Save the Day

“This bus is amazing!” I exclaimed as I walked into my new ‘home’.

Uncle John chuckled and walked in behind me, “You would think living on this bus is awesome.”

“Yes I would, hence my excitement.” I retorted, a smile still spread across my face.

He just shook his head as he smiled and walked in front of me to give me a ‘tour’ of the twenty yard long bus. There were only four bunks opposed to six like the normal buses, a small bathroom with a shower, a ‘living area’ in the front of the bus with a table and kitchenette. The back ‘room’ of the bus was turned into a portable studio. The space was small and everything was packed together. A drum kit was pushed against the wall, a Casio keyboard leaning against the wall next to it. A few guitars, both electric and acoustic, lined the back wall and a few microphones were set up.

“Obviously, this is a lot smaller than the set up at home.” Uncle John started. “The way we’re going to record this is by layering. So like the voice track goes on top of the guitar track, which goes on top of the base track, etcetera. And that is where you come in.” He said as he turned to me. “Seeing as you are still technically working for me, I’m going to ask you to help record some of the sound tracks. It’ll save some time since you’ll be living here and it won’t put any more pressure on the guys.”

“So you mean I’m going to be on a CD?” I asked, awe struck.

“Your playing will be, yes. Is that a problem?”

“No, no, no,” I said quickly. “That’s amazing. I’ll gladly do it.” The smile on my face grew to a size I didn’t think possible.

Uncle John nodded, “Good. Tomorrow I’ll teach you how to record it and everything. But for right now, we can go back to watch the show if you want.”

“Nah, I think I’ll relax and unpack a little.” I said knowing I can take only a few things out my luggage. Especially since two months of clothes cannot fit on this bus.

“Alright, I’ll leave you to it then. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He said and left my bus. Everything around me became quiet, mostly everyone was inside the venue for the show. I just stood waiting…then it came. Screaming teenage girls.

“Hey, wassup everybody?” I could hear Alyson through the bus walls. The screams grew louder and I ran to the luggage carrier to find something to drown it out.

I grabbed my small personal items bag and my overnight bag with everything I needed for the next few days. I closed the hanger and walked back into the bus, closing the door behind me. That muffled the sound slightly, but not enough. So, I didn’t the only sensible thing – blast my iPod. The soothing beats of The Morning Of’s ‘An Unseen Direction’ drowned out the noise.

A smile spread across my face and I began to ‘unpack’.

A few short minutes later, I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket. “Yellow,” I answered without looking at the caller ID.

“Hey, where are you? And what is that noise?”

“Sorry Nick,” I said, turning down my iPod. “I was trying to drown out the teenies, and I’m in my bus. Aren’t you supposed to be on stage?” I asked placing my shampoo and conditioner by the shower.

“Not yet, I was just wondering why you’re not here. It’s the first show and everything and you haven’t seen anything.”

“It’s like you said: it’s the first show, there will be plenty more that I can watch.”

“But it’s the first one!” Nick argued. “How can you miss the first one?”

“By sitting on my bus,” I answered laughingly. Nick growled. “Did you just growl at me?” I asked perplexed.

“So what if I did? You can’t do anything since you’re being a party pooper and staying in your bus.”

“I am not being a party pooper!”

“Says the person who’s in their bus when they could see a free concert. Right, totally not a party pooper.” He responded, sarcasm dripping from his words.

“Ugh, fine.” I said sighing. “I’m coming, I’m coming.”

“Yes! Point one for Nick J!”

“Pft,” I huffed, rolling my eyes as I grabbed my backstage pass off the table and walked out of my bus. “You’re just lucky that I’m not in the mood for an argument.”

“Uhuh, sure… that’s reason.” He said laughing.

“Shut up Jonas,” I growled. “Where am I going?” I asked, standing in the middle of the parking lot, lost as anything.

“You’re lost aren’t you?”

I sighed, “Just a little bit.” I admitted. “I think I know how to get to the entrance, but I’m completely lost after that.”

“Alright, just wait at the doors. I’ll meet you there.” Nick said before hanging up, not letting me reply. Sighing, I pushed my phone into my pocket and tired to walk to the doors Uncle John and I walked out of twenty minutes ago.

I found it quickly and the doors were open, Nick’s smiling face greeting me as his body leaned casually against the frame. “Fancy meeting you here Nick, but I’m supposed to be meeting some extremely famous musician here. Do you know where he is?”

He smirked, “Is he about my height, shaggy brown hair?”

“Yeah! Did you see him?”

“Oh, yeah. He just left; I guess you’ll have to settle with me.”

“Dammit, fine I guess you’ll do.” I said before both of us burst into laughter.

“You are so strange,” Nick said, letting me inside as the screaming all of a sudden got louder. With the slam of the door, silence enveloped us. Thank God for soundproofing.

“Oh, but it’s one of my many charms.” I argued still laughing as we walked through the maze of hallways.

“This is true.” He said, taking a side glance at me. Our eyes met briefly before I turned away, a slight blush rising to my cheeks.

“So why was it so epically important for me watch today?”

Nick shrugged, “I didn’t want to you miss anything. And the first show is always exciting.”

“Oh, we’ll see about that. I’ve been to some exciting concerts the past few years.”

“Oh, I don’t doubt that. But none of them have been a Jonas Brothers concert; those are a thing all their own.”

I choked on a laugh, “Ego much? You might want to cool it, you’re starting to sound like Joe.” I joked.

“Ha.” He said sarcastically and stuck his tongue out at me. We rounded a corner and Nick opened a door. Joe and Kevin were sitting on a couch, watching a television that was showing the concert and didn’t notice us enter.

“This is how I have to watch it?” I asked, Kevin and Joe jumping at the sound of my voice.

“Not necessarily,” Nick answered. “This is how we can watch it before we go on. You can go to the side of the stage and watch.”

“Yeah, we would too. But if a fan catches a glimpse of one of us backstage, they’ll all start going crazy for us and not really pay attention anymore.” Kevin expanded.

“Right…” I mumbled. “I keep forgetting you’re ‘teenage heartthrobs’.”

“Yep, that’s us. Smooth, cool, and lookin’ good.” Joe said, dusting off his shoulders.

I rolled my eyes and pushed his shoulder, causing him to fall on the floor. “Yeah, smooth my ass.” I said, laughing as I sat down to watch.

“You’re going to stay?” Nick asked sitting next to me. “Don’t you want to go backstage?”

“Yeah, but I’ll go later. It’s no fun watching a concert alone.” Nick nodded and turned our attention towards the television.

Demi was performing her set and it wasn’t completely horrible. It was still pop but it had a bit of rock laced through it so the songs were bearable. She looked amazing in her black and gray dress, high heeled boots, and leather jacket. Demi kicked some serious ass out there. I was impressed, even though I knew zero of her songs.

Then Alyson, Anna Maria, J-Man, and Mdot came out and sand some Camp Rock songs. The crowd went crazy, but I was less than impressed. They performed well, but the songs were clearly Disney cookie-cutter stuff.

After that set was over the brothers stood. “Come on Morgan,” Kevin said to me. “I’ll bring you to where you can watch.”

I saw the disappointed faces on both Nick and Joe before I nodded. “Okay; have a good show guys.” I said, smiling weakly and followed Kevin out. “So, what do you need to talk to me about?”

“What?” Kevin asked incredulously. “What makes you say that?”

“It’s written all over your face and body language. Just spit it out; I know you want to.” I replied.

“Alright, but I have to say this quickly.” He said sighing. “I wasn’t going to tell you until later, but during the live chat, almost every other tweet was about either asking whether or not you and Joe or Nick are dating or saying you should date. I know I told you at the very beginning it was going to be a contest, and I’m sad to say I was right.

“I just want to know if you have feelings for either of them, before it gets uglier than it has to.” Kevin explained.

I sighed and rubbed my face in frustration. “I don’t know Kev. I like all of you guys, and I know that’s not the answer you wanted but that’s all I got. I haven’t really thought about it.”

“It’s not something you really think about Morgan.” Kevin said, mimicking Jenn’s words from a few weeks ago. “Just try and figure it out. If it helps, most of the fans linked you and Nick together.” He said and started to leave.

“Not really!” I yelled after him, realizing I was standing about twelve feet away from the stage, but out of the view of the audience.

As I waited for them to go on, I realized I was alone. “I guess I am watching alone.” I said to myself and sat down on the stage floor. The stage crew was finished, but some poor, but funny, rap song was blasting through the speakers. The entire audience was ‘singing’ along, knowing each word. It was… interesting to say the least.

The song finally came to a close and everything went dark. Showtime.

Hey, this is the life
This is the life
Hey, this is the life
This is the life

The Jonases sang, making the place erupt in enormous, loud, girlish screams. Their arrival to the stage only made the screams louder and from that, I knew it was going to be a long night.

I have to say, they weren’t completely (at all) horrible. The Jonas Brothers were amazing performers. Nick was right, they did know how to put on a show, that’s for sure. And that’s coming from someone who doesn’t know any of their songs.

Kevin shredded the guitar. He was extremely good; he even amazed me. Joe knew how to work the crowd well. But hey, that’s Joe. And Nick, I did not know how much of a true musician he actually was. He played everything, sang impeccably, and stayed on stage while his brothers disappeared for a costume change… twice. I was impressed… more than impressed even (if there’s even such a thing).

I sat on Nick’s side of the stage (when he wasn’t moving), and I couldn’t help but notice how he performed – the movement of his hand up and down the neck of the guitar as he changed notes, the intensity in his voice and on his face as he sang certain songs.

I couldn’t help but feel…

Shit.