This one-shot is dedicated to the lovely Ashlee, for being such an amazing commenter, reader, and friend. I love you, Ash!
Underneath
[Nick one-shot song fic featuring Ashlee]
*Song: Underneath by Jessica Simpson*
Sometimes it's hard when you're so deep inside
To see all you can lose in a blink of an eye
Dreams could be shattered
You could be gone
How would I survive
Cause you're where I belong
My soul-believer
Without you, I don't know who I would be
Nick stormed off stage, anger filling his veins. He threw his water bottle across the dressing room, taking his pain out on whatever he could. Everything had been spiraling downward lately for him; he didn’t know how much longer he could take the fame.
It was then that he saw her. A girl, sitting on the brown leather couch, her big brown eyes staring up at him. She could see his pain, even if he had no idea as to who she was, or why she was in their dressing room. He took a deep breath and sat down next to her, taking her by surprise.
“Ashlee,” she said softly, sticking out her hand.
Nick just turned and stared at her, finally clasping his hand around hers.
“I…I’m Nick.”
She smiled and looked back down at the magazine she had been reading. Nick continued to stare at her, taken aback by her natural beauty, how her long brown hair was set perfectly atop her head. He couldn’t help but wonder as to why she was there, sitting next to him.
“Um, I hate to be rude, but tell me again why you’re here?” he asked nervously, afraid to hurt her feelings.
Ashlee laughed. “It’s fine. I would be confused if some random girl showed up in my dressing room, too. My dad is your dad’s good friend,” she explained. “He invited us out to the show tonight, and my dad told me to come here afterwards. So…here I am.” Nick immediately fell for her laugh, the way her face glowed when she smiled.
“So…do you want to tell me why you just chucked your water bottle across the room?” she asked, studying the curly-haired boy. She had never been a true fan of the Jonas Brothers. She liked their music and thought they were cute, but the whole fan-dom thing never appealed to her.
Nick sighed. “I…I really don’t know. Things just aren’t going as well as I’d liked them to.”
“What do you mean?” she asked curiously.
Nick turned his entire body towards her and began telling her everything: how he just didn’t seem to be the rockstar he was on stage every night, how he almost let fame get to his head, how everything was falling apart. He didn’t know why, but he seemed to trust her right off the bat. She listened intently as he poured his soul out to her, telling her his every hope, and every nightmare. She focused her attention on him, even when his brothers came bursting into the room, giving him as much advice as she could.
When it was time for her to leave, Nick wished so badly for her to stay. He had figured out that she was one intellectual girl; one he wouldn’t mind hanging out with.
Underneath, I can feel you move through me
Inside out, you surround me
I breathe you like I'm taking my last breath
Oh, you're everything I know
So how could I let you go?
Sometimes I listen to a voice that isn't mine
I disconnect from everything inside
And I have made choices
And wasted all the days
I could have been with you
Where my heart stayed
I know you've waited faithfully
Blessing our love even stronger
Instead of spinning out of control like they had been, things for Nick continued to stay positive. Before Ashlee left that evening, he managed to get her number, texting her the minute she walked out of the door.
Little did she know, Ashlee began to fall for Nick, with every little text he would send, or each time he would call her, just to talk. Nick and his brothers continued on with the rest of their tour, each night getting farther and farther away from where she lived. It definitely was hard, but she knew Nick would never want a girl like her, too smart for her own good. She had figured that he had forgotten about her when he failed to call for a month straight, until one rainy Sunday evening.
The doorbell rang, erupting the obnoxious noise throughout Ashlee’s house. Her younger sister ran downstairs to the door.
“Ashlee!” she screamed. “It’s for you!”
For me? Ashlee thought. She wondered, as she walked down the steps, who would be knocking on her door on a Sunday night. She gasped when she saw Nick standing in the doorway.
“Nick?” she asked softly, standing a mere few feet away from him. She studied him up and down, taking in every single inch of his muscular body.
Nick smiled. “Can I come in?” Ashlee nodded and led him through the foyer and into the family room. Her mom sat on the couch, watching the news.
“Mom?” Ashlee called. Her mom turned towards them. “This is my friend, Nick. He’s gonna hang out for a while. Is that okay?”
Her mom smiled. “Yes, that’s fine. It’s nice to meet you, Nick.”
Ashlee mouthed the words ‘thank you’ and headed up the stairs. Nick smiled at her mom before following Ashlee up the stairs, watching how she moved with every step. He followed her down the hallway, passing a few bedroom doors before reaching hers, with the aqua blue walls. Ashlee sat down cross-legged on her bed, scooting over to make room for Nick. Nick graciously sat down, sliding his hands between his knees.
“So tell me,” Ashlee started. “Why did I just find you standing on my doorstep, and now sitting next to me?”
Nick looked at his feet, shrugging. “I…I missed you. I felt bad for not calling or texting in a while, so I decided to surprise you.”
“It was a good surprise,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. “I missed you, too.”
Nick reached over and took her hand into his, giving it a light squeeze. Her eyes met his just as he leaned in closer. She could feel his hot breath on her lips, just as they collided with his. Their first kiss was short, lasting only a few seconds, but it was something they both wanted.
“You’re beautiful,” Nick whispered into Ashlee’s ear as they lay on her bed, sending chills up her spine. He tightened his arms around her waist as she drifted off into dreamland, never wanting to let go.
Underneath, I can feel you move through me
Inside out, you surround me
I breathe you like I'm taking my last breath
Oh, you're everything I know
So how could I let you go?
And I've been blessed
For every kiss
For every breath
And I've been touched,
By hands I trust
My love is risen
Ashlee watched from the side of the stage as her boyfriend of two years rocked out to the final song of the night. She loved the way his curls shook atop his head, the way he threw himself into the music. He wasn’t the same Nick Jonas she had met, the one who was full of anger and regret. He was a new man, entirely thanks to her. She would never admit it, but she was glad she had changed him, for fear she would never be there with him if not for it.
Soon enough, the show had ended and Nick jogged off stage, sweat dripping from every pore in his body. He flashed her that thousand-watt grin she lived to see, before wrapping his drenched body around her. She squealed as he picked her up off the ground, spinning her around in circles. Holding her still, he leaned in and gently throwing his lips against hers, setting off that spark yet another time.
“Hey,” she whispered. “At least you didn’t throw a water bottle at me this time.”
Underneath, I can feel you move through me
Inside out, you surround me
I breathe you like I'm taking my last breath
Oh, you're everything I know
So how could I let you
How could I let you go?
