I'm going to apologize for this in advance. It's not well written, and I'm almost embarrassed to post this. I wrote it quickly, while trying to watch Full Metal Jacket at the same time.
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More Than Words
It had been seven days, seven long, agonizing days since they had last spoke. They had fought over worse things before, but this was by far the longest that they had ever gone without making up. She couldn’t understand how an argument over something so miniscule had been blown up to the point where it made her almost physically sick to think about that night, both of them screaming at each other at the top of their lungs.
All that she wanted was for him to publically recognize their relationship. They had been together for nearly three years, three wonderful years, full of love and happy memories. She wanted to be able to walk down the streets of her hometown holding his hand, instead of having to walk a few feet behind him. She couldn’t even bring him to her senior prom, so she ended up going with her best friend’s cousin.
“I just don’t think that it’s a good idea. You’ve seen how the fans react to all the rumours about us and the other girls. I don’t want them to say anything like that about you.”
“Joe, I’m almost 21, I could care less about what everyone thinks about me. I’m in love with you; I don’t want to have to hide that anymore. I want to be able to go out with you in public without having to make a conscious effort to look like we’re acquaintances. What if we get married one day? Am I still going to be a secret? Am I going to have to live in a different house than you?”
“Don’t you think I want the same things as you? I would rather be able to kiss you and hold your hands and declare my love for you off of rooftops than have to hide it. It’s just not ideal for us to go public just yet.”
“And when will it be ideal? You’ve been saying that for years now.” She tried to hold back the tears that were already starting to form in her eyes. She hated fighting with him, and cried nearly every time.
“I’ll let you know. It’s not just up to me. I have to do what’s best for the band.”
“It’s always about the band with you. Why can’t I be put first for a few seconds for once?”
“THE BAND IS MY LIFE! I WOULD HAVE NOTHING WITHOUT IT. EVERYTHING THAT I DO AFFECTS ME AND MY BROTHERS. EVERYTHING THAT I DO AFFECTS THE FANS. I CAN’T JUST GO AND ANNOUNCE THAT I’VE BEEN IN A RELATIONSHIP FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.” She let the tears run freely down her face now, not caring how vulnerable she looked.
“You’re wrong, Joe,” she whispered. “Without the band you would still have me.” She slammed the door behind her and sped out of the driveway. She was hyperventilating, causing her to pull off to the side of the road in order to calm down.
She had thought about calling him. She couldn’t count the times her finger lingered over the send button on her cell phone, but she refused to call him. They were both stubborn, that she knew. Her phone would often ring once, blaring his unique ringtone, before stopping. She had found it hard to fill her time. She spoke to him every day on a regular basis, and when they weren’t talking to each other on the phone, they would often text each other. Now she found herself reading the same tabloid magazines over and over again.
When her phone rang again, she glanced over at it briefly, just as she had all week. But this time was different; the phone rang once, twice, three times before she flipped it open.
“Joe?” The only response that she got was the ringing from an empty line. Frustrated, she threw her phone down on the couch beside her. When her phone rang immediately after, she answered mid ring. “Joe?” There was no answer, but she could hear him breathing on the other end. “Joe? Please say something...”
“I...am an idiot. I don’t know what I was thinking. I love you more than anything else in this world. More than the band, more than the fame, more than the fans. I just want you to be happy. Ugh, I’m getting upset just thinking about how hurt you are. Can you come outside?” She hung up quickly before jumping off the couch and racing to the door. She opened it to find him leaning against the vinyl siding with a sad smile on his face. He held out a bouquet of white orchids, her favourite. She accepted with a small smile.
“I hate fighting with you,” she said, staring at her feet, trying to fight back the tears that were threatening to fall. “This week has been hell.” He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into him tightly. The flowers were getting squished, but he didn’t care- he would just buy her some more. He would give her the world if she asked for it. He placed a soft kiss on the top of her head, which was covered by the hood of her sweater.
“I’m so sorry that I ever could have made you feel unimportant. You are the most important thing in my life. You’re what keeps me going every day.” He kissed her forehead. After a few moments he spoke up. “I’m going to do it.”
“Do what?”
“Announce our love off of a rooftop.”
“No, Joe. You don’t have to do that.”
“Yes I do. Maybe not something so drastic though. I do want the entire world to know how madly I am in love with you.” He grabbed her hand and began pulling her towards the street.
“Now?!”
“Right now!”
“I can’t go now. I look horrible.”
“You look beautiful,” he said as he kissed the back of her hand. She smiled and placed the bouquet of flowers onto her front porch.
As they walked down Rodeo Drive, hand in hand, Joe introduced her to everyone they met as his girlfriend. He hugged her, kissed her, and held her hand like he was never going to let her go. He pulled her hood off and pulled her close to him in front of a large group of photographers that had accumulated.
“I love you, Joe Jonas,” she whispered and smiled at the thought of finally being able to express their love in public.
“I love you too,” he said, before pulling her into a hard kiss. He didn’t mind all the flashes that surrounded them. This is exactly where he was supposed to be, with the girl that he saw forever with.
