X-X-X-X-X ::: Chapter 6: I Can't Believe I'm Related to You
Valentine's Day was the last day for a long time that Joe and Liv were able to hang out. Joe felt bad for Liv - her mom's work was really overflowing, and Tyler needed her almost every night, either to read out loud to (the teacher assigned a certain amount of time a week that had to be spent reading aloud to a family member), or to learn his addition and subtraction. And yet, despite all this, she had to go to volleyball all the time, as well as begin studying for her AP's - not to mention the mounting homework assigned for the classes. Every time they talked to each other, she seemed more strained, more stressed, and stretched thinner. But she would always make a point to ask about him - how Nick and Kevin were doing, how the new record was coming, if Miley had gotten so angry that she had punched him across the face yet. Joe did his best not to worry about her, but she always seemed to be overwhelmed.
"Hello?" Linda had answered the phone one day.
"Hi, is Olivia there?" he had asked. She sighed.
"She is, Joe, but she's really got a lot going right now, honey. I'll tell her you called her, though." she said. Joe's heart sank.
"Ok, thanks Ms. Haddocks." Joe said softly. They exchanged goodbyes and hung up. He missed Liv, but he knew how stressed she had to be - after all, how run down were the Jonas Brothers at the end of a tour? So he left her alone and waited for her to make it to Spring Break, which she assured him would mean the end of her busy-ness, for a week at least. Needless to say, he was rather excited when his caller ID showed her calling one Friday evening.
"Hello?" he answered.
"Hey!" she said, but her voice was soft, less energetic than usual. "How are you?"
"I'm fine," Joe said hurridly. "What about you? You ok?"
She laughed softly. "Yea, finally done. Oh, sorry about the whispering, I lost my voice yesterday." she said.
"It's all good." Joe said, finding himself talking in the same hushed tones. "So what's up?"
"I just wanted to see if you wanted to hang out tonight - watch a movie at mine or something." she said.
"Are you sure? You sound pretty tired." Joe said hesitantly.
"Yea, I want to sleep - but I want to see you more. How 'bout it?" she asked. Joe smiled.
"Sure. When do you want me over?"
"Well it's what, 7:30 now?" she asked rhetorically. "I'd say just come when you can."
"Alright cool, be over in a jiffy." Joe said, excited.
"Excellent! See you in a bit." she replied. They exchanged goodbyes, and Joe set to work.
"Keviiiiiiiiiinnnn," he whined. "Please please please please please please-"
"Dude, you only had to ask once." Kevin interrupted.
"Really?" Joe asked, a little surprised.
"What can I say, I'm feeling generous today." Kevin replied. "Now hurry up before the feeling fades."
"But, I have to put in my contacts, and straiten my hair, and change out of this tshirt, and-"
"You really think she'll care?" Kevin interrupted again. "Come on, I need to pick Nick up when I drop you off."
"He was with the wife this whole time? I was wondering where that little stud muffin had gone..." Joe said, suddenly looking as if he was deep in thought again. Kevin rolled his eyes.
"Let's go!" he said, pushing Joe in the general direction of the garage. They grabbed their jackets, heading out to the car. Five minutes later, Joe was walking up the driveway as Kevin coasted to the next house over to try and pry Nick away from Miley. He told Joe to just call when he was ready to come home.
Joe walked up to the door and rang the doorbell, waiting patiently (or as patiently as Joe ever waits) for anyone to come to the door. Moments later, the door opened, revealing Liv in yet another long sleeved tshirt and plaid boxers.
"Hey! Glasses buddy!" she greeted, her voice cracking in the middle of the statement. Black frames adorned her face as well.
"How are you?" Joe asked, smiling brightly and wrapping his arms around her. She returned the embrace, leaning into him and laying her head against his.
"Tired." she said softly. "But I'm really glad you're here."
Joe enjoyed the tender moment - he wondered how he could miss someone so much when he'd only known her for a few months. The moment, however, was soon interrupted.
"OLIVIA! ELVIS ATE MY SAMMICH!" came the distinct screaming of a hungry five year old. Liv sighed, pulling away from Joe.
"Probably should go take care of that." she said with a half smile.
"I'll help you!" Joe replied enthusiastically, following her into the kitchen and dining area. There was Tyler, still sitting at the table; a guilty-looking Elvis was there with him.
"Hi, Joe!" Tyler said. A Spiderman coloring was open in front of him, and crayons were scattered over the table. Liv moved into the kitchen, getting things out to make him another sandwich.
"Hey little buddy. What's going on?" Joe asked, kind of happy that Tyler seemed to like him at least a little bit.
"Elvis ate my sammich." he huffed. "I was coloring, and the black crayon was on the other side of the table, so I had to push my plate over so that I wouldn't get sammich on me, and he gobbled it right up!"
"Well goodness!" Joe said, quite unsure how to respond to the story.
"Yea, but it's okay, cause Olivia's gonna make me another one." he explained, carefully coloring Mary Jane's (1) hair purple.
"You want anything while I'm in here?" Liv called from the kitchen.
"Nah, I'm good to go." Joe said, not wanting her to have to do any more.
"Joe, you wanna color with me?" Tyler asked innocently, not even looking up from the book. Joe stopped and thought for a second, not exactly sure how to turn down a five year old.
"Joe's not gonna color today, sweetie." Liv said, bringing him the second sandwich. "He came to see me."
"Maybe another time." Joe added, not wanting to hurt Tyler's feelings. Tyler, however, seemed unfazed by the rejection.
"Ok!" he said, biting into his meal. Elvis licked his lips and stared at the sandwich as it went from plate, to mouth, and back to plate.
"Ok bud, I'm going to put Elvis out for the night. When you're done, brush your teeth and come get me to tuck you in." she said, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge for herself and tossing one to Joe. She quickly let the dog out the kitchen door before beckoning Joe to follow her upstairs.
"Sorry about all that." she said, leading him into a separate room filled with CD's, vinyl records, stacks upon stacks of DVD's, and a TV. "Mom had to go to Phoenix for a business trip all of the sudden yesterday and won't be back until late tonight, so I'm taking care of the little one."
"It's all good," Joe said, running his fingers over the dozens of album titles. "Where did all these vinyls come from?"
"Those? They're my dad's old records from the sixties and seventies." she explained. "He loved that music, and even though my mom hates it, she hasn't had the heart to sell them or throw them out or anything."
"There's some really old stuff in here." he said, pulling out a copy of "Please Please Me" by the Beatles (2).
Liv laughed. "He was kind of stuck in the past - but it was almost cool. I grew up listening to all those with him in the car on the way to games and tournaments and such." she explained, going and opening up the DVD organizer. "What should we watch?"
"Oh gosh, like I could choose?" Joe asked incredulously. "You've got roughly five billion of them."
"Well it shouldn't be that difficult." Liv said, her voice cracking again. "Just go for the first thing you find that you know is good."
"What if it's the first movie of the pile?" he asked.
"Then we can watch that one." Liv replied, smiling at him. "But are you sure you want to watch 'A Walk to Remember'?"
"Honestly, don't even know what that one is." Joe said, looking all over the cover of the DVD.
"Well, what's your favorite movie then?" she asked.
Joe thought for a moment. "Finding Neverland. Or Transformers." he answered.
"We've got both," Liv said, finding the movies. "So pick."
"You pick." he said, smiling at her. She rolled her eyes, laughing at him.
"I don't care, as long as I'm watching it with you." she said, looking pointedly at him. Before Joe could respond, a miniature body appeared in the doorway.
"Olivia, I'm ready for bed now." Tyler said, interrupting the playful banter.
"Alright, kiddo. Let's get you tucked in." she said to him. "I'll be right back." she added to Joe.
"Can Joe tuck me in too?" Tyler asked, looking up at his older sister. Liv looked to Joe, ready to say no in a politically correct way again.
"Sure!" Joe said, walking over to them. "Lead the way."
Tyler took of running down the hall, leaving nothing behind him save his dust and the vision of Spiderman pajamas. When Liv and Joe made it to his room, he had burrowed himself in the covers, trying to hide.
"Wow, I wonder where Tyler is!" Joe said in a loud voice.
"Yea, he isn't here, that's for sure!" Liv said, going along with it, her lost voice sounding funny as she tried to speak loudly.
"I guess I'll just have to sit here on this bed until he comes out." he continued, moving to the bed. Tyler popped out from underneath the covers.
"Here I am!" he yelled.
"Oh my goodness!" Joe said, clutching his heart.
"He was right there this whole time!" Liv added; Tyler was giggling. "Alright, come on kid, time to go to sleep." she said as the little boy flipped around and got under his covers. Joe tucked the covers in all around him, securing him in a blanket tortilla in the same way he did with Frankie when no one was looking.
"Ah, I can't move!" Tyler complained, squirming around.
"That's the point." Joe said, admiring his work. He should open a burrito shop!
"Goodnight, brother." Liv said, laughing and giving Tyler a kiss on the forehead.
"Goodnight, sister." Tyler said, the sleepiness starting to settle in. "'Night, Joe."
"'Night, little buddy." Joe said as the little boy curled into his bed to go to sleep. Liv silently lead him out of the room and back to the movie room.
"Do you take care of him a lot?" Joe asked while Liv turned on the TV and DVD player.
"Yea, kind of. But I mean, my mom has to work a lot - she's putting one kid through college and is about to put another one in, and that's really tough when she's by herself." Liv explained, ending the statement with a huge yawn, which made Joe yawn as well.
"Stop making me yawn." Joe said, lightly flicking her arm. Liv waved it off, having no comeback. He collapsed on the couch in front of the TV, suddenly very relaxed. She put Finding Neverland in before dropping down next to him.
"Hm, I've missed you." She murmured as he wrapped one arm around her. "I don't have to be all grown up around you." she continued, laughing softly.
"I missed you too. I think Kevin did too - he said the other day that I was going to drive him insane one of these days." Joe replied, his voice also soft. They were silent for a moment as the menu screen appeared, soft music playing.
"Will you sing for me?" Liv asked randomly.
"Sing for you?" Joe asked. "Right now?"
"Yes." she said, looking up at him with her big blue eyes.
"Well, what do you want me to sing?" he asked. Goodness he was a sucker for this girl.
"Whatever you want." she replied, muting the TV and nestling into his arm. Joe thought for a moment.
"They come and go, but they don't know that you are my beautiful..." he sang softly. "I try to come closer with you, but they all say we won't make it through. But I'll be there forever, you will see that it's better. All our hopes and our dreams will come true. I will not disappoint you, I will be right there for you till the end, the end of time...please be mine. (3)" he sang. He went a few more lines before he was good to go.
"That's a good song." Liv said in a tone where Joe could tell she was smiling. "Who sings it?"
"This really awesome band called the Jonas Brothers." Joe answered cheekily. Liv smirked.
"They sound amazing." she said, planting a kiss on his cheek in thanks before settling back on his shoulder. And then resettling. And then shifting again, trying to get comfortable.
"Do you want to lay down here?" Joe asked, patting his thigh. Liv looked at him with one eyebrow perked. "I've got no ulterior motives." he laughed, holding up his hands as an expression of innocence.
"You sure?" she asked skeptically. He laughed again, reaching past her to grab a pillow from the other end of the couch.
"Here, we'll even put down a pillow for you." he said, placing the pillow on his lap. She gave a half-smile, kissed his cheek again, and laid down. He started the movie, playing with her soft, blonde hair as the movie score began.
"Hmm, that feels nice." she hummed in approval as the opening credits rolled across the screen. Liv fell asleep ten minutes into the movie, but Joe didn't notice. Fifteen minutes later, he was out as well. When Linda wandered in at about 2:30 that morning, she didn't notice the extra body in the room, figuring Olivia had just fallen asleep in front of the television again. At 7:45, it all fell apart as Joe's cell phone vibrated in the pocket farthest from Liv's head. Joe glanced around his surroundings, realizing that he was still at Liv's. Uh oh. And the last person he wanted to talk to at this (awkward) moment in time was calling - mama Jonas.
"Joseph Jonas!" she screamed into his ear. "Where on earth are you?!"
"I'm still at Olivia's, mom." Joe whispered.
"Why are you whispering?!" she demanded.
"Cause I don't want to wake Liv up." he whispered. It must have been the wrong answer, because Mrs. Jonas swore loudly.
"Joseph are you having sex with her?!" she yelled shrilly. Joe didn't get the chance to answer as she continued. "Joseph I thought we raised you better than that!"
"Mom-" he tried interrupting.
"We thought you would know to value your body, Joseph!"
"Mom-" he tried again, but to no avail.
"Now I don't even know what to think-"
"MOM!" he finally caught her attention. "I'm not having sex with Olivia."
"You're not?" she asked meekly.
"No." Joe said definitely. "We just both fell asleep watching a movie is all."
"Oh." Mrs. Jonas said. "Well dear, I'm sorry I assumed the worst. Do you know how hard it is to be a mother to four boys?!"
"Mom?"
"Yes dear?"
"Not really the time to go back into that."
"Oh. Well, Kevin is walking out the door right now to come and get you." she said.
"Ok, mom." Joe responded as Liv started to stir.
"And Joseph?"
"Yes, mommy?"
"Don't think that you won't be receiving some punishment, even if you aren't having sex."
"I know, mommy."
"Well as long as we're clear on that. See you at home in a bit, dear." she said. They exchanged goodbyes, and Joe hung up just as Liv woke up.
"What time is it?" she asked throatily, her voice even more lost that the day before.
"7:45." Joe answered. She groaned.
"It's too early, and I sound like a man..." she then realized that Joe was still in her house, and it was the next morning. "Oh gosh, did I fall asleep on you? You should've woken me up to go home-" she started freaking out.
"Chillax, mama frito." Joe said. "My mom isn't too angry, and I fell asleep too. So it's all good."
She sat up, running a hand through her messy blonde hair (which, Joe had to admit, was a little sexy) and stretching. "Well then," she said. "I'm hungry. Do you want some breakfast before you go?"
A distinct sound of a car horn honking was heard before Joe could respond. He grimaced. "Actually, that's my ride." he said apologetically.
"Oh. Well, I guess I'll walk you out then." she said, getting up from the couch and stretching again. Joe tried to follow her lead, but collapsed on the ground suddenly.
"Ah! Dead leg!" he cried, clutching the leg Olivia had been resting her head on. She busted out laughing, leaning on the arm of the couch for support. After a couple minutes though, she was reduced to a fit of coughing - which Joe laughed at. Their fun was soon interrupted as Kevin honked again.
"Alright, time to go." Liv said, helping Joe to his feet. She led him to the door, earning a pointed look from her mother and an enthusiastic wave from Tyler, who was once again elbow deep in crayons. After a chaste kiss and a wave to Kevin, the two were left until another day. And another adventure.
This "other adventure" did not take long to appear. A few days after their little slumber party, Liv called Joe, sounding distressed.
"I apologize in advance for this." she said, making Joe a little nervous.
"What's up?" he asked slowly.
"Well, my older brother and his best friend Molly are in town, and he kind of...wants to meet you." she said. He breathed a small sigh of relief.
"Wait, why would you apologize for that?" he asked skeptically. She paused.
"Well...ok, he kind of demanded to meet you." she said.
"Um...should I be afraid?" he asked. Liv was quiet for a moment, and he could tell that she was biting her lip in thought.
"Well, Molly usually keeps him in check, so I think you'll be ok." she said, not sounding completely sure.
"Alright, I'll be over in a little bit. Kevin's out, so I've gotta walk."
"That's ok, maybe in that time I can tie him up or something." she said. Joe laughed, and they said goodbye. Joe ran up to the bathroom, practically throwing his contacts and grabbing the straitener. Yes, it was still warm from Kevin! Excellent!
A half an hour later, Joe found himself standing at the Haddocks' front door, a little afraid of what was on the other side. He told himself to man up, though, and pressed the doorbell. There was a sound of scuffling on the other side of the door, and a cry of "Chris! Quit it!" before the door was opened and Joe was met with...a chest. Joe moved his head upwards, realizing that there was a neck and a head attached to the chest, as well as huge arms that looked like they could twist him into a pretzel without breaking a sweat. Chris was by far the most massive person Joe had ever seen besides Big Rob; he gulped, audibly.
"You must be Joe." Chris said, his dark eyes moving all over Joe. Joe spotted Liv trying to get around to see him.
"Chris, move!" she said exasperatedly, seeing as Chris was taking up practically the whole doorway. "Molly! Chris won't let him in!"
"Chris, let him in!" came a feminine voice from where Joe guessed was the kitchen. "Chris" rolled his eyes and stepped aside, allowing Joe to squeeze into the house and stand next to Liv, eyeing the massive man standing in front of him. He was probably around 6'2", with dark hair and eyes, tan skin, and more muscles than a beach. Joe gulped again as he continued to stare, sizing him up.
"Ok, he's in the house. Should we maybe move to the kitchen?" Liv suggested. Chris gave a single, slow nod and allowed Joe and Liv to go before him. In the kitchen, Joe met Molly - a petite woman with strait, auburn hair and friendly brown eyes. Needless to say, Joe was much more inclined to talk to her than the huge chunk of man that was Olivia's older brother. Liv took his hand in hers encouragingly.
"He's normally not like this, I promise." she whispered as they sat down. "He's just a little...protective."
"I sensed a bit of a protective feel, yes." Joe whispered back, a little alarmed as she rested their joined hands on the table.
"Alright," she said to Chris, who was staring from the other side of the table. "can you get whatever you're going to do over with and act like a normal person again? You're stressing me out on my vacation."
"I've just got a few questions, that's all." he said, his eyes never leaving Joe, who stared back (although not near as confidently).
"Go for it." Joe said, sounding a lot calmer than he really felt. Who knew meeting a family member could be so nerve racking?
"Where did you meet my sister?" he asked. Joe sighed inwardly; easy questions first.
"Starbuck's." he said. Whoo! One for one!
Chris' eyes narrowed. "Were you trying to pick her up?"
"He means with a pick up line." Molly clarified after seeing Joe's confused face.
"Oh! No." he said. Woop! Two for two! This wouldn't be so bad.
"Ok, I'm going to skip to the hardest question." he said. "Have you slept with my sister?"
The world seem to stop turning for a moment. Molly clutched the bridge of her nose with her fingers, closing her eyes, and Liv's mouth dropped open.
"Literally or figuratively?" Joe asked. Evidentally, this did not help the situation much. Chris looked like he was about to be angry, but his face changed into a smile, which was a lot less threatening.
"I like you. You're funny." he decided. Liv's mouth was still open in shock.
"What the crap, Chris?" she finally said.
"What? Brother's gotta ask." he explained himself.
"Did you ever think of it from my point of view?" she asked incredulously, holding up her left hand. A purity ring much like Joe's reflected with the kitchen light. "True love freaking waits you retard." she finished. Joe could see a hint of a smile returning.
"Sorry, sis, but I've gotta make sure of these things." he said, smiling. Molly and Liv both rolled their eyes.
"I can't believe I'm related to you." Liv muttered, laughing.
While the attention was off of him, Joe breathed a sigh of relief. Cool, he got approval - relatively speaking - from the older brother. The rest of the afternoon was lighthearted, less threats and more laughter. Joe saw a different side of the Family Liv - the less responsible, more sisterly side. He also impressed Chris with his guitar skills and his sweet talent at wiffle ball. So, all in all, it was a good day.
X-X-X-X-X
(1) - Mary Jane is Peter Parker (Spiderman)'s girlfriend-esque person.
(2) - According to Wikipedia, "Please Please Me" was the first Beatles album released in the UK. I don't know enough Beatles history to know if this is actually true.
(3) - This is the Jonas Brothers song "Please Be Mine."
ah, sorry that this chapter is shorter than the other ones, but i'm kind of running low on substance. as always, please leave love, and if you have any ideas of anything you even might want to see, send them in and i'll see what i can do! peace out!
XM