Nick ran out hurriedly out the hotel bathroom door, dripping wet with a few bubbles here and there. He had a damp white towel wrapped around himself. Looking around to search for the source of the ringing noise. He lifted a few pillows up and threw them on the floor, then grabbed his overcoat and dug his hands into the pockets. His mobile phone was still ringing desperately as Nick’s wet hand grabbed it from the pockets and pressed the receive button on it.
“Yeah?” He barked rudely into the phone, one hand on his hips.
“Um, Nick please?” An unfamiliar voice rang out.
“Yeah, this is him. Who’s this?” Nick asked, sitting down on the sofa and searching for something to wipe the bubbles off his arms and face.
“Oh, hey Nick! It’s me, Andrew. You busy later?” It was the stranger he had met at the airport.
“Oh hey! Um, actually, no, I’m not busy later. But I’m kind of busy now?”
“Yeah, I kind of figured that bit out when you slobbered all over your phone,” Andrew joked. Nick laughed. “So, what ya doin’ dude?”
“I was doing something, called a shower Andrew,” Nick replied sarcastically, “And I’m kind of half naked now if you don’t mind.”
“Ugh. Sick, you better get back in before one of your psycho fans come and physically abuse you,” Andrew said in a feigned serious tone.
“Yeah, I should… before you come anyway. Hey, listen, I gotta go. I’ll call you later?”
“Um, okay. Bye”
“Bye,” Nick hung up the phone with a happy grin on his face. Standing up, his towel fell off and he immediately grabbed it off the floor feeling embarrassed even though he was alone. “Thank God the other guys aren’t here,” he sighed with relief as he brushed back his wet blond hair with his hand. With one hand gripping onto the towel making sure it won’t fall off again, he slowly made his way back into the steamy bathroom. (Author’s Note: When I say steamy, I do NOT mean THAT kind of steamy…)
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
“What’re you doing?” Christina asked cheerfully while walking into the bright sunny kitchen.
“I just called Nick to see if he wanted to do anything today,” Andrew replied, not sensing the uncomfortable situation between her and Nick. Christina tensed a little.
“So um,” Christina pretended to sound normal and find out what was happening with Nick lately, “What are you guys doing?” She asked, sitting down next to him with a mug of orange juice in her hands. The truth was, she wanted to know everything that was happening Nick. Why was he alone when he returned? How did her brother and Nick know each other? This was all very confusing to Christina as she took a small sip from her cup.
“He said he’d call later. Why are you still here? Aren’t you supposed to be in school by now?” Andrew asked.
“Oh shit! I am! Gotta go Andie! See ya later!” Christina gulped down the rest of her juice as she grabbed her bag which was lying on the floor. Pulling one shoe on, she pushed open the door with her free hand and then struggled to wear the other shoe. Balancing on one leg because to she failed to wear her other shoe, she tripped down the porch, landing flat on her bottom.
From inside, came a laughing voice, “Great show Chris! Enjoyed it! Your boyfriend is coming, get up before he sees what a clumsy klutz you are! He might dump you!” He continued laughing. Christina scowled as she got up and brushed off the pebbles from her miniskirt.
“Stuff your face And!” Chris yelled inside and immediately closing the door refusing to listen to Andrew’s comebacks. Just then, Devon came round the corner with his friends and waved at Christina. Faking a smile, she ran towards him, her thoughts all on Nick.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
“What to do, what to do?” Nick repeated to himself as he walked around the hotel room, feeling extremely bored. A loud and sudden ringing of his mobile phone surprised him. He grabbed it and wondering who it could be, he said, “Hello?”
“Nick?”
“Yeah, it’s me,” Nick answered, trying to figure out who this familiar voice belonged to.
“It’s Andrew.”
“Right!,” Nick thought, remembering.
“So, you still want to go out today?” He continued.
“Oh yeah, sorry, forgot to call.” Nick admitted sheepishly.
“Nah, it’s okay. So, where do you wanna go?” Andrew asked, twirling the telephone cable around his finger.
“Um, how about…” Nick thought for a moment, “How about some b-ball or some video games at the arcade?”
“Hmm… I already went to the arcade a few days ago. B-ball maybe?” Andrew confirmed.
“It’s a deal,” Nick replied, smiling at the thought that he didn’t have to sit around and think about Christina anymore.