Part 299
Backstage, a vastly different scene was unfolding. As Nick was rounding up the sound crew and band, he ran into Fiona. Actually, she had planned it when she saw him coming down the hall. She saw that he wasn’t paying attention to where he was going as she stepped out in front of him.
Catching her as she started to fall, Nick said, "Whoa! Where’d you come from?"
"I’m sorry, Nick. I wasn’t watching where I was going. This whole thing is just so overwhelming."
Nick laughed, "Yeah. You need to be careful backstage. You never know when it might be an equipment truck or something."
Nick tried to let go but Fiona had latched on to him like a leach. "Nicky, why the rush? We’ve got time to get to know each other," she said seductively as she pressed herself against him and ran her hands through his hair.
Nick caught his breath remembering his reaction to Sarah previously. This was having the same effect on him too.
Sarah had witnessed it all and saw Nick’s reaction. She could see the bright red in his cheeks and the discomfort he was feeling. She quickly stepped in.
"Nick," she called heading towards them. "Would you go out to the bus and check on Jesse for me?"
Relief flooded Nick’s face as he said, "Sure. Be back in a minute."
Nick rushed off and Sarah stood toe to toe with Fiona. "If you plan on keeping this job, don’t be hitting on Nick. Whatever the rumors you’ve heard about ‘Thor’ are just that, rumors…only to be checked out by his wife…MY best friend."
"Who do you think you are threatening me?" challenged Fiona.
"I’m the one who’s going to make sure you’re the one who is unemployed if I so much as THINK you’re looking at Nick inappropriately. If you don’t think I can, just ask around about Tammy, the girl you’re replacing. I’m sure someone will be glad to share the story with you."
Sarah spun away leaving Fiona standing shell-shocked and she headed to meet Howie who was coming to find her. She met him in front of his dressing room with AJ. She wrapped her arms around his waist and saw the anger in his eyes as she kissed him.
"Hey, D! Are you okay?"
"Not really. I thought you were checking on Jesse."
"Nick went for me. I needed to talk to Fiona."
"About damn time he did something helpful," grumbled Howie.
AJ shook his head. "Look, we’ve got a few minutes. Why don’t you two go talk?"
Sarah saw the look AJ gave her and she said, "Come on, D. I can give you a little preview of how excited I am."
************
Sitting in the dancers’ dressing room, Fiona looked around trying to decide exactly who she could talk to and trust. Dawn was Nick’s partner, maybe she was the one.
"Dawn, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure. What’s up?"
"I kinda had a run in with Sarah. Exactly how much weight does she carry around here?"
Lisa overheard Fiona and gave Dawn a knowing smile. They had both witnessed Fiona’s advances on Nick and Sarah chewing her out.
"Sarah carries right much weight…probably as much as any one of the guys. All five of them are extremely protective of Sarah and Becca and will listen to what they have to say," said Dawn.
"Did she have Tammy fired?"
"Not directly," answered Lisa. "Tammy did something to Sarah which cost her her job."
"Could she get me fired?"
"Let me give you a piece of advice. You can piss off any one of the guys, you can piss off Fatima or any one of us…but DO NOT piss off Sarah. That means leaving the guys alone, not messing with her child, and by all means, DO NOT mess with Becca."
"Who’s Becca?"
"Nick’s wife and Sarah’s best friend. Sarah is extremely protective of her," answered Dawn.
Fiona took in everything Dawn and Lisa had told her and went back to working on her costume. The other two looked at each other, smiled, and resumed their work as well to pass time. It was only a matter of time before THIS one was in trouble again with Sarah.
************
In the dressing room, Sarah sat down on the couch and Howie lay with his head on her lap. As he closed his eyes, Sarah gently stroked his hair watching him.
"I’m sorry, D," she finally said softly.
Howie opened his eyes to look up at Sarah as he took her hand in his. He pressed it to his lips then said, "It’s not your fault, Angel. Kevin did it to prove a point…"
"And I helped him. I should have known better."
"No, you were excited and I don’t blame you. This is your dream and I’m just as excited for you as you are," he said with a smile. "Angel, Kevin is still very much in love with you and he wants to be a hero in your eyes. That’s why he’s doing all this."
"Howie, you’re imagining things. Kevin’s come to grips with the fact
that we’re together and that he and I are just friends. You keep fussing at me
to take it easy but you need to listen to your own advice. You’re pushing
yourself with very little sleep and you’re worrying yourself sick over me. I’m
going to be okay."
"And so will I, Angel," he said in a whisper knowing that she was right.
"Promise me something."
"Anything."
"While I’m working on my material, go out and get some sleep…or at least spend time with Jesse."
"I’m NOT leaving you alone with Kevin."
"I can handle Kevin. He thinks YOU’RE putty in my hands…he’s never taken a close look at what I do to him. Besides, Alex, Nick, and Brian will be there too."
"Are you sure?"
"I’m positive, ‘D’. You need to get away from the guys for a while and Jesse needs to get out and play."
"It would be nice if you could go so that we could have some family time together."
"I know but even if I weren’t gonna work on my material, Lisa and I had decided to go shopping."
"For?"
"Maternity clothes. My stuff is getting tight."
Howie kissed her stomach as AJ knocked on the door. "’Tigger’, you
ready?"
"Yeah. I’ll be there in a minute," answered Sarah. "Howie, I
love you very much."
"I love you too, Angel. Tell you what. I’ll take Jesse out to a park or something and then you and I can have dinner together on the bus or something…just the two of us."
"I like that idea."
The couple said good-bye and parted ways…Howie to spend time with Jesse and Sarah to start working on her CD.