» CHAPTER SIXTEEN «
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When they reached the bottom of the staircase, they both parted their separate ways. Alex headed down to the basement, and Joe stepped outside the front door to retrieve her bags and carry them into the basement. They were a little heavier than he had thought they would be, but he knew he could handle it. After all, Alex was the one with the baby and she shouldn`t do more work than she absolutely needed to.
When Joe walked down into the basement, he found Alex sitting on the bed closest to the stairs, the one with the baby blue and white patchwork quilt. She had a hurtful expression on her face, like she was uncomfortable.
“Alex,” Joe started, “Are you alright? You don`t look so good.”
“Yeah, Yeah I`m fine, I just have a migraine, and it`s killing me.”
Joe immediately jumped up. “Oh, ok, wait here, I`ll go get you a glass of water and two aspirins.”
“Ok,” Alex managed with a small smile.
Joe came back about three minutes later with a glass of water in his hand, and two aspirins. He gave each to Alex, and she swallowed, then drank.
“Are you ok now?” Joe questioned.
“Yeah, don`t worry about it, I`m fine.” She assured him. “I guess I`ll start unpacking my things.”
“Ok, well my mom`s making dinner – it`s steak, potatoes, and corn. Do you feel hungry?” Joe said.
“Yeah, that sounds great, I haven`t eaten all day.” Alex replied.
Joe then walked back up the basement stairs, and Alex was left down in the basement.
Alex walked slowly over to where her suitcases lay, and unzipped the first one. It contained of clothes; tops, tanks, spaghetti straps, shorts, skirts, jeans, etc. She opened up a drawer in the wood dresser that was next to the beds, and so on and so on. Alex unloaded all of her things when she heard Joe yell from the top of the stairs, “Alex! Dinner is ready!” Alex then made her way up the stairs and into the kitchen where she found the rest of the Jonas family sitting and eating dinner.
It was silent the first few minutes until Frankie randomly blurted out, “Is Alex gonna be my sister !?”
Mrs. Jonas rolled her eyes playfully, then explained, “No, Frankie, Alex is just going to live here for a while.”
“Oh OK that works too.” Frankie replied happily.
Another extent of silence.
Then Joe spoke, “Good dinner, mom.”
“Yeah, It is very good, Mrs. Jonas.” Alex added in.
When everyone finished their dinner, Joe and Alex headed down to the basement together. Joe took a look around. “Wow, you got all your stuff unpacked.”
Alex looked at him blankly, almost as if to say, “And your point is?”
He caught this, and corrected, “W-- well, that`s good though.” He added a smile in too.
Alex just laughed softly and looked up into Joe`s eyes. Their heads grew closer, when a voice came,
“I`m going to run to the store, do you guys need anything?” Mrs. Jonas tried to look innocent, but it was obvious that she had stopped them from kissing.
Alex smiled, but Joe looked a bit annoyed.
“No, mom, we don`t need anything!” Joe replied with an attitude .
Alex faced Mrs. Jonas. “No, I`m good, but thank you anyway.” She replied politely.
Then Mrs. Jonas stepped away from the basement door and headed outside to her car.
As soon as Mrs. Jonas was out the door, Joe looked back at Alex. Their heads again grew closer, and they kissed. Joe was happy and excited inside, but acted as if it were no big deal.
“That was nice.” Alex said.
Joe chuckled. “Yeah, yeah it was.”
Then the front door opened back up again, and Joe saw his mom sprint across from the doorway.
“Mom?” he called. “What are you doing back so soon?” he questioned.
“Forgot my purse!” she called back, and then was out the door again.
Then Alex spoke, “You know Joe,” she started.
“Yeah?” he asked.
“Thanks.” She replied.
Joe cocked his head with a confused expression on his face. “Thanks for what?”
“For everything you and your family have done for me. It`s probably THE nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.” She replied.
“Well then, you`re very welcome.” Joe said this in an English accent, while a playful smile spread across his face.
“Hey,” Joe started. “Do you want to go out to lunch tomorrow? My treat.” Joe finished.
A smile came across Alex`s face. “Yeah, sure, that would be nice.”
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Joe was back up in his room, while Alex was down in hers. It was 7:05 pm. Not nearly late enough to go to bed. Joe wasn`t sure what Alex was doing, but he was just laying down on his bed, watching TV, and thinking;
Tomorrow when I take Alex out to lunch, I don`t want it to be a regular lunch. I want it to be more than that. I want to do something special for her, but I don`t know what yet. I want her to be surprised.
Joe then was trying to think of what that special something would be.
Ding!
He immediately thought of something, and he thought it was the perfect thing. He glanced over at his alarm clock, and decided there was still time left tonight for something to be done. He grabbed his wallet, and down the stairs he went.
He went to his mom, and told her where he was going and what he was doing so she wouldn`t worry, and told her if Alex wanted to know where he was, to tell her he was just at the convenience store. She agreed, and Joe went out the front door, and out to his car
When he arrived, Joe ran as fast as he could up to the glass doors, hoping they were still open. A sigh of relief passed through him, they were open for another hour or so.
Joe casually walked in, and peered at all the different items, case by case, item by item. When he came to case six, he saw exactly what he was looking for. He knew it would be perfect and Alex would love it. It was a bit more than he had bargained for, but Joe didn`t care. He knew Alex was worth it, so went ahead and bought it.
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When Joe got home later that night, before going to bed himself, he went to check on Alex, but she was already fast asleep.
Joe then walked up the stairs one by one, and headed to his room. He himself, was now tired too. He set his alarm clock, got into his boxers, and pulled the covers over him. He was out within 10 minutes.
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The next morning, Joe woke up at about 9 am, which was what his alarm was set to. He got up and stretched, then walked up the stairs lazily. He made his way to the kitchen, where he found Kevin, Nick, Frankie, and Alex all eating scrambled eggs, bacon, and buttered toast – his mom`s usual Saturday breakfast. He grabbed himself a plate, and walked over to sit with Alex.
“Well, good morning sleepyhead!” Alex excitedly said, tusseling his hair.
Joe looked over at her with a smile on his face. “Good morning, did you sleep well?”
“Oh yes. That bed is quite a comfortable one.” Alex joked.
They both giggled, and continued eating.
After breakfast, Joe and Alex both took their showers (in separate showers), and then got ready.
Alex was straightening her hair, putting on makeup, and picking out her clothes.
Joe was straightening his hair also, brushing his teeth, and putting his wallet into his pants pocket.
When he was done and ready, Joe walked down to the basement, where he found Alex. She was finishing up straightening her hair, already in jeans and a tank top, with her Coach wristlet laying on the counter.
Joe then spoke up. “Almost ready?”
Alex unplugged her straightener, and turned around to face him. “Ready!” she chirped.
Joe and Alex went over to the kitchen where they found Mrs. Jonas reading the newspaper, and sipping another cup of coffee.
“Hey mom, Alex and I are going out to lunch.” He said.
Mrs. Jonas tuned around. “OK , you`re going to drive?" she questioned .
"Yeah, I am ." Joe answered .
Mrs. Jonas paused. “You know what ? Lemme drive you there -- I have nothing better to do.” Mrs. Jonas said back.
“Alright.” Joe and Alex both agreed.
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When they got to Olive Garden, they sat in a booth, and it wasn`t long before the waiter came up to them.
“Good afternoon, sir, madam, what can I get for you?” the waiter asked.
Alex spoke first. “I`ll have the cheese lasagna, please, and some iced tea.”
“Very well, and for you sir?” The waiter responded.
“I`ll have the Fettuccine Alfredo, and a Dr. Pepper please.” Joe said. With that said, the waiter was off. Joe then looked into Alex`s eyes.
“Alex,” he started.
Alex looked up at him. “Yeah?”
“There`s something I want to give you.” Joe replied.
He stood up and reached into the front pocket of his Dickies pants. He pulled out a long, slender, shining silver box about eight inches long.
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