"Nick if I could punch you in the face over the phone, right now I would. You're annoying me."
This is not what people usually say to a rock star, but believe it or not Nick Jonas, yes girls the youngest Jonas Brother, is my best friend. When I say it out loud it sounds so weird. I mean most girls have pictures of him on their wall dreaming of what they would say to him if they were ever to meet him, and here I am in my bedroom looking at old pictures of the two of us telling him I am going to kick him, packing to go see him. OK now I am getting ahead of myself let me start from the beginning.
My name is Belkis Alex Mejia. I am 17 years old and I live in Miami Beach Florida. But for 14 years I grew up in, you guessed it Wycoff, New Jersey the Jonas Brothers hometown. The boys lived two streets over from me, but I never met them until 1st grade when Nick and I were seated next to each other in Mrs. Stevinis class (me being "Me-" and him being "Jo-").
I was such a shy kid probably because I was literally wider than I was tall, rocked some hardcore nerd classes, and had some major metal in my mouth (I actually had some kind of orthodontial contraption in my mouth from grades 1-6, I guess that's what you get from sucking your thumb for 5 years). Let's just say my parents thought my awkward stage was going to be never ending. But I'll get to that later, anyways back to 1st grade.
Again me being shy I never really talked to anyone, I had three friends all who were like me… not so cute. I just remember walking into the first day of 1st grade, nervous about my first full day of school, not getting naps, learning letters, and even possibly having homework. I will never forget what happened next, I went to my desk, and as I was unpacking my back pack putting away my 64 crayons, 24 markers, and Spice Girl pencils, a tiny boy with brown straight hair (yes believe it or not Nick had straight hair when he was younger) with big almond shaped brown eyes sat down next to me, smiled and said in a high pitched angel voice "Hello my name is Nicholas Jonas, what's your name?" even back then he was so charismatic. Shocked, Nick was the first boy to ever really talk to me, I introduced my self and sat down right next to him. From that day on we were inseparable.
He was so polite and considerate even at age 7. We both developed a deep love of music, especially Broadway. I actually learned how to the piano first and jealous, Nick was determined to learn too. I remember the first Broadway show Nick was in I used to listen to him practice and sing with him. Every show he was in I sat front and center opening night. (He always came to my dance recitals, and sat front and center He would bring me flowers and made me feel like I was also a Broadway star). As we got older we only became closer friends. Mr. and Mrs. Jonas became my second parents Joe and Kevin, my big brothers I never had. They used to tease and bully me, well mostly Joe.
I remember Nick and I would write songs together. They were terrible of course no tune, no meaning, but they were always duets and we would perform them in his basement for everyone. He was such a good singer, obviously, even at that age. I was decent but nowhere as good as Nick. I always knew he would be a star; it was his destiny. As he got better and better he would help me sing. He was my own personal vocal coach. I again became a good singer, but of course nowhere as good as Nick.
Most fan girls would kill to be me. I know everything about the boys, but mostly Nick. I watched his straight bowl cut hair turn curly, I sat in church with him while we listened to Mr. Jonas Preach, I iced his hand the time he punched a wall because he was so mad he was no longer the youngest and was going to have to be a big brother, (I know he is extremely protective and jealous with a bad temper), I was the one who got him addicted to diet cokes and monster, I baked him a celebratory cake when he got his first record deal, I was his only fan when him and his brothers played tiny little clubs, and always front and center at each show, I was the shoulder he cried on when he found out he had Diabetes, He was the shoulder I cried on when I moved away, I played the piano helping the boys and him brainstorm most of their first album at Hollywood Records, I know every meaning to every song and who it's about, I watched their stardom grow, and if its isn't obvious I have been head over heels in love with Nick since that first day of first grade.
Now let's not go bananas, although I have been crazy about him since 1st grade I don't let that get in the way of our friendship. I mean he has a girlfriend, Ms. Selena Gomez, and I have (well had, again another story) a boyfriend. Don't worry teenies out there, were just friends. Now let me get back on track.
When Nick dropped out of school in 4th grade to be home-schooled I was really his only friend. Many of the other kids either wanted to be his friend because he could sing, or thought he was a freak because he could sing. Kids always asked him why he was friends with me, I mean even at age 7 he was a good looking kid and I was… well I already told you what I was like. But Nick was such a sweet and genuine kid he would just say, "because she likes all the same things as me and when I am with her I don't have to pretend to be someone I'm not". (Just imagine jaws dropping, I mean that came out of a 7 year olds mouth.)
Nick knows all my deepest secrets, everything from the fact that I hate pickles and to the fact that thunderstorms terrify me and I cant sleep during them. He knows I love Shakespeare, books, music, movies and singing,guitar,drums,acting and Photography. (Basically he knows I'm a huge nerd). Through thick thin we have always been there for each other. Right before the boys got famous when they were, well, broke and in between record labels was about the same time that I Moved away. We just helped each other through the hard times. At my house while I packed Nick was the only person I would talk to in between tears. And when he was going through a rough time with the diabetes, leaving Columbia and his family struggling I was right there for him.
As we got older Nick just got more better looking, his straight hair getting curly his sweet angel singing voice got more rock sounding and deeper. I on the other hand looked the same, just older. (An end to the awkward stage was really nowhere in sight). I remember the first day the boys were on MTV for the music video for SOS, my mom and I screamed at the TV! That was the day I realized things were going to change. About a half a year later, the boys packed up their stuff and moved to Hollywood.
That was the saddest day of my life. I always told him how happy and excited I was for him, which I was but deep inside I knew things were inevitably going to change between us. I would miss him, everyday. I cried for weeks, but I never let Nick see me cry. That was until the day I had to say goodbye. I remember walking to Nick's house with puffy red eyes from crying all night, when I saw him at the end of his driveway with his head hung low. I didn't know what I was going to say to him or how I would say it with out just breaking down and bawling. When I finally got to him he didn't let me say anything he took my hand and put a little box in it. He then hugged me tight and whispered in my ear "I love you Bellz. I will miss you everyday! We will talk on the phone every night OK. When I am rich a famous I will fly you out to see me and we will write songs together. You will be front and center at all my shows. Best friends forev-". His voice cracked on forever and a single tear fell down his face. I of course than couldn't contain my self and started bawling. He let go kissed my cheek and ran back into the house. I stood at the end of the driveway just watching him run back into the house when I remember Nick put something in my hand. I look down and see a small box, I unwrapped it and in it was a ring with a note. I took out the silver band and saw on the inside "we're inseparable" was inscribed the note read, "I love you Belkis, best friends for life not matter what". I ran home bawling and that was the last day I ever saw Nick in person. I was 14 years old.
The boys tried to come and visit in the early days of their stardom, including giving their friends concert tickets. But our schedules never seemed to mesh. I then moved to Miami and the boys became, well huge. But don't worry I still talk with Nick at least once a week on the phone It's how we stay close. I know everything about his life. He vents to me about the "hardships" about being a rock star, girlfriends, his brothers, everything. We talk about everything from good old Miley (that lasted waaaay long), to Selena, to haircuts, and music. Now 3 years after I said goodbye to 14-year-old Nick he is finally going to keep his promise. He is flying me out to see him. NONE of my friends here in Miami know I talk to Nick. They don't even know that I know the Jonas Brothers. It's a really hard secret to keep due to the fact that my closest friends are Jonas obsessed. I usually act indifferent to "this Jonas phenomenon" as I call it in front of them. I told them I am going to visit my grandma for part of summer, little do they know I am actually going to see their idols.
"I am sorry I am just so excited I get to see you, jerk face" Nick responds as I put him on speaker phone and finish packing,
"Ok I am excited too, but that doesn't mean you have to constantly just yell into the phone to show your excitement." I laugh folding yet another bikini.
"OK, OK, OK sorry about that. Bellz, you have been packing for over 2 hours how much are you over packing?" Nick laughs. My heart flutters every time he calls me that. No one else in the world except for him (and sometimes his brothers but they don't count) calls me that.
"What? I am not over packing", I lie as I stuff a few last articles of clothing into my second suitcase.
"Ryan," Nick coos while he bites into something, "I have known you for over 15 years I think I know when you're lying; that's you're lying voice".
"I do not have a lying voice!" I respond, letting my Jersey accent slip out, folding my arms
"Ahh, there's that Jersey accent I love" Nick teases.
"Oh shut up Nick," I respond, my Jersey accent rarely ever come outs, but Nick calls me out when it does, "and don't talk and chew at the same time. I can basically feel your spit through the phone"
"Oh you're so funny I forgot to laugh," Nick responds sarcastically.
"But anyway, how many suitcases do you have Ryan?" Nick asks taking another bite.
"Two…" I hesitantly mumble.
"My point exactly, you are an over packer and you have a lying voice."
I am about to yell at him when my mom interrupts, by screaming to me upstairs:
"Belkis come on we have to get to the airport! You're going to miss you're flight. You don't want to walk to LA now do you!!"
"I heard that, I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!" Nick yells in to the phone.
"haha goodbye nick, I WILL SEE YOU IN LIKE 5 HOURS!!!" I yell back.
"AHHHHHHHHH!!! BYE BELLZ!!!" Nick yells hanging up the phone.
As I throw on a pair of jean cut off shorts and a flannel shirt over my Tanktop, lace up my beat up white converses, throw my ipod, worn out copy of Romeo and Juliet and blackberry into my carry-on, I can stop thinking about how excited I am. The next time I hear Nicks voice I will be hearing it in person. I smile and squeal to myself as I grab my two huge suitcases and wheel them down the stairs.