Chapter 18

A week went by and Alli and Lilly were due to land this morning with Jake due an hour later. I'm more than excited to see everyone. "You look fine!" Cody said in frustration as he paced back and forth. "I think I'm putting on weight." I slapped my thighs. "Stop talking nonsense." "But look!" I turned to face him. "You have a flipping thigh gap! What more do you want?" "To look like the models in the magazines." I looked back in the mirror.

"You can't photoshop real life people." Cody wrapped his arms around me. "You're gorgeous." He moved his hands from my waist and squeezed my thighs. "These leggings look nice on you." "Thank you." "Let's go pick up our bubba sisters." He kissed my cheek. I followed him to the car which was waiting outside the hotel.

"I can't wait to see Alli." I said as I looked out the window. "How come?" "I need to speak with her." "About what?" He grew interested. "Girl things." "Bleeding and stuff." He screwed up his face. I giggled at his reaction and shook my head. "Not that type of girl stuff." "What then?" "Just things." "Like..?" "Shh." I put my finger on his lips.

"Cody!" I heard a familiar voice scream. Both, Cody and I turned around to find Lilly running this way. "Alli!" I ran over to her and hugged her. "How was your flight?!" "It was good thanks." "She didn't annoy you?" "Nah, she slept for most of it and the other bit we just played some games." "Good." I smiled. "Hey!" Cody hugged Alli as we reached him and Lilly. "Let's go get Jake!" I cheered. "Hmm." Alli sighed and followed the three of us.

"What's wrong?" I walked beside her. "It's never going to be the same, is it?" She asked. "Look, Als. You won't know how it's going to be if you refuse to see him. When we get back to the hotel I suggest you guys talk out what happened." "I'm scared." "I know you are but Jake's a good guy. I'm sure he's got something to say for himself." "I hope you're right."

"You can put her down, Cody." I noticed Cody was struggling to carry Lilly. "It's fine." "She's not a baby anymore. She can walk." "Cody said it's fine!" She poked her tongue out at me. "Oi." Cody snapped his fingers. "Sorry." "Where is Jake's gate?" Alli asked. "Lauren?" Cody looked at me and waited for my answer.

"We said we'd meet him at baggage claim." I said. "Oh right." "But we can go get some food first because he's due in an hour." I said while checking my phone. "And that's why I keep her." Cody said to Alli. "Because she knows everything and you don't have to?" "Exactly." He nodded. "And she's hot." He whispered to Lil. "Excuse me?" I turned around. Lilly giggled at Cody.

"Oops." He grinned innocently. "You're lucky I love you." I laughed. "You take this.." Cody passed me Lilly. I put her on the floor. "I'll get us some food. You go find us a table." He said. Lilly sat on her trunkie which Cody was dragging along the floor. "Pull me!" "Do it yourself." I told her and went with Alli to find a table.

"Jake!" I ran to him and jumped into his arms. "Hey!" He hugged me tightly. "I missed you so much!" Jake placed me on the floor. "I missed you too." He kissed my forehead. "Alright, mate?" Cody came over and they did that bro hug thing. "How's it going?" "It's good." Jake said while looking at Alli. "Hey." He said quietly. "Hi." Alli reflected his volume.

"Why are you hiding?" Cody looked down at Lilly who was hiding behind Alli's legs. She shrugged and started sucking her thumb. Cody laughed and picked her up again. "You've met Jake before." "I have?" She asked. "She won't remember that." I shook my head. "When you were little you did." "I'm big now." "Yeah." Cody smiled at her. We waited to collect Jake's bag.

"Okay, let's get going." I suggested. I linked arms with Alli and walked ahead of the boys. "It's really awkward and he's only been here for like ten minutes." "Exactly. Ten minutes. Give it time, Als. Cody and I couldn't even talk to each other for two weeks." I pointed out. "But-" "No. There's no difference. We worked for what we have so you have to work for what you want." I dismissed.

"What if he doesn't wan-" "Alli, you have to stop worrying." I laughed. "Lauren, come here." Cody commanded. I turned around and looked at him. "What?" "There's people outside." "So?" "So we wanna keep you girls safe." Jake pulled my arm and wrapped his around me. Cody wrapped his arm around Alli and held Lilly tighter with his other.

When we went out the doors there were lots of fans. Screaming and grabbing all of us. I was a bit nervous for Lilly but Jake wouldn't let go of me so I couldn't make sure she was okay. We were all pushed into a car and sat in silence. It was as awkward as awkward silences can be.

"Well that was a fun car ride." Cody whispered to me as we got into the lobby of the hotel. "You can say that again." I giggled. "Lils, you're coming with us." Cody pulled her hood as we went into the elevator. "Ow!" Lilly pushed him. "I had to grab you." He said as he turned too look at me. "Jake's a bit worried about Alli." "Why? They're talking now." "I know that. That's why I grabbed her." He nodded to Lilly.

"Just don't worry. They'll be okay, they grew up together." I assured him. "I guess so." He leaned in to kiss me. "Not now." I moved my face to the side. Lilly was watching us. "What's that, Lil?" Cody pointed to the corner of the elevator. As she looked away he kissed my lips quickly. "You're a bad boy." I laughed and pushed him.

We took Lilly to the room and I helped her put her things in her closet. "I get a whole double bed to myself?" She climbed onto the bed. "Yes!" "Yay!" "And Cody and I are in the room at the end of the hall. Alli is going to be opposite you and Jake is next door." I told her. "Can I see your room?" "Yeah, let's go." I showed her to the room.

"You have a big mirror like at home!" "Yeah but look.." I slid the closet door. "It's a closet?" "Yeah with mirrored doors." "I like it." She grinned. "But you ain't sleeping in here." Cody came into the room. "I am." "Nope. You have your own room." "But I'm cute." She pouted. "I ain't buying it." He shook his head.

"Hey!" Alli came through the door. "Hi." Cody and I looked at her. "Umm.. I kind of lost Jake." She sat on the end of the bed. "How?" I asked. "Where?" Cody added. "How does she know where he is if she's lost him?" I looked at him. "We were talking and it got quite heated and then he got up and walked away and I don't know where he went." She shrugged.

"Alli!" Cody blamed. "Hey, leave her alone! It's not her fault! If he hadn't cheated on her they'd still be together!" I shot him a glare. He looked away so I looked back at Alli. "I'll go look for him." I offered. "No. He's my best friend so I'll go and look for him." "I don't want you walking around the streets. God knows who you'll get distracted by." I said and got up.

"So Jake runs off and somehow I'm the one who you get mad at?" Cody followed me out of the bedroom. "No." "Well stop using my mistakes against me! I know I messed up. But you can't treat me like I do everything wrong!" "I'm not doing that!" "Yes you are! Why can't I go find him?" "Because I don't want you out there!" "Why not?" "Because I don't tr.. I just don't." "You don't trust me?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Guys. I hate to interrupt but Lilly can hear you." Alli came out of the bedroom. "You don't trust me?" He asked quietly. Hurt was clear in his voice. "I didn't say that." "You were going to." "I didn't mean it." I said and left. I rang Jake's phone but as I expected, there was no answer. I sighed and made my way out of the hotel.

There were loads of people but I somehow managed to get free. I roamed the streets with my hood over my head. My eyes were scanning the places I was in. "Been sent to find me, aye?" I heard Jake's voice. "Actually I came to find you myself." I turned around.

"So what happened?" I asked as he began walking. "She's already told you." "No. I wanna hear you." I said and caught up with him. "She just thinks that she's perfect and that I'm awful. I made a mistake and I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking and I was drunk." "You don't need to apologize to me. I know you regret it." I smiled at him.

"She doesn't. I just wanna be friends. Maybe this is why you don't mess with your best friend's sister." He said which made me laugh. "She's your friend too though." "Not anymore. But I wish I could go back! I'd never do it! I wouldn't even think about it!" "Calm down. It's okay." "It's not though. I ruined everything." He kicked a stone which was on the floor.

"It's not even my fault. I was drunk." "That's where you probably went wrong." I pointed out. "What?" "You are always responsible for your actions. You probably weren't thinking but you were still the one who kissed that other girl. When you can accept that it's your fault that's when Alli will be able to forgive you." "Is that what happened with Cody?" "He knew he was wrong from the second he did it." I said.

"But he still did it the second time." "I know that." "Why do you think he did that?" Jake asked. I lead him through the lobby. "I don't know and I don't think I want to know that." "Surely he did it for a reason though?" "What are you trying to get at?" I began to get annoyed.

I pressed the right button in the elevator. "Do you think he's a bad person for what he did to you?" "I think he's made mistakes. Bad mistakes but I don't think he's a bad person. Positivity outweighs the negativity. That's what you have to remember." "This is what I like about you." Jake smiled. I smiled back and started walking to our hotel room. When we got there I knocked on it.

"What do you like about me?" "You always know what to say." "I think you'll find Cody had that affect on me." I smiled and looked at the floor. "You're so beautiful." Jake lifted my chin. We looked into eachother's eyes for a few seconds. "Have you ever thought about going behind Cody's back?" Jake asked in a whisper. "What the fuck?!" I heard Cody's voice.