You're My Exception

Chapter 8

"So, you think Joe could be into me?" Lily asked Demi as they drank their coffee in the car. Demi was dropping her off at the set. They had become friends over the past week.

"Yeah, I asked him about you and he said you were really sweet and cute," she smiled. She was glad to help Joe get into a relationship; and this time it wouldn't be a fling. "Just be yourself around him because that's what he really likes: a girl who can be herself around a guy." She pulled up onto the set.

"Thanks, Demi, you're really great." Lily gave her a quick hug. "I have a day off tomorrow. Wanna get pedicures?"

"Sure! I'll call Selena and Nicole to let them know," Demi told her with a signature smile.

Lily laughed in return. "Bye, Demi!" She got out of the car and walked onto set as Demi drove off to the studio. Why did she feel a twinge of something in her chest whenever she thought about Joe and Lily dating? She was happy with Sterling, and she loves Sterling. So why is the fact that Joe being in a relationship with another girl bothering her, yet she still helps Lily? Well, the answer to the last part is obvious: Lily and Demi had become friends, and Lily hadn't done anything to not receive help, and it seemed like she was into Joe and Joe was into her, so why not?

"So you and Demi are getting close, huh?" Joe asked Lily as she walked in. He had seen Demi drop Lily off.

"Yeah, I guess," she smiled a little. "I see why you're best friends with her. She's amazing."

Joe smiled, then frowned a little. "Yeah, I can't believe I lost her for three years."

"Well, you have her now and she'll always be there for you," Lily told him, touching his arm.

His frown turned upside down. "Thank you, Lily. That means a lot."

"No problem, Joe." She replied.

He put his arm around her shoulder. "Let's go film a movie, shall we?"

"Yes, we shall!" she giggled. "Funny how we're about to film a scene where you're supposed to be mad at me, and we're just here laughing."

"Well, we're both good actors, we'll be able to pull it off." Lily smiled to herself. Finally, this could be going somewhere.

At the end of the day, Joe and Lily were filming a scene where they were supposed to be talking as they sat out on the roof, watching the sunset. "Take two; and action!"

Joe and Lily were standing next to each other, on the roof of a building. "Isn't it crazy we ran into each other, after all these years?"

"Yeah, it is," Lily said smiling at him.

"So have you dated any guys after breaking up with me?" he teased, nudging her.

"A few," she admitted. "You?"

"That's what I wanted to tell you," Joe said. "Alison, I'm married." He held up his left hand, showing a ring on his fourth finger.

"You...are?" she asked, clearly showing hurt in her eyes, but not her face.

"Yeah, her name's Caroline. I met her in college." He was smiling, but when he turned to face Lily, his smile faded. "Ali, did you expect me to wait forever?"

"I loved you, Ethan," she whispered.

"You left the summer after high school, what was I supposed to do? No goodbye, no 'I'll call you', nothing! You were gone, Alison. There was nothing else I could do."

She looked away, hurt portrayed on her face. Suddenly a beeping sound was heard, and Lily took out a phone from her pocket. She glanced down at it, then looked up at Joe. "I have to go, Ethan."

He looked at her. "We aren't done-"

"I'm sorry, Ethan, okay?" She gave him one last look, walked back to the door leading to a 'flight of stairs' for the movie.

"And cut!" the director said. "Great work everyone, we'll see more on Thursday!"

Lily turned back around as Joe walked toward her. "Nice acting," she said smiling.

"You too, I felt your pain," he said dramatically as he held his hand to his heart.

She giggled. "Too bad Ethan doesn't know Alison's really a secret agent for the CIA who saved his ass."

"Yeah, that's too bad." He said walking with her off the set. "Hey, are you busy tomorrow?"

She looked up at him, biting her lip. "Why?"

He shrugged. "I was wondering if we could hang out or something, you know?"

She stopped, and her lips formed into a slight smirk. "Is THE Joe Jonas asking me out on a date?"

He smiled and put his hands up. "Okay, I'm guilty. Yes, I am asking the gorgeous Lily Collins on a date."

"Then, yes." She smiled.

"All right, time?"

"Tomorrow night. I'll pick you up at seven."

"Sounds good," she said. "It's a date."