I am kind of excited about the ideas I have for this fic so... yeah...
And comments.... make me uber happy!
..one..
“You can’t just write a number where ever you want” Natalie said leaning forward and erasing the number that Joe just wrote on the Sudoku board that they were filling out together.
“But I think that the four goes there” Joe replied as he attempted to rewrite the erased number from where Natalie just erased it. Every time they were on the bus for a prolonged period of time, Natalie would dig out her book of Sudoku and her and Joe would sit in the back lounge and do a puzzle.
“There is already a four in that column” Natalie said pointing to the preprinted number four printed two boxes below the space that Joe swore the four went. “And there is already a four in that row too.” Every time they worked the puzzle, Joe always insisted that the best strategy was to ‘go with your gut’ and just write numbers in the boxes and then check your answers.
“What about a five?” Joe asked causing Natalie to giggle.
The Jonas bus was traveling somewhere across the middle of the United States. It was a day where they were trapped on the bus practically all day; they left the hotel in the morning and were scheduled to get to the hotel in the next city late that evening.
“You know what?” Natalie asked, almost in disbelief. “I think the five does go there. Good job Joe!”
“Thanks Nat” Joe said excitedly. Joe began jumping up and down excitedly around the back lounge of the bus. Joe’s correct guesses are far and few between, and each time results in the same dance around the lounge.
After Joe’s victory lap around the confined space he hopped up on the couch, in true Tom Cruise fashion. A few bounces later, Joe got down off of the couch and started walking towards the front of the bus.
“Where are you going Joe?” Natalie asked. “We aren’t done with this one yet.”
“I’m hungry” Joe stated as he continued to walk away.
“But we just ate lunch a few hours ago” Natalie said shaking her head. It was not uncommon for Joe to claim that he was starving, shortly after consuming a giant meal. “I wish I had metabolism like you.”
“Maybe if you ran around, with giant heat lamps aimed at you, for two hours every night, you could get a body like mine” Joe said before taking a dramatic bite of the red delicious apple that he found in the kitchen.
“Or, a body like mine” Nick said walking behind Joe towards the couch that Natalie was sitting on. “We all know that the girls go crazy for my bulging biceps.”
“Yeah, well they go even crazier over these rock hard babies” Joe said while patting his defined stomach.
“Natalie, I guess you have to be the ref here” Nick sighed shaking his head. “Whose body is the best? And remember, show no favoritism to your best friend. The one of us who has known you the longest. The one of us who stepped on that spider for you the other day, thus, saving your life. Keep all of that out of your decision making process.”
“That’s not fair” Joe shouted. “That is totally swaying her vote, you can’t say all of that. Actually, you know what, fine. Don’t let it influence your vote that one of us carried you on our back the other day because you didn’t want to get your shoes wet, walking through those puddles. And don’t remember that the same person plays Sudoku with you whenever you are bored on the bus.”
“You both have very nice muscles” Natalie replied hoping that they would accept her answer. She had learned over the years, that when Jonas boys have a disagreement, it is best to avoid getting caught in the middle.
“That’s not what we asked” Nick and Joe said in unison.
“Love you” Natalie shouted over her shoulder as she sprinted out of the back lounge and towards the front area, hoping to find safety away from Joe and Nick, who she knew would be hot on her heels.
“MJ, help me” Natalie pleaded as she squeezed herself between Kevin and Mrs. Jonas on the couch. “They are going to kill me.”
“You have to answer” Joe said as he walked towards the front of the bus. Nick and Joe stood in front of Natalie and Joe began to tap his foot, urging her to answer quickly. “We won’t get mad, just answer.”
“What do they want you to answer?” Kevin asks, looking up from his BlackBerry for a minute. “What did you get yourself involved with this time?”
“Whose muscles are better” Natalie answered, biting her cheek to keep from laughing and Nick and Joe’s immaturity. “It is between Nick’s ‘bulging’ biceps and Joe’s ‘rock hard’ abs.”
“What about me?” Kevin asked, wondering why he was not included in the muscles contest. “I have some nice muscles too.”
“Not you too Kev” Natalie sighed. “You boys drive me crazy, you know that?”
“Do I drive you crazy?” Frankie asked as he emerged from his bunk. He had been quietly watching a movie in his bed.
“No you don’t Frankie” Natalie replied as Frankie climbed and sat on her lap. “In fact, I think I like you the best. And you know what? I think you have the best muscles in the Jonas family.”
“Seriously?” Joe whined. “That’s not fair. The contest is between me and Nick…well I guess and Kevin too.”
“Nope” Natalie said quickly. “You asked me who had the best muscles and I made my decision. Franklin Nathanial Jonas is the winner.”
“Woo Hoo!” Frankie exclaimed. He jumped off of Natalie’s lap and stood in front of his family. He pushed the sleeves of his shirt up to the top of his shoulders and flexed the muscles in his arm. He quickly kissed the top of each of his arms and then smiled gleefully at his ‘audience.’
The entire front of the bus erupted in laughter. Frankie revealed that Joe taught that to him, which caused everyone to laugh even harder.
“You Jonas boys are something else” Natalie said once the laughter died down. “MJ, you raised some pretty spectacular boys. And they all have nice muscles.”
Once everyone stopped laughing, Frankie asked, “Nat, why do you call my mom MJ?”
“That’s an easy one Frank” Natalie answered. “Your mom and dad are my momma and papa Jonas. But that’s too much work. MJ and PJ are so much easier to say.”
“Are they like your mom and dad too?” Frankie asked.
“Kind of” Natalie answered quietly.
“Who wants to watch a movie?” Nick immediately chimed in, sensing the hesitation in Natalie’s voice. Everyone agreed that it was a good idea and made their way to the back lounge of the bus. Frankie scanned through the collection of DVDs trying to make the perfect selection. Frankie slid the disc into the player and walked back to the couch and sat down so that he was sitting between Nick and Natalie’s laps.
“What movie did you pick Frank?” Natalie asked as the previews began to play.
“The Incredibles” Frankie answered happily. The movie began playing and everyone allowed their attention to focus completely on the movie.
“Are you guys getting hungry for dinner?” Denise asked as she walked towards the back the bus, right as the ending credits began rolling on the screen.
A chorus of ‘yes’ and ‘I’m starving’ filled the back lounge of the bus, causing Mrs. Jonas to laugh. A discussion about where to stop their bus for dinner, began and just like every time the subject was brought up, the same points were mentioned.
“We can’t just pull our giant bus up to Chili’s Joe” Nick reasoned. “It is 6 o’clock... Which is prime dinner time. Remember last time we went to Chili’s? They seem to attract the same people that like our music.”
“Oh yeah” Joe remembered, “Chili’s is out.”
“What about McDonalds” Frankie chimed in. “They have a play place!”
“Not today sweetie” Denise answered sweetly. “What about something low key, like IHOP?”
“I vote yes” Natalie said quickly. “Works for me” Kevin said locating his shoes and sliding them on his feet. “I could eat some pancakes” Joe replied. “I’m in” Nick answered.
The bus driver pulled the bus into the parking lot at the gas station next to the restaurant. The family walked through the parking lot and into the restaurant. They approached the hostess, who immediately recognized them. She smiled excitedly, which each of the boys graciously returned. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief as they looked around the dining room and saw that there were a few elderly couples and a young couple with a baby.
“You see that” Kevin exclaimed from the back lounge of the tour bus. “One hundred percent! That’s what I’m talking about. Wh—what is your score there Natalie?” Kevin continued sarcastically.
“Oh shut it Kev” Natalie replied with a sarcastic and an eye roll. “The bumps from the road…that’s what messed me up.”
“The bumps weren’t just on your side of the bus” Kevin said with a chuckle, “I felt them too. What’s your next excuse?”
“I don’t play guitar every single day, in front of thousands of people” Natalie replied immediately. “You play for hours a day… I don’t.”
“Nat” Kevin reasoned, “Guitar Hero is nothing like playing guitar for real.”
“Well then…I don’t know” Natalie said, finally breaking into a giggle, “I guess you are just better at a video game than I am. That makes you real cool.”
“Ouch” Kevin said while placing his hand over his heart. “That hurt Natalie. And here I thought we were friends.”
“Oh Kevin” Natalie said as she placed the guitar control on the ground and walked to where Kevin was standing. “You know I love you.” She quickly jumped on his back and they both fell to the ground landing in a pile.
Joe walked into the lounge and immediately charged towards the pile of bodies laying on the floor. “DOG PILE” Joe shouted as he plopped his body down on top of Natalie and Kevin. They both let out an “oof” in response to the added weight.
“What’s going on back here?” Nick questioned as he walked into the back lounge. “Is this a dog pile? Loooook outtttt” Nick said as he ran towards where they were lying on the ground.
“Nick please” Natalie pleaded from the bottom of the pile. “Help me.”
“How can I say no to that pitiful plea?” Nick asked as he began playfully wrestling with his brothers in order to free Natalie. After a few moments, Natalie shimmied on her hands and knees away from where Kevin and Joe were still wrestling.
“And this is why you are my best friend” Natalie said before sitting down on the couch. Nick sat down next to her and propped his legs up on the table in front of him. “And I thought I was your best friend because of my killer good looks” Nick replied, contorting his face and striking a model pose.
“Your humility is a big part” Natalie said sarcastically. Natalie and Nick shared a laugh, while Kevin and Joe brush themselves off. “I mean you aren’t some famous rock star who thinks his muscles drive girls wild, or thinks that he has killer good looks.”
“I am quite humble huh?” Nick asked with a chuckle. “I am like the humblest person ever.” Nick and Natalie laughed hysterically at Nick’s statement. “I seriously can’t believe she said that” Nick said referring to one of Natalie’s friends from back home. “Doesn’t she know that saying you’re humble, automatically makes you not humble?”
“Apparently not” Natalie laughed. Denise walked towards the back of the bus and announced that they had arrived at their hotel for the night.
“What about the venue?” Joe asked. Normally they went straight to the venue when they got to a new city to make sure that the stage was getting set up properly.
“Your dad and Big Rob are heading over there” MJ replied. “There is really no need for all of us to go over there, since it is so late. Your dad will make sure that everything is getting set up right, and then we will go over there tomorrow for sound check like normal.”
Everyone grabbed their overnight bag and walked into the hotel. They were able to walk through the lobby without getting noticed, which was always a relief. The rode the elevator to the third floor and waited for their room assignments.
“Kevin and Joe” Mrs. Jonas began, “You guys are in 308.” She tossed them a key card and they walked into their room. “Nick and Natalie, 309. Me and your dad and Frankie are in 310, and Big Rob will be in 311. I’m coming to wake you up between 9 and 9:30 so don’t stay up too late.”
Nick held the door open for Natalie and she walked in and tossed her bag on the bed farthest from the door. No matter what city they were in, Nick and Natalie were always given a room with two beds, and Natalie always claimed the bed farthest from the door. It was a routine that her and Nick had fallen into. Just like the fact that on the bathroom counter, Natalie’s stuff was always on the left and in the shower the back right corner was where she stored her supplies.
“I’m gonna take a shower” Natalie said as she dug her pajamas and shower supplies out of her overnight bag. “Do you need to pee or anything?”
“Just let me brush my teeth” Nick said walking into the bathroom with his toothbrush and toothpaste.
Once he finished, Natalie walked into the bathroom and turned the shower on. She allowed the hot water to wash over her body as she lathered the soap in her hair. After she was satisfied with her cleanliness, she stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around her body. She dried off and changed into her pajamas before walking out of the bathroom.
Natalie smiled when she saw that Nick was already fast asleep on his bed. He left the lamp next to her bed on, so that she didn’t have to stumble and navigate in the dark. She crawled into her bed and pulled the covers around her. She reached up and turned the light off and allowed herself to drift off to sleep.
