The Jonas family is very tight-knit, but no one gets along better than twin brother and sister Joe and Brexley. They've been inseparable for their entire lives, and even during the Jonas Brothers years, when Joe was off touring with Nick and Kevin...
"And...tickets are bought!" Brexley announces from the couch, where she was looking at How to Succeed showtimes for today.
"Let's get going, then. Didn't you say the show was at 2:00?" I ask her, and she nods.
We've been back in New York for two days, and since today is the only day for at least two weeks that one of us isn't busy, we figured it would be fun to go watch Nick in his play. The best part? He has no idea we're coming. Not yet, at least.
"Yeah, we should probably leave now. Are we driving or taking the subway?" Brexley says.
"Taking the subway would probably be easier, so should we just do that?" I suggest.
"Yeah, that's fine. There's not really a ton of parking over by the theatre anyway."
"Right. I forgot it was in Times Square."
Pulling on our coats, since it's still January and freezing in New York, we head downstairs to the lobby and out into the open air. As we pass a snowbank, I grab some snow and chuck it at Brexley.
"Joseph!" she scolds me, and I just grin cheekily back at her. Slowly, a smile spreads over her face as she grabs a chunk of snow and throws it back at me. "You started a war here."
This goes on for a little bit longer until my hands are so cold they hurt, and I have to give up and shove them in my coat pockets to warm up a little.
"Loser," Brexley taunts me jokingly, but I stick my tongue out at her when she does the same thing.
"We're both weak," I laugh, and she shrugs and nods.
A few short minutes later we reach the subway station, and soon we're on a train to Times Square. We have about forty minutes before the performance is supposed to start, so we will be perfect on timing. That's got to be a first.
"Are we going to try and talk to Nick before he goes on?" Brexley asks.
"We could try. I don't know if he'd be able to though," I say.
"I'll text him and ask. Worst he'll do is say he can't," she says, taking out her phone and typing out a quick question. While she does this, I pull out my own phone and check my messages. I'm surprised to see one from Sophie; we haven't spoken since we left Venice Beach.
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"I wish part of Game of Thrones was filmed in New York," I muse after responding. It would be nice to be able to hang out with her and her friends some more.
"What? Did Sophie text, or something?" Brexley says, confused.
"Yeah."
By the time we take our seats inside the theatre, Nick still hasn't responded, so it's a safe assumption he isn't able to visit with anyone. I decide to take a quick snapchat of the playbill and send it to Nick so that after the show he sees it and knows he's got our support.
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Soon after, the lights dim and the theatre rules are listed off. Then, the show begins and Nick appears on stage.
All I can think about as I watch my little brother perform is that he's a natural. He's a natural at our concerts, sure, but he's really a natural performing plays. I haven't seen him on Broadway in so long, and he was so much younger last time he did it, but he looks very at home up there. Like this is where he's meant to be.
"Damn, is he good at this," Brexley whispers in my ear, literally mirroring my own thoughts.
"I know. I totally forgot he was like this," I tell her, and she nods in earnest, turning back to the stage.
Though I'm not one to love Broadway shows usually, I'm hooked on this one. Nick is just such a good actor, and his vocals are literally built for this style of singing. He really knows how to keep the audience engaged, that's for sure, and I know I don't just think that because I'm his brother. He's got everyone in this crowd hanging on every word, every action, every song. It's just how he is.
All too soon, the show is over and we have to exit the theatre. But just as Brexley and I are heading to the stairs, my phone buzzes with a snapchat from Nick. Two seconds later, my sister gets a text from him.
"Oh boy, it's in all caps. He wants us to wait for him so he can come see us now," she says with a slight laugh.
I smirk, opening the snap from him as she speaks.
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He's in disbelief right now, I can tell, and it makes me incredibly happy that we were able to surprise him like this. And then he's running up to us in the lobby, still in full costume but not appearing to care about that detail right now.
"Guys, I didn't know you were coming today! What did you think of the show?" Nick asks.
"Dude, you're amazing at this. Seriously," I tell him, and he beams.
"Nicky, you're such a good performer! You're literally a natural," Brexley tells him.
"You make me proud to be your brother," I say, and he smiles, if possible, even wider.
"Thanks, man," he says, hugging me tightly. "Thanks for coming, guys. I mean it."
"Of course, Nick," Brexley says, and he hugs her too.
"I wish I could talk longer, but I have to get ready for the next show. I'll call you guys later or something though!"
"Sounds good. Break a leg!" Brex says.
"I will. And Joe, good luck at the Letterman show tomorrow! I'll record it so I can watch it after I get home from my performance," Nick says.
"Sweet. Thanks, Nick. Talk to you later, bro," I say, and with that, we head out of the theatre and back to the subway station.
I couldn't live without my siblings. That's the conclusion I've come to after today. And if there's ever a time in my life where I'm expected to, all I know is it's not going to go well for me. That's a fact.
