Just Talk to Him! (IM5)

Chapter 2

June 18, 2013 - 2 p.m.

“Cole!” Mom exclaims, pulling him into a big bear hug.

“Hey, Mom,” he replies happily. “Haven’t seen you in a while!”

Mom pulls away and motions to Dad. “I think your father is waiting for you.”

I sigh and lug my two suitcases further into the hotel.  I see a group of four boys I immediately recognize as Cole’s bandmates. I’ve met them several times and they’re okay. I glance back at Cole and notice that Mom and Dad are already leaving. Cole gives me a nod and beckons me to follow him to his bandmates. I roll my eyes and come over.

Cole introduces me to his friends. “Guys, you’ve met my sister, Kylie. We’re stuck with her for the whole summer tour.”

The four boys all give me various greetings. “It’s been a while, Kylie,” they say politely.

I smile back at them and turn to Cole. “Where do I put my stuff?”

“Room 615.” He tosses me a card. “Here’s your key. I’ll come with you.”

The other boys return to their previous conversation as Cole leads me to the elevator. I sigh and lug my bags behind me. Stupid Cole refuses to help me out.

The elevator door opens and I ask, “So what are their names again?”

“Huh? Oh. Dana’s the short one, Will’s the Asian one, Dalton is the punk, and Gabe is the other one.” Cole finally relaxes. Maybe it’s because he isn’t embarrassed by his little sister since his friends aren’t around, or maybe it’s the privacy of the elevator. His band, IM5, is semi-famous. Not like One Direction famous, but people do recognize tham when they go places. I can imagine the stress.

“Well, you’ve been all Mr. Uptight today,” I retort.

“I have?” He asks, confused. “Maybe. I guess.”

“Yeah. What, are you upset that I have to tag along with you?”

“Yeah, Ky. You’re annoying.”

“I’m not annoying!” I exclaim defiantly as the elevator door opens on the sixth floor. “You’re annoying.”

“My friends don’t think so,” Cole reasons, the familiar excitement filling his voice.

“Your friends are weird.”

“My fans love me.”

“Yeah, right dumbo.”

“Hey! I’m not dumb!” Cole stops and points at the door he’s facing. “Your room.”

“Is it all to myself?” I ask hopefully.

“Yeah. Lucky you. I’m going downstairs. Meet us in the lobby when you’re done with whatever girls do.”

I roll my eyes. “Fine, E. Cole-i.” I’ve called him E. Coli since I learned the word. I always find it funny to call Cole a bacterium.

“My name isn’t E. Coli,” he complains.

“Yeah it is.” I laugh and close the door in his face. I hear him huff and walk away as I turn and gasp at the hotel room. It’s definitely 5-star, with one giant fluffy bed in the center, fancy furniture, and a wide screen door and balcony looking out over the cityscape.

I grin and flop onto the soft bedding. For a while, I gaze out the glass doors, admiring the view. It’s relaxing, but I soon remember that IM5 are still downstairs, waiting for me. I groan and quickly hop off the bed and stick my two suitcases in the corner of the room. I take a moment to explore the rest of the room, hastily tearing myself away from the view. I grab my phone and room key then head downstairs.

In the lobby, the boys are all messing around, causing irritated looks from the other hotel guests. I join them and sit down sulkily on the couch until Cole notices me again.

“That took a while,” he reprimanded, his voice filled with brotherly annoyance.

I shrug. “The view was nice.”

One of the boys, Will, looks up in agreement. “I know, right? I so wish I could fly.”

“Shut up, Will,” replies Cole automatically.

“Will’s a turd,” Dalton apologized to me, laughing.

I nodded, kind of overwhelmed by the boys. For a “socially retarded caterpillar” like me, as Anna would put it, meeting four guys I barely know with my big brother whom I haven’t seen in almost a year, it does get a bit scary.

“Guys, you’re scaring her,” the one I remember to be Gabe responds. He grins at me. “They’re not actually that bad. I’m sure you could beat them up.”

I raise my eyebrow. “Really?” I ask, unconvinced.

Gabe rolls his eyes. “Sure. They’re wimps.”

The other boys start laughing. I can’t help but smile; they look like they’re trying to protect their fragile balloons of male egos. Maybe this summer won’t be so bad after all.

“Are you a wimp too?” I ask mischievously.

Gabe pretends to be offended. “No, I’m buff.” To prove his point, he flexes and winks.

Dana smacks him. “Shut up nerd.” He grins at me and I notice that he really has a cute smile.

“I’m not a nerd!” Gabe complains. “Will’s the nerd.”

Will rolls his eyes. “Everybody hates Will.”

“I don’t hate you,” I offer shyly.

Cole snorts. “She’s new.” He smirks at Will. “It’s okay, she’ll hate you too soon enough.”

I glare at Cole. “What makes you so sure?”

Will makes an “it’s so obvious” expression. “Hello? Everybody hates Will.”

I laugh and let it go. Still, I can’t help but wonder- how does Will feel? I decide right then and there that I absolutely don’t hate Will; I like him. And I’m going to make him see that he should like himself, too.

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Can we make it to 3 votes? One more vote and I'll post the next chapter :)