waste my time, joey rooney

chapter three.

𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒆.
( 𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒅𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒂𝒗𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 )

NOW THAT SKIPPY was back, their trio was back together, so that meant that they all should've been happy. right? well, that wasn't the case for joey. to him, it seemed now that skippy was back, all of melody's attention had all gone to skippy and now joey hardly existed to melody.
while melody and skippy were walking in the halls together, they spotted joey, "joey! dude, where have you been?" skippy's eyes lit up, "busy.." he mumbled, "uh guys.. i gotta go." he smiled awkwardly, walking away as fast as he could. "what's up with him?" skippy frowned, "i dunno.. he's been acting all weird for the past two weeks.." melody sighed, "weird.." skippy mumbled, "oh! by the way, do you wanna sleep over again this weekend?" melody's eyes lit up, "yeah! i'll be there." skippy grinned, "great! uh, i gotta go to class, but see ya later!" melody giggled, waving at skippy before walking away. her face feeling warm and her insides feeling fluttery. she had no idea why she felt so floaty, but she didn't necessarily mind.

later that day, melody just layed there on her bed, her face buried in her pillows, trying to figure out what was going on with joey, "hey.." her brother walked in and she lifted her face, "hey.. what's up?" she said groggily as she sat up, "i should be asking you that question." he chuckled, "ugh.." she groaned, "c'mon, tell me." he sat on her bed, as she tucked her hair behind her ear, "i dunno, i mean, joeys been.. weird lately. like, i've.. i've tried talking to him but he just keeps blowing me off." she sighed as she sat up, "oh.. that.. that is weird but when did this happen?" he tried helping her figure her issue out, "i dunno.. i guess after skippy moved back?" she groaned, "hes jealous." mateo sighed, "what? no.. jealous? over what? skippy?!" she laughed awkwardly, not wanting to believe what she was hearing, "yeah no, hes definitely jealous, mel." mateo snickered, "thats not funny! look, what do i do?!" melody groaned, "look, i'll talk to him, or i'll get maddie to, just.. don't worry about it for now." mateo reassured her, "okay.. oh! and by the way, skippys coming over this weekend, uh just so you know." melody grinned, "no wonder joey's jealous, thats like the fourth time this month." he joked, "oh shut up!" she rolled her eyes, throwing a stuffed animal at him as he ran out.
after he left, melody slid back down, only feeling more frustrated than before, she hated the idea of joey possibly being jealous of her friendship with skippy, i mean, they were all best friends so why would he be jealous? melody still decided to leave it alone, she had the sleepover that weekend to worry about and didn't want any of the added stress.

that weekend, skippy came over and the two had an amazing time. skippy was his usual peppy self, and melody tried keeping up with him, but it was hard for her. all melody could think about was about joey and it was obvious. "what's wrong?" skippy sighed, "huh?" melody came back down to earth, "you've acting off.. what's wrong?" skippy sat down on the couch, "its.. its just the joey thing. i feel so stupid! like its my fault hes ignoring me." melody exhaled as she sat down next him, "mel.. it's not your fault. joey will come around sooner or later." he put his hand on her shoulder, "im surprised. skippy jon jones, spewing words of wisdom?" melody chuckled, trying to lighten the subject, "hey! i can be smart too, y'know!" he laughed, "yeah..i know.." melody muttered, gazing into skippy's eyes.
the next thing she knew, skippy was tucking her hair behind her and leaning in for a kiss, but to her surprise, she found herself kissing him back.
melody absolutely loved it, she now understood why she had been so fluttery lately and why when skippy came back, she felt on top of the world, but she also now knew why joey had been jealous. he definitely felt left out, and why wouldn't he? if they were only leading up to this, why would he want to spend time with them. it must have been exhausting. skippy pulled away, "uh wow, sorry i.. uh.." skippy stuttered awkwardly, "no! no.. i.. i don't mind.. not at all." melody smiled as she held skippy's hand.
of course, their moment had to be cut short by a knock, "oh.. uh, i can.. i can get that." skippy offered as he got up, just as mateo entered the room. skippy opened the door, just to find joey on the other side, "hey.." joey smiled, "mateo!" melody whisper yelled, as she gestured toward the kitchen.

as they met in the kitchen, mateo instantly knew. "oh my god. something happened between you guys." mateo laughed, "how'd you know?" melody grinned, "you're glowing, practically radioactive." he teased, "we kissed!" she giggled, "yeah like i said, no wonder joey was jealous." he rolled his eyes, "was? you talked to him?" melody felt relieved, "yeah! i told you!!" he teased, "what'd he say?!?" melody got serious, "i dunno, he said something about how you guys are leaving him out, and he hated it so he gave you space. now it makes sense, y'know considering that kiss." mateo explained, "oh no.. i feel horrible." melody frowned, "dont! now get out there!!" mateo shooed her.

when melody got back to her living room, skippy and joey were talking, and the two seemed to be okay again. melody was nervous about the whole situation, but tried to contain herself. "hey.." melody's voice was shaky, "hey.." joey was even more awkward melody, "i.. im sorry dude. i didnt realize we were leaving you out." she anxiously held skippy's hand, "no, i get it.. you were excited about skippy being back, and i was too! i guess you just got more carried away." he smiled, "yeah, i guess so." she chuckled, "uh, but are we.. are we good now?" melody beamed, "yeah, we're definitely good." joey grinned, "yay!" melody giggled as she excitedly waved skippy's hand as she held it.
melody didn't even realize how much she truly missed joey until that moment, but that didn't matter, all that mattered to her was that the three of them were okay again

i dunno how i feel abt this chapter 💔 but im already working on chapter four lol
anywayy, buh bye pookums 🤭