Whatever You Say [Nick Jonas]

Chapter 1: Sweatshirt Fights and Fevers

"Ariana, give me back my sweatshirt." My boyfriend, Kyle, warned. I grinned mischievously before darting from my living room and into my kitchen.

"I'm serious!" I heard him call as he jumped up and began to chase me. I laughed out loud as I slid across the hardwood floor in my socks and took the stairs two at a time.

"Ariana! No running." My mom yelled from her office on the first floor. I barely acknowledged her as I ran into my room and slammed the door shut.

"You can have any other sweatshirt, just not that one." He reasoned through my shut door.

You see, the problem here is that this is his newest and softest sweatshirt. He got it last week from his college football team and I wanted it. Bad.

"You have like 43 other sweatshirts." I complained.

"I need to wear it. Solidarity. Team spirit. All those important things." He said.

My face twisted into a pout as I opened the door.

"Oh stop it. Not the puppy dog eyes, that's so unfair babe." He laughed, taking the sweatshirt and kissing my lips.

I followed him back downstairs and crossed my legs under me as I took a seat next to him on the couch.

"You get the sweatshirt, I pick the movie." I grinned, snatching the remote from his hands before he had the chance to realize my compromise.

"Anything but Nicholas Sparks." He said.

"That reminds me, I haven't seen Best of Me yet." I grinned, scrolling through the On Demand menu.

"If we're watching Best of Me I'm leaving." Kyle said, standing up and feeling his pocket for his keys.

I rolled my eyes and chose Blended, the new Adam Sandler movies. Sometimes I wish I had a boyfriend who would let me watch whatever I want, just because it makes me happy. But I love Kyle and if that means compromising on a movie, then that's what I will do.

"Thanks baby." He leans down to kiss my head before jumping on the couch next to me.

Before we got past the first fifteen minutes, my house phone rang.

"I got it!" I called, walking into the kitchen. The caller ID said our neighbor's name and number, and I picked up.

"Hello?"

"Ariana? It's Mrs. Henrickson. Mikey has a bad fever and Mr. Henrickson and I have to bring him to the emergency room. I hate to ask this on such short notice, but can you come watch Lilly and Sean?" She asked.

The Henrickson's have three children: Mikey who is six, Lilly who is three, and Sean who is a year old.

"Of course! But Kyle is over, do you mind if he comes?" I asked.

"Not a problem at all." She said. I wasn't surprised. Kyle was the star quarterback and all-american good guy in our town and everyone loved him.

"Okay I am pulling on my sneakers and will be right over." I promised before hanging up.

I stopped by my mother's office before heading back to the living room.

"We need to go to the Henrickson's." I said, shutting the television off.

"Is everything okay?" Kyle asked, standing up.

"I think so. Mikey has a bad fever, so they're going to the hospital. They want us to watch the other two." I explained, leading him out the front door.

"Will they be awake?" He asked. Kyle wasn't totally comfortable with kids yet, and it was something that didn't sit well with me. I loved kids and the thought of being a mom one day made me so happy. I just hoped I would be a happy mom watching my husband coach little league, and I wasn't sure that was in Kyle's plans.

I walked up to the front door and knocked twice before it opened.

"Thank you so much." Mrs. Henrickson said with a relieved smile. Much to Kyle's dismay, I could see Lilly bouncing on the couch in the living room.

"The commotion woke Lilly up, but I am sure she will be back asleep soon." She explained, following my gaze to her rambunctious toddler.

"Its totally fine." I reassured her, stepping into the house.

"ARIANA!" Lilly cried, running and leaping into my arms. Clearly, Lilly was enjoying that her brother's sudden fever meant late night shenanigans for her.

"Hi Kyle." She said shyly, her face buried in my neck. I walked into the living room with her in my arms and took a seat on the couch.

"Bye Ariana." Mikey said sadly, walking out to the car with his parents.

"Feel better buddy, I will come play soon." I promised, although I doubt that made him feel any better at the moment.

I grabbed the remote and put on Sophia the First for Lilly and went to go check on Sean. He was sleeping in his crib with a fist in his mouth and I chuckled. One of my close friends, Danielle, had a one year old and I loved playing with Alena whenever I saw her. Danielle's parents are very close with my own, so we get along even though she is six years older than me.

When I made my way back downstairs, Lilly was pouting on the couch.

"What's wrong?" I asked, rubbing a hand over her head.

"Kyle won't play with me." She said. I gave Kyle a look over the couch that I hope said "Really?" loud and clear.

"Well it isn't playtime." I reminded her, picking her up and putting her on my lap.

Soon enough, she fell asleep. I adjusted my arms so I was more comfortable before handing Kyle the clicker.

"You're annoyed." He said, focusing on the television.

"Well Ky, she's three. And I'm sure you weren't too nice when you told her you wouldn't play." I said, rolling my eyes.

"Its nine o'clock! Its not playtime - you said it yourself. Plus, I was under the impression it was just you and I tonight." He argued.

I decided to drop it. I knew I could argue with him about this for another hour, at least.

An hour and a half of silence later, Kyle sighed and handed me the remote.

"I should head out. I need to go back to school tomorrow." He said, leaning down to kiss me.

Kyle lived at his school, while I commuted to mine. I lived close enough that it was an easy commute, and I was never one who was overly excited to live at school. I tried it my first year but decided I had the experience and would live at home the next four.

I would be lying if I didn't say I had my doubts about Kyle living at school, but I needed to trust him.

And I did, I think.