Chapter Eight

Georgie's Point of View

I sit on my bed and laugh at the joke Eileen just told. I never knew slumber parties could be this much fun. After I confessed to Wendy I had never been to a slumber party she invited over two of her friends, Eileen Scott and Carmen Alvarez.

"Is this really your first slumber party mi amiga?" Carmen asks. She talks in Spanglish a lot, which is really cute.

I laugh. "You just did it again Car, but yeah," I say.

"I can't believe you've never had a slumber party before that's insane," Eileen says.

"Well the only friend I've really had is Joey," I reply.

"Oooh ma spill the beans! Has anything ever happened there?" Carmen asks.

I laugh. "Goodness no! He's always just been my best friend," I say.

"Awe that's boring!" Eileen complains making me laugh.

Wendy rolls her eyes with a smile. "I think it's precious. Guys and girls can just be friends without hooking up. You show them girl," she says.

"Y'all are ridiculous," I say. There's a knock on the door, and I sigh. "I'll be right back." I get off the bed and head down the stairs. I open the door to see Joey standing there.

"Hey," I say confused. I peak around his shoulder and see the rest of the guys sitting in the van.

"Hey," he says with his signature grin.

"Are y'all gonna come in or," I trail.

"Actually I wanted to come tell you something," he says.

"Is something wrong with the van again?" I ask.

"No you did an amazing job," he says. I look at him confused.

"What'd you wanna tell me?" I ask quietly.

"Uh..." Joey trails.

"Spit it out dude," I say.

"We have a gig Friday night. Do you wanna come?" He asks.

"Of course Joey. I'll be there. Front row," I say.

"Awesome sauce," he says making me burst into laughter.

I nudge his shoulder. "You're such a dork Joey," I say, and close the door.

"Ooooh ma! Dìmelo todo!" She exclaims in Spanish.

I don't speak Spanish, but I understand the context. "He just asked me to their gig Friday," I reply.

"Really that's it?" Wendy asks.

"Yeah what else would it be?" I ask with a laugh.

"Nothing," she says, and I hear little pings on my window.

"It's Joey!" Eileen says. I open my window and lean against the ledge.

"Yes?" I call down.

"Be there by eight!" He calls up.

I smile. "Okay, will do!" I yell with a laugh.

He smiles and gives me a thumbs up. "See ya," he says. I laugh and watch as he walks back to the van. What a dork, but he's my dork.

"You guys are adorable," Eileen says.

"We're just friends Eileen," I say with a laugh.

"Are you sure? I mean it. You guys would make such a cute couple. Honestly you two could be nominated for hoco king and queen or prom," Carmen says.

I laugh. "Yeah okay. We're just friends, once again," I say with a little laugh.

"Have you ever wanted something more than that?" Wendy asks.

"I don't know honestly. I mean I've been with Jesse, and I've never really thought about it ya know," I say.

"Really? He seems to just treat you like there's no other woman in the world," Eileen says.

"He's just protective. He lost his sister when he was younger, so he's just keeping an eye on me," I say.

"I remember her. She was about a year older than us right?" Wendy asks.

"Yeah her name was Jolene," I reply.

"How did she pass?" Carmen asks.

"That car accident back in the eighth was her?" Wendy asks.

"Yeah she was a freshman, and her and her friends were out with these juniors. Anyway they were drunk, and they crashed. Jolene and one of the boys died. His name was Holden Tanner I think," I explain.

"I remember that," Eileen says sadly.

"That was before I moved here," Carmen says.

My phone begins vibrating, and I check the screen. "Speaking of siblings. It's my brother Colton," I say before answering. "Hey Colt!" I chirp into the phone.

"Hey Georgie! I'm coming home for the week. Can you let mama know?" He says.

"Yeah sure. What's the occasion?" I ask.

"Just needed a break," he says with a laugh.

"Alrighty Colt. When are you coming?" I ask.

"I'll be there in about twenty minutes," he answers.

"Oh well mom's at the hospital, some surgery, but me and some of my friends are here," I say.

"Oh cool Joey's there," he says.

"No my girl friends. Wendy, Carmen, and Eileen," I reply.

"Okay well tell Joey to get his ass to the house. I don't like being outnumbered," he laughs.

I laugh too. "Will do big brother," I say and hang up the phone. I send Joey a text telling him about Colt, and I get back to the girls.

"Can we see a picture of your brother before we see him in person?" Wendy asks.

"Sure," I say pulling up a picture of me and Colt on my phone, and showing it to them.

"Goodness gracious he is gorgeous!" Wendy exclaims.

"Yeeees papi!" Carmen exclaims.

"Give me the chance, and I'll climb him like a tree!" Wendy adds.

I laugh. "Too much information."

"I second that notion," Eileen says as we burst into hysterics.

"Hey Georgie I'm home!" Colt calls out in his southern drawl. We walk down stairs and I give my brother a giant hug.

"Hey there y'all my name's Colton," he says sticking out his hand. The girls shake it, and give them their best flirtatious looks. He gives them the most charming smile. He hasn't changed much.

"Knock knock," Joey says coming in followed by the guys.

"Joey!" Colt says giving him a hug. "Who're your friends?" He asks.

"Hey Colt," Joey says. "This is Stone Keller, Tommy Walter, and Andy Vince."

"Nice to meet ya fellas," Colt says shaking their hands. "Y'all wanna party?"

Stone smiles from ear to ear. Oh God. Colt doesn't know what he's just done. Lord save us.