Thanks for all the comments, guys! =] Sorry this is so late, but my computer is being incredibly stupid, so I'm stuck sitting plugged into the router to be able to get online. UGH. Anyway! Here's a new chapter.
Chapter Two
The door was forced open with a loud, creaking protest. Melissa slipped the key from the lock, dusting the dirt off her hands from grabbing the hide-a-key out from under the floor mat. Joe was the first inside, and he looked around with a low whistle, hands on his hips. “Mel, you weren’t kidding when you said ‘little’,” he grinned. She punched him lightly on the arm as the rest of us stepped inside, carrying the few bags of luggage that we had brought with us.
“Be nice—“ she began, but her voice was drowned out by a sudden deafening noise above us. She raised an eyebrow with a smirk as we all stared around in confusion. “That would be the rain,” she shouted slightly over the noise.
After about two minutes the downpour lessened, but was replaced with the rumbles of thunder getting closer. I watched as Ashley and Mel fidgeted towards the door, only to have Joe and Kevin lead them back and set them down on the couch patiently. I couldn’t help but grin—those two loved weather like this, and I wouldn’t put it past them to go run outside and play in the rain. Probably not the best idea, so I was glad to have the guys here to help keep them inside. Personally, I was content with staying dry for the time being, thankful we made it inside before the skies opened up. I started wandering around the small cottage, checking out what was there.
It wasn’t huge, but honestly, it was comfortable for just six people. Perhaps not the size a celebrity would be used to, but these guys came from small-town roots, so I doubted it would be a real problem. The walls weren’t wallpapered, but rather had wood planking and frames hanging all over the walls. I ran my hand absentmindedly along the counter as I followed the row of pictures, looking at each one. Family portraits faced back at me; from more than a few I caught the smiling face of Mel when she was younger, usually accompanied by one of her younger sisters as a baby or toddler. The last one was an old group family picture, with a faded brown tint and slight tears along the edge. It was hung with especial care, earning the place of honor above the stove and next to a small window that showed the backyard.
Tearing my eyes away from the pictures, I looked around at the actual room. The living room led right into the kitchen, where the stove actually looked like the kind you had to light with a match. I giggled. The shelves were stocked with spices and seasonings, pots and pans hanging over the sink. A small candle sat on the little kitchen table that could comfortably seat the six of us if we stayed close. And when I glanced back at Kevin and Mel sitting in close proximity on the couch, and Joe and Ashley laughing over the tiny, black and white TV, I knew that wouldn’t be a problem.
My eyes breezed over Nick and I tried to contain my blush. He was kicking back in a chair next to the couch, watching Joe and Ash fiddle with the TV set with a small smile upturning the corners of his mouth. He blew a curl out of his eyes and I had to turn around to hide the dazed look on my face. He really wasn’t good for one’s concentration.
Ashley and Melissa had an ongoing over how they found Nick good-looking, and how, at 18 and 19 years old, the pedophilia that would result. But they knew how I felt all too well. And it wasn’t just about looks. I have never met a guy who was so mature, so family-oriented, so talented, so kind. He had the kind of chivalry in his personality that you never found these days. The type of guy who would jump out of the car and open your door for you, take your arm when you’re walking together, and send you flowers for no reason at all. I’m assuming that last one, since that would be the sort of thing a boyfriend would do.
That thought made my heart sink slightly. Yeah, as if that would ever happen. Nick had about a million girls who would kill to be with him, why on earth would he choose me? Sure, we got along really well, but he was a nice person. It was friendship and nothing more, I was convinced.
And honestly, I was sort of okay with that. Because I was happy to just be able to know and hang out with these wonderful boys. That didn’t stop my heart from pounding whenever I looked at the younger Jonas, however, something that I knew I had to get used to.
I was so zoned out in my thoughts that I didn’t hear Kevin speak up. I vaguely heard my name, and snapped out of it. “What?” I blinked.
Kevin laughed from the couch, and I could just see Mel brighten. “Have you checked out upstairs?”
I glanced at the ladder to the loft. “No, but that’s where I’m heading,” I smiled.
Nick hopped off the chair. “I’ll come with. I want to see what it looks like,” he said, smoothing out his t-shirt. We climbed up into the second level of the house, which contained the beds. There were five, which meant two people were sharing. That thought made me giggle, and Nick turned to me with a smirk, reading my mind. “I’m assuming we’re doing two girls or guys on one of these beds,” he grinned.
I made a thoughtful face. “Hmm, well, I don’t think Kevin or Mel would mind…” I teased.
He laughed and I was reminded of Ashley: “When he laughs, it’s like the skies open up and a choir of angels float down from heaven.” I had to fight back laughter.
Nick flopped down on the nearest bed with a sigh, folding his arms behind his head. I had been looking at a frame on one of the dressers, and when I turned I saw him watching me from the bed. I had been hanging out with Ash and Mel too long. I was, you could say, corrupted. So I could help but giggle nervously. Thankfully, he didn’t notice.
We were up there, just talking casually, for a lot longer than I thought. When we descended the ladder, Ashley was tinkering around the kitchen, searching for something to make for dinner. Mel came in from outside, shaking out her slightly damp hair with an arm full of kindling. I raised an eyebrow. We really did have to light the stove? She grinned, guessing at my train of thought, and dumped the wood in front of the small fireplace. Oh.
Kevin came in seconds later with firewood as well. Joe appeared from around the fridge door, a small frown on his face. “Not too much to work with in here,” he mumbled. He gave Ashley puppy dog eyes. “Are we gonna starve?”
She rolled her eyes with a smile. “No, Joey. We’re gonna be fine.” She pointed at Mel and herself. “College students, remember? We know how to live off the bare minimum,” she joked.
Mel spoke up from where she was digging through her bag. “Hope you like squirrel.”
Joe snapped his head in her direction, looking horrified for a second. Then he caught her grin and relaxed. “Woah, you really had me going!”
Ashley shook her head at him, then turned her amused gaze in my direction. “Sooo…how was the loft? Beds up there?” she grinned, raising an eyebrow.
Nick and I went bright red. “Ashhhh!” he groaned. “Stop!”
She laughed, turning back to the cabinet she was poking through. I swear I heard her mumble ‘I knew it,’ but that could have been my imagination.
I really don’t know how we managed to whip up a dinner for six on the food we had, but we did. It was pretty good too, actually. Clustered around the little table, conversation kept up late into the night as the rain on the roof lessened gradually. By eleven o’clock, it was quiet outside except for the crickets and cicadas. The dishes cleaned up, bags stowed away and beds divided up, we were all relaxing in the living room, and things were nice and peaceful. Sure, we had tried the cell phones again and still had absolutely no service, but I was starting to think this week wouldn’t be all that bad.
And then Joe produced the flashlight.
“Time for some ghost stories,” he laughed evilly, throwing his face into harsh shadows by flicking on the light.
I didn’t really want to say anything and spoil the fun. After all, it was the perfect setting for a swapping of scary stories. And I’m sure Joe was just assuming that all of us were into that kind of thing, considering that the three of us weren’t exactly gum-popping girly-girls who squealed over broken nails and slightly out of place hair.
I really didn’t want to point out the fact that ghost stories actually terrify me, because I always had felt it an unreasonable and childish fear. I could tell by the look on Mel’s face that she wasn’t too thrilled either. But she had Kevin to cuddle with. I pulled a pillow into my arms and hugged it, trying not to pay attention as Joe launched into some tale of dismembering and haunted houses.
I thought everyone else was too wrapped up in the story to notice my discomfort, so I jumped slightly when I felt a pair of warm arms wrap around me. I had been too distracted to realize that Nick had sat down next to me, and now he had his arms around me.
“Joe, you’re scaring them,” Nick said softly. Joe paused mid-story and glanced at the group in surprise. Ashley was all into the tale, but Melissa was looking far more interested in playing with Kevin’s hair than in paying attention. I hadn’t realized I had my head buried in Nick’s shoulder until I realized I had to look up to see Joe’s pouting face.
“Breeeee, I’m sorry. I didn’t know,”
I rolled my eyes, trying to shake off the embarrassment of unknowingly clinging to Nick. “It’s okay Joe. Not your fault I hate ghost stories,”
“Let’s make popcorn and watch a corny old movie instead,” Kevin suggested, hopping off the couch after giving Mel’s hand a squeeze and wandering into the kitchen.
I shot Nick a grateful look and he smiled down at me, eyes warm. I could get used to that.
