Mkay. So I had this idea randomly pop into my head one day... it was like "Woah... what if this really happened one time?" And I had to write. Coincedentally... Niki's birthday's coming up, so this is my gift to her. =D I'll post the oneshot first and later the epilogue will go up. Hope ya'll enjoy it! It's definitely a long one...
Eavesdroppers
Joe crossed the stage, head bouncing to the first beats of S.O.S. They’d played this song endless times before; so much so that it had become less of a habit and more of reflex to reach for the tambourine as the song began. He grabbed the yellow instrument from the drummer’s platform as the crowd began to sing along to the first verse. He didn’t have to hear his younger brother’s voice to know that Nick had begun singing; the audience had informed him of that with their loud rendition of the popular lyrics.
“Ooh! This is an S.O.S., don’t wanna second guess…” Joe began the chorus, looking out over the mob of enthusiastic fans. His eyes scanned the first few rows, flying over a group of girls in matching neon t-shirts, reading the few posters that stood still long enough to make out and generally taking in the not-so-unusual sight before him. He lived for this moment. Sure, the enormous crowd became customary and the screams never-ending, but whenever he got on stage, no matter how many times he had sung the same song, he still got the same thrill from performing, the same delight in knowing that they were all here to see him and his brothers do what they loved.
As Nick began the second verse of the hit song, Joe pulled the microphone out of its stand and confidently sauntered across the stage, kneeling down to sing to a few zealous fan girls. Security followed him as he did so, but even they couldn’t stop Joe from reaching out and touching a few girls who, he knew, wouldn’t wash that hand for a couple of days. Kevin’s arrival at this side of the stage was a signal for Joe to cross over to the other side and he did so. Again, security followed.
Here, his typical routine was cut short as he caught sight of a girl in the second row. Her eyes were closed and she jumped up and down, lips moving in-sync to Nick’s words. Unlike many of the fans that stood around her, she seemed unaware of his presence, and instead was absorbed in the music that reverberated through the venue. She didn’t wear a decorated t-shirt like the rest of them, instead, he noticed the gray vest she had worn over a bright red dress that fluttered in the slight breeze of the arena.
Suddenly, she looked up at the stage and Joe was taken aback by the concern that showed in her twinkling hazel eyes. In a matter of seconds, he realized what the problem was and quickly jumped up from his kneeling position, belting the second rendition of the song’s chorus. He shot his brothers an apologetic smile and headed to the only microphone hooked up solely to the band members’ in-ears. They had to see for themselves the reason he had sung his lyrics late.
As Nick began the bridge to the song, Joe tactfully grabbed the microphone and pulled it towards himself, speaking full volume. At the moment, he could yell and no one would have heard him, the screams enveloped any sounds that weren’t erupting from the amps. “Guys, check out the girl: second row, red dress, gray vest, brunette.” His words echoed, unusually loud for having only gone through his In-Ear.
Nick’s voice faltered as he sang and Kevin spun around to look at Joe, eyes wide in shock. A hush fell over the audience and it only took Joe a minute to realize what had just happened before his cheeks burned a bright red. Immediately, his eyes flew to the second row. She was standing still, mouth open in complete shock as a girl next to her, who bore a striking resemblance, grabbed her shoulder, screaming, and pointed at the very clothes she wore.
Joe glared at Nick to keep going and spun around, searching furiously for any crew members present at the moment. How could they let this happen? Who had hooked up the band’s microphone to the speakers?
Behind him, he could hear Kevin take over the final chorus and his humiliation deepened. This wasn’t him; he didn’t let minute embarrassment stop a performance. Determined to finish the song, Joe told himself he’d speak to the crew afterwards and returned to the front of the stage where every eye in the audience was on him. Discreetly avoiding the gaze of the girl in red, he sang the last few words then met his brothers in the middle where they did their signature bow.
“What happened?” Kevin asked through his teeth as he smiled, waving to the cheering audience.
“I have no idea. That was supposed to go through only to you guys.”
“Well, now she knows,” Nick replied.
This time, Joe couldn’t look away. The girl in the second row stood perfectly still, baring an amused expression, her arms were crossed and he couldn’t help but notice how her smile exuded confidence.
He knew the audience wouldn’t let the earlier incident just blow over and, as was common at every concert, several cameras had caught it and it would invariably be on YouTube within 24 hours.
“You may as well invite her on for Hello Beautiful.” Nick added matter-of-factly.
“That would be corny,” Joe replied, then added hesitantly, “plus, we haven’t invited anyone on in ages.” Stupid excuse, he thought to himself.
Kevin nodded at Nick and before Joe could question their silent exchange, Nick spoke into his microphone. “We were going to play an encore of When You Look Me in the Eyes, but we’ve made a last minute decision. How’d you guys like to hear Hello Beautiful?”
Cheers of approval erupted and out of nervous habit, Joe pushed his hair out of his eyes. He hadn’t expected one simple comment to go this far.
“Joe,” Kevin asked, “how’d you like to invite that special girl in the second row up on stage?”
At this the crowd screamed, but Joe’s eyes were on the girl whose cool, collected façade was replaced by the same shock she had had when he had first spoken into the “private” microphone. Shooting his older brother a menacing look, he took a deep breath, then put the microphone back in its stand. He glanced once more at the second row and spoke with a nonchalant ease, “Red dress? Come on up!”
The audience’s shrieks reverberated through the arena as Joe watched Big Rob help her onto the stage. Her eyes were wide with shock and even as she walked up the few steps, she threw nervously glances at the girl Joe could only assume was her sister.
His eyes were set on her as she cautiously crossed the stage and it took him a moment to realize someone was tapping him on the shoulder. He spun around in surprise to find a crew member placing a stool where he had stood just moments earlier. “Thanks,” he said vaguely, then suddenly a thought struck him. “Wait!”
The man who had brought the stool turned around and raised his eyebrows, curious as to what else Joe might want.
“Did you fix the mic?”
“Yeah, they’re working on it. It should be fixed in a few.”
Joe nodded in thanks and turned around just in time to greet the girl in the red dress.
There she was, standing right in front of him, wearing a nervous smile, her hazel eyes even more beautiful than he had originally thought. It took him a moment to realize he was holding his breath. Exhaling, Joe hugged her, whispering, “I’m so sorry about that.”
“It’s okay…” she stammered, looking down at her feet.
Joe glanced at Nick, who took this as a signal to begin their popular ballad. As he and Kevin strummed their guitars with the beginning chords, Joe nudged the girl who now sat in the stool. “What’s your name?” he whispered.
“Niki,” she smiled and he couldn’t help but notice just how breathtaking that smile was.
“It’s nice to meet you, Niki. I’m Joe.”
She looked up at him, her anxiety no longer visible. “Really? I had no idea,” she grinned sarcastically.
He chuckled just as Nick finished the first verse, then sang the chorus, looking Niki square in the eyes. “But tonight, I’m gonna fly. Yeah, tonight, I’m gonna fly.”
Always the showman, Joe wandered the stage, singing to the fans who reached desperately towards him in the first few rows. Occasionally, he returned to Niki but found that as he did so, he’d have a hard time remembering the words. It was a welcome relief as Nick took over for the second verse.
Joe glanced backstage. It didn’t look like anyone was working on the wiring. They must have fixed the mic already, he thought, glad of the fact. He knew what he wanted to do, but, as was usually the case, he needed his brothers’ opinion.
Nick finished his lyrics, and Joe repeated the chorus. He circled Niki, making sure to catch her eye a few times and purposely letting his arm brush against her shoulder. At this, she looked up and he shot her a flirtatious smile, leaving Kevin to walk by while he headed to the back where the infamous microphone stood.
This time he wouldn’t be so careless, he tapped the microphone but didn’t hear the sound resound in the venue, only in his in-ear. Relieved, he sang the song’s last words, then lowered his own microphone so he could speak into this one. “Guys, should I ask her out?” Immediately, he shut his eyes tight, praying it hadn’t happening again, but the familiar hush that fell over the audience confirmed his worst fear.
He barely had time to react before the hush became an uproar. The audience was screaming and most of their shrieks sounded oddly approving. They were cheering him on. Slowly, he turned around and his eyes fell on Niki. Both her hands covered her face, but even that couldn’t cover up the intense shade of pink she was turning. Nick and Kevin had cut off the last chord of the song and were heading straight towards him, both visibly frustrated. Kevin was first to speak.
“What made you think it was fixed?”
“I,” Joe stuttered, “the crew… the guy told me they did!”
Nick was pulling off his guitar, shaking his head to himself, “I have no idea how you’re going to fix this one, man.”
Joe glanced at Niki who continued to hold her head in her hands, then looked back at his brothers. He had to turn this situation around, make it funny like he was always able to do. Exchanging knowing looks with both, he took several steps toward the stool on which she sat and raised his microphone to speak.
“Talk about going public,” he quipped, leaning playfully against her. The crowd responded to his joke with laughter and this assured him. He looked down at Niki who had finally lifted her head to reveal intensely red cheeks and a nervous grin. “But… my brothers never answered my question,” he looked behind him at Nick and Kevin, both of whom were watching him, arms crossed, entertained by the way in which he had decided to handle the situation, “should I ask her out?”
The audience screamed.
Kevin and Nick laughed and nodded approvingly.
Joe turned to look at Niki once more and as he did so, she gained back the same confidence he had seen in her earlier that night. Sitting up, she crossed her legs, then eyed him curiously, waiting for the question.
“Dinner? You know, to apologize for the mess...”
“Just to apologize?”
He looked down, laughing to himself. The audience was buzzing, no one had heard what she’d said in reply and he was glad. They didn’t need to hear any more. “No, as a date.”
Cool kids comment. Follow the crowd. XD No, but seriously... they're appreciated.
