“SLUG BUG!” Angie screamed punching Nick on the upper arm.
“Ouch! Quit it! By the time we get to LA I am going to have a bruise!”
“Sorry, that’s the game! And if you snooze you lose!” Angie said shrugging her shoulders.
“Don’t worry, I’ll get you,” Nick said searching for Volks Wagons outside the tour bus window. Angie looked at the alarm clock next to the kitchen counter.
“I can’t wait till tonight! I’m so excited!” Angie said sitting on Nick’s lap.
"I’m so proud of you,” he said kissing her nose softly. “It’s not easy to get as far as you anf Jessica have.”
“Thanks,” she said really flattered by what he said.
“Morning!” Jessica said happily walking into the room.
“Hey,” Nick and Angie said in unison.
Jessica walked over to the cupboard and grabbed a granola bar, sitting down on the chair across from Angie and Nick.
“OH! ALUG BUG!” Angie screamed punching Nick again.
“Oh God! You are not playing that stupid game are you? I remember getting hit every time you saw a fucking bug!” Jessica said laughing a bit.
“You are just jealous because you could never win!” Angie said laughing triumphantly.
“God, you are so competitive!” Nick said laughing.
“Yes, Angie must win!” she said flexing her arms jokingly. “I am the master of everything!”
“Not everything,” Nick said smiling devilishly. He leaned over and kissed Angie’s lips. She pulled away from him and he began to kiss her neck.
“Quit it you two. I am trying to eat here,” Jessica said. Angie pushed Nick away and walked over to the fridge.
“It’s only ten o’clock in the morning! We have to wait eight hours until tonight,” she said whining.
“I can’t believe we actually have a CD out! Do you know how cool this is?” Jessica said excitedly.
“AHHHHHHHH!” both girls screamed as they hugged each other. Nick watched the two girls. He remembered how excited he was when the Backstreet Boys’ first CD came out over in Europe. He remembered the great party they had to celebrate it too. He was so proud of his girlfriend for coming such a long way and, as much as he didn’t want to admit it, was excited to celebrate her great success and Valentine’s day. He loved her so much and everything that effected her effected him too.
“I’m going to check if AJ’s up,” Jessica said after the two girls had calmed down. She walked out of the room and Angie turned her attention back to Nick. She walked over and sat down on the chair and he wrapped his arms around her.
“So what am I going to do when you become a bigger star than me?” Nick said laying his chin on the top of her head.
“Umm… I guess I’ll keep you around for a while until I find someone better.” She looked back at him as she leaned in and kissed her lips softly.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“OWW… Shit!” Jessica cried holding her forehead.
“Are you ok?” Angie asked from the bed, pulling on her other high heel.
“Yeah I just burned my forehead with this stupid curling iron! Are you almost ready Ang?”
“All finished,” she said softly walking up next to Jessica. Angie sprayed her hair once more with hairspray and looked at herself in the mirror. Her purple dress sparkled in the light as she looked at the back of her hair. The ringlets of blonde hair fell beautifully down her back. Angie looked over at Jessica who had just finished with her hair. Her leopard print tub top went so well with her long black skirt with the slips up wither side. Her hair was pulled back into a French twist, with curls on the top. Jessica looked over at Angie and smiled.
“I can’t believe this is happening! I mean only last summer we were living here, in LA, living normal lives and now look at us. We’re having a party to celebrate the release of our CD!”
“Ahhhh!” both girls screamed jumping up and down. There was a knock on the door that caused the two girls to cover their excitement. Angie opened the door and Jessica stood right behind her.
“Are you two lovely ladies ready?” AJ asked with Nick standing beside him.
AJ wore his black leather jacket with a yellow dress shirt underneath and a pair of black slacks. Nick wore a nice white suit with a baby blue turtleneck underneath. They both looked really handsome and sophisticated.
“What are you two doing here? We’re not supposed to go to the party together! Remember ‘no public affection,’” Angie said reciting George’s words.
“We know, we just wanted to wish you luck and say goodbye,” Nick said walking towards Angie. Jessica walked over to AJ and grabbed his hands. He leaned toward her and kissed her passionately.
“I love you,” she said softly into his ear.
“I love you. How are we going to go through all night pretending we have nothing,” AJ said breathing in deeply.
“It’s only one night. We can do it,” she said smiling.
“I don’t know,” he said smiling devilishly.
Nick grabbed Angie’s hand and led her down the hallway. He stopped her and looked deep into her eyes.
“What?” she asked noticing his happy look.
“Nothing,” he said smiling. He leaned down and kissed her softly. “Do you know how proud I am of you?” She reached up and kissed him softly.
“Thank you,” she replied softly.
“I want to give you something,” Nick said reaching into his pocket. He began to pullout the little package when Jessica screamed, “Angie! Come on we have to go!”
“Can this wait till later honey?”
“Yeah I guess,” Nick said disappointed. He put the package back in his pocket and leaned down to kiss her. She gave him a quick kiss and turned walking back into the small room where Jessica and AJ were.
“You ready Ang?”
“Yep, let’s go!” Angie said. The two girls walked out to the tour bus followed by Nick and AJ. They couldn’t let is seem as if anything suspicious was going on. The girls walked into the Hard Rock Café and immediately were greeted by everyone. Anyone who was anyone in the music business was there. They were greeted by such celebrities as Brittney Spears, Nsync, Brian McKnight, Carson Daly, Christina Agulera, Dave Homes, Mandy Moore, Jessica Simpson, Nick Lauchey, and many more. Both Angie and Jessica felt so special as they were greeted by all the celebrities. The party was totally bumpin’ and everyone was having a great time.
All except AJ. He watched Jessica dancing with every guy in sight and what a good time she was having. ‘How could she act like that when just an hour ago she was saying how much she loved him?’ He understood that they couldn’t act like there was anything between them, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t talk! A singe of jealousy ran through his veins as he saw how close she was letting those guys get to her! The hand on his shoulder jostled him back from his daze as he turned to see Nick behind him.
“You ok?” Nick asked noticing the jealous look on his friend’s face.
“Umm… yeah. I’m fine!”
“I hate this! I just want to go over and wrap my arms around her. We were supposed to celebrated this together and look,” he said gesturing to Angie who was in a conversation with Justin Timberlake. She made eye contact with Nick and rolled her eyes as if asking him to help her.
“That’s it! I can’t take it! I’m going to go talk to her,” Nick said turning to AJ.
“Uh huh,” he said staring at Jessica. Nick turned and began walking toward the appetizers where Angie was.
“Hi guys,” Nick said walking up behind them. Angie’s face immediately lit up as she turned to face him.
“Hey bab… Nick,” Angie said smiling.
“Hey,” Justin said rather rudely.
“Ang can I speak to you in private? It’s about.. Uh… that surprise for Brian’s birthday,” he said wicking at Angie.
“Uh… oh, sure Nick,” she said smiling. “I’ll talk to you later,” she replies turning to Justin. She turned and began to walk with Nick when Justin yelled out after her.
“Angie wait! Do you think I can get your phone number?”
“Umm…” she said thinking of a response. “I don’t know can you?” she said in a smirk tone and began to follow Nick across the dance floor.
“What an asshole!” Nick exclaimed as soon as they got to the dark corner. “I have a right mine to go and kick his ass!” Angie laughed at how upset Nick was getting.
“He didn’t know. He’s just an idiot, who wants to get laid!” she said placing her hand on his chest. He placed his hand on top of hers and looked into her eyes.
“You don’t know how much I want everyone to know you’re mine!”
“Don’t worry. I’ll always be your girl.”
“I know, but everyone still thinks you’re single and it just hurts so bad. I just… want you,” he said lifting her hand off his chest and kissing it gently. Angie smiled and wrapped her arms around him. He leaned down and kissed her passionately. They were so wrapped up in each other that they both jumped when Brian tapped them on the shoulder.
“Oh, what?” Nick asked irritated.
“I thought you two were going to keep your relationship on the down low.”
“We are,” Angie said fixing her lipstick.
“Well them I would suggest that you not kiss in public. That could kind of give it away.”
“Oh my God! Did anyone else see?” Angie asked worriedly.
“No, but you two better stay away from each other or they’re going to suspect something,” he said looking back at the dance floor. Angie looked back at Nick and began to walk back with everyone else.
“Bye,” she said softly.
“Bye.”
“Alright, give her one last kiss, but make it fast,” Brian said blocking them from the view of everyone. Angie gave Nick one last sweet kiss before whispering “I love you” in his ear. She turned and walked back to the party. Justin gave her and evil eye as she walked past him to where Jessica was dancing.
“Hey babes!” she practically screamed over the music.
“Hey!” Jessica said giving Angie a hug.
“Isn’t this great?” Angie said as she began to dance to the music.
“Hell yeah it is!” Jessica exclaimed. They began to dance to the music and they were both having a great time.
“Hey I’m getting hot, I’m going to go grab a drink,” Angie said pointing towards the bar.
“I’ll stay here,” Jessica said still dancing to the music.
“Do you want to dance?” a dark, tall, stranger asked suggestively.
“Sure,” Jessica replied. They began to dance, swaying their hips to the pounding beat of the song. It wasn’t long before Jessica felt a hand grab her upper arm. She turned to see AJ standing right behind her.
“Hey,” she said smiling.
“Can we talk?” he said rather sternly.
“Yeah. I’ll be back,” she said turning to the stranger. She followed him over by the bathroom where no one was able to hear.
“Hey baby,” she said as soon as they were out of ear range.
“Don’t ‘hey baby’ me! What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“What?” Jessica asked not knowing what he was talking about.
“Why the hell are you flirting with all those guys? I thought you loved me!”
“What are you talking about? I’m just having fun, I’m not flirting!”
“Oh that’s just why you’ve been ignoring me all night. Just look at the way you’re dancing with all those guys!” AJ said angrily.
“First of all those guys mean nothing! I’m just dancing. And secondly you were the one that told me to ignore you!”
“I said don’t make it obvious, not to fucking ignore me and get on other guy’s jocks!” he practically screamed.
“Are you calling me a slut?” Jessica said angrily.
“Well, if the shoe fits!”
“I can’t believe you just said that to me! You thought I was ignoring you before? Well, you haven’t seen anything yet!” she said turning and walking back to the dance floor. She didn’t know where to go. All her anger built up inside her and she wanted to scream. She saw Angie sitting at the bar and pulled up the next to her.
“What’s wrong?” Angie asked noticing the anger in her eyes.
“That asshole! He has to ruin my fucking night!” Jessica said holding her head in her hands.
“What happened?”
“We’re just fighting. I can’t believe some of the things he just said!”
“Don’t let him get to you like that! This can all wait toll tomorrow! This is our night! Let’s live it up ok?” Angie said trying to make her feel better.
“You’re right. I just don’t feel good I have a killer headache. I think I’m going to get some aspirin,” Jessica said starting to get up.
“No, just sit here. I’ll go get it,” Angie said.
“Really? Thanks Ang. My head is killing me.”
“No prob. I’ll be right back,” she said turning towards the door. Her skin quivered as the cold February air ran over her bare skin. There was an eerie calm throughout the night as the steady clicking of her shoes echoes through the alley. She put her hands around her bare shoulders attempting to bring some warmth to them. She walked over to the bus and gently knocked.
“Fred?” she said softly, trying to get the driver’s attention. “Hello?” she reached out her hand and gently pulled the handle. She was shocked when it opened. “That’s creepy,” she thought to herself as she stepped into the van.
“Hello?” she said one more time to male sure no one was there. She walked over to the cabinet where all her medicine was and bent down to open it. She slowly opened the cabinet.
“Oh shit!” she exclaimed as the little chiwawa darted out of the small cupboard. “Tyke, what are you doing in there puppy?” The dog sat under the dining room table quivering as if she was going to hurt him. “Tyke, what’s wrong?” she asked talking to the little puppy. It was really unlike the dog to act like that, usually he was happy to see her. She turned her attention back to the medicine that Tyke knocked out of the oak shelves. A creaking noise made her stop dead in her tracks.
“Tyke?” she called, thinking the noise was coming from the dog. She stopped and listened closely hoping that the noise was in her head, but something was making her heart beat incredibly fast. She slowly got up not turning around. She breathed in a deep breath as she slowly turned toward the front of the bus. The dark figure loomed in the doorway, looking at her. There was no where to go, the only exit was past the figure and she was trapped. She slowly began to back up as the figure made it’s way towards her.
“What do you want?” she asked the dark figure. It kept continuing it’s way toward her not saying a word.
“Take anything you want, just leave me alone,” she pleaded to the monstrous figure heading toward her. The dog yelped as he kicked it violently away from his path toward her.
“Who are you?” she asked backing up onto a bunk, cowering in the corner. Once again she was answered by silence. Tears of fear ran down her face as she pressed her back against the wall. Shivers ran down her spine.
“What do you want?” she screamed fear taking over her.
“You,” he said in a deep voice. Angie’s heart practically stopped when she heard the familiar voice.
“Mark?” she asked breathing heavily. He stepped into the light shining on through the window of the tour bus.
“You miss me honey?” he said on a demonic tone.
“What are you doing here? Get out!” she screamed pointing to the door.
“You know what I’m doing here! I came to take you home, where you belong. I missed you baby,” he said sweetly.
“You lying mother fucker, get the hell out now!”
“You can’t tell me that you don’t still love me, we’re perfect for each other! You know it!”
“Get the fuck away from me asshole! We’re over and I never want to see you again!”
“Let’s just make love like we used to baby. I need you,” he said moving closer.
“Don’t you come near me!” she said backing farther in the corner.
“But I still love you jewels!”
“That is not my name asshole!”
“But I made that up for you, on out first date. Don’t you remember? You can’t tell me that you don’t love me! We were going to get married.”
“Yeah, well, things change!” she said angrily. He put one leg up on the bed and slowly began creeping toward her. “Stay away from me you bastard!” He crawled closer to her on the bed as she tried to escape him. She quickly got up and began to run toward the front of the bus but Mark’s hand grabbed her wrist stopping her get away.
“Let me go! Ouch! Mark let me go now!” she screamed.
“I love you Jewels and I’m not letting you get away from me.”
“You don’t love me! You’re an asshole! Why are really here?”
“I want to be with you. We can get married and live happily ever after. And with all that money you’re making, we’ll be set for life!” he said smiling.
“You fucking asshole! Let go of me now. You don’t love me you never did! And I sure as hell don’t love you! Let me go now!”
“NO! You’re mine!” he said squeezing her tighter.
“Ouch! Let me go! Ouch.” He squeezed her wrist tighter and pulled her back onto the bed. She kicked and screamed as she struggled to get a horrible him. It all felt like a horrible nightmare and Angie just wanted Nick to come and save her.
“Don’t move,” he said holding out a knife. Angie gasped as she saw the long silver blade. He pulled her close to him and put the cold blade against her throat. She swallowed hard trying to hold back her fear. He pushed her onto the bed holding her arms above her. He got on top of her forcing her to stay still. He held the knife against her chest and slowly ripped her dress all the way down the front of her body.
“Please Mark, don’t!” she pleaded as he began to unhook her bra.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Hey Brian, have you see Angie?” Nick asked nervously.
“No, sorry,” Nick continued walking across the dance floor searching for his girlfriend. It had been an hour since he saw her last and he was beginning to worry. Besides, he was really anxious to give her his gift. He spotted Jessica at the bar and decided to see if she had seem Angie.
“Hey Jess,” he said sitting on the stool beside her.
“Hey,” she said quietly.
“What’s wrong?”
“Me and AJ are in a fight and I’m not feeling too well. I have a headache the size of Texas!”
“I’m sorry. Hey have you seen Angie?”
“Well, not for a half hour. She went to go get me some aspirin and she never came back.” she said grabbing her head.
“Wonder what’s taking her so long?”
“She probably fell asleep or something who knows?” she replied a little cranky.
“Well, I’m going to check on her,” he said standing up.
“Tell her to hurry up with the aspirin!”
Nick walked into the cold night air and walked quickly to the bus. He had this weird gut feeling that something was happening and he wanted to make sure everything was ok. He walked up to the van and knocked loudly.
“Who’s that?” Mack asked Angie still holding the knife to her. Her body quivered with fear and pain. Worm tear ran down her face and she just kept praying someone would help her.
“Angie? Ang, you here?” Nick asked calling throughout the bus.
“Tell him you’re sick and you want to rest. Don’t let him know I’m here,” Mark whispered holding the knife closer to her.
“I’m right here. I just don’t feel good. I’ll be okay, just leave me alone k?” she said barely being able to talk. Her voice quivered with every word she spoke.
“Ok honey. Feel better ok,” Nick said heading out the door. The bus door shut loudly behind him and the silence over came the bus again.
“Good girl,” Mark said kissing her again. Angie closed her eyes and turned her head. Her whole body hurt and she just kept praying that it would be over soon. Angie’s eyes were closed so she didn’t see when the blonde figure loomed over Mark. She also didn’t see Nick hitting him over the head with a wooden baseball bat.
“Honey? Are you ok?” Nick asked placing his arms around Angie’s naked, quivering body.
“Ouch! It hurts!” she exclaimed closing her eyes. Nick looked around trying to find something to wrap her in. He grabbed the blanket off their bunk and wrapped her up and held her in his arms. Mark lay lifeless on the floor of the bed. With the way Nick hit him, he shouldn’t be walking up for a while.
“Don’t worry baby, I’ll take care of you,” Nick said kissing her forehead gently.
Chapter 15
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