Here's chapter 1! Just so you know, this story is rated
R for
language, emotional abuse and possibly physical abuse. I'm not sure just yet. But I'll keep you posted!!
Chapter One - Hello Awkward, my name is Kate
I sat quietly in the back of the office just watching, like a fly on the wall. Kristen Emerson smiled cheerfully and stood before the room that wasn’t filled with too many people, yet no one seemed to notice I was there just yet. “There’s something really important I’d like to tell you all.” She grinned. Could she drag this on any more? Time was moving slow enough, as it was. “You guys remember my husband, right?”
The three boys nodded in unison, all looking at each other. They seemed a bit apprehensive. “Is everything okay, Kris?” The oldest one, Kevin, piped up.
“Everything’s fine,” she reassured with another large smile. “In fact, everything’s better than fine. We’re expecting our first baby!” She beamed, resting her hand on her stomach.
“Kristen, that’s great!” Nick smiled and stood up to hug her. The other two boys followed suit, all congratulating her. The room broke out in quiet conversations, all asking questions about how she was feeling and such. A small sigh escaped my lips as I tapped my pen on my notebook cover. This situation was feeling more and more awkward. I began feeling less confident in my decision to leave school for a year to come out and do this.
“Boys,” Kristen tried to regain the focus of the room. Everyone turned to look at her, quietly taking their seats. “The reason why I brought us all into the office to talk about this is because I’m going to leave for a little while…”
“You’re leaving?” Joe sounded disappointed. “But Kristen, we’d be completely lost without you…especially when mom and dad aren’t on tour with us.” He nodded towards the two adults sitting in the room. Both were already aware of what was taking place, but they hadn’t told their children.
“I know,” she grinned. “That’s why I’d like to introduce you to Kate Tilson.” She pointed back at me. This entire day I had been waiting for this moment. Waiting to meet my new ‘employers’, so to speak, and now all I could do was melt into the wall and turn red from embarrassment. “Kate, meet the Jonas’s. These are the boys’ parents, Denise and Kevin. And these are the guys…Kevin, Joe and Nick.” She introduced. That was my cue. I smiled from one ear to the next and walked to the front of the room. Everyone stood to shake my hand.
“Hi, it’s so nice to finally meet you,” I smiled at the two parents, shaking their hands politely.
“You too,” the returned the gesture.
Next were the boys. They all were trying to be polite, but I could tell they were completely shocked to be losing their personal assistant for a girl not much older than them. In fact, I wasn’t even older than Kevin. I was only older than Joe by one month, and Nick by a few years. “Hey guys, I’m really excited to be working with you and I’m so thankful for the opportunity.” I said rather softly. This was more intimidating than I had realized.
“It’s really nice to meet you, Kate,” Kevin was the first to speak up. He shook my hand politely and winked. “Kristen’s a great girl. We know she hired you for a reason.”
Even if he hadn’t meant it to be reassuring, it came across that way. I smiled even bigger and nodded. A sigh of relief fell from my lips. “Kate’s actually going to be doing an internship with you all. She’ll be in constant contact with me by phone just in case she needs anything. She’s already had previous internships with news stations all throughout the state of Florida and she’s more than qualified for this position.” Kristen smiled. “I’ve shown Kate all around the tour bus. Don’t let her get lonely, boys,” Kristen almost scolded them. That was something that made me nervous. Kristen was like the fill-in mom whenever Denise wasn’t around. I knew I couldn’t be that strong. I was only nineteen.
“Ha! Lonely on a Jonas Brother’s tour?” Denise laughed. “Sweetie, you’ll never have a dull moment, I can promise you that.” She winked. “So tell us a little about yourself!”
She seemed lovely; I smiled and sat down across from all of them. An encouraging grin from Kristen urged me to continue. “Well, I’m nineteen-years-old and I’m in my second year at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. I’m taking off this semester and next for this internship, though,” I explained. “I’m studying mass communications and public relations.”
“Wow,” Kevin Sr. beamed. “That’s impressive, Kate. Well we’re so glad you could come out here for this leg of the tour. We know that the boys will be in good hands. It’ll be good for everyone.” He nodded and Kristen grinned.
“Let’s head out and visit the bus,” Kristen beamed, trying to sound positive. I nodded and followed them out as the Jonas’s followed me. “Drew is your driver, but you’ve already met him.” I folded my arms over my chest protectively. I had never been very outgoing. Flying all the way to New York to tag-team with the Jonas brothers was positively the most adventurous thing I had ever attempted and I was terrified. I was out of my comfort zone the moment the airplane left the Orlando airport.
“What time do we leave?” Joe looked at Kris for the answer; she proceeded to raise her eyebrows in excitement. My first real question; my first chance to prove myself, so to speak.
“Um,” I opened up the manila envelope I had in my hand and scrolled down the calendar. “We’re going to be leaving in about an hour.” I answered. He nodded; I could tell he still wasn’t too sure about me. They probably thought I was a joke. Hell, I was even a little unsure of what I was capable of.
“Perfect. We should probably head out. Frankie has school in the morning and he’s sitting with your Aunt,” Kevin Sr. grinned at the boys. “We’ll see you guys in a few days once you’re back in New York.” He hugged them. Kristen and I stepped over to the side. The guys had a few promotional events going on in New York the past few days, and next stop was California.
As the boys said their goodbyes I smiled at Kristen. “Thanks again for all your help,” I sighed and hugged her. “I’ll definitely be in touch.”
Kristen grinned and hugged me even tighter. “Don’t be afraid to call, Kate. Also, don’t be intimidated by them. Remember what I said; it’s going to be a little strange since you’re so close in age with them, but they’re respectful boys. They aren’t out to get you.” She winked. I laughed and tucked a strand of dark blonde hair behind my ear.
It was strange once everyone left. We stood around somewhat awkwardly. “So, if you guys are ready we could just leave now and get a head start?” I suggested. I sounded a little apprehensive; I regretted that as soon as the words left my mouth.
Confidence, Kate, confidence, I thought to myself. A sigh escaped my lips and they all shrugged.
“Sure,” Nick spoke up. We piled onto the tour bus one by one and I silently prayed this situation would become less awkward. Once on the bus, I noticed Nick dove into his bunk with the curtain open, strumming out chords on his guitar. Kevin pulled out his guitar, mimicking his brother’s actions. Joe popped in his ear buds for his iPod and closed his eyes, tilting his head back in bliss.
I chewed nervously on my bottom lip and rocked back on my heels. The bus driver closed the door and let off the brake, slowly pulling away from my last moment of being in my comfort zone. I sat down on the opposite sofa that Joe was on and rummaged through my ‘Things-to-Do’ bag. I had venues, hotels and people to call. I pulled out my blackberry and dialed the first number of the hotel we’d be staying with tonight. There was no reason to drive straight through to California; it was a long enough drive. Along the way, the boys had scattered interviews across the country. “Yes, this is Kate Tilson calling. I just wanted to double check on our reservation for tonight.” I said softly, hoping not to disturb any of the guys. I read off our reservation information and waited. “Perfect, four rooms. Thank you.” I said and hung up.
Fifteen minutes had passed and I’d contacted all the venues, hotels and radio stations I needed to. I reached behind my neck and pulled my chestnut colored hair out of its low ponytail. I read through some of the information in front of me and swept my hair over my shoulder, dividing it into three sections to braid. I happened to glance up and noticed Joe staring. It didn’t take long before my cheeks started to burn crimson. “Sorry…” I mumbled, not quite sure what I was apologizing for.
He chuckled. It was the first time I’d really seen the infamous Joe Jonas grin. “Don’t be. I’m just fascinated. I’ve always wanted to learn how to braid…” he mumbled with a shrug, popping the ear buds out from his ears and turning off his iPod.
“Joe, that’s such a girly thing to say,” Nick laughed from his bunk, swinging his legs over the side and propping his guitar up by the couch. He walked to the fridge and pulled out a water. “Want anything?” He asked Kevin, Joe and me. I shook my head no but thanked him for the offer.
“It’s not girly,” I shrugged. “My brother knows how to braid. It’s really simple.” I unbraided what hair I had already finished and showed him again. “You just take three different sections,” I started. He moved over to my couch to take a closer look. “Then fold this one over between these two like this, and then fold this one in between the other two. Then just go back and forth.” I explained. He laughed.
“Can I try?” He asked and gestured towards my hair.
“Sure,” I shrugged. I didn’t care. I ran my fingers through the braid to loosen it up and he did it on his own. He laughed like a little kid when he was finished. “See, you did it.” I grinned.
“Nice, Joe. Real manly,” Kevin winked, saying it just because he knew it would get a rise out of his younger brother. Joe just rolled his eyes and went back to his couch, grabbing his iPhone in the process.
“Whatever,” he sighed and thumbed through his phone. I shrugged and flipped through some of the paperwork again right before my blackberry began buzzing in my lap.
“I’ll be right back…” I said and went to the backroom to take the call. I pulled the curtain closed and tried to be as silent as possible. I didn’t want the guys to know about this call. “Hello?” I said softly.
“Where the fuck have you been?” He snarled through gritted teeth. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”
“I’m on my internship, remember?” I sighed. I knew he was already drunk. He was always a jerk, but never this accusatory and forgetful. Not unless he was intoxicated with drugs or alcohol. “I’m in New York right now headed to California.”
“Bitch! You left and didn’t say anything?!” He barked into the phone.
“Leo, I left days ago. I told you I was leaving,” I closed my eyes and sat down on the small couch back there, glancing out the window at the city passing me by. I rubbed my temple to try and escape the throbbing headache that was forming. “I can’t talk to you right now. Send me an e-mail or something.” I rambled and quickly hung up. As soon as I did, Kevin pulled the curtain back.
“Sorry, I didn’t want to disrupt your phone call but I just needed to get my laptop,” he pointed to the black bag next to me.
“No worries, I’m off the phone,” I held up the blackberry and stood up, heading back out to the main area on the bus.
“Hey, you okay?” He caught my nauseous gaze and questioned it.
“I’m fine,” I lied. It was nothing that I needed to concern them with, just part of my past that I wished would go away.
