Sterling's POV

I awoke with an enormous smile on my face, practically beaming–something I'd never thought could happen to me. After all, it was so early. Could this be a sign? A good one?

Enough, wondering, I thought to myself. I yawned and threw my covers over, heading for the bathroom. Every morning meant breakfast down at the Caf, here at the Universal Studies, here at Utah. I originally was from Connecticut, but I was attending here to become a music teacher. Dakota was majoring in creative writing. I wondered where she went to college.

I walked out of my dorm, heading towards Nick's room. Joe must have slept in there; where else? I hope he's not mad at me for kicking him out his dorm last night although he kinda deserved it. I know I sounded mean, but he could be so annoying.

When Nick opened his door, I could see Joe still lying on the floor. Sleeping. What time is it for him to still be in bed? Or in this case, on floor?

Nick saw my look. "I tried, Sterling, but he wouldn't budge. I'll see you down at the Caf."

After about ten minutes of shaking Joe's shoulder and literally yelling in his ear, he finally woke. We headed down to the Caf and grabbed a seat besides Nick.

"Can I ask you something, Joe?" I asked while eating breakfast.

He gulped down his orange juice and replied, "What?"

"Why were you sleeping on the floor in Nick's room?"

He rolled his eyes. "Someone kicked me out of my dorm."

I laughed silently and rephrased my question, "I meant, why didn't you sleep on the empty bed right above you?" Nick had a room all to himself–he was so lucky.

Beside me, I could hear Nick trying not to laugh.

"You see–," He began. "I sorta fell off my bed." His cheeks turned bright pink as he looked down at his empty plate of breakfast. Oh, that's why Nick was laughing.

"You should've seen it, Sterling. He was talking in his sleep. He kept whispering someone's name; who was it again?"

Joe turned to Nick and gave him a glare. "No one." Okay…

I wondered who it could be, but since Joe didn't want to tell me, I wouldn't ask. "Sorry about kicking you out, but you shouldn't be intervening with my relationship."

Again, he rolled his eyes. "What relationship, huh?"

My phone vibrated. I held up the phone and pointed to it, "This relationship. Hang on Joe, I got a text." Before I had a chance to flip it open, Joe snatched it away from my hands. "What is wrong with you?"

"Many things," I heard Nick say under his breath.

Joe flipped open my phone. "Oh look, it's that 'Dakota' girl." He snickered and put the phone in his front pocket."

"Give it back!" I struggled to retrieve my phone back. "Joe, give it back to me! What if it's something important?"

"If it was important, she'd call someone else…someone important."

Hopelessly, I sat there for the next thirty seconds.

Nick looked through the text messages on my phone and said, "Sterling, you have it bad for this girl, Dakota. Look at your messages. You guys are practically talking about little things like the weather!" He shook his head in disbelief. "Has Joe brainwashed you or something?"

"I'm the one trying to stop all this!" Joe yelled.

"Oh that's right." Nick looked away embarrassed for what he said about his brother.

Joe started again, "You barely know her. I bet you don't even know the color of her eyes."

"Brown," I said instantly.

Joe smacked his lips together. "Okay, so let's say that question doesn't count. When's her birthday? Where does she live?"

"She doesn't even know where I live! Plus, she told me not to disclose my personal info."

"If you were in a REAL relationship, you would know all that. See! You barely know her."

Nick agreed. "You and Dakota are not honest with each other. Every relationship should honest."

I sighed heavily. "Oh come on, Nick! Save that nonsense for Selena!"

Simultaneously, they shook their heads and said, "It's time."

What? "Time for what? Time for you guys to come to your senses?"

Joe laughed. "No, time for YOU to come to YOUR senses."

This has got to be the worst day ever. They told me they were taking away my cell phone for the month AND my internet connection. I told them I needed the latter for homework, but they told me if I don't agree my phone would be gone for twice that amount of time. How was I going to contact Dakota, now?

Hmm…maybe if I sneak into an internet cafe or library…but knowing the Jonas siblings, they'd probably stop that from happening.

***

What was I supposed to do now? I already completed my homework and there's practically nothing left to do!! I paced back and forth in my room, purposely annoying Joe. When my feet were tired, I sat down and grabbed my guitar. Maybe I could put everything to lyrics.

After ten minutes, I came up with a chorus. Alright Joe, you said I barely even know Dakota. Well here's something for you:

Oh Dakota, I know our love is new

I barely know ya

I've fallen over you

It's the way you do the things you do

That make me fall in love with you

Oh Dakota, are you in love with me too

I sang this aloud, changing the chords up a bit, but keeping the same lyrics.

Joe stopped me when I'm on the second line. "Sterling! You're pathetic. So what now? You're putting this to rhyme?" He reaches for his phone on the desk near him and dials a number. "Nick? Yeah, guess what? Sterling just wrote a song and he's basically putting everything about how he barely knows Dakota to rhyme. I've listened to it five times already…No, you can't hear it…really? Okay, I think I know how to help you…we'll be there in about ten minutes…okay…bye, bro." He hung up and looked at me. "We're going somewhere…surprise!"

***

Somehow we've ended up at the Starbucks I've been too yesterday. What could Joe possibly want to do here? Drink coffee? I folded my arms and went through the doors with Joe five steps ahead of me.

He walked up to the counter and asked an unfamiliar girl a question."Do you know where Demi is? Demi Lovato?"

I waited beside him. Who was this "Demi" and why did Joe want to see her? What did he mean by surprise? Those questions ran through my head as we waited for Demi to come out…