A Secret Behind The Show- Chapter 2

Joe's P.O.V.

As we turned the corner the erratic crowd surrounding the door of the restaurant we were going to came into my view. These people are crazy! They are being held back by police officials JUST to see "The Brothers of 3" (our new publicity stunt… a new tabloid name) walk into the restaurant for dinner… granted we are meeting Jay Neverlish inside but still! I'm just being crabby. THIS is part of who we are now. Fame costs…

My mood is a tad sour tonight; perhaps it's because I know what's going to happen in just a matter of hours… more like one hour. I look down to check my watch and catch Nick and Kevin exchanging a look.

"What?" I ask, my mood apparent in my tone.

"What's with you dude?" Kevin asks me.

"What are you talking about?"

"You're all fidgety; you can't seem to sit still." Nick answers for him.

I just roll my eyes and glare out the window again. I know they are right. I can't sit still. I don't want to do this. UGH! I have to. I know that but I REALLY don't want to. This dinner isn't going to go well. I wonder if Kevin will talk most of the time for me… I have to stop thinking and chisel a smile onto my face as we step out of our ever-popular limo. We smile and wave just like always. I hope I look convincing, though I have all ideas that I don't.

Dinner is okay. This restaurant is a little too fancy for my tastes. Jay's questions are the usual… "How's the show? When is it being released? What's the best part of the "Burnin' Up" book?" Completely expected, he throws in a few "What are your favorite…" into the mix but to be honest I'm not really paying attention. In fact I was paying enough attention to miss him ask about each of our "love lives". I felt a pointy elbow, that I have now come to recognize as Nick's, jab my side. I look up startled.

"I'm sorry, what?" I ask putting on my best face.

"There are some, "Rumors" about you and a certain celebrity." Jay informs me. As if I don't know that!

"Oh really?" I decide to fake it.

"I'm going to ask you a yes or no question, Joe, can you answer that?" His voice is stern and I flash a glance at my brothers.

"I suppose I can, Jay." I retort using more sting than necessary; a bad habit of mine.

"Are you dating Miley?" He looks at me questionably as I wince reflexively.

"Yes. She is an amazing person and I am very lucky." The words are true, but the tone and expression I wear make them questionable to anyone but me. I change the subject quickly mentioning something about a new segment on his show. It's now safe to zone out again, and I do.

The same elbow jabs my side again, I look and stand up at the correct time making it unnoticeable that I was oblivious to the end of the dinner. Thank God it's over… almost. We shake hands inside the restaurant and say our goodbyes to the annoying host. I turn and head toward the door glancing at my watch. Damn! We're early.

"I'll be right back." I say as I head toward the bathroom. To my relief no one follows. I wait the allotted time and wash my hands, heading back out to the entrance. I fall into step behind my brothers. We step out and the camera flashes and squeals fill the air. We smile and wave, as before but stop to sign a few things. Just as I glance at my phone, it rings the familiar tone, though I can't hear it in this mess…

Incoming call… Smiley Miley

Miley's P.O.V.

I'm sitting with my knees to my chest on the soft, plush, body pillow in the window bay. The LG Shine Joe bought me is pressed against my ear with a shaky hand. God I hope he doesn't answer although I know he will… we planned this show after all. His voice along with a million other's flow out of the speaker.

"Hello Miley Baby" I shudder. He calls me that all the time, just now I don't want to hear it…

"There I called you." My voice is pouty self consciously.

"What are you talking about?" I can see his expression in my head… confused… but it's his acting face.

"You know damn well what I'm talking about!" I scream so hopefully someone standing too close to him can hear because I know he has it turned up loud.

"Miley calm Down!" He sounds angry… when did he get so good at acting? I expected this to be hard…

"AHHH! JOSPEH! YOU'RE ALWAYS DOING THAT! ALWAYS TELLING ME WHAT TO DO!" My voice breaks an easy three octives as I sqeak out the words. I know SOMEONE heard this because it is suddenly a little quieter. He fakes whispering but I know he isn't.

"Miley I don't have time for this."

"WHEN WILL YOU HAVE TIME THEN?" Tears form at the edge of my eyes… it's just acting… it's all fake… you planned this… why do I have to remind myself of that?

"Miley!"

"NO! JOE IT'S DONE. OVER!" I'm in full tears now. FAKE…. FAKE… NOT REAL! If it isn't real why did it seem realistic?

"FINE! ABSOLUTELY FINE BY ME! HAVE IT YOUR WAY. DONE." I hear a click and look to see that the call was ended. He must have slammed his phone shut. I do the same but slowly… what did we just do? If this doesn't work… I don't know what to do next.

The conversation replays in my head without my consent. Something is different… I'm not just watching mine and Joe's "break-up"; I'm watching another as well… one person is me… who is the other? My view is fuzzy and I shut my eyes to try to focus. Joe and the other guy look alike… related somehow… the words become more familiar… and similar…

This wasn't made up… It was MY idea… I decided what to say… It wasn't from my overactive imagination as I thought… It was a memory I had unconsciously hidden… Mine and Nick's breakup…

The memory pulls itself from the deepest corner of my mind… and the two fall into sync running through my head… I can't help but cry harder… I lean against the cool glass and let the tears fall…

But THIS is fake… THIS isn't real… THIS isn't the same… I mumble to myself. But it doesn't help the unreasonable tear flow.