Listen to the Thunder (Nick Jonas): Chapter One

“No...no, no no no!!” Joyce cried, stuffing her face into her pillow, tears spilling out of her eyes. In less than twenty-four hours, her whole world had crashed. The world now thought that Joyce Ann Brady was pregnant..and that Nick Jonas was responsible. She cried harder, unable to stop.

“Joyce?” came her mom's voice outside of her bedroom door. Joyce quickly wiped her eyes dry and pretended to be typing. “Come on in mom,” she said, trying to keep her voice even. Joyce's mom came and sat next to her on the bed. “What's wrong sweetheart?” she asked, pushing a strand of Joyce's hair behind her ear.

“Nothing mom, I'm fine,” Joyce lied. Her mom gave her an I'm-not-an-idiot look and Joyce finally broke down in tears again, burying her face into her mother's shoulder. “Joyce what's the matter?” her mom asked, rubbing her back. Joyce lifted her head wiping her eyes again before turning the computer screen so her mom could read.

She watched her mom carefully as she read the article on her laptop. “Joyce...” her mom said. “Mom, I know it looks bad..but it's not true, I promise you..I would never...Nick would never...” Joyce could only stammer unfinished sentences. Her mom pulled her into a tight hug. “I believe you Joy..” she whispered. Joyce began to cry again, unable to get the words she had just read out of her head. “Mom, what do I do?” she choked between sobs.

“Does Nick know about this?” her mom asked evenly. “I don't know..” Joyce said. “Probably though..” Her mom sighed. “Well, do they not have an interview or anything coming up where they can annouce that the pregnancy is a lie?” she asked. Joyce shook her head. “No, they told me they don't have another one of those for another few months!”

“Well...maybe they can post something on the internet maybe?” she proposed. “No mom, everyone will either think they're lying or they'll think it's a poser pretending to be them..” she said sadly. “Well Joyce, there's not much else to do but wait for this to blow over. It will eventually,” her mom sad softly. Joyce nodded, not feeling much better.

Joyce rushed over to the Jonas' house, making sure that no one recognized her. She knocked on their door quickly, looking around to be sure no one was standing around. Joe openned the door. “Almond!” he exclaimed happily, but his expression changed when he noticed her face. “Are you okay Joy?” he asked, stepping aside and letting her come in. “No Joe..I'm not..I need to talk to Nick, now,” Joyce said hurriedly. Joe nodded. “NICK! JOYCE IS HERE!” he yelled. Joe led her to the couch and sat her down gently.

Nick came down the stairs and went over to where Joyce and Joe were sitting. Kevin joined them. “Is something wrong?” Nick asked. They all looked expectantly at Joyce. She sighed shakily. “Nick...have you been on the internet this evening?” she asked. He shook his head. Kevin left the room and came back with a laptop. “Go to AOL...” she said. Kevin did was she said. “Now click on that headline..” she said pointing at the dreaded article, a tear slipping down her cheek as Kevin moved the cursor over it and clicked.

All three of the brothers' mouths were hanging open after reading. “Joyce I am so sorry..” Nick said, putting an arm around her, holding her close. “I can't believe I've pulled you into this mess too..” Joyce inhaled deeply, breathing in Nick's scent. He smelled good. She leaned her head onto his shoulder, his soft curls brushing her forehead. “This isn't your fault...” she said quietly. “Yes it is...I should have just...just...left you alone. If you survived a year without me...surely you could have gone on...but no, I had to pop in and ruin everything..” he mumbled.

Joyce was about to protest when Nick stopped her. “Face it Joyce, I've ruined your life..and I've only been here for a few days. I'v caused nothing but confusion, anger, and...absolute chaos. You're better off without me...” he continued. He stood up and headed for the stairs. “Nick, please--” Joyce said. But he ignored her. “Don't worry about him Joy, two pregnancy rumors is a lot to take in one day,” Joe said after they heard Nick's bedroom door close. Joyce stood up. “I...I should get home now...it's getting late...see you guys around,” she said as she ran out the door.

Unable to sleep, Joyce tossed and turned all night. Nightmares of Nick being mocked, shunned, and tortured for what he was false accused of....because of her. If she hadn't eaten so much..if she hadn't agreed to go to the mall in the first place...if she hadn't read her magazine that morning...if she hadn't accepted his apology...It was all her fault. Eventually she stumbled into an uneasy, miserable sleep.

Joyce woke up and found a piece of folded paper in her hand. It had her name written on it in Nick's handwriting. She sat up slowly and started reading the note.

Joyce,

I am more than sorry for the problems I've caused you. You're better off without me and I'm going make sure nothing like this ever happens again.

Joe and Kevin and I did some negotiating and managed to get an interview next week in New York. We're flying out this morning, so we'll be gone by the time you read this. I'll explain to the press that neither you or Miley are pregnant. And this time, I won't be coming back.

Please, please don't blame yourself. I know you always think stuff is your fault when it never is.

Never forget that I love you Joyce, and I always will.

Take care.

Love,

Nick

Joyce gaped at the paper in her trembling hands. Surely it was a joke, a cruel joke that Joe had formulated over night.. She clambered out of bed, slipped her shoes on and ran out of the house, ignoring her mother's questions as she flew out the door. She sprinted as fast as she could to the Jonas' house.

She stopped dead in her tracks once she was but a few meter s away. A “For Sale” sign was sitting in the yard. “No...” she whispered and she ran to the door and knocked. No answer. Joyce looked through windows, only to see dark, empty rooms. She rang the doorbell fifty times, kicked the door, pounded it with her fists, and no one came to answer it. “Someone...please...” she sobbed, sliding down to the ground with her back against the door, crumbling into a heap of tears.

They were gone.
Nick was gone. Again. Forever.
And it was all her fault.