I cut through the neighbor's yard onto our street and my breath hitched as I saw Nick's mustang parked in the drive, fuck my life. Making my way slowly across the street I devised my lie. I went on a walk...yea...I was allowed to walk. I wasn't a prisoner. Quietly opening the door I peeked in toward the kitchen and living room to find them empty, walking backwards into the house I braced my hands against the door as I pushed it shut saying a silent prayer that Nick had not noticed I was gone. Turning on my heels I froze as I locked eyes with my youngest brother sitting on the stairs.

"Boo." Nick said, his tone sarcastic.

"Why are you here?" I questioned earning me a cocked brow from my brother.

"Better question would be why weren't you here." He countered.

I raised an eyebrow. "I went for a walk . . . I am allowed to go for walks, right?"

"Don't get smart, CeCelia. Where did you go?" Standing from the stairs, he followed me into the kitchen. "I specifically told you, you weren't allowed to go anywhere."

Grabbing a water from the fridge, I placed it on the counter before grabbing my testing kit. "I ate lunch and then decided to get some fresh air. What are you doing home so early, school doesn't get out for another hour."

"I wanted to check up on you to see how you handled lunch." He leaned against the counter. "Put yourself in my shoes for a minute, CeCelia. I walk into the house to find it absolutely empty and my mind starts racing wondering where the hell my 16 year old, newly diagnosed little sister could be."

"I'm sorry. Honestly, I didn't think you'd come home or else I would have left a note."

He stepped closer. "You are lucky you . . ."

I watched his face contort before giving me a stern look. "What?"

"Have you been smoking?" he asked his tone suddenly very sharp.

"No!" I defended.

"Why do you reek of smoke, CeCelia?"

I have two choices, blatantly lie or tell the truth and I'm most definitely not going to be telling the truth. I don't care what anyone says, honesty is not always the best policy, the best policy was to deny deny deny....then beg for forgiveness if that didn't happen to pan out.

"I was down by the pier talking to the fishermen...they were smoking."

Nick's face changed. "Uh-huh...and what is it that you talked about with these smoking fishermen?"

"Oh...ya know... the weather and they were telling me about all the different types of fish they catch."

Nick smirked. "And what type of fish do they catch?"

"Big ones...and...sometimes smaller ones."

Nick nodded looking completely unconvinced, "Uh-huh, sure but what specific big and small fish do they catch?"

I paused a moment desperately trying to remember any type of actual fish. "I forgot the names of them."

"Well is there anything else you guys talked about?" Nick asked as I pricked my finger before feeding the bead of blood into the test strip.

Shaking my head, I waited for the meter to countdown. "Not really."

"Hmmmm..." Nick mused before picking up his phone and sending a text. The phone buzzed a second later just as my meter sounded. "92, I'm good."

"No you're not. That was Eric, my buddy that works at the pier restaurant, he has been there all afternoon and he said he never saw you." Nick glared. "Now let's try this again, without the lying. Where were you?"

Curse small town living!

"You are going to believe Eric over me? You know, I don't remember seeing Eric either, are you sure he was even there?"

"CeCelia Marie..." Nick warned.

"I went out for some fresh air, you should be absolutely thrilled that I'm not up sulking in my room after the week I have had."

"Are you done with the drama?" Nick asked.

Leaning on the counter I shrugged my shoulders. "Depends, do you believe me?"

He shook his head, "Not a bit. You come home, lie to me about where you were, when confronted about it you get all defensive and throw down a rant like a two year old, and on top of everything else, you reek of smoke." He gave me the parental eye. "Now for the last time where were you?"

"I was at the cemetery visiting Mom and Dad...ask anyone."

Evidently Nick did not appreciate my smart ass remark, I watched as his nostrils flared in frustration. "CeCelia...One."

Fuck my life...not the counting.

"I really was at the cemetery ...I was just...with a friend."

He glared. "Who was the friend . . . Two"

After two comes three and everyone knows if you don't confess before three, you die. Well, I can only assume that's what happens...I don't ever intend to get to three.

"Josh!" I spat before letting out a frustrated sigh, "I met Josh...he was smoking."

"Atta Girl! It's about time I got some truth," Nick mused before putting on the parental glare. "Now, go to your room."

Like I said...honesty is always the best policy...lying only gets you in deeper shit. Ok so maybe that's not what I said...but clearly you should not take advice from me.

I let out a sigh before grabbing my water and doing my perp walk up the stairs. Walking into my room I grabbed my phone from my pocket and sent Josh a text. 'Got Busted, you better be worth it Smokey' pressing send I slid my phone under my pillow, moments later my door opened.

Nick walked in grabbing my desk chair and setting it in front of me before straddling it and taking a seat. "I'm going to give you a chance to explain...go."

I fidgeted with my ring twirling it around my finger before letting out a frustrated sigh and locking eyes with Nick. "I didn't do anything wrong today, I met a FRIEND at the cemetery and we talked...that's it. I'm sorry that I lied to you, I know I probably made things a lot worse for myself because of it."

"Yup," Nick piped in popping his P for emphasis.

I sighed at his confirmation. "It's just I know how you feel about Josh and I knew the second you found out I was with him you would be upset so I panicked. Truth is I made plans to meet him for lunch last night when we were out on the porch, I never planned to meet Morgan. I've been going stir crazy here and I just wanted to get out of the house a little bit. After you told me that you didn't want me leaving I texted him and told him to meet me at the cemetery because I didn't want you to know. I ate lunch at home and then I met him after Cat left here, nothing happened we just talked and I swear I didn't smoke...in fact I spent half the time preaching to him why he should quit. I'm sorry that I lied...I suppose that's it." I sat there in uncomfortable silence as I waited for Nick's lecture to begin, lying was a big no no in the Jonas household. My parents never tolerated lying or foul language and it had always been immediate grounds for trouble...I knew this. In hindsight I really should have just told the truth.

"CeCelia, you are right, there is nothing wrong with you meeting a friend at the cemetery," Nick started, "Unless of course you were told specifically not to leave this house, which you were." I dropped my head already seeing this lecture going south, I was so screwed. "It wouldn't have mattered if you were meeting Josh, or Morgan, or Matt...the fact remains that you disobeyed me. I didn't want you leaving this house because you are still getting used to blousing for meals, and even though you ate at home you left right afterward leaving all your 'betes supplies here on the kitchen counter. What would you have done if you had over bloused and dropped low while you were out? You were in the middle of the cemetery." I shrugged not having a good answer.

"I forgot to take my kit." I said in a sheepish voice now realizing what a rookie diabetic move that was.

Nick shook his head, "Betes stuff aside Cee, you walk in, you are clearly busted, and you then lie to my face...over and over."

I felt tears stinging my eyes as I looked up at Nick. "I know, I'm really sorry Nicky." I really was genuinely sorry, and not just because I was absolutely sure that Nick was about to ground me. I could tell he was disappointed and that just sucked.

Nick sighed, "CeCelia, I don't want you to ever feel afraid to talk to us about anything. I know that some things may be awkward because we are your brothers but we are here for you and you can come to us about anything, you know that right?" I nodded. "It may seem like we are overprotective when it comes to boys but Cee, you are our baby sister, if we had our druthers you would never date."

I soured my face. "Gee, thanks Nicky, that's very comforting."

Nick smirked slightly. "I know it frustrates you that we don't like Josh but we have got to go on what we know and what we know is he has been in a lot of trouble. He smokes, he probably drinks as well."

"Actually he doesn't." I stated knowingly. "His dad does...a LOT actually."

Nicks face fell slightly. "I'm sorry to hear that, I didn't know."

"There is a lot you don't know about him." I challenged.

Nick didn't falter, "I know enough."

I let out a frustrated growl, "I not asking for permission to date Josh...he and I are friends in fact he is my only friend besides Morgan."

"Cee, that's not true," Nick argued shaking his head.

"It is Nicky, it's not exactly easy for me to make friends. I have three brothers who are professors and two dead parents...I practically scream damaged. Maybe that's why he and I get along so well."

Nick sighed rubbing the back of his neck in frustration. "I should blister your butt for lying to me," he spat shaking his head, I dropped my eyes picking nervously at the comforter. "If Joe finds out I let you off the hook for this I will NEVER hear the end of it."

My eyes shot up to meet Nick's in disbelief, "Really?!" I nearly squealed.

Nick nodded his head "Even though you disobeyed me and left the house, there was no real reason why you shouldn't have been able to leave other than me being paranoid about your numbers. You are right, you didn't do anything wrong, You shouldn't have lied to me...but I understand why you did...or at least attempted to...you seriously suck at lying by the way."

I threw my arms around Nick's neck hugging him to me. "Ohmygosh! Thank you!"

Nick pushed out of the hug and locked eyes with me. "But if I catch you lying to me again..."

"I won't"

"I mean it CeCelia...we will have problems." I nodded giving Nick a smile. "Change your clothes, you reek of smoke and I want you working on homework until dinner, we are watching the girls for Kevin and Dani tonight they are going on a date."

"Ok" I said nodding in agreement.

"I'm going to go get changed before Matt gets here." He said standing from the chair and returning it to my desk.

"Matt is coming here?" I questioned in shock.

"Don't act so appalled Cee, you are the one who set up these lessons, remember."

Ugh, I had forgotten all about the guitar lessons I had manipulated Nick into giving Matt...come to think of it Matt still had Zelda...son of a bitch.

End Chapter Notes:

Meticulous Nicholas just let her slide...😳
Matt is coming over...hrmmm....thoughts?