My phone began to vibrate in my hand, I had dazed of into space for what was, according to my phone, about an hour or so. It vibrated into my palm once again as that double hum filled my ears. It was Joe. I opened the phone and clicked the open text button.

Hey big shot 18 year old, where the hell did you go? Joeyboy Right…big shot 18 year old…more like big shot SAP. "This is ridiculous." I groaned, sinking lower onto the floor of the tree house as I saw a flash of hair pass by the ground. If I could make one lucky guess, I would have sworn it was my Aunt Pearl…and honestly I did NOT want to deal with her. The longest sigh seemed to escape my lips as I looked down at the phone in my hands, longing to toss it out the uncovered window and pretend I'd never even received the blasted piece of pathetic plastic and wiring. Finally after a long debate in my mind I tucked the phone in my pocket and shut my eyes.

"Nick?" I opened my eyes and sighed as I heard my fathers voice outside the tree house. I wasn't going to get away from my 18th birthday no matter how much I could try; I could sail to the ends of the earth and probably have everyone find me with the smell of cat's lingering off of Aunt Pearl.

"Nicholas Jonas, I know you're up there, son."

I sighed; hoping it wasn't loud enough for anyone to heard and sat up, looking out of the window. "Hey, dad."

"Why are you up there, it's your 18th birthday, you're a man." He gave a broad smile, which only caused my stomach to churn even more. A man…great…just want I need, to be treated like a kid, and now a man kid…yeah, I'm ecstatic…really. I washed away my sarcasm as I climbed down from the tree house to face my father in a more respectful manor, rather than from a small window of a tree house I've had since I was 7.

"Just thinking, you know…being 18 and all…a lot of childhood memories in this tree house and all…" I didn't completely lie…I really was thinking, but not about my tree house memories. I watched my father's mouth begin to move but my ears blocked out the sound waves that were emitting from his vocal cords. Again, I drifted to the pain I was feeling, how could he…again…it wasn't fair, you know? Your own brother forgetting one of the most important days in a person's life, in my life... I wished he was here, I kept staring blankly ahead at the back gate, half hoping Kevin to walk through the wooden fence opening and apologizing, saying he was just running late…but I knew he was with a girl…but because of my great idiocrocy, I dialed the damn number, only to get a female voice, and then my brother's voice in the background, not even able to answer my call, let alone the fact I had been the one to call him…I wanted to cry, wanted to break down into tears and just break until I fell into a sleeping slumber of death…but that wasn't my thing…death I mean…even though the night of my 16th when Kevin never came home, never said anything to me I sat in my room and nearly had to be shipped off to the hospital because I had forgotten to take my insulin during my depressed and confused state. As I drifted away from my memories I barely caught the glimpse of my dad walking away and Joe replacing the spot he was currently just in.

"Hey Nick-o." came his brother's sultry voice. "Are you alright?"

I barely opened my mouth to answer when my phone began to vibrate in my back pocket. I sighed and reached my hand behind me, retrieving the dreadful thing and flipped it up. My heart sank; it was Kevin. I could feel the intense gaze of my older brother looking at me, knowing the question he was about to ask.

"Are you going to answer that?"

No…Kevin, didn't deserve it…but maybe I should just hear him out? No, why should I listen to any excuse he has! He ditched out on my birthday, he was only hear for my 17th birthday because I specifically asked to not have anything revolving parties, just to go bowling with the family or something, and we did that, but Kevin never said happy birthday, he never said anything, so why should I give him the time of day anymore? The only reason I talk to him now is to talk about a new song, or ask him a question revolving the band. Maybe I was being unfair…I finally lost my own debate and answered the phone, not saying anything. There was a long silence before a shaky break of breath could be heard over the line. I finally tried to break the silence.

"Hello?" I asked, my voice more hesitant than I intended. "Kevin?"

Click…the line went dead. I felt Joe's gaze get heavier with curiosity and questions. "Well?" Joe asked intently.

"Wrong number I guess…" I lied. I knew Joe knew I was lying, because I distinctively called out Kevin's name on the phone; Joe wasn't stupid. But I really didn't want to deal with the questions right now. I pushed passed my brother and joined the crowd as they sang happy birthday to me, and I held the fake smile for as long as I could before pushing through the house up to my room and shut the door.