Okay, I know. Pretty short chapter and late update. That's what happens when I substitute teach. Time disappears.

Disclaimer: I do not own JONAS or anything associated with it. I do own the OCs and the two songs by Jane, though…no matter how bad they are.

Please review, by the way. Don't make me beg. My begging is pathetic.

Again, thank you so much to those who have reviewed! Hope you guys enjoy this chapter equally!

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I peeked through the practice room door, making sure no had already occupied it. The clock read 6:55, so hopefully no one else had the crazy idea of coming to school an hour early.

Fortunately, the room was empty, and the lonely grande piano in the middle of the room begged for me to play it. Who could resist such an ideal image?

I set my bags down by the piano stool and took a seat in front of the large instrument. I retrieved my trusty JSSNoLCRLE notebook and set it on the sheet music stand above the black and white keys. I opened it to the page where my verse stood out as the only thing written there.

I placed my hands above the keys, hoping by just doing that, I would feel some inspiration…

Nope, didn't work. My mind is still a blank slate.

I pressed a few keys in harmony because I felt stupid freezing my hands above them without playing. If someone saw me by happy chance, they would think I was mesmerized by just sitting at the piano or something along those lines.

I sighed as no inspiration appeared for either the words or the music. I checked my cell phone clock and saw I now had fifty minutes to kill before the bell. I tossed my phone back in my bag out of frustration. This hour was supposed to involve wondrous music-making, but I guess not.

Who am I kidding? I don't know how to write a love song or anything along that line. Here I sit; a sixteen year old girl with no experience in the romance department.

I flipped forlornly through my notebook for earlier songs I wrote. I'll just play some of my old songs for fun, to waste some time before class.

I ended up stopping at a song I wrote when I was eight. An uncharismatic snort came from my mouth. I had had a bad day at school when I got into a fight with a boy I absolutely detested in the second grade.

What was his name again?

I wonder how he would feel, knowing I wrote a hate song about him.

Easily pushing the thoughts of the unknown name out my mind, I snapped my fingers to get the beat in time, and began to play a light, jazzy melody on the piano. I never did originally add an accompaniment part to the song because I have only played the piano for about two years.

Did somebody just open the door?

Pfft, no. Who would come to school an hour early to use the music room besides me?

Anyways, here I go, and please take into account that this was written a LONG time ago.

I lay in my bed,

Thinking in my head

How weird boys are

Yes, they really really are.

I wrote this song to explain

How much they are a pain.

Because they are stupid,

Insensitive, and offensive.

They throw dirt in your face,

Put your arm in a brace

Laugh at your mistakes,

Mouths never putting on the brakes.

They put gum in your hair

Because they don't care.

But, that's okay 'cause I hate them too.

I throw dirt in their face

Put their arms in a brace

Laugh at their mistakes

But, my mouth will put on the brakes

Because boys are stupid,

And, girls are not-

"Ahem," somebody interrupted me with a clearing of their throat.

I shrieked and hit the palm of my hand on the keys, causing a very awful sound to resonate throughout the room.

No one's supposed to be in here. No…not when I play and sing. Especially songs from my secret notebook!

Oh gosh, my social life is over. I mean, I know I'm not head cheerleader or anything, but I had a pretty nice set up here at Horace Mantis Academy.

Crapcrapcrapcrapcrapcrapcrapcrapcrap!

I slowly turned around, and my eyes widened when the person I definitely did not want to catch me singing stood right in front of me…looking like he totally caught me singing that entire song.

"Nick?" I croaked, knowing my face had turned to ash from extreme embarrassment, and partially from the fact of my heart possibly not working anymore.

The boy stood there in his always fashionable uniform consisting of a white button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up, khaki pants, and very nice, brown shoes.

So basically, a perfectly dressed, famous musician had just witnessed me making a complete fool of myself.

I swear, someone could write a freaking comedy about my life.

Oh great, he looks like he's about to laugh any second.

"If my entire gender's population caused you to write a hate song, I feel like I must apologize," Nick stated while folding his arms across his chest. A smirk played on his lips, causing my ashen color to darken into a deep red. Okay, heart works again; now it's beating into overdrive. Now if only my mouth could produce a form of vocal conversation.

Come on, say something girl!

"I was a terrible writer when I was eight!" I blurted out almost to the volume of yelling. The random fact caught Nick off guard. He almost dropped the drumsticks clutched in his left hand.

Great, there went my dignity too.

And now my face is heating up even more. I wouldn't have a problem with the rising temperatures if Nick would stop gazing at me with his intense eyes. Stupid eyes. He should wear sunglasses to block out his powerful gazes. I would really appreciate it.

Before I blurt something else out on a whim, I should probably make a quick getaway-

Wait…why did Nick sit down on the same bench as me?

I eyed the boy sitting by me. Nick acted like he always did; calm and confident with amusement thrown into the mix. I used to be calm and confident, but apparently this past week wanted to ruin that part of my personality.

"What else have you written?" He asked quietly. His head nodded towards my notebook.

"N-nothing," I stuttered, wide-eyed. My urge to snatch my notebook and make a run for it came back tenfold, but it appeared that Nick thought about this beforehand. Just as I was about to grab my notebook, Nick grabbed it first.

"Wait!" I cried out, and he jumped a little.

"Can I not look at it?" he asked, disappointment flickering across his face.

Oh my gosh, Nick Lucas has his own version of the puppy-dog look. NO!

"W-well," I tried to speak and politely refuse, but the boy sitting across from me appeared to really want to read through my notebook.

"It's nothing you'd like," I muttered, turning to face the piano again in defeat. I did, however, happen to catch the smug expression which formed on the musician's face.

He really must be used to getting what he wants if he has a face like that.

I scoffed at the thought, receiving a glance from the guy in question. I played it off innocently and proceeded to mess around with the high notes on the piano quietly.

I stopped, however, when I heard a small chuckle emit from Nick.

Is he laughing at me? This thought led to me forming a frown on my lips, "I know; some of them are stupid, but could you please not laugh?"

"I'm not laughing about that," he admitted, still amused. "I'm just amazed you wrote a song about Optimus Prime. I like Transformers, too."

"You do?" I asked, in surprise. I mean, I know it's no surprise over a guy liking Transformers, but Nick seems like a perfectionist…and the new movie definitely was not perfect.

Huh, I guess even he has layers under his intense exterior. I continued talking about the movie a bit more. "I loved the new movie, especially Optimus! Which is why I wrote a song about him…and I'm probably boring you to tears over my strange nerdish fetish." I then felt like such a geek for gushing over a fictional, alien robot.

I used to not care about these things, dang it!

Nick cleared his throat, and rubbed the back of his neck. He looks like he wants to say something…

"No, I think it's cool," he stated quietly, turning his head away suddenly.

I looked at Nick (even if he turned himself away) in astonishment. "Really?" He nodded silently, and I smiled appreciatively. "Thank you." Besides my parents and two best friends, I never revealed my songs to anyone else. I had a fear of someone laughing at me or mocking me over the subjects my lyrics were based on. I love writing songs, and Nick just said he appreciated my effort. That is considered very sweet in my books.

Nick swiveled back to his original position, and opened my notebook again. As he flipped through the pages agilely, I noticed his features continue to brighten while reading page after page.

Wow, he must really love music. It doesn't matter who wrote it; he just loves it. My heart beat faster at the realization, and I just sat there, entranced by the musician reading what I had written.

I then noticed that the flipping of the pages had stopped, and Nick's brow had furrowed in question.

"Where's the rest of this one?" One of his slender fingers tapped the page in front of him. I gazed down and noticed he had read my new song, or what I had so far of a new song.

"That one? I just started it last night."

"It's only one verse, but the song seems different than all the others," he said, fixing his gaze on me.

"You noticed," I mused. "It's different because I listened to some of your-" I immediately shut my mouth.

I can't tell Nick Lucas I listened to two of his songs and got inspired to write a love song! That would create an awkward conversation…

"My what?" he asked, totally catching what I said.

I laughed nervously and quickly continued. "Y-your songs from your iPod that I heard the other day." Phew, nice save Jane.

Nick seemed to buy it. He then sat up straight, stretching his long arms over his head. "Do you know where you're heading with it?"

I pondered over how to describe my new song, "I…I want to tell a story of a girl in love with her guy friend; from where she wonders when and how to tell him to her actually telling him."

Nick raised the palm of his hand to his chin as if in deep concentration. I copied the movement, thinking maybe I could get an idea as well.

"Songs composed as stories are the hardest to write, in my opinion," he said thoughtfully. "I've only written a few, but maybe if you write the instrumental part first, the rest will come to you."

I sighed, "That's why I've been sitting at this piano for the past half hour."

"I see," Nick mumbled, still looking very concentrated.

After a few moments of just sitting on the bench in silence, he retrieved his drumsticks and stood up.

I cocked an eyebrow. How is leaving supposed to help me?

Oh wait, he's not leaving. He sat down in front of the drum set to the right of the piano. Nick's face turned blank for moment, and then as fast as this expression appeared, it disappeared. He lifted his eyebrows quickly as if struck by inspiration and lifted his drumsticks above the toms (the two smaller drums above the bass drum) and beat out a quick, rhythmic pattern.

The playing sounds good, but…again, why is he playing the drums all of sudden?

"What are you doing?!" I half-yelled over the upbeat drum solo.

Somebody has obviously played too many rock concerts because I don't think Nick heard me. Actually, never mind, I think he did because he is smirking.

What…?

I turned back to the piano with a scowl. Stupid talented musician. He'd rather play on his drums than help me.

Huh…his playing is kind of…catchy.

Great, now my head is moving in time with the tempo. What is this guy trying to do? Prove how long he can play the drums without getting tired?

Sigh, now my foot wants to tap along with the beat.

Nick continued on with his drum solo, but it slowly, yet surely changed. I don't really know how to describe it, but I'm getting the feeling that what he's trying to play is complicated.

Complicated…hmm…

You know, love is always complicated, and my song is about the complications of a girl in love.

It's so easy, yet not…the cliché romance plot…

That rhymed.

My eyes widened after that thought and I whipped around to Nick who had a knowing smile on his face.

That sneaky devil. By giving me a beat to go along with, I could come up with two lines! This guy is a freaking genius!

I laughed and nodded thanks to the inspirational player next to me. How in the world did he know that would work?

And, why is he still playing?

Nick changed the rhythm and made the playing sound more powerful along with crashing the ride cymbal more. His head nodded back and forth and side to side. This guy is rocking the solo out. I can't tell whether he's still trying to motivate me or if he's just playing for the sheer joy of it. I'm going to take a wild guess and say it's both.

The banging of the symbols then gave me another idea. The sound that came from the drums now gave me sense of desperation.

Desperation…because the girl is admitting long-term feelings, there would be desperation involved. I don't want to use such a long word though. What would the girl want to say to the guy with the same effect?

The music continued, but the volume sounded stronger this time around.

If Nick didn't watch out, he would have to replace that school-owned drum set. If he keeps on hitting the cymbals so hard, they will probably shatter.

Shatter…break…two words which flooded through my head along with the desperate feeling.

I imagined myself as the girl in love; the girl who would tell her crush how she felt.

I must tell you how I feel

And break this shatterproof seal.

My heart pumped in excitement again. I just completed a new verse! I grabbed my notebook off of the stand and jotted everything down.

I walked the streets,

Listening to everything,

Wondering if now's the time,

To show these feelings of mine.

It's so easy, yet not;

The cliché romance plot.

I must tell you how I feel

And break this shatterproof seal.

I smiled at the progress and closed my notebook. In addition to my action, Nick finally stopped playing. The echo of his last beat resounded throughout the music room, and for some reason the hairs on my arms raised from the silence. I don't think the temperature dropped; in fact, I find it rather warm in this room.

The musician to my right let out a breath and wiped his forehead which glistened a little from his powerful playing.

"Found what you're looking for?" he asked, breathing deeply. His fair skin even held a flushed color to it. It suited him, in my opinion.

"Yes!" I exclaimed and hopped up from the bench. "How did you know that would work?"

Nick gave a shrug, but a smug air seemed to float about him. "Just a feeling." He stood up from the drum set and walked over to stand by me. "Plus, I just really wanted to play."

I rolled my eyes and glanced at the clock above the door. Wow, twenty minutes already passed by. Students already passed by the door, books in hand.

I gave my attention back to the boy standing next to me; feeling a little disappointed that school started in ten minutes. I was having fun hanging out with Nick Lucas. Oh well, there's still French.

"How long have you played the drums?" I asked, gathering my backpack and purse.

Nick picked up his own bag and clutched on to his drumsticks. "Since I was six."

"Amazing," I said under my breath and vocalized my thanks when he opened the door for me. "Did you have a mini-drum set?" I got a mental image of a tiny Nick Lucas playing a huge drum set. Quite humorous since imaginary Nick could only reach the bass drum.

He scratched the back of his ear sheepishly and nodded. "Yeah. A mini-drum set for a mini-me."

I laughed as Nick tried to hide his embarrassment. "Well, isn't that adorable." I mock-sighed, earning a grin from the boy walking with me. I turned the corner, and raised my eyebrows when I saw Allison and Adam standing together by my locker.

Allison suddenly burst into laughter while Adam smiled brightly.

Weren't they supposed to be fighting?

Dang it, I can't hear what they're saying.

I turned to Nick apologetically. "Hey, I'll see you later, Nick. I just remembered I have to talk to my friends about something."

"Sure," he nodded, looking around my shoulder inquisitively towards Adam and Allison. "But, you will let me read what you've added to your song during seventh period, right?"

I really do want him to read it. "You helped me, so I suppose you deserve first dibs." I waved with a smile and left feeling very excited over seeing the youngest Lucas again. I hope he likes my new verse.

Gosh, why do I care so much?

Nick and I parted ways, and I sneakily made my way over to where Adam and Allison were having an upbeat conversation.

Somebody had conveniently left their locker open close enough where I could hide behind it and hear what my friends were talking about. I ignored the stares from the owner of the locker. He probably just thought there was some crazy girl hiding behind his locker.

Unfortunately, his thoughts ran on the borderline of reality.

Back to spying.

"You are so stupid," Allison chuckled. Well, no weirdness there. She always calls Adam stupid. Come to think of it, she calls me stupid, too. Maybe it's a sign of affection….Hopefully.

I couldn't exactly see what was going on since an open locker door stood in my view. I peeked through the crack in between the hinges. There we go; I can see both of them.

You know, even though those two are polar opposites personality-wise…they actually do look cute together. I wonder why I never noticed before. Oh well, it's not like I noticed a lot of things lately, anyway.

Adam took no offense to her comment as usual, and continued laughing about something that was apparently funny.

"But that's why you love me," he chirped.

Wait, wait, wait…is Allison blushing?

Oh my gosh, she is.

Does this mean she could possibly, probably, maybe return Adam's feelings? If so, I could end my internal conflict over this whole situation with my two friends and Nick Lucas!

Though…Nick and I have become friends because of the situation…so I guess I shouldn't really complain. Thanks to him I have written more of my song.

Allison seemed to have lost herself in her own world for a split second (which she tended to do when flustered), and I hoped (so my confusion over this ridiculous love triangle would end) she would say something like "I love you, Adam!" or "Let's run away together-"

"No, it's why I put up with you."

Ouch. Never mind.

Wait. Adam looks determined.

"Go Adam," I whispered ecstatically, pumping my fist slightly. The locker guy gave me another strange look. Why is he still there anyway? Pfft, what a freak.

Back to spying behind the locker door.

Allison had grabbed a few books out of her locker, ignorant of the determined expression Adam had.

"Is that the only reason?" he asked quietly.

My eyes totally bugged out. That was very brave and unexpected coming from Adam; especially since him and speaking does not mix.

Allison even showed her own version of surprise towards his forwardness.

"I-I was kidding…," she stuttered. "Oh look! That stain resembles like the Kool-aid guy!"

Allison…you suck at trying to change the subject.

Adam sighed, "Allison, you suck at trying to change the subject."

"Do not! I-I mean…I'm not trying to change the subject." It's kind of funny how Allison sounds like she sucked in some helium before saying that statement.

My fun with spying suddenly ended when her head quickly turned away from the boy next to her and searched frantically around her.

Crap, she's looking for me.

I struggled with staying hidden and giving Adam his moment…but another part of me wanted to help Allison. She looked so uncomfortable. No friend leaves her best girl friend hanging even if she shouldn't have changed the subject.

"Excuse me," the locker guy interrupted my internal conflict. "Are you lost? You're kind of freaking me out."

I put a finger to my lips and furiously shushed him.

The stranger seemed to not appreciate this. He rolled his eyes and slammed the locker shut, leaving me out in the open.

"So rude," I huffed. Can't anyone hide behind someone else's locker anymore?

"Jane!" I heard Allison shout. My eyes met a very relieved girl and a very flustered boy.

I quickly smiled and acted aloof. "Hey guys! What's going on?" No, I didn't just stand behind a locker for five minutes spying on you.

"Nothing!" Both shouted at the same time, their volume throwing me off for a second.

"Okay, first of all...ow," I scowled; messing around with my left ear, making sure it still worked. "Second of all…why so tense guys?" The latter part of that statement I made complete with an evil smirk. Allison and Adam glanced at each other for a split second, and then just as quickly, looked away, mumbling a few denying statements.

Ah…uncomfortable moments between friends.

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Woot! Fifth chapter done and I am satisfied as to how it turned out. I hope everyone enjoyed the Nick/Jane moments in the beginning. I watched this video on YouTube of Nick playing the drums, and I was like "Wow." That video inspired this chapter.

I'm going to try and get the next chapter out as soon as possible, but in the mean time, please review and tell me what all of you think.