"Brianna, come with me…" he pulled me all the way outside.

"What is it Joe?" he pulled me close, and pushed back a few strands of my hair, so they wouldn't be my face.

"Brianna…" his pupils enlarged, and he couldn't even shallow, "I…well, I'm just going to say it!"

"What Joe?" I could hear my voice; it was strong, but worried.

"Well, I'm twenty-four, and you're nineteen…"

"Yeah? I know how old we are…"

"No! That's not it!"

"Well, then spit it out!" I had demand in my voice this time.

He took a deep breath, "Ok, Joe you can do this!" he talked to himself.

"Joe!?"

He got down the ground; he was kneeling on one knee. "Brianna?" he opened a black velvet box, "will you come to the red carpet ball with me?"

"Yeah!" I grabbed the corsage, and gazed at the beautiful flowers.

"Do you like it? It's not necessary, but I thought it would be like our prom instead of the ball."

"Aww, Joe, I didn't get to go to my prom in high school. Obviously, I was out singing somewhere. Thank you."

"Yeah, and guess what! I didn't have a date to my prom." He guffawed.

"Really? That's hard to believe."

"I know, I mean, it's me."

"Well, when is it?"

"February 14. Valentines Day." He blushed.

"Oh my gosh! That's in like three days! What am I going to wear?"

"Oh, um, let's go shopping."

"Um…no…I'll shop alone. You can't see my dress until "prom", ok?"

"Fine…"

We ran back inside, as it started to hail. The little frozen, raindrops of death, bounced off my head, each one of them hurting my fragile skull.

"Joe, have you seen Coco?"

"No baby, why?"

"I need to get her opinion on a new song I wrote…"

"Oh, I think she went to the V.I.P room."

"Thanks!" I ran there. A door stood in the way of Coco, and me, who I could hear on the other side. I was seconds from opening the bluish-purple door, until I heard an interesting conversation.

"Nick, I need to talk to you."

"Yes Nicole?" Nick asked.

"Do you still like me?"

"I…"

"Because I still have feelings for you Nick…"

"Nicole…I…do."

"Aww…you do? Yay!"

"Knock, knock! May I come in?" I silenced them.

"Uh huh." I could picture Nicole's eyes roll on her perfect face.

As I walked in Nicole brushed her straight brown hair behind her ear. Her sparkling diamond earrings glistened in the sun, and blinded me. I moved out from behind the bright sunlight. Nicole looked down at Nick with the sweetest stare, and then she looked at me.

"Yes Brianna?" she snickered like I ruined a perfect moment, "may I…we help you?"

"I was going to…um, never mind. I'm sorry for butting into your conversation. I'll talk to you guys later." I felt a hand gently place on my shoulder, right before I was about to leave.

"Brianna?" Nick's soft voice melted me.

"Yes?"

"Please…stay." He wasn't asking.

"Ok," I looked at Nicole, and her sweet stare fell, "actually, I have to…"

"Dang it! Brianna you can stay!" Nicole screamed so loud, the whole club could hear.

"Thank you..." I glared at her. Something was bothering her. Me? Nick? Herself?

"What do you want?" Nicole's voice was angry.

"I wanted to get your opinion on a new song I wrote." Even to me, my voice sounded harsh. Like a mother yelling at a child, "is that okay with you?"

"Yes go ahead…let me hear it." Suddenly her voice went calm and flat.

"Okay, but I only have a small part written…" I cleared my throat, "I've always been kind of quiet, never been the one to run around and scream. Every time I was angry I kept it bottled up inside so no one could know how I felt. But, then I met you, and you changed me."

"I like it…" Nick immediately said.

"I hate it…" Nicole disagreed.

"Wait? You hate it…of all people, I expected you to like it." I was flabbergasted.

"Well it sucks! What's up with it? Never been the one to run around and scream? That doesn't make any sense to me at all."

"Oh. My. Gawd! Ok listen up missy! I work really hard to right my own songs, not a lot of people do that! So what ever your problem is, you have no right to take it out on me, or my songs! I'm sick and tired of having a grouch on my tour bus! If you think I'm afraid of firing a family member, then you're wrong. I will if you don't clean up your attitude! So what ever your problem is SUCK IT UP! Or, you can get out."

"Nice…" Nick laughed.

"Nick!" Nicole's face got all twisted. Her eyes got misty, and every second a tear did cartwheels down her cheeks.

"Nicole…he's not your problem right now, I guess I am. So, tell me what I did!"

"You didn't do anything. I did."

"What are you saying?" I was thinking really hard about what that could mean, but my thoughts were foggy from all the screaming.

"I mean, that I did this to myself. I took a job where I'm away from my whole family for long periods at a time, and I just can't take it anymore!" she exploded.

"But, you're not away from your whole family. I'm always here." I assured her.

"And so am I…" Nick got up from the black leather chair, and hugged her. I guess Nicole wanted something a little more, because she ended the hug, after about a second, and kissed him.

"Um, I'm going to be on the bus…hurry though, um, the party's over." I ran out of there with lighting speed. I felt like I was stuck in slow motion though. My gut fell to the floor, and my breath got heavy. Was I becoming jealous? No, no, I couldn't be. Why would I be? I have a boyfriend. Nick is Nicole's man.

"Joe? Nick, and Nicole are lip locking in the V.I.P room!" I laughed it out.

"Really? Can't we do that?" he joked.

"Oh. Haha. Well?" I was inches away from kissing him. Until…

"Eck! Get a room!" Kevin stuck his tongue out.

"Funny Kevin…really funny!"

"Yeah. That's me, mister- makes- you- laugh- in- the- most- awkward- situation- as possible!"

"Ugh. Kevin get out of here!" Joe's voice echoed through the bus.

"Bossy!" Kevin snickered.

As soon as Kevin went to his bunk, Nicole and Nick walked in.

"Nice of you guys to finally join us." I stared at Nicole.

"Well, can we leave?" Nicole looked passed me at Taci.

"No, Tyler isn't here yet."

"I thought you hated him?" Nick asked.

"No, I did."

"Yeah, what ever. Look, Brianna we need to get going. Speaking of going, I'm off to bed." Nicole's voice was filled with anxiousness to get away from everyone.

Ten minutes passed, and finally Tyler showed up. But something was different about him. The way his hair was, pushed back. The way his clothes flatly laid on him. The way his lips were. Touched.

"Bye Tyler…" I heard a girl say flirty.

"Um, bye." He waved to her without even turning around.

"Tyler, wait!" the girl came running into my bus. She grabbed his arms, and spun him around to kiss him. Her hand pushing his hair back, her body laying flat against his, and her lips touching his. It all made total sense now.

"Tyler…" I interrupted their kissing.

"Yes bab…Brianna?"

"I can't let you do this." I looked at his fair maiden. Her long curly brown hair almost went to the floor. Her blue eyes were bluer then the bluest skies. Her smile was as bright as new toothbrush bristles.

"Tyler, would you like to introduce us?" I asked as politely as I could at that moment.

"Oh, this is my girlfriend, Pinnellapi"

"Nice to meet you."

"You too. Wait who are you?" her blue eyes looked down.

"Brianna…" I rose my hand to shake hers, but she left me hanging.

"Yeah…ok, look, I know you and your "best friend" have a past." Her brown hair swished as she spoke.

"What are you talking about?" I asked innocently. I knew exactly what she was talking about.

"My boyfriend and you used to date. I think that's why you invited him on the tour with you, so you could steal him away. Well, let me tell you, you will not!"

"If I made you believe that I wanted Tyler in any other way then just a friend, then I'm sorry."

"Well…no, I'm sorry. I just assumed…forgive me?"

"Of course." She finally shook my hand.

"Is there any room left?" her question hit hard like a bullet. It was unexpected and blinding. I became so frustrated with all these questions. I felt that I was morphing into a monster. Anger poured over my flushed face. I was a volcano ready to erupt.

"WHAT? Like you expect me to…" I trailed of in thought. Tyler's eyes cried out to me, asking me please. "Ok…you can stay. But, only for tonight."

"Omg! Really? That's so nice of you! Thank you!" she squeezed the life out of me.

"Just for tonight, your bunk is that way." I pointed to the furthest bunk away from Tyler's.

"Uh, can't I sleep with Tyler? I promise nothing will happen besides sleep!" her lisp was getting spittle all over my face.

As I wiped it off, I managed to say, "Ok, look, I'm sorry. But if you don't follow my rules, you're out!" My face went from anger to completely disgusted.

"Ugh, you're no fun!" she stomped to the dusty bunk. She opened the curtain carefully, like she was entering a preserved crime scene. Which, it was about to become if she didn't leave soon. I wanted to shove her stupidity off of my bus. It was getting quite annoying to hear her voice.

"Hey, Brianna! Did you know that I have a twin?" her voice was beyond enthusiastic; she was heading for psycho.

"Don't tell me she's going to pop up here! I can't deal with another one of you!" I over exaggerated.

"She just might…here…" she reached her hand out to mine, "let me introduce you!" she pulled me to the bathroom.

"Why is your sister in the bathroom?"

"Twin! And, she always has to be perfect…" she rolled her R's on perfect.

"Oh, sure. Whatever" I tried to understand.

"Well, here she is!" she twisted the door open, and all I saw was an empty bathroom.

My toothpaste cap on the floor, the trashcan can was over flowing with tissues from the cold we all just got over, and the shower curtain, dripping wet from an early 6:00 am shower.

"Um? Where is she?" I was extremely confused.

"Silly look ahead!" she pointed to her herself staring back at her.

"Haha! Good joke." I punched her left arm.

"Joke? My twin, Josie, isn't a joke! Treat her with respect!"

"You named her? She's you! You're her! That's your reflection!" her ability to be stupid just went overboard.

"My reflection? Don't be silly!" she gestured her hand in a swinging motion.

I walked out of the bathroom astonished. My eyes rolled, and my thoughts went ballistic. She couldn't be serious. Could she?

"Tyler? Has your girlfriend always been so crazy?" I held my head, and felt the throbbing.

"What did she do?"

"She referred to her reflection as Josie. Her twin?" I explained.

"Oh, Brianna, you don't understand. Josie was her real twin that is, until the accident. She died in 2002." He ran his fingers through his hair.

"Oh man! What happened?" I felt horrible.

"Car accident. They were on the highway. A truck smashed Josie's side of the car in. She died instantly. All Pinnellapi suffered was a concussion. She doesn't even remember that Josie pasted. I tried to tell her, but she thought I was crazy."

"Poor girl. I've judged to much, and I feel so bad…"

"It's fine! You know, you're the closest thing to a sister she's had in awhile."

"Well, that makes me feel one hundred times better!" I blew air up, and it made my hair sway.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel worse…"

"I know…" I looked down.

"I have to break up with her."

"What?" I was extremely puzzled, "why?"

"She acts like I'm her slave!" he through his hands into the air.

"No she doesn't." I placed his hands back on the counter.

"Hey, baby? Get my jacket!"

"Ya see?" he looked at me with annoyed filled eyes.

"Does she always do that?"

"Yes..." his voice faded, as he got closer to Pinnellapi's bunk.

I heard them argue, and then I heard something unexpected. She slapped him across the right side of his flawless face. She came running into the kitchen area of the bus, were I was, and stormed off with out saying a word. I was close to asking her what was wrong. But, it was obvious she had just been dumped.

"Well, that went…" he stopped mid sentence, and the bus filled with laughter.

"You think that's funny? You broke her heart. So not funny!"

"Just the way she handled it was." He mocked her exit.

"Tyler! Knock it off…" I chuckled at his facial expressions. He knew Pinnellapi rather well.

He came back over to the counter, and placed his arms close to mine. He tried to grab my hands, but I moved away.

"Tyler, property of Joe. Remember?" I pointed at myself.

"Yeah! I know…it's a shame." His lips pressed together.

"What is?" my eyebrows pulled together.

"It's just that, we used to be happy. Happier then Joe and you are now."

"Oh, really? Well for your information I'm perfectly happy."

"Doesn't seem that way. Him hiding secrets…" he grabbed my hand.

I pulled away, but his grip was to strong, "You're hitting on me."

"Yeah? So?"

"Well, you sure do bounce back fast. Just a second ago, you were. Well, you were. How come you aren't sad about Pinnellapi? You love her. I can tell. Or, at least you did love her."

"I'm not going to let a break up stop me from moving on to a new path." He held the cheek that Pinnellapi smacked. It was bruised, and lobster red. It looked more like she punched him.

"But, Tyler…you can't let it go that easy."

"Just drop it…it's been dealt with. I'm over her."

"It's like you don't even care! You haven't changed at all. When you dumped me, you didn't care either. You had another girl by your side, before I could even blink!"

"You don't think I care? I love Pinnellapi, but when things don't work out, they don't work out!" he started to soften, like ice cream ready to melt.

His hands covered his face for a while, and when his eyes reconnected with mine, tears were in his.

"Brianna…I cared about you too. I loved you. But, none of that matters now."

"You're absolutely right. None of it does. I'm in love with Joe. And once again, you're the one alone and miserable. I guess that's just your fate." I looked into his eyes one last time, to see if I could find any emotion, but nothing.

I went to my bunk, and laid there listening to whispers. The voices I recognized, Nicole, Tyler, and Joe.

"Guys, what are we going to do?" Nicole tried to keep her tone hushed.

"Joe? Have you even brought it up? Have you even done that yet?" Tyler's voice was fast and obnoxious.

"Of coarse we've done that! And if I'd already brought it up yet, I wouldn't be asking for all your help!" Joe's voice was angry.

"Well, while this is going on does she, play with your hair, touch your arm, or hold you?" Nicole's questions were all random to me. Although, this whole thing was, since I had no clue what was going on.

"All of the above." Joe's response was quick. He didn't even have to think about it.

"Well, then, she obviously loves you."

"Nicole, I know that! But, is it the right time to…" Joe was stopped by footsteps. My footsteps.

"What's going on here?" all of their eyes bugged out, and they all froze.

"Um, just a little meeting." Nicole tried to cover up their sloppy mess. They didn't make sure I was asleep.

"A meeting? About what?" I tried to pry.

"Honey, go back to bed." Joe tried to get rid of me.

"Not until..." Joe covered my mouth with his hand.

"Baby, you'll find out, just please go to sleep." His eyes pierced into mine. I knew he wasn't lying when he said, you'll find out. He uncovered my mouth.

"Well, ok, night baby." I kissed him, and my gut filled with butterflies because of all the people watching. I ran my fingers through his hair, touched his arm, and held him close to me.

As I was walking away, I heard Nicole mumble, "It's time. Just wait a few more weeks or so."

At that second, my mind started to race with a million thoughts. My head over flowed with thoughts, and they started to pour out of my ears. I finally caught the right thought.

"Marriage?" I whispered to myself.

I fell asleep hugging my pillow. When I woke up, the next morning, there was a note stuck to the pillow I was squeezing to death. It read:

Brianna,

Hey baby. I didn't want to wake you this morning, to say goodbye, so I wrote this instead. I'll be back in about two hours or so. My parents want to talk with me, they say it's serious, so unfortunately I hade to leave my baby behind. Yes, you. (Lol) Well, I'll see you later. I love you, and miss you already.

Love,

Joe

I folded the paper in a tiny square, and put it in my pillowcase. I always wondered how Joe wrote with such perfection.

"Morning sunshine!" Nicole had a huge smile on her face, when I entered the sun filled kitchen.

"Well, you're very chipper." I squinted, trying to get used to the bright light.

"Yeah, well, I have good news on the brain!"

"Oh. What was Joe holding that meeting for?" I tried to throw my question at her hard, so she would have to spit it out. Like when a bully is trying to get an answer out of you, and they give you a blow to the gut, that's exactly what I was trying to do. Force it out of her.

"Oh, that thing, that was nothing." She didn't even hesitate on her answer.

"Uh, huh? I'm sure it was." I didn't believe her one bit, but something about her confident answer made me think, that maybe, she was telling the truth.

"I mean, all we discussed was if Joe should break up with you or not. He doesn't want to hurt your feelings though. He loves you Brianna, but do you love him?" Her question hit me in the gut. She was the bully now.

"He…wants…to…let me go?" My pain filled eyes looked in Nicole's, and she answered truthfully.

"He feels like you two are drifting apart. Do you feel that way?" She had to look away from me; my pain was hurting her too.

"No. Nicole, I, I can't loose him. I excessively need him right now, more then ever before! More then anyone can ever know. I can't handle letting him go, I have a vigorous connection with him, that's going to be hard to find with anyone else! Did he really go see his parents, or did he leave? Please, don't tell me he already left! Oh. My. Gosh! Did he?" I grabbed Nicole's hand, pleading her to tell me other wise.

"What would you do if I told you he left?" her face crinkled at the thought.

"He left! How could he? He didn't even say goodbye. I can't…live…without him." My voice started to crack on the verge of tears.

My throat felt like I had a huge pill stuck in it, and it wouldn't go away. Tears rolled down my face, with every negative thought I had. Every tear stood for one moment Joe and I shared. I would have to cry a million tears for the memories to run out. "Nicole? I drove him away? I…I…I made the love of my…life…run. I can't believe…I did this. To…to myself." My crying made it hard to speak.

"Brianna…I never said that…" Nicole tried to speak.

"OH! Save it! He's gone! I wanted to spend my life…with him…and now I can't!"

"But, Brianna!"

"And he's ne-never coming ba-back!" my crying got uncontrollable.

"Brianna! He didn't leave! I said what if…you never let me finish."

"Oh!" I sniffled in excitement.

"He did go see his parents. That something "serious" was about you. They think Joe needs to decide if he wants to spend his life with you or not. Look…" she pointed out the tiny bus window, "he's back already…wipe those tears away! Hurry!"

My tears had dried away by the time Joe got into the bus. "Hey, Joe, what did your parents want?" I didn't mean to sound ignorant.

"Uh, they wanted to talk…about you." He chocked talking about it; "About if I want to marry you, and what they think of you…" he looked down.

"Well, what do they think of me?" I got concerned because he's expression fell to a sad pout.

"They think your great. But, they haven't actually met you…so that brings me to their idea."

"Idea?"

"Yeah, they want to take us to dinner. But, they don't want to be seen. Kind of like just us on a regular date, except they'll be watching us. I know weird right? You don't have to…" I cut him mid-sentence.

"No, I'll do it. It's cool..."

"Really? Ok, well, great! The dinner's in three days; get ready." He smiled.

"Whoa! Three days? I'm not sure I can handle that being three days away."

"You'll be fine…" he kissed my forehead and slipped into his bunk. Something was on his mind.

"Honey?" I pushed open the bed curtain, just an inch. Enough to see his face, "what's the matter?" I reached in his bunk and stroked his sweat filled hair. Even though that grossed me out, I didn't stop. He needed comfort. I crawled in with him, and wrapped my arms around his waist.

"I just have a lot on my mind, that's all." He placed his hands on mine, then he made me roll over, so his hands would be around my waist; just the way I was holding him.

"Joe…why are you so cold?" I shivered at his touch.

"It's cold out…" he unraveled his arms, and I was free.

"I didn't want you to let me go. You need extra warmth right now." I laughed, but I was serious.

"Oh, alright. Hmm? You're very hot. Literally speaking…"

I chuckled, "Haha, well thank you."

"I mean I'm burnin' up over here."

"Yeah, okay Joe. I get the point."

"I love you." His words weren't expected at the time, but I knew he meant it.

"I know I love you too."

"So, you're still willing to do this restaurant thing?"

"Of coarse."

"Well, I'm not sure you'll act the same knowing they'll be there."

"Whom exactly are you referring to?" I acted like my hair color, blonde. Acted stupid, so I would hopefully forget that his parents where even going.

Hidden in the shadows, they'll be watching. They'll be in plain site, without us ever spotting them once. Sneaking little spies they'll become. "Joe, just promise me that if you do happen to see them, that you won't point them out to me. I want to act like nothing weird is going on. It's just going to be you and me. Nothing else will come between our date, ok"

He was staring blankly into the stiff dull air. He had a desperate look on his face like he was calling out for help inside; I snapped my fingers, "JOE?"

"Huh? Oh, sorry! I was just thinking about the time you and my mother first met, unofficially, and on accident."

"Oh?" I said in a question.

"Yeah, backstage at one of your concerts; us kissing in the back lounge. Of coarse my mother had to ruin that!" he looked down with a sulking expression smacked across his face.

"No need for that angry stare…well night honey. Sweet dreams…" I patted his back, then climbed out of his old-memory filled bunk, I laugh-whispered to myself, "Good times…"

An adrenaline rush poured over me, as I climbed into my bunk. As I sat there lonely, wanting to go back to Joe, I rewound my thoughts. Until, I had that memory Joe was talking about replaying. I fell asleep quickly that night. I dreamt about that moment, and wishing I could relive it, I woke up unwilling to move. I turned my head to the alarm clock that was buzzing in my right ear. I pushed snooze, and then looked at the time, "2:30 already? Luckily I don't have any shows today."

I rolled onto my side and wiggled myself out of my bunk. My bare feet lightly touched the cold surface of the bus floor, and I shivered. It reminded me of when I had touched Joe's hand last night. Suddenly, I was swept off my feet.

"Good morning baby!" Joe kissed my lips, and placed me gently on the counter top in the kitchen.

"Honey? Why so excited?" I looked at him shocked, and a little worried too.

"Tomorrow! Our date…" his eyes squinted when the sun decided to blind us with its harmful rays.

"Oh…that…" I looked down.

"What? Why that puppy dog face?" he lifted up my face with his pointer finger. I tried not to look him in his hazel eyes.

"It's just that I'm…"

"Look at me!" he groped my face aggressively, and held it so I would have to stare at him.

"Joe…please." My eyes started to water.

He dropped my face when he saw tears were on their way, "Oh baby, don't cry. Everything's going to be alright. If you don't want to go…"

"No…it's not that. I don't want to screw this up for us. What if they don't like what they see? What if they make us say goodbye?"

"Stop it! Stop it right now! There is no way that's going to happen…"

"You don't know…"

"Stop interrupting me! I do know that. There is no way that my parents won't like you. You're amazing. Please stop worrying." He picked me back up, and held me close to him.

"Joe, I don't know if I can…"

"Baby, shhh." He rocked us back and forth. It soothed me. I felt like I was sitting in a rocking chair.

I laughed, "We are going to be spied on tomorrow."

I saw him smile, "That we are my love." He kept on rocking me like his baby.