Rob and I were sitting next each other on the couch that was only meant for two. He was playing with my fingers as I enjoyed his warmth.
Joe and Tristan appeared around the corner with suspicious grins.
"Make room!" Joe said as he charged sofa.
Rob quickly wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me onto his lap. He held me close and ran his lips along my jaw.
"Hey!" Joe said.
I turned and saw him sitting on Tristan's lap. His body was facing me and his feet were straight up. I could see that Tristan was resisting insane laughter.
"Feet war. Now." Joe demanded.
I squinted my eyes and put my feet flat against his, accepting the challenge.
"Hold on to me Rob." I warned and he tightened his grip on my waist.
Tristan copied him and held onto Joe.
Joe and I gripped each other just below the elbows and the battle was on.
It was obvious that Joe would have stronger legs than me; therefore I was already losing as soon as it began. I cried out in surprise and Tristan couldn't hold in her laughter any longer.
Then Rob reached over with one arm and shoved Joe as hard as he could. Joe began to fall off the couch, but neither he nor Rob let go of me and we all went down leaving Tristan on the sofa about to die of laughter.
I rolled over away from them as Joe shouted, "Hey, that's cheating!" and he tackled Robert with a battle cry.
They wrestled on the floor while laughing.
Tristan came and stood next to me and watched.
Joe had Rob pinned and I wasn't going to have that. I rammed into Joe, pushing him off of Rob. I held him for a second and then made way for Rob who pinned Joe. I then put my weight on Rob to keep Joe down.
"Tristan!" he groaned out from under us, "Help me!"
Without a word from Tristan walked over and sat on me.
We all moaned in protest.
"That's not what I meant!"
Once we were free I laid on my back while Rob laughed next to me leaning on his elbow.
"Joe! Run!" Tristan said and they disappeared.
I smiled, so it was a game now?
"Come on." I said as I got up.
I grabbed Rob by the hand and pulled him into the kitchen.
"What're you-" he tried to say through his laughter as I dug through some drawers.
"Weapons." I declared.
I stuck a caulender on his head and then equipped myself with an oven mitt and with that hand held a pot lid; in the other I held a rubber spatula. I offered the other mitt, another lid, and a wooden spoon to Rob.
He shook his head, "No, come here."
He took my hand and pulled me behind him, "Get on my back."
I laughed, "Okay."
I jumped onto his back and he held my legs. I raised my arms over my head as he walked out of the kitchen.
Once out, we came face to face with Joe, and Tristan wasn't far behind. After a moment of wide-eyed stared and a blink, Tristan started to run the other direction screaming with her arms in the air. Joe copied right behind.
After a second Rob ran as well as he could after them straight down the hall.
Once they saw our pursuit they darted into Tristan's room. We followed until we reached Tristan's closed door and we waited.
A few moments later we found ourselves running away from Joe was in his famous helmet and one of Tristan's dresses over his clothes and Tristan in a scarf and snow hat.
We made a run for it out into the backyard.
Rob dropped me over his head onto the trampoline. "Stay behind me." he said as he picked up the hose that had been on.
Joe appeared out of the house and got blasted. He spread his arms out and took it, turning around to get the backside good and soaked.
After Joe was good and drippy Rob stopped, climbing onto the trampoline with me. I lay down to stretch out my stomach from the laughter and he lay next to me.
"I think we won." I said.
"Pfft. Of course we did." he replied pulling me onto his chest and kissing me.
I laughed again after a moment and sat up after hearing Tristan let out a cry of small horror.
She had been trying to help Joe back into the house but he was chasing her trying to hug her with his lips pursed.
After a moment of her laughing so hard she could hardly breathe, he caught her and held her too close to him and kissed her right on the lips with a big "muah" sound, but then it changed.
I giggled a little until Robert pulled me down to his lips again.
--------------------
Katie looked out the deeply tinted window at the large building that we would be spending the next few hours rocking out in. I smiled at her. "A little different from the last time, ya?"
She took a deep breath and smiled a genuinely excited smile. "Ya. But this whole thing is… just different."
I looked over at Joe sitting next to me and smiled at how true her statement was. As I looked at him he turned his head and his brown eyes meet mine, sending a shiver down my back. Neither of us could look away for a moment and he smiled softly as he slipped his hand into mine. I tried to look away before anyone else could notice the exchange but I was too late.
"Going to be great having Tristan and Katie in the audience tonight, right Joe?" Said Kevin Sr. as he smiled at me in the rear view mirror.
My face started to turn a deeper shade of pink and I looked away.
"Were they staring at each other again?" Frankie asked with a little bit of disgust in his voice. He was still getting used to Joe and I, having been the one to see us together the least.
"Ya, Joe! Were you staring again? Gosh! Disgusting!" Kevin laughed from the seat in front of us.
I kicked his seat in response. "Look who's talking!" I said in a playful hiss.
He turned and quickly stuck his tongue out at me before turning back to his window.
"Speaking of Kevin and staring, where is Dani tonight?" Katie asked turning to look at him.
I turned back to him. "That's a good question!" I said.
"She'll be here waiting for us. She left early because she was picking something up for you guys on the way." He said as he looked at Nick a smile on both of there faces.
I raised an eyebrow but shook it off. "Okay. Anyway. I'm happy she is gonna be here." I said. I genuinely like Danielle and was happy to spend time with her.
We had pulled up to the back of the venue and the car was put in park. We sat there for a minute, all quiet, taking in the moment. Sighing I leaned against Joe and he squeezed my hand. The spell was broken when Kevin Sr. clapped his hands together and said, "Let's get this show on the road."
We all kicked it into gear and jumped out of the car. Katie and I ducked around the wall we were parked next to as the boys got out the other side, causing a roar to erupt for the line half a mile away. Katie and I laughed as we crouched waiting for the others to join us.
After a minute of screaming the boys ducked around the corner and we all started into the venue. As we where walking in Kevin put his arm around my shoulder and shook me a bit. "This is gonna be great!" He said as he pushed me into Joe.
"Hey!" I laughed as Joe put his arm around my waist and pulled me into his side. I put my arm around him as well.
Frankie ran ahead of us and into a large black door, obviously knowing where he was headed. We followed him in the door and found Big Rob clearing the hallway. As we walked past him I waved and gave a big smile. He waved back and chuckled as he eyed Joe's arm around me. I couldn't help but blush again.
We made our way into the arena and looked around. I glanced over to see Katie's mouth hanging open a bit, as I'm sure mine was too. The stadium was huge and seemed bigger on the inside that from the outside.
I looked around. "Oh my gosh. This is going to be… amazing!" Remembering the size of our concert, and the energy we felt there, I tried to imagine how that would feel from a group this large.
Last time we had went to the concert Katie was freaked out and worried about the crowd. This crowd was going to be bigger. Much bigger. So as the boys went off to check how things where running I went over to Katie. "What do you think?" I said as I gestured to the stadium. "Is this going to be crazy or what?"
She looked around. "Ya. It is. But it's gonna be totally awesome!"
I laughed. "And you're not nervous like the last time?"
"Surprisingly, no." She shook her head. "I think it's because, well, I've been to a concert before. And I know we are going to be safe. Being here with them and all." She smiled evilly as she nudged my side with her elbow.
Kevin Sr. walked up to us then. "Sound check is going to start soon, so would you girls like to go up to the box while we let people in?" he asked. He was always so good and understanding about how much I wanted to avoid people seeing me.
"Ya." I said, smiling in gratitude at him. "Lead the way."
He took us up to the door of the VIP viewing box then had to leave to get back to supervising the sound check. I opened the door and stepped inside to find Danielle sitting at a bar stool watching below and Frankie playing a video game on the couch in the middle of the room. As we walked in Danielle turned around to look at us.
A smile speed over her face as we came into the room and shut the door behind us. Without any kind of notice she jumped from her chair and came over to us. Throwing her arms around me she chuckled. "I'm so excited you guys are here tonight!" She let go of me and gave Katie a hug. "We are going to have a blast."
I couldn't hold in my smile. "How could we not? I mean…" I dropped my voice and joke whispered to them. "We are at a Jonas Brothers concert!"
Both of them laughed and we turned to the window as suddenly we could hear a large group moving in.
"They must be letting the VIPs in for sound check now." Said Danielle as she walked back over to the window.
Katie and I joined her and watched as about one hundred (good number?) girls moved into the stadium. We all stood there for a moment, just watching as girls flocked in around the stage. I sighed. "Does it ever get easier watching girls flock Kevin?"
Danielle smiled. "It does, with time. You learn to except that even though they think they might catch his attention, you are the one who has it."
I smiled at Danielle as she smiled back at me then gave me another hug. "Oh. I almost forgot! I pick something up for you guys." Quickly she walked over to a couple of large black bags hanging over a chair that I hadn't noticed before. "We all decided, since you're going to be going on tour for a bit with us that you guys needed these." She handed us each a bag.
The bags where zip-close and had hangers out the top, which indicated clothing. Slowly I unzipped my bag and so did Katie. I reached in my bag and my hand closed around something leather. As I pulled it out, I couldn't help but smile.
In my hands was a nice black leather jacket. It was really high quality and looked amazing. I gathered the sleeves in my hands and pulled it to my face, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. I loved the smell of leather. "Ummm." I sighed happily.
"Awesome!" Katie said. She had actually taken a look at the jacket where I had simply smelled it.
Turning to look at what Katie had seen I found her looking at the back. It had been embroidered with gold thread to say Jonas Brothers in script and also had their crest on it. The jackets where stunning.
"These are… amazing!" I said looking back to Danielle. "These are for us? Really?"
She laughed. "Ya. The guys thought you should have them. Not only did they want you to have them but they make you blend in with the family and crew. We all have them and wear them when we are on tour."
I slipped mine on and smiled. It fit like a dream. "I love it." I said looking at it on me. "Although… its way too hot to wear it right now!" I said and slid it back off. "Thank you." I hugged Danielle.
We watched sound check from the booth and laughed at the boys. They could be so silly. When they where done they joined us.
"So, what do you think?" Joe asked as he walked up behind me and put his arms around my shoulders.
"I love it. Thank you." I said as I kissed him softly.
"What do you think, Katie?" Nick asked as he sat on a stool.
"They really are amazing. Thank you." She said to him.
"Do we get to come down into the audience during the concert?" I asked, hoping to be a part of the crowd, to feel the energy and love from all the fans.
"We have seats in the third row, right next to the cat walk, if you want them." Said Denise as she joined us at the window.
I turned to look at Katie, silently asking if she was up for it. She nodded her head once in a quick response.
"Ya. We want them." I said with a smile.
"Ya. We want them." I said with a smile.
---------------------
Something hit me then.
Nick glowed in a different light and I wanted nothing more at that moment than to be sitting next to him on that piano bench, our shoulders and thighs just barely touching, so that he could know that I was with him.
I turned to Kevin Sr.
"When's the next time that they go under-stage?"
"After the next song." He yelled back at me.
"Can you get me under there?" I asked.
Tristan looked at me, confused.
Kevin Sr. nodded and waved down one of the security guards. When it was getting close to the end of the song we got moved through and under-stage.
I didn't know why, I just had to be there.
I watched the area where the stage was going to lower.
Tristan might have said something, but I didn't hear her.
We both turned to the sound of footsteps as Joe came in.
I watched Tristan smile and go over to him, him planting a quick and gentle kiss on her lips before he ran off.
I heard another sound and turned.
Nick.
I almost ran to him and threw my arms around him.
"We've got this." I whispered only to him.
He gently hugged me back and I felt his head softly on my shoulder.
"Nick." Kevin said softly, tapping him on the shoulder.
He was looking strangely at us.
Nick began to walk away, looking back with a look in his eyes. Not surprised, but curious.
I sniffled a little as I felt myself wanting to cry a little, but I didn't know why.
---------------------
I leaned back a little in my chair, glancing at my finished plate satisfied. I looked around the table to see who else was finished when I noticed an empty chair.
"Where's Nick?" I asked breaking a conversation.
Oops. I flushed a little.
"He ran off pretty early this morning." Kevin speculated.
"He must be working on something." Joe said quickly, shrugging it off like it was natural.
"Okay." I sighed to myself, thinking about how I hadn't seen any sign of Nick for several hours.
I didn't want to bother him if he was working, but maybe I'd just peek in on him and make sure he's aware of the time so that something doesn't go wrong with his blood sugar.
I got up from the table and rinsed my dishes in the sink. I felt Tristan's eyes on me and felt a small twinge of guilt. I'd been feeling very drawn to Nick since the concert and I knew Tristan hadn't missed it.
I went to the bathroom and when I came out the slight sound of a piano wafted from up the stairs.
I followed it, the gentle melody wrapping and pulling me closer. I walked up the stairs slowly, still not accustomed to the simple elegance of the house that was so beautiful and warm.
I made my way towards the lit room at the far end of the hall the closer I got the louder the notes played, filling me. It was comforting.
I silently came to the open doorway, which wasn't difficult since I was barefoot, and peered around the doorframe.
Nick was sitting at a glorious black piano. The lights filled the whole room brightly making the instrument shine and gleam.
Nick's fingers flowed over it and I sighed internally with a edge of envy. He made it look so easy.
He repeated a stream of notes twice, paused, tried a number of keys, then repeated the same stream adding the new notes. I smiled. I really liked it.
He reached up to make scribbles on the sheet music set out in front of him when to both of our surprise an alarm sounded from his PDM sitting on the top of the piano to his left.
After he looked at it, freezing momentarily, he almost hastily scribbled his notes down then reached for his PDM setting it in his lap. I figured now was a good a time as any to announce my presence since he was already being interrupted.
"I was just going to bug you about that." I said as I stepped into the room silently, walking forward cautiously in case he wanted to send me away.
He turned quickly when I first spoke, but relaxed as he looked at me.
He smiled.
"But it looks like you've got it covered." I smiled back. "Atta boy." I said, giving him a thumbs up.
I stopped when I was behind him and he was still looking at me. What was that gleam in his eyes?
After a moment that seemed like an hour, he turned around again and tested his blood sugar.
"How is it?" I asked, keeping my distance. I didn't want to be leaning over his shoulder.
"Perfect." He said simply, holding the meter up for me to see.
"Nice!" I exclaimed.
A small smile appeared on his lips for a moment as though he wasn't truly interested right then. He set it back on the piano and stared at his sheet music, then the piano keys, with his hands in his lap.
"'You working on something?" I asked carefully.
He sighed a little. "Yeah."
"I'll leave you to it then." I said turning to leave. I was worried that now he'd been interrupted, he'd lost the moment and I really didn't want to make it worse.
"No," he said quickly and I stopped.
"You can stay." He said, slower this time. "It might actually help."
I blinked, curious and a little embarrassed as I came back over to him and stood behind him again, still keeping a respectful distance.
Nick was still turned around, his eyebrows up in a polite worry. "You can sit here." He said motioning to the empty space of the piano bench next to him.
I walked over nervously, feeling like I was crossing some boundary. Or was I being brought into some sort of confidence?
Once I was close enough, Nick stood and put his hand on my back like the gentleman he was as I sat down on the very edge. I felt a muscle twitch in my back, but I wasn't sure if it was because I had been startled or from the small trace of a tingling sensation that remained where his hand had been.
He sat down after me stared back at his sheet music. Without warning, his fingers met the keys gliding on them as the song began. I couldn't help but watch his face as he played, seeing his expression change with the notes, knowing how they filled his head and chest as they were doing mine at that moment. His eyes were gleaming with such intensity it made my heart warm.
At first I didn't realize when he had turned his gaze to me because the notes were still wafting from the marvelous instrument, from his capable hands as he stared back at me.
The song was about to reach its crescendo when it stopped abruptly, the last chord echoing throughout the room. And we continued to stare. Why couldn't I pull away? What was it that I was seeing in his eyes? Why couldn't I read it yet? Maybe there was just too much at once, blurring it all.
Someone might have coughed, I wasn't sure. All I know was that we both turned away suddenly. My heart was racing as the awkwardness settled in. Was there water in my eyes?
Nick cleared his throat. "So, um…it's not done yet, that's as far as I've gotten."
"It's amazing. I like it." I mumbled, instantly feeling like an idiot wishing that I was able to say more adequate words like beautiful or perfect.
I saw him nod out of the corner of my eye.
After a moment of awkward silence, I glanced over at him quickly, unwilling to look right at him again, to find him staring at the sheet music again as though something were going to appear on it. I looked at it closely for the first time to see it blank on the top.
"No title yet?" I asked slowly.
"Not yet." He sighed.
His eyes flashed at me too quick for me to read. "But I think I'm starting to get an idea."
I looked away, biting the inside of my mouth and praying that I wasn't blushing, at least not enough for him to notice.
"KATIE! NICK!" I heard Tristan's voice flow from upstairs and I was relieved, though a part of me was disappointed.
"Time for a lake party!" Joe declared from downstairs, more than likely beside Tristan.
"Coming!" Nick called after a second, though I was the first to get up.
He seemed reluctant to leave the room, but he followed closely behind me after a moment and we made our way back to the rest of the group. I prayed that they were all too excited and occupied to notice the tense way we both walked, our eyes averted to the ground, only every once in a while glancing up at each other and both noticing every time.
I broke the dance, rushing forward and linking my arm into Tristan's, staying very close to her as we climbed into the back of the truck, feeling a steady panic begin to rise in my chest.
