Before the Storm (A Jonas Brothers Fanfic)

Chapter 19

Nick

"I don't remember the last time we did this," Ronnie said with a small smile on her face.

"Me neither," I said as I continued strumming my guitar to some of our favorite songs as kids.

Buzz. Buzz.

I stopped and looked around for the source. 

"Here," Ronnie said to me as she passed me my phone.

Joe

"She's killing me, Nick. Slowly. I still love her."

I sighed and showed Ronnie.

"Come back, Joe. You need some rest."

I locked my phone and sighed, putting my guitar down and burying my head into my hands. I began to shake my head.

"I knew this was gonna be hard for him," I said, looking up at Ronnie.

"It's not your fault, Nick. He just needs time," she said, consoling me.

"What if he can't control himself and kisses her?"

She sighed and shrugged. "Then we'll have a lot of explaining to do," she said with a smile.

"Do you think some part of her still loves him?"

"Yes, Nick. I really do."

"On the train today, he said her name in his sleep."

She let out a small smile. "Did he really?"

"Yeah."

She sighed. "That's sweet, I feel so bad for him. I can't even begin to imagine how hard this has been for-"

Click. The door opened and Ronnie and I looked up to see Joe and Aubrey.

"Hey, guys!" I said with a smile as I got up from the floor.

"Jam session?" Joe asked, pointing to the guitar with a smile on his face.

"You know it," Ronnie and I said in unison and I smiled at her.

"Well come on, Nick. Let's leave the ladies to sleep," Joe said to me as he opened our connecting door. "We'll see you ladies tomorrow. Goodnight."

I smiled and followed Joe. "Goodnight, girls," I said as I closed the door behind me.

"Is it closed?" He pointed at the door as soon as we were alone and I nodded. He plopped back on the bed with his hands on his face. "It's like nothing has changed, Nick. She's the same person she was before the accident and I suddenly feel 17 again," he said as he sat up on the edge of his bed.

"Like Zac Efron?" I asked with a grin as I leaned against the wall.

He threw a pillow at me.

"Not the same thing," he responded and I laughed.

-----

"All you can eat breakfast? I like this place," Aubrey said to me and Ronnie as she covered her plate in bacon.

"Yes, now eat something other than bacon," Ronnie said with a laugh. 

"Mmm," Aubrey responded as she took a bite out of a strip of bacon. "Maybe."

Ronnie rolled her eyes and I chuckled.

"Good morning, everybody," Joe said as he got in line and covered his plate in bacon, just like Aubrey.

They were always meant to be, I thought and rolled my eyes.

"Try it, the bacon's to die for," Aubrey said, noticing the amount of bacon Joe got. Joe smiled and took a bite out of one of his pieces.

"Mmm, no kidding, Aub. Good call," he said to her with a grin.

Stop being so obvious, Joe.

Aubrey got some toast and said, "You see, Ron? I do get more than just bacon." Ronnie rolled her eyes and Joe looked confused.

"Why? Bacon is clearly the superior breakfast food, kind of like how I'm the superior Jonas," Joe said with a shrug.

"Since when?" Kevin interrupted before I could say anything. 

"Oh come on, Kev. We all know it's true," He said defensively.

"Whatever you say," Kevin and I said in unison with a laugh.

"Well, hey, let's go sit down and enjoy this bacon. I'm down," Aubrey said and we all agreed. Joe sat next to Aubrey and I sat next to Ronnie.

"Mind if I join?" My little brother, Frankie, asked, dragging a chair next to him.

"Not at all. Come sit, Frank," Joe said with a smile.

"So how was the city, guys?" Frankie asked.

"Cold," Aubrey asked and Joe eyed her. She began laughing and he smiled.

Watching the way he looked at her made me feel the way he did last night. 

It all felt like déjà vu; like I was 13 again.