Ninety minutes and 4 'Kokes' later, Bailey was completely out of it. Instead of having a motor mouth and crazy dance moves, the alcohol had a different effect on her. She was as quiet as a mouse, her eyes glossy as she stared out into space. Almost losing her balance on the barstool, her mind came back into reality, not being able to process the grin on the bartender's face in front of her. She eyed him out of confusion.
"Told you I made the best." he boasted.
Bailey scrunched her nose up, slipping off the barstool. "You're weird." she said blatantly before turning around and walking into a crowd of people.
"Hey, watch it!" she heard a girl exclaim.
"Sorry." Bailey muttered in response, throwing her hands up as her eyes gazed down to the ground. She couldn't even focus her eyes long enough to see the glares from the random people that she was receiving. She then spun around, away from the group and into a somewhat familiar curly head.
"Hey Bails." Nick smiled at her, but she couldn't tell.
"Nicholas!" she exclaimed, grabbing onto his shoulders with both hands. "How've you been, buddy?" a cheesy grin spread across her face as Nick inhaled the foul smell of her breath. He tried not to gag.
"Are you alright?" he cautiously asked, hoping that she wasn't what he thought she was.
"Never better." she continued to beam. He watched as her eyes tried to focus on his, but they just swirled around aimlessly. At that moment he realized that she wasn't just playing with him; she was completely wasted.
"When was the last time you've talked with anyone? Where's Mandy?" Nick questioned, concern in his voice. Bailey laughed, then shrugged her shoulders.
"Mandy wandered off hours ago." she flung her wrist in the air, almost hitting a man who was passing by. "Oops." she giggled.
Nick then glanced around the area, a bit paranoid. Wrapping his arm around Bailey's waist, he began to walk.
"Come on. I'm going to take you back to the hotel." he stated. Just them, Bailey stopped walking and jerked away from him.
"I don't want to leave!" she exclaimed, making a few people around them stare. Nick sighed.
"The party is over. Everyone is leaving." he lied to get her to give in, knowing that she wouldn't be able to tell the difference either way.
"Oh." Bailey replied, stumbling forward at him. His arm made it's way around her waist once again as he lead her outside of the flashy club, hoping that no one had seen.
After waving down a cab, Nick slowly helped Bailey into the backseat. He told the driver to take them to their hotel as fast as he could, unless he wanted to provide a barf bag. Believe it or not, the cab had stopped outside their destination in a quick 10 minutes and Bailey was on the verge of passing out. Nick swung the car door open and helped her out.
"Nick?" she mumbled, looking over at his blurry head.
"Yeah?" he replied hesitantly. The funny look her face made caused him to pull away from her. A split second later, she spewed out her insides on the pavement outside the hotel lobby. Wincing, Nick looked away, then back at her once the nasty gagging noises had stopped. After taking a deep breath and holding it in, Nick helped Bailey up to their floor.
Once stopping outside her door, Bailey looked at Nick expectantly.
"What?" he asked. "You don't have your card key?"
"Nick, I don't even think I have a brain right now." she gripped her throbbing head as the numbing feeling started to wear off. She was slowly coming back to reality. Sighing, Nick trailed down the hall to the room next to hers. After sliding his key in and hearing a beep, the door creaked open as he flicked on the lights. "Ow." Bailey groaned, her hand shooting up to her forehead.
"Sorry." he mumbled, then swiveled the light down so the room went dim. "You can just crash on Joe's bed 'til they get back I guess."
"I'd rather not." she replied disgustedly.
"Bails, you need to rest." Nick tried to keep his voice soft.
"I know, just not in his bed." she stated, making her way over to his. She eased herself into the bed, then let her head fall into her hands.
"So are you going tell me what's going on now? I've already waited this long to ask why in the world you were drinking, not to mention refusing your own boyfriend's bed. I deserve to know something." he spilled as the tension in the room rose a bit.
Bailey proceeded to give him the half-assed version of what she had witnessed. Her head felt like it was going to explode. Hoping he'd be satisfied with the limited amount of words she had spoken, she stood up as he tossed her one of his old shirts. She slipped the shirt over top of her strapless dress, then pulled the dress down her body and kicked it off by her feet. Now wearing only Nick's shirt and a pair of underwear, she slid into his vacant bed.
A little taken aback by the story he had just heard about his brother letting another girl kiss him, he was speechless. He had hoped that it was just the alcohol inside of her talking, but the other half knew that it was most likely true. She wouldn't have made it up, plus he knew how girls threw themselves at him. Nick didn't exactly know what to say to make her feel better,.
After grabbing a few pills, he walked over to Bailey's side of the bed and handed her the Advil with a glass of water. Her head crashed into the pillow after a simple 'thank you'. Instantly, her eyes closed. Her head hurt too much to even think; she was out within moments.
About an hour had passed. Nick stared at the almost silent TV screen as his cell buzzed in the pocket of his flannel PJ pants. He glanced down at the little LCD screen, it read 'Joe',
"Hey." he said quietly into the phone after placing it up to his ear.
"Have you seen Bailey?" Joe's voice was loud through the speaker as he tried to speak over the loud music in the background. Sighing, Nick got up and made his way into the tiny bathroom, closing the door behind him so he could talk at a normal volume.
"Yeah Joe, she's here."
"Ok, good!" he replied. "I couldn't find her. . . Why'd she leave? -You know what, never mind. I'll be there in a few. I'll talk to her then. Later!"
"But -" Nick started, but then slammed his phone shut after the line went dead.
Before he knew it, it was almost 5am.
The group arrived back at the hotel. After realizing Bailey was asleep in the room, everyone knew to keep it quiet, even if the adrenaline inside of them was still alive from the party. Joe stood above Bailey's sleeping body, looking at her beautiful face as the guilt continued racking up on his heart.
"Should I wake her up?" he asked softly, then looked up at Nick.
"Joe, just back off." he replied, sounding meaner than he wanted to.
"Hey!" Joe snapped, glaring at him.
"I mean, she's sick. Give her a bit of room, let her sleep." Nick quickly replied before grabbing a spare blanket and pillow out of the closet and making his way to the couch on the other side of the hotel room.
Looking back down to Bailey, Joe slowly leaned his body down and softly kissed her on her cheek. Sighing, he then got changed and slipped into bed where Kevin was already asleep.
- - - - -
Bailey was instantly awoken by the sour taste in her mouth. The clock next to the bed read '10am' as she rushed into the small bathroom and swinging the door closed. Doubling over the porcelain bowl, she threw up the rest of the junk that was in her stomach. She coughed a few times before falling onto her butt and leaning up against the bathroom wall. Her eyes started to close as the bathroom door slowly began to open. She watched as a sleepy Joe stared at her from the doorway.
"Are you alright?" his scratchy, morning voice asked as he kneeled down to look into her bloodshot eyes.
"Better than last night." she barley got out, not wanting to even speak. Bailey had never felt more disgusting in her life. She tried to overlook the questioning expression that played on his face, but she couldn't help it. "I think there was something in my drink last night." she shrugged, which was true.
"Oh." he replied. Hearing about last night made the guilt return to the front of his mind. "Do you want me to get you anything?"
"No, I think I'll be alright." she tried her best to convince him with a look of reassurance.
Joe stared at her for a moment before speaking. "I think we're heading out in an hour or so. We've got a show tomorrow in Minnesota, I think? Ross wants to get there early."
"Thanks for the heads up." she blinked slowly, then stood up, wiping her mouth on her sleeve.
With that, she made her way over to her and Mandy's room. After knocking on the door from the hallway, the door swung open to reveal Mandy in a towel.
"Hey party girl!" she smiled, moving away from the doorway so Bailey could enter. "Have fun last night?"
"I don't even want to talk about it." she groaned, then immediately went to the bathroom to shower.
Mandy banged on the door to get her attention. "It's alright. Nick already told me. -But don't worry, Joe doesn't know."
Sighing, Bailey stepped into the steamy shower, trying to scrub her thoughts away. If anything, it just caused her head to pound even more. All she wanted to do was get back to bed. Eventually, she finished and got all her stuff together. Wearing a baggy pair of sweatpants and a random t-shirt, Bailey followed Mandy and the boys down to the tour bus with their bags in hand. Everyone was pretty quiet, since they were still exhausted from the party that had ended only 6 hours prior.
Once everyone flooded onto the bus, they pretty much dispersed to their bunks. Bailey was the only one at first to head into the back lounge. Pulling her favorite blanket off the back of the couch, she curled up into the corner as Joe entered, taking a seat next to her.
"Bails, can we talk?" he asked, keeping his voice down a bit. All she did was nod. Joe took a deep breath, then looked away from her eyes. His heart pounded in his chest as he tried to find the words in his mouth. All he could think about when his head hit the pillow only hours before was the kiss. The kiss that wasn't from Bailey. "Last night, I messed up." he started. Instantly, Bailey's stomach sank. She knew exactly what was coming next. After taking another deep breath, he continued. "A girl kissed me last night. We were just standing there talking, and she just kissed me." Bailey was expressionless. "I pulled away though. . .but -"
"I know." she stated, her tired eyes looking up at his.
"What? You knew?" she nodded, the guilt building up even more inside his body.
"Bails, I'm so sorry. Really, I am. I shouldn't have just stood there. I should've pushed her away sooner. It's just, I was so caught up in the party, everything was crazy." she didn't speak, but his eyes were pleading. "I had her kicked out." he stated.
"You kicked her out?" Bailey exclaimed, a bit shocked.
"She shouldn't have done it. Plus she started screaming and cursing at me when I pushed her away." he shrugged. "She just had to go."
"Joe. . ."
"Look, it really shouldn't have happened and I'm sorry." he rambled. "She just. . .threw herself at me."
"I know, I saw." she said. "It's fine. Just forget about it." Bailey finished truthfully, just wanting to get back to sleep.
"I still feel horrible."
"Don't worry about it. It wasn't your fault."
"I don't care. I'm going to fix things. No matter who's fault it was, it still happened." he kept poking at it, trying to get the feeling out of his system.
"Joseph Adam, shut it. Alright?" Bailey snapped. "It's ok!" she grabbed his hand, pulling it into her lap. "Stop feeling bad about yourself. I saw what happened. It's over and done with." Joe just looked at her, trying to think of what to say.
"Alright." he surrendered, but the feeling was still there. He felt like he was forgetting something. "Just get some sleep. I can tell you had a rough night." she playfully smacked him on the arm. "Night, even though it's almost noon." he chuckled, then leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
Bailey smiled up at him until he made his way to his bunk. Feeling a bit better about everything, she sunk into the cushion, her head resting on the armrest as she curled the blanket up to her chin. Within moments she fell into a peaceful sleep.
- - - - -
After rolling over for a seventh time on the leather couch, Bailey finally threw the blanket onto the floor. She felt like her normal self again as she sat up, glancing up at the clock on the wall. It was a little after 6pm. Yawning and stretching her arms up above her head, she was a bit weirded out by the silence on the bus. Everything was still. She hesitantly made her way to the bunk area; no one was there. She was alone.
With that, she went to exit the bus to see where it was even parked. A note was hanging in the doorway. Her lips started to curl as she snatched it down.
" Meet me up above.
-Joe "
Scrunching her eyes in confusion, she stepped off the bus to see that she was in the parking lot behind a hotel that had a high elevation. She assumed everyone was already inside and checked in. Looking down at the note again, she mumbled to herself.
"Meet me up above." her voice was soft, as she looked up after hearing someone clear their throat. She chuckled as she watched Joe's head pop out from the roof of the bus.
"Hey sleepy head." he smiled, looking down at her.
"What are you doing up there?" she asked, shielding her eyes from the sun that was beginning to set.
"You know, stuff." he tried to sound secretive before waving her up. Making her way to the rear of the bus, Bailey slowly climbed up the steel ladder to see Joe sitting on a blanket with a bucket and bag of KFC and a boom box.
"Well, isn't this romantic." she laughed, walking over on the roof and taking a seat next to him.
"Yeah, look." he replied, turning his head and pointing over to the mountains far in the distance. The sky was mixed with hot pink and orange as the sun slowly began to sink behind the peaks.
"I guess we made it to Minnesota on time." she smiled, the scenery hypnotizing her mind. Her eyes stared out at the bright colors as Joe stared at her calm, beautiful face. "So what made you think of this?" she asked, redirecting her attention to his warm, dark eyes.
He shrugged, then put his hand on his growling stomach. "I thought you'd be hungry. Plus, we drove by a big sign that said something like, 'If you buy so-and-so, you get a free pirate ring'." Joe held up his hand proudly, showing off the big plastic skull on his finger. "I made them turn around and pull over." Bailey laughed as he dug into the bag.
After chowing down and finishing a lame conversation of 'who would throw the best hissy fit if we stuck their underwear in the freezer; Nick or Kevin?' Joe pulled a tiny box out of his pocket.
"Another pirate accessory?" Bailey joked, looking over at him. The sky was now a light purple, the sun had almost completely disappeared. She tried to keep herself from smiling as she watched him.
Joe chuckled, looking down as his fingers played with the box. "Not quite." His serious tone caught her attention. At that moment, a nervous feeling erupted in her stomach as her heart began to thump in her throat. "So, I." he cleared his throat. "I, uh, picked up this thing the other day." he gulped, then hesitantly looked up at her. "I was going to do this last night, but I couldn't find you." Bailey couldn't help but smile at how much difficulty he was having. The way the words slipped out of his mouth made him sound like he was unsure of himself, but that made him look even more adorable. "Well, I got you this." he said, opening the box to reveal a silver ring.
Bailey's eyes glistened as she looked down at the simple, shiny band. "Aw, Joe." she cooed, her nose started to burn a bit as her eyes began to tear.
Joe took the ring out and held it in front of her. "I had this made the other day." he paused, tilting the ring so she could see the inside. It had 'Joe & Bailey <3' engraved on it. "Here." he gently grabbed her hand and slipped the ring on her ring finger. "I wanted to get you something that symbolized us. This was the best I could think of." he shrugged, then smiled weakly. "It's not like, a purity ring or anything. It's just. . .you know, a ring. -I mean, unless you want it to stand for something else." he was now babbling, which made Bailey laugh.
"Joe, it's too cute. You're too cute." she smiled, leaning forward and planting a light kiss on his lips. "Thank you."
"Oh." he exclaimed, pulling his ring off of his finger. He showed her the inside.
"Oh my God. You got the same thing engraved on your ring?" she asked in disbelief, he nodded proudly. "Your mother is going to kill you!" Joe laughed.
"Calm down, I asked her first. She said it was a wonderful idea." he blushed a little.
"But Joe, you've got my name engraved on your purity ring." she chuckled. "Are you trying to tell me something?"
It looked as if Joe's eyes popped out of his head. "Bails! No, it's not even like that."
She laughed. "I was definitely kidding. But, I mean, if you really. . ." he eyed her. "I'm kidding! Kidding, kidding." she repeated with another smile, shaking her head at how serious he was being. "Just, what'll happen if we. . .you know, break up. . . Then you're stuck with that."
"Stop killing it." he forced out a chuckle.
"I mean, not that I'm saying we will. But in all reality, not everything lasts forever." Bailey's serious tone was soft as Joe's smooth hand held onto hers.
"Well, all I can say is that I'm going to do my best so it will last forever." he replied before she slowly moved in towards him, her lips passionately colliding with his.
For a moment she pulled away, staring deep into his eyes. "I like that idea." He smiled before reconnecting his lips with hers.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Mandy sat silently on the hotel bed in her clingy, purple fabric as Bailey trotted out of the bathroom, spinning her white, strapless dress around, showing off her sun-kissed legs. Soft, dark blonde curls laid softly on her shoulders as a few straight stands hung across her forehead. Her eyes were shimmered with a bronzy color that made her bright blue eyes twinkle. A thin, faded black line outlined her eyes, making them pop even more.
"Mandy, don't play with me!" she exclaimed, putting her hands on her hips. "Do I look alright?" Bailey didn't receive a response. "Come On! Say something."
"I'd tap that." she grinned, making Bailey roll her eyes.
"You scare me sometimes." Bailey laughed, trying to walk normally in her strappy heels to grab her purse off the bed. She tripped once, making Mandy crack up, but she quickly straightened her body and headed over towards the door.
"Ugh. The boys already left. Looks like we're showing up alone." Mandy sighed, closing her cell phone as they headed down to the lobby of the hotel.
"Well, not alone." Bailey corrected, linking her arm with hers. "We have each other."
Mandy laughed. "Talk about giving the wrong impression. . ."
"I don't even care anymore." she breathed out. "It's just good, clean fun."
- - - - -
"Damn, this place is huge." Bailey cooed, her eyes looking up at the flashing, florescent lights as she followed Mandy into the thumping, dimly lit club. People of all ages were everywhere, most of them dressed to impress. Bailey hadn't seen so many good-looking people all in one place in her life. She was amazed.
Mandy laughed at her amusement. "Yeah, this is just the norm." She linked her arm with Bailey's once more, then weaved in and out of people to get to the back lounge where she was told the boys would be.
Instantly, Bailey spotted Joe a few yards in front of her. His dark hair poking out from under his black Al Capone hat as his bright white teeth made a permanent appearance to the people that were talking to him at that moment. She couldn't help but smile as she watched him speak, how his lips moved with every word he said, the cute little laugh he'd make after each tiny comment. She was in love.
"C'mon." Mandy waved for Bailey to follow her over to Joe. The two older men that were talking with him walked off, leaving Joe to watch as they approached him.
"Mandy, you look great." he smiled, only glancing at Bailey for a split second. She felt a bit hurt as she stood there expectantly. "Hey, have you seen a gorgeous girl, about yey high, beautiful blue eyes and the most amazing smile you could die for." he smiled, trying his best not to meet Bailey's eyes. Playfully, she smacked him in the arm before he pulled her into a big hug, kissing her ear before squeezing her body against his. "You look amazing." he breathed on her neck that made the tiny hairs on her body stand on edge.
"You look pretty good yourself." she smiled back, once again trying to fight off the butterflies in her stomach. Even after this long, he still had that effect on her. "This place is crazy." she stated, pulling away and looking around in amazement.
"I know. I was so surprised." he chuckled, nudging her as Mandy looked at her funny. "Well, you know, because I had no idea what-so-ever." Joe coughed. "Ah, well, Ross told me to stay on my toes and mingle with everyone. Apparently, with me being an adult now, -" he shuddered. "- that's what I'm supposed to do." The girls laughed.
"Alright. I guess we'll see you around then?" Bailey smiled up at him as he moved in closer to her face. He smiled back and nodded quickly before placing a passionate kiss on her shiny lips. After pulling away for a quick moment, he went back in for another, then another, then another. "Joe!" she exclaimed, giggling a bit.
"Sorry." he blushed. "I can't help it." he kissed her again, then pulled away after feeling Bailey's hands pressing up against his chest. "Alright, alright. I'm going." his lips met hers once more before he scurried off into the crowd.
"You two are too cute." Mandy squeaked, a cheesy grin plastered on her face. All Bailey could do was blush as her entire body began to tingle.
- - - - -
"I'll have a coke, please." Bailey smiled at the bar tender, then turned around to get a good view or her area. It was about an hour into the party and it looked like the people had doubled. Joe was still out and about, and Mandy had drifted around to a few other people.
"Bailey Baker?" she heard a voice say, then watched as a body approached her. A woman who looked like she was in her late-twenties immediately extended her hand after receiving a head nod. "Maria Parker, I'm with Popstar." she smiled.
"Hi." she chuckled, a little overwhelmed that a magazine person was speaking with her. This was the first time ever that she had been recognized for anything.
"So I've heard that you're pretty much the best tour-assistant out there. Is that right?" Maria chuckled, brown nosing a bit. Bailey didn't care, she was loving it.
"Ah, well. I'm not horrible or anything." she chuckled, then grabbed the drink off the bar behind her without looking. Casually taking a sip, she ignored the odd-tasting 'Coke' that ran down her throat and continued to smile up at the woman.
"I know that this is supposed to be a night of fun and all, but do you think you'd mind doing an interview? I'm sure the readers would love to hear a bit from Joe Jonas' girlfriend." she grinned, hoping she had flattered her enough to lure her in.
After talking another gulp of the liquid in front of her, Bailey replied quickly. "How do you even know that?" she chuckled, Maria shrugged her shoulders.
"It's kind of our job. I mean, you can find anything on the internet now-a-days." she smirked. "Plus, fans had been asking about you, who you were, where you're from, so on and so forth. I think we owe it to them to let 'em know who their dream guy is dating."
Bailey laughed. "So I can get hate mail and death threats?"
Maria threw her hands up in the air. "Oh nonsense, they love you." she lied, but continued to smile. Laughing, Bailey agreed to the interview. She thought it'd be a little fun.
Within moments, Maria had lead Bailey into another back lounge. It was a little more closed off than the one she was in with Joe and Mandy earlier, but you could still easily hear the music and the commotion of the partiers around. It was a quick interview, only about twenty minutes long. She hadn't spilled her guts as much as she thought she was going to, but she was sure Maria had taken in enough information to make her article. After shaking her hand and saying goodbye, Maria then was lost in the crowd.
Sighing, Bailey eyed the masses of people around her as the music thumped in her mind. Laser lights were flying all around as she spotted Joe off in the distance talking to a couple girls. They looked like fans, gawking up into his gorgeous brown eyes and his perfect smile. Bailey found herself staring at him, even he was far away. She loved watching as the girls giggled over him. She couldn't help but laugh as the one fan popped up and kissed him on the cheek. Smiling, he tried to laugh it off himself, taking about a half step back. Smirking, Bailey continued to stare. She then squinted her eyes, wanting to make sure she wasn't, at that moment, seeing things. Another girl had brought her hand up to his cheek, and quickly moved in for his lips. A little shocked, Bailey didn't blink. She knew how crazy fans got, so she just waited a second for Joe to push her off of him. A second turned into two, then three, then four. Bailey froze in place as she watched for a mere ten seconds before Joe reluctantly pulled his lips away from hers, slowly opening his eyes to see the girl beaming up at him. It was as if something had hit him right then when he quickly shook his head and backed further away from the girl, realizing the mistake he had just made.
Bailey stayed where she was, off in the distance, not noticed by Joe. Her heart ached, watching another girl kiss him, but then again it was mended again when she saw the look of guilt on Joe's face. Yeah, he did pull away, but he was about nine seconds too slow.
Instantly, Bailey made her way back over to the bar to see the same man who had served her earlier. He looked down at her expectantly.
"Could you get me the same thing I had earlier?" she asked, her eyes pleading up at him.
"You liked that, aye?" he grinned. "That there was my version of Koke. You know, with a 'K'. Best drink in -" Bailey cut him off.
"Yes, I loved it. Now come on." she snapped, her fingers tapping the counter rapidly as she glanced around at the other people seated at the bar.
"Fine, killer." he threw his hands up in defense. "I guess I'm going to have to add a little extra magic to this one, if you know what I mean."
Bailey knew exactly what he meant. "That'd be perfect." she exclaimed, hoping that the guy didn't card her. She knew that the man thought she was at least 21. At that moment, she mentally thanked her parents for her good looks as she awaited her ticket out of reality.
"Mandy, don't play with me!" she exclaimed, putting her hands on her hips. "Do I look alright?" Bailey didn't receive a response. "Come On! Say something."
"I'd tap that." she grinned, making Bailey roll her eyes.
"You scare me sometimes." Bailey laughed, trying to walk normally in her strappy heels to grab her purse off the bed. She tripped once, making Mandy crack up, but she quickly straightened her body and headed over towards the door.
"Ugh. The boys already left. Looks like we're showing up alone." Mandy sighed, closing her cell phone as they headed down to the lobby of the hotel.
"Well, not alone." Bailey corrected, linking her arm with hers. "We have each other."
Mandy laughed. "Talk about giving the wrong impression. . ."
"I don't even care anymore." she breathed out. "It's just good, clean fun."
- - - - -
"Damn, this place is huge." Bailey cooed, her eyes looking up at the flashing, florescent lights as she followed Mandy into the thumping, dimly lit club. People of all ages were everywhere, most of them dressed to impress. Bailey hadn't seen so many good-looking people all in one place in her life. She was amazed.
Mandy laughed at her amusement. "Yeah, this is just the norm." She linked her arm with Bailey's once more, then weaved in and out of people to get to the back lounge where she was told the boys would be.
Instantly, Bailey spotted Joe a few yards in front of her. His dark hair poking out from under his black Al Capone hat as his bright white teeth made a permanent appearance to the people that were talking to him at that moment. She couldn't help but smile as she watched him speak, how his lips moved with every word he said, the cute little laugh he'd make after each tiny comment. She was in love.
"C'mon." Mandy waved for Bailey to follow her over to Joe. The two older men that were talking with him walked off, leaving Joe to watch as they approached him.
"Mandy, you look great." he smiled, only glancing at Bailey for a split second. She felt a bit hurt as she stood there expectantly. "Hey, have you seen a gorgeous girl, about yey high, beautiful blue eyes and the most amazing smile you could die for." he smiled, trying his best not to meet Bailey's eyes. Playfully, she smacked him in the arm before he pulled her into a big hug, kissing her ear before squeezing her body against his. "You look amazing." he breathed on her neck that made the tiny hairs on her body stand on edge.
"You look pretty good yourself." she smiled back, once again trying to fight off the butterflies in her stomach. Even after this long, he still had that effect on her. "This place is crazy." she stated, pulling away and looking around in amazement.
"I know. I was so surprised." he chuckled, nudging her as Mandy looked at her funny. "Well, you know, because I had no idea what-so-ever." Joe coughed. "Ah, well, Ross told me to stay on my toes and mingle with everyone. Apparently, with me being an adult now, -" he shuddered. "- that's what I'm supposed to do." The girls laughed.
"Alright. I guess we'll see you around then?" Bailey smiled up at him as he moved in closer to her face. He smiled back and nodded quickly before placing a passionate kiss on her shiny lips. After pulling away for a quick moment, he went back in for another, then another, then another. "Joe!" she exclaimed, giggling a bit.
"Sorry." he blushed. "I can't help it." he kissed her again, then pulled away after feeling Bailey's hands pressing up against his chest. "Alright, alright. I'm going." his lips met hers once more before he scurried off into the crowd.
"You two are too cute." Mandy squeaked, a cheesy grin plastered on her face. All Bailey could do was blush as her entire body began to tingle.
- - - - -
"I'll have a coke, please." Bailey smiled at the bar tender, then turned around to get a good view or her area. It was about an hour into the party and it looked like the people had doubled. Joe was still out and about, and Mandy had drifted around to a few other people.
"Bailey Baker?" she heard a voice say, then watched as a body approached her. A woman who looked like she was in her late-twenties immediately extended her hand after receiving a head nod. "Maria Parker, I'm with Popstar." she smiled.
"Hi." she chuckled, a little overwhelmed that a magazine person was speaking with her. This was the first time ever that she had been recognized for anything.
"So I've heard that you're pretty much the best tour-assistant out there. Is that right?" Maria chuckled, brown nosing a bit. Bailey didn't care, she was loving it.
"Ah, well. I'm not horrible or anything." she chuckled, then grabbed the drink off the bar behind her without looking. Casually taking a sip, she ignored the odd-tasting 'Coke' that ran down her throat and continued to smile up at the woman.
"I know that this is supposed to be a night of fun and all, but do you think you'd mind doing an interview? I'm sure the readers would love to hear a bit from Joe Jonas' girlfriend." she grinned, hoping she had flattered her enough to lure her in.
After talking another gulp of the liquid in front of her, Bailey replied quickly. "How do you even know that?" she chuckled, Maria shrugged her shoulders.
"It's kind of our job. I mean, you can find anything on the internet now-a-days." she smirked. "Plus, fans had been asking about you, who you were, where you're from, so on and so forth. I think we owe it to them to let 'em know who their dream guy is dating."
Bailey laughed. "So I can get hate mail and death threats?"
Maria threw her hands up in the air. "Oh nonsense, they love you." she lied, but continued to smile. Laughing, Bailey agreed to the interview. She thought it'd be a little fun.
Within moments, Maria had lead Bailey into another back lounge. It was a little more closed off than the one she was in with Joe and Mandy earlier, but you could still easily hear the music and the commotion of the partiers around. It was a quick interview, only about twenty minutes long. She hadn't spilled her guts as much as she thought she was going to, but she was sure Maria had taken in enough information to make her article. After shaking her hand and saying goodbye, Maria then was lost in the crowd.
Sighing, Bailey eyed the masses of people around her as the music thumped in her mind. Laser lights were flying all around as she spotted Joe off in the distance talking to a couple girls. They looked like fans, gawking up into his gorgeous brown eyes and his perfect smile. Bailey found herself staring at him, even he was far away. She loved watching as the girls giggled over him. She couldn't help but laugh as the one fan popped up and kissed him on the cheek. Smiling, he tried to laugh it off himself, taking about a half step back. Smirking, Bailey continued to stare. She then squinted her eyes, wanting to make sure she wasn't, at that moment, seeing things. Another girl had brought her hand up to his cheek, and quickly moved in for his lips. A little shocked, Bailey didn't blink. She knew how crazy fans got, so she just waited a second for Joe to push her off of him. A second turned into two, then three, then four. Bailey froze in place as she watched for a mere ten seconds before Joe reluctantly pulled his lips away from hers, slowly opening his eyes to see the girl beaming up at him. It was as if something had hit him right then when he quickly shook his head and backed further away from the girl, realizing the mistake he had just made.
Bailey stayed where she was, off in the distance, not noticed by Joe. Her heart ached, watching another girl kiss him, but then again it was mended again when she saw the look of guilt on Joe's face. Yeah, he did pull away, but he was about nine seconds too slow.
Instantly, Bailey made her way back over to the bar to see the same man who had served her earlier. He looked down at her expectantly.
"Could you get me the same thing I had earlier?" she asked, her eyes pleading up at him.
"You liked that, aye?" he grinned. "That there was my version of Koke. You know, with a 'K'. Best drink in -" Bailey cut him off.
"Yes, I loved it. Now come on." she snapped, her fingers tapping the counter rapidly as she glanced around at the other people seated at the bar.
"Fine, killer." he threw his hands up in defense. "I guess I'm going to have to add a little extra magic to this one, if you know what I mean."
Bailey knew exactly what he meant. "That'd be perfect." she exclaimed, hoping that the guy didn't card her. She knew that the man thought she was at least 21. At that moment, she mentally thanked her parents for her good looks as she awaited her ticket out of reality.
Bailey awoke in her bunk the next morning, sighing with a smile on her face as images from the night before ran through her mind. She rolled over on her side, hugging onto her blanket as she faced the wall; Joe's smile embedded on the inside of her eyelids. Hearing the curtain to her bunk being slid open, she stayed put. After feeling the bunk shift, she knew who had climbed in next to her. A pair of arm arms wrapped around her waist, making her smile as she rolled over to look at the owner's face. Her eyes bulged out of her head as her body instantly sat up, causing her to smack right into the bunk above her as she yelled.
"MANDY!"
The girl broke out into hysterics, almost falling out of the bunk. Doubling over, Mandy continued to laugh as Bailey slid out of her bunk, her face expressionless. She had no idea what to even say.
"Oh my God, you should've seen your face." she barley got out, tears forming in her eyes from the laughter.
"You don't understand how violated I feel." Bailey tried to chuckle, but instead she scratched her messy head as Joe entered the bunk area.
"Are you guys alright?" he questioned, concern on his face until he noticed Mandy. He chuckled. "What'd she do now?"
"She definitely tried to make a move on me." Bailey shuddered. "You better watch out." she faked a laugh, trying to get the goosebumps that formed on her body to go away. Laughing, Joe wrapped his arm around her and lead her to the front of the bus.
"So, we have the day off today." he grinned. "I was thinking maybe we could -"
"Hold it." Ross stated, stepping up into the parked bus. "Actually, that is only half true." Joe sighed, then pulled Bailey down next to him on the couch as they waited to hear what their boss had to say. "We've got plans tonight."
Joe chuckled, "Sorry Ross, but I'm already taken." he squeezed Bailey next to him.
"Ha. You still have jokes, kid." Ross sounded un-amused. "But no, there's a big thing going down tonight at the Amp'd Club about 20 minutes from here. I expect to see you there. Oh, and you too Ms.Baker." with that, he exited the bus.
Sighing, Joe leaned back into the couch. "So much for a day off. And it's a Friday too, what a waste."
Bailey looked at him with a confused look on her face. "Are you really that stupid?" he just stared back at her, making her laugh. "The weekend after your big 18th birthday, hello!"
"What are you saying?" he asked, his eyes coming together, trying to piece together what she was getting at.
"I wasn't told anything, and I probably shouldn't be spelling this out for you right now, but if I didn't know any better I'd have to say that Ross planned a little suttin'-suttin' for our boy Joseph for his birthday." she smirked, getting a bit excited herself. "-But you have no idea about this wonderful plan what-so-ever, right?"
"Hm, what is this nonsense you're talking about?" Joe replied, smirking as a nervous feeling grew in his stomach. He loved playing dumb, even if he knew himself that Ross and a few others had been planning a 'secret' something for him. He was kinda glad that he knew Bailey had his back, but then again she knew that she hadn't known for sure.
- - - - -
"Sorry about this morning." Mandy apologized, trying not to laugh as her and Bailey walked into the local mall. They had the morning and afternoon off, so they thought shopping would be a better way to spend their time than hanging out on the bus, or at the hotel that they were 'staying' at for the 'day'.
"It's alright. Really." Bailey laughed, giving her a reassuring glance. "I was just expecting to see Joe, that's all."
"That's what I hoped for." she chuckled, then shrugged. "I thought it'd be funny, and I was bored, so that's what came out of it."
"So anyway, what's this thing that Ross has planned for tonight?" Bailey asked as they entered the tiny Starbuck's café.
"What thing?" Mandy asked as her eyes squinted up at the tiny menu in front of the counter. Her fingers played with the pocket of her jeans as she tried to decide what to order.
"What do you mean, 'what thing?' You know exactly what thing." Bailey chuckled before quickly ordering a Carmel Frap. Mandy ordered her Vanilla Bean as she tried to hide the smile that formed at Bailey's tone.
"I still don't know what you're talking about." she lied, pulling out a few bucks. "You've got lunch."
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Spill it!"
Mandy sighed, then leaned her back against the counter as the employees made their drinks. "Well, bottom line, there's going to be a huge 'birthday bash' for our wonderful DJ Danger."
"-And how come I wasn't told about this?" Bailey replied, trying to sound as hurt as possible, even if she didn't really care that she wasn't told. She loved surprises, even if they weren't for her.
Mandy laughed. "Are you really asking me this?" she nodded. "You and Joe are inseparable. Ross knew you'd leak it, no matter how many times you could've possibly promised to keep your mouth shut." Mandy smiled. "Once Joe gets that grasp of your heart, there isn't anything that boy can't make you do."
Bailey chuckled, knowing she was right. After mouthing two 'thank yous' prior to grabbing their drinks, they walked back out into the mall as the wave of guilt soared over Bailey's body. She knew she should've kept her mouth shut earlier, but she couldn't help it.
"-But anyway." Mandy continued in excitement before taking a sip of her yummy deliciousness. "We need to go pick out cute dresses."
"Cute dresses?" she questioned. "You mean hot dresses."
"No, I actually mean, oh-my-god-I-think-he-just-fainted dresses." she finished making Bailey almost spit out her Starbuck's.
"I love the way you think."
"MANDY!"
The girl broke out into hysterics, almost falling out of the bunk. Doubling over, Mandy continued to laugh as Bailey slid out of her bunk, her face expressionless. She had no idea what to even say.
"Oh my God, you should've seen your face." she barley got out, tears forming in her eyes from the laughter.
"You don't understand how violated I feel." Bailey tried to chuckle, but instead she scratched her messy head as Joe entered the bunk area.
"Are you guys alright?" he questioned, concern on his face until he noticed Mandy. He chuckled. "What'd she do now?"
"She definitely tried to make a move on me." Bailey shuddered. "You better watch out." she faked a laugh, trying to get the goosebumps that formed on her body to go away. Laughing, Joe wrapped his arm around her and lead her to the front of the bus.
"So, we have the day off today." he grinned. "I was thinking maybe we could -"
"Hold it." Ross stated, stepping up into the parked bus. "Actually, that is only half true." Joe sighed, then pulled Bailey down next to him on the couch as they waited to hear what their boss had to say. "We've got plans tonight."
Joe chuckled, "Sorry Ross, but I'm already taken." he squeezed Bailey next to him.
"Ha. You still have jokes, kid." Ross sounded un-amused. "But no, there's a big thing going down tonight at the Amp'd Club about 20 minutes from here. I expect to see you there. Oh, and you too Ms.Baker." with that, he exited the bus.
Sighing, Joe leaned back into the couch. "So much for a day off. And it's a Friday too, what a waste."
Bailey looked at him with a confused look on her face. "Are you really that stupid?" he just stared back at her, making her laugh. "The weekend after your big 18th birthday, hello!"
"What are you saying?" he asked, his eyes coming together, trying to piece together what she was getting at.
"I wasn't told anything, and I probably shouldn't be spelling this out for you right now, but if I didn't know any better I'd have to say that Ross planned a little suttin'-suttin' for our boy Joseph for his birthday." she smirked, getting a bit excited herself. "-But you have no idea about this wonderful plan what-so-ever, right?"
"Hm, what is this nonsense you're talking about?" Joe replied, smirking as a nervous feeling grew in his stomach. He loved playing dumb, even if he knew himself that Ross and a few others had been planning a 'secret' something for him. He was kinda glad that he knew Bailey had his back, but then again she knew that she hadn't known for sure.
- - - - -
"Sorry about this morning." Mandy apologized, trying not to laugh as her and Bailey walked into the local mall. They had the morning and afternoon off, so they thought shopping would be a better way to spend their time than hanging out on the bus, or at the hotel that they were 'staying' at for the 'day'.
"It's alright. Really." Bailey laughed, giving her a reassuring glance. "I was just expecting to see Joe, that's all."
"That's what I hoped for." she chuckled, then shrugged. "I thought it'd be funny, and I was bored, so that's what came out of it."
"So anyway, what's this thing that Ross has planned for tonight?" Bailey asked as they entered the tiny Starbuck's café.
"What thing?" Mandy asked as her eyes squinted up at the tiny menu in front of the counter. Her fingers played with the pocket of her jeans as she tried to decide what to order.
"What do you mean, 'what thing?' You know exactly what thing." Bailey chuckled before quickly ordering a Carmel Frap. Mandy ordered her Vanilla Bean as she tried to hide the smile that formed at Bailey's tone.
"I still don't know what you're talking about." she lied, pulling out a few bucks. "You've got lunch."
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Spill it!"
Mandy sighed, then leaned her back against the counter as the employees made their drinks. "Well, bottom line, there's going to be a huge 'birthday bash' for our wonderful DJ Danger."
"-And how come I wasn't told about this?" Bailey replied, trying to sound as hurt as possible, even if she didn't really care that she wasn't told. She loved surprises, even if they weren't for her.
Mandy laughed. "Are you really asking me this?" she nodded. "You and Joe are inseparable. Ross knew you'd leak it, no matter how many times you could've possibly promised to keep your mouth shut." Mandy smiled. "Once Joe gets that grasp of your heart, there isn't anything that boy can't make you do."
Bailey chuckled, knowing she was right. After mouthing two 'thank yous' prior to grabbing their drinks, they walked back out into the mall as the wave of guilt soared over Bailey's body. She knew she should've kept her mouth shut earlier, but she couldn't help it.
"-But anyway." Mandy continued in excitement before taking a sip of her yummy deliciousness. "We need to go pick out cute dresses."
"Cute dresses?" she questioned. "You mean hot dresses."
"No, I actually mean, oh-my-god-I-think-he-just-fainted dresses." she finished making Bailey almost spit out her Starbuck's.
"I love the way you think."
Joe was awaken from his horrible sleep by Kevin's voice.
"Happy Birthday!" he said, keeping his voice soft so he didn't wake the rest if the bus. "Now hurry up and get dressed. We've got a handful of interviews this morning."
"Ugh." Joe grounded into his pillow. "What time is it?"
"5 am." Joe sighed; he had only slept for 2 hours.
Barley able to keep control of his legs, he stumbled from his bunk and got dressed. He had been up all night thinking about everything; his life, his brothers, the band, fans, turning 18, and his girlfriend. Bailey. Instantly, a wave of guilt surged throughout him. He thought about what he had said the night before, not knowing why he spazzed on her. He was just aggravated, he didn't mean to take it out on her.
Silently, Joe pulled back the curtain to Bailey's bunk. The guilt added up even more when he saw a light line of dried mascara on her face. He wanted to wake her up and apologize like crazy, but he was leaving and her body looked too peaceful and still to disturb. Plus, he knew that purposely waking her up 5 hours earlier than normal would be suicide. Add on the fact that she was already pissed at him and that there would be a Devil's Trap. Instead, he leaned in over top of her calm body and softly kissed her cheek.
"Come on!" Kevin hissed from the front of the bus. Quickly, Joe pulled away and waved him off. "And tell Nick to hurry up with Frankie." he said, stepping off the bus.
After glancing around the bus, Joe grabbed a napkin and a pen that were on the counter. Leaning down towards the surface, he left a little note for Bailey.
'Bails,
I <3 you!
-Joe'
Smiling, he left the napkin next to her favorite box of cereal on the counter before heading to the back lounge.
"Nick, let's go." he said, then made his was off of the bus.
"Alright Frankie, come on." Nick sighed, turning off the PlayStaion2. He then saw that his little brother had a chocolate ring around his mouth from the box of doughnuts that were in his hands. "Ew, and wipe your face."
He waved for Frankie to follow him off the bus. Trailing through the kitchen area, Frankie snatched up the napkin Joe has just written on and cleaned his mouth. After tossing it into the trashcan in the front, he trotted behind Nick to the van.
- - - -
"Stupid phone!" Bailey awoke at the sound of Mandy's voice, then heard a thud. Slowly, she climbed out of the bunk and walked into the back room to see Mandy sprawled out on the leather couch. "Sorry." she said, realizing she had woken her.
Bailey chuckled. "It's cool." she made her way over and fell back onto the couch, grabbing the blanket that was draped over the side. "What time is it?"
"10:07ish." she replied, causing Bailey to laugh.
"So where's -"
"They have interviews." Mandy sighed, letting her head fall onto the pillow under her chin as she laid on her stomach. "Alllllllll morning. Poor Joe, -" she now had Bailey's full attention. "- having to spend his birthday talking to strangers. So, are you going to tell me what happened between you two now?"
Mandy listened intently as Bailey told her everything that had happened the night before. How Joe had randomly freaked out on her, said how everyone needed to leave him alone, etc. Mandy was shocked.
"That was stupid of him." she sounded a bit angry. "I know it was wrong for him to talk to you like that, but I also know he didn't mean any of it."
Bailey sighed. "I know, but still. It hurt." Mandy looked at her in sympathy. "Have you talked to him today?"
"He left a note saying that they'd be out all day doing interviews." she shrugged. "I called him after I woke up, but it went straight to voicemail."
"I guess I'll give him a try." Bailey stated, getting up from the couch and grabbing her phone. She wasn't even worried about being mad at him anymore. It was stupid and she figured he was over his little mood swing as well.
Bailey exhaled with a bit of force after listening to his answering machine. Hanging up, she made her way back to Mandy and shook her head.
- - - - -
"Yes! Lunchtime." Bailey exclaimed, jogging through the hall with Mandy. Ross had them set up for four hours working around the venue; talking to different people, gathering paperwork, and a few other things. It was going on 2pm and the girls were starving.
"I swear, there better be lunchmeat left. If not, I blame you." Mandy stated, trying to sound mean. It didn't work out that well because Bailey ended up chuckling.
"-And how would that be my fault?"
"Because, if you hadn't ended up having your little dance-fest while filing those papers, then we would've been here thirty minutes ago, with guaranteed lunchmeat." she stuck her nose in the air and turned away from Bailey.
"Hey! You were dancing too." she laughed, remembering the 'funky chicken' that she had ended up doing to Hannah Montana's "Nobody's Perfect".
"Psh. Did you call him again?" Mandy asked, changing the subject, looking over at her as they entered the room where the traditional buffet tables were set up just like every other show.
Shaking her head, Bailey pulled out her phone and looked up Joe's number. She had been thinking about him all day, but she couldn't get a hold of him. She just wanted to talk to him about the argument last night and make sure that he was doing alright. Not to mention, she still had yet to tell him 'Happy Birthday'.
"Voicemail, again." Bailey sighed again and slammed her phone shut. "This su -" she started, but stop once she turned into a big, burley dude who quickly came around the corner, knocking her off her feet.
"I'm so sorry, miss!" the guy was quick to speak before hurrying off on his cell phone with a handful of papers in his arms.
Mandy looked down and laughed at her. "Are you alright?" she asked, reaching her hands out for her to grab. Bailey nodded, then pulled herself up. Whimpering, she looked down at the ground. "Really, are you ok?"
"My cell phone." she said a little over-dramatically, reaching down to see her phone snapped in half from where the had landed. "Leave it up to my ass to break my own phone."
"Literally." Mandy chuckled, then got a glare from Bailey. "Hey! I don't have a phone either. I accidentally fried the Sim Card earlier." It was Bailey's turn to laugh. "That's not funny!"
"Whatever." she smiled, shaking her head. "Ha. Looks like they have a little bit of lunchmeat left." With that, Mandy left her side and rushed up to the table, grabbing a roll and making her way to the tray.
After their forty-five minute break, the girls trailed back into the hallway. Mandy was still a little excited that she had eaten her lunchmeat, but Bailey was still a bit bummed that she hadn't heard from Joe. She couldn't even get a hold of Nick or Kevin either, and she didn't know why. Maybe they really did have interviews all day, or maybe they were avoiding her. Instantly, a bit of weight was added to her back as she thought about the possibilities. She shook them off, knowing she'd see them eventually; either right before the show for the night, or during it as she stood with her hand-dandy, non-purposefully clipboard and headset.
"Ladies! Good to see you up and working today." Ross exclaimed, walking into them on the opposite side of the hallway. Bailey faked a smile since her mind was everywhere but on her work. "Great! Ms.Baker, ready for something new?" he asked a bit excitedly.
"Not really." she muttered.
"Splendid!" he clapped his hands. Bailey shot Mandy a look as if to say, 'Are you kidding me?', but her face was already shouting that. "Here." Ross said, handing her the keys to his Chevy Cobalt. "I need you to run out and do me a favor." he looked at Bailey.
"-And that favor would consist of. . ." she trailed off, looking at him expectantly.
- - - - -
"Sweet old bus, how I missed you so." Joe cooed, hugging the rear end of the tour bus after exiting the van that just entered the venue parking lot.
"Quit messing around. We go on in 15 minutes! We're already running late." Nick exclaimed, quickly making his way inside.
"Whatever." he mumbled, slowly following behind his brother, keeping a look out for his girlfriend. All he could think about all day was her. He hoped to get a phone call after she found his little note, but he hadn't. He didn't even receive any voicemails, but then again he knew that she hated leaving those, so he didn't think twice.
Walking around the venue for about 10 minutes, Joe had no luck in finding Bailey. After asking around, no one had claimed seeing her. He couldn't even find Mandy. His right-hand-man/girl was nowhere to be found. The only thing he could think of was that they were mad at him. Scratching his head in frustration, he jumped about a foot in the air as someone poked his sides from behind. Kevin burst out into hysterics as Joe straightened out his shirt, trying to play off the fact that he was just startled.
"Not cool." Joe state bluntly, crossing his arms.
"Whatever." he laughed. "Come on."
Making their way backstage, the boys were getting pumped up on the sides; jumping around, shaking their bodies in weird ways. They had been sitting all day; it was finally their turn to rock out and have a little fun doing what they do best.
Once he was able to, Joe got a good view of the crowd from the side stage. Smiling, he noticed Mandy standing at the foot of the stage with a clipboard and headset, but frowned once he noticed it wasn't Bailey. Instantly, he searched for her face.
It was hopeless; she wasn't there.
- - - - -
"ASSHOLE!" Bailey yelled out the window to the car that cut her off on the highway.
Stepping a bit harder in the gas, she exceeded the speed limit by about 10 mph. The stress was getting to her. After running Ross' errand that was over an hour away in the next town, it was almost 10pm and she was still twenty minutes from the venue. She had been out all night picking up Ross' birthday present for Joe. He had ordered a big package that was shipped to the other town and he wanted her to pick it up for him, but it wasn't that simple. There were complications with the order, the workers at the place were packed with other people, plus they started to say that she wasn't allowed to obtain the package without the buyer's, which would be Ross', signature. It was a huge mess that caused a major delay. Now Bailey had missed Joe's birthday show.
I had felt like a bad dream; like the ones you have when you miss something important and the guilt is just piled onto our back? That's how Bailey felt as she sped into the parking lot, poorly parking the Cobalt as she rushed onto the JB tour bus, setting the package and Ross's note down on the 'kitchen' table, just like he had instructed her to. Hoping the plans hadn't changed, since she was without a cell phone, she glanced over at the clock to see it was 10:30. She knew for a fact that the boys were done the show and already at the meet and greet.
With only and hour and a half of Joe's birthday left, she began to panic. Knowing for a fact that the boys wouldn't return to the bus until a little after 11pm, she wrote Joe a little note and stuck it next to Ross' present. She also jotted down a second note with similar words and put it on his pillow, just incase he happened to miss the first one. With that, she quickly grabbed her duffle bag that was already packed with a few special items, then quickly made her way back to the car and sped off.
"Happy Birthday!" he said, keeping his voice soft so he didn't wake the rest if the bus. "Now hurry up and get dressed. We've got a handful of interviews this morning."
"Ugh." Joe grounded into his pillow. "What time is it?"
"5 am." Joe sighed; he had only slept for 2 hours.
Barley able to keep control of his legs, he stumbled from his bunk and got dressed. He had been up all night thinking about everything; his life, his brothers, the band, fans, turning 18, and his girlfriend. Bailey. Instantly, a wave of guilt surged throughout him. He thought about what he had said the night before, not knowing why he spazzed on her. He was just aggravated, he didn't mean to take it out on her.
Silently, Joe pulled back the curtain to Bailey's bunk. The guilt added up even more when he saw a light line of dried mascara on her face. He wanted to wake her up and apologize like crazy, but he was leaving and her body looked too peaceful and still to disturb. Plus, he knew that purposely waking her up 5 hours earlier than normal would be suicide. Add on the fact that she was already pissed at him and that there would be a Devil's Trap. Instead, he leaned in over top of her calm body and softly kissed her cheek.
"Come on!" Kevin hissed from the front of the bus. Quickly, Joe pulled away and waved him off. "And tell Nick to hurry up with Frankie." he said, stepping off the bus.
After glancing around the bus, Joe grabbed a napkin and a pen that were on the counter. Leaning down towards the surface, he left a little note for Bailey.
'Bails,
I <3 you!
-Joe'
Smiling, he left the napkin next to her favorite box of cereal on the counter before heading to the back lounge.
"Nick, let's go." he said, then made his was off of the bus.
"Alright Frankie, come on." Nick sighed, turning off the PlayStaion2. He then saw that his little brother had a chocolate ring around his mouth from the box of doughnuts that were in his hands. "Ew, and wipe your face."
He waved for Frankie to follow him off the bus. Trailing through the kitchen area, Frankie snatched up the napkin Joe has just written on and cleaned his mouth. After tossing it into the trashcan in the front, he trotted behind Nick to the van.
- - - -
"Stupid phone!" Bailey awoke at the sound of Mandy's voice, then heard a thud. Slowly, she climbed out of the bunk and walked into the back room to see Mandy sprawled out on the leather couch. "Sorry." she said, realizing she had woken her.
Bailey chuckled. "It's cool." she made her way over and fell back onto the couch, grabbing the blanket that was draped over the side. "What time is it?"
"10:07ish." she replied, causing Bailey to laugh.
"So where's -"
"They have interviews." Mandy sighed, letting her head fall onto the pillow under her chin as she laid on her stomach. "Alllllllll morning. Poor Joe, -" she now had Bailey's full attention. "- having to spend his birthday talking to strangers. So, are you going to tell me what happened between you two now?"
Mandy listened intently as Bailey told her everything that had happened the night before. How Joe had randomly freaked out on her, said how everyone needed to leave him alone, etc. Mandy was shocked.
"That was stupid of him." she sounded a bit angry. "I know it was wrong for him to talk to you like that, but I also know he didn't mean any of it."
Bailey sighed. "I know, but still. It hurt." Mandy looked at her in sympathy. "Have you talked to him today?"
"He left a note saying that they'd be out all day doing interviews." she shrugged. "I called him after I woke up, but it went straight to voicemail."
"I guess I'll give him a try." Bailey stated, getting up from the couch and grabbing her phone. She wasn't even worried about being mad at him anymore. It was stupid and she figured he was over his little mood swing as well.
Bailey exhaled with a bit of force after listening to his answering machine. Hanging up, she made her way back to Mandy and shook her head.
- - - - -
"Yes! Lunchtime." Bailey exclaimed, jogging through the hall with Mandy. Ross had them set up for four hours working around the venue; talking to different people, gathering paperwork, and a few other things. It was going on 2pm and the girls were starving.
"I swear, there better be lunchmeat left. If not, I blame you." Mandy stated, trying to sound mean. It didn't work out that well because Bailey ended up chuckling.
"-And how would that be my fault?"
"Because, if you hadn't ended up having your little dance-fest while filing those papers, then we would've been here thirty minutes ago, with guaranteed lunchmeat." she stuck her nose in the air and turned away from Bailey.
"Hey! You were dancing too." she laughed, remembering the 'funky chicken' that she had ended up doing to Hannah Montana's "Nobody's Perfect".
"Psh. Did you call him again?" Mandy asked, changing the subject, looking over at her as they entered the room where the traditional buffet tables were set up just like every other show.
Shaking her head, Bailey pulled out her phone and looked up Joe's number. She had been thinking about him all day, but she couldn't get a hold of him. She just wanted to talk to him about the argument last night and make sure that he was doing alright. Not to mention, she still had yet to tell him 'Happy Birthday'.
"Voicemail, again." Bailey sighed again and slammed her phone shut. "This su -" she started, but stop once she turned into a big, burley dude who quickly came around the corner, knocking her off her feet.
"I'm so sorry, miss!" the guy was quick to speak before hurrying off on his cell phone with a handful of papers in his arms.
Mandy looked down and laughed at her. "Are you alright?" she asked, reaching her hands out for her to grab. Bailey nodded, then pulled herself up. Whimpering, she looked down at the ground. "Really, are you ok?"
"My cell phone." she said a little over-dramatically, reaching down to see her phone snapped in half from where the had landed. "Leave it up to my ass to break my own phone."
"Literally." Mandy chuckled, then got a glare from Bailey. "Hey! I don't have a phone either. I accidentally fried the Sim Card earlier." It was Bailey's turn to laugh. "That's not funny!"
"Whatever." she smiled, shaking her head. "Ha. Looks like they have a little bit of lunchmeat left." With that, Mandy left her side and rushed up to the table, grabbing a roll and making her way to the tray.
After their forty-five minute break, the girls trailed back into the hallway. Mandy was still a little excited that she had eaten her lunchmeat, but Bailey was still a bit bummed that she hadn't heard from Joe. She couldn't even get a hold of Nick or Kevin either, and she didn't know why. Maybe they really did have interviews all day, or maybe they were avoiding her. Instantly, a bit of weight was added to her back as she thought about the possibilities. She shook them off, knowing she'd see them eventually; either right before the show for the night, or during it as she stood with her hand-dandy, non-purposefully clipboard and headset.
"Ladies! Good to see you up and working today." Ross exclaimed, walking into them on the opposite side of the hallway. Bailey faked a smile since her mind was everywhere but on her work. "Great! Ms.Baker, ready for something new?" he asked a bit excitedly.
"Not really." she muttered.
"Splendid!" he clapped his hands. Bailey shot Mandy a look as if to say, 'Are you kidding me?', but her face was already shouting that. "Here." Ross said, handing her the keys to his Chevy Cobalt. "I need you to run out and do me a favor." he looked at Bailey.
"-And that favor would consist of. . ." she trailed off, looking at him expectantly.
- - - - -
"Sweet old bus, how I missed you so." Joe cooed, hugging the rear end of the tour bus after exiting the van that just entered the venue parking lot.
"Quit messing around. We go on in 15 minutes! We're already running late." Nick exclaimed, quickly making his way inside.
"Whatever." he mumbled, slowly following behind his brother, keeping a look out for his girlfriend. All he could think about all day was her. He hoped to get a phone call after she found his little note, but he hadn't. He didn't even receive any voicemails, but then again he knew that she hated leaving those, so he didn't think twice.
Walking around the venue for about 10 minutes, Joe had no luck in finding Bailey. After asking around, no one had claimed seeing her. He couldn't even find Mandy. His right-hand-man/girl was nowhere to be found. The only thing he could think of was that they were mad at him. Scratching his head in frustration, he jumped about a foot in the air as someone poked his sides from behind. Kevin burst out into hysterics as Joe straightened out his shirt, trying to play off the fact that he was just startled.
"Not cool." Joe state bluntly, crossing his arms.
"Whatever." he laughed. "Come on."
Making their way backstage, the boys were getting pumped up on the sides; jumping around, shaking their bodies in weird ways. They had been sitting all day; it was finally their turn to rock out and have a little fun doing what they do best.
Once he was able to, Joe got a good view of the crowd from the side stage. Smiling, he noticed Mandy standing at the foot of the stage with a clipboard and headset, but frowned once he noticed it wasn't Bailey. Instantly, he searched for her face.
It was hopeless; she wasn't there.
- - - - -
"ASSHOLE!" Bailey yelled out the window to the car that cut her off on the highway.
Stepping a bit harder in the gas, she exceeded the speed limit by about 10 mph. The stress was getting to her. After running Ross' errand that was over an hour away in the next town, it was almost 10pm and she was still twenty minutes from the venue. She had been out all night picking up Ross' birthday present for Joe. He had ordered a big package that was shipped to the other town and he wanted her to pick it up for him, but it wasn't that simple. There were complications with the order, the workers at the place were packed with other people, plus they started to say that she wasn't allowed to obtain the package without the buyer's, which would be Ross', signature. It was a huge mess that caused a major delay. Now Bailey had missed Joe's birthday show.
I had felt like a bad dream; like the ones you have when you miss something important and the guilt is just piled onto our back? That's how Bailey felt as she sped into the parking lot, poorly parking the Cobalt as she rushed onto the JB tour bus, setting the package and Ross's note down on the 'kitchen' table, just like he had instructed her to. Hoping the plans hadn't changed, since she was without a cell phone, she glanced over at the clock to see it was 10:30. She knew for a fact that the boys were done the show and already at the meet and greet.
With only and hour and a half of Joe's birthday left, she began to panic. Knowing for a fact that the boys wouldn't return to the bus until a little after 11pm, she wrote Joe a little note and stuck it next to Ross' present. She also jotted down a second note with similar words and put it on his pillow, just incase he happened to miss the first one. With that, she quickly grabbed her duffle bag that was already packed with a few special items, then quickly made her way back to the car and sped off.
"- If I couldn't see -" Joe voice lingered in the arena. It was quickly drowned out by the screams of the crowd as he kneeled down on the stage, holding a luck fan's hand. "Those -" he held it a bit longer, looking up at her pink face. "- eyes." he smiled, then kissed her hand as the crowd continued to go ballistic.
Smiling from her normal spot, Bailey watched as the girl's hands shook as she slowly slid off of the stool in the center of the stage before giving each boy a big hug.
"Aw, she's too cute." Mandy's voice came in through Bailey's headset. She could hear her smiling.
"Her shirt looks awesome. It must have taken a while." Bailey stated, admiring the studs on her black tank top that were aligned precisely in a way that showed the 'JB' logo perfectly.
"I'm in love with her hair. I wish my hair curled like that." she replied still staring at the girl who was now exiting the stage.
"Your hair does curl like that." Bailey laughed, hearing Mandy mumble a 'whatever' in the headset.
It was the fifth show since Mandy had joined them on the tour. Everyone was getting along great. Joe and Bailey didn't have as much 'private' time together as before, but it was all cool. Things were running smoothly and everyone was happy, for the most part. Not to mention things were a little hectic; it was the day before Joe's birthday.
"Hey!" Bailey exclaimed with a smile as she approached Joe who was wiping his sweaty face with a towel backstage. He nodded, letting her know that he heard her. "So, this is your last show as a 17-year-old! How does it feel?" A little annoyed, Joe shrugged his shoulders, still not saying a word. Bailey sighed, then made her way over to talk to Kevin and Nick before the meet and greet.
- - - - -
"Yeah, like when you're just walking down the hall, and then all of a sudden someone's like, 'Oh my God, it's her!" Bailey laughed at Mandy's accent as she continued telling her how crazy it's been since the boys blew up.
"At least people know you." she chuckled. "It must be nice though; knowing that there's always someone who cares out there, you know?" Bailey stated, then stood up from the plastic chair in the hallway of the venue as Joe exited the dressing room. He had changed into a pair of basketball shorts and a plain shirt with the sleeves cut off. His hair was a mess and he had bags under his eyes. Bailey hadn't thought anything of it. "Hey." she greeted softly, making her way up to him, wrapping her arm around his. "I was thinking, maybe we could have some me and you time. You know, like just the two of us?" she looked over at him; he was staring straight ahead.
He groaned.
"What? I mean, since Mandy got here, we haven't really had the chance to -" Bailey was cut off.
"Mandy's my best friend." he snapped.
"I know." she chuckled. She loved the girl. "I'm just saying, just the two of us could -"
"I'm not just going to push her aside because you want me all to yourself." Joe continued, his nasty tone made Bailey's heart drop.
"Joe, I know! That's not what I'm -" he pulled his arm away from her, looking down at her in annoyance. "What is your problem?!" Bailey stopped walking. Joe took a few more steps before turning around to stare at her.
"I don't have a problem. You have the problem!" he exclaimed, throwing his hands up.
"Are you kidding me right now? Joe, I didn't even do anything!" her voice almost cracked, not believing the screaming match they were having right there, in the middle of the hallway for no reason. She was hurt by the way he was talking down to her. But even worse, she had no idea why he was even talking to her like that at all.
"Maybe you should just back off."
A little taken aback by his statement, instead of trying to find the words to calm him down, the anger inside of her spiked. "What in the world are you talking about?" she exclaimed. "What's wrong with you? What did I even do?"
"My God, would you just shut up!?" Joe gripped his hair in frustration, then turned around back down the hallway. "You and everyone else, just shut UP!"
Leaving Bailey in the hallway with her body about to explode, Joe rushed outside of the venue, slamming the steel doors behind him. The crisp, night air felt good on his wet forehead as the moon lit up the vacant back parking-lot. Shoving his hands into his pockets, Joe started walking; his mind racing. He was so aggravated and short-tempered. Since the second consecutive tour started, waking up with the cold showers, having to eat stale cereal, Nick stealing his socks, Kevin nagging at him for no reason what-so-ever. Everything was building up and it was driving him insane. The pressure that was on him was tremendous. He had to stay in line; he was turning 18. That's supposed to show that you're growing up and becoming more mature, but with everything going on in his life, it was hard to concentrate. Not to mention he was one of the faces of Disney that didn't have room for any little slip-ups The screaming fans and the stupid, daily questions were bugging the hell out of him. Each shriek, each tear she from a thirteen-year-old girl of happiness just from his smile, each pointless interview; it was bottling up inside and he couldn't take it. He finally let everything out, except on the wrong person.
"Are you alright?" Mandy asked, concern filling her voice as Bailey rushed past her. "Bailey!" she yelled, but she was already gone, running in the opposite direction from where Joe had left.
Bailey's mind was thumping. She had no clue was Joe was being to pissy. Never ever had he spoken to her like that; she was stunned. There was no reason why he should've yelled at her like that. She knew she hadn't done anything and she knew he was a little stressed, but he didn't have the right to treat her like that. She was steamed.
After power walking through the emptying venue for about a half hour, she decided to head back to the bus. A little aggravated herself, she stepped up into the bus wishing that no one would bother looking up at her to see her puffy eyes. She hadn't been crying, but she could've easily started at any given moment. Bailey's heart jumped as she came face-to-face with Joe.
"Excuse me." he muttered, brushing past her, purposely hitting her with his shoulder.
"Would you just stop!" she yelled, making him turn around.
"Would you stop?" he replied, narrowing his eyes at her.
"Pull your head out of your ass Joe, I'm not doing anything!" she screamed, then took in the view of his shocked face. Bringing the decibel level down a bit, she began to speak calmly. "Look, let's just talk about this, alright?"
"The last thing I want to do is talk to you." he replied coldly, then exited the bus feeling a little bad. Shaking it off, he started another lap around the venue as Bailey dove into her bunk, shoving her face into her pillow. She had no idea what was going on.
Smiling from her normal spot, Bailey watched as the girl's hands shook as she slowly slid off of the stool in the center of the stage before giving each boy a big hug.
"Aw, she's too cute." Mandy's voice came in through Bailey's headset. She could hear her smiling.
"Her shirt looks awesome. It must have taken a while." Bailey stated, admiring the studs on her black tank top that were aligned precisely in a way that showed the 'JB' logo perfectly.
"I'm in love with her hair. I wish my hair curled like that." she replied still staring at the girl who was now exiting the stage.
"Your hair does curl like that." Bailey laughed, hearing Mandy mumble a 'whatever' in the headset.
It was the fifth show since Mandy had joined them on the tour. Everyone was getting along great. Joe and Bailey didn't have as much 'private' time together as before, but it was all cool. Things were running smoothly and everyone was happy, for the most part. Not to mention things were a little hectic; it was the day before Joe's birthday.
"Hey!" Bailey exclaimed with a smile as she approached Joe who was wiping his sweaty face with a towel backstage. He nodded, letting her know that he heard her. "So, this is your last show as a 17-year-old! How does it feel?" A little annoyed, Joe shrugged his shoulders, still not saying a word. Bailey sighed, then made her way over to talk to Kevin and Nick before the meet and greet.
- - - - -
"Yeah, like when you're just walking down the hall, and then all of a sudden someone's like, 'Oh my God, it's her!" Bailey laughed at Mandy's accent as she continued telling her how crazy it's been since the boys blew up.
"At least people know you." she chuckled. "It must be nice though; knowing that there's always someone who cares out there, you know?" Bailey stated, then stood up from the plastic chair in the hallway of the venue as Joe exited the dressing room. He had changed into a pair of basketball shorts and a plain shirt with the sleeves cut off. His hair was a mess and he had bags under his eyes. Bailey hadn't thought anything of it. "Hey." she greeted softly, making her way up to him, wrapping her arm around his. "I was thinking, maybe we could have some me and you time. You know, like just the two of us?" she looked over at him; he was staring straight ahead.
He groaned.
"What? I mean, since Mandy got here, we haven't really had the chance to -" Bailey was cut off.
"Mandy's my best friend." he snapped.
"I know." she chuckled. She loved the girl. "I'm just saying, just the two of us could -"
"I'm not just going to push her aside because you want me all to yourself." Joe continued, his nasty tone made Bailey's heart drop.
"Joe, I know! That's not what I'm -" he pulled his arm away from her, looking down at her in annoyance. "What is your problem?!" Bailey stopped walking. Joe took a few more steps before turning around to stare at her.
"I don't have a problem. You have the problem!" he exclaimed, throwing his hands up.
"Are you kidding me right now? Joe, I didn't even do anything!" her voice almost cracked, not believing the screaming match they were having right there, in the middle of the hallway for no reason. She was hurt by the way he was talking down to her. But even worse, she had no idea why he was even talking to her like that at all.
"Maybe you should just back off."
A little taken aback by his statement, instead of trying to find the words to calm him down, the anger inside of her spiked. "What in the world are you talking about?" she exclaimed. "What's wrong with you? What did I even do?"
"My God, would you just shut up!?" Joe gripped his hair in frustration, then turned around back down the hallway. "You and everyone else, just shut UP!"
Leaving Bailey in the hallway with her body about to explode, Joe rushed outside of the venue, slamming the steel doors behind him. The crisp, night air felt good on his wet forehead as the moon lit up the vacant back parking-lot. Shoving his hands into his pockets, Joe started walking; his mind racing. He was so aggravated and short-tempered. Since the second consecutive tour started, waking up with the cold showers, having to eat stale cereal, Nick stealing his socks, Kevin nagging at him for no reason what-so-ever. Everything was building up and it was driving him insane. The pressure that was on him was tremendous. He had to stay in line; he was turning 18. That's supposed to show that you're growing up and becoming more mature, but with everything going on in his life, it was hard to concentrate. Not to mention he was one of the faces of Disney that didn't have room for any little slip-ups The screaming fans and the stupid, daily questions were bugging the hell out of him. Each shriek, each tear she from a thirteen-year-old girl of happiness just from his smile, each pointless interview; it was bottling up inside and he couldn't take it. He finally let everything out, except on the wrong person.
"Are you alright?" Mandy asked, concern filling her voice as Bailey rushed past her. "Bailey!" she yelled, but she was already gone, running in the opposite direction from where Joe had left.
Bailey's mind was thumping. She had no clue was Joe was being to pissy. Never ever had he spoken to her like that; she was stunned. There was no reason why he should've yelled at her like that. She knew she hadn't done anything and she knew he was a little stressed, but he didn't have the right to treat her like that. She was steamed.
After power walking through the emptying venue for about a half hour, she decided to head back to the bus. A little aggravated herself, she stepped up into the bus wishing that no one would bother looking up at her to see her puffy eyes. She hadn't been crying, but she could've easily started at any given moment. Bailey's heart jumped as she came face-to-face with Joe.
"Excuse me." he muttered, brushing past her, purposely hitting her with his shoulder.
"Would you just stop!" she yelled, making him turn around.
"Would you stop?" he replied, narrowing his eyes at her.
"Pull your head out of your ass Joe, I'm not doing anything!" she screamed, then took in the view of his shocked face. Bringing the decibel level down a bit, she began to speak calmly. "Look, let's just talk about this, alright?"
"The last thing I want to do is talk to you." he replied coldly, then exited the bus feeling a little bad. Shaking it off, he started another lap around the venue as Bailey dove into her bunk, shoving her face into her pillow. She had no idea what was going on.
"Wakey wakey, eggs and bakey." Joe mumbled into Bailey's ear after crawling up into her bunk. She laid nuzzled under her warm blanket, her head buried into the pillow.
"Unless you really have eggs and bacon, I'm staying right here." She muttered to the wall of the bunk, her back to Joe as he draped his arm around her waist and pulled her body closer to him.
"Baileyyyyy." he whined, kissing her ear causing her to mumble something. "Come on, give me a kiss, you know you want to." he grinned.
Bailey didn't move an inch. "Do we have to go through this every morning? I told you, at least wait until I brush my teeth, sicko. Besides, it's too early for kisses." she mumbled, pulling the blanket closer to her, letting her heavy eyes close.
"Since when has there been a time frame as to when I can kiss you?" Joe asked, sounding a little hurt, tightening his grip around her waist. He lifted his head a bit, and kissed her ear again, then moved to her cheek and down to her neck.
"Joeeeee." she groaned, turning over to look into his warm eyes. "Stop."
"What do you mean, 'stop'?" he questioned, pulling his arm away.
"I hate when you do this. You get me started all early in the morning, then you just. . .cut it off." she replied, then pushed him after a grin spread across his face, knowing she knew that he did it on purpose. He ended up hitting the floor with a thud. "Sorry." she laughed, peeking her head out of the bunk to look at him on the ground.
"Come on, Joe. Let's go!" Kevin yelled from the front of the bus. "We're gonna be late."
"Coming!" Joe yelled, standing up from the floor and brushing himself off.
"Late for what?" Bailey asked sliding out of the bunk, her stocking feet hitting the thin carpet.
"We're picking up my parents at the airport, then they're going to be bunking with us for a few shows until the other bus gets fixed." he informed, a little late.
"Sweet." she smiled, not really knowing what else to say.
With that, Joe gave her a hug and a kiss goodbye, then followed Nick outside and into a car with Kevin, leaving Bailey alone on the bus parked outside of the venue where the show was being held that night. About 10 minutes after the boys left, she decided to get dressed and all that good stuff; hair, make up, etc. Once she was satisfied with her look that consisted of a simple pair of jeans and a blue and gray striped tank top, she snatched up her cell phone and dove onto the leather couch in the back lounge.
"Sailor Sarah!" Bailey exclaimed into the phone after a few rings.
"Barnacle Bailey!" her best friend replied with just as much as enthusiasm. "So, how was that movie last night?"
She laughed, "You say it as if we actually watched the movie." Bailey smirked, rolling over on her back, looking up at the ceiling with the phone to her ear.
"I'm sure Nick and Kevin enjoyed that." Sarah laughed. "Have you decided what you're going to do for Joe's birthday yet? The big 1-8?"
Bailey sighed. "I have no idea what to do."
"You've only got a week."
"I know, I know." she breathed into the phone. "I don't know what I'm going to get him."
"That kid has just about everything." she replied. It was quiet for a few moments. "Make him something."
"Make him something?" Bailey repeated, instantly thinking of things she could do.
"Yeah, make him something. Like, -" she paused, trying to think. "- a picture or. . .something." Sarah frowned at her own thought. She had no idea what Bailey could make him.
"Eh. I've still got a week to think about it." she stated, fiddling with the lose string on the bottom of her tank top.
"Don't push it off!" Sarah stated. "I know you will. It'll end up being a half-assed, last minute piece of sh-"
"HEY!" she exclaimed. "I don't do anything half-assed."
Sarah cackled. "Yeah, ok."
The two went back and forth for a few minutes, taking care of their stupid daily argument, then finally hung up. Glancing down at her phone, Bailey exited the bus after seeing it was quarter to twelve. The boys had been gone for about 2 hours and she was starving. Making her way off of the bus and into the venue, Bailey's nose lead her straight to a catered room that displayed a huge table covered in food. With her mouth watering, she quickly grabbed plate and began to fill it up.
After swallowing the last bit of her meatball sandwich Bailey wiped her hands on her pants. She then quickly spun around from the plastic fold-out table she was sitting at by the wall after hearing a familiar yell. Smiling, she awaited the site of her boy.
"JOE! You're going to fall!" she heard an unfamiliar female voice exclaim as Joe burst through the metal doors. A gorgeous girl with long, wavy blonde hair was clung onto his back as he stretched his arms out like superman, running around the huge, open room.
"Ok, ride's over." Joe stated, smacking the girl's thigh for her to hop down off of his back. "Bailey! I want you to meet someone!" Not knowing what to think, Bailey smiled, standing up from her seat as Joe and the girl approached her. "Bails, this is Mandy, my bee-eff-effer. Mandy, this is my wonderful girlfriend Bailey-farts-o-lot." Instantly, Bailey smacked his chest, making him laugh.
"It's just Bailey." she corrected, putting her hand out for Mandy to shake. Smiling, she accepted.
"Nice to finally meet you." Mandy's friendly voice replied as Bailey nodded.
"My parents surprised us and brought her along." Joe stated, pointing to his friend. "Ah, I haven't see her in forever." he playfully punched her arm, still a little excited. "And now you get to have a girl source to talk to for the rest of the tour!"
Laughing, Bailey shook her head at Joe, then eyed Mandy like 'WTF' to his hyperness. She laughed, then spoke. "He had a Red Bull at the airport. Nick insisted."
"Greaaaaat." Bailey chuckled.
"Race you to the bus!" Joe exclaimed, smacking each of the girl's arms, then taking off towards the door. After a quick glance at one another, they took off after him.
"Unless you really have eggs and bacon, I'm staying right here." She muttered to the wall of the bunk, her back to Joe as he draped his arm around her waist and pulled her body closer to him.
"Baileyyyyy." he whined, kissing her ear causing her to mumble something. "Come on, give me a kiss, you know you want to." he grinned.
Bailey didn't move an inch. "Do we have to go through this every morning? I told you, at least wait until I brush my teeth, sicko. Besides, it's too early for kisses." she mumbled, pulling the blanket closer to her, letting her heavy eyes close.
"Since when has there been a time frame as to when I can kiss you?" Joe asked, sounding a little hurt, tightening his grip around her waist. He lifted his head a bit, and kissed her ear again, then moved to her cheek and down to her neck.
"Joeeeee." she groaned, turning over to look into his warm eyes. "Stop."
"What do you mean, 'stop'?" he questioned, pulling his arm away.
"I hate when you do this. You get me started all early in the morning, then you just. . .cut it off." she replied, then pushed him after a grin spread across his face, knowing she knew that he did it on purpose. He ended up hitting the floor with a thud. "Sorry." she laughed, peeking her head out of the bunk to look at him on the ground.
"Come on, Joe. Let's go!" Kevin yelled from the front of the bus. "We're gonna be late."
"Coming!" Joe yelled, standing up from the floor and brushing himself off.
"Late for what?" Bailey asked sliding out of the bunk, her stocking feet hitting the thin carpet.
"We're picking up my parents at the airport, then they're going to be bunking with us for a few shows until the other bus gets fixed." he informed, a little late.
"Sweet." she smiled, not really knowing what else to say.
With that, Joe gave her a hug and a kiss goodbye, then followed Nick outside and into a car with Kevin, leaving Bailey alone on the bus parked outside of the venue where the show was being held that night. About 10 minutes after the boys left, she decided to get dressed and all that good stuff; hair, make up, etc. Once she was satisfied with her look that consisted of a simple pair of jeans and a blue and gray striped tank top, she snatched up her cell phone and dove onto the leather couch in the back lounge.
"Sailor Sarah!" Bailey exclaimed into the phone after a few rings.
"Barnacle Bailey!" her best friend replied with just as much as enthusiasm. "So, how was that movie last night?"
She laughed, "You say it as if we actually watched the movie." Bailey smirked, rolling over on her back, looking up at the ceiling with the phone to her ear.
"I'm sure Nick and Kevin enjoyed that." Sarah laughed. "Have you decided what you're going to do for Joe's birthday yet? The big 1-8?"
Bailey sighed. "I have no idea what to do."
"You've only got a week."
"I know, I know." she breathed into the phone. "I don't know what I'm going to get him."
"That kid has just about everything." she replied. It was quiet for a few moments. "Make him something."
"Make him something?" Bailey repeated, instantly thinking of things she could do.
"Yeah, make him something. Like, -" she paused, trying to think. "- a picture or. . .something." Sarah frowned at her own thought. She had no idea what Bailey could make him.
"Eh. I've still got a week to think about it." she stated, fiddling with the lose string on the bottom of her tank top.
"Don't push it off!" Sarah stated. "I know you will. It'll end up being a half-assed, last minute piece of sh-"
"HEY!" she exclaimed. "I don't do anything half-assed."
Sarah cackled. "Yeah, ok."
The two went back and forth for a few minutes, taking care of their stupid daily argument, then finally hung up. Glancing down at her phone, Bailey exited the bus after seeing it was quarter to twelve. The boys had been gone for about 2 hours and she was starving. Making her way off of the bus and into the venue, Bailey's nose lead her straight to a catered room that displayed a huge table covered in food. With her mouth watering, she quickly grabbed plate and began to fill it up.
After swallowing the last bit of her meatball sandwich Bailey wiped her hands on her pants. She then quickly spun around from the plastic fold-out table she was sitting at by the wall after hearing a familiar yell. Smiling, she awaited the site of her boy.
"JOE! You're going to fall!" she heard an unfamiliar female voice exclaim as Joe burst through the metal doors. A gorgeous girl with long, wavy blonde hair was clung onto his back as he stretched his arms out like superman, running around the huge, open room.
"Ok, ride's over." Joe stated, smacking the girl's thigh for her to hop down off of his back. "Bailey! I want you to meet someone!" Not knowing what to think, Bailey smiled, standing up from her seat as Joe and the girl approached her. "Bails, this is Mandy, my bee-eff-effer. Mandy, this is my wonderful girlfriend Bailey-farts-o-lot." Instantly, Bailey smacked his chest, making him laugh.
"It's just Bailey." she corrected, putting her hand out for Mandy to shake. Smiling, she accepted.
"Nice to finally meet you." Mandy's friendly voice replied as Bailey nodded.
"My parents surprised us and brought her along." Joe stated, pointing to his friend. "Ah, I haven't see her in forever." he playfully punched her arm, still a little excited. "And now you get to have a girl source to talk to for the rest of the tour!"
Laughing, Bailey shook her head at Joe, then eyed Mandy like 'WTF' to his hyperness. She laughed, then spoke. "He had a Red Bull at the airport. Nick insisted."
"Greaaaaat." Bailey chuckled.
"Race you to the bus!" Joe exclaimed, smacking each of the girl's arms, then taking off towards the door. After a quick glance at one another, they took off after him.
Bailey stood in her old spot; the spot down in front of the stage with her handy headset and clipboard. She felt like she was in her zone and nothing could stop her now. Surprisingly, her heart was pumping in her chest, anticipating the first words of JB's set. Never had she been that excited to hear, "We're the kids, we're the kids, we're the kids of the future!" blare out of the speakers. She missed it.
Smiling, knowing the time was quickly approaching, she jumped when she felt a tap on the shoulder. Turning around she saw Mike, the cute guy from the Applebee's they had stopped at about an hour from the venue. She looked a him a little confusedly.
"Hey! What are you going here?" Bailey asked expectantly, sounding polite as she possibly could.
"My little sister here, -" he started, placing his large hands on the shoulders of a young girl in front of him, who's arms were hanging over the barricade. "- she loves Hannah Montana." he replied, blushing a little. "Mom made me bring her."
"Did not! You -" the little girl started, but she stopped once her brother glared at her. Bailey hadn't noticed.
"Well that's really nice of you." Bailey smiled, holding the clipboard close to her chest.
"Yeah. I recognized the guys you were with at the restaurant, so I hoped you be here tonight." Mike smiled, making her blush a little.
"Hm. That's kind of funny; a seventeen, or eighteen, year old guy recognizing a boy band from the Disney Channel." Bailey chuckled, eyeing him playfully.
"Like I said, my sister loves Hannah Montana, which means that channel is on 24/7. How could you miss them?" he replied smirking.
"True." she nodded.
"So, you work with them?" he asked, spiking the conversation. Bailey nodded again. "Cool cool." he smiled.
"Bailey!" a voice yelled to her through her headset.
"Yeah?" she yelled back, pressing the earpiece closer to her ear as she looked down, trying to focus on what the person was saying. The crowd was starting to get a bit rowdy at that point. The show was running a few minutes behind schedule.
"HEY!" Joe yelled excitedly. "What are you doing?"
Bailey looked up at Mike, motioning that someone was talking to her through the headset, assuring him that she wasn't talking to herself. Laughing, he nodded, letting her know that he understood.
"Standing here, what are you doing?" she asked, turning away from Mike and glancing backstage to see Joe with a headset on his ears as he stared back at her.
"Is that our waiter?" he asked, a bit distracted, looking over at Mike.
Bailey laughed. "Yep."
"Ew. Why is he looking at me!" he exclaimed.
"Joe!"
"What? Tell him I'm sorry, I don't roll that way. I've got you." he smiled, blowing a kiss over at her. She couldn't help but laugh and blow one back. Joe stood satisfied as he watched Mike glare at him from the crowd.
"I'm sure he's not all that disappointed." she stated, shifting her weight to one leg as she continued standing in front of the barrier. "Joe, behind you!" she said quickly as she watched a security guard smack him in the head from behind, snatching the headphones from him like last time.
Laughing, she continued to stare as Joe put his hands up in defense as the man pointed down to him. Joe ended up walking away in defeat. Shaking her head with a smile on her face, she turned around to see Mike staring at her expectantly. Bailey was about to tell him about her and Joe, but the lights in the arena went out. It was show time.
Once again captivated by the wonderful baring of the Jonas Brothers, Bailey forgot about everything and zoned out, trapping herself within the music. Taking in how amazing everything was at that moment, she began to realize how great it was to be back in this. She didn't know where she'd be if she hadn't been tossed into this wonderful environment and met these people. More importantly, she wondered what condition she'd be in if she hadn't met Joe.
Before she knew it, their set was over. Since Hannah Montana had her own assistant, Bailey quickly made her way backstage to find the boys, completely forgetting about Mike. Smiling, she found them heading out into the crisp hallway behind the stage. Joe's face lit up as she jogged up towards him.
"I'm all sweaty." Joe chuckled as she tightly wrapped her arms around him. He squeezed her, breathing in her wonderful scent before she pulled away, planting a kiss on his wet cheek. "Someone is happy."
"I have every reason to be." she smiled up into his eyes. Smirking in agreement, he grabbed her hand as the group made their way to the dressing room to clean up for the meet and greet.
"It's so great to see you again!" Bailey listened as Kevin repeated that line to a different face for the 50th time in the past 30 minutes. She smiled from off to the side behind the table as the girl's face lit up, knowing that those simple words were going to keep that smile plastered on her face for weeks.
"Can I get a picture?" a girl who looked about thirteen asked Nick as she quickly moved in closer to him with her camera. Putting on his famous smirk, Nick looked into the lens as the camera flashed. That picture was going to be the girl's default on Myspace for months.
"Can I get your autograph?" a male's voice snapped Bailey back into reality. She turned her attention to the face in front of her. Mike was standing there holding his little sister's hand.
"Ha ha, you're funny." Bailey chuckled, looking into his green eyes.
"I try."
"So what are you doing here?" she asked, casually slipping her hands into the back pockets of her tight jeans.
"My sister -" he started.
"No, I mean here. At the Jonas Brothers table." she laughed again.
"Oh, I, uh." Mike face turned a little pink. "I just wanted to talk to you again." he nervously scratched the back of his head. Bailey didn't want to make it awkward for him, but she didn't know what to say. Luckily, Joe was there to take care of that part for her.
"Hey." Joe approached her, kissing her cheek. She smiled up at him, not wanting to look over at Mike. "We're about to head out. That was the last of them." he glanced over at Mike. "Oh, hey waiter dude." Bailey tried so hard not to smack Joe in the arm, but she did with a glare. He couldn't help but grin.
"Oh, so you two are together? Alright, I get it now." Mike stated, sounding like the light bulb finally went off in his head. Whether or not he was faking it, Bailey couldn't tell. He continued smiling at her. "Call me if things don't work out." he tugged on his sister's hand, then walked away.
Bailey looked over at Joe in disbelief. Slowly closing her eyes and shaking her head, she spoke.
"I have no idea what that was, but I'm not even going to waste my time on it." she chuckled as Joe wrapped his arm around her, leading her into the hallway.
"He was weird." Joe stated, glancing down at Bailey unnoticed. "I mean, who tries to pick up girls at Hannah Montana concerts?" she laughed, smacking him on the chest. "- And who puts a cherry in root beer?"
Smiling, knowing the time was quickly approaching, she jumped when she felt a tap on the shoulder. Turning around she saw Mike, the cute guy from the Applebee's they had stopped at about an hour from the venue. She looked a him a little confusedly.
"Hey! What are you going here?" Bailey asked expectantly, sounding polite as she possibly could.
"My little sister here, -" he started, placing his large hands on the shoulders of a young girl in front of him, who's arms were hanging over the barricade. "- she loves Hannah Montana." he replied, blushing a little. "Mom made me bring her."
"Did not! You -" the little girl started, but she stopped once her brother glared at her. Bailey hadn't noticed.
"Well that's really nice of you." Bailey smiled, holding the clipboard close to her chest.
"Yeah. I recognized the guys you were with at the restaurant, so I hoped you be here tonight." Mike smiled, making her blush a little.
"Hm. That's kind of funny; a seventeen, or eighteen, year old guy recognizing a boy band from the Disney Channel." Bailey chuckled, eyeing him playfully.
"Like I said, my sister loves Hannah Montana, which means that channel is on 24/7. How could you miss them?" he replied smirking.
"True." she nodded.
"So, you work with them?" he asked, spiking the conversation. Bailey nodded again. "Cool cool." he smiled.
"Bailey!" a voice yelled to her through her headset.
"Yeah?" she yelled back, pressing the earpiece closer to her ear as she looked down, trying to focus on what the person was saying. The crowd was starting to get a bit rowdy at that point. The show was running a few minutes behind schedule.
"HEY!" Joe yelled excitedly. "What are you doing?"
Bailey looked up at Mike, motioning that someone was talking to her through the headset, assuring him that she wasn't talking to herself. Laughing, he nodded, letting her know that he understood.
"Standing here, what are you doing?" she asked, turning away from Mike and glancing backstage to see Joe with a headset on his ears as he stared back at her.
"Is that our waiter?" he asked, a bit distracted, looking over at Mike.
Bailey laughed. "Yep."
"Ew. Why is he looking at me!" he exclaimed.
"Joe!"
"What? Tell him I'm sorry, I don't roll that way. I've got you." he smiled, blowing a kiss over at her. She couldn't help but laugh and blow one back. Joe stood satisfied as he watched Mike glare at him from the crowd.
"I'm sure he's not all that disappointed." she stated, shifting her weight to one leg as she continued standing in front of the barrier. "Joe, behind you!" she said quickly as she watched a security guard smack him in the head from behind, snatching the headphones from him like last time.
Laughing, she continued to stare as Joe put his hands up in defense as the man pointed down to him. Joe ended up walking away in defeat. Shaking her head with a smile on her face, she turned around to see Mike staring at her expectantly. Bailey was about to tell him about her and Joe, but the lights in the arena went out. It was show time.
Once again captivated by the wonderful baring of the Jonas Brothers, Bailey forgot about everything and zoned out, trapping herself within the music. Taking in how amazing everything was at that moment, she began to realize how great it was to be back in this. She didn't know where she'd be if she hadn't been tossed into this wonderful environment and met these people. More importantly, she wondered what condition she'd be in if she hadn't met Joe.
Before she knew it, their set was over. Since Hannah Montana had her own assistant, Bailey quickly made her way backstage to find the boys, completely forgetting about Mike. Smiling, she found them heading out into the crisp hallway behind the stage. Joe's face lit up as she jogged up towards him.
"I'm all sweaty." Joe chuckled as she tightly wrapped her arms around him. He squeezed her, breathing in her wonderful scent before she pulled away, planting a kiss on his wet cheek. "Someone is happy."
"I have every reason to be." she smiled up into his eyes. Smirking in agreement, he grabbed her hand as the group made their way to the dressing room to clean up for the meet and greet.
"It's so great to see you again!" Bailey listened as Kevin repeated that line to a different face for the 50th time in the past 30 minutes. She smiled from off to the side behind the table as the girl's face lit up, knowing that those simple words were going to keep that smile plastered on her face for weeks.
"Can I get a picture?" a girl who looked about thirteen asked Nick as she quickly moved in closer to him with her camera. Putting on his famous smirk, Nick looked into the lens as the camera flashed. That picture was going to be the girl's default on Myspace for months.
"Can I get your autograph?" a male's voice snapped Bailey back into reality. She turned her attention to the face in front of her. Mike was standing there holding his little sister's hand.
"Ha ha, you're funny." Bailey chuckled, looking into his green eyes.
"I try."
"So what are you doing here?" she asked, casually slipping her hands into the back pockets of her tight jeans.
"My sister -" he started.
"No, I mean here. At the Jonas Brothers table." she laughed again.
"Oh, I, uh." Mike face turned a little pink. "I just wanted to talk to you again." he nervously scratched the back of his head. Bailey didn't want to make it awkward for him, but she didn't know what to say. Luckily, Joe was there to take care of that part for her.
"Hey." Joe approached her, kissing her cheek. She smiled up at him, not wanting to look over at Mike. "We're about to head out. That was the last of them." he glanced over at Mike. "Oh, hey waiter dude." Bailey tried so hard not to smack Joe in the arm, but she did with a glare. He couldn't help but grin.
"Oh, so you two are together? Alright, I get it now." Mike stated, sounding like the light bulb finally went off in his head. Whether or not he was faking it, Bailey couldn't tell. He continued smiling at her. "Call me if things don't work out." he tugged on his sister's hand, then walked away.
Bailey looked over at Joe in disbelief. Slowly closing her eyes and shaking her head, she spoke.
"I have no idea what that was, but I'm not even going to waste my time on it." she chuckled as Joe wrapped his arm around her, leading her into the hallway.
"He was weird." Joe stated, glancing down at Bailey unnoticed. "I mean, who tries to pick up girls at Hannah Montana concerts?" she laughed, smacking him on the chest. "- And who puts a cherry in root beer?"
"AHHH!" Bailey yelled, falling backwards onto the couch as the bus came to an abrupt halt.
"See? That's what you get for jumping around like a maniac." Kevin stated, un-amused as he continued clicking away on his laptop as there was a big thud in the bathroom. "Drop the soap again, Joseph?" he yelled.
"Shuddup!" Joe yelled from the bathroom. He had went in there to take a quick shower about 10 minutes prior to the stop.
"Ah, you two are so perfect for each other, it's not even funny." Nick sighed, his thumbs wiggling the joystick on the PS2 controller as his eyes stayed on the TV screen. Satisfied with that comment, Bailey made her way to the bathroom door and banged.
"Come on. I have to peeeeee." she whined, resting her forehead on the thin, wooden door. Seconds later it swung open, releasing puffs of steam and revealing a wet Joe with a towel draped around his toned waist. "Is it hot in here, or is it just - "
"Me? I know." he smirked, placing a hand on his hip.
" - the fact that you took ANOTHER hot shower. Now the next seven are going to be freezing, thanks." Bailey finished, knowing that's not what he expected to hear.
"All I hear is blah blah blah, blah blah, kiss me." he rambled, then pecked her on the lips.
Smiling, she pulled away. "Blah blah blah, get dressed." she kissed him again, then squeezed her way past him into the bathroom, shooing him out into the bunk area in the process.
- - - - -
"You ready?" Joe asked, looking down at Bailey who was sitting in the back lounge.
"I've been ready since before you had your little fall in the bathroom. Now let's go! I want to meet this chick!" she replied excitedly, hopping up from the couch and grabbing Joe's hand.
"What chick? Miley?" Nick asked, turning off the TV with interest.
Bailey shrugged. "I don't know. I just want to meet someone new."
"Oh, you'll be meeting a lot of people here. Believe me. You'll be sick of shaking hands after the second person. And then you'll get this really clammy and sweaty one, and it's like, ugh." Joe groaned in disgust, pulling her off the bus as she laughed. "You ready?" he asked, stopping in the middle of the parking lot.
"Ready for what?" she stopped, letting go of his hand to step back and watch as he bent at the knees.
"Come on, hop up!" he stated, a little excited as Kevin finally made his way off the bus giving him a 'WTF' look. Chuckling, Bailey jumped up, wrapping her arms around his neck as he grasped her legs around his waist. "TO THE - " he pointed to the venue. " - INSIDE OF THAT PLACE!" Once again, making Bailey laugh, he took off running inside.
"Ross is so going to chew him out." Nick crossed his arms, shaking his head at Joe as he walked with Kevin.
"Possibly" Kevin replied. "But then again, I think he's going to like the fact that he's back to being the old Joe, instead of the pissy Joe when she wasn't here. I think this tour is going to be a lot better than the last."
Nick nodded in agreement.
- - - - -
"Hand shake number 387." Bailey muttered in Joe's ear as they approached a few guys backstage in suits with Hannah Montana/Jonas Brothers tour badges hanging around their necks.
After the small talk, the guys were on their way.
"Mr.ClammyDude and his B-F-F CactusCrust." Joe stated as they continued backstage.
"What?" Bailey chuckled, looking over at his stupidity.
"You didn't feel that one guy's hand? It was all . . .prickly. Who has prickly hands?" he sounded a bit annoyed, even though she knew he was only joking. "It made me think of a cactus." he laughed at himself. "You remember that one part in the Lion King? Simba landed in the spiky things and the one hyena was like, 'Ayo! Cactus butt!' Or something like that?'"
She started cracking up at how he was getting into something simple as shaking someone's hand. His imagination got the best of him sometimes and she enjoyed how he expressed that. Joe smiled over at her; mission accomplished. He kept her laughing and having fun.
"I love you." she said softly, squeezing his soft hand as they made their way into the dressing room.
"I love you too, Bails." he could help from smiling as he brought her hand up and kissed it before letting go. This was perfect.
"Mwah mwah mwah." Garbo teased, making kissing noises as Joe shut the door behind him. "Save your mouth for the singing instead of kissing."
"Aw, is someone jealous that they haven't been able to use theirs for anything, Garbo?" Bailey smirked at him as she hopped up on the counter, leaning against the mirrors as the 'Ohhh's echoed in the room.
"You got jokes?" he challenged, standing up and playfully smacking his chest.
"I think your face is the joke." a grin appeared on Joe's face at his girl's response. His girl.
"You know, I'm not even going to waste my time on your sickening words." Garbo dismissed her, taking a seat and turning his back to her as the rest of the room chuckled.
"Oh please." John stated. "You'd be dying without this girl. You're just mad because she's the only one that can keep you on your toes."
"Toes shmoes. I just like her better than that old hoe." the room exploded with laughter at his horrible gangster accent.
"Now, was that a challenge?" Joe stood up, sticking his chest out like a bird. "I didn't think you fully healed from the other rap battle from the last tour, and you're asking for more? Asking for more from the one and only DJ DANJA!?" he emphasized his words, making Bailey's stomach cramp up from all the laughing.
"Joe, just sit down." Nick tossed a pillow at him, still laughing a bit.
Brushing off his shoulders, Joe continued. "I guess I'll save it for later."
- - - - -
Bailey stood in her old spot; the spot down in front of the stage with her handy headset and clipboard. She felt like she was in her zone and nothing could stop her now. Surprisingly, her heart was pumping in her chest, anticipating the first words of JB's set. Never had she been that excited to hear, "We're the kids, we're the kids, we're the kids of the future!" blare out of the speakers. She missed it.
Smiling, knowing the time was quickly approaching, she jumped when she felt a tap on the shoulder. Turning around she saw Mike, the cute guy from the Applebee's they had stopped at about an hour from the venue. She looked a him a little confusedly.
"Hey! What are you going here?" Bailey asked expectantly, sounding polite as she possibly could.
"See? That's what you get for jumping around like a maniac." Kevin stated, un-amused as he continued clicking away on his laptop as there was a big thud in the bathroom. "Drop the soap again, Joseph?" he yelled.
"Shuddup!" Joe yelled from the bathroom. He had went in there to take a quick shower about 10 minutes prior to the stop.
"Ah, you two are so perfect for each other, it's not even funny." Nick sighed, his thumbs wiggling the joystick on the PS2 controller as his eyes stayed on the TV screen. Satisfied with that comment, Bailey made her way to the bathroom door and banged.
"Come on. I have to peeeeee." she whined, resting her forehead on the thin, wooden door. Seconds later it swung open, releasing puffs of steam and revealing a wet Joe with a towel draped around his toned waist. "Is it hot in here, or is it just - "
"Me? I know." he smirked, placing a hand on his hip.
" - the fact that you took ANOTHER hot shower. Now the next seven are going to be freezing, thanks." Bailey finished, knowing that's not what he expected to hear.
"All I hear is blah blah blah, blah blah, kiss me." he rambled, then pecked her on the lips.
Smiling, she pulled away. "Blah blah blah, get dressed." she kissed him again, then squeezed her way past him into the bathroom, shooing him out into the bunk area in the process.
- - - - -
"You ready?" Joe asked, looking down at Bailey who was sitting in the back lounge.
"I've been ready since before you had your little fall in the bathroom. Now let's go! I want to meet this chick!" she replied excitedly, hopping up from the couch and grabbing Joe's hand.
"What chick? Miley?" Nick asked, turning off the TV with interest.
Bailey shrugged. "I don't know. I just want to meet someone new."
"Oh, you'll be meeting a lot of people here. Believe me. You'll be sick of shaking hands after the second person. And then you'll get this really clammy and sweaty one, and it's like, ugh." Joe groaned in disgust, pulling her off the bus as she laughed. "You ready?" he asked, stopping in the middle of the parking lot.
"Ready for what?" she stopped, letting go of his hand to step back and watch as he bent at the knees.
"Come on, hop up!" he stated, a little excited as Kevin finally made his way off the bus giving him a 'WTF' look. Chuckling, Bailey jumped up, wrapping her arms around his neck as he grasped her legs around his waist. "TO THE - " he pointed to the venue. " - INSIDE OF THAT PLACE!" Once again, making Bailey laugh, he took off running inside.
"Ross is so going to chew him out." Nick crossed his arms, shaking his head at Joe as he walked with Kevin.
"Possibly" Kevin replied. "But then again, I think he's going to like the fact that he's back to being the old Joe, instead of the pissy Joe when she wasn't here. I think this tour is going to be a lot better than the last."
Nick nodded in agreement.
- - - - -
"Hand shake number 387." Bailey muttered in Joe's ear as they approached a few guys backstage in suits with Hannah Montana/Jonas Brothers tour badges hanging around their necks.
After the small talk, the guys were on their way.
"Mr.ClammyDude and his B-F-F CactusCrust." Joe stated as they continued backstage.
"What?" Bailey chuckled, looking over at his stupidity.
"You didn't feel that one guy's hand? It was all . . .prickly. Who has prickly hands?" he sounded a bit annoyed, even though she knew he was only joking. "It made me think of a cactus." he laughed at himself. "You remember that one part in the Lion King? Simba landed in the spiky things and the one hyena was like, 'Ayo! Cactus butt!' Or something like that?'"
She started cracking up at how he was getting into something simple as shaking someone's hand. His imagination got the best of him sometimes and she enjoyed how he expressed that. Joe smiled over at her; mission accomplished. He kept her laughing and having fun.
"I love you." she said softly, squeezing his soft hand as they made their way into the dressing room.
"I love you too, Bails." he could help from smiling as he brought her hand up and kissed it before letting go. This was perfect.
"Mwah mwah mwah." Garbo teased, making kissing noises as Joe shut the door behind him. "Save your mouth for the singing instead of kissing."
"Aw, is someone jealous that they haven't been able to use theirs for anything, Garbo?" Bailey smirked at him as she hopped up on the counter, leaning against the mirrors as the 'Ohhh's echoed in the room.
"You got jokes?" he challenged, standing up and playfully smacking his chest.
"I think your face is the joke." a grin appeared on Joe's face at his girl's response. His girl.
"You know, I'm not even going to waste my time on your sickening words." Garbo dismissed her, taking a seat and turning his back to her as the rest of the room chuckled.
"Oh please." John stated. "You'd be dying without this girl. You're just mad because she's the only one that can keep you on your toes."
"Toes shmoes. I just like her better than that old hoe." the room exploded with laughter at his horrible gangster accent.
"Now, was that a challenge?" Joe stood up, sticking his chest out like a bird. "I didn't think you fully healed from the other rap battle from the last tour, and you're asking for more? Asking for more from the one and only DJ DANJA!?" he emphasized his words, making Bailey's stomach cramp up from all the laughing.
"Joe, just sit down." Nick tossed a pillow at him, still laughing a bit.
Brushing off his shoulders, Joe continued. "I guess I'll save it for later."
- - - - -
Bailey stood in her old spot; the spot down in front of the stage with her handy headset and clipboard. She felt like she was in her zone and nothing could stop her now. Surprisingly, her heart was pumping in her chest, anticipating the first words of JB's set. Never had she been that excited to hear, "We're the kids, we're the kids, we're the kids of the future!" blare out of the speakers. She missed it.
Smiling, knowing the time was quickly approaching, she jumped when she felt a tap on the shoulder. Turning around she saw Mike, the cute guy from the Applebee's they had stopped at about an hour from the venue. She looked a him a little confusedly.
"Hey! What are you going here?" Bailey asked expectantly, sounding polite as she possibly could.
"Nicholas!" Bailey yelled, tackling him onto the couch in the back lounge. "Ah, I've missed you!" she gave him a big wet kiss on the cheek. He laid stunned underneath her.
"I missed you too?" be sounded a bit confused as he began to sit up, scratching his curly head.
"Hey! You're back." Kevin smiled, walking into the room.
"Kevin!" she exclaimed, popping up and tackling him on the couch on the opposite side of the room and embracing him in a tight hug.
"Someone's a bit excited." Kevin chuckled, hugging back.
"I was dying to get out of that house." Bailey informed. "And now I'm here with you guys. Life is good." she finished, then let go of Kevin and relaxed back into the couch as Joe appeared in the doorway. "Hey." she cooed, calming down a bit as she stared up at his soft face. All Joe did was smile as his made his way over and sat down next to her on the couch, his right leg up against her left.
"This tour is going to be amazing." Joe exclaimed, tilting his head back in satisfaction with a huge grin on his face.
"Yeah." Nick piped in. "It's just us, then Miley's crew. No extra assistants like Tori."
"Oh, really?" Bailey asked, a little surprised. Her happiness grew even more when she realized that this tour was going to run a lot smoother.
Kevin exhaled. "Yeah, she decided to head home. Apparently she had enough of touring." everyone chuckled.
"Woo!" Bailey exclaimed. "That means I get you guys all to myself." she rubbed her hand mischievously.
"More like me." Joe smirked, wrapping his arm around her. She leaned her head into his chest, missing his lovely scent.
"Mhm." she mumbled, resting her hand on his leg.
Joe had missed this, just holding her. Knowing that he was hanging onto someone who really cared about him kept feeding the butterflies in his stomach. He loved the feeling that she gave him. He couldn't get enough of it. Goosebumps formed up his arm as she grabbed his free hand, interlacing her fingers with his.
"Are you cold?" her soft voice sounded like an angel to his ears.
"No, I'm good." he blushed a little, embarrassed at the fact that he let her get into him. Her grasp on his heart was firm and strong; she wasn't letting go any time soon.
- - - - -
"Come on!" Joe whined. "I'm hungry and there's lovely food in there waiting to be ordered and eaten by me!"
After being on the road for about six hours, the bus had finally stopped outside of an Applebee's in the middle of Greensboro, North Carolina to eat. It had been parked for about 5 minutes already, but Nick and Bailey had yet to move away from the TV screen. Their eyes were glued to the notes of 'The Light That Blinds' off of Guitar Hero 2, the buttons on the plastic guitar clicking every second.
"Go ahead Joe, we'll be there in a second." Bailey replied quickly, determined to beat Nick. "Shit." she muttered after a loud clang was heard from the TV from missing a note. "Dammit Joe! Don't talk to me."
Nick laughed at the frustration in her voice. "You gonna be alright, Bails? Ms. Bailey Baker, Queen of GH2." he mocked her, his fingers moving up and down the neck of the guitar, hitting every note that flashed across the screen on 'Hard'.
"Shut up. You've just been practicing. I haven't played in months." she winced at her own lame excuse. She heard Joe groan, then walk off the bus. A few moments later, the song ended and Bailey dropped the guitar.
"Aw, it's alright." Nick patted her shoulder, his smile beaming. "You only lost by. . . 12%."
"I hope you know this is war." she narrowed her eyes at him as she stood up from the floor, setting the guitar down next to the TV. Nick chuckled, then pushed her towards the front of the bus.
Bailey followed Nick through the restaurant and to the large, circle table that was surrounded by high bar stools. The line up was Joe, Kevin, Garbo, Nick, Bailey directly across from Joe, Ross, and then the rest of the band. Quickly, Bailey flipped open her menu, burying her face behind it.
"You finally beat her?" Kevin smirked, looking at Nick. Proudly, he nodded. "Nice."
"Hmph." Bailey exhaled behind the menu. After deciding on the cheese quesadillas, she laid her menu down on the table, then scoped out the rest of the people that were at the restaurant. When her eyes made her way to Joe's, she stuck her tongue out at him. He scrunched up his nose, then attracted his attention to the waiter that approached the table.
"Hey, my name is Mike and I'll be taking care of you guys today." Bailey followed the deep voice to see a guy that looked about 17 or 18 standing between her and Nick with a pen and pad in his hands. He was a little taller than Joe, with spiky, dark blonde hair. The style sort of resembled the old 'Joe-hawk'. He was highly attractive. "-And for you, miss?" he asked, bringing Bailey back down to earth.
"What?" she asked, looking into his emerald green eyes.
His chuckle was a little husky. "What can I get you to drink?"
"Oh, I'll just have a root beer." she replied, a little embarrassed that she hadn't been paying attention.
"Alright, I'll give you guys a few more minutes, then I'll be back to take your orders." Mike informed, nodding his head before taking off into the kitchen in the back of the restaurant.
"Smooth, Bails." Nick laughed. "Smooth like your Guitar Hero skills."
"HA. You're hilarious." she glared over at him. "I was just thinking of something." she lied.
"Now, now. Kids, knock it off." Ross stated.
There was a little small talk before Mike returned with everyone's drinks and took everyone's order.
"Ew. What's that floating in your drink?" Joe asked from across the table, sounding a little disgusted.
Bailey twirled her straw around. "Aw. It's a cherry!" she exclaimed, grabbing the stem and pulling it out, dripping a little root beer on the table.
"Well, that's kind of cute." Nick commented, then winced when Joe kicked his shin.
"I hear that if you can tie a cherry stem in a knot with your tongue, you're a good kisser." Kevin informed the table, nodding his head in amusement to his own statement. There were a few chuckles before all eyes were on Bailey.
"What?" she asked, glancing around at everyone.
"Do it!" Garbo exclaimed, motioning towards the cherry.
Bailey looked down on it. "What? No. I'm not doing it now, are you kidding me? In front of my boss?" she nodded her head towards Ross.
"Oh, you kids amuse me. You act as if I don't know that you and Joe suck each others faces off when no one is looking." Ross glanced back and forth at the two.
"Ok, awkward." Joe muttered, clearing his throat, trying not to blush as Bailey smiled over at him.
"Come Bailey, do it." Nick nudged her.
Rolling her eyes, she popped the cherry in her mouth. Everyone stared as she fiddled with the stem. Moments later she pulled the knotted stem out, showing the table that she could do it.
"Very nicely done." Mike commented, coming up behind her with an order of cheese fries as their appetizer.
"Thanks." Bailey replied, her cheeks turning a little pink as she tossed the stem onto the table. She tried to avoid making eye contact with Joe, but she couldn't help it. She saw the annoyance in his eyes. He didn't like how the waiter was flirting with her and she knew it, but what was she supposed to do about it?
Eventually, their meals came. After a few laughs and full bellies, Mike was there to clear off the table as everyone relaxed, pushing off the fact that they had to get back on the road soon.
"Here, let me get that for you." Mike stated, reaching down for Bailey's empty plate, winking as he dropped a tiny slip of paper in his lap. "You guys all have a wonderful day." he smiled, showing his perfect teeth, then walked away with the dirty dishes in his arms.
Nonchalantly, Bailey slipped the paper into her back pocket, then stood up as everyone stretched, ready to leave. Quickly, but casually, Joe made his way next to her, grabbing her hand and interlocking his fingers with her soft ones, making sure that Mike had seen them as he exited the kitchen. Smirking, he lead her out of the restaurant and onto the bus.
"So what'd he give you?" Joe asked, entering the back lounge of the tour bus. Bailey looked at him confusedly for a second.
"Oh!" she exclaimed, then pulled out the slip of paper from her pocket. She laughed. "He gave me his number." Joe looked at her, showing no emotion on his face. "What? It's not like I asked for it."
"I know." he muttered, sounding defeated as he flopped down onto the leather couch. Sighing, Bailey crumpled up the piece of paper and tossed it into the small waste bin next to the couch.
"Hey, cheer up." she smirked, sliding onto his lap. Instantly, his hands made their way around her waist. She leaned in and pressed her forehead against his. "I'm all yours." she whispered, kissing the tip of his nose.
The feeling in his stomach returned as his softly pressed his lips against hers. Smiling, she kissed back, bringing her hand up to the back of his neck.
"Ugh. So this is what Ross meant about 'sucking face'." Nick chuckled, trying to sound disgusted as he made his way to the other couch. Bailey pulled away, then slid off of Joe's lap and onto the couch. She could tell he was a little disappointed. "So Bailey, you ready to step back up to the plate?" he asked, holding up the plastic guitar.
"I missed you too?" be sounded a bit confused as he began to sit up, scratching his curly head.
"Hey! You're back." Kevin smiled, walking into the room.
"Kevin!" she exclaimed, popping up and tackling him on the couch on the opposite side of the room and embracing him in a tight hug.
"Someone's a bit excited." Kevin chuckled, hugging back.
"I was dying to get out of that house." Bailey informed. "And now I'm here with you guys. Life is good." she finished, then let go of Kevin and relaxed back into the couch as Joe appeared in the doorway. "Hey." she cooed, calming down a bit as she stared up at his soft face. All Joe did was smile as his made his way over and sat down next to her on the couch, his right leg up against her left.
"This tour is going to be amazing." Joe exclaimed, tilting his head back in satisfaction with a huge grin on his face.
"Yeah." Nick piped in. "It's just us, then Miley's crew. No extra assistants like Tori."
"Oh, really?" Bailey asked, a little surprised. Her happiness grew even more when she realized that this tour was going to run a lot smoother.
Kevin exhaled. "Yeah, she decided to head home. Apparently she had enough of touring." everyone chuckled.
"Woo!" Bailey exclaimed. "That means I get you guys all to myself." she rubbed her hand mischievously.
"More like me." Joe smirked, wrapping his arm around her. She leaned her head into his chest, missing his lovely scent.
"Mhm." she mumbled, resting her hand on his leg.
Joe had missed this, just holding her. Knowing that he was hanging onto someone who really cared about him kept feeding the butterflies in his stomach. He loved the feeling that she gave him. He couldn't get enough of it. Goosebumps formed up his arm as she grabbed his free hand, interlacing her fingers with his.
"Are you cold?" her soft voice sounded like an angel to his ears.
"No, I'm good." he blushed a little, embarrassed at the fact that he let her get into him. Her grasp on his heart was firm and strong; she wasn't letting go any time soon.
- - - - -
"Come on!" Joe whined. "I'm hungry and there's lovely food in there waiting to be ordered and eaten by me!"
After being on the road for about six hours, the bus had finally stopped outside of an Applebee's in the middle of Greensboro, North Carolina to eat. It had been parked for about 5 minutes already, but Nick and Bailey had yet to move away from the TV screen. Their eyes were glued to the notes of 'The Light That Blinds' off of Guitar Hero 2, the buttons on the plastic guitar clicking every second.
"Go ahead Joe, we'll be there in a second." Bailey replied quickly, determined to beat Nick. "Shit." she muttered after a loud clang was heard from the TV from missing a note. "Dammit Joe! Don't talk to me."
Nick laughed at the frustration in her voice. "You gonna be alright, Bails? Ms. Bailey Baker, Queen of GH2." he mocked her, his fingers moving up and down the neck of the guitar, hitting every note that flashed across the screen on 'Hard'.
"Shut up. You've just been practicing. I haven't played in months." she winced at her own lame excuse. She heard Joe groan, then walk off the bus. A few moments later, the song ended and Bailey dropped the guitar.
"Aw, it's alright." Nick patted her shoulder, his smile beaming. "You only lost by. . . 12%."
"I hope you know this is war." she narrowed her eyes at him as she stood up from the floor, setting the guitar down next to the TV. Nick chuckled, then pushed her towards the front of the bus.
Bailey followed Nick through the restaurant and to the large, circle table that was surrounded by high bar stools. The line up was Joe, Kevin, Garbo, Nick, Bailey directly across from Joe, Ross, and then the rest of the band. Quickly, Bailey flipped open her menu, burying her face behind it.
"You finally beat her?" Kevin smirked, looking at Nick. Proudly, he nodded. "Nice."
"Hmph." Bailey exhaled behind the menu. After deciding on the cheese quesadillas, she laid her menu down on the table, then scoped out the rest of the people that were at the restaurant. When her eyes made her way to Joe's, she stuck her tongue out at him. He scrunched up his nose, then attracted his attention to the waiter that approached the table.
"Hey, my name is Mike and I'll be taking care of you guys today." Bailey followed the deep voice to see a guy that looked about 17 or 18 standing between her and Nick with a pen and pad in his hands. He was a little taller than Joe, with spiky, dark blonde hair. The style sort of resembled the old 'Joe-hawk'. He was highly attractive. "-And for you, miss?" he asked, bringing Bailey back down to earth.
"What?" she asked, looking into his emerald green eyes.
His chuckle was a little husky. "What can I get you to drink?"
"Oh, I'll just have a root beer." she replied, a little embarrassed that she hadn't been paying attention.
"Alright, I'll give you guys a few more minutes, then I'll be back to take your orders." Mike informed, nodding his head before taking off into the kitchen in the back of the restaurant.
"Smooth, Bails." Nick laughed. "Smooth like your Guitar Hero skills."
"HA. You're hilarious." she glared over at him. "I was just thinking of something." she lied.
"Now, now. Kids, knock it off." Ross stated.
There was a little small talk before Mike returned with everyone's drinks and took everyone's order.
"Ew. What's that floating in your drink?" Joe asked from across the table, sounding a little disgusted.
Bailey twirled her straw around. "Aw. It's a cherry!" she exclaimed, grabbing the stem and pulling it out, dripping a little root beer on the table.
"Well, that's kind of cute." Nick commented, then winced when Joe kicked his shin.
"I hear that if you can tie a cherry stem in a knot with your tongue, you're a good kisser." Kevin informed the table, nodding his head in amusement to his own statement. There were a few chuckles before all eyes were on Bailey.
"What?" she asked, glancing around at everyone.
"Do it!" Garbo exclaimed, motioning towards the cherry.
Bailey looked down on it. "What? No. I'm not doing it now, are you kidding me? In front of my boss?" she nodded her head towards Ross.
"Oh, you kids amuse me. You act as if I don't know that you and Joe suck each others faces off when no one is looking." Ross glanced back and forth at the two.
"Ok, awkward." Joe muttered, clearing his throat, trying not to blush as Bailey smiled over at him.
"Come Bailey, do it." Nick nudged her.
Rolling her eyes, she popped the cherry in her mouth. Everyone stared as she fiddled with the stem. Moments later she pulled the knotted stem out, showing the table that she could do it.
"Very nicely done." Mike commented, coming up behind her with an order of cheese fries as their appetizer.
"Thanks." Bailey replied, her cheeks turning a little pink as she tossed the stem onto the table. She tried to avoid making eye contact with Joe, but she couldn't help it. She saw the annoyance in his eyes. He didn't like how the waiter was flirting with her and she knew it, but what was she supposed to do about it?
Eventually, their meals came. After a few laughs and full bellies, Mike was there to clear off the table as everyone relaxed, pushing off the fact that they had to get back on the road soon.
"Here, let me get that for you." Mike stated, reaching down for Bailey's empty plate, winking as he dropped a tiny slip of paper in his lap. "You guys all have a wonderful day." he smiled, showing his perfect teeth, then walked away with the dirty dishes in his arms.
Nonchalantly, Bailey slipped the paper into her back pocket, then stood up as everyone stretched, ready to leave. Quickly, but casually, Joe made his way next to her, grabbing her hand and interlocking his fingers with her soft ones, making sure that Mike had seen them as he exited the kitchen. Smirking, he lead her out of the restaurant and onto the bus.
"So what'd he give you?" Joe asked, entering the back lounge of the tour bus. Bailey looked at him confusedly for a second.
"Oh!" she exclaimed, then pulled out the slip of paper from her pocket. She laughed. "He gave me his number." Joe looked at her, showing no emotion on his face. "What? It's not like I asked for it."
"I know." he muttered, sounding defeated as he flopped down onto the leather couch. Sighing, Bailey crumpled up the piece of paper and tossed it into the small waste bin next to the couch.
"Hey, cheer up." she smirked, sliding onto his lap. Instantly, his hands made their way around her waist. She leaned in and pressed her forehead against his. "I'm all yours." she whispered, kissing the tip of his nose.
The feeling in his stomach returned as his softly pressed his lips against hers. Smiling, she kissed back, bringing her hand up to the back of his neck.
"Ugh. So this is what Ross meant about 'sucking face'." Nick chuckled, trying to sound disgusted as he made his way to the other couch. Bailey pulled away, then slid off of Joe's lap and onto the couch. She could tell he was a little disappointed. "So Bailey, you ready to step back up to the plate?" he asked, holding up the plastic guitar.
Two weeks had passed since then. Bailey stood in her bedroom with her suitcase and dresser drawers open. She was packing for the recently announced Hannah Montana/Jonas Brothers tour. Bailey was going to be on the road again with the best.
"Are you sure you want to go, sweetie?" her mother questioned, leaning on the doorframe to her room. "You really want to walk right back into all that drama? Do you want a repeat of the last tour?"
"Mom, -" Bailey rolled her eyes, looking over at her. "- just stop. I'm going." she started tossing socks into her almost filled suitcase. "And it's not going to be a repeat of the last tour. Everything is going to be fine."
"What about Joe? What makes you think he still even cares?" she questioned, trying hard to get her daughter to stay home.
Bailey sighed. "Believe me mom, he does." She couldn't believe how much she was trying to put her down. "I just got off the phone with him an hour ago. They should be here to pick me up any minute."
"You haven't seen him in two weeks, what makes you think he hasn't changed his mind now that he's had time to think about everything?"
"Mom! Just stop, alright?" she exclaimed, turning her entire body to face her. "Everything is fine! Why can't you just be happy about that?" Her mom was about to respond before the doorbell rang. "They're here!" Bailey squeaked, brushing past her mom and darting down the steps. She swung the door opening expecting to see Joe. "Oh, hey Sarah."
"Kill the excitement, would ya?" she joked, stepping into her house.
"Sorry." Bailey replied, pulling her friend into a hug.
"I just wanted to stop by before you left." she sighed. "I'm not going to see my best friend for an entire two months."
"Sarah." she sighed, squeezing her in the process. "Your mom's stupid. I can't believe she's not letting you come." Bailey finally pulled away after a long moment.
"Eh." Sarah replied. "I think I'll live. Maybe she'll change her mind mid-way through or something. You know her. Think of it this way, you get to meet new people instead of being butt-buddies with me the entire time." she playfully punched Bailey's arm, trying to cheer her up a bit.
"But I love my Sarahboo." Bailey whined.
"Bailey! Get your ass back up here and finish packing!" her mom yelled down the landing. Sighing, Bailey waved for Sarah to follow her to her bedroom.
"Alright mom." Bailey stated, shooing her mom from the doorway and closing the door so Sarah and her were alone. She froze by the door for a moment until she heard her mother start down the steps.
"So how's Joe?!" Sarah asked excitedly, plopping down onto her bed next to her almost packed suitcase. All Bailey did was smile, then turn back to her dresser. "That good, huh? Still saying the magic words?"
"Every day before we hang up." she replied, not being able to control the smile on her face. "Ugh. It's been two weeks since I've been table to touch him. I'm going through withdraws."
"Hey, you were the one who decided not to go back to Wyckoff with him right after the first tour." she stated.
"I know, I know. That's because it was his first two weeks off in how long? I'm sure he wanted to relax and spend time with his family before this one."
'Top down, seat back, rollin' in my Cadillac. Self control, knowing right from wrong is what I lack. Top down, seat back, rollin' in my Cadillac.' Bailey's cell phone began buzzing a tune by 'Mest' in her pocket. Grinning, she answered the phone.
"AHHH!" she yelled into the phone.
"OH MY GOD! We're here!" Joe exclaimed on the other line, using just as much as enthusiasm as she had.
"OH MY GOD! Ok." she replied, then hung up. "They're here!" Bailey's heart started to thump faster in her chest as she grabbed a few last minute items around her room and stuffing them into her suitcase. Quickly, she zipped up the big bag and swung her door open to see Joe leaning against the wall. Instantly, she dropped her bag and tightly wrapped he arms around him.
"Ah, my life is now complete." he cooed, then kissed her cheek before pulling away. "Your bag, maddam?" he asked with a horrible English accent.
"Why thank you kind sir." Bailey smiled, cheekily curtsying.
"Sometimes you two can be the cutest, and then the rest of the time you guys sicken me." Sarah thought out loud, adding a chuckle at the end.
"Thanks." Bailey and Joe replied in unison, making Sarah roll her eyes. She couldn't help but laugh.
"I'm going to miss you sweetie." Bailey's mom said her goodbye, hugging her on the front porch.
"You too, mom." she replied, hoping she'd loosen her grip.
"You take care of my baby girl, hear me Joseph?" her mother ordered sternly.
"Of course, Mrs.Baker." he smiled as Bailey made her way over to Sarah to give her one last hug goodbye.
"If anything happens, I better be the first person you call. Got it? I want to get the lowdown each and every day, alright?" Sarah tried to sound all tough, but her voice cracked in the end. "Live it up, Bails." she finished, pulling away.
"You ready?" Joe asked, smiling up at her through his dark hair. She tried not to drool as she stared back at his beautiful face.
"You know it." she replied, then started off towards the big 'ole tour bus parked in the street.
"Are you sure you want to go, sweetie?" her mother questioned, leaning on the doorframe to her room. "You really want to walk right back into all that drama? Do you want a repeat of the last tour?"
"Mom, -" Bailey rolled her eyes, looking over at her. "- just stop. I'm going." she started tossing socks into her almost filled suitcase. "And it's not going to be a repeat of the last tour. Everything is going to be fine."
"What about Joe? What makes you think he still even cares?" she questioned, trying hard to get her daughter to stay home.
Bailey sighed. "Believe me mom, he does." She couldn't believe how much she was trying to put her down. "I just got off the phone with him an hour ago. They should be here to pick me up any minute."
"You haven't seen him in two weeks, what makes you think he hasn't changed his mind now that he's had time to think about everything?"
"Mom! Just stop, alright?" she exclaimed, turning her entire body to face her. "Everything is fine! Why can't you just be happy about that?" Her mom was about to respond before the doorbell rang. "They're here!" Bailey squeaked, brushing past her mom and darting down the steps. She swung the door opening expecting to see Joe. "Oh, hey Sarah."
"Kill the excitement, would ya?" she joked, stepping into her house.
"Sorry." Bailey replied, pulling her friend into a hug.
"I just wanted to stop by before you left." she sighed. "I'm not going to see my best friend for an entire two months."
"Sarah." she sighed, squeezing her in the process. "Your mom's stupid. I can't believe she's not letting you come." Bailey finally pulled away after a long moment.
"Eh." Sarah replied. "I think I'll live. Maybe she'll change her mind mid-way through or something. You know her. Think of it this way, you get to meet new people instead of being butt-buddies with me the entire time." she playfully punched Bailey's arm, trying to cheer her up a bit.
"But I love my Sarahboo." Bailey whined.
"Bailey! Get your ass back up here and finish packing!" her mom yelled down the landing. Sighing, Bailey waved for Sarah to follow her to her bedroom.
"Alright mom." Bailey stated, shooing her mom from the doorway and closing the door so Sarah and her were alone. She froze by the door for a moment until she heard her mother start down the steps.
"So how's Joe?!" Sarah asked excitedly, plopping down onto her bed next to her almost packed suitcase. All Bailey did was smile, then turn back to her dresser. "That good, huh? Still saying the magic words?"
"Every day before we hang up." she replied, not being able to control the smile on her face. "Ugh. It's been two weeks since I've been table to touch him. I'm going through withdraws."
"Hey, you were the one who decided not to go back to Wyckoff with him right after the first tour." she stated.
"I know, I know. That's because it was his first two weeks off in how long? I'm sure he wanted to relax and spend time with his family before this one."
'Top down, seat back, rollin' in my Cadillac. Self control, knowing right from wrong is what I lack. Top down, seat back, rollin' in my Cadillac.' Bailey's cell phone began buzzing a tune by 'Mest' in her pocket. Grinning, she answered the phone.
"AHHH!" she yelled into the phone.
"OH MY GOD! We're here!" Joe exclaimed on the other line, using just as much as enthusiasm as she had.
"OH MY GOD! Ok." she replied, then hung up. "They're here!" Bailey's heart started to thump faster in her chest as she grabbed a few last minute items around her room and stuffing them into her suitcase. Quickly, she zipped up the big bag and swung her door open to see Joe leaning against the wall. Instantly, she dropped her bag and tightly wrapped he arms around him.
"Ah, my life is now complete." he cooed, then kissed her cheek before pulling away. "Your bag, maddam?" he asked with a horrible English accent.
"Why thank you kind sir." Bailey smiled, cheekily curtsying.
"Sometimes you two can be the cutest, and then the rest of the time you guys sicken me." Sarah thought out loud, adding a chuckle at the end.
"Thanks." Bailey and Joe replied in unison, making Sarah roll her eyes. She couldn't help but laugh.
"I'm going to miss you sweetie." Bailey's mom said her goodbye, hugging her on the front porch.
"You too, mom." she replied, hoping she'd loosen her grip.
"You take care of my baby girl, hear me Joseph?" her mother ordered sternly.
"Of course, Mrs.Baker." he smiled as Bailey made her way over to Sarah to give her one last hug goodbye.
"If anything happens, I better be the first person you call. Got it? I want to get the lowdown each and every day, alright?" Sarah tried to sound all tough, but her voice cracked in the end. "Live it up, Bails." she finished, pulling away.
"You ready?" Joe asked, smiling up at her through his dark hair. She tried not to drool as she stared back at his beautiful face.
"You know it." she replied, then started off towards the big 'ole tour bus parked in the street.
"Don't." Bailey said through gritted teeth as Joe stepped towards her. After hearing he had taken Tori out on a date, she felt a little betrayed, but then understood a bit because it would've calmed things down a little on the tour for everyone. But after hearing about a second and third date, her heart crumpled. Joe knew how she had felt about Tori and it sucked to know that he got involved anyway, regardless if Bailey was even in there at the time.
"But -" Joe started, but stopped once Bailey barged passed him, storming off the bus. He groaned, then grabbed a hold of the hair on his head and pulled it in frustration at the mistake he had made, times three.
Completely fed up with everything, her eyes once again started to well up with tears because of him. She was starting to think that all of this was useless. What was the point?
It was dark outside and it was going on midnight. The parking lot was still and quiet as a few staff members made their way back into the arena. Wiping her eyes, Bailey made her way behind the bus and into a grassy field. There was a big oak tree a few yards away from the parking lot. She made her way over it to have a seat to think by herself, but she stopped when she noticed Tori sitting there, leaning against the tree. After hearing her approaching footsteps, Tori looked up her. Bailey noticed she had been crying.
Shaking her head, Bailey turned around to leave.
"You know, -" Tori started. "- it sucks." Bailey huffed, then stopped to look at her, a little interested in hearing what she had to say. "This whole thing started out with Jake. Long story short, I owed him a favor and trying to get between you and Joe was what he had wanted." Tori sighed ad Bailey started walking towards her. Looking up, Tori continued. "I tried everything to mess things up. . And whether or not you believe me, I felt horrible during everything."
Bailey laughed, "Yeah, ok." she rolled her eyes, completely amused by what she was hearing.
"Just listen, ok?" her voice cracked. "After seeing you two together, watching how you guys interacted and realizing how much you cared about each other, I started to realize that what I was doing was wrong. It wasn't only doing it for Jake anymore, but because I was jealous myself." she paused, wiping her eyes. "I feel horrible about everything. That boy cares for you like crazy." Bailey watched her as she spoke. "When you got kicked off, I was kind of relieved. I hoped Joe would move on. . . I tried moving in on him myself, and believe me, it wasn't easy. He was so caught up on you." Bailey continue to watch as she spoke. It started to sink in that she was speaking the truth. "Finally one day he cracked. He took me out and I was happy. Believe it or not, it wasn't that bad. He's really a sweet guy." she tried to smile up at her. "I thought it was my chance to finally start something with someone. Ugh, I just wanted someone, that's all. I was desperate."
"So you went for someone who was already taken?" Bailey questioned, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
Tori hesitated for a second. "Well, yeah. I mean, I was doing the thing for Jake and Joe turned out to be a pretty interesting guy so I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone." she shrugged. "Now that I look at it, it was a pretty horrible thing to do, and I'm really sorry." Tori's eyes sparkled as she looked up at her in the darkness.
"I don't know what you expect me to say." she replied honestly, a little shocked that the person she once thought was evil and kniving was spilling her guts to her like a little emo kid thinking too much about life itself. Even though she understood what Tori was telling her, she didn't agree with it. She still went for Joe knowing that he was already involved and that's pretty low of anyone to do, not matter what the circumstance.
"You don't even have to say anything. . . I just needed to get that out." she trailed off looking down, then away.
Bailey waited a moment before speaking. "So he really took you on three dates?" her voice sounded hurt.
Slowly Tori nodded, then looked back up at her. "-But only after I bugged him about it." she chuckled, a silent tear running down her cheek. "Ugh, I'm such a horrible person." she groaned, wiping her cheek.
Hesitantly, Bailey took a seat on the grass a foot or so in front of Tori. Crossing her legs in front of her, she rested her hands in her lap. For some reason, she felt sorry for the girl. For one, she obviously had issues, with herself and other people. It couldn't be possible for the girl to have any friends, beings she was almost never on the phone with anyone or communicating with others except the ones in the crew. The girl had to be lonely as hell, especially in the boy department. Bailey understood because she was at that point once, before Jake.
"I don't know." Tori stared out into the darkness. "This thing is so much bigger than you, Joe and Jake. It's me. I'm the messed up one. I just want to be liked, you know?" Tori was now just talking out loud to herself. She just wanted to be heard. She didn't have anyone anywhere else to talk to. Bailey was confused as to why she was talking to her, the one who she basically screwed over for an entire two months. "All I'm trying to say is, it's not Joe's fault. Be mad at me about this, not him. He was the sweetheart that made up thousands of easy rejection speeches." she chuckled again as Bailey thought, 'I'm already mad at you, bitch.' But she didn't want to put the girl under even more emotional stress, so she held back. "I'd kill to have someone care for me like Joe cares about you." her voice was filled with sincerity. Bailey couldn't help but stare back into her eyes. "After you left, it hurt everyone. Just the way he was acting, talking, sulking. Kevin even said he hadn't seen his brother any more devastated." she paused. "He's a really great guy, Bails."
"I know." Bailey replied quietly, thinking about the emotional state Joe had to have been in now. His heart had been on a crazy roller coaster. First her leaving, then Tori squeezing herself in the middle, her showing up at the show unannounced, their wrestling match on the bus, the kiss, her finding out about Tori's date. He had to have been going insane.
- - - - -
"Joe, just calm down." Kevin stated softly, patting his brother on the back as he hid his teary face in his hands on the bus.
"Why does she have this effect on me?" he muttered, the brought his head up to look at him. "I try to tell myself not to care, but I can't convince myself."
"You're allowed to care about someone." Kevin replied, staring back into his bloodshot eyes.
"It's been two months without her, that's plenty of time to forget about someone that you only knew for a month before, right? Why couldn't I forget and move on?" Joe was now talking to himself.
Kevin was hesitant before responding. "Maybe you like her a lot more than you think. Like, like-like." Normally, Joe would've smiled at the fact that he used 'like' three times in the same sentence, but at that moment his mind was on Bailey. "Maybe even more?"
Joe didn't object as he kept Kevin's gaze. Maybe he did like her more than he'd admit, but that didn't matter now. He was under the impression that she hated him.
"I totally screw it up." Joe muttered, looking away. "Tori."
"Oh. . . That might be a little problem." Kevin remembered, then looked away himself. "Well, did you explain yourself?"
"I couldn't even get a word in before she stormed off." Joe replied, disappointed in himself. "You think she'd believe me if I told her that it didn't mean anything? Kev, I don't know what to do! What if she doesn't want to hear it? What if she never wants to speak to me again? Dude, I messed up big time." he exhaled with force. "I didn't think I was ever going to see her again. . . After all that time, I just had to get my mind off her, you know?" he looked over at his brother, searching his face for some hope.
"I know." Bailey's voice rang in his ears. Instantly, Joe spun his body around to see Bailey in the doorway.
"I didn't know, -How long have you, -What are you, Bailey, I -" Joe couldn't find the words to speak as Kevin waved himself out, exiting the bus to leave the two alone. His eyes started to tear up. "Just don't give up on me, ok? Hear me out!"
"Joe, I'd never give up on you." her nose started to burn as she fought back the tears. Seeing him like this broke her heart, even if she was there to tell him that everything was alright. "You're the best thing that has ever happened to me." she bit her tongue after speaking that cheesy line, but continued anyway. "I really mean it."
Joe was touched by her words. He could hear the passion in her voice and he loved it. "About the dates, I -"
"I know" Bailey cut him off, hoping to save him the breath. "Tori told me."
"Tori told you?!" he didn't mean to respond as loudly as he did. "Wait, is she alive? You didn't -"
"Joe!" she exclaimed, then smacked him in the leg. "We talked. I didn't punch her lights out or anything. . ." After watching the look of disbelief, Bailey assured him. "Really! She's fine." About a minute of silence went by. "Now what?"
Joe didn't say a word. Instead, he leaned forward to her on the couch and hugged her. Squeezing his arms tightly around her body, he closed his eyes as he nuzzled his face in her strawberry scented hair that covered her shoulders. Her arms were wrapped around his shoulders, her face buried in his neck, inhaling his captivating scent. For a long period of time, they just sat there holding each other, taking everything in. They had missed out on this for a long time.
"Bailey?" Joe asked quietly into her hair.
"Hm?" her hum vibrated into his neck.
"I love you." he whispered, his lips softly brushing against her ear, reviving the tingling sensation in her body that had been at rest for months.
Smiling, she replied without hesitation. "I love you too."
"But -" Joe started, but stopped once Bailey barged passed him, storming off the bus. He groaned, then grabbed a hold of the hair on his head and pulled it in frustration at the mistake he had made, times three.
Completely fed up with everything, her eyes once again started to well up with tears because of him. She was starting to think that all of this was useless. What was the point?
It was dark outside and it was going on midnight. The parking lot was still and quiet as a few staff members made their way back into the arena. Wiping her eyes, Bailey made her way behind the bus and into a grassy field. There was a big oak tree a few yards away from the parking lot. She made her way over it to have a seat to think by herself, but she stopped when she noticed Tori sitting there, leaning against the tree. After hearing her approaching footsteps, Tori looked up her. Bailey noticed she had been crying.
Shaking her head, Bailey turned around to leave.
"You know, -" Tori started. "- it sucks." Bailey huffed, then stopped to look at her, a little interested in hearing what she had to say. "This whole thing started out with Jake. Long story short, I owed him a favor and trying to get between you and Joe was what he had wanted." Tori sighed ad Bailey started walking towards her. Looking up, Tori continued. "I tried everything to mess things up. . And whether or not you believe me, I felt horrible during everything."
Bailey laughed, "Yeah, ok." she rolled her eyes, completely amused by what she was hearing.
"Just listen, ok?" her voice cracked. "After seeing you two together, watching how you guys interacted and realizing how much you cared about each other, I started to realize that what I was doing was wrong. It wasn't only doing it for Jake anymore, but because I was jealous myself." she paused, wiping her eyes. "I feel horrible about everything. That boy cares for you like crazy." Bailey watched her as she spoke. "When you got kicked off, I was kind of relieved. I hoped Joe would move on. . . I tried moving in on him myself, and believe me, it wasn't easy. He was so caught up on you." Bailey continue to watch as she spoke. It started to sink in that she was speaking the truth. "Finally one day he cracked. He took me out and I was happy. Believe it or not, it wasn't that bad. He's really a sweet guy." she tried to smile up at her. "I thought it was my chance to finally start something with someone. Ugh, I just wanted someone, that's all. I was desperate."
"So you went for someone who was already taken?" Bailey questioned, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
Tori hesitated for a second. "Well, yeah. I mean, I was doing the thing for Jake and Joe turned out to be a pretty interesting guy so I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone." she shrugged. "Now that I look at it, it was a pretty horrible thing to do, and I'm really sorry." Tori's eyes sparkled as she looked up at her in the darkness.
"I don't know what you expect me to say." she replied honestly, a little shocked that the person she once thought was evil and kniving was spilling her guts to her like a little emo kid thinking too much about life itself. Even though she understood what Tori was telling her, she didn't agree with it. She still went for Joe knowing that he was already involved and that's pretty low of anyone to do, not matter what the circumstance.
"You don't even have to say anything. . . I just needed to get that out." she trailed off looking down, then away.
Bailey waited a moment before speaking. "So he really took you on three dates?" her voice sounded hurt.
Slowly Tori nodded, then looked back up at her. "-But only after I bugged him about it." she chuckled, a silent tear running down her cheek. "Ugh, I'm such a horrible person." she groaned, wiping her cheek.
Hesitantly, Bailey took a seat on the grass a foot or so in front of Tori. Crossing her legs in front of her, she rested her hands in her lap. For some reason, she felt sorry for the girl. For one, she obviously had issues, with herself and other people. It couldn't be possible for the girl to have any friends, beings she was almost never on the phone with anyone or communicating with others except the ones in the crew. The girl had to be lonely as hell, especially in the boy department. Bailey understood because she was at that point once, before Jake.
"I don't know." Tori stared out into the darkness. "This thing is so much bigger than you, Joe and Jake. It's me. I'm the messed up one. I just want to be liked, you know?" Tori was now just talking out loud to herself. She just wanted to be heard. She didn't have anyone anywhere else to talk to. Bailey was confused as to why she was talking to her, the one who she basically screwed over for an entire two months. "All I'm trying to say is, it's not Joe's fault. Be mad at me about this, not him. He was the sweetheart that made up thousands of easy rejection speeches." she chuckled again as Bailey thought, 'I'm already mad at you, bitch.' But she didn't want to put the girl under even more emotional stress, so she held back. "I'd kill to have someone care for me like Joe cares about you." her voice was filled with sincerity. Bailey couldn't help but stare back into her eyes. "After you left, it hurt everyone. Just the way he was acting, talking, sulking. Kevin even said he hadn't seen his brother any more devastated." she paused. "He's a really great guy, Bails."
"I know." Bailey replied quietly, thinking about the emotional state Joe had to have been in now. His heart had been on a crazy roller coaster. First her leaving, then Tori squeezing herself in the middle, her showing up at the show unannounced, their wrestling match on the bus, the kiss, her finding out about Tori's date. He had to have been going insane.
- - - - -
"Joe, just calm down." Kevin stated softly, patting his brother on the back as he hid his teary face in his hands on the bus.
"Why does she have this effect on me?" he muttered, the brought his head up to look at him. "I try to tell myself not to care, but I can't convince myself."
"You're allowed to care about someone." Kevin replied, staring back into his bloodshot eyes.
"It's been two months without her, that's plenty of time to forget about someone that you only knew for a month before, right? Why couldn't I forget and move on?" Joe was now talking to himself.
Kevin was hesitant before responding. "Maybe you like her a lot more than you think. Like, like-like." Normally, Joe would've smiled at the fact that he used 'like' three times in the same sentence, but at that moment his mind was on Bailey. "Maybe even more?"
Joe didn't object as he kept Kevin's gaze. Maybe he did like her more than he'd admit, but that didn't matter now. He was under the impression that she hated him.
"I totally screw it up." Joe muttered, looking away. "Tori."
"Oh. . . That might be a little problem." Kevin remembered, then looked away himself. "Well, did you explain yourself?"
"I couldn't even get a word in before she stormed off." Joe replied, disappointed in himself. "You think she'd believe me if I told her that it didn't mean anything? Kev, I don't know what to do! What if she doesn't want to hear it? What if she never wants to speak to me again? Dude, I messed up big time." he exhaled with force. "I didn't think I was ever going to see her again. . . After all that time, I just had to get my mind off her, you know?" he looked over at his brother, searching his face for some hope.
"I know." Bailey's voice rang in his ears. Instantly, Joe spun his body around to see Bailey in the doorway.
"I didn't know, -How long have you, -What are you, Bailey, I -" Joe couldn't find the words to speak as Kevin waved himself out, exiting the bus to leave the two alone. His eyes started to tear up. "Just don't give up on me, ok? Hear me out!"
"Joe, I'd never give up on you." her nose started to burn as she fought back the tears. Seeing him like this broke her heart, even if she was there to tell him that everything was alright. "You're the best thing that has ever happened to me." she bit her tongue after speaking that cheesy line, but continued anyway. "I really mean it."
Joe was touched by her words. He could hear the passion in her voice and he loved it. "About the dates, I -"
"I know" Bailey cut him off, hoping to save him the breath. "Tori told me."
"Tori told you?!" he didn't mean to respond as loudly as he did. "Wait, is she alive? You didn't -"
"Joe!" she exclaimed, then smacked him in the leg. "We talked. I didn't punch her lights out or anything. . ." After watching the look of disbelief, Bailey assured him. "Really! She's fine." About a minute of silence went by. "Now what?"
Joe didn't say a word. Instead, he leaned forward to her on the couch and hugged her. Squeezing his arms tightly around her body, he closed his eyes as he nuzzled his face in her strawberry scented hair that covered her shoulders. Her arms were wrapped around his shoulders, her face buried in his neck, inhaling his captivating scent. For a long period of time, they just sat there holding each other, taking everything in. They had missed out on this for a long time.
"Bailey?" Joe asked quietly into her hair.
"Hm?" her hum vibrated into his neck.
"I love you." he whispered, his lips softly brushing against her ear, reviving the tingling sensation in her body that had been at rest for months.
Smiling, she replied without hesitation. "I love you too."
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