A/N: Hey everyone, I'm finally updating :) Not a super-long chapter, but at least it's something :) I'm going to try to update 'Sound of Truth' next (hopefully), so stay tuned for that! Also, if you want to know when I'll be updating or am writing, my Twitter username is 'worldofdemi'. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own CR..... *sigh*
I was still shaking, even though it was long ago that he'd left. I knew I shouldn't have let him bother me like that, but I couldn't help the instinctive emotion of fear when I saw him. After all these years... I shook my head slightly, my mind travelling back to a time long, long ago...
"Get over here, Mitch!" His voice was teasing, and I was well aware of the smirk on his face. Replying with a smile, I stepped to his side, surveying the small crowd. It might not be a Hollywood party, but it was special to me. He had thrown it specially for me, and because of that, there was that warm glow of satisfaction, plus those awful butterflies in my stomach. I smiled brightly, wrapping my arms around him as I pulled him into a tight hug.
"Thank you." I smiled softly, staring up into his brown eyes and watching his smile grow wider.
I forced myself to break off the memory, fully aware of what would happen if I began to dwell in the past. I couldn't let it happen again- I unwillingly remembered the years that had passed while I simply sat their, wasting my life wishing that things had been different. I wouldn't go back. Focus on something else, Mitchie.
Turning my attention to the three brothers, I noticed that both Nick and Joe were fast asleep. A small smile graced my lips as I watched the two brothers sleeping peacefully, the past day's events long forgotten while they slept. Only Kevin seemed to be unable to sleep, turning to glance at me when he noticed my eyes on him.
"Are you ok?" He asked quietly, being careful not to wake his brothers. I nodded, so sick of everyone asking me that but yet still being strangely comforted by the words. Maybe it was the fact that people had stopped asking me that a long time ago, or the fact that I hadn't really had that many people take an interest in me. I smiled back, noting that he was still watching me, concern in his expression. I dared to hope that maybe- just maybe- I had found a friend.
Friend. The word rang in my head, sounding numb on my tongue, and striking all the way down to my heart. Friend. I hardly dared to believe it, pushing my hope away, because I knew the moment you allowed people to affect you, they crushed you. They broke you- shattered you into a million little pieces that will never be found again.
'Everyone in your life is going to hurt you- you just have to decide who's worth the pain'.
I leaned my head back against the wall, trying to sleep. However, it seemed I wasn't going to be doing any such thing tonight. My stomach was growling and my body was aching- and my heart was hurting. Too many thoughts were swirling in my head, too many noises ringing in my ears. I glanced over towards the still forms of the Lucas Brothers, noting that even Kevin had eventually fallen asleep. Fighting back a groan, I attempted to get more comfortable against the cold stone wall, but it seemed impossible.
A hardly noticeable yawn caught my attention, my eyes flickering back towards the brothers. Joe was slowly getting up, glancing at his brothers in the process, before his gaze flickered around and landed on me, noticing I was still awake.
"Hey." He slowly eased out from his brothers, rising and coming over to the opposite wall, where I currently sat. He moved to sit beside me, but he noticed how I tensed slightly, and instead sat a few feet away. "Can't sleep?" He stated the obvious, and I nodded, a small sigh escaping from my lips. Why, why, why?
"Yeah." I responded, deciding to go ahead and be honest with him. I had no reason to distrust him- yet past experiences had taught me that trust must be earned, not given freely. However, my past behind, I was stuck in this small cell with the Lucas Brothers, and I had no proof that we weren't going to be here for a long, long time. It wouldn't be like him to just get things over with quickly.
"So..." Joe looked hesitant, glancing towards me, his eyes showing a glint of curiosity. "Do you want to tell me who that man is and why... well, everything?" It was sudden, but I expected that much. I glanced at his solemn expression, my chest tightening as I thought of what he was asking, and almost immediately I shook my head, dropping my head, slightly upset now. "Sorry, I shouldn't have asked-" Joe began, but I quickly shook my head.
"It's not you- it's me." I tried to keep my voice from cracking, but I couldn't help but cut myself off. "I let him do this- I've let him control my thoughts, my emotions. I let him ruin me." I sighed, realizing how I was starting to spill my soul out to a (somewhat) stranger, but I couldn't stop myself. All these years of holding everything inside- I hadn't realized how much I still remembered him. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be spilling this all on you." I replied hesitantly, glancing uncertainly at him.
"It's ok." Joe responded immediately, as if willing me to go on, but I leaned my head back against the wall, bring my walls back up around me. I couldn't leave myself unguarded for very long- I didn't know why, but I couldn't bring myself to let my guard down. Joe seemed to notice my crestfallen expression. "So.... did you seriously not recognize us?" He asked instead, and I almost laughed at how easily he changed the subject, sensing the tension.
"Honestly, I wasn't really paying attention that much. I had other things on my mind than worrying about who else had the poor misfortune of being stuck with me." Joe chuckled, shooting me a small smile.
"At least you're not a crazed fan... at first, we were terrified you were going to be. All the screaming.... ugh." He shuddered, and I couldn't help but smile at the picture. I'd seen JONAS fans... insane little creatures they were. I had always wondered how they could be so into just three people- three musicians who simply loved what they did.
"Yeah, don't worry... you're not Demi Lovato." I joked quietly, and watching as Joe gave a quiet laugh from beside me. It was then that I noticed that he was much closer than before- if I wanted to, I could simply extend my hand and touch him. Great, I'm pretty sure that makes me sound a little JONAS-obsessed. But I didn't mean it in that way, so 'whatevs', as most the kids say this day.
I felt my eyes closing involentarily, and I fought to keep them open, not wanting to sleep just yet while I was finally having a normal conversation with someone. I didn't want to let that go just yet- I didn't know when this would happen again. Joe noticed, however, and visibly moved closer until our shoulders were almost touching.
"Go ahead, go to sleep. We can talk more later." He insisted, and I smiled thankfully at him, asleep before I could even respond.