Chapter Three
*
Macy followed Stella into the large, warm house and looked around. After several hours of trying to jog her memory, she passed the checkups and was free to leave, her attitude into overdrive. She would get annoyed at the slightest thing and it sounded as if, the old Macy, the one she can't remember never used to be that way.
"Ring any bells?" Stella asked.
Macy sighed hopelessly and shook her head, "Nope, nothing".
"We've still got your room" Stella smiled hopefully.
Macy sighed and followed Stella upstairs into a quaint, cosy, modernized room. Nope, nothing was ringing any bells.
"What about—" Stella began.
"Nothing" Macy rubbed her head tiredly.
"Well, we've got plenty of time" Stella forced a stressed laugh. She found Macy's old bag from the floor and began opening her drawers to pack things.
"You keep your diary under your mattress" Stella said thoughtlessly, "See if that triggers anything".
"Wait" Macy frowned, "A diary, like something you write in?".
"Yes!" Stella cried, "Are you starting to remember?".
"Just little things" Macy sighed, "Like the TV remote and school homework but nothing major like, oh yeah, my life!" she fumbled under her bed and pulled out a black diary. She opened and began reading intently, frowning at some points and laughing at others.
"Macy?" Stella frowned, "Are you okay?".
Macy looked up, "How can you possibly be friends with me, Stella?".
"Huh?" Stella stopped packing, "What are you talking about, you're amazing".
Macy laughed sarcastically, "I'm a pathetic loser" she waved her diary in the air, "Apparently I'm stalking some guy called JONAS".
"That's a band" Stella replied, "They go to our school... It's actually the guys you're staying with".
Macy's face dropped, "Great".
"You weren't that bad, Mace" Stella smiled fondly, "You were totally lightning up before the..." she trailed off.
"Really?" Macy gaped, reading her diary again "Are you sure? Cause I got tons, apparently, I dressed my date up as a JONAS! And spent your money on a--" she looked at the diary again "--Joe-potato chip! Did I tell you about my JONAS mosaic or cardboard cut-outs?" she flipped through a couple more pages, "And apparently everytime I see them I either rip off their clothes, injure them with sporting equipment or scream and faint or all of the above!".
Stella laughed nervously.
"Every single page is filled with JONAS" Macy growled, "How is this supposed to help me remember?".
"It's who you were, it's everything to help you remember" Stella replied seriously.
"Who I was sucks, Stella" Macy cried, "I was a stalker, a loon, I was so wrapped up in JONAS that I forgot my own parents anniversary" she began flipping through more pages, gaping more and more as she went on, "Oh my god! I own a JONAS No. 1 Super Fan top and have a website about them!".
"That is some of your best work" Stella nodded, going over to pack Macy's make-up.
"No" Macy shook her head, "That is not normal, I'm not normal! Why is every page about JONAS?!".
"You really loved them" Stella mumbled from Macy's closet.
Macy jumped up, looking around, "Where do I keep the plastic bags?".
"Here" Stella pulled one out from the closet and handed it to Macy, "What are you gonnah...".
Macy opened the plastic bag and shoved her diary inside then going around her room, she began stuffing everything JONAS inside.
"What are you doing?!" Stella cried.
"What does it look like?" Macy snapped, "I can't even look at them anymore with feeling like a loser and I can't even remember it!".
"Macy, trust me, listen to them, you'll love them again in seconds" Stella smiled innocently.
"No!" Macy cried, "I don't wanna love them, if a mad stalker is what I become! No thanks" she snapped again, going back to dumping everything JONAS in the plastic bag.
"I have too much stuff!" Macy tied the plastic bag and tossed it in the nearest bin.
"Your memory's getting better" Stella smiled.
"Yeah" Macy smiled back, "It must be when I get angry" she turned back to the room, tearing down the JONAS posters.
"I'll get rid of anything JONAS tomorrow, I promise" Stella stopped her, she handed Macy the bag, "Come on, let's go".
Macy took one last look at her half JONAS free room and sighed.
*
"I'm surprised mom said you should set up the spare bed and stand up here" Kevin laughed, handing Nick the matching pillow and cover set to make the bed.
Nick nodded, "Well the doctor said she shouldn't be left alone, anything could still happen so where there's people, there's safety".
"It's so weird not seeing Macy fall all over us" Joe commented, opening a packet of crisps.
"It's a nice change" Nick smiled knowingly.
"Is someone smitten?" Joe frowned, walking towards Nick.
"Again?" Kevin sighed, "Are you kidding me? Nick, seriously, get your hormones under control—".
"I do not like Macy" Nick growled, "I just like not being attacked, okay?".
"To try and jog Macy's memory, we're having a pyjama sleepover like we used to" Joe interrupted them.
"Yeah" Nick smirked, "So guess what that means? Stella staying overnight".
"Uh huh" Joe muttered nervously, "So?".
"Oh look Kev, I think he's lovesick, what do you think?" Nick folded his arms.
"Oh yeah" Kevin smirked back, "I think he's burning up for Stella".
"Shut up" Joe growled, walking over to his bed, "Where is she sleeping?".
"The couch" Nick pointed to the large red couch, yards away from Joe's bed.
Joe gulped.
"Something wrong, Joe?" Nick asked innocently.
"No" Joe glared at him, "Nothing".
Kevin laughed and went to pick up the phone, "Pizza or Chinese?" he asked the room, "I'm gonnah order take out".
"Yeah, don't wait for us, guys" Stella emerged from the stairs, a quiet and pale-faced Macy behind her, carrying a bag.
Macy sighed; she really wished she didn't have to be here. Knowing how she had acted around them before made her want to never look at them again. She couldn't remember much, actually anything, but she knew she could never go back to acting that like. Nothing seemed to trigger anything, but if she was anything like her diary, she decided she probably wouldn't want to know anyhow.
"Aw cute pyjamas Joe" Stella smirked at Joe's blue teddy bear pj's.
"Well, you would know" Joe gritted his teeth, "It's the only pyjamas that stupid machine would give me!".
Stella laughed innocently, "Oh, I wonder how that happened... And you wouldn't have to use 'that stupid machine' if you just did your laundry like everyone else!".
"Oh yeah" Joe deadpanned, "A teenage boy who refuses to do his laundry... Wow, yeah, I'm definitely weird".
"Pizza or Chinese?!" Kevin interrupted him, "Come on people, I'm hungry!".
"Pizza!" Nick cried in the heat of the moment.
"Thank you!" Kevin muttered, walking off with the phone.
"So Stella" Joe mumbled, "You know that problem with the bathroom sink, you said you'd help me with?" he narrowed his eyes.
Stella frowned until she got his eyes and nodded, "Oh yeah, that... Yes, is that still playing up?".
"Yeah" Joe said as he and Stella walked towards the bathroom, closing the door behind them.
Macy glanced up at Nick wearily and inwardly sighed.
"So I set your bed up" Nick gestured over to the pull bed he had made earlier.
"Thanks" Macy quietly, putting her bag on the bag, still feeling like a fish out of water.
"So you really can't remember anything?" Nick stepped closer towards her.
"Yeah" Macy nodded, "I mean, like, little things are coming back to me, like I understand words and language and until 15 minutes ago, I couldn't remember what you do in a bed—"she grimaced at her own words, "—But things like who I am, who my friends are, what my parents look like, it's all gone".
"Right" Nick inched closer towards her again, "I wouldn't worry, I'm sure you'll remember soon... I mean, you're our No. 1 fan" he laughed.
"Please don't call me that" Macy winced, backing away from him.
"I'm sorry" Nick watched her reaction, "I just meant—".
"I know what you meant" Macy caught him off, "I'm a raving crazed loon, I get it".
"No!" Nick cried, "I didn't mean that at all, it's just, I thought if I reminded you of something you really cared about, it might help your memory".
"Honestly" Macy began, "Even if I get my memory back, there's no way I can ever go back to acting the way I did".
"Stella told you?" Nick asked.
"No, I read my diary" Macy replied, "I'm surprised you even let me be near you considering every five minutes I'm attacking you with my baseball bat".
Nick smiled sincerely, "Honestly, you were getting better before the...".
"You don't all have to avoid the words" Macy sighed, "I got hit by lightning and died on the operating table, no big deal".
Nick smiled at her again and then glanced to the bathroom door, "What exactly do you think they're doing in there?".
Macy shrugged; opened her bag and pulled out grey joggies that Stella packed for her.
"These are good, right?" Macy frowned, "I can't seem to find a pyjama top..." she rummaged some more.
"I got just the thing" Nick took Macy's hand and pulled her towards his bed.
*
"Joe, you're being ridiculous" Stella hissed, pressing her ear up against the door next to him, "So what if Nick likes Macy?".
Joe rolled his eyes, "You don't know him like a brother, Stella, I'm telling you, he had that smitten-falling-too-hard-and-fast-look all over his face, again".
"So even if he did" Stella began, "She's not the same Macy, she doesn't even like JONAS anymore".
"What?!" Joe gasped.
Stella nodded, "She totally freaked out and started trashing all her JONAS stuff".
Joe placed his hand over his heart, "What a sad, sad, day this is".
"It'll totally work out" Stella reassured him, "Once Macy gets her memory back, she'll love JONAS again, and we'll all live happily ever after".
"Shh" Joe pressed his ear back up to the door.
"Where's my pyjamas I leave here?" Stella mumbled, looking around the large bathroom.
"In my drawer" Joe replied, frowning.
Stella reached towards Joe's drawer and found her pink pyjamas tucked neatly inside. "There's my old toothbrush, I thought I lost this!" she smiled, pulling that out also.
Stella stood back up with her pyjamas and looked to Joe.
"What?" he frowned.
"Joe, I need to get changed" Stella smiled.
"Go right ahead I won't look" Joe turned back around.
"Joe, we did that when we were kids" Stella smirked, "We're not kids anymore and you're not staying in this room".
Joe smirked back, "What's wrong, Stella? Scared?".
"What?" Stella frowned, folding her arms, "Of course I'm not scared, why would I be scared?".
"I don't know" Joe laughed, "You're the one getting all flustered... It's fine, I'll leave you alone to change—" he reached for the handle but Stella stopped him.
"No! I'm not scared and I'll prove it" she said angrily.
Joe went to by stand by the sink, his back turned to her. He grinned; it was funny winding her up.
Stella tied her hair up with a bobble and slowly began unbuttoning her shirt. She smirked, catching Joe's sudden tension, listening to her zipper going down and then the buttons.
"So what if Nick was to like Macy?" Stella started, genuinely confused, "I think they'd be so cute together".
"You know how intense Nick is when he 'falls in love'..." Joe began, "He falls too hard, too fast, he breaks his own heart and then we've got to deal with it... And besides, having a girlfriend isn't what the band needs right now".
Stella's face fell as her top fell to the floor, "What?" she asked, angry, "You'd put the band's image before your own feelings or your brothers?" forgetting she was shirtless, Stella folded her arms and shook her head, "I don't believe you".
"Stella, it's not like that—" Joe spun around, coming face to face with a semi-naked Stella.
Stella gasped as Joe's jaw dropped.
"Sorry" he spun back around, "I really didn't mean that".
Stella grabbed her pyjama tank-top and flung it on, quickly undoing her jeans again. She yanked her jeans off and shoved her loose joggies on.
"Can I turn around now?" Joe winced.
"Yeah" Stella nodded, picking up her clothes.
"Wow, that's... tight" Joe muttered, staring at Stella's tight tank top.
Stella secretly smirked and went for the door but Joe's warm hands wrapped around hers and his body pushed her back into the door.
"I'm not heartless, Stella" Joe began, "What I meant was, if any of us were found out to have a girlfriend, that girl would be ruined, she would be stalked, attacked, harassed, she'd never have a normal life again".
Stella bit her lip, loving the close feel of his body on hers, "What if it didn't have to be like that? What if it was secret?".
Joe frowned. Were they still talking about Nick and Macy?
"Come on" he whispered forcefully, "This is JONAS, nothing is secret is our lives, the reporters just stopped hiding in the plants at school but that doesn't mean that they don't try get hired as teachers to spy on us".
Stella nodded slowly, "...Okay".
Joe's voice pained up and he whispered in her ear, "You have no idea how much I wish I could change that" he drew back from Stella and let her open the door.
Slowly, they both emerged from the bathroom, looking up to see Macy and Nick at the piano. Stella cocked an eyebrow up and looked at Macy. She was wearing her grey joggies and a baggy pyjama t-shirt that belonged to Nick.
"Well, well, well" Joe folded his arms, "Isn't that funny how Macy's suddenly in her pyjamas?".
Nick smirked, "Yeah she changed in the second bathroom" he pointed to the one on the right, "As compared to you two" he smirked wider, "Stella was wearing clothes when you two went in like 5 hours ago and now she's wearing pyjamas".
"I didn't look!" Joe defended himself.
"Yeah, much" Stella rolled her eyes, walking over to Macy, "So, whatcha doing?".
"I was just teaching Macy the piano" Nick replied.
"It's not as easy as it looks" Macy offered.
"I've got Pizza!" Kevin bounded up the stairs, carrying four boxes of pizza.
"Finally dude" Joe sighed, "I am starving".
"I already pre-booked the movie" Stella pointed the TV remote at the large screen. She sat down on a chair, Joe flopping down on the arm-rest and nudging into her, which she returned with a nudge back.
"I got the lights" Kevin flopped down on another chair, pressing another remote. The lights went out and left them in total darkness.
This left Nick and Macy with the small sofa and they both sat down gingerly, squashed together.
"What movie is this?" Kevin asked as he handed out the pizza boxes.
"A horror" Stella said boredly.
"What?!" Kevin jumped up, "You know I hate horrors!".
"Dude, it's not real" Joe shook his head, "Look, everytime you get scared just try imagine the cameraman, the crew and everything and you'll feel tons better".
Kevin nodded slowly and turned back to the screen.
"Macy?" Nick offered her some pizza.
Macy took a slice and then hesitated, "I wanna put this in my mouth".
"And chew" Nick added, smiling at her.
"Stella, stop hogging the chair" Joe moaned, slipping down further into the chair.
"I sat here first" Stella protested.
Joe wrapped his arms around her waist and easily lifted her up, sliding fully into the chair. He then put Stella into his lap and smiled.
"Problem sorted" Joe grinned.
"You just took up the whole chair, Joe" Stella glared.
"You wanna sit over there?" he pointed to the last wooden chair.
"I'm good here" Stella forced a smile. Secretly, she knew she loved the closeness with Joe and she was sure he liked it too.
The credits on the screen began to roll as everyone quietened down and began watching the movie. 15 minutes into, predictably, Kevin had fallen asleep and Stella and Joe were quietly arguing about the movie's uncanny resemble to Scream.
"Are they together?" Macy leaned in to Nick's ear whispering.
"They should be" Nick grinned back, "They just don't know how to admit they like each other".
Macy frowned harder, "Why is everyone dying in this movie?".
"It's a horror" Nick replied, "It's designed for shameless scaring and stupid storylines".
"I see" Macy said even though he was sure she didn't. Yawning, she rubbed her eyes, trying to keep them open.
"Maybe you should go to bed, Mace" Nick looked at her, "You could do with the sleep".
"No, I'm happy here" Macy smiled, turning to the screen, "I'd rather watch some masked man slaughter random innocent people".
Nick chuckled and turned back to the screen.
It was less than five minutes later that he found she had fallen asleep on his shoulder.
A/N: heeeeey peeps! okay i cannot express the emmense happiness im experiencing right now! just got my own personal laptop back after a year of Norton and other things screwing it up! but nevermind, it's finally back:D oh and thank you to everyone who reviewed and pointed out for some weird reason I replaced chapter one with chapter two but then again that's what you get when you write on your blackberry and use that instead of a computer to upload! whooosh. anyway, your views are totally respected (except flames; don't dare ruin my mood or I will find you)...
ciao.