Please Don't Cross Me, I Asked Nicely

We reached the lounge in about five minutes' time.

Kevin rushed Joe and Nick to the back, but not before Nick and Joe said their goodbyes. Nick pulled me over to the side, away from Mel and Joe.

“Rose, just listen to the songs, OK?” he asked.

“Huh?” I asked in confusion.

What the hell did he mean? Am I really supposed to decipher what the lyrics of his songs mean?

“Just do it, please”, he begged.

“Um, OK”, I said with uncertainty.

“OK. That's all I can ask for”, he replied.

He hugged me just as he did before. I almost melted, but felt the guilt rush through me.

“Good luck”, I whispered.

“Thanks”, he said before pulling away.

...

Mel and I got front row seats, waiting patiently for the guys to get announced. Sure enough, Mrs. Thorne walked onto the stage wearing her usual business attire, holding a microphone in her left hand.

“OK. Our next performance is by a couple of students who once attended New Preston along with one student who is attending our lovely school. Please welcome to the stage, the Jonas Brothers!”

The audience, including Mel and I, cheered a little as the curtain was pulled back revealing Nick, Joe, and Kevin all set up with mics. A few other bass players and a drummer were also with them in the back ground. Neither Kevin nor Nick had their acoustic guitars, but electric ones.

Joe stood near the front more than Nick or Kevin, speaking into his mic first.

“Hey! What's up New Preston?” he half-yelled.

The crowd cheered.

“My name is Joe and these are my brothers, Kevin”, he pointed to him, whom spoke.

“Hi, I'm Kevin.”

“and my younger brother, whom some of you might know, Nick.”

“Hello, hello”, Nick said in a casual tone with a smile.

“And we are the Jonas Brothers”, Joe concluded.

“The first song we're going to sing is called Feelin' Alive. Hope you guys like it”, Nick said.

The music started and the boys began singing.

Hey!
This is the night, this is the night
Hey!
Feelin' alive, feelin' alive

Joe took over, staring directly at Mel. I smiled. She'd finally noticed him.

My heart goes boom as the stars go blue,
like a sea of cell phone lights.
The moon gets light as the sun goes down,
somewhere behind the Hollywood sign

Then, Nick and Kevin sung together.

Have you ever felt like you're livin' in the shadows?
Have you ever felt kept out?
I know sometimes that it feels like a battle,
but it can turn around

They repeated the chorus, then Joe sung once more.

The kick drum starts as the boulevard,
fills up with all the boys and the girls.
From Jersey town to the L.A. crowd
They hear us all over the world

The crowd was jumping and dancing to the song now. Nick and Kevin sung once more, Nick staring at me again.

Have you ever felt like standin' on a rooftop?
Have you ever wanted to scream?
Everybody dance, burn it up 'till we blast off,
just like a rocket machine
Yeah

They repeated the chorus once more before Joe sung by himself as the song's intensity decreased slowly.

'Cause we're not alone tonight
So raise up your hands and touch the sky
'Cause we're not alone tonight
Ohh whoa ohh whoa

I thought I saw Mel almost faint. I had to suppress my laughter and my urge to aww at them.

Hey!
This is the night, this is the night

Nick sung one word which sent shivers down my spine.

Yeah!

Then, his brothers joined back in the chorus.

Hey!
Feelin' alive, feelin' alive

Nick sung by himself again before his brothers joined in.

Feelin' alive!

Hey!
This is the night, this is the night.

Joe sung by himself for quick minute.

This is the night!

Nick and Kevin joined back in again.

Hey!
Feelin' alive, feelin' alive
Hey!
This is the night, this is the night!
This is the night! (Joe sung this part to his heart's content)
Hey!
I'm feelin' alive, feelin' alive

The music's intensity decreased once more as Nick sung by himself, completely stealing my breath away.

Hey.
This is the night, this is the night.
Hey,
Feelin' alive, feelin' alive

The crowd erupted in cheers as the song ended.

“OK, so was that good?” Kevin asked, jokingly.

The crowd cheered louder.

“So, we're going to change things up a little bit”, Joe continued, grabbing Nick's guitar as Nick went to the piano and began playing a few notes which sounded so beautiful.

“This song is going out to a very special friend of mine. I hope she understands what it means”, Nick said into the mic, not looking at me.

My mouth dropped open.

“Oh my gosh! Rose-”, Mel began in an excited whisper, but stopped seeing me in shock.

I couldn't believe my ears. Nick was going to sing a song for me.

He started the song, keeping his eyes on me and only me.

There's a storm coming up and I gotta prepare myself.
'Cause this feeling's getting stronger everyday.
Something's creeping inside,
everything is about to change.
Gotta face the fact that I can't walk away.

The guitars joined in.

This is critical,
I am feeling helpless.
So hysterical, and this can't be healthy.
I can't eat or sleep
when you're not with me.
Baby, you're the air I breathe.
This is critical, yeah.
So stuck on you.

I felt overwhelmed. Nick... was that fond of me? But why? Why me of all people?

Used to have everything figured out, but it's different now.
When you came, you saw, you conquered my heart.
It's your laugh and your smile;
Wanna stay for a little while.
I don't wanna go,
I just want you in my arms.

I thought back to when he first held me in his arms, then the second time after my heart pain.

This is critical,
I am feeling helpless.
So hysterical, and this can't be healthy.
I can't eat or sleep,
when you're not with me.
Baby, you're the air I breathe.
This is critical, yeah.
So stuck on you.

I felt tears fill my eyes. Nick liked me, but I don't deserve him. Vic wants him. If I don't tell him about that, then... how would our relationship work? Nick sung once more, bringing me out of my thoughts.

Used to run and hide.
Used to back out of love.
But I can't escape this time.
Oh noooooo.

The music's intensity decreased and Nick sung in a low tone.

This is critical,
I am feeling helpless.

But the music intensified again as Nick sung his heart out to me, his brothers joining in occasionally.

So hysterical, and this can't be healthy.
I can't eat or sleep,
when you're not with me.
You're the air I breathe.
This is critical, yeah.
Baby it's so critical, (critical)
it's so critical (so critical), yeah.
I don't like it.
It's so critical, (critical)
it's so critical, yeah
So stuck on you.

The song ended and everyone cheered once more.

“I can't do it, Mel”, I said to her.

“What? Why not? He's like, in love with you”, she countered.

“What about Vic? I don't want her to-”, I began, but she cut across me.

“Then just tell him!” she exclaimed.

I bit my lip.. It was the right thing to do.

“OK”, I agreed, “but after they're done, OK?”

Mel squealed and hugged me. I hugged back. I was... proud of myself. I knew what I had to do. Nick changed from the piano, back to the guitar.

“This last song is called Inseparable”, Kevin announced.

He and Nick started playing the guitars. Joe sung first.

Take my hand tonight
We can run so far,
We can change the world to anything you want

Nick sung next.

We can talk for hours just staring at the stars,
They shine down to show us.

Then, all three brothers sung at the same time.

That you know when the sun forgets to shine,
I'll be there to hold you through the night.
And we'll be running so fast we can fly tonight.
And even when we're miles and miles apart,
You're still holding all of my heart,
I promise it will never be dark.
I know..we're inseparable

Nick started off this time with Kevin joining in as backup.

We could run forever if you want to
And I would not get tired
Because I'd be with you
I'll keep singin' this song until the very end
We have done all these things

The chorus repeated once more.

You know when the sun forgets to shine
I'll be there to hold you through the night
We'll be runnin' so fast we can fly tonight
And even when we're miles and miles apart
You'll still be holdin' all of my heart
I promise it will never be dark
I know..we're inseparable

Joe started off with Nick coming in at certain parts.

I would give it up (Joe looked at Mel as he sung his part)
To never let you fall
Cause you know we're inseparable (Nick sung this part)
I would give it all (Joe sung this part as well)
Just to show you I'm in love (Nick looked at me for a quick second before looking back at the crowd)
Yea you know we're inseparable

A quick guitar solo played before the music changed slightly, then the boys started singing again.

You know when the sun forgets to shine,
I'll be there to hold you through the night,
We'll be runnin' so fast we can fly tonight.
And even when we're miles and miles apart,
You're still holdin' all of my heart.
I promise it will never be dark,
I know, we're inseparable

Kevin and Nick rocked out on the guitars before the song ended.

The whole room cheered and some people even screamed, while others whistled.

“Thank you, New Preston!” Nick yelled into the mic.

He, Joe, and Kevin bowed, then walked back stage.