"Well, kid, you're home. And you're famous." Andrew, Jay's manager and friend said as they boarded off the plane. Jay was giddy with excitement to see his friends again finally. It'd been two years of filming, interviews, commercials, and photo shoots. His first movie hadn't even debuted yet, and he was already the "Next Big Thing". The world loved new, young faces, and Jay fit the part.

With luggage in hand, Jay waddled over to a group of equally excited familiar faces.

"Jaybird!" Mark screamed as he picked Jay up in a spinning aerial hug.

"Don't hurt me," Jay coughed.

"Sorry, man." Mark put his friend down. He didn't look much different. He had some stubble on his face, and a strip of hair crept on his upper lip.

"Is that a mustache?" Jay guffawed.

Mark rubbed at his face with a gruff hand. "I'm not trying to grow it out or anything. I just need a shave. Mustaches aren't my thing; I don't like 'em itching at my nose." He scrunched his face.

Shelly wrapped her arms around Jay's waist and kissed him on the cheek. "I missed you so much,"

Jay hugged back. She was hugging really tight—these people were violent. After letting go, Jay curiously looked around for an expected toddler, but didn't find one.

"Shouldn't there be a little one running around here somewhere?"

Shelly's face went solemn—along with everyone else's—and she cleared her throat before saying, "I had a miscarriage, Jay. Around the third trimester something went wrong with the placenta."

"Shelly, I'm so sorry,"

"No, no. It's okay, Jay. Really,"

Awkward silence filled the group until Jess seized Jay in a semi-unsuspecting hug. "I missed my baby brother!" she squealed. This was the first time she'd given Jay this title, but it fit since he was pretty much these people's family.

Jay caught a glimpse of something shiny and felt something hard digging into his side as Jess hugged him violently tight. He pushed her off to examine the object. Grabbing her hand, he studied the diamond ring on her finger.

"Jess…" For a moment, he was speechless. "This… This looks like a…"

"It is," she said excitedly. "I'm engaged." Her grin spread from ear to ear.

Jay looked at Mark, who was smiling just as wide. "With you, right?"

"I would hope so," Mark joshed. He put an arm around Jay's neck and pulled him close. "I was wondering if you would be my best man?"

"Well, sure, Mark. I'd love to! Have you two set a date?"

Jess said, "Not yet. We've been engaged for almost a year. We wanted you, especially, to be there."

"You didn't have to do that, you guys."

"Gee, I wish you would've told us earlier." Mark said sarcastically. "Naw, Jay. Consider this your coming-home-present. We all know you wanted it just as much as the rest of us. I'll have a surprise for you there anyway." The comment scared Jay, but pleased him at the same time.

Another set of hands wrapped around him, and a familiar voice said, "Lo siento soy tarde, mi hijo. Es tan bueno verte de nuevo."

Jay could hardly remember Spanish anymore, but he remembered enough to know that his father had apologized for being late and that he was glad to see his son again. Just in case he was wrong, he didn't say anything and turned to hug his father.

"Has crecido! You've grown! You're taller than me," Gabriel, Jay's father, laughed. "I'm glad you aren't ending up short like your old man." His dad had changed. His hair was much grayer, and much less black. He'd always been short, but he felt even shorter to Jay; it must have only been because Jay had grown six whole inches taller.

Jay felt like he'd changed a lot, too. He was taller, he'd gotten more upper-body muscles (even if they were only slightly bigger, being sixteen, this was the most exciting thing in the world), he could drive. Yeah. He'd changed a bit, too.

On the way to Mark's car, Jay sparked a conversation with his buddy. "Hey, Mark. Do you think I've changed any?"

Mark took a quick glance at his friend. "Yeah—your teeth are whiter."

"No, man, I'm serious. Have I?"

"You look stronger, I guess." Victory, Jay chimed in his head. "And you're taller. I wouldn't know about your personality. I can tell you now, though, that was one a' my first worries when you went off to be famous."

Jay hadn't thought of personality changes. Had his personality changed? Well, he was more mature for sure, he thought.

Suddenly, a piercing loud noise could be heard that made the boys jump slightly and jerk their heads around. A crowd had congregated to see Jay board off the plane.

Excitement and pride swelled in Jay's chest. "Mark, I have fans! I have fans!" he whispered urgently.

Mark laughed at him a little and said, "You haven't changed a bit, Jetplane." He patted Jay's back. "I'm glad you're back."