sweet! welcome Lauren!
and i quickly finished the chapter. sorry if it's bad.
~Belles <3 [has a song stuck in her head]
Chapter Seven:
“And I'm finding it's not easy, too be perfect.”
~Mirror, Barlowgirl
As we began to walk through the mall the awkward silence between us was making me nervous. Was I supposed to say something? Do something? How exactly was I supposed to get through hanging out with Joe for a couple of hours in the mall? Was it just going to be Joe and I or would his brothers join us?
I decided to voice the last question. “Are Nick and Kevin coming to hang out with us soon?” I saw the look on Joe's face. “Or not at all.” I added.
“They're not coming. I figured you and I could hang out together.” He smiled, trying not to show the small amount of hurt he felt because I'd rather hang out with his brothers than just him.
“Oh. Ok. So.... why're you doing this?” I asked, curious.
“Taking you to the mall?” Joe asked. I nodded my head yes as we passed a shoe store. “Because I realize that I was kind of a jerk to you yesterday and I want to make it up to you.”
I nodded my head again just as Joe shouted, “Ooo, look! A virtual roller coaster!”
I gave a small smile. “Yes, that's nice.”
Joe grinned, “I know. Let's go on it.”
“Joe.” I said. “I don't think that's...”
“Come on Anne. It'll be fun!” He yelled again dancing around excitedly.
I blushed, slightly embarrassed by his antics. They seemed childish and... immature. Joe smiled flashing me his perfect teeth. “Come on Anne.”
“Joe, I.... don't have any money.” I finished, thinking that would be the end of it.
“It's ok. I've got you covered, now let's go.” He smiled tugging at my hand, trying to pull me towards the ride.
“Oh well... um. You know what? I think I'd rather ride a real roller coaster than that so let's go.” I replied standing firmly in one place.
Joe looked at me for a minute before saying, “How 'bout we ride this for right now and I'll take you to ride on a real roller coaster later. Deal?”
I bit my lip. Joe was being really sweet right now and I was kind of acting like a jerk. Plus he looked so puppy dog-ish waiting for an answer. “Ok. Deal. As long as you promise.”
Joe's whole face brightened up as he smiled at me. “I promise promise. And I never break my promises.” He smiled excitedly as he pulled me over to the ride.
I grinned back, slightly amused at his happiness over a simple ride. The ride seemed to be over as soon as it started, but Joe liked it so I tried my best to pretend it was fun. It didn't work out to well, but he didn't seem to mind.
“Your right, a real roller coaster would've been better, but this was a great practice run.” He smiled at me and I couldn't help but smile back in response.
We walked around for a bit until we reached a store. “Let's go in!” Joe exclaimed.
“Uh, but it's a girl store Joe.” I pointed out.
“I know. I just think you should buy something a little bit more.... fun.” He replied as if he didn't just insult my clothes.
I raised my eyebrow at him, placing one of my hands on my hip. “Are you implying my clothes are boring? Joseph?”
Joe looked scared for minute, he could tell he'd said something wrong. “Uh, no. Um. I didn't mean it like that. I just meant. Um. Why don't you just buy a cute t-shirt? You know, you're skipping school, kinda, so why don't you have a little fun and change up your wardrobe. Ok. That didn't come out right either. I'm just gonna shut up now.”
“That would probably be the best idea Joseph. Besides, as I already told you, I don't have any money.”
“I'll buy it for you! Whatever it is.” He added.
I stared at him. “Fine. I'm going to pretend you didn't insult my wardrobe and try on some 'fun' clothes. But I'm not letting you buy me any clothes. Got it?”
Joe nodded his head sheepishly. I swear, that boy gets on my nerves something fierce. He's just so.... ugh! Insulting my clothes. I have 'fun' things. I just don't wear them to school. They're more for when I'm doing my part of the radio show. Which is tomorrow. Right. Gotta remind the boys that they're free tomorrow. No fund raiser since I wouldn't be able to be there. Of course I can't tell them why.
“Here try these on.” Joe said shoving some shirts at me. I guess I was so lost in my own thoughts I didn't even realize we were in the store.
“Uh, ok.” I said grabbing them and walking into the nearest dressing room. I was surprised when I found out he actually got the right size. I was even more surprised when some of them didn't look too bad on me.
“Anne? Which room are you in?” I heard Joe call out. I waved my hand out the top of the door, choosing not to yell.
I could tell Joe walked over because his voice sounded closer when he talked the second time. “Can I see any of them?” He asked.
I threw the shirts I didn't like over the door. Joe took them. “Not what I meant Anne. I meant, can I see some of the shirts on you?”
I sighed, picking out a baby blue shirt that had a simple LOVE written across it in rainbow colors on a musical staff with random music notes around it. I put it on quickly and stepped out of the dressing room. “Happy?” I asked with a tiny bit of attitude. I don't know what it is about this boy but whenever I find something to like about him, he does something that irritates me to no end.
“Very.” He grinned. “You look cute and almost normal.” He teased.
I slapped him, not hard... but still. “That was rude Joseph.”
“Stop calling me Joseph.. Anne-seph.” He shot back.
I rolled my eyes, “Don't even try to do that. It just doesn't work. Now I'm going to go change back to my normal clothes and you are going to buy me a cinnamon sugar soft pretzel at Auntie Anne's and a water bottle.”
“Why?”
“Because I'm hungry. Now go.” I replied walking back into the dressing room to change. When I walked back out Joe was gone. I put the clothes away and walked out of the store to find Joe eating a soft pretzel on a bench.
“So where's mine?” I asked as I sat down next to him.
He swallowed what he was eating and said, “This is it.” And the he proceeded to take another bit out of the, my?, pretzel.
“What?”
“This is your pretzel, but I'm eating it.” He explained with a mischievous smile.
“Nuh uh. Tell the truth.”
“It is.”
I stared at him as he ate the pretzel. He ignored me.
“Joseph.” I warned.
He still ignored me.
“Fine. If you're not going to talk to me then I'm leaving. I'll hitch a ride home with some random stranger.” I stood up and started to walk away.
“Anne! Stop. I was just joking. I have your pretzel right here. Come back.” He shouted holding out a second pretzel.
I stood there for a moment making him wonder whether I was coming back or not before I walked back. I sat down next to him again and took the pretzel.
“That wasn't nice, Joseph.” I said.
Joe looked at me. “So is constantly calling me Joseph and ordering me to buy you a pretzel without any please or thank you.”
I pouted a bit. “Fine. I'm sorry. It's just.... ugh. I don't know. But I will not stop calling you Joseph. You irritate me all the time so I will irritate you back.”
“Ok. But just so you know, being mean to me doesn't exactly fit the 'Perfect' criteria.” He teased.
He may have just been joking, but I snapped. I hated that stupid word. “Well maybe I don't want to be Perfect Joe! Ever think about that?! Of course not. No one cares what I think or feel. I'm Perfect therefore I must be happy with myself. But I'm not, Joe. I'm not happy. And I don't know what to do about it.”
I stood up and threw away my pretzel without eating it and then I walked away. I just needed to get away from it all. I needed an escape from reality. Too bad that was impossible.
