Let's just say, it everything was awkward. Very, very awkward.
" The pastas good." Ben broke the silence that sat over the table.
" Thanks, babe." JoJo shot him a small smile before returning her attention to Sky and Cara. She caught Bexley shooting a sympathetic look to Natalie, who was much more interested in her napkin. JoJo barely saw Josh whip out his phone and send a short message. Bexley glanced at his screen, nodding in approval.
A few minutes later, a clear knock was heard.
" Oh thank God!" JoJo sprung from her seat, sprinting to the door.
" Subtle." Cara called after her. JoJo threw the door open to come face to face with Dan, Iain, and Nick.
" Friends!" JoJo squealed, pulling them into hugs.
" Friends?" Ben jumped up from the table.
" Friends!" He called, hugging them.
" I wanna see friends!" Sky jumped out of his chair, almost colliding with Cara in the way.
" What is happening?" Natalie whispered.
" Some old friends came to join." Bexley smiled, sending her an easily interpreted look.
" God bless." Levi muttered under his breath. Bexley gave him a weird look before standing to greet their friends.
" We brought alcohol!" Dan announced.
" Yay!" JoJo cheered.
" Should we be alarmed that the youngest of us all can drink us under the table?" Josh raised his hand.
" Nah." Natalie shook her head, still very confused. After brief introductions and some very suggestive looks, everyone was acquaintanced.
oOOo
" Bexley, we might've found somebody who can school you at poker." Iain called as Natalie beat him at another hand of poker, passing his last Hershey's bar to her.
" Unlikely." Bexley laughed from the kitchen where she and Josh were doing dishes, as a married couple would.
" Hey Sunshine!" Ben called from down the hall.
" Yeah?" JoJo called back from her spot between Dan and Cara on the couch.
" Where is our Trivial Pursuit game?" He shouted.
" No Trivial Pursuit!" Nick lept up from the table.
" What, why?" Levi jumped a good six feet away.
" The girls team up and always win." Iain said, casually shuffling his cards.
" Then why is Ben getting it?" Levi asked the obvious.
" Probably because JoJo, Bexley, or Cara told him to." Sky retorted.
" We all know better than to not do what they say." Iain shrugged.
" Essentially." Nick sat back down.
" Just so we're clear boys," Bexley and Josh emerged from the kitchen," This was my idea."
" See, you can't argue with mom." Sky sighed.
" Oh-kay..." Levi looked to Cara in confusion.
" Found it!" Ben announced, dropping the game on the table.
" Let's play!"
oOOo
" Why are they do smart?" Nick banged his head against the table as the girls won the game.
" I vote we don't let them team up against us again!" Ben called.
" Agreed." Josh shouted, banging his fist onto the table. Bexley gave him one look and he revoked his statement.
" You guys are strange." Levi muttered.
" Yuppers." JoJo nodded as Ben began braiding her hair.
" Is it always like this?" He asked.
" Yeah." Natalie sat back against her seat.
" Wild." He mumbled.
" Quite." Bexley said dryly.
" Is it bedtime?" JoJo leaned heavily into Ben.
" Do you do anything but sleep?" Sky retorted. JoJo glared at him, throwing a chip at him.
" Children." Bexley chastised.
" Sorry mom." Sky mumbled.
oOOo
" That was awkward." JoJo commented as her and Ben sat on her bed.
" Really? I didn't notice." Ben chuckled.
" Like, really, really awkward." JoJo spun her paperclip ring on her finger.
" No shit." Ben tossed a pillow at her. JoJo laughed, then heard her phone ping.
" Who's that?" Ben asked as JoJo went to grab her phone.
" Elizabeth." JoJo opened the message. Ben watched her expression drop.
" Lillian just got admitted into the hospital."
YOU ARE READING
After Headlines
RomanceIt had been three years since tour. Three years since moving in with Josh, Ben, and Bexley. Two and a half years since JoJo made her Broadway debut. A year and a half since Sky and Cara got engaged. One year since Cara went on tour with the cast of...