I woke up to the sounds of laughing downstairs. Where am I? I thought to myself. I looked on the other side of the king-sized bed. The curtains were a pretty light shade of lavender, even lighter shade with the sunlight streaming in. I quickly realized that I was in Sophie’s bed. I turned to where Sophie had slept, but she wasn’t there. I flipped to an upright position and swung my feet over the side of the bed. I groggily pushed my hand through half bald half curls. I pulled the hem of my jersey down and headed downstairs.

            “Morning everyone,” I mumbled to everyone in the room. Sophie and all her siblings—plus Adam were gathered in the living room. None looked up and saw me, they continued on with their game.

            “Soph, truth or dare?” Kelli asked her older sister. Sophie rolled her eyes.

            “You know, truth! I am never ever taking a dare from you ever again, Kel, and you know it.” She said. They laughed.

            “Okay, okay, all right then, here’s your question.” She grinned evilly before continuing, “When was your best kiss, and why?” I heard Sophie groaned. “Wait, and your first kiss, too!” She added. Sophie groaned again and rolled her eyes.

“Alright, first kiss was in sixth grade. Jeez!” She said.

“Who?” Kelli asked. I anxiously waited.

“Nick.” She said flatly.

“Nick who?” She asked, spotting me and winking. I smiled, and put a finger to my mouth.

“Jeez! Nick Carter. God, you guys! So we had a little.... fling, that doesn’t mean I like him! I’m going out with Justin, for God sakes! Plus...Justin’s soo much betta than Nick Carter, anyday, my dahhlings! I mean, come on, the guy was arrested a few days ago!” I smiled.

“Wait, your second part of the question—never answered it!” Kelli insisted.

“Oh, dudette, this is hilarious, you guys and girls all know this one!” She exclaimed.

“Not Adam....” Emily pointed out.

“Yeah!” Adam exclaimed.

“Adam? You slept over?” Sophie exclaimed.

“Don’t change the subject S,” Kristy said, looking at her perfectly manicured violet nails.

“Oh, okay...” She sighed. “Senior prom, the day me and Justin “announced” us. Okay??? Out first public kiss. I kinda liked it...now I hate it! The reporters, I mean. Jeez, you guys, I’ve already got millions of reporters on my every move, but now my own blood-relatives?” she said, smiling and blushing, while the siblings “ooohed and awwed.” She sighed. I had always loved the rosy pink that her cheeks turned as she blushed. Sometimes I thought it was the prefect pastel sunset, and sometimes a pretty rose...

“Wait, Soph, I have a question!!!” Kathy exclaimed.

“What is it, Squirt?” Sophie asked her.

“Do any people hate you?” She asked. I felt my body stiffen, and Sophie’s, plus everyone except for Kathy’s.

“Well, Kath, that’s kind of complicated. Not my friends—Amy, Vanessa, Alexa, Whitney, Carrie, and Stephanie—none of them hate me. But, see, you know how Uncle Justy is in a big pop group?” She asked.

“Yes. He’s in a BIG group called Nsmync!” She exclaimed proudly. Everyone laughed, and I chuckled lightly. Only Kathy was confused. “And girls all over the world think he is hot. Which I don’t get because being hot is a temperature!” She said. Everyone laughed again.

“Yeah, so anyway, you know those girls?” Sophie asked, returning to a pinched face. Kathy nodded. “Well, they don’t like me because I go out with Justin. But they don’t even know me, so it’s kinda screwed,” Sophie said, frowning at the thought. Her eyes started to water, and I silently slapped myself. I knew that she would have to go through all this; we had talked about it before we announced “us”, but we never expected anyone to ask about it; not even Sophie’s sisters. At least Jonathon won’t be asking me that. But, then again, he might. I mean, he’s only 5, and Kathy’s 6, so he’s bound to ask...I thought about my half-sibling Jonathon.

“Why?” Kathy asked, confused.

“Because they want to go out with Justin!” Kelli jumped in. Sophie nodded.

“Yeah. Exactly.” Sophie said.

“Yeah. Exactly,” Kristy echoed.

“Oh. Now I get it.” She started, “But did Justin ever go out with one of those girls?” She asked.

“Actually...yes...” she started, tears forming again in her aqua eyes. Emily jumped in for her.

“See, there was a time, when Justin wasn’t being a good boy. He hurt Sophie, and they had some fights.” She said.

“Yes. I know. I heard. I was eavesdropping on the phone. Someone was crying, and yelling. Justin wasn’t being very nice, was he?” She asked innocently. I felt like Kathy had just punched me in the gut.

“Is that why you sometimes cry at night when Justy is away?” Kathy asked. “And always talk to Kelli-Wellie? Or Krystle-Wistle? And never me?” She asked again, frowning and pouting.

“Uh, yeah,” Sophie answered, recovering from her tears, by wiping her eyes. She leaned her head on Kelli’s shoulder. Kelli stroked her hair, and whispered, “Don’t worry. It’s all over now,” Sophie nodded and sat up. They were silent for a minute.

“You know, Soph, he’s here, so you shouldn’t cry,” I said as I stepped out of the doorway. Sophie turned.

“Justin! Just, uh, how much did you, uh, hear?” She asked.

“Just enough,” I said, and sat down next to her. I kissed her on the lips, and she put her arms around me.

“Ewww!” was what we heard from Kathy. Everyone else laughed. Adam got caught up to the moment and kissed Emily.

“Whoops,” I said. “Now, I need cereal!” I exclaimed, and picked up Kathy. “Come on, Kathy, let’s go and we can talk...about Sophie! How about it, Kiddo?” I asked.
”Okay!!!” She exclaimed, and we headed into the kitchen.

“See why this guy is so great?” Sophie said in the other room dreamily.

“Look, I know, we were supposed to spend the day together, but Sophie, they’re only here for a day,” I sighed, frustrated.

“So?” She pouted.

“Well, we have to work, and...” I started, not knowing what to say.

“Exactly.” She pointed out, crossing her arms across her chest.

“Fine, why don’t you come to the studio? And we can have lunch.” I compromised.

“Well, okay. I haven’t seen the guys in awhile anyway. Okay. Meet me at the Jeep in a few,” she said, grabbing her towel from the hallway and entering the bathroom and shut the door.