next door neighbor

chapter twelve: meeting the family

“Hey Jeannie, how was your flight?” Joey mom greeted as I landed and met up with her. Joey is busy with his grandma and also I can’t believe my parents let me go to meet his family for the last four days there here in Utah. joey Said on the phone before I left for my flight was that his cousins couldn’t wait to meet me.

“It was good.” I put my luggage in the truck and Joey mom closed the truck as I walked to the passenger seat. I entered in and put my seatbelt on.

“So Joey missed you a lot. He always complains about how he hates to FaceTime you every day and want to see in person.” I was surprised but of course, he would complain. Joey mom entered the driver seat and put her seat belt on. “Also That his cousins wanted to meet you. My sister or Joey auntie wants to meet you too.” I shook my head as Joey mom started to drive.

“Are they just surprised Joey has a girlfriend?” I questioned and Joey’s mom nodded. Of course, they are surprised. I been They were surprised when they saw how Joey was built too.

“They were surprised that he got fit and has a girlfriend.i just happy your parents agreed to you coming here.” Joey's mom Said focused on the road. It was chilly here in Utah compared to LA.

“How long was it when you moved?” I Asked and Joey’s mom started to think. She sighed and stopped at a red light.

“Three years? Four years?” Joey mom looked at me. I nodded and looked out the window. “Joey was very happy when he found out your parents agreed. He couldn’t stop talking about seeing you again.” Joey mom started to drive as the light turn green.

“He called me the day before and he sounded happy,” I Said and Joey mom started to laugh. I chuckled as Joey’s mom turned.

“He was very happy.” joey mom said with a smile on her face. I put a smile on my face too as I looked too out the window.

30 minutes later I was at a big house and Joey's mom parked in the driveway. I got out of the car and then the front door open. I saw joey walking out shirtless of course and in sweats. Looks like he took a shower. he looked around and saw me just pulling my arms behind my back. joey looked shocked and just ran to me. I chuckled as he hugged me and lifted me up from the ground. I squealed and joey spun me around. Joey dad walked out of the house and grabbed my luggage that Joey's mom brought out the truck.

“I missed you so much, babe.” Joey put me down and kissed me hard. It felt good having the physical touch for once. Joey dad tapped joey’s shoulder.

“Don't be to rough on her will you son.” his dad walked away with his mom to the front door. His mom locked her rental car.

“My auntie and cousin are gone for a bit since they wanted to go shopping before they could meet you.” Joey pulled away and put his forehead on my forehead.

“So you had the house to yourself for a while huh?” I questioned and joey chuckled.

“I was waiting for you to help me but I couldn’t help do it right away. Can you wait another day?” joey asked and I just giggled giving him a peck on his lips.

“It fine baby.” I said and Joey chuckled as he gave me a peck. He let go of me and grabbed my hand. We walked to the front door slightly open for us. We walked in and saw joey dad walk down the stairs.

“I put your luggage with joys in his room he’s staying in. you guys are a couple so you can sleep together. Just rember to stay quiet or wait till everyone is gone.” Joey's dad said with a smirk on his face. Joey dad hit his arm as she had ‘really’ face. Joey rolled his eyes and walked us to the stairs.

“Joey put on a shirt. I don't want your cousin seeing you shirtless.” joey mom said and Joey groaned.

“Yes, mom.” Joey walked us to our room for the next four days. We walked in the open room and I walked in first as let go of my hand. Joey closed the door as I sat on the neatly made bed. Joey sat next to me after he grabbed his shirt from the end of the bed. He put on the shirt as he grabbed me by my legs and put me on his lap.

“Joey!” I said and Joey chuckled as he nuzzled in my neck. He hugged me tightly by my waist. It feels really good to have him by my side again.

“I need this right now. I miss touching you and hugging you. I miss your sweet scent.” joey kissed my neck and I just giggled. I hugged joey by his neck.

“I miss you too baby.” I said kissing joey’s forehead. Joey stayed in my neck for a while before he looked up at me. He had dark eyes and I knew what he wanted. Just as Joey was about to kiss me his door open forcefully revealing a girl and a boy around our age.

“Oops. did we interrupt something?” said the boy and joey groaned. He nuzzled in my neck again.

“This is ray and rein my cousin’s.” Joey Said against my skin introducing his cousins to me and they waved at me. I waved back and put an awkward smile.

“Nice to me you, So you're Joey girlfriend. You're more pretty in person.” Rein Said amid lean against the door frame. Ray was looking at me while examining my body.

“Okay, let’s go downstairs.” Joey Said and lean in my ear. ”we’ll continue this later.” Joey whispered and I just giggled as Joey kiss my cheek. I got off Joey’s lap and Joey got up from his bed.

“Hope you Guys aren’t loud at night.” Ray Said and we walked out of Joey’s room. Joey chuckled as he closed his room door.

“We can try to be quiet but we can’t guarantee that much.” Joey Said grabbed my hand and intertwining our fingers. Rein shook her head as we walked to walked down the stairs. There I heard Joey mom talking to another Woman her age.

“Oh boy.” Ray Said and rolling his eyes. The other woman noticed me and she looked surprised as she saw me. I’m guessing that Joey’s auntie.

“Oh wow! Is that your girlfriend joe?” Joey’s auntie Said in a happy mood. I just looked at Joey’s s we made it to the bottom of the stairs. Joey’s mom rolled her eyes.

“This is Jeannie, she lives next to us and her parents are very kind and friendly.” Joey’s mom Said looking At me. Joey’s cousins and aunt nodded. I just stood behind Joey as I heard a knock from the hallway wall. Joey looked shocked and his auntie walked to the hallway. I’m guessing his grandma is awake.

“So Jeannie, you go the same high school as joe?” Rein questioned and looking at us. I just looked at Joey as he shook his head.

“Yes, She is in the same school as me.” Joey started and pulled me as he went to the living room. Rein and Ray were behind us as we sat down at the corner. Joey still had a strong grip on my hand. Rein and Ray sat in their spots as Joey’s auntie rolled Joey grandma to the living room. Wow, and wow she looks like she was tired and in pain.

“Hi grandma, Joey’s girlfriend was here.” Rein Said and his auntie parked her at the other side of the couch near the backyard door. Joey’s auntie walked back to the kitchen as Joey’s parents were cooking a big meal.

“Oh really?” Joey grandma Said and looked Joey’s way. She looked at me and examined me as she looked up and down at me.” she really pretty but she also very skinny. I want Rein to be as skinny as you.” I was shocked and Rein turns red embarrassed.

“Grandma! Don’t judge people by their looks. Everyone’s body is different.” Joey’s auntie Said from the kitchen. I sighed and spoke up.

“I’m Jeannie, Nice to meet you.” I Said looking at Joey’s grandma. Joey’s grandma nodded slowly.

“I’m glad you're Here. So is this your first time here in Utah?” Joey’s grandma Asked and looking out the backyard at the view.

“Yes it is, It’s chilly but it nice and peaceful here.” I Said and Joey’s grandma looked at me. Joey let you off my hand and put his arm around my waist.

“We’ll go hiking when we have a chance babe. The view is worth it Here.” Joey Said looking at me. I just lean against Joey’s chest.

“We’ll go in the day after tomorrow, you’ll love the view.” Joey's dad said and looking at Joey. he put a homemade pizza on the dining table. The food was almost done. I looked at the time and it was pasted 12 pm.

“Do you like hiking Jeannie? Rein doesn't like it so expect her not to come.” ray said jokingly. Rein scoffed and lean back on the couch.

“I like hiking but not too much unlike you ray. You go too much.” rein said pulling out her phone. Ray rolled his eyes and lean back on the couch as well.

“I used to go hiking a lot with you now that I think about it ray.” Joey said and putting his chin on my head. I sighed and closed my eyes feeling tired.

“Tried babe?” Joey whispered looking at me. I nodded and looked up at Joey.

“After lunch lets nap?” I questioned and Joey smiled down at me. He leans in kissing my forehead sweetly. I looked to see ray looking at me. I ignored it as joey mom called us for lunch.

*****

(joey's perspective)

I woke up to someone hugging me. I opened my eyes to see Jen snuggled up against me. It was really cold when we were talking a nap and plus I was told not to use the heater too much.

“Babe?” I moved some hair out of Jen's face as she opened her eyes looking at me. “You cold?” I asked and hugged her by her waist. Jen giggled and nuzzled in my chest.

“Baby? What time is it?” Jen asked and I kissed her head.

“Let me check.” I went to grab my phone and saw it was 9 pm. “9 pm, you just want to watch a movie till past midnight?” I asked and Jeannie nodded.

“You have Netflix on this tv?” Jen asks got up the bed, I got up too as Jen rubbed her eyes. Man, she was cute. I hugged her by her shoulders and kissed her forehead.

“I’ll be right back, I need my dad’s laptop first.” I got off the bed and put on my slippers. Jen grabbed her phone and look through her text. I walked out of the room and to my parent's room they were staying in. I knocked just in case and I heard footstep walking to the door. The door opened and I saw my dad. They were watching tv.

“Yes son?” my dad asked confused.

“Can I get the laptop? Me and Jeannie want to watch a movie. Can we?” I asked and my dad nodded. He went to grab his laptop from the nightstand it looked charged. My dad gave me his laptop and I just grabbed it and my dad closed his door as I walked back to my room. I walked in and saw Jen on her phone still.

“Is your family texting you?” I asked and Jen nodded.

“My bother is texting me.” Jen said and I close the room door. I walked back to the bed and sat next to Jen. She locked her phone as I opened my dad’s laptop. I went to the internet and went to Netflix.

“What is he saying?” I asked and Jen leans against my shoulder. I put on the blanket on me and Jen's lap. Jen scoffed and shook her head.

“He said to behave and don't make a fool of myself.” I chuckled and hugged her by her shoulders. I put on an action movie as Jen focused on the movie.

“Just rember to act polite every second of the day.” I said and Jen giggled.

“Can I ask you a question?” jean asked and i looked at her. She was looking back at me.

“Sure babe, go ahead.” I said to put the volume of the movie lower. Jen sighed and closed her eye’s.

“Can I ask you about ray? I noticed he kept looking at me today when I got here.” I was surprised but also kind of mad. Ray has a girlfriend at least that what I knew before I left.

“Ray? Well, he has a girlfriend so I don't know why he’s looking at you. I’ll talk to him tomorrow okay babe?” kissed Jen's forehead.

“Thank you, I felt really uncomfortable today.” I felt more anger and I held it in.

“Your welcome babe. I love you.” I closed his eyes talking in Jen's sent. Jen giggled and put the volume of te movie up.

“I love you too.” Jen nuzzled on my chest. I hope Ray has a good explanation of why he’s looking at my girlfriend. I focused on the movie as Jen did the same.

The next morning hit and Jen was still sleeping. I was used to waking up early since my family here is loud. I looked at my phone and saw it was 9:30 am. I got out of bed trying not to wake up Jen in deep sleep. I walked to the bathroom and washed my face. I brushed my teeth and I looked at my phone to get a text from the boys.

The boys: Danny: “so how does it feel having Jen there?”

The boys: Harry: “I bet you guys can’t have sex.”

The boys: Greg: “stop brother joey guys.” at least Greg is on my side. I finshed brushing my teeth and dried up my face. I texted back to the boys.

“Your right about that, I ain’t mad though.” I locked my phone and walked out of my bathroom. I looked at Jen still sleeping. I walked out of my room quietly. As I walk out my room I heard nothing. Is no one awake right now? Usually, my mom and auntie would be awake at the moment. I walked down the stairs and saw ray sitting at the kitchen counter. He had his coffee and a toast with nothing on it.

“Where mom and auntie at?” I asked and ray turned around to see me.

“They went grotiry shopping. you woke up early, where Jeannie?” ray asked and I felt the anger right away. Of course, he would ask.

“Still sleeping, so can I ask you a question?” I said and went to grab a mug since there was already made coffee. I poured some coffee in the mug.

“Yes?” ray looked at me confused. I put sugar and creamer in my coffee.

“Jeannie told me you kept looking at her the whole day after she came here. Why are you looking at my girl?” I asked and sipped my coffee. Ray looked sick as if Jen is stupid and will never notice.

“Oh..well you know Daniel right? my last girlfriend?” ray questioned looking sad and I just nodded. Not that I think about it. Jeannie looked like Daniel but Jeannie has blue eyes.

“I remember her, what happened to her?” I asked and siped my coffee again.

“Well, most people think we broke up a first when they saw Daniel not around me anymore. Other people heard she moved but that was her parents after what happened.” I sighed as I continued to listen. “The truth is she got killed in a car accident in another state when she went to have a girls trip with her best friend. Daniel was the one driving and she died right away. Her best friends died at the hospital a few hours later. One of Daniels wishes was to not let her friends no to know if she dies since she doesn't want anyone to cry for her.” I was shocked. I was close to Daniel as my best friend. I get it though. So ray was looking at Jeannie as it was Daniel.

“Did they have a funeral?” I asked and ray nodded. I sipped my coffee as ray spoke up again.

“I was invited of course. Jeannie looks like Daniel and I can't help but look at her. Don't tell her about Daniel okay? Just tell her she reminds me of someone.” ray said looked at me. I nodded and walked to the stairs.

“I got you.” I said as walking to the stairs. Ray waved his hand up as I walk up the stairs. I walked to my room and I walked in and saw jen on my dad’s laptop. She was wat hing a movie. “Hey babe, you're awake. Did you hear me and ray talking?” i asked to make sure.

“No, I literally just started this movie plus that's a long walk from your room to the kitchen downstairs.” Jen had a good point.

“Good point, so I talk to ray. He said that you reminded him of someone. He can’t help but look at you.” I sat next to Jen joining her under the covers. I put my coffee on the nightstand. I wrapped my arm around Jen's wasit and held her close to me.

“Oh.” jen went quiet and lean against my chest. ”I’m not going to ask who is.” Jen said and it best if she doesn't. I sighed and closed my eyes taking her scent.

“So what movie are we watching?” i asked looking at the movie she put.