Jonas Affairs

Chapter 5: It's You

7:30 AM

They arrived about 30 minutes to the arena, and Joe helped Sophie get out of the car, bumping into a few people as he walked around the hood of his car. Nick was trailing on behind, keeping a nice distant behind the couple; he was third-wheeling after all.

They walked into the loud arena, the sound of music and intense talking reaching their ears. Nick continued to keep a far-away distance as they continued down the rows. Some fans reached out to touch the JoBro, but he wistfully ignored them, totally not feeling it.

"Here, lemme go get some stuff," Joe said to Sophie, who was clearly not listening. Joe turned to Nick, "You want anything? A beer or whatever?" Nick shrugged, "Yeah, a beer maybe..."

Joe nodded and he headed out. Nick settled down next to Sophie and watched her. Sophie's eyes were on the screen, and she did not notice Nick staring at her like an over-interesting TV program.

About 20 seconds later, Sophie turned around and frowned, "Why're you starting me like that? The game's over there, I'm just some random lady-!" she joked, making Nick chuckle and look away, embarrassed.

Joe came shuffling by, handing Nick his beer and ramming himself in between his brother and his wife. He had a beer in his hand as well, and a box of popcorn in the other. Sophie took it from him right away.

The game started, Nick watching intensively, but vivid, while the couple next to him sat, cheering at every single move the NBA players made.

It was half time, they were having a commercial break, so Nick decided to excuse himself to the bathroom for a while. Joe took this opportunity to talk to Sophie on his own.

"Everything okay?" he asked, possibly trying to keep things light. Sophie shrugged then smiled, "It's awesome, thanks for taking me here," she gushed, taking Joe's hand and pecking his lips. Joe smiled, "Thanks for existing so I could take you," he joked, teasingly.

Sophie slapped his arm, "You are so cheesy!"

"Well, you make me wanna be cheesy," Joe said, shrugging.

Sophie shook her head in amusement and turned back to the big screen, which was now doing a shower of hearts over a couple in the audience. Apparently, they were doing the Kiss Cam. Joe was now staring at it too.

"I never know how that works," he muttered. Sophie's head snapped at him, frowning as if not believing her ears. "What I meant was that I never know how they could make people kiss each other so easily," Joe corrected, seeing the looking on Sophie's face.

Sophie cringed, "This is America, Joe, people possibly do anything."

Joe shrugged, "Not me," he said.

"Yeah, he's allergic to authority," said a voice from beside Sophie. Apparently, Nick appeared again. Sophie turned around, "Oh, you're back," she said. Nick cringed, "Uh, yeah, I'm back- what d'you think?" he sasses, throwing his hand in the air, pretending to flip his hair.

Sophie laughed, "Sorry, didn't mean to offend you. Sass king."

Joe looked at her ever so suddenly and pouted, "I thought I was your sass king?"

Sophie looked at him, her face straight, "You're MY sass king. Nick's THE sass king." Nick leaned on the armrest of his seat and smirked at is brother, who did not give up, "Oh, please, everyone knows I'm the funny one of the ba-" he stopped mid-sentence.

Nick was staring at him, so was Sophie.

"The family," he finished, looking at the big screen.

Sophie looked at Nick, screwed the end of her mouth and shook her head. Suddenly the crowd gasped, and Joe jumped.

The big screen was showering hearts over a Nick and Sophie, who was just as startled when they saw the screen. Nick frowned, offended, while Sophie tried to hold back her laughter, scooting over to sit on Joe's lap.

The guy on the microphone apologized and told some guys to direct the cam onto Joe and Sophie instead. They gave the audience a kiss (A very heated make-out session), Nick watching as well, and pulled back, Sophie blushing so hard, her face glowed redder than a basketball player's red shoes.

***

9:25 AM

After the game, they gathered up their stuff and went back to the car, where Joe dropped Nick off at his NY apartment and drove back. It was about 9:45 by the time Sophie reached her home. Joe parked and they went down to their NY penthouse.

Joe was silent, not talking as he took off his shoes and jacket. Sophie went to the bedroom to change out of her sweaty clothes as Joe bunked in the living room. Surprisingly, no one said a word.

Sophie came out and sat next to Joe, who was flipping through channels, showing zero interest for any of the stand up comedies, which Sophie knew he had always admired.

You see, Joe actually wanted to be a stand up comedian when he was little, definitely was doing some in the basement for his aunts and uncles when he was about 9.

"Everything okay?" Sophie asked, turning to sit on Joe's lap. Joe smiled warmly, digging his head into the crook of Sophie's neck as he breathed in her scent. He was silent for a while.

Then, Sophie piped up, "Listen, I really don't to disappoint you or anything since we've just got together in New York and all, but I- I kind of have to meet up with a few of my... friends for lunch." Sophie paused to look at Joe face before continuing, "I wish I could stay, but I haven't seen my friend in over three years, we've only talked via text and she was my childhood friend. She means so much to me-"

"And I don't mean anything to you?" Joe muttered.

"What?" Sophie turned around, Joe's head leaving her shoulder.

"Nothing," he replied quickly. "Yeah, sure, I understand."

Sophie added, "You don't mind...?"

Joe blew a raspberry, "Please, babe, anything for the best. You go and have some fun, I'll just cook something up- or visit Kevin or something... I dunno."

Sophie beamed and kissed her fiance, "I love you so much I can even say it right now. You're the best." Joe glowed red, "No, you're the best," he implied.

"No, you."

"Naw-ah, that's you."

"Joe, it's you."

"Nope, you."

"It's yooOooOoUuUuuuUUuuUuU It's you," Sophie said in an annoying sing song voice. Joe looked at her, impressed. At first, she thought Joe was going to compliment her, but then he continued, "No, it's you."

Sophie could not stifle her laughter, and so she laughed and blurted out, "If Nick was here, he'd tell us to get a grip of ourselves, you know."

Joe chuckled, "See? Told you the guy's no fun."

"Oh, shut up," Sophie snapped, amused.