there was a very good possibility that two, maybe three, of the gymnasts I coach would be on the Olympic team and from May until August I would flying all over coaching them.

So far, we didn’t have an exact date, but we had picked a location. We were going to get married in Chicago at the church I went to growing up, Holy Name Cathedral. Another reason we picked that church was because it was big enough to hold everyone we wanted to invite. As for wedding colors, we were arguing about that. I wanted red and white; Joe Don wanted navy blue and white. I had I feeling I was going to win. I knew how to get Joe Don to give in (=P).

“So, are you gonna beat my whole family in your inaugural appearance in the O’Dea Family Open?” I laughed talking about the golf tournament/family reunion my mom’s side of the family every year back home.
“Hmmm…maybe.” Joe Don said as he helped me pack a bunch of my things into boxes so we could take them over to his house. We were hoping to have everything there before the guys went back out on the road in a week and a half—which could be difficult considering we were going to be gone for 3 ½ days this weekend.
“Oh com'on…my family sucks at golf. And the golf course we have it at is fairly easy…but that’s only because it’s mostly old people who live in the condo complex where it’s at.” I said.
“How do you know it’s so easy?” he said.
“I don’t know…probably because it is old people who live there.” I repeated.
“So what are you gonna do while everyone is golfing?”
“I’m a ‘Galley Slave’.” I laughed holding up the shirts that we had made for last year.
“So you cook for all of us.”
“Yep…”
“Thank god there’s one Italian cooking for us.”
“Thanks babe.” I laughed giving him a kiss as I carried one box to the door.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Piczo