CHAPTER 28:

I was walking towards the front entrance where the Jonas family was waiting for me. I was determined to tell the guys the truth today. They had to know already. I have to come clean. As soon as Joe saw me coming down the escalator he ran towards me and engulfed me in a hug along with a kiss. He quickly grabbed my bags from out of my reach and handed them to their body guard.

“Rob can you take this for Isabella please” he asked him and Rob nodded.

I walked hand in hand with Joe to greet the rest of the family but surprisingly Kevin wasn’t there and it sort of stung. We arrived at the Jonas household about a half hour later and Kevin was there but he wasn’t alone. There was a pretty girl by his side. She was tan-skinned with long brunette colored hair down to her mid-back and emerald green eyes. She had a beautiful figure and a Colgate smile. She looked very familiar in some way as if I’d seen her somewhere before. I couldn’t help but feel jealous and hurt. She was way prettier than me better yet said she was drop dead gorgeous.

“Hi Is this is my girlfriend Brooke. Babe this is Joe’s girlfriend Isabella” since when did Kevin have a girlfriend. Since you got a boyfriend. My conscience was right. I had a boyfriend and I had to stop freaking out.
“Isabella Miller” I shook her hand. “You can call me Is everyone does nice to meet you”
“Brooke Manny nice to meet you too I’ve heard a lot about you. Joe doesn’t stop talking about you” she laughed.
“Omg that’s why you looked so familiar to me you’re the Brazilian supermodel” I smiled.
“Yeah I get that a lot” she smiled back.
“I’ll show you to your room” Joe said as he walked ahead carrying my bags.
“Are you sure it’s okay that I stay here?” I turned to face Denise. “I don’t want to be a bother or anything I can go to a hotel it’s no problem” I assured.
“Nonsense Is, our home is your home your welcome to stay here anytime it’s not a bother at all” she smiled as she rubbed my arm.
“Thank you very much” I returned the gesture with a hug and then I made my way down the hall after Joe.
“Nice meeting you Brooke” I waved.
“Nice meeting you too” she waved back.

Later that night at dinner Nick brought up Joanna. Brooke was gone already. When Nick mentioned Joanna’s name Kevin’s eyes lit up with a twinkle I had never seen before except in Lucas’ and my parents. He really felt something for this girl. His eyes were filled with so much love. My heart broke. Then suddenly his eyes turned dark and he spoke in deadliest tone.
“What about her? I’m over her already” he said as he continued eating. “She’s not worth any of my tears or my time. I’m sick of it and I’m tired of beating myself up for it. She never existed she’s dead to me. Please don’t mention her name anymore” he said as he closed his eyes to relieve the pain he felt in his heart.
“Kev” Nick said as he tried to place a hand on Kevin’s shoulder.
“What did I ever do to her? All I did was give her the time of my life and she just disappeared without a word or an ‘I’m sorry’ or something. I’ve looked for her for the past four months and she doesn’t give a crap. But it’s fine I understand that she hates me and I have to do same.” He breathed and opened his eyes as the tears slowly escaped. “I’m sorry Is” he turned to apologize to me. “Excuse me” he said as he got up and walked away.
“Poor Kevin” Joe said as Kevin disappeared down the hall.

He hated me, well not me Joanna. But Joanna was me we were the same person even he said so. He felt a connection with me that he felt with her that night. He admitted it to me. We were alike and more alike than he would ever know. I could never tell him the truth now. He was hurting because of me. He would hate me even more if he were to find out that I was the girl behind the mask. Joe would hate me as well because I caused his brother so much pain for so long. The whole family would hate me for causing so much pain to this family. What do I do now? I couldn’t have them hate me but I couldn’t stand to see Kevin hurting so much. Everyone was asleep now it was midnight meaning it was four in the morning back home I couldn’t call Ariel at this time. I couldn’t sleep I kept thinking of Kevin’s face. He felt so much pain. After about an hour of running things back and forth in my head I finally closed my eyes and went to sleep. I woke up at six and looked at the time it was ten back home. I searched for my phone and called Ariel.

“Hello” she said sleepily into her phone.
“Hi El I’m sorry to wake you up” I apologized.
“What time is it?” she asked.
“Six here, ten there” I answered.
“Why are you awake so early?” she asked.
“I couldn’t’ sleep I really need to talk to you”
“About what is everything okay?” she asked as her voice began to clear up and sound more awake.
“No it’s not okay he hates me” I said sadly. “Well he hates Joanna but Joanna is me and he doesn’t know that and I don’t know what to do now I’m so confused if I tell them they’ll hate me even more and if I don’t he’ll continue to suffer about it and I don’t know Ariel I’m so lost, so confused” I blurted really fast.
“Whoa wait hold on slower please who hates you?” she asked.
“Kevin hates me Joanna. He said it last night at dinner he said she was dead to him that she never existed. I swear if it wasn’t that I was sitting by him he probably would’ve broken into tears.” I explained.
“Wow Is” she replied.
“I know you should’ve seen how hurt he was. I felt his pain and seeing his eyes filled with hate, pain, rage and sadness all at once made me want to cry. It’s all my fault he’s hurting this way and now I can’t ever tell him the truth” I said sadly. “He will never know that I was the girl behind the mask that night eventually he’ll forget about me”
“Who knows he might not really hate you? He’s just sad” she said.
“I don’t know I mean what about Joe I can’t tell him that I’m the girl his brother is suffering over that I’m the girl his brother is in love with. And then I can’t tell him that I think I love him too” tears began to flow. “What if I turn two brothers against each other that’s the least that I want. I don’t want to cause anymore trouble to this family that’s why I can’t tell them anything” I added.
“But Is? I’m not sure that’s a good idea” she tried to say.
“I’ve made up my decision El they’ll never know that I’m Joanna” I replied and then I heard a sound that didn’t come from Ariel.

I slowly looked up to see my door open and Nick standing in the doorway. Had he heard everything? Or did he hear just a bit?

“Nick” I whispered.
“I can’t believe this” he sadly shook his head.
“I can explain” I began.
“Save it” he began to turn around.
“I gotta call you back” I clicked before she could even reply. “Nick wait” I called to him but he continued walking. I jumped off my bed and followed him down the hall.
“Nick please I can explain” I said once I was close behind him.
“How could you?” he turned and yelled at me. “How could you hurt him so much?” he asked.
“Nick please I don’t want anyone else to hear can we talk somewhere else please I promise I’ll explain everything.” I begged.
“Okay meet me downstairs in five minutes let me put on some clothes and we’ll take a walk alright” he explained.
“Alright” I said as I turned and headed back to my room to put on a pair of jeans a white v-neck and my pair of black and white converse. As soon as I finished tying my hair into a ponytail I silently headed downstairs and waited for Nick outside on the porch.