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Chapter 14: Karaoke Surprise

Okay, if Macy were a good friend she wouldn't let Joe go too far down this road, she thought to herself. After all, just because he was oblivious and couldn't see that Stella was about to shoot her for all the time they'd been hanging out together didn't mean that Macy wasn't fully aware. She was a girl, after all. Plus she could just read Stella better. And at that point, she was reading murder in the girl's stare.

So really, Macy should have tried to have a very minimal presence in the party planning. Maybe some advice by text or some recommendations by e-mail. But the first time she'd gone over to the firehouse to help Joe with the party planning, they had to move a pile of Kevin's dirty laundry to get to the couch, and the clothes just smelled so much like Kevin. And she might have stolen a shirt... which she might have slept in every night afterward... Details.

The second time Macy had gone over, she had been distracted when looking at the baby pictures on the wall, and had, of course, tripped. And Kevin caught her. With his arms. It was heaven. She almost wished she could have planned it.

The third time she visited, Kevin answered the door. Shirtless. It almost made her feel bad for having stolen his shirt since obviously he needed one, but more important was that she got to see Kevin shirtless. (Which she later learned was because Jo had just spilled half a carton of milk on the shirt Kevin had been wearing and insisted that he go get his big brother another one in atonement while Kevin waited in the kitchen.)

She didn't care what Stella thought was going on. Macy was not stopping herself from going to the JONAS house to help with this party.

*J*B*J*B*J*B*

"See? Even Stella sees it now, Macy. You're completely in love with me."

"Shut up, Joe," Macy said as she threw a carrot at Joe.

Things were getting pretty bad if even Joe now realised Stella's jealousy. Of course, it certainly helped that Macy had told him about having to break her cell phone and no longer being able to answer him, and Nick had shared his locker door story.

"I am awesome."

"You are a dork. I'm not in love with you and it's not my fault that Stella thinks I am. Actually, it's Stella's fault for not telling you how she really feels. So there. Plus, why don't you concentrate on the fact that you're in love with Stella instead of worrying about me and the feelings I don't have for you?"

"You're mean when you're in love with me," Joe pouted.

Nick shook his head and Macy swore that she almost heard a giggle from his direction.

"Leave Macy alone, Joe," Kevin said as he looped his arm around Macy's shoulder and pulled her against him. "She's trying to help here, and if you keep it up, you're going to have to plan Stella's party all by yourself."

"Will not."

"I'm not helping you," Nick said without looking up from the book in front of him.

"Fine. But just because I stop talking about how much Macy is in love with me doesn't make her any less in love with me. I hope you all understand that."

"When it comes to you," Kevin said while stealing one of Macy's carrots, "we try to understand as little as possible."

*J*B*J*B*J*B*

"Macy, wait!"

For someone who had once been a super-obsessed fan, Macy suddenly realised that it seemed these days like the JONAS boys were chasing after her more than she was chasing after them.

"Hey, Nick."

"Hey, I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

"Me?"

"Yeah, you. Everyone can tell that Stella is not really happy with you, and I know how close you guys are, so I just wanted to make sure that you weren't taking it too hard."

Macy shrugged. "It's for a good cause. She'll be happy when she eventually figures out what was going on all along."

"That doesn't mean that she should be so quick to jump to conclusions in the meantime."

"We're friends. We're really good friends. We can get mad at each other every now and then, and we'll just rebound again."

"Well, if it really bugs you and you need to talk to someone about it, Kevin's a great listener."

"What?"

"Plus, he's got that big brother thing going on, so he can give you some good advice, too."

Macy narrowed her eyes as she pushed Nick's shoulder. "Nick Lucas, are you trying to play matchmaker?"

"Me? What? Pssh. I just... I'm trying to help you... with your Stella problem."

"Yeah, sure. Listen, I might have a slight infatuation with Kevin, but that's all it is. It's a little crush on some superstar that will eventually fade."

Nick shook his head. "I'd love to stay and argue with you, but I have to go train. Just remember what I said, Macy."

He bumped his elbow against her arm and was gone before she could ask what he had to train for. Those JONAS boys were certainly odd at times.

*J*B*J*B*J*B*

Macy wrapped her arms around herself a little tighter as she felt the breeze travel around her. It was cool at night even if the days were warm enough.

"Hey, trying to escape?"

Macy smiled as she turned to see Kevin. "I figured one of you would eventually come out here to find me. I'm just happy it isn't Joe. I've had enough of him lately."

"Didn't feel like participating in the party you helped plan?"

"The karaoke machine seemed a little too tempting. I figured I'd come get some fresh air before I did damage to anyone's ear."

"How considerate of you."

She shrugged. "I like to think so. What about you, Kevin Lucas? What are you doing outside the party?"

"I'm looking for you."

"Me? To what do I owe the honour?"

"I was kind of wondering if you could help me."

"Are you throwing a secret party for someone who will think I'm in love with you and then get angry with me?"

"No."

"Cool. Then how can I help?"

"Well, I kind of got into this competition thing with Nick."

"Oh, so he's training to compete against you."

"He's training? Then I really need your help. Please, Macy?"

She would have said yes to anything when he turned around and grabbed her hands in his.

"Of course. So, what are we playing?"

*J*B*J*B*J*B*

Macy felt slightly bad when she heard about the outcome of Nick and Kevin's competition. But then again, she couldn't be entirely to blame. After all, she had suggested at one point that that was all the help she could offer Kevin, but he insisted that she was helping and that they continue.

They had been outside tossing the hacky sack until four a.m. Well, that wasn't entirely true. They had mostly been tossing the hacky sack. Kevin was apparently fond of multiple breaks and he'd stopped many times to tell her a funny story that came to mind or to ask her random questions. Either way, it was partially her fault that he was so tired he couldn't get anywhere near Nick's level in the competition.

Maybe she could convince him that all he needed was a rematch, which would of course give her the opportunity for more training...