With Your Love

"And that was the Jonas Brother's latest single Burnin' Up." The radio dj chuckled and then cleared his throat. "Speaking of the Jonas Brothers, Steve, I think we should announce our contest."

"Most definitely, Frank."

"Pop a Jonas Brother and walk away with $10,000! That's right, people! You heard me! We're launching a contest to deflower the virginal Jonas Brothers. Well, Kevin and Joe. Nick, unfortunately, is under age. The first person who can prove they have had consensual sex with Kevin or Joe Jonas walks away with ten grand as part of the Jump A Jonas competition. You must have a video tape of the proceedings. But keep it legal, folks. Prove it and you can win. Have fun!"

"What the heck?" I stared at the radio as if it could give me an answer. Were they serious? Jump A Jonas? I shook my head and switched radio stations. I had been listening to the local pop/rock/rap station of Grand Rapids, Michigan, where I was going to college to get my degree in journalism. The djs had always been crazy, but this was taking it to a whole new level. Still, I couldn't help my mind wander to dirty thoughts of fucking Joe Jonas. He was H-O-T! And I really could use the money. My little niece had been diagnosed with leukemia and her parents needed money to pay for the bone marrow transplant. I could do it. I loved the Jonas Brothers, especially Joe. In fact, I was obsessed. I knew the words to every song, my walls were plastered with posters, I owned every magazine, every book, every cd, every DVD, every t-shirt, key ring, necklace, bag, etc...... Many times I had wondered what it would be like to have sex with Joe Jonas. Sure, I respected their beliefs, but who wouldn't want them? They were amazing. But how could I go about doing it? I wasn't exactly Hollywood royalty. I grew up in a tiny town in Alabama. I didn't know anybody famous. By that time, I had pulled into the parking lot of my apartment I shared with my older sister Abigail, who went to the same college I did. I unlocked the door and tossed my bag on the couch. "Abi?" I called, walking through the apartment until I came to her room. I opened her door. She was sitting on her bed, video-chatting with her best friend Taylor Swift. I completely forgot! I did know someone famous! I rushed over to the screen. "Hey, Taylor!"

"Hey, Brittly. What's up?"

"Don't take this the wrong way, but do you think you could introduce me to Joe Jonas?"

Taylor rolled her eyes. "Why?"

"You know how Brent's little girl has leukemia? Well, the local radio station is offering ten thousand dollars to whoever can jump a Jonas."

Taylor burst out laughing, her blonde curls swinging round her face. "Are you serious? Jump a Jonas?" She laughed harder.

"Tay, this is serious!" I explained the rules of the contest.

When I finished, Abigail, who had been quiet up until then, spoke up. "I think you should introduce her, Taylor. It would be a great way to get back at Joe. A sex tape would destroy him."

At this point, I think I should clarify something. Taylor and Abigail are two of the sweetest people you will ever meet. But if you break their hearts, they turn vicious. I'm sure you know the story about Joe breaking up with Taylor over a twenty-seven second phone call. Taylor does not take kindly to having her heart broken. And if Taylor's heart gets broken, Abigail's might as well have gotten broke, too. And vice-versa. Anyway, I had a feeling Taylor would agree.

"There's a benefit tomorrow night in New York City for hunger-relief. The Jonas Brothers will be there. I could take you with me."

"She has school," Abigail reminded us.

"It won't hurt me to miss one day. Besides, the day after tomorrow is summer break. We get three months off." Abigail and I had specifically signed up for a time schedule identical to the ones we had in high school. We had to complete an extra year of college, but summer break was totally worth it. "Abi, please," I said, collapsing on the bed next to her and making a puppy-dog face. "Pleaseeeeee."

"Fine."

"Yes!" I hopped off the bed and started doing my happy dance.

"Wait!" Taylor shouted, making me stop dead in my tracks. "This is Joe Jonas we're talking about. There is no way you'll legally or consensually be able to do him. He wears a purity ring. When we were going out, he wouldn't even kiss me for longer then seven seconds. There's no way he'll give in."

"I can at least try," I said, not getting discouraged. After all, Joe was a nineteen-year-old boy. He had hormones. It couldn't be that hard.

"Fine. Why don't you both come down to Nashville tonight and we'll fly to New York tomorrow morning. Like Brittly said, it's almost summer break. It'll be fun! And Abigail, maybe you could get ten grand, too. Kevin's part of the contest, too!"

Abigail blushed and threw a pillow at the screen. "Fine. I still have some frequent flyer miles. We'll see you soon." They logged off and then Abigail turned towards me. "Are you seriously going to do this? It's not just about Grace's leukemia, is it?"

"Partly," I said. "But you know I love challenges. And Joe Jonas."

Abigail shook her head. "Poor boy, he doesn't know what's coming."

"Are you nervous?"

I turned towards Taylor and shrugged. "Kind of. I mean, I've had a crush on Joe since, like, forever." I pulled my compact out of my purse and inspected my face. "What if he doesn't like me?"

"Trust me, Britt," Abigail said. "He won't know what hit him." She smiled and squeezed my hand.

"I don't know," I said doubtfully. "I feel naked." Taylor's stylists had dressed me in a short, cleavage-bearing metallic silver dress. They had also dusted my eyelids with silver eye shadow and put pink gloss on my lips. That, along with the three-inch silver heels, made me feel like a glittery hooker. It was so not me. But maybe it would work. I sighed and looked out the tinted windows of the limo at the passing skyscrapers. "Are we there yet?" I asked.

"Britt, chill." Taylor grabbed my shoulder and shook me gently. "You'll be fine. Just imagine what it's going to feel like when you have sex with him."

Abigail and I looked at Taylor in shock.

"Hey, I dated him for a long time. Enough to know that he's a total sex-pot, even if he doesn't want to show it." A smile stretched across Taylor's face then and I could practically see the light bulb going off in her head. "I have some ideas for you to seduce him," she said excitedly and crossed her legs at the knee.

"Okay?" I said, exchanging a look with Abigail before looking at Taylor. "Shoot."

"Joe's hotspots are behind his right earlobe, at the bottom of his throat, his collarbone, and well, duh......" Taylor made a graphic motion with her hands. "Use this advice to your advantage. Also, keep in mind that he tells his brothers everything. So you're either going to have to get him swear to silence or get him alone with you for a vacation. He has a three-month-long break starting tomorrow, just like you. Get him to go back to Alabama with you."

(Before you get confused, Abigail and I lived in Alabama until her freshman year of high school when we moved to Tennessee. Almost all of my relatives live there.)

"It could work," Abigail said. "And Grandma and Pop are on vacation in Washington for three months. You know how much you love their house. It would be the perfect place."

"Yeah, but how am I gonna convince his parents to let him stay three months with me all the way across the country, alone, with no supervision?"

"I'll take care of that," Taylor said.

"How?"

"I have my ways." Then the limo pulled to a stop. "Showtime," Taylor announced and prepared to get out. Her bodyguard went first and then the three of us followed. We were automatically hit with flashbulbs going off.

"Taylor, Taylor, over here!"

"Taylor, give us a smile!"

"Taylor, will it be awkward to have Joe Jonas here tonight?"

"Good Lord," I whispered as we darted through the front doors into the front lobby. "That was crazy."

"You get used to it," Taylor said. She led us into the main room where the party was being held. I gasped when I saw the number of people standing in front of me. A sick feeling came over me. Abigail put her arm round my shoulder and hugged me.

"You'll be fine," she whispered.

"Oh, look, there he is," Taylor said, pointing to the corner where the three brothers were conversing with each other.

"What do I say?" I hissed as Taylor grabbed me and started marching towards them, Abigail following behind.

"Just be cool."

Butterflies formed in my stomach as we approached them. My eyes centered in on Joe. He looked amazing. He was wearing a black dress shirt, skinny jeans, and shoes. My gaze strayed towards his crotch, where the outline of 'little Jonas' could be seen. I licked my lips and let my gaze travel towards his face. His eyes sparkled, his mouth was smiling, his hair curling out under his ears. He was so beautiful it almost hurt to look at him. Kevin nudged Joe in the side and whispered something to him and Joe looked up. He spotted Taylor, but his face remained blank.

"Hey Nick, Kevin, Joeseph," Taylor said pointedly. "These are my friends Abigail and Brittly Whitam."

"Nice to meet you," Nick said, shaking my hand and then Abigail's. Kevin did the same and I noticed a smile light up his face as he shook Abi's hand. Then Joe grabbed my hand. Electricity shot through my hand, up my arm, and through the rest of my body, before settling in my core.

"Oh my god." I didn't speak aloud, but I felt like it. I watched Joe's face. An expression of shot flicked across his face and he bit his lip. We hadn't shook yet, just held each other's hand. It felt like we stood there forever, just looking at each other and holding hands. But then Kevin cleared his throat and Joe dropped my hand like it had burned him. He quickly looked away from me, so I turned to Taylor and silently asked her what to do.

"Flirt," she mouthed.

"So, Joe, are ya'll playing tonight?" My Southern accent came out strong, a sure sign that I was nervous. Joe smiled politely and nodded before turning his attention back to his brothers. But they were both immersed in conversation with Abigail and Taylor. Joe scowled and looked back at me, his eyes running down my body. I felt even more naked under his gaze and I crossed my arms over my chest. Joe's eyes were smoldering at me with something I couldn't identify. I gulped but I couldn't look away. Time seemed to slow down to a stop. I was lost inside those deep brown pools. I didn’t know what was wrong with me. It was like I had lost my touch. He was messing me up. Get it together, Brittly, I told myself. He’s just a normal boy. I took a deep breath and then smiled at Joe, stepping closer to him and resting my hand on his arm. "Is it hard?" I asked him, looking him straight in the eye as I stepped even closer. Joe’s eyes grew wide and he stumbled back against the wall.

"What?"

"Is it hard to get up there and perform in front of so many people?"

"No," Joe said, regaining his cool. "It’s awesome, I love it." His voice was sincere and happy. Why did he have to be so perfect? "So, what’s your story?" Once again, he caught me off guard.

"What do you mean?"

"What’s your story?" he repeated. "Your life. Tell me."

"Well, I’m seventeen. I’m a freshman at University of Michigan. I live in Grand Rapids, Michigan with my older sister Abigail. I lived in Alabama until I was twelve when we moved to Tennessee. I’m majoring in journalism. I love animals and Britney Spears songs. I hate carrots and Aaron Carter." Joe laughed and my heart melted. Stupid idiot, I thought. Don’t let him affect you. Suddenly, Taylor grabbed my arm and yanked me away from Joe. "What?" I hissed. "I was doing good."

"I have a plan," she said excitedly. "I’m going to let the paparazzi get a picture of me and Joe in a compromising position and then you can convince his parents to let him escape to a place where there is no paparazzi!"

"What do you mean "a compromising picture’?" I felt sick at the thought of Taylor touching Joe. I felt possessive of him.

"Just trust me."

"Okay." I walked towards the restrooms. Half-way there I turned around and saw Taylor talking to Joe. Jealously shot through me. What if he decided to get back together with Taylor? I mean, she was gorgeous. She had a great voice. She was famous. And I was just……..me. I blinked away tears and continued on the restroom. Once there, I stood in front of the mirror and examined myself. I really did look like a hooker. Well, a hooker wearing a five-thousand dollar Gucci dress. My reddish-brown hair was curled and pinned in a half-up, half-down fashion. I sighed and took it down, letting it fall around my shoulders. Then, I wiped my make-up off and slicked on some clear gloss from my purse. I knew Taylor would probably kill me, but I didn’t care. I had already lost Joe anyway. I left the bathroom and scanned the room for Abigail, but I couldn’t see anything through the crowd of people. When I finally made my way over to where we had been standing, nobody was there. "Crap," I muttered.

"Hey, gorgeous," a British voice said behind me. I turned around and came face to face with Ed Westwick.

"Hey, how ya doing’?" I said and started to walk off, but he grabbed my arm. I sighed impatiently and tried to yank my arm out of his grasp. I fully expected to be able to escape him, but I couldn’t. He stepped closer to me and I could smell the alcohol on his breath. Any other time, I would have been ecstatic to meet him, but now all I wanted to do was find Abi and go home. "Let go," I said and tried to jerk away again.

"Don’t be like that, darling," Ed whispered and wrapped his free arm around my waist. I struggled and then opened my mouth to scream, but then I was pulled away from Ed into someone else’s arms.

"Leave her alone. She’s with me." I smiled at the sound of Joe’s voice. His arms were still wrapped around me and it felt incredible. He said I was with him! My mind repeated that fact over and over and over. Did he mean it or was he just saving me?

"Well, looks like little virgin boy finally got him some ass," Ed sneered and I made a mental note to delete all of the Gossip Girl episodes off of Tivo. Joe didn’t say anything, but instead, guided me to the coatroom.

"Are you okay? He didn’t hurt you, did he?" Joe’s voice was anxious and my heart rate sped up. He actually cared! Joe tucked a stray lock of hair behind my left ear and I shivered at his touch.

"I’m fine," I said and tugged the bottom of my dress down.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah." I cleared my throat and put my hands behind my back. "You should probably get back to the party. You know, since you’re performing and all."

"I kinda can’t. I’m in hiding. The paparazzi got a picture of me and Taylor. She ambushed me and well,………..yeah," he finished lamely before looking down at the ground. "So I’m going to have to be MIA for a while until this calms down." Joe’s face grew angry. "Why can’t they just leave me alone? I mean, I knew there was a price to pay when we started out, but, it’s just…….they never leave us alone!" Joe sighed and then looked at me apologetically. "I’m sorry for dumping this on you. And it’s going to sound really strange, but I feel like I can trust you. It’s crazy. I just met you and it just feels like………" There, he cut himself off and just looked at me.

"What if I told you that there was a place where there are absolutely no paparazzi? Where you can live in peace for three months?"

"I would say that you’re an angel and you rock." Joe smiled. "So what is this place?"

"It’s a tiny town in southern Alabama called Hayes. Population, 6,054." I grinned and wrapped my arms around his neck. "Are you up for it?"


 

Well, there you have it folks. Chapter one. A little bad-boy Ed Westwick action, but plenty of interaction between Brittly and Joe. What do you think will happen next? Read and review, please!