Chapter 24
Joe cleared his throat. I guess we would be talking about it now. “Is that the only reason you asked me to marry you? So you could have a kid? Do you even care about me?” I said. I could feel tears welling behind my eyes. He shook his head in defense.
“No Crystal! I love you, and I would do anything for you.” He said taking my hand, but I pulled away.
“Really? Cuz for some reason I can see you doing that” I snapped pointing at the magazine.
“What? Now you’re calling me a liar?” he gasped sitting back a bit hurt.
“Ya know what joe? I don’t even know anymore, okay?” I said before getting up from the table and walking outside to call a cab. I hopped in the bar and cried the whole way home. Everything had just gotten more confusing. Like it wasn’t before… when I got home I ran up to my room, locked my door and layed on my bed. I watched some TV before I heard the front door open and footsteps that began to ascend the stairs. I quickly hid under my covers to avoid getting up when my door was knocked on. The footsteps stopped in front of my door. I dug deeper in the covers when the door knob circled around. And to no surprise the door opened. It never stayed locked but I would like to think that it did. Let’s just say hardware supplies were NOT my dad’s specialty. I pinched my eyes tight. Pretending to be in a deep sleep.
“Crystal” came Joe’s voice as he sat on my bed. I rolled my eyes. “I would never do that Cryssie, you know that” he said tenderly stroking my lower back.
“Joe, im not saying im mad at you, im just really confused right now” I mumbled into my warm blankets. He squeezed my shoulder.
“About what?” he asked his face nearing my ear. I turned around to look at him.
“About what? About this whole thing, me, you, we only started dating and I may not know important things about you. Like what you want in life” I said turning back to my pillows. I guess I had given it more thought than I thought.
“We have all the time in the world” he whispered. His words made me melt and before I knew it his lips bared down on mine. I could taste the coffee he had for lunch. He breathed deeply as his hands brushed my face. My hand becoming knotted in his fine black hair.
“Joe, if we don’t stop, that rumor is going to be true” I giggled. He sighed and rolled over on my bed. His chest moving up and down. He grabbed m hand and held it up to his heart. I cold feel it beating fast. As if he had just run a marathon.
“That is what you do to me crystal” he whispered before I fell asleep. I woke up to find that Joe had not left me during my slumber. His arms were wrapped around me, enabling me to move. “Hey” came his hushed voice. How he could tell I was awake, I did not know.
“Hi” I said rolling over once he loosened his grip.
“Good morning” he whispered embracing me in his arms again.
“It’s morning already?” I asked rubbing my eyes.
“Yea you slept like a rock” he said making his eyes light up which made me giggle. He pulled me close and kissed the tip of my head. I don’t know how long we stayed like that, but it was at least a half hour before we got up and went downstairs. “Hey Kev” said Joe giving his brother a friendly nod.
“You guys slept there for a while” said Kev sitting down next to nick on the couch.
“We have an interview at 12 today” said nick as Joe and I sat down also.
“Aw you’re gonna leave me alone all day?” I said pouting.
“Don’t worry, we will be back at five” he said kissing my cheek.
“Yea, exactly. I’m gonna be alone all day. Tara’s at school Ashley is in Massachusetts and Katie… Wait a minute! I’ll call Katie!!!” I yelled jumping up for the phone. “Hey Katie, its Crystal, I just wanted to know if you wanted to hang out today, call me back…LOVE!”
Of course Katie never answers her phone so I had to leave a message. Within minutes my phone as ringing. “Hey Katie!” I yelled.
“Hey Cryssie, where do you want to go today??!”
“Um, wherever. I don’t have plans” I said leaning on the refrigerator.
“Kay, I’ll be over in an hour, bye!”
“Bye!!!” I said before hanging up and getting ready for Katie’s arrival. “Bye Joe” I said giving him a kiss. I don’t think he wanted to leave because his kiss was forceful and passionate, his hands gripping my arms tightly. “Bye, Joe” I said again walking him to the door. Katie and I lounged out in my back lawn. I could feel a sun burn beginning to set in but I was too lazy to get up, so I let myself fry. Katie and I talked about everything. But most importantly, her date with Mr. Michael Cera…
“He is so amazing crystal. He took me out on a yacht filled with candles and we sat in the moon light and ate dinner” she gushed. I couldn’t help but smile. No guy had ever done something like that for me. Even though Joe taking me to the lake was amazing.
“Come on, the guys are gonna be on the radio” I said running over to my stereo and turning it up. Katie and I sat on the couch quietly, listening to what they all had to say.
“So Joe, tell me a little about what is going on between you and Crystal.” Said the guy interviewing them. [Ryan Secrest]
“Well first off, I did not ask her to marry me for the reason you all think. I did it because I love her and I don’t want anything to happen to her. I mean yea, I want kids, but not right now. We are just enjoying each others company” he said. This made me smile.
“Aw. He is so cute!” giggled Katie. I laughed and turned off the radio.
“They should be back around five if you wanna stay and hang out with us…Bring Michael too!” I said getting up and walking over to the fridge. Five pm came quickly and before I knew it Joe and I were sitting on the couch. “I heard you on the radio!” I sang to him laying my head on his chest.
“Yea? What’d you think?” he asked stroking him hand with his thumb.
“I couldn’t agree with what you said more” I mumbled closing my eyes. I felt him smile. “I love you, Joe”
“I love you too.” He said before I fell asleep.
I woke up at seven to see I was alone in the living room. I had no idea where anyone was so I made my way to the kitchen and opened the fridge, looking for something to eat. “Hey, Babe” came Joe’s voice from behind me. His strong arms wrapped themselves around my waist. I turned around.
“Where is everyone?” I asked taking a sip of Gatorade.
“We’re all out back” he said grabbing the Gatorade out of my hand and taking a sip himself. I grabbed his hand and we walked out back.
“Hey” they all said. I gave them a wave and sat down on the picnic table with Joe.
“So what’s up?” I asked giving my full attention to everyone around me.
“Well, right now we are thinking of baby names” Tara giggled with a smile.
“Let me hear the choices” I said
“We have Julia, Kristen, and Karlee” said Ashley who held the book with names in it. We all snapped our attention to Kevin when he started to talk.
“We wouldn’t even have to thin of names if it wasn’t for you” he said directing his voice to Tara. You could just see the astonishment written on her face.
“Excuse me? I thought you were happy about this Kevin.” She said in a stern voice. But you could tell she was about to break down.
“Tara, there are so many thinks I wanted to do before I started a family, but now that list has been cut in half” he said
“Oh, so it’s all my fault that you got me pregnant?” she was shrieking now. I almost wanted to run inside but I was reminded that Joe’s arms were wrapped around me.
“That’s not what I said…” he began but she cut him off by putting her hand up.
“It sure sounded like it to me” she yelled before getting up an walking inside. You could hear sobbing as she reached the door. I couldn’t take it anymore. One of my best friends was in the worst possible situation and her boyfriend was being a complete jack as.s.
“KEVIN HOW COULD YOU?” I shrieked getting up. Joe tried to pull me back but I got out of his grip. “I THOUGHT YOU WERE EXCITD ABOUT BEING A DAD! SURE YOU HAD ALL THESE DREAMS BUT THEY’RE NOT GONE, YOU CAN DOT THEM WITH TARA. AND JULIA KRISTEN OR KARLEE. BUT NO, YOU HAD TO BE A *CENSORED* AND YELL AT HER! MAYBE YOU SHOULD START THINKING BEFORE YOU ACT. YOU KNOW, LISTEN TO THE LITTLE VOICE INSIDE YOUR HEAD? OR BETTER YET START THINKING OF HOW PEOPLE WILL FEEL WHEN YOU TURN YOUR BACK ON THEM, CUZ THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU JUST DID TO TARA!” I was fuming. My hands balled into fists. Kevin had a flit of sadness and remorse in his eyes, but I had no respect for him anymore. I stomped my way through nick and Ashley [who carried shocked faces after witnessing what had just happened] and I slammed the sliding door behind me so hard I cold have sworn I heard the bolts [holding it to the frame] rattle