Chapter Ten:Empty words. Empty promises. Show me that I'm not cut out, for the road of the entertainer. 'Cause I'm really not that loud.~Time Is On Our Side by The Jonas Brothers

Nick sat on his bed, his hands in his lap as he waited for a response from his siblings. They had all had to sit down after his announcement, but they had scooted their chairs close to his bed. Joe spoke up first. "You really want to quit the band?" It was more of a statement than an actual question but Nick nodded and said, "Yeah. There's just been too much going on lately." Meredith wiped her eyes with her shirt sleeve. "But Nick, it's your dream to perform." Nick nodded. "I know, it still is. But if I do it, I don't want to be doing what I've been doing, you know? I'm tired Disney and our record label."
"Then we'll make our own label!" Joe said. Kevin shook his head,"Joe that would be way more money than we have."

Nick sighed, "I'm really sorry you guys." Kevin shook his head. "Don't be. We just want you better, right guys?" Mer and Joe were still quiet. Kevin kicked his sister. "Fuck, ow! Yeah, no worries. We still love ya." She elbowed Joe hard in the ribs. "Shit! Sorry, um no Nick we're not mad. Ow. You should just worry on getting better." Nick smiled. "Mom and Dad talking to Disney?"
"Less talking, more yelling." Mer said. "Mom is pissed off at them. Well, at herself too but she's taking it out on them." She smiled as she said, "I wish I could be there, seeing her yell at someone who's not me." Kevin chuckled. Joe frowned, "You see her yell at me. Remember when she went to wake us up that morning?"
Nick raised an eyebrow, "What? Is there something I don't know?" Kevin shushed him. Mer said stiffly, "As I recall she did far more yelling at me. Besides, she still holds it against me."
Joe blinked,"That's not fair. Being the older one I should have gotten the blame. I might as well have taken advantage of you."

Leota tapped on the door. "Um, I came to see how you were doing but, I can see this is rather a, uh, a family moment. I'll call you later." Joe paled when he saw his girlfriend turn to leave. Guilt flooded through him. "What are you doing?" Mer cried, "Go talk to her." Joe nodded and jumped up, rushing off to explain.

Nick looked from his sister to the door to his sister again. "Did you know about that?" he asked Kevin. Kevin looked the other way and began whistling. Nick's mouth opened and closed. "Well, I guess that answers my question." He looked over at his sister. "Why didn't you ever tell me?" he asked, his voice tinged with hurt. Mer bit her lip. "I'm sorry Nick. I just didn't know how to tell anyone." He put his hand on her knee and she looked him in the eye. He said it quietly, and Kevin was shocked, "Is that why you started cutting?" She nodded. "One of the reasons."

"Joe, just please go away." Leota said. He grabbed at her arm and she turned to try and swat him away. "Just hear me out please Leo?" She gave a frustrated sigh but stood still, waiting for him to talk. "Listen, OK. It happened when we were teens. Just, figuring stuff out. We learned our mistakes and we never did it again." Leo started crying, "Is that what you told your other girlfirends?" Joe shook his head. "God,no. All my other break ups were mutual things." She gasped and he immediately regretted what he said. "No! That's not-I really don't want to break up with you here." Leo pushed him away. "Would a phone call have been more convienent for you? Look, I'll call you later. Just leave me alone right now." Joe watched her go sadly. Feeling worse than he had in a long, long time. She waved as the elevator doors closed. And Joe punched the wall behind him.

"Ow." he mumbled. A few staff members stared at him. "What?!" he yelled. They quickly turned away and Joe walked back to Nick's room. Kevin looked over. "Did you catch her?" Joe sighed and rubbed at his eyes. "I think I screwed my relationship up." Kevin went over and gave his younger brother a hug. Joe began to cry lightly into Kevin's shoulder.
Nick looked up from his cell phone. "I'm sorry Joe." Joe sighed. "It's not your fault Nick. I should learn not to bring up the past. So who are you writing to." Nick hesitated. "Um, my girlfriend." He said. Mer smacked Nick's foot. "Stitches!" Kevin warned her.

Casey walked into the room carrying a card. Seeing Joe's fresh tear tracks she paused. "Is this a bad time?" she asked. Mer stood up and nodded. "It's kind of a quiet day, sorry. How about I take that, and you can keep up your IM conversation with Nick?" Casey shook her head and said, "But I want to be here for him." Mer placed her hands on her hips. "Well, that's too bad." she said.

Author's Note: Hope you guys like this newest update. Reviews would be awesome.