CHAPTER 20:

I turned around after the person yelled my name. It was raining so hard I couldn’t recognize the person until he spoke again.

“Don’t do this!” he yelled and I kind of recognized it but I wasn’t quite sure.
“Kevin?” I asked as I tried my best to look through the pouring raindrops.
“Please think about this,” he begged as he slowly approached me.
“Stay away” I yelled.
“Please don’t do this. Think about what it’ll do to your family” he tried to persuade.
“I don’t have any family they’re all dead,” I yelled as I pictured my parents, grandparents and then Lucas.
“You once told me that you still had an aunt and some cousins” he replied.
“Ay please like if they’ll care whether I die or not” I shot at him as my heart filled with more pain and anger.
“Yes they will please think about this you have your whole life ahead of you,” he explained.
“Of course you could say that because you have an easy life. Your future is already set and done for, it’s served on a silver platter” I shot angrily. “You don’t know me. You don’t know the things I’ve been through the things I’ve had to do to get where I am now. You don’t know what it’s like to have everyone you love taken away from you. I do and I’m tired of it happening over and over again. So just go and leave me alone,” I yelled as the tears poured with no end.
“I’m not going anywhere Is cause I know you’re better than this you’re stronger than this. I know who you really are so stop acting” he replied and I got startled. Did he know that I was Joanna omg how?
“What?” I replied a little shaky.
“You pretend to be someone you’re not. You act like you’re weak and breakable when the truth is you’re stronger and braver than anyone I know. You’re stronger than I’ll ever be”
“No I’m not,” I cried. “I’m not strong I never was and I never will be. I’m a failure to everyone”
“Come on get down from there please,” he begged as he stepped closer.
“I’m scared” I hesitated.
“Take my hand,” he said as he took another step. I turned my body completely around.
“Ah” I screamed as my leg slipped on the wetness of the rail. This is it I’m going to die for real.
“Don’t worry I got you” he yelled to me as he held onto my hand. “I promise I won’t let go” he assured me as I opened my eyes to see him reaching over the railing and holding onto my arms.
“Please don’t let go I’m sorry I don’t want to die,” I begged as I tried to climb back onto the rail.
“Come on I got you don’t worry” he yelled as he pulled me up.
“Uh” I grunted as my hand began to slip from his reach. I quickly put my foot through the rail and pushed myself up.
“One more pull” he said to me and then before I knew it I was over the rail and into his arms.
“Omg thank you” I said to him as I hugged him tightly. “I’m so stupid”
“You’re welcome now let’s get you out of this rain before you get sick” he said as he walked me to his car.
“But what about my car?” I asked him.
“We’ll leave a note and come back for it later,” he explained and I agreed. “My hotel is here like five minutes away let me take you there to get changed and then we’ll come back and get your car and you can go home,” he suggested.
“I don’t know Kevin” I hesitated.
“I won’t hurt you I promise”
“Okay fine” I accepted. “But only to change and then we come right back” I said.
“Deal” he said after he finished writing a note saying that my car ran out of gas and that we walked to the nearby gas station.

We got into his car and drove to his hotel. It was really only five minutes away or so it seemed. He was staying at the Hilton Hotel near the beach. We got off the car and walked into the lobby. Thank god, the rain had died down a bit to a simple drizzle. We got into the elevator and went up to the fifth floor. We walked down the hall and finally approached the room at the end of the left hallway. He slid his card into the slot and pushed it open. I walked in behind him and saw that the room was empty. Then the bathroom door opened.

“You’re back already?” Joe asked his brother Kevin.
“Yea and I brought someone,” he said motioning for him to look behind him. “Is, this is my brother Joe and Joe this is Is” he introduced us not knowing that we’ve already met before well kind of.
“Yeah I know who he is” I replied.
“You’re Ariel’s friend aren’t you?” he asked.
“Yea and you’re her ex boyfriend” I replied.
“Yea nice to finally meet you I’ve heard so much about you” he said sticking his hand out for me to shake. “And I don’t mean from Ariel” he whispered to me and I laughed.
“Joe!” Kevin yelled. “I heard that” he scowled his younger brother.
“Nice to meet you too” I replied as I shook his hand.

I walked more into the room and stood because I didn’t want to wet anything. Kevin walked over to a luggage and searched through it. Seconds later, he pulled out a pair of sweats and a pair of jeans along with a white t-shirt.

“Here I don’t know which one will fit you,” he said handing me the two pants. “But the shirt should fit” he said as he handed me that as well.
“Thanks” I replied as I walked towards the bathroom to change. Minutes later, I came out wearing the jeans and the white t-shirt. I handed the sweats to Kevin which e insisted I keep then he went into shower.
“Hey mind if I sit,” I asked Joe who was sitting on the bed looking at the laptop screen.
“Go ahead” he said as he moved over a little.
“What you got there? If you don’t mind me asking,” I replied.
“Oh nothing I’m just trying to find a friend,” he said simply.
“Oh you want any help?” I asked. “I’ve been living here my whole life maybe I know the person” I suggested. “Does he or she live here?” I asked.
“Yeah she lives here in Miami but I don’t know what she looks like” he replied.
“Huh?” I said confused.
“Well we met online about a year and a half ago and something terrible happened and I wanted to be there for her so I flew down here to find her but she doesn’t seem to be online” he explained.
“Oh wow” I replied then I began to think. Could it be? No that’s impossible he would’ve told me if he was Joe Jonas. But I’ve known Joe for about a year and a half and something terrible happened to me today. That’s kind of awkward but it can’t be related. “Where do you guys live?” I asked suddenly and he looked at me confused.
“California why?” he asked. Omg.
“What’s your friend’s name?” I asked.
“Isabella” he replied.
“Holy *beep* I blurted out.
“What do you know her?” he asked impatiently.
“Oh yea I know her” I replied.
“Are you close? Do you know where she’s at right now?” he asked quickly.
“We’re closer than you think. I’ve known her my whole life,” I answered as I tried to recollect my thoughts.

This was Joe the Joe from my dreams that I always wished to one-day meet. The Joe that was there for me whenever I had a bad day or whenever I just needed someone to talk to. He was right under my nose the whole time. Why didn’t I ever think about this? He was the one I was-

“Hello earth to Is,” he said waving his hand in front of my face.
“Huh what?” I asked as I shook my thoughts away.
“I was asking if you knew where she was at right now,” he explained.
“Oh she’s closer than you think,” I answered. Should I tell him?
“Where?” he asked.
“Right here” I said to him. Then the bathroom door opened and Kevin stepped out.