So a few things...first i want to make it clear that its a total freak accident that Joe's girlfriend is named LIlly, and that she is not in anyway ment to be lilly from Hannah. Second, i rewrote this a million times to try and get it just right, so i hope you guys like it. OH and i got to hear Six Feet Under the Stars live this past weekend, it was amazing. :) REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!!
Flashback:
I tightened my grip on the hand intertwined in mine as I used my left hand to knock on the apartment door in front of me. I looked over and smiled at my companion, my stomach in knots. Suddenly the door opened,
Kevin stood looking at me, slowly a smile spread across his face. He looked busy, "Miley. Hey, how are yo..." He stopped mid sentence and smile, noticing the person standing next to me, then his eyes moved to our linked hands. "Oh, you've brought someone with you. Hi I'm Kevin." He stuck out his hand.
I looked up and nodded to Brian, who nervously stuck his hand out to meet Kevin's'. "Hi I'm Brian Daly, Nice to meet you Kevin." He shot Kevin the smile that broke my heart.
"Well, I assume you actually brought Brian here for Joe's seal of approval not mine, correct?" Kevin stood back from the doorway and leaned to the left, "Joe, that girl you talk to nonstop is here." He loved to joke about how close we were, I think it was partly because he knew that no matter how much he and I tried, our friendship from back in the very early days would never be the same, never be like mine and Joes. It was a way to cover up the truth.
Suddenly Joe appeared out of nowhere, "Miley, gosh cover yourself up. You are practically wearing nothing!" Always picking apart my outfits.
"Jeez duffous, it's just a dress. And I didn't come here for some of your lame fashion advice; I wanted you to meet…"
Joe cut me off, "Brian. Brian Daly correct? Finally I get to meet you; I've been dying to put my seal of approval on you." He reached out and forcefully shook Brian's hand, then laughed as if he was joking. Brian laughed along believing it was all in good fun, I knew Joe better than that.
"Alright, well how about we all go out for lunch?" Quickly I grabbed Joe's arm and pulled him along with me towards the elevator, Brain on our tail. "Joe you listen to me." I whispered, "I'm eighteen years old, and I really like this guy as you know. Things have been going great for us over the past month and I think you will like him, so I swear to god if you fuck this up for me…" I finished in one breath, seeing what I hoped was understanding in Joe's eyes, I didn't need another failed relationship.
"Coffee, coffee, coffee, my lord do I need coffee." I was talking to myself, trying to keep myself awake. After all these years of barley no sleep, it never got easier.
"What was that?" Miley came marching into the kitchen in sweat pants and a tank top, free to show off as much of her stomach as she wanted.
"Nothing, I was just talking to myself, I'm in dire need of coffee." I smiled at her, hoping that today we could avoid a fight. It is really just her hormones, that all. That's what I try to convince myself of at least.
"Oh, coffee mmm, I'm so jealous you get to drink it." She licked her lips. Maybe today would be a good day for us.
"Alright, so today lets run through the schedule. We need to figure out how we are going to start to deal with all of this…" I let out a breath, apparently I had been holding mine.
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"Nick comes on hurry up! We are going to be late!" I stood in dark jeans and an old oversized gray shirt by the door, purse over my arm and a bag of food at my feet.
"Sorry, sorry. I'm here." He walked towards me and placed a kiss on my lips, chills. "So Joe and Kevin's tonight right?" He picked up the bag at my feet and before standing tall again kissed my stomach.
"No, Demi and Selena's, it was our house last week and it will be at Joe and Kev's next." I smiled and laughed, ushering him out the door. Since we had all lived in this building this was our Friday tradition. Granted it changed overtime, from back when Joe and Kevin shared a place down here (now part of our home) and I lived upstairs to the remodels and mine and Nicks moving in together. Every Friday we got together, while it was rare that all six of us where in town it always happened, with or without all six people. Nick opened the door and I grabbed his arm, closed the gap between us and kissed him slow, deep and with fire. He placed his hand on the small of my back and pulled me closer, right there in the open door way. We moved so that he was firm again the door and continued our battle, until I felt something hard rubbing against my leg. I pulled away, and moved across the hall.
"Now that is just cruel." He said with sorrow as I heard him adjust himself and lock the door behind him.
As I opened the door to Demi and Selena's he stopped me with a hand around my growing waist, and whispered in my ear,
"When we get home tonight, we are finishing what YOU started."
I began to pull away when Demi walked into the open door way, dressed almost in a matching outfit to mine, one of the rules on Fridays, Casual dress. "Oh you silly married couple, so how does it feel to know the whole world knows?" She asked brightly as she took a seat on the couch, allowing us to fend for ourselves, I sat in a chair across from hers as Nick meandered around the place setting up the food.
"Well it is nice to be able to wear my ring in public. Instead of hiding it, I was always afraid that Nick would lose his." I rolled my eyes and gave a look to Demi saying 'you know how he can be'. She giggled.
"And I think it's a pain in my ass. It means more people harassing us but its what Miley wanted. And I'll have you know, I kept my ring on my key ring the past two years. It was always with me, because I always have my keys." He shot a playful glare as he carried bowls of salsa and chips over to the coffee table. "Now where is darling Sel?"
"She just got out of the shower, you know her…" She stopped.
"Always late." I finished her sentence, just as Selena danced out of her room, through the kitchen picked up a chip and plopped down in the chair next to me. Looking adorable in oversized grey sweat pants and a black camisole, her hair in a simple pony tail.
"Hey, I'm not that late today Miss. Preggers. I got here before Joe and Kevin!" She said in a hushed tone.
"Sel, you live here. Besides you know Kevin is making his way down here right, Ahh there he his!" Nick stopped as Kevin walked through the door in a paint covered polo and jeans and sat next to Demi.
"What about me?" He asked as he began to shovel food into his mouth. "Love all the candles Demi." He spat food out as he spoke.
"Hey what about me!" Sel demanded.
"Selena, don't kid yourself he knows you where running late and that Demi prepared the place." I laugh as I pick up a plate and load it with snacks, pregnancy makes you hungry.
"Anyways I was saying Kevin, that you where on your way, because Joe was still prying himself from Lilly."
We all laughed, it was another rule that unless you were part of the original group, or a spouse, I happened to fall under both categories, you weren't allowed to Fridays. Suddenly Joe walked in the door, and before even saying a word walked over to the stereo system plug in his iPod and pressed play, unleashing the guitar that by the looks of everyone in the room was new to us all. Turning around he flashed his evil grin and sat down at the feet of Selena on the ground, it was obvious it was going to be another classic Friday.