Only fools rush in!
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https://www.angelfire.com/pop2/bsbfanfiction/nb2.html
bsbgrrrls@aol.com
Nick opened his eyes and immediately regreted it. The room swam in fromt of them and his head hurt. He noticed a figure sitting in a chair by the window. There were only two people that that could be and since even in the dim light that filtered through the closed blinds it looked nothing like Brian, there was actually only one person that it could be. God, all this reasoning was hurting his head.
"Tizz?" Nick asked. The figure winced and Nick remembered that she hated that nick-name. He was the only person who could get away with calling her it and then only on occasion.
"Yeah?" She asked coming over to the bed. How did she always know when to be there. She was like his guardian angel. Well actually she was the angel who came and cleaned up after his guardian angel had let him make a mess of things, Nick thought bitterly.
"What are you doing here?" He asked.
"I came straight away. I figured that it must be something serious for you to get drunk." She said, her voice low and soft so that it didn't hurt his head to listen to her words.
"I called you? I'm sorry." Nick said remorsefully.
"Don't be. I'd rather you called me than felt alone. So, come on then what is it?" She demanded gently. Nick smiled. Typical Tizz, never one to beat around the bush. "You had another fight with her right? Where is she now." She answered her own question with two others. Nick's head began to throb.
"Umm, I'm not sure. I went out with AJ and then I remember coming home but not much after that. I went out with AJ after I'd had a fight with her and told her I didn't want her here when I got home." Nick told her. She nodded satisfied that he was telling the truth and passed him some asprin tablets and a glass of water. "Where are you going?" He asked as she rose.
"To make you some breakfast. I know you don't want anything but it'll help. It'll settle your stomach. Besides you don't want Kevin and Brian to see you like this do you?" She asked smiling.
"Brian I could deal with but I think I'd start crying if Kev yelled at me. My head hurts so bad." Nick said. It wasn't quite a whine because that would have made his head hurt even more.
"I know, but you have to get up. Take a warm shower and then come downstairs. You have half an hour and if come up here and find you lying on your lazy butt then I will give you a cold shower whilst you are still in the bed. Ok?" She ordered bossily, but still in a quiet voice. Nick groaned. He knew from experience that she would carry out that particular threat. Both he and Kevin had experienced it in the past. He nodded and watched as she went out of the room. He hoped to God that Mellissa didn't come back whilst Tizz was here. Never mind yesterdays row. She would blow the house up if she saw Tizz in the kitchen making Nick breakfast, it definitely wouldn't be a pretty sight. Especially if Tizz lost her temper too, then he would have to run for cover. He dragged himself reluctantly out of bed.
"Carter, why you do this to yourself over that crazy slut I will never know." Tizz said from the doorway.
"God, you sounded like AJ then." Nick commented looking down to check that he wasn't standing in front of her naked. Actually he hadn't even changed out of the clothes that he had worn when clubbing with AJ. Tizz pulled a face at Nick who stuck his tongue out childishly.
"Well what are you waiting for? Go take a shower." Tizz told him, ushering him towards his bathroom.
"I'm waiting for you to go and cook me breakfast." Nick said grinning.
"Oh yeah, that's why I came up. Do you want your eggs fried or scrambled?" She asked. Nick looked like he was going to be violently sick so she turned and went out of the room shaking her head and muttering about the youth of today.
"You're younger than me!" He called after her, gripping his head and groaning. He went into the bathroom and took a long refreshing shower. Tizz had been right about that, he did feel better. Goingdown stairs after dressing and trying to do something with his hair which meant putting a cap on it basically. How anyone could have as many bad hair days as he did he didn't know, especially when he had just washed it. He made his way into the kitchen and gasped when he saw the plate of hot food waiting for him on the breakfast ber.
"Dang girl! You certainly know the way to a mans heart!" He exclaimed. Tizz smiled.
"Howcome the only thing that you are ever on time for is food?" She asked smiling at him. Nick sat down and picked up a fork, his intense need to vomit had now passed.
"I dunno." He replied before starting to cram the food into his mouth.
"Nick slow down, it's not going anywhere and you'll make yourself ill." She said laughing. There was a tap at the back door. Tizz looked at Nick and he shook his head.
"No she wouldn't come through the back, according to her only gypsies and vagrants use the back door." Nick told her grinning, knowing who she thought it was.
"She is such a snob." Tizz exclaimed before opening the door. The force of a pair of arms being wrapped around her tightly, sent her flying back into the kitchen. Nick looked up startled and saw Brian wrapped around Tizz.
"Put me down Brian." She squealed as the force of his hug lifted her feet off the kitchen tiles even though she was only half an inch shorter than him.
"Please tell me he left her and begged you to come back to him! God, it's SO great to see you Chelle! It's been too long." He said putting her down gently. Then he turned to Nick. "Howcome whenever I come round to check on you she's always already here? No matter how many speeding laws I break?" He asked grinning. Nick shrugged silently, his mouth was full off food. Brian suddenly looked serious.
"You ok? I saw Howie and he said that AJ was totally smashed last night and you weren't far behind. Drinking isn't the way to get rid of your problems." Brian chided gently.
"It is as a short term measure." Nick tried to lighten the mood that had descended but Brian just shook his head.
"It can't carry on like this Nick. You can't just keep forgiving her." He said looking at Nick concerned. He knew that he had to draw the line soon before Nick accused him of acting like Kevin and trying to run his life and telling him that he wasn't 14 any more.
"I know." Nick agreed. "I kicked her out yesterday. Her bags are all packed and under the stairs waiting for her to come and collect them. She did it again, man. I can't believe she did it again." Tears began to swim before Nick's eyes. Brian put a hand on his shoulder gently. Chelle wrapped her arms round Nick from where she stood behind the chair.
"Maybe it has been too long." She whispered gently. "I thought it was for the best." She added looking up at Brian who smiled consolingly. Chelle's eyes were full of tears now, Brian knew probably more than anyone but Nick, what it had taken for Chelle to stay away for so long and give Nick's relationship with Mellissa a chance to become stable. Nick turned a little and hugged her to him.
"I know you did." He said. Chelle wiped her tears on her sleeve only to have fresh ones fall as she thought of how Nick had begged her not to go, literally begged, but she had had to. They had had to real time apart even after they decided to break up because they wanted to make sure that they kept the friendship that had been the only thing keeping the two of them going for so long now. She had watched as girlfriend after girlfriend of his and boyfriend after boyfriend of hers struggled to cope with how close their realtionship was, especially when they discovered that there used to be more to it. She had gone away not only because Nick had found a girl that he really liked but who unfortunately didn't like Chelle but for her own sanity and peace of mind as well as his.
"Please stop crying Chelle it's ok. You did what you thought was best for both of us and you're here now, when I need you and that's all that matters." Nick said, wiping the tears from her face with his thumb and kissing her cheek gently. Chelle nodded. The sound of Brian clearing his throat made them both pull away from the hug.
"Sorry guys but we gotta go." He said showing Nick his watch. Nick nodded and stood up.
"You're coming too right? The guys would love to see you. I mean you saw what Brian was like so imagine AJ and Kevin." Nick said enthusiastically. Chelle shook her head.
"I don't know Nick I..." She was cut off by Brian yelling.
"Nick you get one I'll get the other ok?" Brian grinned at her and she found herself being ambushed and carried to the car by her arms. She wriggled and tried to get away but they had a good grip on her and Nick dragged her into the back car with him tossing Brian his keys so that he could lock up.
"This is kidnap." She told Nick as he stopped her from opening the car door.
"You know you wanna come." Nick said grinning.
"I don't, now let me out efore I kill you." She said trying to look at him menacingly and wriggle her hands out of his grasp at the same time.
"Pleeeeease!" Nick begged giving her his best puppy dog look.
"Uh-uh, no fair." Chelle complained, he knew she couldn't with stand that look. It was too late to argue further however because Brian had now gotten into the driving seat and was taking them down the drive. Nick released Chelle's hands because he knew he had won now. She sat back in her seat and pretended to sulk but after a few minutes of puppy dog eyes, Nick had her telling him all about her trip to Australia, which seemed to include a lot about men. By the time they arrived at Jive where they were going to meet the others, Nick's side was hurting from laughing about how she had freaked out over a stuffed crocodile that she had thought was real and having to check under the toilet seat in case there were any poisonous spiders waiting to jump out and bite you. They got out of the car and walked into reception unhindered by fans that day.
"Hi, could you tell me what room we're supposed to go to please? We're having a meeting with Mr. Claren." Brian told the girl at the reception desk who was starring at Nick, much to the amusement of Chelle. Nick had flushed a deep red colour because of the things that Chelle, who had her back to Brian and the receptionist, was mouthing at him. He turned quickly and scurried towards the elevator when Brian told him that they were on the third floor. They all got into the elevator teasing Nick until he looked like he was about to begin sulking, but by that time they had reached the third floor. They stepped out and said hi to the security guy who was standing at the elevator door. Chelle followed Nick and Brian out of the elevator and began walking down the corridor with them The big security guy placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Er, excuse me Miss but where are you going?" He asked. Chelle opened her mouth to speak but he stopped her. "Do you have an official pass to be up here?" He asked. Chelle looked shocked and then at Nick who was grinning widely.
"He's pullin' your leg Tizz. Come on." He pulled her after Brian and they entered a small conference room with a table set up in the middle with chairs surrounding it.
"Michelle?" Kevin's deep voice came from close to her ear. She was quickly enveloped in a hug by his strong arms. AJ and Howie came wandering over to see what was going on.
"Chelle!" AJ cried swinging her up into a hug with him. Howie waited for him to let her escape before he hugged her.
"It's so great to see you. We've been telling him to call you for ages." Howie said. Chelle looked at Nick who grinned sheepishly.
"She was in Australia." He explained. Chelle was then introduced to the other people sitting at the table who had become thoroughly bemused at the sight of five grown men all so excited about the presence of one young female.
"What are you doing here?" Kevin asked looking first to Nick and then Chelle. Nick shook his head knowing what Kevin wanted to hear.
"Nick called me yesterday and I couldn't even tell what he was saying he was so smashed." She paused to glare at AJ who had the grace to blush. "So I figured I better get on up here and see why you guys weren't taking care of him like you used to." She ended. Four indignant faces looked back at her.
"AJ you can wipe that look off your face since you're the one who got him drunk I have a serious problem with you, and I forgive you Brian coz you came to see him as fast as you could when you found out, but as for you two!" She turned to Kevin and Howie. "You should be ashamed of looking after your little brother so badly." She scolded almost bursting out laughing when she saw their guilty faces. Someone at the table cleared their throat to get the guys attention. "We'll be with you in one minute. Can't you see I'm busy putting people in their places." She said. Nick laughed slightly and everyone at the table couldn't help but join in when they saw Howie and Kevin's faces. "He might like to think he's all grown up but you should know better. I really thought I could leave him in your care and not find him an emotional wreck when I get back. And what did I come home to?" She had to stop there because giggles took over her whole body. "You should see your faces." She gasped, holding onto Nick and Brian as they all shook with laughter. She gradually regained control and hugged them both consolingly. "You can have them back now." She said to the man sitting at the head of the table. Sorry it took so long." She added looking at him sweetly.
"That's fine. Sit boys sit." The man said. The guys all did as they were told and Chelle perched on a little bit of both AJ's and Nick's chairs until the man instructed someone to find her a chair of her own. Nick took her hand in his and squeezed it gently. Chelle looked up at him, something wasn't right with this picture. He had broken up with his girlfriend only a day before, which had caused him to go on a drinking spree yet here he was laughing and joking as if nothing was wrong. Either he was a heartless git, which she knew he wasn't, or a lot of things had changed in the few months that she had been away from him, the main one being his relationship with Mellissa. He smiled at her and she smiled back.
"What do you think Nick?" The man at the head of the table asked. Everyone looked at him expectantly.
"Um, I agree with Kevin." Nick said. It was actually more of a question than an answer because he had no idea what he was agreeing to.
"So do I." Brian said and Nick looked relieved that he hadn't just gotten himself into something he didn't want to do.
"Ok so that's settled then. You can each bring one permanent guest on tour with you, your choice of course, and I'm sure that we can arrange some time for your families to visit." Mr. Claren added. Nick looked interested, so that was what he had agreed to?
"Do they have to be male or can they be female?" He asked.
"You can bring Mellissa if you want." Mr. Claren said generously.
"Actually I was thinking about Tizz, umm, I mean Michelle." Nick said correcting himself quickly when he saw Chelle give him a glare.
"What happened to Mel?" A woman from the management who knew Mellissa asked.
"I, umm, we had a fight and I asked her to move out." Nick said, finding himself looking at Kevin whilst he said it.
"Well done." Kevin mouthed to him smiling. Nick grinned back. No-one but Chelle seemed to have noticed and she wondered what was going on. AJ and Howie, along with several other people around the table looked at Nick, dumbfounded.
"That's a bit sudden isn't it?" AJ asked.
"Yeah, well it's about time." Brian commented. Nick started to look uncomfortable so Kevin decided to change the subject.
"Well obviously me and Rok'll be bringing Leigh and Kristin if they can get away long enough. Howie you'll be bringing Susan right? So that just leaves Nick and AJ to choose who they want to come." He said when Howie replied to his question with a nod.
"I already told you I want Chelle to come." Nick said.
"Don't you think you should ask her first?" Kevin asked laughing at the expression on Chelle's face.
"No, coz if I ask her now she'll come up with all sorts of excuses and I don't have time to persuade her right now, so for the moment we can just assume that she's coming. Otherwise it'll be Beej. That's my sister." He said to Mr. Claren.
"Well I can't see it making any difference to the rooms so just let us know when you decide." Mr. Claren replied.
"How about you, AJ?" Kevin asked.
"I dunno yet." AJ replied.
"So Little Miss Hollywood, think you'll come with us?" AJ asked as they all went down in the elevator together.
"I dunno. Probably. I won't have much choice really. I think I'm gonna be guilt tripped into it." She replied looking at Nick who grinned and nodded. "Don't call me that anyway." She added frowning slightly at AJ.
"Well what should I call you then glamour puss?" AJ teased.
"Well I'm thinking either Chelle or Michelle." She said punching him playfully.
"Yeah but everyone else has a nick-name but you won't let us use any that we come up with for you." AJ replied pouting.
"That's coz they're all horrible." She replied.
"Ok well me and the guys'll just have to think of a good one for you before you come on tour with us." AJ said grinning evily at her. She sighed and looked up at Nick who just grinned at her silently.
"You're being awfully quiet Nick." She commented.
"Yeah well it's hard to get a word in with AJ." Nick replied smiling and blushing a little. He had just been thinking about how great it would be if she came on tour with them and hoping that it wouldn't be too difficult to persuade her.
"Have you done any work since you got back home?" Kevin asked as they stepped out of the elevator. Chelle shook her head.
"No, I decided I should take a break for a while. You know after I got ill and stuff." She said. Kevin nodded understandingly.
"It was about time really." He commented. Chelle nodded and smiled up at him. He and Nick were always on at her to slow down and take a break.
"I don't know if I'm gonna go back to it. It's not really worth it." She said looking up at Nick who squeezed her hand tightly.
"It's not worth making yourself ill for." Nick agreed. Chelle smiled at him.
"Well you look a lot better since you got back from Australia. I mean you were almost back to yourself before you left but you just, I dunno, you look radiant I guess." Kevin said.
"Yeah, she looks almost human doesn't she?" Nick teased. Chelle grinned shyly and Nick hugged her close to him.
"I missed you." He whispered into her hair.
"I missed you to." She whispered back before pushing him away a little.
"I missed you more." Brian said coming up behind them. "I'm having a barbecue at my house later. You'll come right?" He asked. Chelle looked unsure but then one look at Nick's pleading face and she had to agree.
"Is it ok if I bring someone? The girl I share a house with." She added seeing Nick's curious face.
"That's fine. It's just us guys and our girls. We've not seen each other for a while so we're gonna catch up. If you bring a girl then the sides'll be even coz AJ isn't bringing anyone and you can meet Susan." He giggled as Howie came over.
"Susan's coming to Bri's later right D? Coz then Chelle can meet her and it'll make it easier when we all go out on the road together." Nick said.
"I haven't agreed to come yet." Chelle said.
"Yeah but you will so I don't know why you don't just give in now." AJ commented coming up.
"Coz she likes to see me beg. It turns her on." Nick grinned walking away from the group. Chelle watched him go speechlessly.
"I'll make you pay for that one Carter." She called after him. Nick turned and grinned at her.
"Is that a threat?" He asked.
"It's a promise." She said grinning wickedly.
"Run man run, save yourself." Brian yelled as he watched Chelle chase Nick out into the car park.
"She looks a lot better doesn't she?" AJ commented. Brian nodded and they all began to walk out to their cars.
"She must have put nearly all the weight back on." Kevin said. "We'll just have to hope something doesn't happen to make her get that way again." He added. They all nodded in silent agreement. They arrived outside to find Nick and Chelle waiting outside Brian's car.
"It's a good job there are no fans out here, Nick. You would have been mobbed." Kevin scolded. Nick looked guilty.
"I know. Brian unlock the door so we can get in already." He said. Brian did as he was told laughing as Chelle pushed Nick out of the way so that she could sit up front with Brian. "Very mature." He muttered before climbing into the back seat.
"Drop me off at my house please Brian and then Nick can pick me up on his way to your house." Chelle instucted.
"Why don't you drive yourself?" Nick asked pretending to sulk because she had made him sit in the back seat on his own.
"I don't like driving. You know that Nick." She told him. "If I'm going on tour with you for six months then the least you could do is give me a ride. Especially since you're going any way." She added.
"I'm sure he'd give you a ride anytime sweetie." Brian teased as they pulled up in her drive. Chelle blushed and Nick nodded enthusiastically whilst giving her a wicked grin.
"I see you two haven't changed a bit." She sighed dramatically and got out of the car. "I'll see you about five ok?" She said to Nick who nodded. She waved until they were out of sight. Why was it that whenever she did something for Nick he always managed to drag her into some big adventure. She had only gone to his house to make sure that he was ok and here she was facing the prospect of a six month tour. She sighed again and went inside her house.
"Jess?" She called "Jess, you here?" She called again. Her house mate came bounding down the stairs.
"Hey. What's up? You were ages. I was gonna call you. Was he ok?" She asked all in one breath. Chelle laughed.
"Yeah. He had a hang over but other than that he was fine. I got dragged to Jive to see the other guys. I'm going to a barbecue tonight at Brians. You wanna come? I already checked that it's ok." Chelle asked.
"Wow, busy day huh? Of course I'll come. I finally get to meet the famous Nick I've heard so much about." Jess enthused. Chelle smiled shyly.
"Yeah, he'll be there. Actually he's giving us a ride." She said.
"What time?" Jess asked.
"He said five but he'll probably be late." Chelle replied.
"Five? Oh my God it's four now. I'll never be ready. Who's going? What should I wear? I'm soooo nervous." Jess panicked. Chelle giggled at her eccentric friend.
"It's gonna be Brian, Kevin and their wives, Howie and his girlfriend, AJ, Nick, me and you. It's really for them to catch up with each other a little before the tour. I don't think they've seen that much of each other. As for clothes you can wear what you want, just not a ball gown. Remember it's a barbecue not a dinner party." Chelle instructed.
"Maybe I should take notes." Jess teased.
"Oh be quiet. Wear what you want. You always look great." Chelle said exasperated. "Now if you don't mind I'm gonna take a shower and then start panicking about what to wear myself ok?" She said heading up the stairs and leaving Jess in a fit of giggles at the bottom.
After showering and blow drying her long hair, Chelle stood in front of the morror surveying the outfit that she had chosen to wear. A knee length black skirt and strappy sandles with a red tank top with spaghetti straps. The outfit accentuated her curves that she was learning to become proud of. Being around so many models had given her a complex and made her think that having hips and boobs wasn't attractive. She had learned the hard way that anorexia wasn't as glamorous as it was made out to be by all these super models. Even now the illness still had something of a hold on her but she would just think of Nick crying and begging her to eat and she could get over it. She put on some lip gloss and eye shadow to show off her unusual green eyes before making her way down stairs. She could hear Jess talking to someone and she smiled wondering if Jess had finally gone crazy. Stepping into the lounge she saw that she wasn't talking to herself.
