Chapter 2: Keep It Real (Part One)

After many attempts of getting in touch with Annie, Nick decided to give up along with his brothers. They had stayed up late trying to get a reach of her, but none of them could. They all eventually grew tired and decided to call it quits. Though, Joe didn’t give up easily, he continued to call Annie and try to get a hold of her. If he knew something about Annie, is that she would get tired of hearing the phone go off and just answer it. He knew that something bad had happened, especially the way she stormed out of the room, but he just didn’t know exactly what it was that had happened. After multiple attempts, he eventually fell asleep without him even knowing.

It was early Saturday morning when Annie woke up to the song ‘Into Your Arms' by The Maine. As she looked at her clock, she noticed that it was ten ‘till ten. She groaned at the thought that she had to wake up and go on with the day. She didn’t want to do anything or face the day with what had just happened the night before. All three guy friends called her uncontrollably the night before, though since she didn’t want to hear the noise of her phone every five minutes, she decided to turn the volume off.

Annie knew the boys too well to not know that they weren’t going to stop calling. Stretching her legs out, she reached for her phone and flipped it open to turn it on. As she waited for it to turn on, she thought about what she was going to wear to the premiere she was going to with Nick. That’s when her phone began to ring. Sure enough the caller ID showed Nick’s name.

“Hello?” she answered in a sigh walking to her closet.

“What happened? I mean you wouldn’t answer you phone,” he questioned very concerned. “You could have at least sent a text message.”

“I’m really sorry,” she apologized. “Though, I don’t want to talk about it just now.”

“Is it that bad?” he questioned like an investigator.

“Nick, I, I just don’t want to talk about it right now.”

“Alright, you win, but if you need anything, I’m here,” he informed her.

“Okay, thank you,” she smiled to her self as she still raided her closet.

“Are you still going tonight?”

“Yeah, why? Did you find a replacement?” she gasped dramatically.

Nick laughed at her reaction. “No, I was just making sure you weren’t going to bail on me.”

“Alright, well I’ll let you go. I have to get ready and look pretty,” she laughed walking over to her bathroom.

“Okay, pick you up later, bye!” both of them hung up the phone and began to get ready for the big night.

Annie had planned to curl her hair and let it flow freely. For her make up, she was going to do the smoky eye and wear a light shade of her favorite red lipstick. The dress was going to be a simple black strapless dress that showed her knees, but wasn’t too short. Her shoes were black that were open toed. Last but not least, her accessories consisted of a couple of bracelets, diamond earrings, a necklace and her purity ring that she wore on her right hand.

On at the Jonas household, the boys were making sure that every detail was correct. Kevin had already gotten dressed and was ready to pick up his date. Joe on the other hand, couldn’t find which shoes to wear with the suit.

“What time is it?” Joe questioned looking at all his shoes. To Joe, shoes were the main accessory to an outfit. Not to mention his sunglasses to top the outfit. The sunglasses to him was like the cherry on top of the sundae.

“Time for you to choose a pair of shoes already,” Nick called out buttoning up his blue button up shirt. Joe didn’t really pay attention to his comment because he was too busy looking for the correct pair of shoes.

“Well, I’m all done,” Kevin sighed as he stood up from the sofa he was sitting on. “I’ll be downstairs if you guys need anything.”

“Wait up for me,” Nick echoed running behind Kevin as he fixed his tie and grabbed his suit jacket.

“Are we all going to ride together?” Kevin questioned as he abruptly paused at the door causing Nick to run into him.

“Warn a guy next time!” Nick groaned as he rubbed his chin from where it had bumped into Kevin’s shoulder.

“My bad,” Kevin murmured making a face.

“Actually, you guys go ahead. I’m going to drive to the place myself. Jenny said that the SUV was going to be a bit crowded and she didn’t want her dress to get ruined. Sorry guys,” Joe informed his brothers and continued to choose his pair of shoes. Both Kevin and Nick knew that it wasn’t going to go so swell if the brothers wouldn’t ride in the same vehicle. Though, neither one could say anything because sure enough, Jo's beloved girlfriend was going to think that they had something against her. Which in reality, they did have a problem with her.

Ever since Joe began to date Jenna, they all noticed a change. In the beginning, of course they were going to let Joe off the hook for some things he did. Why? Because he was in love…really in love. Though as the months went on, Joe took a different turn, he was beginning to act a bit stuck up with his fans. The thing was, Jenna didn’t want Joe to hang with his fans for a long time. She always told him that they were always going to be there for him no matter what, so he didn’t have to be with them or thank them 24/7.

Jenna was a 5’6 brunette who was 18, one year younger than Joe. She was an actress who at the moment, no one really knew. Though of course after the press confirmed the official couple, the ratings for her small TV shows increased dramatically. She claimed she loved her boyfriend, Joe, but little did the other people know that she was only interested in making her career bigger.

Jenna knew that she wasn’t going anywhere, but another thing she knew, if she went out with a Jonas, who may I remind you is in the #1 band in the country at the moment, even the world, then her career would have a big boom.

“You guys have a great time! Behave as well,” Mrs. Jonas reminded as Nick and Kevin jumped into the black SUV that Big Rob would be driving them in.

“Where to first, boys?” Big Rob questioned as he put the car in drive.

“Um, let’s go pick up Kevin’s girlfriend first, I want to give Annie a couple of more minutes to finish getting ready,” Nick instructed as he buckled up in his seat. Kevin did the same as his brother.

“So Joe decided to take his own car?” Big Rob questioned the two boys.

“You know it,” Kevin sighed as he sent text messages on his Blackberry.

“That boy has been changing a lot over the past couple of months,” Big Rob nodded as he kept his eyes on the road. Big Rob knew each one of the boys very well, he knew them well enough to not know what was going on. Though, lately Joe had been pushing him away.

“It’s the so-called girlfriend,” Nick quoted the word girlfriend. All Big Rob could do was let out a small laugh. “What? It’s true. Have you not noticed that ever since Jenna and him began to go out, his entire personality changed?”

“Yes Nick, but don’t worry, your brother will come back around. You just need the right person to show him what’s the things he’s doing wrong,” Big Rob advised Nick as they now arrived at the front door of Danielle’s house, Kevin’s girlfriend. “We’re here Kevin.”

“Thanks, I won’t be long!” Kevin smiled jumping out the SUV and making his way up the steps of his girlfriends house. He rang the doorbell twice and waited for an answer, sure enough

Danielle answered it as she wore a golden long dress that sparkled from the top part. Kevin couldn’t help but smile at his beautiful girlfriend. “You look…amazing.”

“Thank you, Kevin,” she blushed. “You yourself look ravishing tonight.”

“It’s all for you,” he smiled.

“Hurry up! I have to pick up my date!” Nick exclaimed from the SUV. Kevin rolled his eyes and grabbed Danielle’s hand walking her over to the SUV. He opened the door and let her climb in first and then he did.

“Thanks for the rush, Nick,” Kevin groaned adjusting his tie and wrapping his arm around Danielle.

“Well, it’s your fault,” he fought back.

“Alright, off to Annie’s place,” Big Rob called out.

“Annie’s your date?” Danielle questioned in aw.

“Yeah,” Nick responded as he looked in the rear view mirror to make sure everything looked fine.

“Nick, you look great, man,” Big Rob laughed shaking his head.

“Are you nervous?” Danielle questioned Nick.

“No…okay, yes,” he admitted taking a deep breath and looking out the window. It was starting to get dark out even though it was barely seven.

“Aw, Nick do you like her?” she questioned him.

“No, I’m just worried,” he said.

“But, why? Is Miley going to say anything?”

“No, why would Miley care? We’re not together,” he spat out. “I’m afraid that the press is going to say that she’s my new girlfriend and well, she might get bombarded by the paparazzi later on.”

“Well, if you clear up the rumors, then none of it has to happened.”

“That’s the problem,” he explained. “Every time I deny something, the press takes it as something that is true. That I’m trying to hide a relationship.”

“Ah, I see. Like what happened between you and Selena, huh?” she nodded.

“Exactly,” he sighed.

“Don’t sweat it though, you can always trust your brothers and family to back you up, and of course, me,” Danielle smiled at Nick. Danielle was the kind of that took things very slow, she never rushed into anything. She was very simple and nice, though you wouldn’t think that knowing that she was dating a Jonas for about two years now. Of course both Kevin and Danielle knew each other since before Kevin even became who he was now. So there really wasn’t any reason for her to change her image because she knew that Kevin loved her just the way she was.

“Nick, we’re here,” Big Rob informed as he pulled up at Annie’s house. Her house wasn’t

anything huge like the Jonas house or Danielle’s house. Her home was a simple, small one story house that her parents had bought not too long ago. For such a long time her parents were trying hard to get a bigger and better house, though they struggled with the money issues. But with Annie working at a local clothing store, they were doing much better.

“Thanks, I’ll hurry so we won’t be late,” Nick informed as he jumped off the SUV and made his way up to Annie’s front steps. He fixed his suit and tie before ringing the doorbell. As Nick was about to ring the doorbell again, Annie’s little brother answered it.

“Hey Nick! Annie is about to come out,” the small boy informed Nick.

“Thanks James, is it okay if I come in while I wait?” he questioned Annie’s little brother.

“Sure,” James let Nick into the house and then closed the door behind him. “So why don’t you and your brothers come anymore? I remember Joe used to come over all the time.” He mentioned.

“Well we’ve been on tour and we just got back, but I’ll tell my brothers to drop by tomorrow,” Nick smiled patting James on the shoulder.

“Hey Nick,” Annie smiled walking out from the hall. As nick heard her voice, he turned around to look at her.

“Wow, you look great,” he admitted as he looked at her from head to toe.

“Thanks, you look great yourself, too,” Annie blushed as he thanked her.

“So shall we get going?” he questioned.

“Yeah, let’s go,” she nodded. “James, Lock the door since mom is in the kitchen and dad is in the backyard.” The young boy nodded and closed the door as they walked out.

“I’m surprised your dog didn’t bark,” he laughed.

“Oh, well she’s in the backyard playing with my dad I guess,” she smiled as Nick opened the door for her.

“Hey Annie,” both Kevin and Danielle said as she got into the vehicle.

“Hey guys,” she replied as Nick got in and closed the door. “Cute dress Danielle.”

“Thanks, I’m glad you like it,” she smiled. “ I love yours though!”

“Gracias, I bought it at the store I work at.”

“Awesome, you work at Urban Outfitters, right?” Danielle questioned. Both girls got along great, due to the fact that they liked the same things and came from very simple families. Though they were friends with the Jonas, they didn’t let that little fact get to their heads.

“Yeah, fortunately I do,” Annie admitted. If there was one store she had prayed to get hired in, It was Urban Outfitters. The fact that it was mostly vintage type of things fascinated her.

“Well,” Kevin coughed, “I’ll be stopping by to get some new clothes and get the employee discount.” He winked over to Annie as he nodded his head and smiled.

“Oh, you work there now, Kevin?” Annie questioned pretending to not understand what Kevin was trying to say. Even though she understood him perfectly.

“No, but you do, and I need new clothes, maybe you can, um,” he thought of how to say what he wanted to say, “what does everyone say now a day? Oh! I got it, maybe you can hook me up.”

“Oh wow,” Danielle laughed looking over at Kevin. He was in desperate need of new clothes. Especially since all the clothes he had were split into the two houses they had.

“I’d love to give you the employee discount, but I don’t want to get fired,” she admitted. “I love my job so much, to even do that.”

“What does that mean?” Kevin raised his eyebrows. “You don’t love me?”

“Danielle, you answer that question for him,” Annie laughed as she shook her head. Danielle couldn’t help but laugh at Kevin’s face expression.

“Well, I’d hate to interrupt your ’do you love me or not’ conversation, but were here,” Big Rob informed everyone. “I’ll be walking in with you guys because well, that’s my job. So let’s get going.”

Everyone agreed and got out from the car. As soon as they stepped foot out of the car, every single Jonas Brother fan began to scream their hearts out. Nick and Kevin just smiled and waved to their fans as Danielle and Annie just walked behind them. Of course Danielle held her boyfriends hand and walked behind him. Nick and Annie just hooked arms casually and made their way down the red carpet.

“Nick! Over here, is she the new girlfriend?!” a reported screamed out to get Nick’s attention which unfortunately it didn’t.

“Nick, moving on so fast? What happened to Miley?” a second reported called out. Annie couldn’t help but to feel a bit bad for what they reporters had commented on. As they continued to walk down the red carpet without making a stop, Nick looked over at Annie and noticed that she looked like she was down. Though he knew that it all had to do with what they reporters had to say.

“Wow, took you guys long enough,” Joe mentioned as he came out from behind everyone. He had picked on wearing his white casual shoes and his white rimmed Ray Bans. Of course, can’t forget the stuck up girlfriend who was glued to his hip. Well, the other way around, actually.

“We had to pick up our dates,” Kevin informed his younger brother.

“I see, well I thought you guys had bailed on me,” he admitted.

“We wouldn’t do that, besides it would give all of us bad talk on the news,” Kevin replied walking Danielle in front of him and leading her to the nearest seat. Joe agreed to Kevin’s comment and sat next to his girlfriend. Nick and Annie were very quiet while they waited for the film to start, but Nick didn’t know if she was quiet because of the comments that were made or because of what had happened the night before.

“Annie, is everything okay?” Nick questioned as he leaned closer to Annie.

“Yeah, why?” she said snapping back to reality as she put all the thoughts in the back of her mind for a while.

“Just asking, I mean you look so distracted ever since we got here,” he mentioned to her. “Were they the comments that were made earlier by the reporters?”

“Nick, ugh…,” she thought of an excuse to give to Nick, but she had just ran out of excuses to give him.

“What?” he questioned. “Here, let’s go outside to talk.” Annie didn’t get a chance to say anything when Nick grabbed her by the hand and lead her out of the crowded room. Both his brothers looked over at him with a confused look and immediately wanted to go after him.

As they both got outside, they were surrounded by a couple of paparazzi’s, but Nick kindly asked them to give them some alone time. In return, they asked for a couple of pictures of him and Annie, which they agreed to so they would just leave. After the last paparazzi left, Annie explained to Nick everything that had happened the previous night, every single detail. Along that what the reporters had said had also hurt her in a way. Especially because she didn’t want to break Miley and Nick up at all. Not like they were doing great, but she didn’t want to make things worse. Nick understood the reason and nicely escorted her back to the movie theater. Kevin and Joe of course looked at both of them curiously but decided to keep their mouths shut until the end of the movie.

“Weren’t we awesome!” Joe exclaimed punching his fists into the air.

“Yeah you,” Annie didn’t get to finish her sentence when Jenna decided to comment on Joe’s behavior.

“Honey, you’re not supposed to do that,” she said lowering Joe’s arms. “Secondly, I’ve told you that you did not need to give autographs or take pictures with the fans, they’ll always be there. I thought we already went over all of this!”

“I’m sorry,” Joe apologized as everyone could sense the attitude change in him. Annie didn’t say anything, but she was going to. Though, she was afraid that Joe might say something and ruin the friendship they had.

“It’s more like it, now let’s go,” she demanded throwing the keys at him and walking over to their car. Nick, Kevin, Danielle and Annie just watched the couple walk off to their car and drive off. All of them walked to their car in disappointment and drove back home to drop everyone off.
The next morning, Annie had agreed to go to the Jonas house early in the morning with her mom. She was sure going to give Joe the surprise of his life that day.

“Are you ready, sweetie?” Annie’s mom Aurora questioned her daughter as she got the supplies ready in her big bag.

“Yeah, I’m ready as I’ll ever be,” Annie replied with a smile on her face.

“Alright then, let’s get going,” she smiled walking out the house and letting her daughter walk out before closing the door and locking it. Both women walked to the car and got in. Their destination, the Jonas House. “So why’d you agree to help me out today?”

“Well, long story short, to teach Joe a lesson,” Annie admitted as she sighed and looked for a radio station that played a good song.

“Teach him a lesson? About what?”

“To not change who he is for a certain person, to always keep it real,” she admitted now settling with a radio station that was playing ‘You Rock My World by Michael Jackson’.

“Oh, is it because of how he has been because of his girlfriend?” somehow Annie’s mom knew everything without anyone knowing. She sure did know how to use her mothering powers.

“Yeah, but please don’t mention anything,” she begged looking at her mother as she drove.

“Your secret, or plan, is safe with me,” Annie’s mom smiled. She thanked her and went back to concentrating on the song. Soon before Annie knew it, they had already arrived at the Jonas house and were parked in their driveway inside the gated area. Both of them exited the vehicle and made their way to the entrance.

“Ready?” Annie’s mom questioned her. Annie nodded and rang the doorbell to the house. They rang it a couple of times before they got an answer.

“Annie? Aurora?” Mrs. Jonas questioned as she opened the door and saw both mother and daughter in maid uniforms.

“Hello, Mrs. Jonas we’re here for the service Mr. Joseph Adam Jonas ordered,” Annie replied with a smile.

“You’ve got to be kidding, right?” Mrs. Jonas smiled in surprise.

“No, your son called a cleaning office and well, he came across our number and hired us,” Annie answered her question.

“I’m sorry sweetie, but I can’t let you guys do this, I mean, you’re practically family to us,” she confessed letting them into the spacious house.

“Okay, but Mrs. Jonas, let me explain why I actually went on with this idea,” Annie began to explain herself, “I wanted to teach Joe a lesson.”

“A lesson?”

“Yes, I wanted to teach him a lesson on how he has to always be who he is, to keep it real,” Annie explained.

“Oh, I see, well then you’re more than welcome to stay, but please don’t work your soul off, just sit around and relax,” Mrs. Jonas asked them. They agreed and continued with Annie’s lesson teaching.

"Thank you," Annie thanked as she walked out of the kitchen, where she left both Mrs. Jonas and her mom talking. She walked into the living room and walked over to the glass doors and looked out of the window. The scenery was so beautiful; the green grass, the colorful flowers and the beautiful green trees. Just as she was observing everything, she heard someone clear their throat.

"Excuse me, you must be the maid service I hired?" Joe's voice sounded throughout the living room. Annie smiled and just let him talk before turning around and exposing herself to Joe.

"Well, I have my clothes that need to be unpacked up stairs in my room, and some things need to be ironed. After that, could you please clean my room and bathroom...and that will be it. Now, what's your name?" Annie smiled to herself as Joe told her what to do without him knowing that the person who he was ordering was his friend.

"I'll get right on that, Mr. Jonas," Annie turned around to face towards where he was standing. When Joe saw her, his jaw dropped and he scratched the back of his head in disbelief. "Is there anything else you need?"

"Annie? What are you doing here, and in that uniform?" Joe questioned confused and walking towards her.

"Well, you hired a cleaning staff, and well the company called us and told us we had a job. So hello, I'm your new maid," Annie smiled fixing the couch's pillows. "So if you'll excuse me."

"No, look you don't have to do any of that...I mean if you want to, go right ahead," he mentioned looking back down at his iPhone. Annie shook her head and right as she was going to walk right past him, she stopped herself and decided to talk to Joe.

"Joe, we need to talk," Annie sighed spinning on her heel and now faced him.

"Can it be later? I'm kind of busy right now, and besides you have work to do," as Annie heard him say that, she was in disbelief. Not only was Joe rejecting her to a conversation, but he actually wanted her to do the things he ordered her to do.

"Oh, no it cannot it be later," she said snatching the phone from his hand and stuffing it in her back pocket. "It has to be now!"

"Hey! Give me my phone back," he groaned and tried to reach for it.

"Joe, what in the world has gotten into you? Why are you acting like such a jerk? That's not who you really are, and that's not the person I met and became friends with," she admitted taking a seat on the couch. "You're super stuck up and you reject all your friends every time they ask you for something. What's gotten into you?"

"Nothing, I'm just myself," he said sitting back on the couch.

"Being yourself? Yeah right," she laughed shaking her head and looking towards the TV set.

"You haven't been yourself since a long time. Even you know that."

"Tell me what I have changed, because obviously I don't know what you mean," he shrugged his shoulders and saw they way Annie looked over at him. Her eyes gave him a piercing glare that he could feel going through his body.

"This is exactly what I mean," Annie exclaimed. "You're being an ignorant jerk who doesn't deserve anything he has!" she was letting everything out, all her feelings. "Look at how you're loosing everyone around you, especially your most loved ones. What happened to ‘keeping it real’," With saying what she needed to say, she took out Joe's iPhone from her back pocket and got up from the couch. She gave Joe one last look before giving him his phone back. "Call me when you've figured out your problem. Don't bother text messaging me." She threw his phone on the couch and walked out of the living room to look for her mom.

Joe grabbed his phone and stared blankly at the screen. He knew exactly what had gone wrong.