I DONT OWN THE JB -- Just my own character, Ashley!


"Honey, guess who's coming back tomorrow?" my mom asked, peering into my room.

"Who?"

"Joe!" When that name slipped off of her tongue, I knew exactly who she was talking about. Joe Jonas. We were the best of friends when he lived down the street from me, but then he moved on with his band with his brothers. We tried to keep in touch, but I'm sure he doesn't remember me. As my mom likes to remember, we were inseparable. She only remembers us as young, young kids…I remember something totally different.

Joe and I met when we were about five or so. From then on, we were inseparable. We would always be outside playing stupid games or inside playing video games. Our parents would get together and we would have time to hang out again. I was friends with his brothers as well, but not as close as I was with Joe.

As we grew out of the childhood stages, we entered school and were still friends. Even in separate classes, we managed to still be together. One day, when we were about nine, Joe and I were hanging out in his bedroom, trying to do homework. We were sitting next to each other, and it was quiet for a while.

Joe would look over at me and then look away when I turned my head. "What's wrong?" I asked finally.

"Have you ever kissed a boy?" he inquired.

"No…why?"

"I heard my brother talking about it, and I was just wondering. I never kissed anyone," Joe blushed.

"Do you want to try?" I asked. His big brown eyes looked up at me and nodded. I didn't know exactly how to "kiss" so; we just pressed our lips together quickly. After that kiss, we went back to homework, as if it meant nothing.

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After those awkward years in elementary school, we graduated into seventh grade. We were both invited to a party, and arrived together. Our friends were all the same, so we all hung out. I remember asking my other friend, Kayla, whether or not Joe and I should be together. It's been a couple years after that awkward kiss, and I still felt as if there was something between us. Kayla answered that I should "go for it" because he's "my best friend".

I took her advice and decided that tonight would be the night I told Joe that I really did like him, and wanted to be more than just friends. At that age, seven minutes in heaven was a popular game (partially because it made everyone think they were older and cooler). Joe was all up for playing, being a "ladies man" and all, even at that young age..

Everyone picked their "partner" quickly. I stood and watched as I saw Joe go over and stand beside a blonde girl from my English class, Cathy. A surge of jealousy pulsed through my body, because I wanted to be the one with Joe. I never played that game, instead I walked outside…alone. Everyone else was inside making out.

I guess when the seven minutes were up, Joe walked out to find me sitting on the step. He snuck up behind me and squeezed the sides of my stomach. "Gotcha!" he laughed and took a seat beside me. "Watcha doin' out here by yourself?" he asked, nudging my elbow.

"Not much for that type of game…"

"You? Come on! I know you better than that!" he laughed.

"Yeah, well, maybe you don't…"

"Are you mad at me or something? What's wrong? Come on, you can talk to me!"

"Joe…ha…I don't know how to say this, or even if I should…this is weird…" I spoke, flustered. "I…I think I like you…which is why I left, seeing you with Cathy and such…I don't know, it's stupid…"

Joe looked shocked at what I said. "Uh, look, you're my best friend. And….that's kind of all I feel. I mean, you're my best bud….I don't see us like…that. I'm sorry, Ashley." He bit his lip.

"No, its fine…you know, I'll get over it. What was I thinking? We're just friends…"I laughed it off. "Come on, let's go back inside!" I smiled, nudging his arm. He smiled, stood up, and reached down to help me. As I was lifted up, our faces ended up inches apart, and we both turned red.

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A couple of months later, Joe went out with Cathy and broke up with her during the same month. Then, Joe went out with another girl from his social studies class, who eventually cheated on him. After he broke up with her, I was there for him after he was depressed from her cheating on him. We were in his room, sitting on his bed. We were over my sudden outburst of feelings from the party and were still friends. "It's weird…" Joe began, breaking a long silence. "Every girl I go out with...I somehow compare her to you…."

"Me?"

"Yeah, I mean…you're my best friend, you're always there for me, and I can talk to you…All the other girls I meet….aren't like that. I guess what I'm going at, is…maybe going out wouldn't be such a bad idea. We spend a lot of time together, and I've known you practically all my life," Joe breathed, looking over to see my reaction.

"You really think that?" inside, I bursting with excitement. He never knew that ever since the party, I may have looked like I didn't like him still, but the truth was: I was still crushing on him.

"Do you want to be my girlfriend?" he finally asked. I smiled, and said 'yes'. "Great!" he smirked and pulled me into a hug.

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We went out for our first official date, the next weekend. We went mini-golfing; Joe's mom drove us to the golf course. At first, as I remember, we were a bit awkward because we were thinking too far into the whole "date" idea. After the fourth hole, we were back to our normal selves, playing as if we weren't actually dating. We had such a fun time that we finished really fast.

Joe's mom wasn't coming for another ten minutes, so we sat on a hill overlooking the parking lot. It was about dusk, so the sun was setting. We were reminiscing on how he totally sucked at mini-golf, lost his ball numerous times, and lost.

"Well, aren't you the little bragger!" he joked.

"And aren't you the sore loser!" I retorted. We both laughed and looked into the sunset. As we sat there, waiting for his mom, our hands would occasionally hit one another as we switched positions. I believe I blushed every time that happened. I don't remember exactly who initiated it, but soon, our lips were on top of each other. It felt so nice, being my first "real" kiss. The one in his room when we were nine defiantly didn't count.

When we parted, we smiled at each other, and were embarrassed to see him mom's car waiting for us at the bottom of the hill.

Once inside the car, Kevin said, "Ooh! Joe and Ashley sitting in a tree…k-i-s-s-i-n-g!" Even though he was fourteen, he was not mature at all.

"Kevin! Stop it!" their mom intervened from the front seat. Joe and I giggled at his brother getting in trouble.

So, anyway…after our first of many dates, Joe and I grew over that awkward going out stage. It truly felt like everything was right. We were best friends and got the benefits of being exclusive to just one another.

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One night, I remember, we were lying in his backyard, looking at the stars. "You know what's weird? Thinking about when we are a lot older, and like married…not to each other exactly, but…like living on our own," I thought.

"Yeah, that's weird. Why are you thinking about that, you're thirteen?" Joe laughed.

"I know…Oh my God!" I gushed, turning on my side to look at Joe. "Do you know what I want when I'm older?" he was silent, so I continued with my dream. "A cute little house, out in the country-side. With a rose garden in the front, with a picket-fence!"

"You are so weird!"

"Am not! Do you seriously not dream about your future and how you want everything to look? I mean, roses are my favorite flowers, so it's just right to have their own garden. Plus, picket-fences are a must when you have a house in the country!" I protested, laughing at my stupidity of sharing this dream of mine.

"Alright, well, mark my words…if we get married, I'll get you that," he smiled and rolling his eyes.

"Hey! I saw that eye-roll! But, consider yourself marked!" I warned, laughing as well. That night we fell asleep under the nighttime sky. Joe's parents didn't even bother us or wake us up. I awoke lying on Joe's chest and smiled to myself thinking about Joe's "promise" to fulfill my dream if we got married. Not that I was thinking of getting married to him, but it was the thought that counted.

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We went out for…I don't know, for six months or so? We had a lot of fun, fooled around, but then got bored. I guess it was boring being with each other for that long of a time. I mean, we were inseparable since kindergarten. To Joe, it was a mutual agreement, but for me, I still wanted to hang on to him. I just kept that on the inside.

After our break-up we were still friends, but started to head in different directions. I began to play percussion in the school band, while he actually got started on a band with his brothers. When we were sixteen, we began to pick up our friendship again. However, soon after, Joe and his brothers were discovered and started a whole new career.

"I'll be back! Don't worry, Ash. We'll always be friends…" Joe said, giving me a huge hug before leaving.

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Now, here I am, receiving news that my oldest friend was coming back. Wow, I wonder if he remembers what happened when we were younger. Oh my gosh, what if we have another chance to go out? Hold up Ash, you haven't seen the boy in two years…he probably has changed. I actually was nervous to see him again. I mean, I've seen pictures online of him and his brothers, since he's famous and has thirteen year olds wishing to marry him. Ha, I can't believe I used to be best friends with the same guy….meeting him again will be interesting none-the-less. Plus, he has matured and defiantly bloomed into a very handsome guy. Tomorrow shall be interesting.