All night, Joe tossed and turned on his old, lumpy mattress, unable to get a wink of sleep.
He glanced at the clock which told him there was at least another hour and a half until it was time to get ready for school.
Joe sighed, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes and shaking off the sleepless night. He had been awake since that dream. He tried, then failed to remember anything more about it.
Suddenly, a major headache began to form. What a marvelous way to start off the worst day of the week, Tuesday. It had always been his least favorite.
Joe slowly shuffled out of bed and into the shower, taking as much time as he pleased. As the droplets dribbled down his back, he allowed the refreshing water to wash away all his troubles.
He had plenty of time afterwards to carefully pick out an outfit and do my hair. Okay, well, he picked the first shirt he saw and put on the crumpled jeans in the corner, and then looked at his hair in the mirror and shrugged. But still.
By the time Joe would have normally woken up, he was settled on the couch, eating some cheap, off-brand version of Froot Loops. He would seriously describe them as tasting the way dog shit smells, but it was all he could afford with what earnings he made at his job at the local diner.
Once Joe finished his bowl of shitty cereal, he carefully and quietly peeked into his parent's room. They were sleeping like rocks, too careless to ever make sure if he made it to school safely.
Joe sighed again and stepped outside into the cool air, clutching his backpack as he left. The school bus wouldn't be there for at least another 45 minutes, but he decided to stay out anyway. It really was a beautiful day, after all. The clouds seemed exceptionally fluffy, and the sun was barely peering out from behind them. It created the beautiful effect of "heavenly" rays shining down to the earth. The grass and the trees were extraordinarily green, and the sky unbelievably blue. Joe smiled softly despite himself. Not bad, for a Tuesday. The exquisite nature was incredibly reassuring that something wonderful was soon to happen.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, a voice a little too harsh for a morning like this muttered from behind him, "And what are you smiling so stupidly for?"
And there was his headache rearing its ugly head again. It was, after all, still a stupid Tuesday.
Annoyed, Joe closed his eyes and rubbed his temples before wheeling himself around, diverting his attention from the peacefulness to glare at the owner of the comment.
"Beautiful day today," Joe said, but he spat as if it were an insult.
Joe eyed the man who had spoken up and down. He looked to be about his age. He also appeared as if he had a stick lodged up his ass.
Joe murmured, "Not like you'd care or anything..."
The snooty guy was silent behind Joe, so he turned back to gaze at the lifeless street before him.
There was shuffling, and soon, Joe could feel a presence beside him.
The guy turned to him and asked in an almost apologetic tone, "So... what's your name?"
Joe could almost snort at the weak attempt to make amends.
"Joe. Joe Hart."
Joe turned the slightest bit, so he could see the other man's face.
He nodded slowly, then flashing Joe the oddest grin, said, "I'm Nick. Nick Jonas," mocking the way Joe had introduced himself.
Nick sat there staring at Joe like he was expecting him to say something.
So Joe decided to have a go at him. He gave him a funny look, and smirked.
"Why are you smiling at me like that? It's a little creepy."
Nick's strange little smile morphed into a frown of disbelief.
"You don't know me?" he asked, shocked.
Joe restrained the urge to roll his eyes. After the beating his ears had taken the previous day at school, Joe wished he didn't know who Nick Jonas was. Still, it was fun to mess with him. Besides, how many times does one get the chance to tease a celebrity in their lifetime? Joe couldn't not take advantage of the moment.
Joe shot him another weird glance, and asked with fake confusion, "Uhh... should I know you? Aren't you the new kid?"
The pop star's jaw was hanging open slightly still, and he said, "Nick Jonas? As in, Jonas. Famous singer, songwriter, actor? You really don't know me?"
Laughing softly to himself, Joe smiled, keeping up the act.
"Hmm... Ohh! You're that guy that all the girls are crazy for. I guess this is what you look like after all..."
Joe trained his eyes on him and made it clear he was surveying the other boy.
"I guess I don't know what I was expecting…" Joe trailed off, purely teasing him.
Joe turned his back once again, keeping his composure to elongate the joke. With such a big ego like Nick's, Joe seriously doubted that his comment really put a dent in the celebrity's feelings. Still, Nick stared at him in awe.
Suddenly, the bus rolled around the corner, and was about to come to the stop.
Nick turned around sharply to face Joe.
"Yeah well at least I'm a step up from you. What's a poor, dirty little fag loser like you got on me?" he bit out.
Joe dropped his jaw slightly and his eyebrows knitted together in surprise. He expected that the guy might be rude, but not that rude.
As the bus pulled to a stop, he sneered and said to Joe, "And you better find a way to keep that shut," gesturing to his mouth. He shoved passed Joe, and while climbing the steps of the bus, he murmured over his shoulder, "because it looks like you're ready to blow the next guy who's willing."
Joe rolled his eyes and scrambled in after him.
"Ouch. You really got me there," he said, clutching a hand to his heart sarcastically.
X
As Joe made his way over to his usual seat next to Demi, he locked eyes with a surrounded Nick Jonas, who smiled and fluttered his fingers as he waved at Joe. The whole bus was crowded towards him, desperately trying to make their impressions on him. Girls batted their eyelashes that were over-coated with mascara, and seemed to hike up their skirts slightly higher, wanting to show Nick their worlds. Guys crowded around him too, hoping to gain popularity by kissing his ass. Joe could not roll his eyes enough.
He shrugged it off until he noticed that Demi was one of the many girls crowding around Nick. Annoyed, he flung himself down on their seat without her.
Joe bitterly watched his best friend from behind. At least she had the sensibility to dress with normal attire. But there was no way Nick was paying a cent of attention to her. Why would he, when there were plenty of sluts in the sea? Demi was not at all his type, and it made Joe a little angry to see her throwing herself at him anyway.
Joe tried to grab her hand to pull her away from the madness, but she couldn't spare a second glance to him. He sighed and sat alone near the back of the bus until they finally showed up at school.
The bus pulled to a complete stop, and Joe was growing impatient as no one got off the bus. Everyone was eagerly insisting that Nick should be the first to get off. It was ridiculous! After at least 5 minutes of fake chivalry from the students, Joe finally angrily pushed through the crowd and jumped off the bus. He could feel curious eyes tracing his back, but continued towards the school. This might just be the longest year of Joe's life.
X
Later, at lunch, Joe again had to play savior as he pulled his two best friends away from a growing crowd of Nick Jonas fans, not allowing them to hover over him, just like everyone else.
The guy was a giant ass, but he still needed some space just like any other human. Then again, his ego was so big that it probably wouldn't matter. Still, Joe didn't want Demi and Selena falling all over him, knowing that it would only end in heartbreak.
Sometimes he wished he had someone real to talk to… someone who didn't just talk about cute guys and clothes all day. Nevertheless, Joe loved them and wanted them to be different from all the other girls who forced themselves on Nick.
As he finished chewing a big bite of his lunch, Joe said, "You guys should probably stay away from this Jonas guy… I think he could be trouble," using his fork to point at them.
They both raised an eyebrow at him.
"I mean, look at the growing stampede over there! One could get seriously injured," I teased, giving a little chuckle.
Selena and Demi shared some kind of knowing look, and they smirked at me. "That's not what you really think. How are you still sold on Nick being such a big jerk? All the magazines like, ever, say that he's sweet, and caring… and not to mention hot!"
They both giggled, really tipping Joe's iceberg. If they had only been there while Nick and he were waiting at the bus stop.
"Well, talk is cheap," Joe offered. "There's no sense in falling head over heels for someone that you don't know. I just think that he's superficial. And the last thing I want is for one of my two very best friends in the whole world to get hurt."
The smile stretched across Joe's lips was forced and he hugged them almost halfheartedly. His friends pretended like they bought it, but it was obvious that they were not soaking up a single word that flew out of his mouth.
X