Chapter 4:

(Kevin)

Why am I always the last one to know?

Joe told me the whole story while I did his hair and my own. I could understand why she hadn't told me and I knew what it meant for Joe. Joe and Lilly sittin' in a tree…

So I started singing persistently "Joe and Lola, sorry, Lilly sittin' in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G, first comes love then comes marriage, then a little Joey in a baby carriage!"

Nick must have heard me, because he came in and sat on his bed. He had the same smirk on his face that I did. Then Joe spoke.

"Guys, I need your help"

We both looked at him as I kept straightening his hair. I shouldn't have let him grow it past the faux-hawk. He has way too much hair. On top of his hair, I had to straighten my own curls, which was a time consuming task indeed.

"I need you to help me write a song for Lilly"

I realized that Joe hadn't told Nick yet and started to explain who Lilly was. He stopped me and said that he already knew; which earned confused looks from both of us. He told us that he had overheard them talking and apologized.

"Well, you can make it up to me by helping me write this song…for tonight"

"Hmm, where have I heard this idea before?" Nick said sarcastically. I could feel the tension between them, and I didn't like it.

Then Joe submitted.

"I know Nick, but I need to make the big gesture. You know, to show Lilly that I really like her. You should have seen her face when I told her about the song you wrote for Hannah. I have to do this, and you guys know how much I need help on my songwriting."

I looked at Nick; this was all between them now.

He got up and walked over to Joe. I inhaled but I didn't release the breath until Nick reached for his guitar and sat down next to Joe.

"What do you have so far", he asked as he tuned the strings. Joe reached for his own guitar and began the same process. (A/N: Ignore my little Guitar Hero rant. Joe plays guitar. Probably pretty good too. Well anyway…"

He played a few lines. From what I heard, he was definitely on to something.

"There she goes again, the girl I'm in love with, it's cool we're just friends" he sang quietly. His voice broke as he finished.

Nick and I had lived with Joe long enough to know that talking about it would be worse than holding it back.

So instead, we helped him finish the song. By the time our dad came and got us for sound check, the song was done. He told us to play it for him when we got there so he could okay it. I knew he would.

I grabbed my leather jacket and my lucky scarf. We needed all the luck we could get on that stage tonight.

HMJBHMJBHMJBHMJBHMJBHMJBHMJBHMJB

(Joe)

I can't believe that we finished the song that fast. I mean, it was perfect.

We had just finished sound check and the concert was in forty-five minutes. I went to find Lilly backstage.

What I found surprised me.

She was standing outside Hannah's dressing room hugging some guy that I'd never seen before. I could only see his back, but I could see that his height was somewhere between Lilly's and mine and he had long shaggy brown hair.

I felt someone tap my shoulder and I turned around. It was Hannah.

"So, have you met Mike?"

"Who the heck is Mike?" She rolled her eyes and pointed toward the guy who was standing next to Lilly.

I couldn't help it. I let my eyes linger on her for a moment. She had changer since I last saw her. Now she was wearing red skinny jeans, a black and white low cut shirt, fake pearls and a red wig with a thick black headband. She looked, well, smokin' hot.

I turned back to Hannah.

"Who is he? Her brother? Or—" I hesitated "—her boyfriend?"

She laughed. "Yeah, she wishes. They used to go out, but then they tried the friend thing. I know she still likes him…"

As she said that they saw us and started to walk toward us. His arm was around her shoulders and they were both smiling. She wave to me as they came closer.

She introduced us.

"Joe, this is Oliver. Oliver, this is Joe Jonas."

I did the polite thing and reached out and shook his hand.

"I'm a big fan." He told me. He looked serious too. That was amazing; a sixteen year old guy who liked our music. The only guys who listened to us did so because their girlfriends did. Okay, I walked right into that one.

"Oliver, huh? Hannah just told me your name was Mike."

Lilly looked shocked. "Shit pickle! You weren't supposed to know that!"

"Shit pickle?" Oliver and I said at the same time.

She glared at us. "Not the time guys!"

She dragged us into Hannah's empty dressing room. She looked at us and pointed to the couch. "Sit!"

Oliver dropped. I just stood there and looked at him.

"You get used to it", he said. I shrugged and dropped on the other end of the couch.

"Okay, Joe, you know what I told you about the Hannah posse thing. You know, Lola?" I nodded.

"Yeah, which by the way, all my brothers know now. Except Frankie, but I don't think he would care." I gave my best 'you know you love me' face.

She tried to look angry but her cheeks were twitching with the beginning of a smile.

"No more secrets for the Bro with the big mouth! Well, anyway, Oliver here is Mike Stanley II."

"Like a mike stand?" I said. This business was wearing on me.

"You know, sadly you're the first one to get that in a year and a half", he said. He turned to Lilly, "And you thought I'd be the one to tell the big secret."

I looked over at Lilly to see her winking and shaking her head at the same.

"Are you having convulsions?" I asked her.

She stopped moving and tried to come up with an excuse.

"Um, I have something in my eye…" she said, rubbing her eye.

I knew she was faking, but I decided to play along. I walked up to her and reached to touch her face. I opened her eye and blew to get 'it' out.

I heard the door open and close and I had a feeling Oliver had tuned into my flirting and decided to leave. Smart boy.

Our faces were mere inches apart.

"Better?" I whispered as my thumb ran down her cheek.

"Umm…" she said as our lips were inching closer.

I could almost feel her lips on mine when we were interrupted—again.

"Joe, we're about to go on. Wait a minute…"

I inwardly groaned, kissed her cheek, and pushed my brother out the door.

I stopped and turned to him, "Pauly, am I going to have to tie you to the bottom of the bus all the way 'til Toledo in order to kiss that girl.

"Yeah, I'm, uh, sorry about that…well at least you have the song…"

I could see by the look on his face that he was afraid I was going to hit him, or duct tape him in the shower and turn the water. I only called Kevin Pauly when I wanted him to cower in fear, which usually worked.

He had nothing to worry about though. I wasn't going to hit him. But that shower idea…maybe he does have something to worry about.