So, i'm at it again. this time it's for the lovely.... Stephani!!! whooo. no seriously. she's amazing. =D
i hope you guys enjoy this! *cough* comment *cough* lots *cough* XP
~Belles <3
p.s. if you hate it stephani... i'm srry. i tried. *_*
Stephani fumed as she drove to her new job. She was not happy right now, even though today was supposed to be the best day of her life. Today was the first day of her job. Her dream job. She was hired to be a personal assistant for a band. Although her job was mainly to do all the little tasks, the grunt work, that the main assistant couldn't be bothered to do, she was happy. This job meant that she had her foot in the door of the music business. She was excited to learn about all the backstage things that go on, and if everything people tell you about touring is true or if they're lying to make it seem more glamorous.
But right now Stephani wasn't thinking about her new job, she was thinking about the sorry-excuse-of-a-human-being aka good-looks-were-wasted-on-this-guy. But we'll just call him Jerk, for right now. Stephani was walking out of a fast food place after eating lunch when she he walked right into her. His coffee spilled all over her shirt, staining it. She was shocked, but willing to forgive and forget. That was until the Jerk opened his big mouth.
“Hey! Watch where you're going! Aw, man. Now, I have no coffee and I'm going to be late. Great. Thanks.” He said angrily, before walking away, pushing her as he passed her.
Stephani just stood there, mouth open, becoming angrier and angrier by the second. Who was this jerk and what the heck was his problem? He acted like the world revolved around him. She couldn't help but recall how handsome he'd been and that just made her angrier. Why did all the gorgeous guys have to be jerks too?
Stephani reached her destination a half hour late because she had to change her shirt, thanks to Jerk. She stepped out of her car and walked into the music building. She was going to meet the band she'd be touring with for the whole summer. She vaguely remembered someone informing her what band it was, but she couldn't recall the name right now. Not that it mattered, no matter who they were she was going to make this work. It didn't matter if they were the meanest people on earth she wasn't going to quit, because if she did she may never get another shot at something like this again.
She was directed to a conference room and paused for a moment at the door. She smoothed her black hair down and smiled brightly before walking in. “Sorry, I'm late, but I ran into a few problems on the way here and.....” Stephani stopped short as she looked at the people sitting there. She didn't know who they were, but she did see the Jerk there. Her mouth hung open in surprise.
The executive guy smiled and said, “No problem. These guys just got here too. And by the look on your face I guess you already know who they are. Stephani meet Kevin, Nick, and Joe.”
Joe, so that was the Jerk's name. Joe the Jerk. It fits. Stephani smiled at the thought, but everyone else assumed she was smiling at them. “Nice to meet you guys.” She said, “But I gotta be truthful. I don't know who you guys are. Are you three the band or what?”
Kevin looked shocked for a moment before answering, “Oh, well yeah. We're the band. The Jonas Brothers. Um, you have never heard about us?” He questioned.
Stephani shook her head, “Nope. Sorry guys. So you all three are really brothers? And why is it so surprising?”
Nick smiled, “Yeah, we're all brothers and we're just kinda surprised because you looked shocked when you saw us. We figured that meant you knew us. Sorry for making assumptions.”
She shrugged, “No problem. And I was shocked, but for a totally different reason. Anyways, it's nice to meet you guys. I guess we should get down to business.”
*~*~*~*~*~*
Stephani laid down in her bunk on the Jonas's tour bus. Originally she had been placed in a different tour bus, but do to technical difficulties and some other things, she was now sharing a bus with the Jerk and his wonderful family. She seriously had no idea how Jerk was related to the wonderful people she has just started to get to know. She also felt kind of bad for intruding on their family bus but they insisted it was ok.
Someone pushed her curtain back, “Hey.” A smiling Jerk said.
Stephani scowled. She was still mad at his attitude when they first met and the fact that he didn't remember and that he'd be trying to befriend her non-stop since she started on this tour. “What is it?” She snapped.
Joe looked unfazed, “Just wanted to talk to you. Get to know you a little better. Ya know, your likes, your dislikes. Anything.”
Stephani continued to frown her eyes flashing blackish brown a sure sign she was furious. “You want to get to know me?” She asked her words tight.
Joe nodded happily.
“Well, let me tell you a couple of things. Number one: I like music. Number two: I hate jerky guys who spill coffee all over me on the street and then get angry at me like it's my fault thus making me spitting mad and late for an important meeting. Number Three: I never want to talk to you again.” She smiled sickeningly sweet and added, “That good enough for you.”
Joe was taken aback, “Uh, yeah. I just..” He walked off and Stephani shut the curtain with great force falling into a restless sleep.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Now the tour was halfway over and Joe and Stephani hadn't spoken one word to each other since that fateful day Stephani basically told Joe she hated his guts 'cause he acted like a jerk to her. Thy avoided each other as much as possible, this was just fine for Stephani, but Joe hated it. With every passing day Joe found himself falling more and more in love with Stephani, but she only thought of him as some stuck up, spoiled, immature rock star.
But Joe had a plan and maybe, just maybe, it would work.
“What were you thinking Joseph?! How could you get the times mixed up? 3:30 p.m. and 5 in the morning are two TOTALLY different times. Even I didn't think you were that dense.” Stephani growled angrily. They were both stuck in front of an empty building with no ride back thanks to Joe's mistake.
“I'm sorry.” he said meekly.
“Oh wow, I didn't even think you knew what those words. And now you're saying them? I'm shocked!” She said coldly.
“I got mixed up. I made a mistake. I'm sorry. What else do you want me to do about it?!” He asked.
Stephani didn't say anything. Just stared at him. She rubbed her hands up and down her arms, “For summer it sure is cold.” She muttered.
“Want me to help warm you up?” Joe asked politely.
Stephanie eyed Joe unsure of what to do. Warmth did sound good right now, but then again it was Joe. She shrugged, leaving the choice up to him. He hesitated before rubbing his hands up and down her arms, sending shivers down her spine.
I can't like him, she thought. He's a jerk.
Joe continued to rub heat into her body before he wrapped his arms around her. “Better now?” He smiled.
“Yeah. Thanks.” She whispered suddenly unsure about herself and her feelings for Joe.
“I really am sorry.” He said. “I'll make it up to you somehow, I swear.”
“By doing what?” She asked, interested.
“I dunno. What do you want? What do you need?”
“I want you to go running up and down the street in your boxer shorts yelling, Stephani with an I is more amazing than I can ever hope to be.” Stephani smiled knowing Joe would never follow through with her ridiculous request.
But Joe surprised her, “Ok.” He shrugged and started to take his shirt off, before Stephani (who was blushing fiercely) stopped him.
“Whoa, whoa. Wait a minute. I was just joking I swear. I don't want you to do that.”
Joe shrugged again, but looked relieved and put his shirt back on. “What now?” He asked.
“I don't know.” Stephani sat down on the sidewalk. “But I guess we should just sit here and wait until someone comes here to get to work. I mean it's 5 right now, so someone should probably come at 6 or at the latest 8. So we just have to wait for a couple of hours, before help arrives.”
“Wanna talk until then?” Joe asked.
Stephani didn't say anything. She just sat there. Joe took that as a yes. “So yesterday as I was getting ready.....”
Stephani began to zone out on Joe realizing that she hadn't been getting enough sleep lately. She stifled a yawn and tried to keep her eyes open, but it was so hard. Her eyelids felt like lead and her head felt like an anvil. Soon she drifted off to sleep without realizing it.
Joe held her in his arms as she slept, memorizing every single detail of her. He loved her so much and only hoped that one day she might feel the same way. He brushed the hair out of her eyes and sang to her as she slept. Some were his songs, but mostly, random songs that popped into his head.
Some time later she woke up. “What time is it?” She yawned.
Joe checked his watch, “Seven.”
“And still no one?” Stephani asked.
“No one.” He replied.
“Oh well, they gotta be coming soon, right?”
“Oh, of course.”
Stephani looked thoughtful for a moment, “Oh, wait. I fell asleep on you didn't I?” She questioned.
Joe smiled, “Yes you did.”
She blushed, “Sorry.”
“Don't be. I was glad to be you personal pillow.”
Stephani laughed, “Yeah well...” she trailed off before saying, “We've got to be the most unluckiest people on earth.”
“How do you figure?” Joe asked.
“Because you got the times mixed up, both of us forgot our phones, nobody's come here yet, and this building just happens to be in the middle of nowhere. I'd say that make's us pretty unlucky. And currently bored.”
“You're bored?”
“Kinda.”
“Then why don't you listen to your music, you bring that thing everywhere.”
Stephani sighed, “Yeah, except I thought we were going to be late so I forgot to grab it.”
“Oh, well you wanna talk?” He asked.
“Go ahead.” She answered.
“Um, so. You see.....” Joe started to talk about random things, becoming more comfortable as time went on. Stephani joined in too and before she knew it she was having a conversation with Jerk. Except he wasn't a jerk. Not at all. And that shocked her a little. She found herself agreeing with some of the things he said, and laughing at his jokes. She found out things she didn't agree with, but also knew that it wasn't that big of a deal. You didn't have to agree on everything to be friends.
Friends, that's funny. Stephani never thought she'd ever be friends with him. But as they talked she found herself, not just becoming friends with him, but falling for him. The sweet things he'd do for the fans. The way he could make any situation funny. Even his few near death experiences. How his eyes lit up in excitement when he talked about his music and performing with his brothers. It all entranced her and gave her a warm tingly feeling in the pit of her stomach.
Stephani wasn't really listening to what Joe was saying, she was lost in her own thoughts, until she blurted them out, “I hate you.” She sighed.
Joe looked shocked, “Why?”
“'Cause I realize now that you're actually a great guy. And I might actually like you.”
“Wait, so you hate me, but you might like me?” He asked confused.
“Yeah. I can't like you. That would ruin everything.” Stephani replied. She knew she wasn't making any sense to him. But it made sense to her. She couldn't like him, because she was working for him. Therefore she's not allowed to date him. And this little epiphany helped her realize that she had liked Joe all along. She'd witnessed him being a sweet and generous guy countless times, but she never thought about it, because it was easier to hate him. If she hated him, she couldn't fall for him. And if she didn't fall for him, she wouldn't want something she couldn't have.
“How, would it ruin anything.”
“Because I can't date you, because I work for you.” Stephani explained.
“Oh.” Joe said.
“Yep. So I hate you, 'cause I love you.”
“You love me?” Joe asked.
Stephani blushed and nodded.
Joe broke out into a grin. “I love you too.”
Stephani couldn't help but smile, but it quickly turned into a frown as she realized that just because Joe loved her, the situation hadn't changed.
“I have a solution.” Joe announced after several minutes of silence.
“Please share.” Stephani smiled.
“Would you go on a date with me....”
“Joe, we've been through this already. I can't...”
“You didn't let me finish.” Joe protested. “Would you go on a date with me a month from now?”
“A month?” She questioned.
“Yeah, in a month. Our tour will be over. You'll be released and we can date.” Joe explained.
“Oh.” Stephani said, “and you'll wait for me that long? You won't flirt with other girls, or go on other dates, or kiss someone else, or even think about another girl?”
“Of course I'll wait for you. I promise you that you'll be the only girl I think about. Until then. And even after then.” He promised.
“Hmmm, this is going to be hard.” Stephani muttered as she wrapped Joe into a hug and buried her head in his broad shoulder.
“Yeah, but we'll make it through. We'll still be with each other every day, just.... no coupley things.” Joe assured her.
“And you promise, you'll only think about me during that month.” Stephani asked, still unconvinced. For she had first hand experience seeing girls throw themselves at him and his brothers. She'd seen fans sneak out to the buses and try to break their way into them. She'd seen the things they bought him in hopes that he would notice them.
“I pinkie promise. You're stuck with me.” He smiled.
Stephani sighed dramatically, still in Joe's strong embrace, “Yeah, stuck with you. However shall I live?” She grinned.
“I don't know? Happily?” Joe joked.
“Ever After.” Stephani finished, before adding, “I've got a little something for you to remember me by, and help you look forward to our date.”
“Oh and what is that?” Joe asked smiling.
“This.” Stephani replied, before leaning forward and pressing her lips against his. They kissed for a while before breaking apart.
Joe's only thought was, I think we're pretty lucky. We both love each other. And my plan worked. ;)