Chapter 9

"Attack!!" I heard being yelled before I felt water being sprayed on me which caused me to abruptly open my eyes. Yep, I was asleep. I saw the guys all in their pajamas holding water guns all pointed at me. I was soaking wet. "What are you guys doing?" I yelled irritated. Nobody likes being woken up on a Saturday morning.

"Well", Jake began. "It's your first weekend with us since we got back", Jordan continued. "This is your welcome back party", Justin finished with an evil smirk before all boys proceeded to blast me again. Ooh that is it. I stood up from my wet bed and Jordan tossed me a gun. "Catch us if you can", he said then they took off. I was pissed. Being woken up on a Saturday morning by water gun fights is so not what I signed up for.

We chased each other round the house. I have to admit, my anger pretty much dissolved after I was able to blast them. It became more of an every man for himself battle instead of a three on one. It was more fun that way.

About thirty minutes later, we were all ready to throw in the towel. "Phew. That was fun", Jake said. "Nothing like a game of chase and water tag for a morning workout", Jordan said. "I'm beat", I said leaning on Jake. "What's for breakfast", Justin asked. I groaned, "only you would think of food". "Actually I'm kinda hungry", Jordan said with a sheepish look on his face. "Me too", Jake said. "Yeah me too", I agreed talking into Jake's shoulder. I raised my head up. "I have an idea. How bout we get in the car and drive up to Macy's. They have an awesome breakfast menu".

"Great. We'll all go take showers first", Jordan said. "Why can't we just go now?" Jake asked. "Well for one thing, we're all wet and Josie's blouse is sticking to her skin and no offense Jo but we wouldn't want guys to stare at you all braless and all". I felt my face turn red. Jordan said all this in straight face like he was talking about the weather and not my boobs.

I threw one leg of my flip flops at him which he swiftly dodged and caught. Curse his reflexes. Justin and Jake were trying so hard to cover their laugh but they were failing. I stood up, huffed, folded my arms across my chest and made to leave. "I'll be down in 15", I said then turned.

I heard their booming laughter behind me. I rolled my eyes. I might have been annoyed and maybe even morbidly embarrassed if it was anyone else but them. I mean these guys were literally there when my first period came in school. Jake gave me his sweater and Jordan went to buy a tampon for me while Justin glared at anyone that tried to laugh at me. They're practically my brothers.

I finished my shower, got dressed in a pair of blue shorts, paired with a pink top and my sparkly flats. I put on some mascara and lipgloss. I considered drawing my brows but nah, it's just breakfast. I went downstairs to the living room to find the guys dressed and seated and Jake towel drying his hair. "Are we set?" I asked.

"Yeah", Justin answered. "Hey, I'm inviting Michelle as my date tonight so you guys better behave". He gave us all pointed looks to which we raised our hands in surrender. We went outside and hopped in the car with Jake at the driver's seat, me at shotgun and Justin and Jake at the back. They seemed to be engaged in some kind of game against each other. I gave Jake directions and in fifteen minutes we arrived.

We entered the restaurant and Jake called for the waiter. He was a cute guy. He smiled at me. "Good morning and what will you be having?" I was amused and a little bit flattered. He seemed into me. Jake cleared his throat, that seemed to get everyone's attention. Jordan and Justin put down their phones and the waiter finally turned to everyone else. "Yeah hi. Can we see the menu" Jake said obviously not pleased. I inwardly sighed. The guys have always been super protective of me. It's part of the reason I didn't tell them about Tony the first time, because I knew they'd wanna interrogate him. I haven't even had my first kiss and I'm almost 18!

"Uh yeah. I'll be right back", said the cute waiter looking uncomfortable. He arrived a couple of seconds later with four menus. "I'll be back in five to take your orders", he winked at me and left. I flushed. Unfortunately Justin noticed too. Oh boy! "Did that waiter guy just wink at you?"

"Wait what?" Jordan asked looking up from his phone. "Guys relax. There's no need to cause a scene", Justin said. I looked at him. "Thank you".

"We'll just wait till his shift is over and corner him" he finished.

My eyes widened. "Wait what? You'll do no such thing". "Actually I agree with him", Jake said. "Me too", agreed Jordan. I pinched the bridge of my nose. What am I gonna do with these boys?

I narrowed my eyes at them. "Alright guys listen up. You're gonna look at your menus. You're gonna order and you're not gonna corner anybody". I gave them a look that said I meant it. "Awwn Jo you never let us have any fun", Jordan whined pouting. He looked like a baby who just had his candy taken. Actually all the guys looked like that right now.

I rolled my eyes. This would be adorable if it wasn't annoying. "Look guys, you can't threaten every guy that shows interest in me. Do not forget that you guys are partly why I've never had a boyfriend or had a first kiss".

They all had guilty expressions on. I continued. "I understand that you guys love me and wanna protect me but I'm 17 now. Almost 18. I think I can handle myself just fine". "You're right Josie we're sorry", Justin said. "We'll lay off", his brother added.

I grinned. Just as I was about to reply, the waiter returned. "Are y'all ready to order?" I noticed a bit of a southern drawl. This time he looked at all of us. "Actually give us five more minutes", Justin replied. He nodded then turned away. "We should probably decide on what to eat guys. I'm hungry", Jake said looking through the menu.

We mumbled our agreement. Five minutes later, the waiter returned. Jake looked him over. "Yeah I'll have some breakfast burritos, some scrambled eggs and a glass of orange juice".

"I'll have same please", Justin said.

"I'll just have some toast, an omelette and a glass of chocolate milk", I added.

"I'll have a stack of pancakes, maple syrup and a glass of orange juice", Jordan said.

Couple of minutes later he arrived with our food. We ate, paid and left. We stopped by the grocery store to get a tub of ice cream.

When we got home, we had nothing to do. Justin suggested we go rehearse in the garage. "But I'm so tired", I said in a whiny voice. Jordan rolled his eyes at me. "Don't be lazy Jo. Come on get up". He stood up and so did well twins. That left me. "Pull me up" I stretched one of my hands up. This time it was Jake who rolled his eyes but he pulled me up.

We entered the garage. Justin took the keyboard, Jake took the drums and Jordan took the guitar. The two of us stood in front of the microphone stands. "What should we play?" Jake asked. "How about we start with say hey then we roll into future sounds like us then we finish with shut up and dance", Jordan suggested. We agreed and Jake gave us a beat to

which Justin gave us the intro and we were off.

About two hours later, we were done with practice. "That sounded great", I said taking a drink out of my water bottle. "Sure did", Jordan agreed high fiving me. We still had a couple of hours before the party. "So you guys wanna go play a video game?" Jake asked. "Yeah", "sure", "okay", we all agreed.

Fifteen minutes later, we were in front of the TV all with game pads. "Don't worry Josie, we'll go easy on you. We know you're a little rusty", Jordan said with a smirk. So yeah before they left, we used to play video games all the time but ever since they left I haven't touched a game pad. But that didn't mean I was rusty. I smirked back. "Oh please. Try not to eat my dust".

Half an hour later, "ooh yes!! I won". I threw my pad down and stood up. "In your faces", I said doing a victory dance. "Beginner's luck", Jordan said with a frown. I smirked. "Rematch?" "You're on", Jake yelled.

I won the rematch too but Jordan won the next game after that, then Jake did, then I did again and Justin won the last round. A few hours later we were beat and we decided to get ready for the party. I went to my room and took a shower.

So here I was in a bathrobe with my hair wrapped in a towel. I sat in front of my vanity table. I applied my make up. I made it more mature than the one I usually wore to school. I looked good. Then I took my hair out of the towel and I straightened it. I put it into a center part and let it frame my face.

I went into my walk in closet. I took out a dress aunt Cathy sent me that I hadn't gotten a chance to wear yet. It was a black backless dress with lace sleeves. It stopped a little bit past mid thigh. The neck was a bit high so I didn't need a necklace but I wore some hoop earrings and paired it up with black ankle boots.

I carried a sling bag and I gave myself a once over in the mirror. Damn I looked good. I walked outside. The guys were all dressed and looked good enough to eat. Jake wore black trousers, a grey t-shirt and a black leather jacket. He paired it up with white sneakers.

Justin wore dark trousers, a soft blue and white striped shirt with a grey and black coloured hoodie over it. He paired his with soft blue sneakers. Jordan had on a black T-shirt on black pants and he wore a blue jacket over it. He completed his look with white converses.

"You look nice", Jake complimented me. I smiled shyly then I gave a small spin. "Thank you". Justin looked up from his phone. "Alright guys. Here's the deal, I'll drop you off at the party then I'll go back to pick up Michelle. How's that sound?" Jordan shrugged. Jake mumbled a yeah but I wasn't having it.

"Um hello, no way. This is my first high school party and my first party since my parents died. I'm gonna make a statement".

"How do you wanna do that", Jordan asked scoffing.

"We're gonna arrive fashionably late and we'll arrive together with Michelle in tow. We'll go with you to pick her up, then we'll stop at a drive through, get a bite to eat then go to the party. Are we clear?" I looked each of them in the eye.

"Fine". "Okay". "Sure". Wow. That was easier than I thought. "Okay then. Let's head out". "Let's go party!!" Jake hollered. "Yeah!!" We hollered back.

A/N: Chapter 9, done. This took me a long time to type so I hope you enjoyed it. So, what are your thoughts on the chapter? Josie's still great at video games even after not playing for years. What do you think of the waiter guy who may have been into Josie?

Party chapter next. Who can't wait to see how Josie's first high school party goes? I know I can't. See you next chapter.