Before the Storm (A Jonas Brothers Fanfic)

Chapter 7

Joe

"You know, Veronica can't seem to mind her own business."

"Oh, yeah? Why's that, Aub?"

"She's just, ugh. She's so obnoxious."

I laughed. "You seem to say that often. What happened?"

"She's trying to convince me to go out with you, Joe."

"What's so bad about that?"

"Starbucks, Joe. The one by our house."

Ronnie sent me that text 20 minutes ago. I've read it about 50 times while sitting in my car waiting for any sign of Aubrey.

I looked down at my phone and began typing,

"She's not here, are you sure she's coming here?" I sighed and hesitated to send it. I looked up one last time, and there she was.

I quickly erased the message and put my phone in my back pocket. I adjusted my baseball cap and sunglasses and jumped out of my car. I had to pretty much refrain myself from running after Aubrey, but I locked my car and walked inside like a civil human being. I looked around and the Starbucks was packed, but I spotted Aubrey in line, so I got in line right behind her. She was typing away on her phone as I felt a buzz in my back pocket.

"Where are you, dude?" From Nick.

"Out. Want Starbucks?"

"You better not be stalking your ex-girlfriend."

I locked my phone and put it back in my pocket. Why do my brothers know me so well?

"Next."

Aubrey walked to the cash register and placed her order. I could watch her talk all day.

"Next."

I walked over to the other cash register and placed my order. When I finished, I walked over to the waiting station, but she wasn't there.

Where is she?

I turned around and bumped right into someone, knocking their phone straight to the floor.

"I'm so sorry, I-"

"Shit," she said under her breath. I looked down and noticed a nice, big crack right on the girl's iPhone.

"I'm sorry," I said as she got up and made eye contact with me.

Found her.

"Aubrey?"

"Yes?" She asked as I took off my sunglasses and looked at her. "Oh, Joe, right. Look, I just need to-"

"Aubrey!" The barista called.

"Grab my coffee and go." She finished.

I sighed. "Let me buy you a new phone, Aub."

"Aub?" She shook her head. "No one has called me that in forever."

Shit.

"Oh, sorry, do you not like that nickname?"

"No, it's fine. And don't worry about the phone. I pretty much just proved to you that I really am a klutz." She shrugged and let out a forced light smile.

"I insist. I wasn't paying attention. Please?"

She sighed and I automatically knew I had won. "Fine. Here," she grabbed a napkin and gave me her number. "We can meet up tomorrow or something. I have someone to-"

"Aubrey, hey," some guy said, coming up to her and giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Who's this?"

I stood there in shock.

Are you kidding me?

"Travis, this is Joe," she said with a smile as fucking Travis put his arm around her.

"Nice to meet you," Travis said.

"You, too," I struggled to say.

---------

"So she has a boyfriend?" Nick asked.

"I guess!"

"Joe, what the hell? Ronnie didn't mention that."

"Maybe Ronnie doesn't know?" Kevin said.

Of course.

"You think they've fucked?" Nick asked.

"I'd much rather not think about that, thank you, Nicholas."

Nick shrugged. "Come on, dude. You just came into her life after two years, and she has no idea who you are. It's not like you can really blame her."

Nick was right. I knew he was.

I quickly unlocked my phone and began a text.

"Tomorrow, Apple Store at the Grove, noon? I owe you a phone."

"Come on, Joe. We've got a soundcheck to do."

Send.