Hold On To Our Love (Short Jemi Story)

Chapter 2: Somewhere I went wrong

Joe's POV:

"I love that your shows are a little shorter now," Ashley said laying on my couch of the dressing room.

I sighed. The only reason it was shorter was because I didn't sing with Demi. I couldn't stop thinking about her. I know it was wrong to hurt her, but I couldn't ruin our friendship. It looked like I made it worse. We were both hurt over the break up, but I tried to move on, to show Demi I'm okay, but she obviously doesn't get it. I brought Ashley on tour to make it more obvious, and I'm happy she's with me. I don't understand why my brothers are acting like such jerks around her, Ashely's sweet. I understand why she didn't want me to sing with Demi, but I don't really talk to her anymore. When I"m out of stage with her, it's like it's the two of us on tour alone. The memories of our friendship start reeling through my mind. I managed to catch her eye, after she stopped hugging and giggling on stage, and I see a twinkle in her eye, and I could have sworn she loved singing with me too. "Yeah, me too." I lied. Nick suddenly barged in without knocking. "Rude much?" I asked him, glaring.

He just rolled his eyes. Does he think he's better than me? "Please, Joe. This is my dressing room too. We really should get ready for the show."

Ashley pouted. "Can't you wait just a few more minutes."

I opened my mouth to speak, but Nick interjected. "No, we need to get ready now. Bye."

Ashley rolled her eyes and stood up. "Fine. Bye Joey." she pecked my lips and I thought of Demi's lips on mine. Once the door slammed, I turned to Nick. "What's your problem?"

"MY problem!?" Nick asked taking off his shirt and grabbing his other one. "I don't HAVE a problem!"

"Yes you do!" I argued as I made my way to my clothes. "What makes you think it's okay to barge in like that?!"

"And why do YOU think it's okay to ignore your family and friends?!" Nick looked mad.

"What?! I'm not ignoring anyone!" I said.

"When was the last time you played Hide and Seek with me, Frankie and Kevin?"

"I..." I couldn't finish it. The last time I played with them was before I brought Ashley on tour.

"Exactly. Don't you remember our best friend? The one that's on tour with us?"

"What about her?" I mumbled. "She's obviously interested in that Kardashian. And she's happy."

Nick laughed, but without humor. "Happy? Did you not hear what happened? Oh wait, you ran in here with your stupid girlfriend."

"She's not stupid!" I yelled.

He ignored me. "Demi was crying, Joe. She was crying on stage again. During Don't Forget."

"Probably just other things..." I told him as I fumbled for my clothes. I couldn't seem to make eye contact with him.

"No, Joe. You're not a dumbass. We both know why."

"No, we don't."

"Really, Joe?" Nick took his iPod and scrolled down until he found what he was looking for.

"I don't want to hear it, Nick." It was too late, though, I heard Demi's angelic singing fill the room.

"Did you forget that I was even alive? Did you forget everything we ever had? Did you forget, did you forget about me?"

"Stop, Nick." I said through gritted teeth. I didn't want to hear this. I didn't want to realize how much I hurt her. "I can't...." her voice continued to sing. I stopped and stared at the ground.

"But somewhere we went wrong. we were once so strong. our love is like a song, you can't forget it."

"Nick, stop it. I can't...I can't hear this." I looked back at my brother with pained eyes. He understood and stopped the song.

"You hurt her so much, Joe. She loves you."

"Loved. She's moved on. She likes someone else."

Nick shook his head. "You're so blind, Joseph. She's pretending. For you. She's pretending so you dont feel guilty. Why are you so foolish?"

"Ashley's brought me away from her..." I trailed off. Was this true? Ashley was stringing me away from my family, just like....

"Just like Camilla." Nick said as if reading my thoughts. "You loved Taylor, but you moved on. I know you haven't moved on from Demi. I saw it since the day you met. The chemistry is amazingly strong. Your friendship isn't going to disappear because of a stupid mistake."

I nodded. "I have to...I have to make this right."

"I have to....I need to talk to Dad." I ran out as I got my jacket on. "DAD!" I yelled down the hall.

"Joe! You don't need to yell!" He said harshly as I stood in front of him.

"Sorry," I said catching my breath slightly. "Dad, I have to...I need to...I need those duets with Demi."

His brow furrowed in confusion. "But you told me..."

"I know, Dad, I know. I just...I realized I made a big mistake, please, Dad."

"Well, we can put it in for tomorrow night."

"No! Tomorrow night's too late! I need to do this tonight. I can't let this go any farther."

"You've finally realized it, haven't you Joe?"

I nodded, ashamed. "I should have seen it sooner. Actually, I shouldn't have made such a big mistake."

"You're about to go onstage. We'll let you know if we can make the duets happen tonight."

I smiled wide. "Thank you, Dad!" I ran off to find my brothers.