Best Mistake

"So be honest," I said to Megan as we stood in front of the mirror in my bathroom. "Is it lame that I'm still ridiculously excited about tonight?"

We were getting ready for the guys' hometown show later that night. As always, Megan and I would meet up at one of our houses to get ready before one of their concerts, blasting All Time Low in the process. I felt kind of silly doing it, considering my rapidly flourishing relationship with Alex.

"Not at all," Megan said, drawing on her eyeliner. "Why do you ask?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. I just feel dumb. Or maybe even obsessive," I cringed.

"What?" she scoffed.

"It doesn't seem a little stalkerish that I'm pregnant with Alex's kid, that he's in my favorite band, and I'm stoked about seeing them for the millionth time?"

Megan laughed. "Sounds like you're thinking too much into it. Besides, you're not stalking him. You're in love with him," she teased.

I smiled and looked down at the counter. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

"Ah, so you finally admit it."

"Admit what?"

"That you love him, duh."

"Yeah," I laughed. "I admit it. I'm crazy about him."

"Mhm. And does he know?"

"He does."

Megan's head quickly turned in my direction. "He does?"

I nodded.

"Holy shit," she chuckled. "What did he say?"

I shrugged. "He loves me, too."

Her mouth fell slack. "He does?!"

Again I nodded, and Megan began jumping with excitement, her arms flailing.

"Oh my god, Whit!" she beamed. "This is huge!"

I smiled at her and turned back towards the mirror.

As we finished getting ready, I started to become unsettlingly nervous about going to the concert. I couldn't help but think people were going to be watching me. The whole All Time Low fandom with access to the Internet knew about me and my situation, and I was almost positive they all thought I got pregnant on purpose. At least, that's what all the bad comments on Alex's Instagram post said.

We pulled up to the back of the venue where Alex insisted we enter. After checking ourselves in with the security guard, we started walking down a long hallway.

"We're on the guest list!" Megan shrieked.

I glared at her. "Chill out," I hissed. "Let's at least act like we belong here."

She tugged on my arm, pulling me to a halt. "You chill out. We do belong here, Whitney. You're Alex's girlfriend. He loves you and you love him. You're having his son. I think that counts as a good reason to be here."

I sighed apologetically. "I know. I'm sorry. I just feel like people think I intentionally let this happen. Like, I got Alex drunk and made him sleep with me unprotected so I'd get pregnant and he'd never be able to get away from me."

"Fuck what people think," Megan scoffed. "The only people that matter are you and Alex, and you two are the only ones that need to know the real story. Don't let those jealous bitches bring you down. You have every right to be here.You don't owe those little girls any kind of explanation."

I nodded. "You're right. Thanks Meg," I smiled.

She grinned. "No problem. Now let's go find my future best friend-in-law."

"Please," I begged, following close behind her as she led the way. "Don't ever say that around him."

"Yeah, yeah," she huffed and turned a corner.

It felt like we were walking for a long time. The hallways started to seem like parts of a maze. I felt lost and almost gave up trying to find the band's dressing room when Rian and I almost collided as he turned a sharp corner.

"Jesus," he muttered, stumbling back a bit.

My face turned beet red. "Hey Rian."

"Oh, Whitney," he smiled. "How's it going?"

"Pretty well," I nodded. "Have you met Megan?"

She took a step forward, her hand extended. "We met briefly at the baby shower."

Rian shook her hand, nodding. "Yeah, I remember you. You throw a great party."

"Thanks," she smiled victoriously.

"Do you know where Alex is?" I asked.

He nodded. "Our dressing room is down this hall, last door to the left."

I nodded, looking to where he was pointing. "Great, thanks Rian," I smiled.

"Should we knock?" I whispered, earning a scoff from Megan as she twisted the door knob.

I half expected to walk into a wild party, given the reputation the guys had made for themselves. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised to enter a quiet room.

Zack was doing a small workout regime in the corner of the room. Jack was laying across one of the couches, looking at a recent publication of Alternative Press. Alex was sitting on the other couch, a glass of wine in his hand and his eyes glued to the screen of the phone. None of them even noticed we'd walked in.

"Hi," I said quietly, and the three of them turned towards us.

"Hey," Alex smiled as he set his glass on the ground in front of him. "I was starting to wonder if you were going to make it."

I frowned. "We got a little lost trying to find you."

"But you're here now," he said quietly, a pleased smile pulling the corners of his lips up as he stood to walk to me.

"I'm here now," I nodded, my arms sliding around his neck

He looked around me towards Megan. "Hey, chick."

She smiled at both of us, then turned her attention to Zack. I shook my head as she winked and sauntered over to him, placing her hand on his bicep.

"Did she break up with Luke?" Alex asked as he helped me sink down on to the couch.

"No," I said, shaking my head. "She's always had a huge thing for Zack. To her, her flirtation is excusable."

"Shame," he chuckled.

I sat quietly for a moment, mostly listening to Alex and Jack talk about different parts of the set for the night. I considered plugging my ears so the whole night would be a surprise.

"Alright dude, I'm gonna walk around and see if I can bump into some fans," Jack said as he stood, stretching.

"Later," Alex nodded.

I rested my head on Alex's arm, and he responded by slipping it around my shoulders, pulling me into his side.

"So are you excited?" he asked before kissing the side of my head.

"Oh yeah, definitely," I nodded. "Are you?"

He smiled. "Hometown shows are always special. I'm just really glad you were up for coming."

I smiled back. Although my feet had been starting to swell if I was on them for more than just a few minutes lately, there was no way I could have missed the show.

"I can have them bring you out a chair so you don't have to stand the whole time," he said.

"That won't be necessary," I said, shaking my head.

He frowned. "I don't want you be uncomfortable or in pain the whole time."

I smiled, leaning in to kiss his cheek. "Thank you, but I'll be ok. I want to enjoy tonight how I would if I weren't two weeks away from squeezing your kid out of my body."

He smiled, his hand rested on my bump. "Two weeks."

"Are you ready for this?" I asked, pulling my bottom lip between my teeth.

Alex looked into my eyes, his face suddenly serious. "I've never been so ready for something in my life."

"Alright guys, you're up," their manager Keith said as he poked his head in the room. He glanced around and groaned before saying, "For the love of god, where's Jack?"

Alex helped me up and I walked with him hand in hand through the heavy doors that lead back stage. Megan stood next to me and we watched in awe as the guys huddled up. Of all the times we'd seen them live, we'd never witnessed something so moving.

Their intro music began playing, and the room erupted in screams and cheers. I peaked around the curtain and my stomach dropped at the site of all the people that'd come to see them play. I gained a newfound respect for them. There was no way I would be able to get up in front of that many people and do what they did.

"You're sure you'll be fine standing?" Alex asked as he slung his guitar strap over his shoulder.

"I'm sure," I nodded. "Good luck."

He kissed me quickly before running out on stage to join the other guys, the cheers getting louder. Megan was soon next to me and elbowed my arm. I couldn't help but giggle childishly.

They started off strong with four of their hits. Megan was jumping around and dancing and singing the whole time. I just stood and nodded my head to the music, singing along. I figured Will wouldn't appreciate all the commotion.

"Hey Alex," Jack said into his microphone. "Can we all call you Daddy now?"

"No," Alex laughed. "Only my son can call me that."

I blushed and giggled again.

"Alex is having a baby!" Jack yelled.

The crowd cheered and clapped in a congratulatory manner while Rian banged on his drums. Alex smiled and bowed a little, his hand over his heart.

"Yes. Thank you! Two weeks. He'll be here in two weeks."

"I can't wait to be the worst influence on him," Jack laughed.

Alex nodded. "If his first words aren't some form of a dick joke, I'm going to be pretty disappointed."

Alex glanced back at me and I shook my head, but smiled still.

"Hey," he said to the crowd. "Does anybody here know 'Somewhere in Neverland'?"

Screams filled the room, and I embarrassingly covered my mouth as one of my own rang loud from backstage.

"Awesome," Alex smiled. "Here we go!"

Rian kicked off the song and I found myself moving to the beat a lot more. I didn't really have a doubt that they'd play it, but I was still relieved that they did.

"Say goodbye to the halls and the classes. Say hello to a job and the taxes and weekends with old friends spilling into nine to five routine," Alex sang smoothly into the microphone.

I found myself completely lost in the music, as I always did when listening to them. I felt more connected to the song than ever, especially since my confession to Alex about sometimes switching my name out for Wendy back on his birthday.

"So here we go again, wishing we could start again," Alex sang, jumping a little.

As I belted out the chorus, I noticed that a word I was singing didn't match the word Alex was using. What was even weirder was that the crowd was singing the different word with Alex, too.

I stopped singing to listen, and I swore I heard Alex and the crowd saying my name instead of Wendy's.

As the song flowed into the next verse, I turned to Megan.

"Am I going crazy, or are they really..." I said, but my voice trailed off as Megan held her phone up to me, showing me Alex's Twitter.

BALTIMORE! I need your help. If you're going to the show tonight, please sing "Whitney" instead of "Wendy" during Neverland. It'll make me and a special lady of mine happy <3

My mouth fell open as I read the words. "No he didn't."

Megan smiled and shoved her phone back in her pocket. "Oh yeah he did."

I turned my attention back to Alex. He smiled back at me before powering into the second chorus.

"Whitney, run away with me. I know I sound crazy. Don't you see what you do to me. I wanna be your lost boy, your last chance, a better reality, yeah," he smiled.

My heart was pounding in my chest. I didn't even think Alex remembered my crazy fan girl confession, but I was obviously very wrong. The fact that he took the time to ask the fans to help make the song about me, and they fact that they actually did it, really hit home. I found myself fighting the urge to run out to the middle of the stage and attack him with kisses.

Everyone but Rian and the crowd stopped as they went into the final chorus. When I heard just the audience singing my name and clapping to Rian's rhythm, goosebumps formed over my whole body.

Alex looked so happy as he joined the crowd to finish the song.

"I wanna be your lost boy, your last chance, a better reality, yeah. Whitney, we can get away. I promise, if you're with me, say the word and we'll find a way. I wanna be your lost boy, your last chance, your everything better plan. Oh, somewhere in Neverland."

I couldn't help but scream and cheer and dance and clap as the guys finished out the song. Alex ran to the side of the stage to exchange his guitar for another, but ran to me first. I quickly pulled him into a kiss, holding him there with all my might.

He pulled away and rested his forehead against mine. I barely heard him over the roaring crowd as he whispered, "I love you."

I shook my head, my eyes falling shut. "I fucking love you, Alex."

He smiled and kissed me once more before grabbing a new guitar and running back on stage. He quickly thanked the crowd for participating and backed away from the microphone.

Jack played the opening riff to "Stay Awake" and I felt like crying tears of joy as the whole band joined in to play what Alex must have remembered was my favorite song.

Notes