OMG...Katie, I am the SAME FRICKIN WAY about having that balance on each side of the body.
And I am on my way over to read Chapter 8 and If I Fell...
But here, before I go, is
Chapter 22
“Da.mn it!” Joe yelled into his cell phone. He was pacing in front of me, as I was sitting on the couch with Frankie. We’d finished making cookies hours before, and Nisha STILL had not come back. It was getting dark, and we were all getting worried. Kevin had volunteered to go looking for her, only he’d been discovered by some crazy fans who had stalked him around town. Now, finally safe at home, Kevin was showering, and probably mourning over the jacket he’d lost in the scuffle.
“Joe…” I started, but he glared at me.
“This is all your fault.”
“Hold up now.” I knew he was angry, and I understood that. But he had no right, blaming me. “Nisha’s a big girl. Last time I checked, she didn’t need permission…mine OR yours to leave the house.”
“Still…”
“No ‘still.’ How was I to know she’d be gone this long? How was I to have stopped her from going, anyway??? Seeing as how I’m hu…” I felt Frankie shift in his seat next to me and I caught myself. He didn’t know, and there was no way he could ever find out. Not that we don’t love him to pieces, but he’s kinda got a big mouth…bigger than Joe’s, no matter how hard THAT is to believe.
“Fine. I get it. I’m just worried.” At that moment, the front door swung open and Nisha and Zee (lookie there, Katie was RIGHT) walked into the house.
“Worried about what?” Nisha asked. I felt unable to move, unable to breathe. Zee seemed to be even more beautiful now than she had been a week ago.
“You! Where the HELL have you been?” Joe didn’t seem to have my problem.
“I went to get Zee. Now, Frankie, Joe, I expect you two to follow me upstairs where we will watch a movie.” Not really surprisingly, both of my brothers followed Nisha upstairs.
“Zee…”
“Before you speak, Nick, I need to get a few things off my chest. I don’t think I should be here. For one, I broke up with you. Two, I’m…”
“Stop. Right there, just shut up.” I stood up.
“What?”
“I said shut up. I love you, and I know you love me. I know you broke up with me because of some secret you’re afraid to tell me. But I don’t care. Keep your secrets. Just, don’t leave me.” I said all this as I approached her. I didn’t give her time to answer, I just pulled her to me and kissed her with every ounce of energy I had.
“I do love you, Nick.” She sighed and I hugged her to me. “Wh—what happened to your arm?”
“Joe happened to my arm.” I explained simply. “Are we ok now?”
“I—I can’t stay here tonight.” She didn’t answer my question, but her statement confused me so that I didn’t notice she hadn’t. I was about to question her about it, when Elvis bounded into the room. He stopped short of Zee and I, and he immediately howled.
“Elvis!” I scolded, but he wouldn’t stop. He just kept howling. Finally, Zee stepped over to him and he stopped, and at the same moment rolled onto his back and whimpered. “Oh, my gosh, I don’t know what’s wrong with him. Usually he’s really cool about meeting new people.” Zee looked up at me, startled.
“I gotta go.” She booked it out of the house, and I was left with a whiny dog and a whole lot of questions.
