You're My Exception

Chapter 22

"Um, we've been best friends for the longest time and now we're just kind of taking the next step and we're just having fun."

"When did it change Demi?" Ryan Seacrest asked the young lady.

"Um, I don't know. I think being best friends for a long time, I think feelings grow. As for me, as much as much I wanted to deny it, feelings were there." she giggled, sneaking a peak at her boyfriend.

The camera changed the view to her boyfriend, who had the biggest smile on his face. That boyfriend? It was Joe.

Joe hit 'pause' on the video and groaned. He was surprised they still had this up. "Wow, internet these days," he muttered. Everything was there. From when they made Camp Rock to present day. He could skim every picture, every interview, every video if he wanted to, but he didn't. It already hurt too much to see this video. Over three years ago, he would have never imagined this would be his future. He couldn't even begin to think of it. So this is where they stand. Demi and Joe. She was off getting engaged. He was here, trying to figure out how things went so wrong, but deep down inside, he knew all along. He cared too much for her. If he wasn't so worried about their friendship and let their relationship ride out with all the joys and fights it brought, maybe they would still be together now. He couldn't change the past, but he didn't know what to do about the future.

"I'm so sorry if I interrupted anything by calling or coming over," Demi quietly apologized.

"Don't worry about it, sweetie," Selena answered, making her some tea to calm her down. "I was just clearing things up with someone, and you aren't to blame for anything." She smiled and set the tea in front of Demi. "So what happened?"

Demi looked at the steam coming from the cup. "I think me and Joe won't be talking to each other anymore."

"What? Why?" Selena asked, confused.

"I...we kind of made out," Demi looked away, blocking out any emotion she had felt when they kissed. "I told him he needs to get over me because I'm going to marry Sterling."

"Wait, who kissed who?"

"I kissed him," Demi bit her lip. "but it's only because he was being stupid and pretended not to know what I meant by 'having feelings for me'! I asked him if he had any, and he didn't give me a direct answer, so I needed to find out." She held back sobs. "I told him I didn't love him, I love Sterling, and he needed to find a girl. He said....he said he loves me."

Selena pulled Demi, who was now sobbing and letting tears streak her face, into her arms. "Dem, I'm not going to yell at you for doing this. He thinks you played him, but I understand why you did it. Answer one question for me, though."

Demi collected herself long enough to reply with, "What question?"

"Did you lie to Joe when you said you didn't love him?"

"I....no....yes," Demi broke out into sobs again.

Selena bit back a smile and how she wanted to shove it in her face. "I knew it all along. I told you, what you and Joe have, it's something special. I've never seen it before. I wouldn't have let it go."

"B-but I'm engaged!" Demi cried.

"Shh," Selena cooed. "We can talk later, but right now, let all your tears out." She silently held Demi as she sobbed into her.

"Dude, what's going on?" Nick asked, walking into Joe's room. "Demi called Selena and I left cause it seemed important."

"Well," Joe said calmly. "I'm about to buy a ticket for a three week vacation to Hawaii."

"What the fuck?" Nick said, looking at Joe confused. "What happened?"

"Demi kissed me. We made out. When I admitted I love her, she told me she had no feelings for me and that I should get over her, that's what happened." Joe looked away, unable to get the whole senario out of his head.

"Damn, bro," Nick sighed. "I guess you should go take that vacation. Maybe you and Demi really do need some space for now."

"Maybe forever," Joe whispered, entering his credit card information on his laptop. "So what about you and Selena?"

"We're together now," Nick hesitantly replied. "Bad timing with you, I guess."

"No, Nick," Joe sighed. "I'm glad you listened to me. You two have been crazy about each other. I'm glad you're getting back together."

"Look man, I'm really sorry about all this with Demi."

"It's not your fault. Maybe if I hadn't run into her that day in the studio a few months ago..."

"What happened is over," Nick told him. "You can't change it."

"Well, I should start packing," Joe said, standing up to get his tickets from the printer. "My flight leaves tonight."