The Distance Between Us

20. Tennessee

Madison stared out onto the open fields around the airport. Everything looked green and beautiful, and suddenly she felt at home with it’s country vibe. She knew not to get attached, though. Los Angeles would come soon enough. She sighed and turned around, maneuvering around the people who were coming off the plane just as she had. They mumbled things she couldn’t understand and she blushed, looking around for Nick. She wondered if she had gotten lost already.

Nick heaved a sigh and fixed his sunglasses, glancing around to spot Madison. He wasn’t sure if she had gotten of the plane already or not, but Denise motioned him forward, knowing she had. They both stepped off the plane and looked around, both going about their business despite the few camera flashes that seemed to clash in the sun. of course someone would find him. He was Nick Jonas.

Madison settled her eyes on Nick and turned back around, strolling slowly over to the gates. The attendant for first class was retrieving their bags, probably already having them go through security. Madison just wanted out of the crowded space, her eyes darting around frantically. The smell of a bakery nearby caught her interest and she smiled to herself, remembering the small one back home already. The one Uncle George took her to frequently. She scolded herself and bit back tears, settling her eyes on the two Jonas’ that were moving forward swiftly.

“You look a little sick; are you alright dear?” Denise asked lowly, giving Madison a concerned look. She nodded quickly and shrugged, taking a glance on Nick who was too busy looking down at his phone. It was fancy, sleek. Madison never had a cell phone like that. She had barely just gotten one, and already she had lost it back on the farm.

“I’m alright,” she said in a whisper, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. Nick looked up, catching her eye, and offered an encouraging smile.

“You’ll like it her. I think Papa Jonas will remember you, too.”

She thought for a moment, wondering if she had ever remembered meeting Nick’s grandfather. Had she? She couldn’t recall, but, then again, she never really remembered her childhood moments. Unless it involved her crying over something Nick got. Then she deemed herself pathetic.

“Come on. Let’s get out of here,” Denise breathed, setting her hand on Nick’s shoulder. He shoved his phone in his bag and pulled his cap off, deciding he didn’t need it now that they had recognized him. Madison sighed again but pushed forward, pushing back her golden brown curls that seemed a little knotted. Her legs felt like jell-o and she felt sticky under the heat, but she didn’t complain. She never did.

The three walked along in a tight group, moving to pick up their luggage and settle it in the waiting car. Nick’s bodyguard was there to pick them up and Madison thought she did in fact remember him. You couldn’t forget someone so large and intimidating, but his smile looked soft and kind when they approached the large, shiny black SUV.

“Nick, Denise,” he greeted in his deep voice, ushering the two forward carefully as more flashes went off by the gate. Madison stood, silent and small. He took another look at the girl and gave her a smile, holding out his large hand to coax her forward. “You must be Madison. I’m Big Rob.”

She cracked a smile at the name and knew she had seen him, but in later years. Probably the last time Nick had came to visit them a couple years prior. Or in the magazines. Either was possible.

“Hi,” she said quietly, shaking his large, rough hand quickly. He pulled her forward and opened the car door. Nick hurried inside, followed by Madison, and he shut the door tight before opening the passenger door for Denise. She gave a thankful smile and sat down, shutting her door tight while the bodyguard loaded the luggage up. It was silent for a moment, allowing Denise to turn around and smile at Madison.

Denise remembered the last time she had saw Madison. It was so many years ago and she seemed like a girl, but now she thought of Madison as a beautiful young woman. Madison wasn’t quite sure when she had seen Denise, though. She knew that she had liked her and that was all that counted.

“You look so grown own Madison,” Denise smiled kindly, turning her head to get a better look. Madison blushed and offered a shy smile. Denise turned her head to face her son, his face curious when he glanced up at her through his messy curls. “And look at you., looking like a man everyday.”

He sighed and shook his head, knowing his mother would embarrass him, but in the most caring and loving way. He gave her a smile and couldn’t hide the fact that he was blushing just a little.

“I remember George telling me that, when you did get along, you two were almost inseparable. He said you used to play tag around the barn before he tore it down and you’d tackle each other into the hay stacks.” Denise sighed thoughtfully and smiled, trying to picture the way her son looked long ago, playing with Madison happily as a normal child. Now he was famous around the world and growing up. Things changed.

Madison didn’t want to admit that she remembered this, but once it was brought up, she did. She remembered trying to run from Nick and, although she was fast, Nick was faster. He’d be the one tackling her and then he’d laugh when hay got stuck in her frizzy pigtails. She’d always stick her tongue out at him and cross her tiny arms before he finally decided to help her up and out of the mess. Uncle George never yelled at them for playing around. He wanted Madison to be happy and somehow he knew Nick did the job. But that was years ago. Madison refused to think that Nick could ever be her best friend and make her happy. Nick thought otherwise.

Denise turned around once Rob settled in the seat and started up the car, carefully backing out. Madison bounced her leg nervously, her eyes focusing on all the passing surroundings when the car began to roll faster and faster down the street. Soon they were on a freeway and nothing was very interesting.

Welcome to Tennessee. She couldn’t remember if Nick had told her what they were doing here or not. It was more than just visiting his grandfather. She shrugged it off and returned the small smile Nick gave her, twisting in her seat to focus on the passing cars.

[&&]
Madison rolled down the window in the SUV, forgetting that it was operated with a button and not a manual crank, and let the warm wind hit her face. She could see the tall green grass surrounding a distant river as the car turned, the sound of Nick’s phone beeping interrupting her silence. They had been driving for more than ten minutes, off the freeway, onto a back road, and now the car was slowing. Madison turned her attention from the lone horse in the distance and focused on a large old looking house. It wasn’t a neighborhood, there were no neighbors, just the large house on a large property. She wondered what the house held inside to make it so big. She could only imagine. This was a Jonas house, after all. The Jonas’ were never normal.

“Are you staying her too?” Madison managed to ask, leaning forward to direct the question to Denise. She could feel Nick’s hand next to hers as she moved forward, but he didn’t pay attention. He was too busy thinking, chewing on the inside of his cheek as he stared out onto the property.

“Oh, no,” Denise shook her head. “I’ll be here today, but I have to get back to LA tonight. Big Rob will be staying with you two.”

Madison didn’t understand how Denise could always leave Nick alone. That’s what trust was though and, looking over at Nick, Madison knew Nick would never do anything to break that trust. She smiled, but only slightly.

“I already told Papa Jonas you two were coming.”

Nick nodded and shoved his phone back into his bag, Madison’s eyes trailing over his soft, perfect actions. He then pulled off his sunglasses and shoved them in as well, opening the door while glancing at Madison. He could tell she was nervous, maybe uncomfortable. Nick was observant and could usually tell what people were thinking. He didn’t’ know what to say to the fragile girl though. So he offered his small, no teeth smile, and quickly looked away.

Madison sighed and followed him out of the car, looking over to Denise her did the same, gently shutting her door. Big Rob was already moving to the trunk, grabbing bags along with Nick. They were having a light conversation, but Madison didn’t care to listen.

A door squeaked open and a tall figure stepped out, his hair gray, but his smile kind and warm. He let out a laugh and bounded down the stairs, quickly moving to give Denise a hug. She smiled and hugged him back gratefully, laughing when he whispered to her. When she pulled back, she motioned to Nick who stood smiling, stepping away from Big Rob with a few bags, setting them down to give his grandfather a hug.

“Nicholas! You’re so tall and grown from the last time I saw you!” he chuckled, patting Nick’s back while he pulled away. Nick smiled happily, shrugging with a small chuckle. “Passing up Joseph and Kevin?” he grinned, nudging him a little, and then his eye settled on me, his smile even kinder. “You must be Madison.”

Madison had heard that a lot because nobody knew her like they Nick Jonas. No one really had to. She was never in the spotlight at school or in town. Maybe that’s change while being around a superstar. She doubted that. She didn’t’ want it, either.

“Hello,” she said politely, stepping forward a little awkwardly. He hugged her regardless. They were a hugging family, she thought. “George told me so much about you over the years. The last time I saw you, you were a baby.”

Madison didn’t know who else knew her, she didn’t’ know how all these people knew her and her uncle. George was friends with the Jonas’, so Madison was probably known among them. It felt like a slight honor, but they were just people. No matter how good looking some of them were. Madison shrugged it off and smoothed down her shirt, tucking a strand of hair away.

“Why don’t we get you two settled in?”

[&&]

Madison was in awe. The house on the outside was nothing like the inside. The inside had modern finishes stainless still, leather, a recording area. She didn’t understand how Nick’s grandfather could have a recording area in his house, but then she remembered: this was Nick Jonas.

Nick smiled and set his bags down by one of the guest rooms, allowing Madison to follow him into the one that sat next door. It was larger than her old room and decorated so beautifully. Nick’s grandmother liked old things and she decorated the rooms as such. It made Madison feel at home, as much as she didn’t’ want to admit it. And then she found herself thinking about Uncle George. She remembered the day she had seen the house, the day he had taken her away to live him. She didn’t understand what was going on and he never really explained, but Madison knew her mother had a problem. She was grateful for her uncle and she missed him so dearly. She told herself not to cry while Nicks stood next to her, sensing her distress by the way her eyebrows knitted together and her face looked drained.

“Do you like it?” he asked softly, trying to break her train of thought. It worked.

“It’s beautiful here,” she smiled gently, looking around the room again. The twin sized bed held a light yellow quilt and she ached to grab the one out of her bag. The little white dresser seemed a perfect size for her and the closet in the corner with slits on the door allowed her to see the many blank hangers. There was even a little desk in front of the large window that looked out onto the field, and her smile widened when she saw the lone horse again.

“We’ll be here for about a week; I’m cramming songs, but then we’ll be on our way to LA.”

Cramming songs? Was he making an album? By himself? She shrugged it off and decided to ask him later, if she felt like it, and she sighed. She turned to face him and bit her lip, crossing her arms tightly.

“Great,” Madison mumbled dryly, getting a crack of a smile from Nick. He sighed.

“I know you don’t’ like big places, but you’ll get to meet some of our close friends. And Joe and Kevin will be there too. I’ll introduce you to everyone.”

Madison couldn’t imagine herself going to all those fancy Hollywood parties. She couldn’t imagine herself in a stunning red dress with black high heels and her curls done so perfectly with flawless make-up. She couldn’t imagine herself on the red carpet with Nick by her side. Madison knew that, by not imaging those things, it would never happen. She wasn’t Nick’s girlfriend. They were barely even friends, if you wanted to use the term loosely. What would she be doing at a Hollywood party anyway? But she couldn’t help but feel a little excited, knowing she’d be meeting Nick’s famous friends. She, like all teenage girls, seemed to look up to a celebrity.

Nick gave her another soft smile and she groaned to herself. Madison couldn’t help but look up to Nick, though. Even before he was famous. She started to remember little things about him that she knew when they were younger, and she wondered if they were the same; if he was the same old Nick from so long ago. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad, being friends with him. Maybe letting him in wouldn’t be much of a chore rather than a want. Maybe she needed someone like Nick, especially now.

“Yeah. Thanks,” she finally breathed, taking her eyes away from Nick’s bright ones.

He smiled at the girl in front of him and turned around, remembering that he had given her one of his guitars. He wanted to hear her play and sing. But that would come in time. Right now, he had a record to record and then he wanted to show Madison that horse he had seen her staring at. Nick Jonas was determined to befriend Madison Woodrow. He was determined to let her have all the highs of the Hollywood life without anymore lows.

Madison would thank him after they left Tennessee.