Ch 6

This chapter is more in the point of Joe. And also the play, it’s going to be based on “A Cinderella Story.” The movie. :) Plus: I do not own the Cinderella Story Script.

Nick ran his fingers across Demi’s back. It made Demi’s spine tingle, but still she felt no guilt up to this point. He was too powerful for her.

Finally, he pushed her away and they both gasped for air. Demi then realized they were still standing on her porch.

“Why don’t we go inside?” Nick smirked, and then took a step to the door so he could open it.

“Wait.” Demi said; eyes stuck on him. He turned around, confused as she clung back to him so they could kiss again. He responded, aggressively and shut back the door as their lips met for one last time before they would go in.

Joe made a turn at the next light, going the opposite direction, straight back to Demi’s house.

Should I be worried? He thought. I mean she just said that her mom wasn’t home…

Still thinking he drove back into her neighborhood and towards her house. He knew exactly where it was; he practically memorized it. Fourth house on the left. Green garage. He laughed to himself. It was the only house on the block that had a green garage. Everyone else’s had a blue one.

He stepped on the brake and came closer towards the small house and squinted his eyes to see two people standing at the doorstep. He couldn’t really see so he slowly drove towards the house.

He came closer, about 20 feet and saw that it was a couple. And they were…. Kissing. Well, more like making out he thought.

Joe thought for a second and pulled on the brakes. Is this Demi’s house? No, it can’t be. Demi doesn’t have any sisters he thought to himself. He then unbuckled himself and got out of the car. His heart began to pick up it’s pace. Who is that?

He opened the door to his car and slowly got out, making his way towards the house he hoped wasn’t Demi’s.

Finally he got close enough to make out the people. They were certainly about his age. The boy had curly dark hair, almost too recognizable. His arms were wrapped around the girl’s waist tightly while his head covered the girl’s face from being revealed.

Joe stood behind the tree in the neighbor’s yard feeling foolish for sneaking up on this couple.

The girl had straight, brown chocolate hair. Just like… Demi’s.

Joe shook his head and tried to keep the ideas out of his head. “No way.” He mumbled to himself.

Suddenly, the two people let go of each other.

“What was that?” She asked revealing herself. She turned towards Joe’s direction and looked into her neighbors yard.

At that moment, Joe just fell apart. He quickly hid himself behind the huge tree and sat there in silence, tightening his fists.

“Huh?” Nick replied.

“I thought I heard something.” Demi said looking back to Nick.

“It’s nothing. Let’s go inside.” Nick said taking her hand and pulling her into the house. Demi took another glance to where she heard the noise then followed him in.

When Joe finally heard them leave he sat down and closed his eyes tightly. This isn’t real. This is a bad dream. A bad dream. He kept reminding himself that it was just a dream.

How could she? How could she? Joe kept his eyes closed. I thought she loved me. And it was… Nick. Nick Jonas. As in my own brother, Nick. I told her I loved her. And she said she loved me. What did I do? Tell me god, what did I do?

Joe then sat up and realized he was still in someone else’s front yard. He quickly picked himself up and walked over to his car before anyone would find him. He wiped his small tears and sucked in a huge breath.

He sat in his car and wondered if he should go knock on her door and face both of them. He tried to chase away the thought of what they could be doing in her house. No, he thought. I am no going there. …

He forced himself to stop crying and suddenly a whole new emotion came upon him. Nick. He then with all his strength, he slammed his fist against the steering wheel.

HONK!!

Joe forgot about everything and quickly jammed the keys into the slot and reversed the car into full motion. All he wanted to do was to go away, and just get away from everything, especially his brother. He didn’t want to face anything, not Demi, not Jake or Oliver, not his parents and especially Nick who he would know he’d see him come home from her house.

He made his way to his house on full speed, almost going 150 mph. He slowed down and changed his mind. So instead of going to his house, he decided that he would go to the park instead. The park near his house was. The park with the huge bridge. The bridge where there was a 50 feet deep river.

Joe mumbled to himself again, asking what he did wrong. He got out of the Jeep and walked to the bridge and leaned on the brick railings. He glanced at his fist and there were small red bruises. He looked away and into the water.

For a few minutes he thought about what was wrong with him. Then the minutes turned into hours. He then thought about Nick and how if he returned home, he was afraid of what he would do to Nick. But never did he think about Demi. Even though this confusion with her, he never had one thought about leaving her. He loved her too much. They had been dating for about two years and never would he think of leaving her.

Joe looked at his watch and it read 9:00. He hoped his parents wouldn’t be looking for him. He just wanted to stay here and gaze at the water. Then out of a small thought, he looked around to see if anyone was there.

No one. He then took off his sweater and placed it on the floor next to him.

“What am I doing…” Joe mumbled to himself as he climbed up onto the railings and balanced himself on the small narrow, bricks. He stood on the edge and glared at the river, which looked a little colder than it usually did. The waves had gotten rougher.

He then thought for a second. If I do this, what will I get out of it? A dead body. My parents will definitely be worried and sad that they’d raised me wrong to think that this was the way out of anything. And surely two brothers who wouldn’t care and a girlfriend. Just a girlfriend, a girlfriend who I said that I loved. He felt his heart sink to his stomach as he still watched the waves.

He glanced at his purity ring on his finger, then to the sky. What will god think of me?

Joe then looked back down to the freezing water and felt a little dizzy. He swung forward and leaned back to jump off the railing. He quickly jumped backward before he would lose his balance and fall into the water. He thought about how he would kill their parent’s hearts if he committed suicide. I wouldn’t be doing them a favor. They probably already have a lot to deal with already. Joe walked back to his car and decided that’d he’d just go home. He cared for his parents a lot, but his heart still felt like it had been thrown around for nothing.

Joe got home at 10:30 and found his parents sleeping already. He wanted to just sit around and think for a while.

He plopped himself onto the couch and turned the TV on. He looked around and found that his house was quiet ever since Kevin left. He admitted to himself that he did miss him ever since he left for college. And things with Nick, he didn’t care.

After five minutes he realized Nick wasn’t home. He thought about Demi then closed his eyes tightly and felt a lump starting to form at the edge of his throat.

Then all of a sudden the door unlocked and in came a talking Nick on his cell phone. He glanced at Joe in the living room then hung up.

Joe glared at Nick.

Nick smirked. “Hey JJ.” Joe growled at the kid nickname his brother called him.

“Shut up.” Joe uttered in an annoyed tone.

Nick threw his keys on the table. “Aw, Joe. Why are you so grumpy?” he snickered sarcastically.

Joe stared back the TV, not blinking.

Nick chuckled to himself and leaned against the door. “Where’s your pretty, little girlfriend… um, Demi?”

“Don’t ask me.” Joe mumbled so low Nick didn’t hear. He kept his eyes on the TV. Usually Joe always had a comeback but this time, he couldn’t speak.

“So you don’t know where she is? That’s odd. I thought you protected her. I mean right now she could be with some random guy fooling around…” Nick joked.

Joe tried to keep cool. He knew Nick was toying with him.

“Fine, whatever.” Nick mumbled then turned around to go upstairs.

Joe hated his brother right now. He wanted to go jump him and pull out those brown curls, but unfortunately he was too heart broken to do it.

Sunday finally came and Joe remembered that he would have to go to Lily’s house to practice for the play. Stupid play, he thought.

For the rest of the week, Joe had been avoiding Demi. He skipped lunch and stayed in the Drama room the whole day. Anyways, it was just Friday so it was quite easy. He had time to think of what he would do, because dumping her was the last thing on his list, and hurting Nick was the first.

Ding Dong!!

Lily opened the door hoping for Joe and she got it. “Hey Joe! Come on in.” She happily greeted him.

He tried to smile enthusiastically but he just got the awkward smile. “Hey Lily.”

He closed the door behind him and turned to look at her. She was wearing a pretty pink miniskirt and a white t-shirt.

“Wow, Lily. You look… um…” Joe stumbled for the right word then panicked when she waited for an answer. “…Clean! You look very clean.”

She gave him a confused smile then thanked him politely. “So do you want a drink?”

“Um sure.” Joe smiled then hit his forehead when she turned to the kitchen.

“Great house.” Joe complimented.

“Thanks. My mom is an interior designer so I guess it’s her thing.” She said handing him a soda can.

“Well it should be.” He joked then Lily gestured him towards the stairs.

He let her go first to be a gentleman then followed as he tried not to look at her behind. He thought this was a good way to forget about his ‘problems’ for a while.

They both entered her brightly colored room and sat on her bed.

“So Joe. When did you ever think of acting?” Lily questioned.

He took off his jacket and placed it on a wooden chair next to the desk. “I guess I’ve always wanted to but I never had a chance, so I guess this could be my first.”

She smiled. “Oh, that’s cool. It’s my first time to act too. I wanted to try it out so yeah…”

He laughed. “Well it’s perfect because, you’re really good at doing it….” Don’t flirt, don’t flirt he thought to himself. “I mean…. Acting. You’re really good at acting.”

She blushed then turned to the side. “Thanks.” She mumbled.

Joe laughed at the fact that she was nervous in front of him. “So, let’s get started.”

“Yep.” Lily agreed taking out the script.

“So where do you want to start?”

Then Lily smirked curiously. “Right here. On page 56.”

He turned to the page she said and saw that she skipped to the part where the ball or ‘dance’ was taking place. “Um, okay. Shoot.” They both stood up.

“But you’re Jonathan Hale. Football captain, student council president…. And closet poet? You can’t be both people.” Lily sighed staring up to Joe’s eyes.

“I’m not.” Joe said.

“Then who are you?” Lily asked.

“Two weeks ago, I wrote you that I live in a sea full of people pretending to be someone they’re not….”

“But with you, I’m the person I want to be.” Lily finished for him.

After they finished that scene they skipped to the part where she almost reveals who she is. Jokingly, Joe grabbed Lily’s hand and pulled her so he could dance with her.

Lily laughed. “Hey! What are you doing?”

Joe smiled and twirled her around. “Dancing. If we’re going to be Prince Charming and Cinderella, you better learn to dance.”

Lily rolled her eyes then just followed along. “You’re the one who need lessons. Just look at those feet.” She laughed loudly and sat him down on the bed. “C’mon! Continue!”

Joe sighed. “Fine.”

“Do you think you made the right choice of meeting me here tonight?” Joe asked.

“I do.” Lily answered smiling. “And do you Jonathan Hale, ever want to see me again after tonight?”

“I’d have to think about that….”

Lily pretended to pout.

“Absolutely.” Joe mumbled.

They both stared into each other eyes and drifted off the script.

Lily let go of the script and let it drop to the floor as she slowly tilted her body closer to him as he responded by even more slowly leaning towards her.

Lily then closed her eyes as Joe almost pressed his lips against hers. There was no kiss in this scene of the play, but to Lily’s dismay her cell phone started ringing.

She then sighed heavily as she took a step back and sat on the chair, taking out her cell phone. “Hello?” She asked.

“Hey Lily!” Oliver said happily. “What’s up?”

She sighed angrily. “Nothing! WHY are you calling?”

Joe then walked to the other side of the room. What am I doing? There was no kiss in this part of the play. You have a girlfriend and her name is DEMI. He spelled it out to himself then thought back to yesterday.

“No!” He yelled out loud.

“Sorry?” Lily asked him.

“Uh, nothing. Heh, nothing. I just coughed.” He then imitated himself coughing but saying ‘no’ at the same time.

Lily smiled then returned to the phone call.

“What do you want?”

“Who was that?” Oliver asked suspiciously.

“That’s just Joe. We’re practicing for the Play so don’t call again!” She squeaked.

“JOE?! As in Joe JONAS?” Oliver asked reassuringly.

“Mmhm! And you just interrupted!”

“Oh, I’m sorry Lily.” Oliver said lowly.

Lily sighed. “It’s okay, but just don’t call. I’ll text you later, kay?”

“Sure.” Oliver mumbled. “Bye.”

“Bye!” Lily hung up the phone then turned it off and set it on the desk. “So where were we?”

“I don’t know,” Joe laughed. “Let’s just stop practicing. I’m really tired.”

Lily sighed a little disappointed then nodded. “Yeah, me too.”

Joe smiled. “SO who was that?”

“Oh, just Oliver. He wanted to know ‘what’s up’?” She mimicked laughing.

Joe slightly smiled. “Oh.”

Lily grinned and went to sit beside him on the bed again.

A small silence came.

“So, you and Oliver. What’s with you guys?” Joe asked.

“Me and Oliver?” Lily said. “Oh, we’re just really good friends. FRIENDS… yep that’s all we are.” Lily said trying to make sure Joe heard her right.

Joe nodded. “Oh.”

Lily laughed happily at his response.

Joe sighed heavily. “Okay, Lily. I know I’m going to totally break the guy-code but I want to tell you something.”

Lily nodded and sat closer to him. “Um okay what is it?”

“Well you know me and Oliver are buds so…” Joe stopped.

She then put on a confused face as the conversation turned to a direction she didn’t think about.

“Oh god, Oliver is going to kill me.” Joe mumbled to himself.

“Keep going…”

“… Oliver likes you. Like, likes you.” Joe said in one breath.

Lily turned her head to look off to the side. She then quickly turned her gaze back to Joe. She laughed. “Er… um, Oliver…”

“Oliver has liked you ever since you guys met. He has a huge crush on you and it’s been like 17 years. And Lily, that’s a long time.”

Lily kept quiet trying to absorb everything in. “Really?” She mumbled gazing at Joe. She didn’t like kid Oliver, she liked manly Joe.

Joe nodded. “And he doesn’t know how to tell you…”

Lily smiled at him. “Oh Joe. I don’t like Oliver. He’s so young…. He’s so…”

Joe interrupted. “But Lily! Don’t you get it?” Lily kept quiet.

“If he found that out, it’d crush him. And he really really likes you…”

“JOE! Don’t you get it? Oliver is…”

“Lily. I’ve known him for a long time too… I mean, don’t you like him too?” Joe asked.

“Well…” She paused. “I… used to…” She admitted.

Joe smiled. “I knew that you did.”

“But no. I don’t. I don’t like Oliver!” Lily frowned.

“Then what happened?”

“There’s someone else….” Lily sighed staring into Joe’s hazel eyes.

“It feels like you’re breaking up with me.” Joe said jokingly.

Lily laughed. “Haha, you are so hilarious.” She said sarcastically. “But really. There is someone else.”

Joe sighed. “Who?”

“I can’t tell you! It’s personal.” She laughed then put her hand on his arm.

“Aw, come on.” Joe pried.

“Well, he’s closer than you think.” She said then sighed happily as he kept quiet, realizing that Lily liked him.

So what do you think? Please tell me your thoughts! I know Nick was a little mean. I know he’s not like that but it’s just a character… I hope the emotions were good enough to make you feel bad for him. : P I mean I know I do. Review!

And thanks to my awesome readers, especially: xLivexItxUpx and cherrybomb54 who always review. You guys are the reason why I even put up this chapter.

One last thing, someone said this story doesn't belong to 'A Walk To Remember' category, so I was wondering if any of you know a place where I should change it to, just message me. :)