CHAPTER SEVEN
July 29th
I stood nervously to the side of the stage. It was the animal theme night so every was dressed up as animals and had their faces painted. There was another concert tonight, as since pretty much every looked weird or funny tonight and half of them were unrecognisable I decided to make my campfire debut. I was going to sing in front of people for the first time. Dee La Duke was the only one who knew and that was because she was the announcer at all the camp fires. Even Joseph didn't know. I had my guitat clenched tightly in my hand, I think if I held it any tighter it would break, but I was so nervous I'd drop it on stage that I was holding it so hard my knuckles were white.
"And now." Dee said in her overly excited manner when the last performer left the stage to a round of applause and cheers. "Making her campfire debut, please give an encouraging welcome to Miss Miley Stewart!" There was a pause of confussion for a second before they started obediently clapping. I felt myself pale as I stepped slowly onto the stage. Dee gave me an encouraging smile and beckoned me on. I took a deep breath as I sat on the stool and adjusted the microphone stand. Looking out I was faced with a sea of Spidermans, tigers, lions, cats, dogs, Batmans... It was easier not knowing who anyone was.
"I-..." I licked my lips nervously a I positioned my guitar. "I-I would like to dedicate this song to-to... I would like to dedicate this song to Joseph, because he inspired it and he's the sweetest boy on Earth." I blushed and there was a hushed 'awe' through the crowd. I started strumming the chords I'd been working on for a few weeks now.
"Smooth talkin', so rockin', he's got everythin' that a girl's wantin'." My eyes flittered around and eventually found Joseph standing off to the side and slowly moving toward the stage, smiling goofilly. "Guitar cuite, he plays it's groovy, and I can't keep myself from doing somethin' stupid." Like singing this song, right now, in front of all these people. "Think I'm really fallin' for his smile. Get butterflies when he says my name." I blushed and bit my lip, looking out I could only see Joseph heading my way, his face painted brown with a black nose, he was a bear today. A totally cute bear. "He's got something special, he's got something special, and when he's lookin' at me I wanna get all sentimental." I kept singing, smiling straight at Joseph who had made his way to the front of the stage, leaning against it and looking up at me with hearts in his eyes.
As soon as I strummed the last chord I was frozen; I was met with complete silence before the crowd of animals started clapping and cheering. No more or no less than for any other performer of the night, but I was happy, they didn't hate me. I let out a breath and stumbled off the stage, feeling like I was going to vomit.
"Miley." Joseph pushed through the crowed again and ran up to hug me. "You-you were really good." He mumbled, blushing, looking down and suffing his shoes when he pulled back
"It's easy to write a song when you're there to inspire it." I told him, doing my own awe shucks routine.
"You're so talented." Joseph praised dreamilly. I blushed and smiled when Joseph held my hands and leaned forward, kissing me. Except this time neither of us pulled away after a second. I dropped my guitar and my hands fell of Joseph's arms whilst his hands moved to my cheeks. My eyes drooped shut and my lips parted as I sighed happilly. Joseph parted his lips and I pulled away abruptly when I felt his tongue touch my lips. I gasped and stared at Joseph who was bright red. "S-s-sorry, I-" He looked down.
"I-" I didn't know what to say. I licked my lips and blushed
"Sorry." Joseph kept appologising, and I could feel him starting to panic, like last week after the sleepover night. "S-sorry, M-M-Miley, I-I'm sorry."
"I-what-why-I-?" I couldn't figure out what to say so instead I went with my instinct and I found my lips on his once again. I could tell Joseph was surprised, but he didn't pull away. I parted my lips again hesitantly - last time it was subconscious - and Joseph followed suit after a few seconds. Joseph made the first move and his tongue poked out hesitantly.
"Alright, you two, break it up." Joseph and I sprang away from each other, blushing bright red and stammering quietly when Brown interrupted us. "Feedin' time, Cubs." He prompted and we nodded. We were both bears for the animal night. Ever since Joseph call his Mom Brown had been a lot nicer, and a lot stricter to Nate.
"W-" I blushed when Joseph and I were sitting at a table with our pet-food bowls with our names on them and our forks - they weren't gonna treat us like complete animals. "Why did you do that?" I asked softly, looking down at my food shyly.
"I-I-I don't-I'm sorry." Joseph kept appologising.
"I liked it." I breathed out, barely audible, but I knew Joseph heard me. "It-it was the first time I ever did that." Of course it was; Joseph was the first boy I ever kissed, let alone with tongue.
"I-I-I heard some other boys talking about it and-and I-and I wanted to try it with you." He looked down.
"We-we could try it again sometime?" I whispered questioningly.
"Yeah?" Joseph looked up, his eyes wide and his cheeks red.
"If-if you want." I nibbled at a piece of chicken, just so I could focus on something other than my burning cheeks.
CR
July 30th
I bit my lip in concentration as I danced across the wooden floors; we'd all been learning one routine since the start of camp, and at the end of the week we were going to put on a showcase before we start working on solo routines if we want to perform in the Final Jam. I hadn't really thought about performing at Final Jam, I mean I only performed for the first time yesterday, and Final Jam is still 17 days away, and then camp is over in 20 days.
"Okay, great, Miley." The teacher nodded when I finished my solo part of the routine, we all had a solo routine in the group performance. "Just remember to keep with the music, you're still a second ahead of the music." I nodded as I fell back into formation. By the end of the running routine the musical tone for the end of class sounded and I let out a breath. Dance was good enough, but it was exhausting. I was happy it was my last class of the day.
"Ciao, Bellissima." Joseph appeared at my side when I was on my way to dinner after a shower.
"Hi, Joseph." I blushed, that was one thing I knew what it meant; Hello, Beautiful.
"How-how was da-dance class?" He asked, his big brown eyes blinking at me endearingly.
"Exhausting." I sighed, my muscles still ached a little even after my shower. To be fair though it was a cold shower because Camp Rock didn't seem to get hot water. "And fun." I tilted my head a little as I smiled. It was a fun class, there wasn't much talking or focus on individuals much, which was good since I didn't like being the focus of attention.
"G-good." Joseph nodded with a shy smile.
"Have you decided if you want to do Final Jam?" I asked as we sat down, since we were going the final rehearsals for the group number before the solo option opens up, it reminded me what hal the point of Camp Rock was for most of the other ampers; to make it to Final Jam where there were usually record label scouts.
"Pr-probably not." Joseph looked down and I frowned. "I-I mean, it's mostly for the older kids anyway, and I don't-I don't have anything good enough."
"You have a lot of good songs." I told him, he always doubted himself, it was nno wonder with the way he'd grown up, but I was trying to stop him from doing it. "You're an amazing singer, musician, and songwriter, Joseph."
"May-maybe." Joseph shrugged, blushing at the compliments. "But, I'll-but, maybe I'll do it next year."
"You're very talented, don't ever not think that." I kissed his cheek and bit my lip.
"So are you." He murmured, looking down, his lashes touching his cheeks. "I really liked your song yesterday."
"Thanks." I picked at my dinner.
"If either us has the talent for Final Jam it's you."
"If you think that you're delusional, Joey, you're one of the most talented people I ever met."
"Then, you haven't met many people have you, if you think that moron is talented." Nate sneered condescendingly, purposely hitting Joseph's head on 'accident' as he passed.
"And you're way to obsessed with Joseph for it to be healthy or convince anyone that you actually hate him." I told Nate's back as he retreated.
"Will-will you-will you marry me?" Joseph asked, staring at me dreamilly. I blushed and looked away.
"I think we should wait a few years." I teeased, bumping my shoulder against his. "And good luck convincing my Dad." I snorted, I already knew I couldn't tell Dad about Joseph, he'd track my boy down and kill him for even looking at me wrong.
"Hmm..." Joseph hummed, pushing his special allergy-aproved dinner around his plate. "We should wait." He agreed, nodding his head thoughtfully. "It'll give me a chance to save up and get you a pretty ring." I smiled shyly and he continued conversationally. "And I'll get us a house." He added before he furrowed. "I'm allergic to cats and most dogs hairs, but we could have one of those little dogs with the short hair that always looks like a puppy."
"That's if another girl doesn't steal you away and make you fall in love with her." I knew it was entirely possible, all a girl had to do was pay the slightest attention to Joseph and they'd see how amazing he was and all the girls would be all over him.
"That could never happen when I already have you." See? It was thing like that, any girl would be the luckiest girl in the world to get to even talk to Joseph, but Nate isolated him. "You're the best thing that ever happened to me."
"That goes both ways." I whispered, he really didn't have any idea what he was capable of.
CR
July 31st
I stood, out of sight, but still in earshot and watch Joseph. He was sitting by the lake, on an overturned boat with his guitar, strumming a tune that calmed me. He paused and wrote something in the book next to him before continuing, singing softly so I couldn't hear from the distance. I know if anyone saw me I would look like a creeper, but I never really got a chance to just watch Joseph without him blushing and stumbling over his words. And I'd never seen him write before, he looked calm and in the zone, I didn't want to disturb that. He looked so beautiful, I mused, I kept thinking that; I knew boys shouldn't be beautiul, but looking at Joseph I couldn't help but think that he was.
"Stalker." Nate coughed as he walked past and I rolled my eyes.
"What an accurate self-description." I muttered, it seriously wasn't healthy for him to be so obsessed, it actually worried me a little, more than the bullying... Okay, not as much as the bullying, but it was worrying. I finally ventured out from the tree I was hiding behind. "Hi, Joey." I smiled, sitting next to him and he looked up with bright, happy eyes.
"Hi." He set his guitar down.
"What are you writing?" I asked, smiling as his cheeks turned pink. Bright brown eyes, tan complexion, pale pink blush, shy smile... How could anyone not love Joseph? It was a baffling conundrum.
"I'll play it for you when I finish it." Joseph said, closing his song book gently.
"I'm sure it'll be amazing." I said confidently. I looked out at the lake, the sun was setting, casting beautiful orange and red and purple colors over the water.
"You wanna go out on the lake?" Joseph asked and I smiled, turning back to him. "We-we could watch the sunset." He added, gettin up, grabbing his guitar and songbook. We walked to the dock where there was a rowboat in the water. "But, it will never be as pretty as you."
"You're a sweet talking charmer, Joseph Gray." I accused, blushing bright pink as we climbed down into the boat.
"I'm a truth-telling musician in love with the most beautifulest girl in the world." Joseph smiled his sweet, shy smile that made my heart melt. I sat there staring at him for a second as he found the oars. We'd never mentioned love before. Love was a whole new world of emotions. I silently grabbed an oar and we rowed to the middle of the lake, watching the sun set beautifully. Joseph said he loved me. Was it true? Was it real? We were only thirteen, what if he was just talking and it just came out? Could it be possible that I love him? I knew I felt strongly about him, but was it strong enough to be love?
Joseph hesitantly put his arm around my shoulders. I decided to put my thoughts to the side and enjoy watching the sunset with my boyfriend. I leaned into him and we laid back, watching the sun disappear under the water, the sky soon turned a dark blue as the stars started to shine and sparkle. I liked this, just sitting here, the boat gently rocking in the water, Joseph's arm around me, the stars shimmering brightly.
"I think I love you too." I whispered, staring at the sky, away from Joseph, so I couldn't see his reaction. I don't even know if he heard me. Did I even say it out loud?
Love was your heart going into overdrive when you were around them, thinking about them when you wake, when you go to sleep, dreaming about them. Never wanting to imagine your life without them, wanting to always be around them. Hurting when they hurt, being happy when they were happy...
I think I do love Joseph!
Okay, come on, it didn't even take 12 hours to get more than the required reviews for the last chapter of Queen Diaries, so we'll give this one last shot before I put it on hiatus.
1) Do you think it could possibly be love even though they're only 13?
2) Once again, what do you think Nate's problem is?
3) How do you think Joseph, Nate and Jason get from victim, bully and unknown to Shane, Nate and Jason of Connect 3?
4) Should Joseph perform at Final Jam?
Either 3 reviews with all the questions answered or 5 reviews total.
Smiler For Joe!
