You Can't Fight Fate

Nick gathered his books and cell phone together to head out of the door. He had a goofy grin on his face as he reread the text he had just received from Stevvie. No matter how upset he got, just a thought of her made his day better.

After the success of Nick Jonas and The Administration, not to mention the success of The Jonas Brothers, a wedding, and five public relationships between his brothers combined, Nick didn’t think his life could get anymore complicated. That is…until his sister in-law announced that she and his brother were expecting. With a new addition to the Jonas clan and a pending engagement, (Joe still hasn’t popped the question), Nick felt it was it was the perfect time to take some time off and experience what most nineteen year olds were, college. So, after getting off they’re second world tour he and his dad took a quick flight to good ol’ Chicago to take another visit to Northwestern University. Within a few hours, Nick was officially a full time Northwestern University Wildcat.

In the two short months he had been living on campus, going to school related events and breathing the college lifestyle, he had really only made four close friends that he could be himself in front of. With Tomi or Storm, a crazy, woman loving, Asian b-boy, (also his roommate), Jackie, Ms. black and proud, something that Nick liked because she wasn’t trying to be anyone else, just freakishly smart, always the peacekeeper Jackie and also Stevvie’s best friend of ten years. Next, there was Eric, the flamboyant, over dramatic, drama king. He was gay, but most didn't believe he was. He and Nick bonded over music.

Then...there was Stevvie, everyone knew her by her mad skills on the piano, her love to debate and her striking blue eyes to contrast her dark hair. People describe her as old school, a bit shy, straightforward and down to earth. She loved old black and white silent movies, the 1920s era and fashion. Stevvie was also perhaps one of the most sought after freshman girls in the entire school. Let’s just say she never had a problem getting a date on a Friday night, even seniors wanted her. As soon as Nick and Stevvie met, they had instant chemistry. They were always together. Nick was falling for her....and quickly.

The only problem was that they weren’t together. Nick was painfully scared to even muster up the courage to ask her out on a date. Yeah, Nick Jonas was too scared to ask out a girl. Any other girl, he would have asked her out the first chance he got, but with Stevvie, it was different. She wasn’t in the business, her parents were never famous, and she could reject a man without a second thought. (he’s seen it happen many times before.)

His brothers thought he was silly for thinking this since Stevvie was a fan. Of course, she would want to date him. However, something in the back of his head told him differently. He had a feeling it wouldn’t be like any other relationship where all he had to do was a little flirting and say a few sweet things to get a girl to fall over him. However, just because he would have to work a little harder than usual, didn’t mean he would give up…after all, Nick was always the competitive Jonas…

---

Bounce! Just bounce…let me see that body bounce!” Storm sang obnoxiously loud in the dormitory laundry room. Jackie rolled her eyes once again before throwing a pair of tube socks at his head.

“Must you sing that old song every time we do laundry?” she asked, irritated.

Storm gave her a shocked look. “Well, what do you expect when you use Bounce dryer sheets?”

Jackie pulled another load of darks out of the old, dusty dryer and threw it on the table in front of the hyperactive Asian, expectant of him to fold it. “Why don’t you use all that energy and do something productive?”

He brushed her off instead and began to do b-boy tricks off the steps leading up to the lobby.

“I swear you are a child!” she yelled at him annoyed.

“Yeah, but he’s our child. Be nice, Stevvie wouldn’t want to come back to a dead Storm,” Nick interjected as he made his way down the steps with a large basket full of laundry.

Jackie shook her head, as she took the white basket from his hands. “Well, you, Stevvie and your “child” need to learn how to tell the time. I said I was doing darks first at twelve, it one o’clock and we’re on whites now.”

Nick put his hands up in defense, feeling slightly guilty and amused. “I uhh, stayed up late last night studying, I’m sure its no big deal if you do one more load of darks?”

He made an innocent face, hoping it would sway his already irritated friend.

She glared at him before sighing in defeat and pulling out a pair of crumpled jeans from the basket.

“You, Mr. are lucky that Stevvie isn’t here. Or else I wouldn’t be doing this,” Jackie told him.

“Aww, poor Nicky has no one to do his laundry cause Stevvie visiting her parents…man, have you ever done laundry in your life? Why do you even do laundry? You could just buy a whole new outfit everyday?” Storm asked.

Nick gave him a bemused look before answering. “Ha-ha, very funny. Stevvie likes doing my laundry for your information. Yes I have done laundry before and why would I buy a new outfit when I have perfectly good clothes right there.”

“Then why doesn’t she do my laundry!?” Storm questioned.

“Maybe because your laundry smells like its been attacked by a skunk that was hit by a stink bomb and lives in the dump?” Eric replied to him as he lifted himself onto the table.
Jackie and Nick let out chuckles at Storm; Eric always seemed to crack them up unintentionally.

“Well, I don’t like to smell like I live in a Bath and Bodyworks!” Storm weakly came back with, “and my smell is au natural, chicks love the smell of a man.”

He lifted up his arms and smelled his underarms.

“It’s funny that I don’t even like girls and yet I get more numbers than you…” Eric pointed out, “and women love the smell of a good smelling man.”

Nick and Jackie burst into to laughter once again at Eric’s comments.

“I thought you said you didn’t like girls? How would you know what they like?” Storm asked defensively.

“I may not be straight but I was at once, and plus why do you think our Stevvie-baby is always all over Nick here…besides the obvious of course.“ Eric looked Nick up and down.

“Dude, I thought we discussed that whole checking me out thing?” Nick reminded him, causing Jackie and Storm to chuckle that time.

“Anyways, speaking of Stevvie, did anyone see what she was wearing today? She almost made me turn straight again, she is so fine,” Eric commented.

“Dude! Don’t even get me started! God, did you see her ass? I about wanted to stop and bow!” Storm agreed.

Nick couldn’t help but smile and agree with his friends’ opinions. Though he was more interested in her personality, he couldn't help but admit that Stevvie wasn't necessarily bad on the eyes.

“Guys, guys, guys, you didn’t smell her, trust me, or when she messed with that piece of my hair in the back of my head?”

The three guys continued to bond over the hotness of their best friend, which was something they did regularly when she wasn’t around, leaving Jackie to have to listen to their guyish banter.

Jackie, finally fed up with them, cleared he throat to get their attention.

“…totally, man, if I ever got t-…”Storm stopped in mid-sentence, distracted by Jackie’s call for attention.

“..Oh yeah…”Nick whispered, remembering that Jackie was there, "Sorry Jackie."

“Sorry Jackie…” Storm continued.

Everyone looked at Eric, expectant of his apology. “I’m not sorry babe, your best friend is hot, you are too, and so is Nick. Storm is….okay.”

“Oh thanks!” Storm replied sarcastically, “Some best friends you guys are.”

“It’s sad how you guys talk about your best friend like that behind her back, “Jackie commented, ignoring Storm.

“If it helps any, Storm talks about you the same way to Nick all the time,” Eric pointed out nonchalantly.

Storm’s eyes widened with embarrassment. “Dude! That was a Nick-Storm conversation!”

Nick held back snickers. He didn’t mean to laugh, but Eric was funny.

“Anyway, you guys should wrap this up so we can have movie night tonight,” Eric insisted.

“But we can’t have movie night without Stevvie, it’s kind of at her apartment,” Jackie pointed out.

Eric’s head shook quickly as he remembered what he came down there in the first place.

“Oh yeah, Stevvie left a note for you Nick,” he stated as he handed a now crumpled piece of notebook paper to him.

Nick slowly opened it, letting the small silver key that was hidden inside slide into his hands. As he read Stevvie’s loopy cursive writing, he began to smile.

“uh oh, I know that face, that’s the ‘I’minlovewithStevvie’ face,” Jackie commented as she quickly took the paper from his hands.

“Hey!”Nick shouted, upset that he didn’t finish that note, it’s the "falling in love with stevvie face", fyi. Give me that back!”

Jackie projected the words written on the note overly sappy and loud so Eric and Storm could here as Nick started a cat and mouse game for it.

"Dear Nicholas,
Since I know you guys will only miss me for my apartment, I left my key to you. There’s a lasagna in the fridge and a chocolate cake on the table. Take care of my place, I know I have nothing to worry about if you’re there. Don’t miss me too much and I promise to do your laundry the moment I get back.
Love, Stevvie.

P.s. Storm, you may not throw a raging party.
P.P.s yes, I would find out.“

“Seriously Jackie?” Nick complained as he gave up chasing her.

“Awwww!” the three college students let out simultaneously.

“Shut up guys,” Nick retorted. He could feel his cheeks burning red. Eric, Jackie, and Storm were the only ones who knew about his feelings for Stevvie besides his family.

“Well, you children can stay, but I’m going to get the hell out of here,” Eric stated dramatically, “the stage awaits me!”

The friends all said goodbye to Eric and finished the laundry. Eventually, all of them had commitments they had to take care of.

----

“Yes daddy…I understand…of course…I love you too.” I rolled my eyes, annoyed with my father once again.

It was his idea in the first place for me to go to NU so I could “keep in touch.” Only, keeping in touch with him was nearly impossible because he was never home.I let out a frustrated sigh and gathered my duffel bag to go back to my apartment. Lincoln, my mom’s little schnauzer let out whine. He missed me since I had moved away. My mother and little brothers were away on a long weekend visiting our grandmother, which meant I was left alone again. Soon, I decided that there was no point in me staying there so I began to gather up my stuff. If I hurried, I could make it in time for movie night.

I had all of my things together and was about to leave our large mansion until a sticky note left on the counter caught my eye. I picked it up and read it slowly....

Quick tour: first three weeks of November. MUST GO!!

I reread the note angrily and crumpled it up. My dad not only ditched me today, but he was planning to ditch me on my birthday, my eighteenth birthday. November eighteenth was my day. I already made it clear that he wasn’t aloud to work that day and he let me down.
I stormed out of the house and revved up the engine of my black on black Mercedes-Benz. Holding back tears, I texted the only person I wanted to see right now.

10/23 7:37pm
To: Nick
From: Stevvie
You, me, my apartment. ASAP.

If you're alone, I'll be your shadow. If you want to cry, I'll be your shoulder. If you want a hug, I'll be your pillow. If you need to be happy, I'll be your smile. But anytime you need a friend, I'll just be me. ~Author Unknown