Chapter Eight: October 18th, 2008, the Meet and Greet.
Neveah flipped her cell-phone open and searched for someone- anyone- on her contact list who might remotely understand the excitement currently coursing through her veins. She had tried to drag a friend along, but everyone seemed to busy with something stupid. Most of them un-creatively used the same excuse, too. They all had said, "No, I can't come! I have my ACT test that day!"
Right, as if they all just happened to have it on the same day.
"Jerry!" She awkwardly exclaimed out loud, causing people in front of her to look back at her. Not bothering to explain, she pushed the [dial] button and hoped he'd pick up. After all, they'd never talked on the phone at this time of day, before. However, it went straight to the answering machine. It was one of those completely impersonal messages that merely states the number called and says that the person trying to be reached is unavailable. "Jerry? Hey, this is Neveah. So, you'll never guess where I am. In line to meet the Jonas Brothers! Yeah, they were having a concert a few hours from where I live, and my parents surprised me with tickets and meet and greet passes as an early birthday present-"
A beep cut her off. Redialing the number she continued talking as if on the same message. "- and of course all my friends stupidly quote couldn't make it end quote. Anyways, so here I am, creepishly alone, passing by the time in line by pretending everyone is bald and wishing I had someone to share my excitement with and so I called you, but
someone isn't at their phone. Who? I'm not really sure! If it wasn't for the fact that you have called me from this number daily for the past few months, well, I would-"
Yet another beep cut her off. So, she redid the dialing process, again. "-not feel comfortable leaving such a long message… such long messages on it! Seriously the automatic message that reiterates the number I just called? You could at least have it say, You have reached,'" She mimicked the automated voice, before changing to a manly one, "Jerry." Neveah went back to her real voice. "Obviously, I know the number I just called-
I just dialed it. However, what if I think I'm calling someone else? The number won't help me, the name would a.lert me to the fact that I'm not calling who I think I am! Oh, I'm getting so close to the front of the line. I better hang up. Talk to you tonight, Jerry."
For the first time in her life, Neveah was thankful that most of the Jonas Brothers' fans were teenies. It allowed her to easily see them way before it was her turn- there were no heads obstructing her view. Not that she forgot the teenies' downside, the constant screeching in her ears were reminders enough. In an indirect relationship, the size of the line in front of her decreased and her heart raced faster. Close enough to occasionally pick up a few of their words, she listened intently, trying to figure out what they might say to her. All at once, there was one person left before her and she realized she had absolutely nothing clever to say. Racking her brain, she wished she'd thought about this while standing in line.
They wouldn't ever remember her if all she said was, Hi, my name is Neveah ! She ran out of time as she was ushered up to Joe.
"Hey, I'm Joe." He flashed her a grin while pushing back strands of his straightened dark-chocolate hair behind an ear. Neveah felt herself melt at the musicality of his voice. After a cough she managed to squeak out a one-syllable greeting of some-sort. Not anything memorable, for sure, because
she couldn't even remember what had sputtered out of her mouth. Joe glanced her down. "I like your dress, that shade of red really compliments you." Even if he hadn't complimented Neveah, his wandering eyes alone made her feel light headed. He was such a flirt. Of course, he had most-likely flirted with every semi-attractive girl that looked older than 15, but all the same Neveah thought about flirting back. However, if her lack of ability to speak was any indicator, flirting was not in her capacity at the moment. Joe leaned down, and wrapped his arms around her in a hug. It was a real hug, not the half-hearted one-armed hug she had come to expect from guys- rather his arms were wrapped so tightly around her that she could feel his purity ring leaving an indentation on her side. If she had been able to breathe before that moment, she would have stopped.
"Hello, I'm Kevin."
Neveah blinked at Kevin's smiling face.
Hadn't she just been clasped between Joe's arms? When had he let go? How had she gotten over here? Had she blacked out or something!?
"I'm Kevin." Kevin repeated himself, quizzically looking at the girl standing in front of him who looked utterly confused. "The eldest brother?" His smile started to falter.
Again! He sighed. "The guitarist?" Kevin was outright grimacing now.
I thought we were passed that whole, "Who are you? I've never seen you before." Phase with the fans! I so wish I could just tell them exactly who is going to be in the next issue of People's Sexiest Men magazine? Me. Me. Me. That's right. I'm sexy, and you are?
"I-I was distracted. Sorry." Neveah blushed. "I know who you are," She laughed.
How could anyone not recognize those gorgeous russet curls, or that handsome face, or that swoon-inducing body? "How could anyone not recognize," Neveah suddenly coughed, realizing just how creepy the rest of her thoughts would sound out loud. "a mad
lead guitarist like you? That spin you do- yeah, it's awesome. I hope you're going to do it tonight." Neveah was quite proud of herself for putting an entire sentence together- all on her own!
Kevin seemed to appreciate it too, as he leaned forward and hugged her quickly. Pulling back he stated with a smile. "You won't be disappointed."
A girl suddenly ran into her side, obviously
suggesting that it was time to move on in the line.
Pushed in front of Nick, all coherency she'd gained back while talking to Kevin was doubly lost.
Switching it up a bit, he leaned to hug her
before saying his name. Embracing her for only a moment, Neveah wondered if she'd be able to stand up when he let go. As he let go of her, she noticed that he smelled absolutely incredible. Trying to ingrain the astonishing sent in her mind, she was vaguely aware of how creepy it was to do so.
"I'm Nick." He introduced himself after a moment of allowing her to remember how to stand upright.
Scrolling through her mind, she tried to remember if she had come up with something clever to say to Nick. If she had, she was not able to remember it now, so she decided to go with her backup plan. Introducing herself. She could manage that at least. "Hi, my name is-" She paused, seemingly searching for the next word of her sentence. Her name, an easy answer, she'd written it on zillions of papers before yet somehow the presence of the guy in front of her was so intoxicating that her name evaded her. "My name is…" She tried again, hoping it would just roll off her tongue. She had no luck. "Uh… my name.. uh.. I'm… uh…"
Nick recognized her stumbling over words as a symptom. Sure, it had happened before- a fan forgot their name while meeting him. In fact it had happened several times earlier that day. Still, Nick found it unbelievable. Since when had
he become such an enthralling "heartthrob"?
"Hi!" The fan in front of Nick gave up trying to remember her name.
Chuckling, Nick returned the greeting. "Thanks so much for coming out and supporting us- you're the reason we're here."
Nick squeezed her hand as Big Rob ushered her away from the table. "Neveah!" Suddenly her name scrambled out of her own mouth. Turning around Neveah saw that Nick was already talking to the next fan in line and couldn't hear her.
TO BE CONTINUED
