Nothing Normal

As Vivian walked up to the Jackson's house she was thinking about who was beside her.
Justin.

She knew he was speaking to her even though she had barely even heard a word of it. The way he walked, the way he talked, how natural they acted together. All this stuff was just running through her head when she felt Justin tighten his grip on her hand.

"What are you thinking about Viv?" Vivian couldn’t help but smile, Viv was a pet nickname Kelsey had given her in the 8th grade. "Have you even been paying attention?" Justin asked. Vivian obviously hadn't heard any of what he said, but she pretended as if she had. She was one of those girls that could never admit to her own faults.

"Oh yes! All of it!" She said with a giggle.

He narrowed his eyes at her and smiled. "You wanna know something Viv?"

"Umm sure..."

Justin looked away "I think that you're very beautiful. Your smile is like no other, the way your hair dances in the wind when you walk. All of it is just amazing." Vivian looked at Justin who was still looking anywhere but at her.

"Really?" She asked searching for his eyes.

Finally looking at her he smiled "Really, really." He couldn't help but smile when he looked at her.
Quickly he picked her up and hugged her tight.

Just then Mrs. Jackson opened the door. "Ahh, Vivian you’re here!" She said as she ran down the stairs of their porch. Justin watched Vivian as she walked over to greet Mrs. Jackson.

Hours later the house was quiet, the kids were sleeping, and it was just her and Justin. "So tell me about yourself Viv."

"Well, I'm Vivian. Bestest friends with Kelsey...” She paused to consider this. “Yup, that just about sums it up," she giggled.

Justin gave her an awkward smile "What do you do without Kelsey?"

Vivian looked up, "Without Kels?! Nothing!"

Justin smiled and laughed, "I thought not." Vivian knew he was joking but feeling irritated at his comment went upstairs to check on the children.

Moments later she worked her way down the stairs. Justin was putting in a movie. Luckily for her it was "50 First Dates" which had been her all time favorite movie for the past 6 years.

"Oh, hey." Justin said nonchalantly.

She didn't say anything she just looked around the room. The lights were dimmed and there were several candles lit, there were 2 cups of hot chocolate with each having 10 marshmallows. She counted, she’s weird like that.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"Welcome to our date,” he said pointing to the "Date" part on the movie.

"Oh, you’re a clever one, aren't you?" Without a word Justin went over and picked Vivian up from the bottom step of the stairs and carried her to the couch. Vivian giggled and snuggled close to Justin. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his head against hers. Vivian smiled and thought to herself,
A girl could get use to this.

When Vivian woke up, she looked around curiously. The t.v. was off she was covered with a blanket and Justin was nowhere to be seen. She got up and went to check her phone. 6 missed calls all from Kelsey. Vivian knowing it was too late to call her back closed her phone and ran up the stairs to check
on the kids. She checked on Lillie and Hannah first.

When she was sure they was okay, she went to the check on Caroline, the baby, in the nursery. As she got closer she notices Caroline's door was cracked. She got closer and could hear Justin singing "Sweet Caroline" to the young child. Vivian stopped just shy of the door. Justin's soft voice made her heart melt.

She turned to walk away just as she heard Justin call out to her. "Come dance with us babe." Vivian smiled. Babe?, she thought. Without hesitation she walked in the door and began to dance with Justin. He held her and Caroline close.

Vivian looked at Caroline and thought to herself, Maybe one day this will be my family.

The next day, after her and Kelsey got off work; they were surprised by two very snazzy looking guys.

Justin and Blaine had surprised them with roses for Kelsey and chocolate covered strawberries for Vivian; she doesn't like flowers, and 4 tickets to see Maroon 5, Vivian’s favorite band. Vivian was weird with the things she liked and didn't like. It always seemed the only person who fully understood her was Kelsey. Kelsey knew everything there was to know about her best friend Vivian. She knew that Vivian grew up in a small farm town in Oklahoma, before moving to Alabama meeting Kelsey and having to sequentially moving back to Oklahoma in 11th grade. She also knew that Viv hated Oklahoma and couldn't wait to get out. That's why the day she graduated, she took what she could fit in one bag and hopped on a plane to Alabama, where Kelsey was still living. She and Viv lived there for the summer before moving on to South Carolina for college. Kelsey sometimes wondered if Vivian missed her family considering how the day she left they'd completely cut her off. Kelsey knew she had always just fit better in her family and so did Vivian.

Kelsey train of thought was interrupted by 1000 screaming girls one of which was Vivian. Kelsey looked at Blaine and rolled her eyes before turning her attention to Justin who was staring very intensely at some random guy.

Kelsey followed his eyes and saw a blonde haired guy who kept looking a Vivian. Kelsey saw trouble and instantly decided it was time for them to go. She directed Blaine's eyes to what she was seeing and he quickly took action.

After fighting with Vivian, they finally started to leave. "Oh, I know of this amazing restaurant!" Vivian said, "Come on follow me."

Kelsey smiled, "Viv, is it another Mexican Restaurant?"

Sure enough it was. "Viv loves Mexican food. She really won't eat anywhere else other than a Mexican restaurant and home." Kelsey told them while Vivian was in the restroom.

"Justin you've been kinda quiet, what's on your mind?" Blaine asked.

"I'm going to ask Vivian to be my girlfriend." Kelsey put her hands over her mouth and stared blankly.

"Are you serious bro?" Blaine asked.

"Dead,” Justin said seriously with a nervous grin on his face.

Just then Vivian came back and it was time to order. One thing Kelsey never understood about Vivian is why she would make them eat at all these Mexican restaurants but she always got the exact same thing and Kelsey could order for her. “I got you, Viv. Chicken nachos. With a sweet tea. Easy on the ice. No jalapeños,” she said motioning to Vivian. She turned, while Blaine was ordering and mouthed to Vivian, "See told you." Vivian just laughed.

After dinner they decided to go on a walk in the park. Blaine and Kelsey knowing what was about to happen had gotten distracted some time ago.

"Justin, are you okay? You seem... nervous."

"I've been meaning to ask you something," he said.

After a long silence, "Well what is it?" Vivian felt as if he was going to propose and started to her nervous herself.

"Viv, will you be my girlfriend?" Justin asked smiling.

Kelsey watched from a distance and smiled to herself as she watched her friend cry with delight and jump into his arms. It was the most excited she had ever seen her. Kelsey looked over at Blaine, who smiled back. Kelsey shook her head and asked, “Did that just happen?”