tough; j.b (book one) completed/editing

49. fancy

We walked out of the airport in awkward silence. I grab Joeys hand with a slight smile.

"By the way, Michigan gets super cold! especially now" he chuckles with a slight nod.

"Mom w-where are we e-even staying?" Liam asked. She smirks glancing at Liam and I.

Great, she's been throwing surprises left and right. Now i'm not gonna know where we're gonna stay.

We got into a rental car that will be using for a month. Joey and I sit next to each other in back. I was exhausted even though I slept.

Mom starts to drive down familiar streets making me overthink literally everything.
I feel my face turn pale as she drives down the street.

"Why?" she chuckles, Mike grabs her hand.

"Your uncle lives there now" I close my eyes laying my head back.

My uncle moved into our old house? what did he do with Alec's room?!

She pulled into the driveway of our old house. I look at Liam to see if he was okay, his eyes looked watery.

We got out of the car, I started freezing as we stood there waiting for everyone to grab everything.

Once everyone had their things we walked towards the font door. This may seem so stupid to be afraid.
But once Alec went missing nothing was ever the same, the house became more silent, sadder. The house was filled with way to many memories; all good and bad.

We walked in to be greeted by my uncle larry and my auntie stephanie, they had only one kid, he was my age his name was Jake. We were never close, we barely ever saw each other which was weird because we used to see them literally everyday.

"Kayla! look at you!!" Jake came down the stairs he looked annoyed. Did he take Alec's room?

I hugged my Auntie and my uncle. I stare at Jake watching his expressions change to a pissed off look.

"I'm going out" Jake passed me hitting my shoulder then walking out.

"Who's this?!" my mom smiles at Joey. Joey stook his hand out shaking her hand.

"I'm Joey" she smiles, then glances at me then Joey again.

"I-is this one of Mikes kids?" my eyes widen so did my moms.

"No! no! Mike doesn't have any" I sigh in relief.

"No i'm Kayla's boyfriend" when he said that my heart raced. He said it so proudly and confident making my mom smile.

None of them met Noah so they made sure to let him know he's accepted.

"Joey" he looks at me taking his attention away from my auntie and uncle, to me. I grab his wrist pulling him upstairs.

I opened Alec's room slowly, I look inside with a slight smile. Nothing was in here. My eyes watered, I hated this.

He's gone. I'll never see him again. I'll never have his protection, hear his voice, laugh. He's not seeing me succeed in what I love.

I throw my head down. I close my eyes so tears didn't fall. Joey grabs me hugging me tightly.

"Let it out" I burst into tears. Alec is gone, it should've been me to go missing. Not Alec.

•

It's been a couple days sense we've been in Michigan. The whole entire family on my moms side, obviously planned on going to a fancy restaurant to all get together.

I didn't want to. I know they'll bring Alec up. They'll ask me questions cause they know Alec and I were the closest in the family. Our relationship was so strong, everyone knew that.

Joey went to go shower right after me so I start doing my make up. As my hair dried, I left it with natural curls putting it half up, half down.

I put my outfit on, which was a red skater skirt, then a grey long sleeve crop top that hugged my top part.

"Oh damn!" I turn around seeing Joey shirtless with black jeans on. I smile looking down knowing I was probably red.

"Help meeeeee" Joey grabbed a red button up long sleeve. I walk up to him folding the sleeves a lil bit.

He started buttoning down as I started buttoning up. Our hand met in the middle, I did the last one with a slight smile. I look up at him seeing him looking down at me.

He peck my lips then tucked in the shirt, I helped him out then fixed his hair.

"You look handsome" he grabs my hand twirling me around.

"Damn look at my girl!" I roll my eyes grabbing his other hand.

Him and I walk out of my room hand in hand.

"Look at you two!! Picture!" I groan giving mom my phone.

Joey grabs my one hand then puts his other on my waist. We put our foreheads together smiling up at each other.

"Cute!" Joey smiles. I grab my phone sending the picture to Joey.

He hugged me from behind and went to post it on instagram.

joeybirlem; this girl has me going crazy 😫😍

I go on mine and post the same thing but caption it similar to his.

We all got everything and went to the car. Noah fixed his hair groaning every five minutes as my mom would keep the window open.

"I'm hot!!" I roll my eyes looking out the window to look for that one face.

Joey puts his hand on my thigh tracing circles anywhere on it.

We walked in and when I say fancy, it was fancy. My mom said whatever she needed to say, then having the waitress lead us to the rest of our family.

My moms Italian so on her side of the family was huge. It then dawned to me my two cousins were obsessed with Joey.

Sounds rude but I never liked them, never got along. All they care about is themselves, it's annoying.

She walked us into a private room. I saw everyone again. Joey holds my hand tighter.

Everyone walked towards us giving us hugs, asking how we were doing.

"Joey!?" I roll my eyes hearing one of them. Joey smiles.

They of course took pictures and tried taking him away.

"And who's this?" my nana asked. Everyone's attention went on Joey and I.

"This is Joey, my boyfriend" everyone 'awhed' making me blush and Joey.

This is gonna be interesting