Alex-

When Brook said that she had our entire day off in Baltimore planned out, she wasn't kidding. She had literally taken the time to schedule everything we needed to do in one day and she planned it out quite perfectly.

When we arrived in Maryland in the morning, Brook had plans to get breakfast with Sami & Jenny. She knew that I was going to want to see my dogs, so she figured I could go get them from Lina's while she was with her cousin and roommate.

Lina was supposed to be at work when I got there, still Brook insisted I go alone. She said she didn't feel comfortable being in my ex-girlfriend's house without having ever met her. I think she was just afraid of an awkward moment if by any chance Lina ended up being home when we got there. I'd tried explaining that she was bound to meet Lina eventually as we had enough friends in common still. Brook understood but still refused I go to her house, which I had to understand.

Admittedly, I wasn't even sure I was ready for Brook and Lina to meet each other. I wasn't worried that they wouldn't like each other. I was actually quite sure they'd get along just fine. I was just a little weary as the lines between my relationship ending officially and forever with Lina and starting with Brook sort of blurred and I still struggled with whether that was something Brook needed to know. I didn't think that Lina would try and maliciously rat me out or anything but for now I was content keeping those two worlds separate.

While the girls were at breakfast, I brought the dogs back to my place and hung around until Brook and Sami came back and Jenn was off to class. I could never be a med. student, the girl was in school all year round.

Brook, Sami and I relaxed around my place with the dogs for a while until it was time to meet Brook's parents for lunch. I was a little nervous about this meeting. I loved Brook's parents and I knew that they really liked me; it was just that her dad terrified me. All I had to say is one wrong thing and he could and would end me in less than a second.

Thankfully, lunch was a lot less stressful than I was anticipating. Brook's parents were very interested in life on the road and the things Brook and I have been up to. We were definitely careful with how much we told them. I was sure to stay off the you were almost grandparents topic.

After lunch Brooks's mom invited us back to the house for a little while. Unbeknownst to me and apparently Brook as well, Sami's parents were on their way to the house to pick up Sami and bring her back to New York the next day. Brook thought they were coming down the next day.

The thought of meeting Brook's aunt and uncle was a lot more nerve-wracking than I could have imagined lunch being. Brook's uncle reminded me of the Godfather. He was definitely a little stand-offish towards me in the beginning.I didn't know if it was personal or just his personality. Once Sami started talking about the three days she spent on the road and how it was the best time of her life, he started to come around, especially when Sami said I was essentially the one to thank.

I tried my best to stay myself so I wouldn't get called out for putting on an act but it was a very watered down version of myself.

By the time we were on our way to the movie theater after having dinner with my parents, I thought Brook was going to pass out right in the car.

"Are you sure that you're up for this, Brook? We can just return the tickets and come again when we get back," I suggested, pulling into a spot at the theater.

Brook quickly shook her head. "Absolutely not. You've been looking forward to this for so long. I'll be fine," she insisted, climbing out of the car.

I hopped out after her and quickly met up with her on the other side of the car, slipping my hand into hers as we walked toward the entrance.

"I'll just get myself one of those huge Slurpee drinks."

"I'll get it," I offered. "Did you want anything else?"

She shook her head. "No way. This night is all my treat," she said, quickly slipping her hand into my back pocket and removing my wallet, tossing it into her bag.

I faked a frown, causing her to giggle. "Fine. I surrender. Tonight is all you. I'll even let you drive home later."

She laughed as we walked inside and shook her head. "I don't think that's the best idea."

"I guess we'll see," I said as we got on the end of the concession line and I kissed her lightly. "Thank you for today," I said, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear before kissing her again.

She quickly pulled back and I raised an eyebrow at her. Without saying anything, Brook signaled with her eyes to a group of fourteen or fifteen year olds that were watching us, whispering among themselves.

"Well, you don't mind pictures of this ending up all over the internet, right?" I asked with a laugh.

It was ridiculous to me that some fans would see me out around town and would rather gawk from afar and take poorly hidden pictures of me than just come up and say hello.

"Good thing we look cute," Brook said, gesturing to our matching Batman shirts that she specifically bought for us to wear tonight.

"We definitely do," I smiled, lightly tugging on one of her braids.

By the time the movie was over, Brook could barely keep her eyes open.

"I don't think I've ever been this tired" she yawned when we climbed into my car. "And that's including four years of college with countless all-nighters and half a summer of the Warped Tour..."

"It was bound to catch up to you eventually, babe," I smirked, pulling out of the parking lot.

The rest of the way home, I found myself excitedly talking about the movie and it wasn't until I turned onto my block that I realized I had been doing it.

"I'm sorry," I chuckled. "You've probably been trying to fall asleep and I've been yakking your ear off this whole time..."

"Nah," she smiled sleepily. "Seeing you all excited like this makes the exhaustion totally worth it."

"Thank you for today," I said as I pulled into the driveway. "It was pretty great."

"I didn't really do much, Alex. But you're welcome," she said, her sentence breaking in the middle as she paused for a yawn.

I leaned over and kissed her quickly before killing the engine and opening my door.

"Come on. Let's get you to bed."
***

Notes

Story Title: Taylor Swift - Sparks Fly
Chapter Title: Taylor Swift - Stay, Stay, Stay

This was a quick, little fluffy chapter. There's actually a few of those coming up before some big ishhh goes down, so get prepared! :)