Crossing Paths with the Dolans

f i v e

"Holy crap, you're meaning to tell me that you live with the Dolans and you were their neighbor in Jersey!?" Bailey's eyes are wide open.

"Well yeah," I laugh, her mouth is hanging wide open still.

"I am so glad that I decided to come over," she says. "Please, you have to set me up with Ethan!"

"Okay sure," I smile and shake my head.

"I still can't get over the fact that you personally know Grayson and Ethan!" She breathes.

"Well, technically, I met them on Friday..."

"But you like know them!" She screams, causing the taxi driver to jump in his seat a little. For the rest of the ride, Bailey gushes nonstop about Ethan and his hair.

"Okay Bailey, we're here now," I say cautiously. "And I need you to calm down. Bailey's breathing super fast and she made some strange noises in the cab.

"I'll try but I can't promise anything." She jumps and squeals. Realizing what she was doing, she stops and says, "Right sorry!"

We make our way to their large apartment and I knock on the door. I turn to my left and look at Bailey, who's currently fixing her hair and fixing her outfit. Fifteen seconds later, I hear the door lock open. "AJ, you're back!" Grayson exclaims, his eyes go to Bailey, "Who is this?"

"This is my friend Bailey, we met at the auditions," I tell him. We walk inside and I lead Bailey to the living room.

Sure enough when she sees Ethan, she loses her cool. "Oh my frickin god! It's Ethan Dolan!"

Ethan looks up from the TV with startled eyes. His eyes drift from Grayson, me, and then to Bailey. "It's AJ's friend," Grayson mouths.

Ethan nods and gets up from the couch. "Um hey!"

"Hi I'm Bailey!" Her smile is like the Cheshire cat, and her eyes look like they're about to explode. "Can I have a hug?!"

Ethan hugs her and waits for her to let go, then he asks, "So how were auditions?"

"I got the main role," I mention ecstatically. "And Bailey's playing my best friend!"

"That's amazing!" Ethan high fives me then high fives Bailey.

"Oh my frickin' god," She whispers. "I love you so damn much." I snort and she wacks my arm. "When you love someone you will do the same!"

"Yeah because high fives are such a turn on," I roll my eyes.

I notice that Grayson's changing his tank top ino a plain white loose-fitted shirt, and he looks as hot as ever. He takes his keys off the counter and looks at Bailey and I. "So do you guys wanna eat at Olive Garden?"

"I mean we just ate, but I'm still hungry so yeah," then I add, "that's why I'm so fat."

"Honestly same," Grayson sighs.

I look at him and glance at his body. "You're actually joking right? You're like my friend back home's dream boy!"

"Dream boy?" Grayson arches an eyebrow as we get into the car.

"Yeah, you have nice muscles, and an adorable smile, and you're really nice, except for the fact that you annoy the hell out of me."

He gasps. "Me, annoying!?" He says sarcastically.

"Shut up and drive," I command. "Bailey and are tired of your jibber jabber."

"Oh Lord," Bailey shakes her head, "'jibber jabber' you sound like an old lady!"

Grayson pulls up at Olive Garden and has trouble parking his Ford Bronco in the parking lot. He has so much trouble that Ethan and him have to switch and E has to park Gray's car for him. "You are so stupid Grayson." Ethan shakes his head and shuts the door as we head into the restaurant.

I inhale the smell. "It smells really Italian-y," I randomly remark.

"That's because it's an Italian restaurant AJ," Grayson tells me, saying each word slowly like I'm a little kids trying to process words. 

"Hi welcome to Olive Garden," a tall lady says. "Will it just be you and you're lovely lady?"

My face turns bright pink and I look at Grayson, who's trying to hold in a laugh. "Actually, we're going to be a party of four," Grayson points back at the door, and right on cue, Ethan and Bailey walk in laughing, Ethan's arm wrapped around her waist.

"Seems like someone's getting cozy," I joke.

"Oh shut up," she says offended, but I can see in her face that she's happy.

When we are given a table, I was about to take a seat next to Bailey, but Ethan slides next to her. Just great... 

"Yay it's my favorite person," Grayson looks down at me.

"Yay, it's my least favorite person," I shoot him a sarcastic glare.

We order the mozzarella sticks and continue chattering away. That is, until, we are rudely interrupted in our conversation about blob fishes. "Jack, what are you doing here?" Ethan stands up.

A dude with messy blonde hair smiles, his lips curl up, and I swear this dude looks like he's up to no good. "Well I just decided to say hi to my best friends and their new friends," Jack says, emphasizing is sarcasm. "You know, I don't have anywhere to go, so I think I'm just gonna eat with you guys!"

"Um..." Grayson looks confused as hell.

"I mean like my old friends treated me like I was their employee and I kinda got sick of it," the whole time Jack is looking at Ethan and Grayson. "Anyway, who are you lovely ladies?"

Bailey clears her throat. "I'm Bailey," she smiles.

"Oh, I'm AJ," I shake his hand.

"Does that stand for anything?" He slides in between Grayson and I, I have no idea how.

"Erm, Audrey Jasmine..." I cough awkwardly.

"Wow that's beautiful."

Jack moves closer to me and the awkwardness increases in a millisecond. "I need to use the restroom, Bailey can you come?"

Bailey runs over to me and we quickly head over to the restroom. "Oh my god, that was so weird."

"Wow it's like you read my mind!" I laugh, but then turn serious. "Seriously though, that Jack dude seems really sketchy."

She rolls her eyes. "That's because he is."