If we meet again

Chapter 5

Nick POV

I HATE being late! And it doesn't help that Joe takes as long as Mom to get ready. Mom, I understand. Hair, makeup, dresses, shoes. Joe literally locks the bathroom door and stays in there for HOURS. I don't even know what he's doing! We're supposed to be finishing the Concert Experience movie right now, (available on Disney+ 2021!) and right now we're getting ready to go on stage and finish the last song. We have to do every song at least four times, and it's so hard to be in the exact same place every time. But if we don't, it looks tacky. 

"NICK! For someone who hates being late, you're three seconds late to being on stage." the camera man said, checking his watch. Three seconds might not matter in any other situation, but  in showbiz, it matters the movie. I rushed up the stairs to find that Kevin was the only one there. As the screen thing rose, Joe came sprinting on and grabbed the mic a split second before he was supposed to sing. I'm gonna smack him after this. Gladly, the first take worked well, so after two more runs we were finally done. When we went to the helicopter after, because last time we left via limo, I swear some fan tried to kidnap Joe. So we got in the helicopter and made the way home. 

"Oh, by the way Joe," I said. Joe turned to look at me and I smacked the back of his head. 

"Ow! Nick!" Joe whined, rubbing the back of his head. "What the heck?" 

"You were late." I said. Joe paused for a second, then rolled his eyes. 

"Big deal." Joe said. 

"It is a big deal, Joe!" I cried. 

"It looked cool." Joe said, shrugging. "YOLO." It was my turn to roll my eyes. 

"Joe, one day it won't look cool and you'll get hurt or mess something up." I said. 

"Keeevvvvvyyyyy!" Joe whined. "Tell Nicky I'm right!"  

"Stop whining, Joe. Be on time." Kevin said, irritated. "Nick, don't be so rude!" I folded my arms and Joe repeated the motion, then slinked down and pouted. 

"Baby." I muttered. 

"Jerk." he said without missing a beat. 

A few months later we were on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine, which was so amazing. Brooklyn was hardly seen, by me anyway. I was too busy writing more music and fan stuff, and then there were midterms and by the time I was finally on a break, we needed to record our fourth album. Brooklyn and Mom shopped all the time. And when Mom wasn't with Brook, she was attempting to get her into school. Meanwhile, Brooklyn was writing. A LOT. I don't even know what she was writing, but I never saw her anywhere without a notebook or pen. She was never at dinner or breakfast because her online temporary school started at seven and she was up a lot earlier. One time I got up early to see her. But I think I hit snooze without realizing it, because when I woke up it was already eight and she was in her room on a video conference with her teachers. At night she was always with Mom or Dad at some other place like school or something official. I don't know what it was, because when I brought it up Mom and Dad always mysteriously went deaf until the subject changed. 

Every time Brookie went, she wore a long-sleeved dress that always reached her ankle. It was almost always black or navy blue. She left around seven and didn't return until late. Whenever I tried to wait Dad forced me to go to bed after ten. Sometimes I would look out the window, but Joe always got cold and made me shut it. Sucks to be the youngest. I think Kevin waited up for her a lot, because I never did see him go to bed when I did. Or even two hours after. Joe doesn't like waking up early, but I know for a fact he saw her a few times. Before I knew it it was 2009 and Kevin had a girlfriend who never seemed to be away from him. Her name was Danielle, and she had two sisters and a brother who became Joe's best friend. Well, what can I do? 

We were invited performed as guests on "Saturday Night Live" which was really incredible! Matthew Diamond, the director of Camp Rock, sent me a few emails hinting that we would be invited to film Camp Rock 2, so that seems exciting. 

"JOSEPH ADAM JONAS, I AM SO FED UP WITH YOU!" Kevin yelled from the other room, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"DON'T FULL NAME ME, KEVIN!" Joe stormed into our room, which must have been hard in his skinny jeans and tight shirt. Maybe it's just tight because he's tense? It's pink and the buttons on the wrists are undone, so it can't be that tight. He's wearing some kind of hat thing on his head, I think it's French. Joe is definitely the best at fashion. And he's not a very violent person, but when he is, he likes to smash things. And he headed for Kevin's guitar rack, this time. I bolted out of my chair so I was in front of him, then I grabbed both his wrists and held them above his head. 

"Don't do it Joe, it's not worth it." I said. 

"MOVE, NICK!" Joe yelled. 

"Joe, you need to calm down." I tightened my grip on Joe's wrists but he's stronger than I am. 

"I'M GONNA SMASH ALL OF THEM!" Joe yelled louder. "I'M DONE WITH HIM!" 

"Joe?" said a small voice. 

"I-" Joe started to yell again but he turned around to see who it was. It's Brooklyn. Her hair is in a messed up braid and she's wearing a light blue nightgown. There are circles under her eyes and there's smudged makeup that's failing at hiding them. Her eyes look shimmery, and I think she still has some eye shadow on. One of her hands is balled in a fist against the gown, the other is laid flat against the door frame, steadying her. There's a red stain against the nightgown, but Joe didn't seem to notice.

"Brookie!" he said in surprise. Joe walked over to her and picked her up. Then he set her down on his bed with surprising gentleness, considering his anger. "Why do you look so tired? Why are you wearing a nightgown?" he asked. 

"I didn't get back until two a.m. yesterday and since I'm already failing chemistry, physics and Spanish, I couldn't skip school. Denise wanted me to shower so I didn't get to bed until 4 and I had school at 7, so I only got three hours of sleep." she said, her words beginning to slur. 

"You're failing three classes?" Joe asked. She nodded off, then started to fall asleep. "BROOK!" Joe cried. She snapped up. "What happened to your arm?" The red mark is now spreading across her nightgown. Her eyes widened and she grabbed her forearm, desperately failing at hiding it. 

"N-nothing! I'm going to bed." she said, stand up off the bed. But before she could get far, she fell on the floor and closed her eyes.