Anxiety vs normal

15

"So bre what have you been up to this past couple years?" Bella asks smiling at me. Everyone's eyes then to me and I freeze.
"Umm... I started social media. I model and sing a little."
"Oh that's wonderful I remember your beautiful voice. You and mikey would put on shows for us, he couldn't sing and still can't but your voice is beautiful." She says making me giggle.
"Thank you Bella." I smile and glance at mikey who is staring at me.
"Joey Alex mentioned you do social media to?" She ask as I turn to look at Joey. I smile when he looks at me like a deer caught in head lights but that goes always as fast as it came and he smiles.
"Yes I do ma'am. But I can't sing like bre. I do a little modeling and YouTube." I chuckle at that. He's a muser. He 'forgot' that part.
"Well you do have a face of a model" she smiles eyeing him as I struggle to keep my laugh in. Bella has always been open about her thoughts and when she sees a handsome young man she's not afraid to tell them.
"Well thank you mrs. Barone." He smirks at me. I roll my eyes as conversation sparks up between everyone.
"I thought I was handsome now I know I'm hot" Joey smirks as I laugh.
"You have a big ego joey I think you need to go to the hospital."
"Well without my big ego how else am I supposed to get your attention"
"Who said you didn't already have it" I smirk and turn back to my dinner. Out of the corner of my eye I see mikey watching us with an unreadable expression.
—
Dinner was awkward for me but I guess nobody noticed as they carried out their conversations.
"Alright kids why don't you guys go upstairs while the adults talk."Amy smiles.
"Sure mom but let me help clean" I smile and stand up. I help her grab all the plates and silverware while everyone heads in their own direction.
"You can go I'll put them in the dishwasher" I say to her.
"Are you sure?"
" yes mom I'm fine. You have catching up to do so go." I smile and shove her out of the kitchen. 5 minutes later and I'm done. I turn around as mikey walks in. Our eyes meet and we just stare at each other for what feels like forever.
I let out a sigh and push past him.
"I'm sorry" I hear him say but I keep walking out of the kitchen and toward the stairs. I turn and look back to see if he followed me but he didn't. He never does. I roll my eyes and walk up the stars. Knowing everyone went to the game room I walk in and see I was correct.
"Finally your done." Max huffs
"Yeah sorry I took forever" I mumble and ignore the open spot next to him as I sit between Joey and Alex.
"You okay?" Joey asks making Alex's head turn to me. Before I could reply the door opens and in walks mikey. He sits next to max and looks at me and Joey and frowns.
"Well this is awkward" Alex chucked as he rubs his knuckles.
"I'm sorry I'll leave if you want?" Mikey asks looking at me.
"Really? Well she wants you to leave the state but that can't happen can it" Alex replies making me and Joey chuckle.
"You know what happened don't you Alex?" Mikey mumbles avoiding eye contact
"Yes and your glad my parents don't or you wouldn't be alive right now" he glares at him. "It's hard enough for me not to beat the shit out of you."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mea-" mikey starts but I cut him off.
"Don't. Not in front of them. We will discuss this another time but tonight I don't want to speak to you." I huff standing up. I look at Joey. "You. Come with me I wanna show you something" he nods and follows me out of the room. We walk to my room and to the window.
"It's a window?" He says confused.
"Idiot" I laugh. I open the window and step on the little balcony there is.
Then I step on the ledge and pull myself up onto the roof. I look at Joey as he is shocked for a moment before it disappears and he does the same as me.
"Why'd you bring me here? I thought you hated me" he asks confused as he sits next to me.
"I don't hate you. I barely know you. I think we'd be good friends if you got past that big ego of yours" I shrug
"Yeah like that's gonna happen." He mumbles
"I brought you here because I think your the only on I'd trust with this place. It's where I think. I don't want to be alone tonight. Not with him in the house."I mumble
"What happened between you two?" He asks. I turn and eye Joey from head to toe. I should tell him.
"You can't say anything to anyone not even him. Alex can't know I told you."
"Alright I promise I won't."
"Fine" I sigh "a couple years ago I met mikey at playlist. I hadn't started social media at the time but my friend Ariel did and she made me go with her since I was in some of her videos and everyone loved me apparently. It was a dare for him to talk to me from one of his friends Bryce. I also had a dare that day and it was to take me shirt off in front of everyone. I did. But the next day I saw him again and he asked for my number. We hung out a few times then I found out he lived next to Alex who I visited every summer. He asked me out on a date and we went. After that we went on a few more but we weren't dating. He slept with other people but I didn't. One night I kissed Bryce and he got mad. I ignored him and his apologies till this one party when he told the girl he was sleeping with he couldn't do it anymore because he loved me. That's a lie he never love me. He got me to forgive him then we got drunk and... he was my first. He took my virginity. The next day I woke up in my bedroom and he was gone. Not just from the house. He wasn't at his neither were his parents. They moved and he didn't tell me." I sigh when I'm done and look at Joey who's been staring at me the whole time.
"I'm sorry. He an asshole. I'll beat the shit out him if you want?" He smiles as I giggle.
"I'm gonna go to bed now." I smile as I climb off the roof. He follows me back inside.
"Alright well goodnight bre"
"Wait Joey." I say stopping him. He turned to look at me " thank you for listening." I smile he nods the turns and walks out.
What a night.