A Time For Love

[lovestory]

Callie Stevens.

I have always been the typical good girl. I wasn't much of a partier and always lived to make my overachieving parents proud of me. Principal's list in high school, Dean's list in college, playing sports to make my parents proud. I am finally done with college and out on my own. To finally live for myself and not for my family. This is my time.

My name is Callie Allison Stevens and I am 22 years old. I was born and raised in Mount Prospect, Illinois. A small town about 30 minutes away from Chicago. I grew up in a nice suburban home with my parents and, my brother and two sisters. I graduated from The University of Illinois and also attended beauty school. I am currently working at a hair salon, cutting and styling hair. It's an awesome job and I love it.

My life was pretty typical and normal. Nothing too exciting ever happened, but I liked it that way. I never got in much trouble, my parents were always watching me and making sure I was making the best decisions.

My dad Jack, is a doctor at a hospital in Chicago. He is a amazing guy, but very strict. I lived my whole life trying to please him. His opinion always meant so much to me. I never wanted to disappoint him. We have a great realtionship and no matter how hard he is on me and how much he expects from me I never doubted his love for me. Sure, spending my weekends when I was in high school studying sucked, but it paid off.

My momLaura, is a 8th grade teacher at a nearby middle school. My mom was always a lot easier on us than my dad, but she still had her moments. She was the loving one who always comforted us when something was wrong. She's my best friend and has been there for me at my worst. Most people my age don't get along with their parents, but I adore both my parents and think they are the best parents.

Cory, is 22 and the older twin by two minutes. Cory graduated from the University of Tennessee last year with a degree in business. He was the all-star quarterback for the football team, but due to a serious injury his junior year at Tennessee his pro career was cut short. He was devasted about it and it still does bother him. After college he moved back home with my parents. He is currently working at a nearby bar. It's not my parents ideal job for him, but he is looking for a better job.

Erica, is my 19 year old sister. Erica is away at school and is attending The University of Florida. She is the wild child of the family. She parties way too much, dates the biggest jerks just to give my dad a heartattack, and dressed in the tightest and skimpiest clothes I have ever seen. As much as she can drive me nuts, I love her and would do anything for her. We couldn't be much more opposite, but we are extrememly close. I talk to her all the time and she will tell me anything because she trusts me and I won't judge her. She's a little wild and crazy, but she means well and is just having fun.

Samantha, is my 16 year old sister. Samantha is a junior in high school and reminds me of a mini version of myself. Like me she is always trying to please my parents and does anything not to disappoint them. Samantha is the mini version of me and has been since we were little. She has always looked up to me and wanted to me like me and it's the most flattering thing ever. I adore her and spend as much time as I could with her because in a couple years she will be going off to college, which makes me sad.

My family means the world to me and are the most important people in my life and than there is my boyfriend, Lee and my two best friends Summer and Lily.

Summer and I have been best friends since we were in kindergarten and ever since we have been inseperable. She has been with me through every break up and heartbreaks and vise versa. She can make me laugh in any situation and if she wasn't in my life I would be lost.

Lily and I met two years ago. She is dating one of Lee's co-workers/friends and she just fit in perfectly with Summer and me. I have only known her a short period of time, but like Summer she has been there for me no matter what.

Lee, is 23 years old and we have been together since I was a junior and he was a senior in high school. We grew up down the street from one another and have been friends since we were in diapers, thanks to our parents. Lee and Cory are best friends to this day. We have been together for five years and just moved in together, just last year. We have shared so much first together. He's my first kiss and that happened at my 13th birthday party, he's my first love, the first guy that I have had slept with. I love him so much and he is my best friend. Lee decided that he wasn't going to college, so now he works as a bartender at the same bar as Cory and is focusing on his music. He's so talented and I know if he keeps trying, he will make it one day.

I was just a 20-something old girl, trying to live my life.

[lovestory]

Callie Stevens.

I sat on the couch in my pajamas with my laptop rested on my lap on a Saturday night. My feet were rested on the coffee table that was placed in front of the couch. Lee was sitting next to me, watching the Cubs game. His arm draped causally around the back of the couch.

"Hey! Look at this!" I said, pointing to my computer screen.

Lee tore his eyes away from the game and looked at my computer screen, reading the small article that I had brought up for him to read. He looked up a few moments later and turned his attention back to the game.

"American Idol auditions are going to be in Chicago next week!" I said.

"Yeah. I just read that." He nodded.

"I think you should audition." I said, closing my laptop and leaning foreward to place it on the coffee table.

"I'm not what they are looking for and I would never make it past the auditions. They want the typical popstar look a like who can belt out Whitney Houston songs. Not a guy like me who lives in jeans and a tee-shirts." Lee said, looking back at me.

"Lee, you're a talented guy and look at David Cook! He sings the type of music you like and he won the competiton and how about Daughtry?" I said, naming off artists who had made it big off the show.

"I don't wanna waste my time. I would never make it past the first round and I appreciate you wanting me to further my music career and believe me I want nothing more in the world than to be in the music industry, but it's never going to happen." Lee said, looking back at the tv.

"Why do you just give up like that?" I asked, grabbing the remote and flipping off the tv as someone on the cubs just got a base hit.

"What the hell Cal! I was watching that!" Lee said, looking up at me.

"I am so sick of you just giving up on everything that you want! Get off your ass and try and make it happen. You have talent and to just let it go to waste is stupid. What do you plan on doing Lee? Working at the bar for the rest of your life. It's fine for now, but I know it's not what you want!" I said.

"What happens if I go there and than they tell me I suck? That is not what I want to hear." Lee said.

Ever since Lee was younger he had always been so shy and never believed in himself. In high school he had a lot of problems with people making fun of him and some of it resulted in fights, which caused Lee to be sent to a alternate school. He had always been nervous when performing and it hurt me to see him like that. He was so talented and I wish he would just realize that and go after his dream.

"You have to take these chances and believe me they aren't going to say you suck! Believe in yourself because the only thing that is holding you back from doing this is you." I said, grabbing his hand and squeezing it gently.

"Why do you want me to do this?" He asked, sighing and tossing his head back against the back of the couch.

"Because I know you wanna do this. I know that in the future if you don't do this youn will regret this. You only live once, go for it! What is the worst that is going to happen? They will say no." I said.

"If I do this then you have to come to the auditions with me and sit there with me countless hours." Lee said, pulling his hand out of my grasp and smiling at me.

"Deal!" I smiled, holding out my hand for his. He placed his hand in mine and we shook on it, he pulled me to him and gave me a kiss.

"That things I do for you Miss. Stevens!" Lee said, pulling away from me.

"It's for you baby." I said, leaning in and giving him another kiss.

Lee stood up from the couch and bent down picking me up. I let out a squeal as he tossed me over his shoulder and patted my butt. I grabbed onto his shirt as he continued to walk down the hall.

"Put me down!" I laughed.

"You have a long night ahead of you if you know what I mean." Lee laughed.

"I have to perform my girlfriend duties, I guess." I sighed.

"Don't sound so excited." Lee laughed, walking into out bedroom and dropping me on the bed.

"Get over here big guy!" I rolled my eyes, and held my arms out to him.

"I remember you used to be so excited to get me naked." Lee teased as he climbed on top of me.

"Five years changes a lot. Now shut up and lets get this over with so I can go to bed." I teased, Lee laughed and leaned down covering my lips with his.

--------

Lee and I sat in his parents kitchen the next morning, with his younger brother Michael and Samantha. We had just gotten back from chruch and went back to his parents house for brunch as well as my parents and Samantha, Cory spent the night out last night and never came home yet. What a surprise. We did this every Sunday. Our families have been getting together every Sunday since we were little kids. It was a nice little tradition.

We told everyone earlier about Lee auditioning for American Idol and everyone was excited for him. I could tell that he was still a bit nervous about it, but I know that

"When are you going to put a ring on it?" Michael asked as he put his cup down.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Lee asked, smiling.

"You two have been in love or whatever for five years or some crazy shit like that. When are you going to put a ring on it and make it official?" Michael asked.

"Oh Mike." I sighed, shaking my head.

"Shut up." Lee said.

"Seriously. If I were dating a hot piece like her for five years I would definately move further onto the relationship." He smiled.

"Don't call her a hot piece and when you can hold a relationship for longer than two weeks than I will allow you to give me relationship advice." Lee laughed.

"I can't help it I am such a ladies man and every girl wants a piece of this." Michael teased and I laughed.

"Don't encourage him."

"So, when are these auditions?" Samantha asked, taking a bite of her bacon.

"Next Friday. I'm really not looking foreward to waiting in that line and I am praying that they let me through because I don't wanna waste my time." Lee said.

"I'm sure you are going to make it far. I'll be voting!" Samantha said.

"I hope so." Lee said.

"Are you going to leave me for some model when you become a big rockstar?" I asked, resting my chin in my hand that was resting on the kitchen table.

"No. You're stuck with me." He smiled, reaching over and placing his hand on the back of my neck and leaning over to kiss me.

I liked it that way.

[lovestory]

Callie

I sat in the waiting area with Lee and his family at the auditions. Lee was holding my hand, and rested it on his lap. It was a brutally long day and listening to all these people singing around us was driving me insane. Especially the people who couldn't carry and tune and believe me, most the people here were exactly like that.

Lee made it past the first group of judges and now we were waiting for him to sing for Simon, Randy, and Kara. I could tell he was nervous even though he was acting as if he wasn't. He was hardly talking and in his own world. I was doing anything to get his mind off of the audition. It wasn't helping much though. I couldn't blame him for being nervous, I would be peeing my pants if i was in his position. Than again I can't carry a tune.

"Do I sound like that?" Lee asked quietly, as some girl next to us was attempting to sing some Miley Cyrus song and she was making Miley Cyrus sound like friggen Whitney Houston. It was that bad.

"Just like that." I nodded, and he gave me a small smile before leaning over and kissing my forehead, "Relax. You're going to make it. Believe in yourself."

"And what happens if I don't make it?" He asked.

"Than I am going to dump your ass and run off and marry your brother." I teased him.

"Sounds like a good plan you have there." He said and I laughed, laying my head on his shoulder.

"When you make it we are going out for drinks. I'm going to need a few after listening to all these people attempting to sing." I whispered to him, and he nodded in agreement with me.

They called his number and he looked up. I lifted my head from his shoulder and he slid his hand out of my grasp before standing up. He looked as if he were about to throw up and I just wanted to hug him and make him feel better. I stood up with his family and we followed him to the audition room. He turned to me before walking in the room and leaned in giving me a quick kiss.

"You're going to be great. Relax." I said, placing my hand on his back.

He nodded before getting the okay to go inside. I let out a deep breath as he disappeared in the room, hoping to God that he would walk out with a golden ticket. His parents were talking to Ryan Seacrest and I stood there silently as his sisters and brother talked amongst themselves. I smoothed out a invisible wrinkle in my dress. I just wanted this part to be over with. I wanted him to make it.

It felt like an eternity when the door finally opened. We all stood there quietly as Lee appeared and pulled the yellow ticket out from behind his back. We all went crazy. He walked over to his parents and hugged them both, before hugging his sisters and brother.

He walked over to be after being congratulated by his family and wrapped his arms around my waist, I wrapped my arms tighly around his neck and he lifted me up in a tight hug. I gave him a quick kiss, before burying my face in his neck as he placed me back down.

"I'm proud of you!" I said.

"Thanks." He smiled, pulling away from me, "It feels pretty good!"

"I bet!" I nodded, "You deserve it! Now let's go celebrate and get some drinks! Let me text Summer and Lily and tell them to get everyone together and meet at the bar. We need to make this a party."

"Let's go!" Lee smiled, wrapping his arm around my waist.

--------

I stood in the corner of the small, dark bar holding a beer bottle in my hand and talking to Lily and Summer. We got a whole bunch of Lee's friends and family to come down to the bar, to celebrate. It was nice to spend time with everyone and celebrate with Lee. He was really excited and we were all so happy for him.

"What are you going to do when Lee goes off to Hollywood?" Summer asked, taking a sip of her drink.

"Stay back here and work." I said, "I mean it's going to suck, but there is always the phone and computer. We can keep in touch and I am sure that if he makes it to the live shows I will fly out to see him."

"You trust him in Hollywood without you being around?" Lily asked, and Summer nudged her.

"Why wouldn't I? He has never cheated on me or given me a reason not to trust him." I shrugged, looking past them and over at Lee who was talking to a group of his friends.

"I'm just saying. You two have never been apart for a long period of time and you are going to be cross country and there is going to be lots of girls in Los Angeles. Don't you think there is going to be some temptation there?" Lily asked.

Lily and Lee have never gotten along too well and it sucked being in the middle of their drama. Lily hasn't liked Lee from day one and I will never understand why. She always claims that he isn't any good for me. I love Lily, but the way she hates Lee can really get annoying. It's almost like she is jealous of us.

"I trust him. He's going to be there to focus on music, not the big boobed California girls." I said.

"Can't say that I didn't warn you." Lily shrugged, and took a swig of her beer.

I looked back over at Lee as I ripped the label off my beer bottle. What if Lily was right? I mean Lee was a attractive guy and girl's find guys who play music sexy. What if he finds some gorgeous model and dumps me for her. We haven't ever been apart for more than two weeks. What if he falls into the temptation? He wouldn't, would he?

I saw Lee walking over to me and I plastered a small, fake smile on my face as he stood next to me and placed his hand on my back. Lily turned around and walked off and I let out a sigh as Summer laughed.

"Did I say something?" Lee asked.

"You showed up and you know how Lily feels about you." Summer teased.

"Yeah, I will never understand that girl." Lee laughed softly, "You alright Cal? You seem sorta out of it."

"I'm fine. I'm just getting a little tired." I said, resting my head on his chest as he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer to him.

"Wanna get going?" Lee asked, looking over at me.

"No. Stay and enjoy your night." I said.

I was a bit uneasy about this whole thing now. What if Lily was right?