Listen to the Thunder (Nick Jonas): Chapter One

Joyce sat there in front of the Jonas' house, sobbing her heart out. “No...” was all she could manage to say. Nick was gone..her life was gone...her heart was gone. She finally stood up and walked home, crying all the way back.

Once she got home she remembered...she still had to go to school. It was Monday. She groaned as she ran upstairs, showered for like fifteen seconds, threw on some clean clothes, grabbed her bag and her trumpet (she was in marching band), and returned downstairs. Her mom confronted her as soon as she touched the last step.

“Joyce, what was that all about!?” she asked referring to earlier that morning. “Nothing mom...nothing you need to worry about at any rate..” Joyce mumbled. Her mom asked a few more times while she drove her to school, but Joyce remained stubbornly silent, fighting back tears as they pulled up to her high school. “Have a good day hon..” he mom said, still looking at Joyce with concern. Joyce got out and closed the car door without a word, afraid that if she spoke she would start crying again.

As soon as she stepped into the building people started staring. She concentrated on her feet as she walked quickly to her locker, which was unfortunately on the far end of the hall. Kids turned to each other and started whispering, almost so ludly she thought it was on purpose. “Can you believe her...” “I know right?” “She's the last person I'd have thought to get pregnant..” “I dunno what Nick was thinking..he could found someone better..”

After what seemed like 100 years, Joyce finally reached her locker. She set her trumpet case down and openned her locker, stuffing her books in as fast as she could. “Hey Joyce, how's Nick Jonas Junior?” a girl said as she walked by. “I didn't know he was THAT desperate..” she heard the girl say to her friends.

“And people give the cheerleaders the rep for getting pregnant...look at the band geek!” the captain of the cheer squad, Bridget sneered. “I mean, I've come close...but I've never gotten pregnant!” she continued. The next thing Joyce knew someone rammed her into her locker. She looked around to see three cheerleaders standing in front of her, smirking. “Careful girls, might give her a miscarriage!” Bridget mocked. They burst out laughing, throwing out a few more insults. More and more kids gathered around, joining the cheerleaders. Joyce was crowded against her locker, unable to run.

“HEY! Cut it out!!” someone yelled. The hall fell silent as everyone turned to see a boy standing behind the crowd, his face furious. Joyce recognized him. His name was Ryan and he was in almost all of her classes. But he never seemed to notice her. He pushed his way through everyone until he reacehd Joyce. He stood in front of her protectively as he faced the crowd. “Well!? What you waiting for? There's nothing here to see, get lost!” he demanded. Within a few minutes, everyone was back to their usually business, ignoring Joyce completely.

Ryan turned to Joyce and smiled. “Thanks..” she said shyly. “No problem,” he said. He looked at her for a moment, making Joyce feel uncomfortable. “You're Joyce Brady, am I right?” he asked. “Uh..yeah...” she said, taken aback. She hadn't expected him to know her name. “I'm Ryan Smith,” he said, as if she didn't already know. “I know this is gonna sound really lame..but..I didn't think you knew me..” Joyce said.

He laughed, but not in the mocking way she had been hearing all morning. He was laughing as if she had said something genuinely funny. “Of course I know who you are. I have five out of six classes with you, and I even sit by you in three of them!” She smiled, embarrassed with herself, unable to respond. “Need someone to walk you to class?” he offered, taking her books from her and holding them himself. “Uh..sure..I guess...um..thanks..” she stammered, shocked with his behavior. She closed her locker door and walked to the band hall, Ryan close at her side.

“Are you sure about this man? I mean we can always get a flight back home..” Joe said. They were sitting in the airport, waiting for their next plane to New York. “Yes, Joe, for the a hundredth and second time, I am sure about this..” Nick said angrily. He leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes, trying to think about anything but Joyce. He couldn't. Her face was clearer than ever in his head and he couldn't make it disappear...

Joe leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knee caps. “Look Nick, I think you're going about this all wrong. You don't abandon your best friend after she just found out the world thinks she's pregnant! I mean, I understand leaving to clear things up...but not going back?!” Nick openned his eyes and glared at Joe. “Joe..please..just..stop talking. My mind is made up. I'm not going back. I can't destroy Joyce's life again..” Joe shook his head. “Too late..” he muttered under his breath.

Nick eventually fell asleep in his effort to not think about Joyce.

He was in a tux, standing in front of a church filled with friends and family. But Joyce wasn't among them. The doors openned and girl in a beautiful white gown started walking toward him slowly. Nick became excited suddenly, hoping it was who he wanted it to be. As she grew closer, her face grew clearer. And his heart plummeted into his stomach. It was Miley.

She reached the front, and took Nick's hands in her own, smiling widely at him. The preacher started speaking, but Nick couldn't hear him. He heard Miley say “I do”. He fought with all his might, but his tongue forced itself into saying the same words.

Suddenly Joyce was in the middle of the aisle, on her knees, her face streaked with tears. Nick tore his hands out of Miley's and ran to Joyce. “Joyce! What's the matter!?” he asked. Joyce looked up at him, her wide brown eyes full of devastastion and hatred. “You abandoned me Nick! You abandoned me again!! I thought you loved me!! You said you loved me! You LIED to me!! I hate you Nick Jonas! I HATE YOU!!”

Nick's eyes flew open. His heart was racing and his forehead was drenched with sweat. “Dude are you okay? You look sick..” Kevin said. “No, I'm fine...” Nick said, rubbing his eyes. “Just had a bad dream, that's all...”

“At least I hope it was just a dream...” he whispered to himself.