"Nick Jonas, of pop sensation the Jonas Brothers is still…" The TV was on and some news update was blaring in the background as I cooked dinner for my parents. As soon as I heard Nick's name I ran to the lounge and jumped on the sofa. "But we want to be the first to inform of this breaking news. We have just learnt he is suffering from a brain tumor and will be receiving surgery to remove the tumor within the next couple of weeks."
"DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD!" My voice echoed through the house as I screamed at the top of my lungs. I heard footsteps moving down the stairs hurriedly as Dad called out.
"What is it Kevin?" His voice was disgruntled when I saw his face appear in the doorway.
"When did you decide Nick was getting the surgery!? Shouldn't you tell the family before telling the media?" My voice kept rising in volume as I began getting angry with my father.
"I thought your mother told you. We assumed since you, Chelsea and Jess wanted him to have it so bad we would follow your wish." I resisted the urge to yell back even louder, not wanting to make him mad.
"O-ok. When's the surgery?"
"Friday next week." I knew Dad didn't want to talk about it but he hadn't even told his own sons!
"Does Joseph know? What about Jess? And Frankie? Why didn't you tell us?"
"Son, I'm not having this conversation right now." He turned and left, just like that. Our family is going downhill, fast.
The past week had been spent arguing with family members and avoiding the media. Everywhere I turned cameras would be flashing and someone would start asking questions. It was Thursday and I was trying to patiently await Nick's surgery, but patience was one thing I had none of.
"Please, just let me get to my car." I pushed through a crowd of photographers, reaching for the car door. When I couldn't get to the door my temper got the better of me. "GET OUT OF MY WAY!" Everyone jumped back. "Thank you." I straightened my shirt, got in the car and drove home.
I entered the house and ran up the stairs to my room. I slammed the door shut behind me and turned the radio on. Sitting on my bed was someone I hadn't thought I would see in our house for a while.
"Jess?" Her back was facing me, so I wasn't 100 per cent sure that it was her, but the voice gave it away.
"Kevin, where were you?" Her face was nowhere near as pale as it had been and her voice returning to its usual tone. "Oh that doesn't matter anyway."
"Jess, why are you here? You haven't left the hospital in months and you decide to leave the day before Nick's surgery…" She fumbled her way around my room, knocking things over and tripping on shoes lying in the floor.
"I didn't see a point in staying." Jess walked over to my desk and picked up a picture. It was of Nick, Joe, Chelsea, Jess and myself when we were all under the age of 10. A smile appeared on her face. "The group will be reunited tomorrow, why wallow in a hospital?"
"What do you mean, 'the group will be reunited'?" The way she was talking was starting to worry me.
"Well after the surgery Nick will wake up and we can all hang out again. Right?" She placed the picture back on my desk and proceeded to trawl through my stuff.
"Jess…" I placed a consoling hand on her arm and turned her toward me. "We- We can't be sure that the surgery will be a success."
"But, Paul said…" The smile was quickly drained from her face and worry took over.
"If Dad told you Nick would be fine then he was trying to convince himself as much as he was you. No one knows how the surgery will go, not even the doctors."
"But he said. PAUL SAID HE'D BE FINE!" The tears were streaming down her cheeks and she clenched her fists to try and fight back the pain.
"Jess just calm down. We don't know what's going to happen."
"DON'T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN! You're basically telling me my best friend is going to die and you're telling me to calm down! What is wrong with you!?" She tried to run for the door but I grabbed her arm and stopped her.
"Do you think I WANT to be the one telling you there's a chance my little brother is going to die? Just because I haven't sat next to his bed everyday for months doesn't mean I care any less than you do. I have been trying to hold on for the family's sake. Everyday I feel like breaking down but I don't because I know if I do, things are going to spiral down even lower. Maybe next time you decide to freak out, think about what you're saying and who you're saying it to." I dropped her arm and looked away. "You can go now."
"Kevin…"
"I said you can go."