So, to make up for the last chapter being too short, here is a new chapter that's not so short-sorry it's not as LONG as I thought it would be. Enjoy!
Chapter 16:
“Wow.” The building we’d just entered was HUGE. I hadn’t really been paying attention from the outside, what with having Rob dressed as a giant rabbit to distract me. But once we were inside, I was thoroughly impressed—at the size of the place, not necessarily the decorations. I still hated this ‘holiday’.
“Hey, you got any ear plugs?” I grinned, reached down into the front of my gown and pulled out a small package of ear plugs. Joe gave me this funny look and took a pair out of the bag. I took the bag back and took a pair out myself. We both inserted our earplugs. “Thanks.” I tucked the bag back in the top of my dress. “What else you got in there?”
“Joseph!!!” I smacked his arm and he grinned.
“Hey, Nisha, come here.” Nick rushed up to where Joe and I had been standing. He grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the other side of this humongous room. We ended up in front of two girls…one dressed as Jasmine from ‘Aladdin’ and the other dressed as Cinderella. “Nisha, this is Miley and Selena. Selena and Miley, this is Nisha, Joe’s girlfriend.” (Yeah, that’s right…Miley and Selena are hanging out…why? Because I choose to believe that they are much more mature than Paris and Nichole.)
“Ahh. All I ever hear from Nick anymore is how good they’re eating.” Selena said, extending her hand. Miley did the same, and I shook both their hands.
“Well, whenever I can drag them away from the TV…I swear, all they do is play video games.”
“And let me guess, Kevin is still the champ at Guitar Hero?” I laughed at Miley’s question. Of course no one had beaten Kevin. “I love your costume.”
“Me too.” Selena added with a smile. God, these girls were cute, but they made me feel so old. Granted, pretty much everything makes me feel old, but yeah.
“Well, almost everyone seems to like it. So I guess I made a good choice.”
“Who didn’t like it? Nick? You don’t like her costume?” Both girls turned and sent an accusatory look towards Nick.
“She looks fabulous.” Nick said defensively. “I told her so. Who doesn’t like it? Did Kevin say something???”
“No, not Kevin.” I said, regretting ever saying anything. “Hey, why don’t we all dance?”
“Joe? Was it Joe?” Nick looked at me in disbelief. I didn’t say anything. “Holy crap. My brother is an idiot!”
“No kidding. You look amazing. Your boyfriend is a loser for not telling you that.”
“Oh, guys its fine. I’m really ok with it.” I tried to reason with them. And of course, Joe chose that moment to join our group.
“Hey Miley and Selena. Is Demi here?”
“She’s coming later. Why are you being a jerk? Your girlfriend looks beautiful. Why haven’t you told her that?”
“Yeah, you could let her know she looks fantastic.”
“Seriously, bro, you’re an idiot.” Nick turned to me. “You up for dancing?” Crap. I looked back and forth between the two brothers. Nick had this devilish smile on his face, while Joe was looking thoroughly confused. Nick didn’t give me a chance to answer, taking my hand and practically dragging me to the center of the room.
“Nick, I have no idea how to dance.” I hissed. Ok, so that was a lie. I knew how to dance. Just nothing modern.
“Just follow my lead.” He twirled me around and we started dancing. I have no idea what song was playing, but we seemed to be doing some sort of swing-thing. “Nice, just like that.”
“Nick, this is not helping. Joe is just gonna get mad. Or madder than he already is at me.” I paused as he dipped me. “Why is he mad at me, by the way?”
“I have no idea. Maybe he’s jealous? I don’t know why he’d be jealous, though. You’re his girlfriend, and yeah, I’ve only known you a few months, but I don’t think you’d ever cheat on him.”
“Well, thanks.” I said, not really sure what was going on. The song changed to something slower, and he wrapped his arms around my waist. I had no idea what I was supposed to do.
“Put your arms around my neck.” Nick instructed. I did, and we fell into a simple step. “Yeah, Joe is jealous. God, why didn’t I see this before? All the looks he kept giving to every guy who would answer the door while we were trick-or-treating. I seriously thought we were going to have to have Rob step in a few times.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Every house we stopped at that a guy answered, Joe would just glare at them the whole time we were there. And now…”
“What now?!?!”
“He’s glaring at ME.” Nick smiled.
“You’re crazy, Nicholas.” I shook my head. As if on cue, Joe tapped on Nick’s shoulder.
“Go away, Nick.” Joe said. Nick winked at me and stepped back. Then Joe took Nick’s spot and began dancing with me. “What are you doing? You’re supposed to be MY girlfriend.”
“What? I’m not allowed to dance with my ‘boyfriend’s’ brother?” We continued dancing, but I glared at him anyway.
“Not like that.”
“Joe, what is going on with you tonight?”
“Me?” He sounded astonished.
“Yeah, you. You’ve been mad at me since before we even left the hotel. Everyone has been complimenting how I look, except for you. And while I am not fishing for a compliment, I would enjoy some appreciation for the fact that I did all this for YOU!”
“Nisha…” I stopped dancing and pushed myself away from him.
“No.” I walked away. I attempted to find an exit. It took me a few minutes, but I finally did, and I walked outside, refusing to let anyone see me upset.
“Nisha!” I heard Joe yell out as he exited right behind me. I yanked up my dress to my knees and kept walking down the lit walkway. I had no idea where I was headed, but I didn’t stop. Not until Joe grabbed my arm and spun me around to face him. “What is your problem?”
“My problem is you.” I accentuated each point with a poke to his chest. “You and your drive to participate in this STUPID holiday. You and your STUPID costume that disgraces who we are. You and your STUPID attitude tonight, how I have yet to do anything to please you. UGH.” He grabbed the hand I had been poking him with.
“I’m sorry.”
“And what was with Nick saying you were glaring at him? Why, just cause we were dancing?”
“I’m sorry about that too. I guess…I guess I’m just…I’ve never seen you look so beautiful. I guess it’s just got me a little crazy.” I sighed and gave him a small smile.
“You think I look beautiful?” He nodded and returned my smile. “Well, thank you. But that still doesn’t excuse you acting like a total jack as.s.”
“I really am sorry. Even for the costume. I guess I get it now. A few people have said my teeth look so real it creeps them out. I don’t want people to get creeped out by who I am now.”
“So, you understand finally?” He nodded. “It’s about time.” I nudged him with my free hand and he grinned.
“Can we go back in, now?”
“Sure."
"Maybe Demi is here now and I can introduce you too.”
“Demi…that girl from…”
“Yeah, ‘Camp Rock.’ Aren’t you glad I made you watch it now?”
“Um, to be honest, Joe” I smiled sheepishly. “I kinda fell asleep during the movie.”
“What?”
“Well, yeah. I don’t watch a lot of TV. Besides, it was in the middle of the day and the sunlight was hitting me through the bus window. So really, it’s not my fault.”
“Excuses, excuses." He shook his head with a smile, tucked my hand into the crook of his arm and led me back to the party.
