I know I said you wouldn't get an update until next week most probably, but I got 2000 reviews around 5 o'clock, ish, I think. I was so excited I felt I owed you guys a new chapter. It's short again, but not as short as it originally had been. I managed to extend it without filling it. Yay me. Lol. And, I love Allison. I really do. She's awesome as a friend and a reviewer. Like, totally. You guys owe her a bit for ATCR and LKG and even parts of AINE. Fine, fine. I'll tell you what AINE is. Just because you guys got me 2000 reviews. And It Never Ends. Now, let's be dorks and read all of the titles of this unnamed series together. After the Credits Roll, Life Keeps Going, And It Never Ends. Haha. I'm a dork. And btw, as a character, I love Nicky. I think she's the 'truest' character in the story. Like, she's stayed pretty much to her ATCR roots. You'll see. Mitchie's got balls! Haha. And Jason Dragomir? What? Haha, go read!
Chapter 30:
It took us three hours to convince Nicky she was overreacting. Because, really, she was. Her main argument was he shouldn't have told them.
"Like you've never said anything in the heat of the moment?" I asked, rolling my eyes.
"Nothing like that. You say things like, I hate you. In the heat of the moment. You don't tell the world about your secret relationship. It's a SECRET for a REASON!" She was yelling at us.
"Nicky, did you ever think that maybe Riley is getting tired of having to lie? I mean, they've linked him to some pretty amazing people. Pretty soon the gay rumors start, the playboy rumors start… and it hurts you just as much as it hurts him. Honestly tell me it doesn't hurt to think that their could be a basis for those rumors? Tell me you've never thought, well there is a pretty convincing picture of them… or something like that?" Caitlyn asked. One thing I love about Caitlyn is she pulls no punches. She won't sugarcoat what she's suggesting. She tells you flat out, whether you want to hear it or not.
"So? Now not only do I have people being my friends because of my brother, I have the few friends I did have pissed I didn't tell them about Riley. And they want to meet him when he comes home, 'since it's out in the open and all'. Riley just ruined my life." Nicky replied darkly.
I didn't think before I reached out and smacked Nicky. Caitlyn gasped and Kevin came running across the hall at the sound that echoed.
"That boy has done nothing but love you and put up with all of your selfishness, Nicky. You hated me for doing the same things to Shane in the beginning. How dare you be a hypocrite. He's put up with you for a year and a half now. Don't you dare say he's ruined your life. You said yes. You wanted to keep it a secret. Riley's been keeping a secret that's clearly been eating at him for so long. Riley's not the type of guy who lies and keeps secrets. It eats at him every time he does. I'm so sick of hearing how much you're hurt or how much he's upset you! Did you already forget everything that occurred prior to my wedding? How much you hurt him?
"Don't even say you didn't know it would be this hard. You knew what it was like to have your brother as a celebrity. You've seen what I've gone through with my boyfriend, fiancé, husband, as a celebrity. If you really think you're too immature for this relationship, don't you even think of breaking up with him while he is in another country, another continent. Not now, while he's on tour, and now has to deal with all of the press that's going to come with his slip up. He will do anything you ask him to. Stop being selfish and think of your boyfriend for once, Nicky."
I took a deep breath as I finished yelling at her. I hadn't meant to. I was just getting really sick of Nicky's spoiled attitude. She and I may have been on much better terms than when we first met, but she was still a spoiled brat. She was selfish and never thought of anyone's feelings but her own.
I heard Kevin behind me attempting not to laugh. Caitlyn was still staring at me in shock, unable to believe I just did that. Nicky? Nicky was looking at me as if I were the devil.
"Get out." She hissed.
"Gladly. Let me know when you grow up, Nicky." I stood up and pushed past Kevin who was still laughing.
Caitlyn followed a moment later. I was sitting in Shane's room petting Jacob. "Shane is going to flip when he finds out you hit his sister." She commented. "But I think if you hadn't, I would have." She admitted laughing. "Did you see her face?" She started rolling on the bed.
I rolled my eyes as Jacob started rolling on the bed with her. I loved my dog, but he was a little weird. I pulled out my cell phone to call Shane. I knew he was with Anastasia's family, but I needed to tell him before Nicky did. Somehow I knew she'd twist it.
"Hey, baby, I'm-" Shane answered,
"I slapped your sister." I cut him off, speaking quickly. I was wincing in anticipation.
He didn't disappoint. "What?! Like, playfully slapped?" He said hoped.
"No, like full on bitch slap slapped." I explained. "I didn't mean to… she was just… gah, she's so selfish and hypocritical and spoiled and-" Shane cut me off.
"She probably deserved it. She's… honestly being a bitch about the whole Riley thing. I know she's my sister and all, but… I feel like I'm between a rock and a hard place on this one." Shane admitted.
"So, you don't hate me for slapping your sister?" I asked timidly.
He laughed at me. "Not at all. I can't, and neither can Kevin. Although Kev called when you got there. He said he wanted to slap her but he couldn't." He chuckled before sobering up again. "She needs someone to put her in her place. Mom doesn't, Dad won't, and Kevin can't. I'm not around enough to. By the time she started being a real brat I was off touring."
I sighed. "I just feel bad- Cait, put him down!" I noticed Caitlyn spinning my fullsized dog around the room. She pouted as she set him down. Jacob whined and pawed her leg. "Anyway, I didn't want to be the one to do it."
"Sorry, baby." He replied. "Well, so far, the Dragomir's like Jason. The Ceva's do to."
"The who?" I asked confused.
"Her mother's family. I can't pronounce their last name." He admitted.
I laughed. "Okay, well that's good. How's Nate handling the Russian grandfather?"
"Surprisingly alright. Until he said something in Russian and Grandmother Dragomir yelled at him for cursing in front of company. He spazzed for a moment until Petar reassured him it had nothing to do with Communism." Shane laughed.
"You're boyfriend is insane." I told Caitlyn. She smiled and shrugged her shoulders.
"Cait's there?" Shane asked.
"Yeah. She's playing with Jake." I replied.
"Can I… talk to her for a sec?" He asked.
I shrugged and handed Caitlyn the phone. She looked at it oddly but took it anyway. "What? Yeah… This morning… Nope. I don't think so. He didn't say anything to me about it… Will do. Bye." She handed me the phone back.
"What was that about?" I asked.
"Just wanted to ask her when she talked to Nate last." He replied. "He, uh, seemed fidgety." Shane is a crappy liar at times. This was one of them.
"Right. We'll go with that." I replied.
"Okay, Nate's starting to spaz again. I'll call you later, okay?" He said changing the subject.
"Sure. Love you." I said.
"Love you, too." I hung up the phone.
"What was that about?" I asked Caitlyn.
"Nothing." She replied.
"Cait." I warned.
"Just asked me about Nate. Okay?" She replied. She wouldn't look at me, so I knew she was lying. Again, I let it go. Whatever they were up to would come to surface sooner or later.
"Fine. Want to head out?" I asked.
She nodded and called us another cab. We went to say good-bye to Kevin.
"We're leaving." I said leaning in his doorway.
"She hates you." He laughed in reply. I looked over my shoulder at her closed door and shrugged. "Anyway, I'll see you next week for dinner?" He asked.
"Yup. We'll be here." Caitlyn replied.
"Good. Savannah misses you guys." He explained.
"Right, Savannah." Caitlyn teased. "Not that Kevin misses us."
"I never said I didn't, Cait." He replied.
"Bye." I said, breaking the staring match and hugging Kevin. He hugged me back and then Caitlyn.
As we were heading down the hall, he called out. "Mitchie!"
"What?" I asked turning back to look at him.
"Did you get those results?" He asked, shifting his eyes to Caitlyn for a moment.
"Just separation anxiety." I assured him.
"Good." He replied and headed back into his own room.
We got the front door and yelled good-bye to Mr. and Mrs. Grey.
"Mitchie! Wait a moment." Mrs. Grey called out coming out to talk to me. "I have a serious question I need to ask you."
I looked at her confused but nodded for her to continue. "What is it?"
"Did you take pregnancy tests last week when you were here?" She asked. My mouth opened a few times before I was able to speak.
Caitlyn, however was able to yell, it seemed. "What?" She shrieked.
"Yes?" I replied to Mrs. Grey. She sighed in relief.
"Thank god. I wasn't sure if it was you, or Nicky or Savannah taking them in Shane's bathroom. I haven't checked the garbage in there since the last time you were all here." She explained.
"No, it was me. I had Kevin go to the store for me, so you can check with him. I'm not covering for either of them." I assured her.
"I trust you. Aw, my Kevin is such a sweetheart. Just like his brother was at his age." She awed.
"Yeah, he's a lot like Shane, just minus the jerky pop star attitude at times." I agreed.
"Well, that was all I wanted. Enjoy school." She smiled and hugged each of us.
Caitlyn didn't say a word to me until we were back in the safety of our own dorm room. Then she exploded. "You thought you were pregnant and didn't tell me?!"
"I didn't want you to tell Nate, who would tell Shane, who would freak and do something rash like cancel the tour." I explained. "But I found out, and I talked to Shane about it. Everything is fine, now." I assured her.
"You know, for being best friends, almost sisters, you like to keep me out of the loop a lot, Mitchie." She replied, crossing her arms across her chest.
"Cait…" I sighed. "It's not intentional. Kevin and Shane are the only ones who knew. It's not like I am pregnant and didn't tell you. I just didn't see the point in telling you when I wasn't."
"You still could have told me that you thought you were." She argued.
"I know. I'm sorry. But please, can we not fight right now?" I begged her.
"Yeah. I have a paper I didn't do last night to do." She sat at her computer and began typing, ignoring me. I sighed and laid down on my bed.
I grew bored rather quickly since Caitlyn was generally ignoring me. I couldn't blame her for being mad and she was legitimately working on a paper. But it irked me that she's making such a big deal out of it.
I decided to go online since I was done with my work for the next few days. When my homepage opened, I saw that Shane had updated his page.
It's pointless to even lie anymore. Riley agrees. Personally, I'm stuck between a rock and hard place. I never realized how true that statement can be. My sister -who yes, is dating Riley. Has been for a long time now- is beyond upset. She didn't want to deal with all of the crap she's watched Mitchie and I go through. But she's taking it out on Riley, which isn't fair. I give Riley credit for waiting until he did to finally snap. I was getting ready to tell them he was dating my sister, just so they'd stop asking.
I want to support my sister, but at the same time I think she's wrong. Yeah, it's hard to be publicly dating someone when you're famous. But, hiding it makes you feel like your ashamed. I know I've never wanted to hide my relationship with Mitchie, and I know Riley only hid their's because she asked. I don't want to doubt my sister, because I know the reason she isn't willing to own up to her relationship is because she doesn't want the world thinking she's using him or anyone using her. But, I'm wondering if she can handle this relationship. 16 is a rough age to deal with all of this.
And she's fighting Mitchie and Caitlyn on this. They've been there, they understand, but she's so stubborn. Family trait, I know. It's just… tour is hard enough without having to deal with my sister and wife fighting as well as my opening act being completely depressed. Riley's like another brother to me at this point, and it sucks to see him as depressed as I've been in the past. I just wish there was a way I could fix this for my sister.
I had to smile. Shane was always looking out for his brother and sister. Even when he knew his sister was being a bitch, which he admitted, he's still concerned about her. I loved my husband so much. He was amazing.
By the time I finished reading Shane's both Nate and Jason had updated theirs. I checked Jason's first, curious as to how he was dealing with the whole having met the family thing.
That was painful. Like, seriously. I wish Stas had been here. They were watching me like I was a deer they were about to pounce on. I think I made a good impression. I definitely looked better than Shane and Nate did. Nate looked like a wounded duck half the time since he was afraid of Grandfather Dragomir. It's so weird to refer to people as Grandfather and Grandmother. It seems so formal. But I didn't dare risk saying Grandpa or Grandma or something. Grandfather Dragomir is scary. I like that name, though. Dragomir. It's a cool last name. Maybe I'll change my last name to Stas' instead of her taking mine. Haha. Jason Dragomir. Somehow it doesn't sound as cool as Anastasia Dragomir. Anastasia Bishop… maybe Anastasia Dragomir-Bishop. Yeah, that sounds better. Like, Mitchie sounds cool as Torres or Grey… I mean, Michaela Grey sounds better than Michaela Torres to me, though. Oh, Stas Bishop. No, Stas Dragomir sounds better. Oh my god! What if I'm not supposed to marry Stas because her name doesn't sound awesome with my last name? What if she won't marry me because of that? Woah! When did I start thinking about marriage? Okay, I'm going to go talk to Shane now because I'm freaking myself out.
My jaw hit the floor somewhere around Anastasia Bishop. I laughed at first with the Jason Dragomir. Jason would be the one to change his name instead of his wife. But then he started getting serious with that and it shocked me. Poor Jason just realized he wanted to marry Anastasia, in a blog, where all of his fans would be reading it. Only Jason.
Hoping to see something less dramatic, I clicked on Nate's wearily.
Russian's scare me.
I laughed out loud, startling Caitlyn. I was laughing too hard to speak and motioned for her to read the single line that Nate had posted. She laughed as well, and the tension between her and myself melted. I had her read Jason's post and she was also shocked.
"No way." She replied.
"Way. I'll let you know what Shane says tomorrow." I promised her.
"I'm going back to my paper, then. Can you order pizza or something? We missed dinner." I nodded and order pizza.
So, Jason's entry started as something serious. Like, he was really going to talk about meeting the family and what not, and I started thinking about how much I love Richelle Mead for giving her characters cool last names -Vamprire Academy, which is where I stole Stas' last name from- like Dragomir, Belikov… and then it spawned. I love writing Jason's thoughts. I get to ramble. And there is always fun referrences. Like the multiple POV chapter of ATCR when he mentions Snow White, or the Jelly Sandwich in the last one. Haha. I heart Jason! I guess naming my laptop Jason was a good idea.