Chapter 1
March 2007
Poke. Poke. Poke.
I slowly opened one of my eyes to see what ungrateful, inconsiderate beast was waking me up at this ungodly time of the day.
There was my answer.
“Joseph. Adam. Jonas. What do you think you are doing to me at…6 in morning?!?” I half-yelled, half-mumbled at him.
He just smirked at me. “You told me that you needed to start running again, which you haven’t, so I am waking you up and bringing you with me.”
I stared at him in disbelief. “When I said I wanted to start running, I meant, in the afternoon, or even later in morning, when people, like me, are actually supposed to be awake.”
“Stop being such a drama queen and get up. I’m giving you ten minutes to meet me downstairs or I am going to have to go to extreme measures.” He gave me one of his signature mysterious smiles and stalked out of the room.
“I HATE YOU JOE!” I yelled and buried myself in the covers once more. I had just shut my eyes again when he came running in once more, jumping on top of me.
“SHANNAHHHHH. Get up!” He yelled right into my ear.
“That was ten seconds not ten minutes!” I complained.
“Yeah, well I got bored” He said, amused at my grouchyness in the morning.
“UGHHHH” I groaned under my pillow.
”Let’s go. Up and at ‘em” He said as he picked me up off them bed and set me on the floor.
I just glared at him as he smiled and strutted out of the room.
5 minutes later, I was stumbling down the stairs with a pair of running shoes in my hand. I noticed Joe sitting on the couch eating poptarts.
“Thanks for getting me food.” I grumbled as I stalked into the kitchen.
“Well maybe if you were a bit nicer to me this morning, I would have saved you a poptart.” He said following me.
I glared at him as I reached into the fridge, grabbing a slice of cold cheese pizza from the night before.
“You are the only person I know, who can eat pizza at 6 in the morning, not to mention eating it cold.” He said amused.
“Let’s just go before I change my mind.”
We ran down the steps of my front porch out into the sunlight that was just beginning to peak over the horizon. We followed our old path through the trees in the abandoned park.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Joe peaking at me through the side of his sunglasses. “Joe, if there is something you want to say, just spit it out.”
He suddenly veered off path, headed towards the swings and sat down on the closest one. I being the klutz that I am, was so shocked by his change of direction. I stopped looking where I was going and ran right into a light pole.
I groaned as I stood back up and could hear Joe laughing at me hysterically in the background.
“It’s not funny!” I groaned again, rubbing my head.
Joe just laughed harder. Oh, it’s on. I thought in my head.
I started sprinting towards him, full speed when he saw me coming. A look of shock and terror came across his face. Two seconds later, he was running away from me.
I chased him further into the trees and eventually lost sight of him. I slowed down to a brisk walk, looking for him left and right.
“Boo” I heard in my left ear.
“AHHH” I don’t think I have ever screamed so loud.
“Joseph! Do you find this funny?” I was guessing so because he could barely answer me without cracking up with laughter again.
“You are soo going to get it” I said to him as he was still overcome by laughter. I tried to tackle him but ended up tripping over a log falling flat onto Joe.
“Umph”
“Oh, sorry Joe. Wait, nevermind. No I’m not. You are such an idiot! You just about gave me a heart attack.” I hit his chest as he squirmed beneath me.
“HEY! I’m sorry okay? I didn’t think it would freak you out so much.” He said sincerely as he stroked the side of my face to calm me down.
I just about melted into his touch as I gazed into his sorry eyes.
“Just forget about it” I mumbled as we held eye contact.
Our faces inched closer and closer until…
Take a second chance on me
Cause i know you want to dance with me
But you say, i don't do that kind of thing
A say what, i don't do that kind of thing
A why not, i don't do that kind of thing
And you say, i don't do that kind of thing (okay)
Can i get get get to know know know you better better baby
“Hello?” Joe answered the phone aggravated.
I slowly stood up off Joe as I heard Kevin through the phone, “Dude, where are you?”
Joe walked off to where I couldn’t hear him. I just stood there awkwardly waiting for him to come back.
A few minutes later, he called me over and asked, “On our way back to your house, do you mind if we swing by my house to pick up something?”
“Nope, not at all.” I said quickly, still kind of shaken up by what could have, and almost did happen.
We walked back to his house in silence.
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