What This Could Be | A Joe Jonas Fanfic | Book One

Chapter 13: Two Cups of Ice Chips

*Taylor's POV*

"Hey, Pretty," I closed Liv's hospital door slowly, hearing it clasp shut, "I came as fast as I could."

"You didn't have to," the inner part of her eyebrows raised up with guilt, "I didn't call you to ditch your weekend getaway with your murderer."

"Well this murderer is waiting outside the door," I informed her, "If you're up for meeting new people that is. He's super sweet, I promise."

She grasped both of my hands, "Do you not know me by now? Meeting new people is my drug no matter where I am. It's not like I have anyone to impress. Plus, I need to know you'll be safe without me."

With a look of anguish, I squeezed her hands, "Don't talk like that, okay? You're gonna live a long life, fall in love, have a double wedding with me, and our kids are going to be best friends."

"Tay," we both were on the verge of tears, knowing that plan wasn't going to be a possibility.

I knew she accepted death when it was time, but I simply couldn't. I had to keep the hope for the both of us, even if it sounded delusional or irrational.

"Bring in the murderer," she wiped the lone tear off my face that I couldn't keep inside, "I'll be the judge if he deserves you."

I nodded, trying my hardest not to break down in front of her. Opening the door, I motioned for Joe to come inside.

"Um," Liv blinked rapidly, her eyes wide open at the sight of Joe now standing at her bedside, "You forgot to tell me it was with a Jonas Brother."

"I didn't think that part was important," I murmured.

"Hey, Liv," Joe put his hand out with a sympathetic, yet kind smile, "I'm Joe. I wish we were meeting under different circumstances. Taylor's told me a little bit of what you've been going through. I'm so sorry."

In good ole fashioned Liv style, she opened her arms wide, "I'm more of a hugger. Don't worry, I don't always bite."

He accepted a big hug from her, although he seemed to be more careful like she was a fragile glass doll that would shatter with the slightest of touch.

"You know it doesn't hurt to touch me, right?" she commented, noticing Joe's delicate embrace as well.

"Sorry," he rubbed the back of his neck flustered.

"C'mon," she pointed to the unused chair in the corner, "Pull on up before Tay makes this a pity party on us."

Joe grabbed the chair and placed it next to Liv's bed, but gestured for me to take the seat while he stood next to me.

"No, no," I waved my hand, "I'm okay. It's all yours. Liv can share her bed with me."

"Excuse me, but when did I say that?" she sassed, "I'm so sorry for her lack of manners, Joe. It's my bad I didn't teach her to always take an offer from a handsome gentleman."

I closed my eyes in embarrassment, biting my lower lip, before slowly taking a seat in the chair he pulled up, "Thank you."

"So where did you and Taylor meet?" Joe asked Liv, causing a panic inside me.

I shot her a frantic look, responding for her before she was able to herself, "A bookstore. We were browsing in the same aisle, and I asked for a good recommendation." I knew just by her stare that we were reading each other's minds. The one thing about Liv was that she was always very aware, especially of being observant on other's thoughts and emotions.

"That was my mistake of actually giving her one, because after that, she hasn't stopped bothering me since," she played along, giving me a wink.

"Is that what I need to watch out for now?" Joe humored us, "Because I'd be honored to be bothered by her."

"Don't get ahead of yourself, pretty boy," she playfully scoffed, "You may have a voice of an angel, amazing hair and be extremely charismatic, but that doesn't mean you can get away with having me pick up pieces of her broken heart on my death bed."

He somewhat tilted his head to the side, undeniably taken aback, "I have no plans to break her heart. If anything, it'd be the opposite."

"You've only known each other for a few days," she checked us back into reality, "I'm sure you took her on an amazing trip that she really deserves, which I do want to hear all about it, by the way, but don't forget that neither one of you knows what'll happen."

"You're right," he breathed out, "but I also know how I feel when I'm around her."

"And what about when you're not?" she counteracted, "You're a musician. You travel the world. You have girls constantly falling at your feet. How do you know you'll still feel the same then?"

She was right. I've never been in a serious relationship before, let alone a long distance one at that.

"I don't," he admittedly answered, "I don't have that answer until I leave for tour next month, but I'm not here playing games if that's what you're insinuating."

"Okay," she ultimately replied, "I'll accept this answer under one condition."

"What's that?"

She handed him an empty Styrofoam cup, "Can you ask the nurse at the desk for more ice chips?"

With the corner of his lips forming upwards, he took the cup out of her hand, "Of course. Tay, you want anything too? I can see what's at the cafeteria or the vending machines."

"Can I have a cup of ice chips too?" I looked at him with puppy eyes, "Thank you."

Once Joe walked out the door, closing it behind him, Liv took this as an opportunity to ask me one simple question she already intuitively knew the answer to, "You didn't tell him, did you?"

I shook my head, feeling shame for continuing a lie that I didn't know how long I'd be able to keep up with, "No."