Reality Check

8. Did You Forget?

We exited the mall and jumped into Big Rob's Escalade. Big guy, big car,....it just made sense to me.

Kevin *looks at Jess and Joe* "I'll sit up front!"

Me and Joe both giggled, while Nick just rolled his eyes.

Jess *thinking* Of course, Nick just rolled his eyes at me and Joe! He's Nicholas, and oh so grown up! I love him to death but sheesh, sometimes...but then again if he was silly, he'd be Joe...and I love Joe, believe me, but I don't think I'd want two of him. Ugh...two Joes constantly poking me, giving me a hard time? No, thanks! Even though there'd be tons of bear hugs...but I can already not breathe when he gives me one of those...two Joes from both sides? *smiles, shakes her head*

Big Rob "Oh yeah, sorry guys but my radio is broken...no music today. I was gonna have that fixed actually..."

Right as we left the parking lot Kev's phone buzzed. It was dad making sure we were on our way.

I was sitting behind Big Rob, Nick was in the middle, and Joe on the right. It was pretty quiet at first and I had to admit I was a little tired.

Jess *leaning her head on Nick's shoulder*

Nick "Pretty exhausting riding the "glucocaster", huh?" (glucocaster=blood sugar roller coaster...when your levels go out of whack basically LOL)

Jess *nods*

Nick *smiles, leans his head against Jess* "Please don't grow any taller, we're like perfect sizes to lean on each other."

Jess *smiles* "I'll try not to and haven't we always been?"

Nick *chuckles* "Yeah...I was always a little taller than you...except for like one year when you almost outgrew me..."

Jess *pouts* "Yeah and then all of a sudden you caught up and just kept on growing and I stayed the same..."

Joe *leans forward to look at Jess* "Wouldn't it be funny if you had grown to like 6'8? You'd be taller than all of us!"

Big Rob "Then I'd be useless and out of my job. Ms Jessica could take over!"

Jess "I'd sooo play in the NBA...Shaq and Yao, you guys better watch out! Here comes Jonas!"

Nick "Well, you'd play in the WNBA."

Jess *fake angry* "Stop ruining everything with logic, Nicholas!"

Nick *chuckles* "Sorry!"

*everyone laughs*

Kevin " Oh, by the way, dad mentioned we could grab some food on the way if we want because we're not going to be BBQ'ing until around 5PM...what does everybody think? I'd rather eat at home because I am not even that hungry and mom bought tons of lunch meat the other day. But that's just me."

Big Rob said he did not mind either way. Joe was totally for it. Of course, he was. As long as food was involved, Joe was for it. Nick said he wouldn't mind at first. I said I'd rather eat at home. Nick must have sensed that I really did not want to eat out somewhere, because he quickly changed his mind.

Nick *whispers* "not ready to take diabetes out for lunch in public yet, huh?"

Jess *does not answer, just snuggles deeper into Nick's shoulder*

Nick *gets it, pats Jess' knee*

It was quiet again for a while...at least in the back row. Kevin and Big Rob were talking in the front but all I heard was mumbles and I wasn't really trying to eavesdrop anyway. $10 it was probably about iPhones or other new gadgets.

Joe *fidgeting around*

Nick *without looking at Joe, eyes closed* "Joe, WHAT are you doing?"

Joe "Nothing...it's just so...Jess you're sitting too far away, I can't poke you or bug you from here."

Jess *grins* "Good."

Joe *puts arm on back rest behind Nick trying to reach Jess to poke her*

Nick "Joe."

Joe "Nick"

Nick "Joseph"

Joe "Nicholas."

Big Rob *loud deep voice* "HEY!" *then grins at Kevin*

Joe *startled, pulls his arm back really fast, knocking Nick in the back of his head*

Jess *laughing* "Classic!"

Nick *eyes open, rubbing his head* "Joe, you...!"

Joe "What?"

Jess *laughing her head off*

Nick "Jess, next time you sit next to Joe again."

Jess *looks at Nick* "Why? This is great! Better than prime time television. Oh, PLUS no commercial breaks!"

Nick *not really angry anymore* "Because every time I do, I end up getting hurt."

Jess "Good! Hold that thought! Write it down! BAM! New hit song! Can't wait till fans ask you where you got your inspiration for that song from." *laughs*

Joe "Aww, I knew I was your inspiration, Nicholas."

Nick *shakes head, trying not to smile*

We settled back down and Joe ended up joining in on Big Rob's and Kevin's conversation. Me and Nick just resumed our position. My head on his shoulder. His head on mine.

Jess *whispers, barely audible, ripping Nick out of his thoughts* "I'm so glad I'm back and this is real."

Nick *holds out his index finger holding it like a hook*

At first I was confused for a split second, then I had another flashback:

Me and Nick were about 7 years old and we had just had a huge fight, which was very unusual for us. Dad was lecturing us and at the end said "We are a family. You are brother and sister...not just that. You are twins. You two have something very beautiful, something special that none of us will ever be able to fully understand. Wouldn't that be something terrible to just throw away over an argument over a little thing such as this?

I want you to look at each other and say "I respect you. I love you. I will never let you down." and I want you to mean it." We looked at each other but didn't say anything. Instead Nick held his index finger up and curled it, and as if reading his mind, I did the same. We hooked them together (kind of like a pinky promise), wiggled our hands, and smiled at each other.

To this day dad is the only one that knows the true meaning of our 'index wiggle', which is what everyone refers it to. Most people just think it's just another one of our weird twin things that we do....even funnier is when people think we do it just to mess with them and that there is actually no meaning behind it. Little do they know...to us our 'index wiggle' means more than any 'thank you', more than any hug, and more than any 'I love you'. Why? Because it is basically all of the above and then some, combined.

Jess *smiles, hooks her index with Nick's*

*wiggle wiggle*

Nick *whispers* "For a moment I was really worried you had forgotten..."

Jess *whispers back* "I never would, Nicky, ever!"

Jess *to Joe* "Joe."

Joe "Yesssss, Jessssss"

Jess "Thank you. And thank you Kevin for taking me shopping and thank you Nick and Big Rob, as well."

Big Rob *smiles* "Girl, but I ain't even buy you nothin'!"

Jess "Buoi, I dunno whatchu talkin bout! *giggles* If it hadn't been for you and your intimidation tactics, I would have never scored that awesome carrying case."

Big Rob *nods head* "True."

Kevin "That was hilarious, by the way....even though it was a little messed up." *laughs*

Jess "Poor Russel." *laughs*

Kevin *turns around, looks at Jess* "But seriously, you're welcome, Buglet. *smiles* Welcome home."