Here's chapter eight! In which Joe finally acknowledges his feelings…to himself, anyway. And I can't say it enough…thanks so much for all the story alerts/favorites/reviews! You guys are totally amazing! Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter.
Disclaimer: Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers do not belong to me.
JLJLJLJLJLJL
Chapter 8
Joe sighed as he sat down on the couch in his trailer, watching TV. He flipped through channels, but his mind wasn't on the images flashing on the screen. He was thinking about Lilly. He was always thinking about Lilly lately. Not that he hadn't been thinking of her constantly before…
But since many of Rosalind's scenes were with Marcus, they had spent most of the last three days together, rehearsing and preparing to start filming. He chuckled, thinking of his blonde friend who was getting increasingly flustered and tired as the days wore on. Kenny was really concerned about making sure Lilly was up to speed on everything, and he was working her extremely hard. It was definitely taking its toll since she was really cranky and exhausted all the time.
For example, the other day during one of their few breaks between rehearsals, Joe had been sitting against a wall in one of the classrooms when Lilly had plopped down next to him, looking absolutely exhausted. Without a word, she curled up on the floor and rested her head on his lap. Joe had laughed and said something teasingly to her, but when she didn't respond he looked down at her face and realized that she was asleep. Smiling, he brushed a stray lock of hair out of her face and let her rest until Kenny resumed rehearsals.
It seemed like for the last few days he had been doubling as her personal pillow, but Joe didn't mind at all. He was ready to admit it to himself.
He liked her. A lot.
It wasn't just because she was beautiful or funny or different. Nick was right…there was chemistry there. Every time Joe saw her, his heart quickened and breathing became difficult. When she laughed or smiled, it was all Joe really needed to get him through the day and when they touched there was this spark...this connection between them that couldn't be denied. They just…clicked. There was also that little matter of jealousy that he really needed to control. But the point was, he couldn't lie to himself anymore. He was finally ready to acknowledge the truth.
Now he just had to figure out how she felt about him. He thought about asking his brothers what they thought, but he scrapped that thought immediately. They would tease him mercilessly. Asking Olivia crossed his mind, but since she and Kevin had become really close friends, she would probably end up telling his older brother. He thought about asking Oliver, but he had been pretty much M.I.A. ever since Lilly got the part of Rosalind. In fact, he hadn't even bothered coming to set that day. And asking Miley was out of the question. She was nice enough and they were friends and everything, but sometimes she acted really weird around him. Most of the time they could talk normally, but sometimes she seemed to lose control of her eyelids she'd blink rapidly at him. Then at meals, she kept kicking his foot under the table…and with the heels she wore, it kind of hurt. And there was absolutely no way he was going to go up to Lilly and say, "Hey Lilly, I have a crush on you. Do you like me, too?" Joe laughed just picturing it.
Well, he thought. I guess I'll have to figure this out on my own. Detective Joe Jonas is on the case!
He tried to think analytically about how she acted around him. He knew she was comfortable around him, otherwise why would she use him as a pillow? And she cared, otherwise why would she have rehearsed with him that first time? Or why would she have brought him an ice cream cone from her trailer when he had been during one of his breaks from rehearsing outside in the hot sun? And then there was that moment on the porch the first night. The almost kiss that he couldn't help but think of whenever he saw her. They got along really well, although sometimes Lilly did run hot and cold around him. There were moments when they were together that felt right, and he was sure that she felt the same. But then there were other moments where she kind of pushed him away romantically or tried to emphasize the friend aspect of their relationship. He sighed. Oh well. At least he knew that she didn't hate him.
"I hate you," the object of his affection declared as she burst into the Jonas trailer.
Well, he thought. There goes that idea…
He looked up and grinned at his flustered friend. "And what is it you hate me for?" he asked innocently.
She glared at him and began pacing in front of the TV. "In case you haven't noticed, Kenny has been working me like dog for the past three days. He wants to do scenes over and over and over and over and I just want to scream! I mean I understand that he wants me to get it right, but doing the same scene sixteen times in a row? And on top of that, Kenny had me up until 3:00 a.m. with Miley and Olivia going over all of our scenes last night."
Joe chuckled, which was a mistake because if looks could kill, he'd definitely be six feet under. He just couldn't help it. She was just too adorable when she was mad.
"Don't laugh. On top of that, that cheerleading coach she's making me do stuff Mikayla didn't have to do! I mean, I know Mikayla wasn't getting tossed in the air by some random guy. And just because I can do a back handspring or a round off doesn't mean you have to make me do them!"
Joe leaned back in his seat and grinned up at her. "Welcome to show business."
She stopped pacing and crossed her arms in annoyance. "Again, I hate you."
"Alright," Joe said jovially. "But I'll make it up to you."
"Don't you be nice to me when I'm mad at you," she snapped, crossing her arms across her chest. Then she cocked her head to the side, looking intrigued. "How?"
Joe thought for a moment. "I don't know yet. But I will."
Lilly plopped down on the couch next to him and he put his arm around her comfortingly. She yawned widely, cuddled into his side and rested her head on his shoulder. Joe looked at her; the faint scent of apples emanated from her hair and he breathed in deeply.
"I'm holding you to that," she muttered sleepily, then sighed.
Joe grimaced. "I'm sorry this hasn't been a lot of fun so far. I was really hoping you'd enjoy it."
Lilly's expression softened. "Sorry for being so cranky. I really do appreciate this opportunity and it's been fun most of the time."
"But?" Joe prompted.
"It just sucks that the only time I've seen you guys has been when I'm working with you. And as much fun as acting is, it's just so much work. Not that I didn't think it'd be work, but I didn't expect it to be soul-sucking never-ending work!"
Joe tried to stifle a chuckle. "Well, you know that even if you weren't in the movie, you wouldn't see us much anyway."
"That isn't the point! We just haven't had time to hang out at all and I don't think I've even seen Oliver for the past three days. And I just want to sleep," Lilly groaned and closed her eyes, draping her arm across Joe's stomach.
Joe rubbed her shoulder gently and took her hand that was draped over his stomach in his free hand. "I know, baby, I know."
"But there's just so much stuff we have to do! And since I'm new to the cast I barely even get breaks! If I'm not working with you guys, Kenny wants me working with him individually." Lilly's eyes flew open. "What did you just call me?"
"I—uh—um—er—" Joe stuttered, trying to think of something to say to cover his slip. He was saved from answering by Miley and Nick bursting into the trailer. Nick took one look at them and snickered while a frown marred Miley's brow. Lilly quickly withdrew her arm from around Joe and scooted away from him and he sighed. There was that standoffish thing again…
Miley looked at them questioningly. "What are you guys up to?"
Joe lay his arm along the back of the couch nonchalantly, unconsciously letting his fingers brush Lilly's shoulder. Lilly tried to ignore the frisson of pleasure that ran down her spine and surreptitiously moved away. Joe merely moved so that he was touching her again.
"Oh, just listening to Lilly whine," he replied.
Lilly pouted at him. "Shush. I'll whine if I want to. And if I recall correctly, you're the who got me into this mess."
"And she's still a little upset with me," Joe continued as if he hadn't heard her.
Nick cracked up from beside Miley. "A little?" he chortled.
"Okay, so maybe more than a little," the older brother elaborated, looking a bit chagrined. Lilly couldn't help but smile at him. He smiled back as he caught her eye, and Lilly caught her breath. The two stared at each other for a moment, grinning like idiots for no apparent reason.
Miley looked back and forth between the two of them, clearly confused. She cleared her throat loudly and the two looked away from each other, a faint blush covering Lilly's cheeks.
"So what have you guys been up to?" Lilly asked awkwardly, trying to divert attention from her and Joe.
Nick grinned. "We had lunch at this really cool Korean restaurant. We cooked our own food, and it was awesome!"
Miley nodded excitedly, forgetting about the little scene between Lilly and Joe. "It was amazing! Although I thought Nick was going to burn the place down…"
"I was not! I know how to cook!" the younger Jonas protested.
"I believe you," Miley replied, rolling her eyes.
Lilly's cell phone rang, interrupting a potential argument. She groaned when she saw it was Kevin.
"Please, please, please tell me that Kenny's not looking for me," she begged when she picked up, putting him on speakerphone.
She heard Kevin's chuckle on the other end. "I would, but then I'd be lying. He's looking for you and Miley."
Lilly pouted again. "But I just started my break 10 minutes ago. Tell him that you couldn't find me. That my cell phone got eaten by a frog and that I didn't answer."
"If your cell phone got eaten by a frog and you didn't answer, how would Kevin know that?" Joe asked laughingly from beside her.
"And how could your cell phone get eaten by a frog?" Kevin wondered.
"Just…just think of something!" Lilly implored him.
"Sorry, Lil," Kevin said apologetically. "But he really wants you guys to go over all the cheerleading routines."
"He's a slave driver!" the blonde declared dramatically.
Kevin tried to placate her. "I know, I know."
"I mean, how come we have to cheer? You guys don't have to actually play football!"
"Why are you complaining? You already know how to cheer," Miley pointed out.
Lilly threw her hands in the air and leaned back in her seat. "That's not the point!"
"Just get over here, you big baby," Kevin commanded. "And stop sticking our tongue out at the phone. I know you."
Sulkily, Lilly pulled her tongue back into her mouth. "Fine. We'll be there in a few minutes." She hung up the phone, stood up and sighed. "Let's go, Miley. We'll see you guys later."
Joe hopped to his feet. "We'll go with you. We haven't seen the cheerleading stuff yet."
The boys followed them to the gym and sat in the bleachers as the girls ran to get changed. As Lilly and Miley came out in their cheerleading uniforms Joe couldn't help but laugh. They looked so cute! Lilly, obviously still peeved, glared at him.
"Not a word, Jonas," she snapped as she and Miley hurried past and got into position.
Nick's eyes crinkled in amusement. "I love Lilly when she's cranky."
Joe nodded in agreement, watching the cheerleaders warm up, and then run through their routines. There were several cheers and three routines that would possibly make it into the movie. He knew that in one scene, he and Nick would be sitting at a football game, talking about Miley while watching the half-time show and the camera would cut to the routine every now and again, featuring all three main girls, but especially Miley.
Joe watched Lilly intently as the rehearsal went on. He held his breath whenever she was up in the air and whenever she dismounted and he cheered enthusiastically whenever she did any tumbling. By the end of the two-hour long practice, his jaw was practically on the ground, he was so impressed with her. Miley, Olivia and Lilly walked up to the boys, all sweaty and hot, water bottles in hand. Lilly was a lot more cheerful than she had been a couple of hours ago.
Note to self, exercise makes her happy. Joe filed that bit of information away in case he might need it later.
"Can I get you ladies some towels?" Nick asked smoothly, as he and Joe stood to greet them.
"That would be great," Miley said gratefully and he left to go find some.
"You guys were amazing!" Joe exclaimed. He turned to Lilly and grinned widely. "Especially you! Acting, skateboarding, cheerleading…is there anything you can't do?"
Lilly chuckled. "Sing."
"I don't believe it."
"It's true," Miley jumped in, nudging Lilly teasingly. "She's terrible at it."
Joe looked at Miley skeptically. "I don't think anybody could be a terrible singer. Let's here you sing something."
Lilly and Miley both shook their heads violently. "Do you want to kill everyone?" Lilly asked.
"Come on, just let me here something," Joe insisted.
"Yeah," Olivia agreed. "It can't be that bad."
Lilly sighed. "Fine. It's your funeral. They say that good things take time / but really great things happen in the blink of an eye."
"Ahh!" Joe cried, wincing and covering his ears. "Okay, you can stop now. You were right. I believe you."
Lilly punched him on the shoulder. "I told you so."
Joe and Lilly heard Olivia groan and turned to look at her. "Joe, put your arm around Lilly's waist," the older girl commanded.
Miley, Lilly and Joe looked at her in confusion. "What?"
"Put your arm around her waist," Olivia repeated, gesturing to a point over Joe's shoulder. "That guy keeps staring at her, and I don't like it."
"Don't tell me it's Creepy again," Lilly groaned.
Miley turned around and grimaced. "Yep, it's him alright."
"Who's Creepy?" Joe questioned in befuddlement.
Lilly rolled her eyes. "He's one of the producer's sons who's been hanging around for a while. And ever since Mikayla was fired, he's been staring at me and it makes me uncomfortable."
Joe looked over his shoulder and glowered. "Do you want me to beat him up for you?"
Lilly smiled. "Nah, I just want him to stop staring."
"And maybe he'll stop staring if he thinks you have a boyfriend, so freaking put your arms around her," Olivia instructed assertively.
"But why Joe?" Miley asked, a frown tugging down at the corners of her lips.
"Is there any other boy here? Kevin went to take a nap, Nick went to go get towels, and Joe is the only one here," the older girl explained patiently. "Are you going to do it or not? Or we could always go find Carl…"
"I'll do it," Joe told her. He pulled Lilly in front of him, wrapping his arms possessively around her waist. He rested his head on top of hers and sighed contentedly.
"Sorry I'm all stinky and sweaty," Lilly whispered, bringing her hands up to cover his over her stomach.
"I don't mind," he whispered back, looking at Creepy. Joe tightened his arms protectively around her. He didn't like him or the way that the guy was looking at Lilly at all; he was definitely going to have to keep an eye on him.
JLJLJLJLJLJL
So just because Lilly got the role doesn't mean life is all fun and sunshine and daisies for Lilly and she is understandably crabby. Haha, I like crabby!Lilly. Anyway, I hope you liked it!
On another personal note, I bought Miley's CD today. I really enjoyed most of it, especially "Fly on the Wall," "Full Circle," "Goodbye" and "Simple Song." Just thought I'd throw that out there…
I'd really love to know what you all thought; whether you liked it or not, suggestions, questions, constructive criticism…I love and appreciate it all!
Thanks for reading!
-v
