“Congratulations Rayanne Elizabeth Winters, you have been chosen to receive a free wake-up call compliments of the 5 coolest guys in the world!!!!!!”

It was loud, very loud, and it woke Rayanne up out of her sound sleep. She peeked one eye open to see Nick, Brian, AJ, Kevin and Howie standing at the foot of her bed.

“Get up!!!!” yelled Nick. “Man, we’ve been awake for hours, sleepyhead, join the world!”

Rayanne managed to get her other eye open long enough to look at the clock. 9:18.

“You guys have already been up for how long?” she asked incredulous. It wasn’t even 9:30 yet.

“Since a little after 6. I didn’t tell you we had to get up cause I knew you would want to sleep anyway.” He sat down on the bed next to her. “Coming tonight?”

“I sure am. Do we stay here again tonight?”

“Nope, we’re on the bus tonight, that’ll be an experience for you!”

“Don’t scare her Nick, the bus is actually a lot more homey than these hotel rooms, I’m sure you’ll love it.” Kevin reassured her.

“Thanks Kev.”

“Oh yeah, we meant to ask you too. Howie and I are gonna go to this really cute little Oriental restaurant for dinner. We know Nick isn’t gonna go, but we would love for you to join us.”

“I’d love to!” Rayanne said sincerely with a smile.

“OK, we got stuff to do, how about 5-ish?”

“I’ll be ready and waiting.”

With that the guys all left. As Nick got to the door he turned around and came back to give Rayanne a kiss on the forehead.

“I’ve got the phone on, so if you need us call, cause I’m not exactly sure where we’re gonna be at any given time. Leigh’s next door too.”

“OK. I’ll be fine.” she assured him. He leaned down for a kiss on the lips before he walked out and shut the door.

Rayanne tried to fall back asleep, but to no avail. She got up, took a shower and got dressed. She felt like being lazy for the day, so she watched a lot of TV and made some phone calls. She walked around the hotel a bit with LeighAnne and took a nap. She was listening to her Millennium CD and painting her nails when Nick came back.

“How was your day hun?” she asked him.

“Tiring. Kev and D wanted me to tell you they have to take quick showers, then they’ll be ready.”

“OK.” she said capping the deep blood colored nail polish she has just finished applying to her nails.

“I’m gonna get in the shower, don’t go anywhere till I get out.”

While Nick took his shower, Rayanne changed into a pair of semi-dressy khaki pants and a dark blue tank top. She wrapped her button up sweater of the same color around her waist in case it was chilly in the restaurant. She was sitting on the bed blowing on her nails to make sure they were dry and watching MTV when Kevin and Howie knocked at the door.

“Hey guys, come on in. Let me go tell Nick we’re leaving and I’ll be ready.”

She walked into the bathroom and told Nick she was leaving.

“OK, have fun.” he said quietly.

“Nick is something wrong?”

“I don’t know. I don’t feel very good. I have this cramp in my stomach.”

“Did you pull something dancing in rehearsal?”

“I’m pretty sure that’s not it. I know what that feels like. Can you feel something for me?”

“Sure. In there?”

“Hang on a sec.” she heard the water turn off and his arm reached out for his towel that was on the sink. He stepped out into the steamy bathroom with his towel wrapped around his waist.

“Here,” he said taking her hand and putting it on his abdomen. “That’s where it’s hurts.”

“Oh my God Nick, it feels all swollen. You should have the Doctor take a look at that before you do anything tonight.”

“Nah, not yet. I’ll worry about it if it still hurts tomorrow.”

“Do you want me to stay here with you?”

“No, go. I’m gonna rest before the show.”

“OK, as long as you’re sure.” she said wrapping her arms around his neck to give him a hug.

He hugged her back, but kept pulling his stomach back away from her. She heard him suck in his breath sharply, but didn’t say anything. She pulled away and kissed him softly on the lips.

“I love you.” she said, “and you got me all wet.” she giggled as she looked down and saw a wet spot on her tank top.

“Sorry.” He managed a weak smile. “Love you too Ray.”

She put on her sweater to cover the small wet spot as she walked out of the bathroom to join Kevin and Howie. They walked down the street the few blocks to the Oriental restaurant. They had a table waiting in the corner.

She had fun at dinner. Kevin was a lot funnier than she had expected. He told jokes when the time was appropriate, but also knew how to have a serious conversation. He was a very intelligent person, whom Rayanne knew she was going to enjoy spending time with. Howie was very polite the whole dinner, repeatedly asking her if she needed anything.

“Howie, if you keep it up, I’m going to have to tip you!” she laughed. “Have you ever thought of moonlighting as a waiter?”

Howie just smiled and didn’t say anything.

On the walk back to the hotel Rayanne told the guys about Nick’s stomach.

“Why do you think he doesn’t want to tell the Doctor?”

“For one thing, Michael has no sympathy whatsoever if we’re not feeling well. He’ll tell Nick it’s a ‘bellyache’ and to stop his whining. Michael’s funny that way. No compassion when we’re sick or hurt.” Kevin informed her.

“Yeah, his motto is...’If you’re not dead, you better be onstage’.” Howie added.

“Oh.”

LeighAnne wasn’t feeling well that evening, so Rayanne had to sit alone at the concert. She took her seat in the front row with LeighAnne’s empty one next to her.

Just as the concert was about to start Rayanne noticed another girl about her age sitting alone. She was in the front row also, down from where she was sitting.

She caught Rayanne looking at her and smiled.

“Hey, um, my friend isn’t coming tonight, do you want to come sit down here by me?” Rayanne offered.

“Sure.” The girl got up from her seat and came to sit where LeighAnne was originally supposed to sit.

“Hi, I’m Rayanne.” she said as soon as the brunette sat down next to her.

“Hi! Amanda.” she said smiling.

“So, if you don’t mind me asking, why were you sitting all alone?”

“Oh, my cousin was supposed to come with me. She’s from here and she’s the one who got us front row. She’s so sick though, poor thing, she couldn’t come. So now, here I am, in England, alone at a concert.”

“Well, you’re not alone anymore.” Rayanne offered.

Amanda smiled as the music started and Sky came on to perform. They watched the concert intently, making comments and laughing with each other a lot. About half way through the concert Amanda said quietly, “Nick doesn’t look well. I wonder if something’s wrong with him?”

At that moment Rayanne almost told her about her and Nick, but held back. She wasn’t sure why, she felt she could trust Amanda.

“I don’t know, I hope not.” was all she said.

By the end of the concert Rayanne had learned that Amanda was 19, only 2 months to the day younger than herself. She was from Detroit, Michigan, but was visiting Europe for almost the whole summer. She would be a sophomore at the University of Michigan in the spring, taking the fall semester off to do some traveling. She had two sisters, one older and one younger. She loved to write and hoped to someday pen a movie script. She hated the way she looked, but pretended to be confident because guys liked it better that way. She was 5’7” with healthy, straight light brown hair falling just above the middle of her back. She had blue eyes, the deep color blue like the ocean at night. She constantly had a smile on her face, the kind that Rayanne couldn’t help but smile back at.

When the concert was over Rayanne turned to Amanda and pulled her All-Access pass out of her back pocket. “Wanna come back with me?” she smiled.

“OH MY GOD! DO I!?” she screamed excitedly.

Rayanne quickly made her way backstage with Amanda at her heels. She spotted Nick leaning up against the wall, sweaty, not having taken a shower yet.

“Hey there sexy.” she said as she walked up to him.

“Hey you.” he said weakly as he leaned down to give her a kiss.

“Nick, I would like you to meet Amanda. She kept me company tonight.”

They both looked at Amanda, who was frozen. She didn’t say a word.

“Nice to meet you Amanda.” he laughed extending his hand.

“Um, yeah, nice to meet you too...N-n-nick.” she struggled to get out.

Nick smiled as Amanda shook his hand. “I’m gonna go take a quick shower. You guys just hang around until I get back.”

“Alrighty.” Rayanne said as Nick walked one way to the showers and she grabbed Amanda’s hand and dragged her the other way.

During the concert Amanda had told Rayanne that Nick and AJ were her favorites. She had an idea. She was in search of AJ. She spotted him down the hall talking to a couple girls.

Rayanne walked up to where he was standing and patiently waited her turn to talk to him. When he saw her standing there he made the conversation with the girls short.

“Hey Ray, what’s up?” he asked as the others walked away.

“Not much. AJ, I would like you to meet Amanda.” she said swinging Amanda forward with her hand. “Amanda, AJ.”

“Hi AJ.” she said flashing a brilliant smile.

Rayanne involuntarily flashed a funny look at Amanda, not able to comprehend the difference in her reactions to Nick and AJ.

“Hey beautiful.” AJ said bringing Amanda’s hand to his lips to give it a soft kiss.

Rayanne rolled her eyes. “What a flirt.” she said.

AJ shot her a look. “So?” he said somewhat defensively.

“So AJ, you did good tonight.” Amanda said.

“Thanks.”

Rayanne could tell she was quickly being left out of this conversation, so she set off to find someone else to talk to.

She walked into the pool room and found Brian and Michael playing.

“So, did anyone else notice that Nick seemed a bit off tonight?” Rayanne didn’t waste anytime as she looked straight at Michael.

Brian looked at Rayanne with a look that said ‘You don’t want to do this.’

“You noticed? I wonder how many people out there tonight did. I might have to have a talk with him.”

“How about instead of making him feel like shit you ask him what’s wrong. He could be sick you know.”

Michael’s eyes closed to almost a squint as he moved from the side of the pooltable he was standing on to where Rayanne was. His words came out like daggers, dripping with sarcasm. “Listen, I know you’re all concerned about Nick being sick, but he has a job to do. He might have been a bit off tonight, but he did it, didn’t he? You’re here for one reason, and that’s because he wants you here. You keep him company, do whatever you want with him until it comes to work. That’s what I’m here for, you let me deal with it.” He put down his pool stick and walked away.

“Told ya.” Brian said quietly and looked up to see Nick walk in. He walked over to Rayanne, his eyes sunk in. He put his hand on the small of her back and kissed the top of her head.

“I kind of heard a bit of that. Thanks for the concern Ray, I appreciate it. I really do. But Michael doesn’t, he’s always been like this. You should probably steer clear of him for awhile.”

“Alright, sorry.” she said sincerely.

He took her hand in his walking into the hallway where they ran into AJ and Amanda. They were laughing, sharing something private that no one else had heard.

“You guys wanna do something tonight? Me and Amanda thought it would be fun to go dancing or something.”

“Nah, thanks anyway man, but I’m wiped. I’m gonna head to bed as soon as we can get outta here. Ray, you can go if you want to.”

“That’s OK.” she giggled. “I think these two will be perfectly entertained alone. Besides, I want to be with you.” she said squeezing his hand. She knew something was wrong with Nick and there was no way she was going to leave him alone.

“Alright, well Amanda’s going to ride the bus with us to the next stop. So you two can hang out tomorrow and go the show together.” AJ informed her.

“Cool.” Rayanne said. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning then Amanda.”

20 minutes later Nick was in the bus bathroom getting ready for bed while Rayanne sat at his laptop in the bus kitchen writing an e-mail to her mom. He was taking an awfully long time to get changed and brush his teeth, she was starting to get worried.

...I met a girl named Amanda tonight. She’s from Michigan, here visiting relatives. She sat next to me at the concert . She’s going to come tomorrow too. I think we’ll be good friends, she seems really easy to get along with. Well, it’s time for me to rest my weary concert-watching eyes! I’ll talk to you soon mom. I love you!
Love, Raybee...she finished her email and hit the send button. She got up to check on Nick.

*Knock Knock* She knocked on the closed bathroom door.

“Ray.” came his voice, very quietly. He sounded scared and so far away.

She threw open the door and saw him in his boxers kneeling on the floor, holding his side. His toothbrush was on the ground.

“Oh my God, shit! Nick get up!” she yelled crying. No one else was on the bus.

“I can’t. You have to help me get to bed.”

“Fine, and then I’m calling an ambulance or finding Brian or someone. You are not going to do this to yourself Nick.”

He found the energy in himself to speak in what was a normal tone, but must have taken as much effort as shouting. “Ray, I need to sleep. I’ll be fine. I cannot risk getting pulled off this tour because of a pulled muscle or whatever this is. We have all day tomorrow as a rest day.”

Rayanne looked at him on the floor. She didn’t want to let him see her cry, to see she was that scared.

“OK.” she gave in. “I’ll leave it alone tonight.”

“Thank you. Now just help me up.”

She helped Nick off the floor back to his bunk. She watched him climb in, obviously in pain.

“You want me to sleep somewhere else tonight?” she asked.

“Maybe you should. I’m sorry hun.”

“It’s OK, I’m gonna be in the bunk right across here, OK? If you need me, yell, or just stick your arm over and I’ll wake up.”

She leaned in his bunk to give him a gentle kiss, taking his hand in hers. “Promise me, if you need something you’ll stop being so brave and just wake me up.”

“I promise.” he said as he kissed her back. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” she stood up and let the curtain fall back in front of his bunk. She went into the bathroom and picked up his clothes and toothbrush. She got ready for bed herself and went to sit at the kitchen table.

By the time Brian walked in She had been sitting at the table crying for about 15 minutes. She could feel her eyes were swollen and red.

“Ray?” he asked cautiously as he put his hand on her shoulder and squatted down to her level.

She told him everything, feeling better to at least get it off her chest.

“OK, I’ll help you keep an eye on him.” he promised.

“Thank you Brian.” she said.

”Not a problem, he’s my Little Man!” Brian smiled trying to cheer her up. “You should go to bed, you look exhausted.”

Rayanne complied as she got up and took her place in the bunk across from Nicks.

She was having a dream that Nick was in the hospital. He had checked in after waking up in the middle of the night with the shakes. He woke her up, not able to breathe. She rushed him to the hospital and sat outside the door, crying, wondering what was happening to him. The doctor looked at her, very sad and told her she should go be with him. She walked into his room and sat next to him. He had just told her he had 2 weeks to live.

She woke up in a cold sweat, shaking. When she sat up she hit her head on the bottom of the bunk above her.

“God damn it!” she yelled, frustrated at everything.

She lay back down in bed crying. She knew it was just a dream, but she was scared that whatever was wrong with Nick wasn’t going to get better by itself. She was laying in bed daydreaming and trying to fall back to sleep when she heard AJ and Amanda come in. She got up to see if they had fun.

“Hey you.” AJ said. “Look tired.”

“I am.” she admitted. “Did you guys have fun?”

“Yup, we went dancing at the club we went to last night.”

“Neat.” was all Rayanne could offer. It was hard for her to keep her mind on anything but Nick.

“We’re gonna hang out in the back, wanna join?”

“Sure.”

The three of them headed to the back of the bus, with Rayanne stopping to check on Nick. She peeked behind the curtain on his bunk. He seemed to be sleeping soundly, with no sign of pain. She smiled a secret smile and went back to join AJ and Amanda. They all lounged around on the furniture just talking. She wasn’t sure when she fell asleep, but she woke up when she felt the bus lurch forward.

“What’s going on?” she asked sitting up quickly.

“Nothing, we’re leaving.” AJ said, laughing a little.

“Oh, well I’m gonna go back to bed.”

Rayanne headed to her bunk, checking on Nick one more time before falling asleep for the third time that night.

Her sleep was dreamless this time, and she didn’t wake up until the bus pulled into the hotel at 6:45 the next morning.