Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, just the plot.
a/n: Sorry this one is so short.
Me and Joe were happy, and joking, and laughing when we walked out to the empty school parking lot. Only Joe's truck was still there and as soon as we caught sight of it, Joe stopped laughing. Selena was standing next to it, eyes down on her cell phone while texting someone. As soon as we got closer, Joe cleared his throat and she looked up at us, a smile spreading across her face. "Hey, do you think you can give me a ride. Alyssa left me, and my parents are out for tonight. I figured it would be cool since Nick was coming over anyways," she said with the bright smile still on her face. I was surprised at first; after all of the auditions and then the conversation with Miley, I had forgotten that I had made plans to go to Selena's tonight.
Joe looked a little annoyed, but he just nodded in agreement, and we all piled into the truck. Joe drove, I rode in the passenger seat, and Selena sat squished in the small space between us. For the second time that week, I sat in Joe's car in complete silence. Finally, as we pulled onto Selena's street Joe said, "So, did Nick tell you that we decided to give the lead role to Miley? She's got this amazing voice." I turned to glare at him, talk about insensitive.
Selena was looking at me, hurt betrayal shining through her eyes so clearly. "What?" she barely made out. I could tell she was trying not to cry. A pang of guilt hit me; Selena lived for these plays. They were her whole world.
"Talk about the wrong time and place Joe," I practically yelled at him as we pulled into Selena's driveway. He only shrugged, and I jumped out the car door. I tried to help Selena to the ground, but she pushed my hand away, still upset and jumped down. I saw Joe smirk as he drove away. I would get him back for this later. We walked into her house in silence, and as soon as I had shut the door behind us, I grabbed Selena's hand to stop her from walking away.
Her eyes looked up at me, and I could see the few tears coming down that she couldn't hold back. "I'm sorry Sel. I have to do what's best for the play, and I am not the only one to make the decisions. Joe and Ms. Algoquin have a bigger say in it than I do. You still have a main role, second biggest female role in the play. You still get to sing." I was practically to begging now, willing to do anything to make her stop crying.
"It's okay," she said softly." I understand. I've heard her sing before, on that first day in choir that you weren't there. I know she is better than me." She tried to force a smile, but it ended up more of a grimace. I chuckled softly and her smile grew wider. "How about we watch a movie?" she asked, eager to change the subject, and I am sure, to get her mind off of the day's events.
"Sounds good to me," I said, leading the way into her family's large living room.
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We had been lying on her couch for hours watching movies, and at the end of the third one, she lay asleep in my arms. Trying not to disturb her too much, I pulled out my phone and opened it to call Kevin. It rang so many times, that I was sure that he had fallen asleep, though it was only 11, but finally he answered.
"Nick? Where are you?" came his voice through the phone.
I whispered my answer, so that I wouldn't wake Selena up. "I'm at Selena's. We were watching movies late. Is it cool if I just crash here?" I asked him. Even though he was only my brother, he was also my legal guardian since Mom and Dad had both passed away last year.
"Yeah, that's okay," he answered quickly. Kevin knew Selena, and he knew me. There was no need to worry about anything happening, and he knew just as well as I did how much she had helped me through. There were voices in the background, laughter. Joe obviously had a girl over.
"Who's Joe got over there?" I asked curiously.
"Oh, just some girl who moved in down the street about a week ago. Her family and she were coming back home from somewhere, and he said he knew her. So we invited her over. I think he said her name was Miley or something."
"Miley?" I asked in shock, forgetting to keep my voice down. Selena stirred. "Oh," I muttered more quietly, then hung up the phone without saying goodbye. I was too shocked to think of manners. Joe had Miley over? He can't have actually decided that he really did like her that fast. There was no way. I found myself wishing that I had gone home tonight so that I could have seen her too. I was angry at Joe, and yet, at the same time a part of me was thrilled. Just down the street.