One Day At A Time
Nick sat between Joe and Kevin in the back seat of the large SUV, his parents and Frankie were sat in front of them. All Nick could concentrate on was the way Joe's leg was trapped against his, the way Joe was leaning against him. It was too much to bare and he was glad when he felt his mobile phone vibrate on his leg, Joe must have felt it too because he looked down and smiled as Nick fished it from his pocket. He smiled; Dougie calling. “Hey,” Nick answered cheerily. “Everything is good.” Nick said answering his friends question. “We're in the car just driving to the venue...yeah...thank you, I mean for yesterday I was...okay...I'll call you before we go on stage then...bye Dougie.” Nick ended the call he felt much better after hearing his best friend's voice.
“Dougie okay?” Denise asked. Nick hadn't told his parents or his brothers about Dougie being gay. His parents were extremely religious and it had rubbed off on his brothers too and he was scared that they wouldn't be as accepting.
“Yeah he just phoned to wish us all luck.” Nick smiled, also to make sure I hadn't been fantasising about my brother he thought.
“Such a sweet boy.” His dad commented.
“So what did you two do yesterday?” Kevin asked curiously. Nick had been in a bad mood all day, and then went to Dougie's and was asleep before Kevin had a chance to ask him if he was okay, but he had woke up in the morning and Kevin didn't need to ask if he was okay because he was smiling and laughing. Nick blushed; he couldn't exactly say he had practically begged for his best friend to kiss him, nor could he admit what they had spoken about.
“Played video games.” Nick lied convincingly to his brothers and parents.
“When is he coming to see you?” His mum asked. Dougie came to at least three shows when they were on tour and crashed with them in hotel rooms and on the big tour bus.
“A couple of weeks. His mum wants him to finish the term at school.” Nick replied. His dad and mum nodded and didn't say anything and Nick went back to staring at his converses.
Once they arrived at the venue the excitement of the tour kicked in for them all, and Nick couldn't help but smile at the fact that Dougie was right. He was so focused on how the lights looked, if the sound was good enough, or if they all knew the songs to heart - which obviously they did, he hadn't even thought about Joe all day, well... most of the day.
“Mr President.” Joe laughed as he jumped around on the stage.
“'Sup Danger?” Nick laughed sitting on the side of the stage, his acoustic guitar in his arms.
“You okay?” Joe asked jumping down so he was sat right next to him. “You're quiet.” Nick frowned. Maybe he had been focussing too hard on not thinking about Joe that he had pretended as though Joe wasn't there at all. It had been easier than goofing around with his brother.
“Yeah sorry... just excited you know.” Nick smiled.
“You sure? I mean usually when you're excited about a show you're jumping around like you've had one too many cans of diet coke.” Joe laughed.
“Yeah I'm sure Joey.” Nick smiled. Joe wasn't exactly convinced but he smiled none the less and patted his brother on the shoulder and stood up wondering over to Kevin.
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The day seemed to fly bye and they were sat in the backstage area messing around. Joe had started a fruit fight and was currently flicking grapes at Kevin who was trying to talk to his girlfriend on the phone. “Babe, I'll phone you back later... love you.” Kevin made a little kissing sound that had everyone in the room laughing and ended the call. “You're dead!” Kevin grinned evilly; he picked up his own weapon - a banana and flung it at his brothers head.
“Not the hair!” Joe had screamed. Nick just watched with a smile as his brothers enjoyed the moment, it was as though they were just brothers and not famous rock stars. Nick wanted to join in, he'd love to throw an orange at Joe's head, or a peach at Kevin but he felt restricted. He didn't think he could join in, not when he was thinking about Joe like that.
“Mum, I'm going to go phone Dougie outside okay.” Nick sighed when the thoughts were getting too much. His mum nodded and he walked out of the room quickly.
Nick headed towards the back door. He sat on one of the walls letting the cold air distract him as he dialled the familiar number. He sighed when the phone went straight to the answering machine. Not wanting to leave a message, Nick decided he'd take a walk around the block - clear his head.
The streets were pretty empty and Nick found himself almost wishing for there to be hundreds of fans around, at least then when he would be taking photos and signing stuff he wouldn't be thinking about screwing his brother. He shook his head, not focussing on where he was going he bumped into someone.
“Dude, I'm so sorry...” The boy said as he moved away a little, he looked up and smiled. The boy who had bumped into Nick was in Nick's eyes...hot. He had jet black hair that was spiked at the back but straightened over his eyes.
“Don't worry about it. It was my fault I should learn to look,” Nick smiled. The boy smiled back, and Nick found himself falling in love with that smile.
“You're Nick right?” The boy smiled chewing his lip nervously.
“Yeah,” Nick smiled.
“My little sister loves your band,” He smiled. “Would you mind signing something for her?” He asked. “I think I'd win brother of the year points.”
“Sure.” Nick grinned. The boy patted his pockets looking for something that he could get the boy to write on but came up with nothing. Noticing Nick smiled. “Has she got a phone or something?” He asked. The boy nodded. “I could call her and say hey if you want?”
“Would you?” The boy beamed.
“Yeah.” Nick said, he wanted to make the boy happy and he had no idea why. Maybe because he looked a little like Joe... or maybe because he felt like being extra nice... no it was because the boy looked like Joe, especially when he smiled. “What's your name?” Nick asked curiously.
“Gareth,” The boy answered as he dialled. “Ali...hey...I've got a surprise for you...here...” He handed the phone over to Nick, their fingers brushing a little as he did.
“Hey... Nick Jonas here.” Nick grinned, he knew all he would be able to hear for a while was the high pitched scream in his ears.
Nick spoke to Ali for about ten minutes, she was seven and asked a lot of questions but every time he answered one Gareth would smile warmly at him. That smile made his stomach twist slightly. But then Gareth had taken the phone back and told his sister he would be home later and ended the call. “Thank you. Saves me buying her a Christmas present this year.” He laughed.
“No worries,” Nick smiled.
“So... what are you doing around here?” Gareth asked, and even though they had started off walking in the opposite direction to each other, Nick was walking back in the direction he came, Gareth by his side.
“On tour, first show tonight.” Nick explained.
“Cool, must be fun.” Gareth smiled. “Good luck tonight.” Nick didn't want to leave, he wanted to stay and talk to Gareth for a little while longer, he was cute and he didn't make him think of Joe.
“Thanks, so what are you doing now?” Nick asked.
“Nothing, avoiding school work.” Gareth laughed. “Why?”
“Fancy doing something?” Nick asked hoping he hadn't pushed anything too soon.
“Sure.” Gareth beamed.
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Joe and Kevin had been screamed at by their dad when he walked in, Joe had a crushed piece of banana in his hair, and Kevin had grape juice all down his front. They had been told to change and to stop acting like children, after all they should be setting an example for Nick and Frankie.
“Where's Nick?” Joe asked.
“Erm...?” Kevin frowned and looked up at his mum who shook her head.
“He went to phone Dougie about half an hour ago.” His mum sighed. “You should have been paying more attention to him.” Kevin and Joe exchanged guilty looks.
“Is everything okay with him?” Kevin asked.
“Why do you ask?” His mum frowned. Kevin didn't really want to put his nose in now, or say something that would cause his family to worry. But he was worried, and he wanted to make sure his little brother was okay. The last time he had been worried about Nick he had been diagnosed with diabetes and he wondered maybe if that had something to do with it.
“Well yesterday he was in a really bad mood.” Kevin said.
“Yeah he was mean to me.” Frankie piped up.
“And he's been really quiet today.” Joe added. All three comments from the boys made their parents frown.
“And he should be back by now.” Kevin said. “If he's on the phone to Dougie I mean... he hardly talks on the phone their conversations are usually only ten minutes long.”
“I'll phone him see where he is.” His father said and the boys nodded, their mum seemed pleased at this idea. Their dad phoned Nick and all listened as he spoke to him... “Nicholas where are you?...okay well could you come back it's getting late and the fans will be arriving soon...okay see you in five...bye son.”
“Where is he?” Joe asked.
“At the local park, on his way back now.” His dad answered.
“Did he sound okay?” Kevin asked.
“He sounded annoyed that I had disturbed him.” Their dad laughed.
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“Thanks for spending time with me,” Gareth smiled.
“It's been fun.” Nick replied. “I sort of don't want to say goodbye.”
“Same.” Gareth said. They had walked together to the local park and sat on one of the empty benches just talking to each other about everything. Nick couldn't remember a time when he had such a good conversation with someone that he didn't know. But then Nick's dad had phoned asking him for him to go back to the venue and he really wished he hadn't.
“So...erm... can I have your number?” Nick asked nervously. Gareth nodded and smiled, they exchanged numbers with each other. Nick looked at Gareth and smiled when the boy was looking straight at him. Feeling a little nervous but excited at the same time, Nick moved in and kissed Gareth. At first the other boy froze, but then he kissed him back. They kissed for a few minutes but then Nick pulled away.
“I'm sorry,” Nick mumbled.
“Don't be.” Gareth smiled and took his hand in his. “I wont tell anyone.” He promised.
“Thanks.” Nick smiled.
“I'll walk you back,” Gareth said and they stood and walked hand in hand down the streets, when they approached the venue Nick let go of Gareth's hand. “I know we don't know each other, but I had a lot of fun today.”
“Me too.” Nick blushed.
“So... phone me?” Gareth asked.
“Yeah.” they hugged quickly but tightly and then Nick headed back inside and Gareth wondered home.
-x-
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“Where have you been?” Was the first question asked when Nick walked in the backstage area, he had failed to wipe the smile off his face.
“The park.” Nick shrugged. “It was a little loud outside so I headed to the park to phone Dougie.”
“He okay?” His mum asked.
“He didn't answer.” Nick shrugged.
“So why didn't you come straight back?” His dad frowned.
“I started to talk to someone, lost track of time I guess.” Nick shrugged.
“Who is she?” Joe asked jumping up and down excitedly.
“She?” Nick asked confused.
“The girl you met.” Joe laughed. “Was she hot?” Nick sighed, he was hot yes.
“I wasn't talking to a girl.” Nick said.
“You weren't?” Their dad asked. His son had sounded extremely annoyed that he had disturbed a conversation.
“Nope, this guy Gareth.” Nick shrugged. His parents looked at each other as did Joe and Kevin. Nick just sat on the sofa and thought of Gareth and how soft his lips were.