Misery Loves Company Ch. 1

You're breath catches in your throat when you see him.1

Joel Madden comes walking down the street towards the hot dog stand that you are working at. Most people don't know hot dog stands are still around, and they're not around this part of town, but we're celebrating baseball season and what better way than hot dogs?2

"Hey," he smiles at you.3

"Hi," you smile back.4

"One hot dog with everything on it," he says.5

You start to reach for a hot dog,"wait, I thought you were vegan?"6

Joel smiles, "you caught me." He comes around the hot dog stand and slips his arms around you, right as he is leaning to kiss you, you wake up.7

"God Damnit!!!" 8

"OMG, What happened? Are you alright?" Your room mate Paul comes running in to your room and is standing next to your bed.9

You start to laugh, which irritates him, "What is SO funny?"10

"Well nothing, just, you're so cute when you're scared."11

He glares at you, "what would you do if I woke you up from a dead sleep by screaming?" 12

"Oh, Paul, I'm sorry, it was nothing... I was dreaming and I woke up at the worst possible moment!"13

He comes and sits on your bed next to you *it's a queen size*, "You were dreaming of Joel again weren't you?"14

"Yes" you groan.15

"Why don't you just tell him how you feel?"16

"Becuase, clearly, he's involved with someone..."17

"Yeah, well I don't think he is in love with Nicole."18

"And why would you say that?"19

"He's been thinking about breaking up with her... he knows the baby isn't his and, well, he's not happy about that, but he doesn't want to leave her alone and pregnant..."20

You throw up your hands to dramatize your next sentence, "Yes, of course, he's always thinking about others- except others who cannot stop thinking about him!!!!!!"21

"Aww, don't worry hun, he'll notice you some day!"22

"Yeah, whatever."23

**20 minutes later**24

You're downstairs getting a cup of coffee and just about to light a cigarette when someone knocks on the door. You open the door to see Joel standing on the other side of it.25

"Oh, um, hi... sorry um, come on in." 26

He smiles and walks past you to the kitchen, "mind if i steal a cup?"27

"I don't care, here take mine- I don't like coffee."28

He gives you a puzzled look but takes the coffee out of your hands, "if you don't like it then why did you get a cup?" 29

"Loooong story, blame it on Paul."30

Speaking of, Paul walks in the room.31

"Paul, we have a guest"32

Paul stops, goes to head back to his room but you run to him and whisper in his ear.33

"You stay here- it's just Joel. I need to get dressed," and you motion to your bunny slippers, shorts and tank that you wore to bed.34

**while you're changing**35

"Paul, I need to talk to you about something... I need some advice."36

Paul collapses next to Joel on the couch and waits for him to continue.37

"There's this girl that I like, but I don't know if she likes me...."38

"OMFG, are you serious- Joel, we're not in highschool. You're 28!"39

"I know, I know! But see, this girl, you know her... and I don't know what you would think if I wanted to date her or even just ask her out on one date."40

"Well tell me the girl and I'll let you know."41

"Well, her name is..."42

You walk into the room and Joel stops talking, "Oh, hi Rachelle... umm, i like your outfit."43

"Thanks, i guess... well I have to go to the store, Paul do you want me to pick up anything that's not on the list??"44

He thinks for a moment, "um is tooth paste on the list?"45

"Yes"46

"How about beer?"47

"It is, however, I am not 21 therefore incapable of buying it... you'll have to do that later and I'll give you some extra cuz I feel like getting drunk tonight."48

"Rachelle......" he says in a warning voice. "You shouldn't drink illegally..."49

"Yeah I know, MOTHER! Besides, it's not like I'm going to get so drunk I don't know my name- I'm just going to drink my sor- I'm just going to drink a couple beers okay?! jeezus!" You head for the door, "Oh, sorry Joel." You know how important God is to him.50

"It's okay, you already explained to me that you spell it differently so it's not his name. That's cool of you to do, by the way."51

You blush, "Thanks- um I better get going" 52

So you've left and Joel blurts out, "Rachelle"53

"Sorry, my name's Paul, not Rachelle... you just missed her."54

"No, you idiot! I was finishing my sentence."55

Paul's eyes widen, "OMG YOU LIKE RACHELLE?!"56

"Yes, I've liked her ever since I met her when she moved in with you. I know we have a 10 year age difference, but age is just a number and she is way more mature than many people I know closer to my age. For instance, have you met my brother Benji?"57

Paul laughs, "Yeah you're right... Benj can be a bit immature at times, but he can also be the most mature at other times."58

"You're ruining my point, And... I know that you have known her since she was born and I understand that you're the closest thing she has to a family... but I really like her."59

"Look, Joel, I don't care if you like her. She likes you too. Shit, I wasn't supposed to tell you that."60

"She does?" 61

"Yes... that's why she's always blushing around you. Gosh, sometimes I think she's right, men really are ignorant to what's in front of them."62

**At the store**63

^^Dance Floor Anthem starts to play^^ (That's your phone ringtone)64

You look at it and see that it's Paul on the home phone, "Hey Paul what did you forget?"65

"It's not Paul."66

"Oh, um, did you need something Joel?"67

"Yeah, I wanted to ask you out on a date."68

You drop your phone and it falls in your purse.69

"Rachelle? Are you there?" your purse questions.70

Picking up your phone, "Yeah hold on... sorry, I dropped my phone in my purse... um... yeah... I'd like to um go on a date... when and where...?"