Felicia:
The next morning I woke up and Nick had his arms still around me. He had his eyes closed, but was sitting up, leaning against the headboard. I smiled at him and just stayed there for a little while. I felt completely safe in his arms. And I knew nothing would ever hurt me while I was there. I was scared about what Thursday would bring and what would happen. If Jacob would make it and what was going to happen after the surgery and everything. Were things going to change between my parents and I? Or would they be the same? I mean, I don’t want anything to do with them, but still it’s something to think about.
"Hey, whatcha thinking about?" I heard Nick ask.
"Oh, just about what’s gonna happen over the next couple of days. What I’ve been thinking since I said I was going to do this"
"Oh, well it’s ok to think about that. It’ll help you figure things out."
"Yeah, I hope so anyway."
"So, are you feeling any better today?"
"A little. Thank you for staying with me and helping me through all this. You’re a true friend, Nick. And I’m glad I have you."
"No problem. I don’t like seeing you unhappy or feeling guilty when you haven’t done anything wrong."
"I know, but it’s hard not to feel that way when you’ve been raped, and make your brother wait ‘til he’s really sick to decide to help him, you know."
"Yeah, I guess you have a point there. But none of that was your fault."
"I know, but haven’t quite realized it yet. But I will and you’ll be the first to know."
"Ok, good."
I smiled at him and just as he sat up, the doorbell rang.
"I’ll get that. You stay here." Nick said, standing up.
"Ok." I nodded.
He left the room and I went into the bathroom. 5 minutes later I came out and Nick was standing at the door.
"Who was at the door?" I asked.
"It’s for you." Was the response I got.
"Ok, who is it?"
"She said not to say. Just go down there."
"Ok." I followed Nick downstairs and into the living room. I saw a woman standing by the window with her back turned.
"May I help you?" I asked.
She turned around and I recognized her as my best friend that I haven’t seen in over a year.
"Maybe. I was wondering if I could possibly have my best friend back?" She started tearing up, which made me start.
"I don’t know. Do you really want me back? You didn’t talk to me that much when I called you."
"I know, but I was stupid. You hadn’t called me or anything in a year and every time I tried to call you, your number was disconnected. I thought you didn’t want to be friends anymore."
"I never wanted that to happen, Steph. But I was going through so much then. So many things had happened and I didn’t know what to do. I almost lost all my friends because of it."
"What happened, Felicia?"
"My mom found me up there and wouldn’t leave me alone. So I had to disconnect my phone. I kept myself busy at work. Then I met this guy and he was perfect. Or so he seemed. He wanted sex and I didn’t and he wouldn’t take no for an answer and one night he came up behind me and raped me. I just shut myself off from everyone then. I finally decided New York wasn’t for me and came home. Melinda found me again and now on Thursday I’m giving some of my bone marrow to my little brother."
"Oh my god. I’m so sorry Felicia. I can’t believe you had to go through all of that alone."
"It’s ok. I’m doing better, a lot of it due to Nick. He’s really been there for me since I got back. Though we fought at first."
"Well, I’m glad he’s helping you." She smiled.
"How have you been?"
"I’ve been good. I’m still with Gavin."
"Wow, that’s great."
"Yeah, it is. He asked me to marry him a month ago and I said yes." She showed me her hand and on it was a small diamond engagement ring.
"Oh wow. It’s gorgeous. Congratulations!" I hugged her.
"Thank you."
"So when is the big day?"
"We’re thinking about sometime in October."
"That’s a good month."
"Yeah. Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"I was wondering if you wanted to be my maid of honor?"
"Of course I’d love to be your maid of honor." I smiled.
"Thank you, Felicia. Thank you so much."
"You’re welcome." She hugged me.
The phone rang just as we parted.
"I’ll get that. You two bond." Nick said, leaving the room.
"So, are you and Nick together?"
"Steph, you’re crazy. He’s just my friend. That’s all."
"Are you serious? I though by now you two would be together."
"Why would you think that?"
"Hello, it’s obvious you two like each other. From the firs time I saw you and him together."
"I don’t know what you’re talking about."
Nick came back in ad Steph dropped the subject.
"That was Brian. We have dance rehearsal. You ladies wanna come? Everyone is gonna be there."
"I can’t. I have to pick some stuff up at work and meet Gavin for lunch. But maybe next time."
"Ok, that’s fine."
"Felicia, it was great seeing you again. We gotta hang out soon, k? I miss ya girlie."
"Ok, I’ll call you soon. Tell Gavin I say Hi."
"I will. It was nice seeing you too, Nick. I’ll see you guys later. And Felicia, think about what I said earlier."
"I will. Bye Steph."
"Bye." Steph left and Nick and I were in the living room alone.
"What did she mean think about what she said earlier?"
"Nothing. It’s between her and me. Sorry."
"Oh, Ok. That’s fine. Just curious."
"Whatever. Let me get dressed and I’ll go with you."
"Ok, I’ll be waiting."
I went upstairs and into my room and got dressed. I put on black sweat pants and a black tank top. I put my hair up in a clip, though all messy. I brushed my teeth and put my tennis shoes on. I grabbed my wallet and phone and ran downstairs. Nick was sitting on the couch, looking all bored. He was in white sweat pants and a white tank top. We looked like twins, only I was black and he was white.
"Looks like we were thinking the same in clothes." I said.
"Looks like it. Are you ready?"
"Yep, all ready to go."
We went inside and jumped into his Durango and headed to the dance studio. We arrived there in 10 minutes.
Dani, Amanda, and Laura were outside talking. Nick and I walked up to them.
"Dude, did you dress like that on purpose?" Laura asked.
"Nope, didn’t. I didn’t even know she was gonna wear that." Nick said.
"Odd, but cool." Amanda replied.
"So, where are the others?" I asked.
"Inside. They made us wait outside for you two." Dani said.
"Oh, how sweet of them. Well, let’s go in."
We all went inside and into the studio the other 4 and their choreographer Darrin were in.
"Nick, you’re here finally. What the hell took you so long?" Kevin asked, sounding mad.
"It wasn’t me this time. It was all Felicia."
"Oh sure, blame it one me. Thanx."
"Hey, you’re not supposed to go against me. I’m your friend and I’m letting you stay at me house. So."
"Is that a threat? I didn’t ask to stay at your house. It was all you."
"Fine whatever. It was all me." He pouted, which was so adorable and too funny. I started laughing.
"Ok fine. If it’ll make you happy. It was me who kept him. Steph came and visited for a while. And I took a while to get dressed."
"Oh, ok. Sorry Nick, that I yelled at you." Kevin apologized.
"Whatever, not like you haven’t done it before. No hard feelings."
"Ok, can we stop the talking and get to the dancing? Please?" Darrin asked. We all just laughed.
"Yes sir." Nick stood where he was supposed to. Dani, Amanda, Laura and I sat against the wall and watched them start dancing.
You could tell they hadn’t been practicing, they kept messing up. I had the biggest urge to get up there and dance. I hadn’t done it in forever. I missed it. I couldn’t take it anymore, so I got up.
"No, no, no! You’re getting it all wrong. It’s left, left, right, pivot, then turn. See watch." I did the step and when I finished, I looked at them and they all were staring at me like I had lost it.
"What? Did I do something wrong?"
"No, not at all. You did something amazing. I never saw anyone learn a dance that fast by watching." Darrin said. I smiled.
"Oh, thanks."
"Ever thought about becoming a dancer?" Darrin asked.
"I am a dancer. That’s what I got my degree in."
"Oh, well I meant for a group? Guys, what do you think? You know Cassie just quit and we’re looking for a new dancer. And Felicia, you fit the part so well. What do y’all say?"
"I think it’s a good idea." Brian said. AJ and Howie nodded in agreement. Nick was smiling and Kevin nodded as well.
"What do you say Felicia?"
"Oh, I don’t know." Nick cut me off before I could finish.
"C’mon Felicia. You need a job anyway. This is the perfect opportunity."
I thought about it for a few minutes and then made my decision.
"Oh, alright. I’ll give it a shot." I smiled.
"YAY!" Nick ran up to me and picked me up and twirled me around. I laughed at his outburst.
"You’re crazy, Carter."
"And you’re just figuring this out now?"
"Nope, I knew. I just had to point it out more."
"Alright, well welcome to the club, Felicia. The other dancers will be here shortly. You’ll be filling in for Cassie, who was Nick’s partner."
"Ok, cool. Works for me."
"We’ll go over the dance steps while we wait for the other dancers to get here. Guys, you can take a break while I go over the dances with Felicia."
The guys nodded and sat on the floor next to the girls.
Darrin and I started to go over the dances of each song they’d be doing for the Black & Blue tour. Which was coming up in two weeks. Hopefully I’d be recovered from the surgery by then.
About an hour and a half later we finished going over the dances and I pretty much got them. Like I said, dancing is me. I learn fast. We stopped just as the other dancers got there.
"Ok, we’ll do introductions. Felicia, this is Liz, Ken, Rachel, Heather, Tim, Lissa, Marc, Tommy, and Brandon. Guys, this is Felicia. She’s taking Cassie’s place."
"Hi, nice to meet you all." I said, shaking their hands.
They all seemed very nice. Darrin told me to take a break, so I did while the guys and dancers rehearsed. I went out to the hall to find a coke machine to get some water. I found one, got a bottle of water and as I was walking back to the room, I heard Dani, Laura, and Amanda talking.
"Did you see Nick and how he kept an eye on Felicia’s every move? If I didn’t know better I’d think he was drooling." Amanda said.
"He was studying her every move just about. It’s totally obvious that he likes her and I mean more than just as a friend." Laura said.
"But he’ll never admit it. She won’t either. You know she’s gotta like him back. You can tell." Dani said.
I heard enough, so I walked up to them.
"Hello ladies." I said, making them jump.
"Felicia. Oh, um, hi." Laura fumbled with her words.
"Hi, so I hear you were talking about Nick and I?"
"Um, we can explain that." Amanda replied.
"Please, do tell."
"Well, c’mon. You gotta admit you like Nick more than just as a friend?"
"I don’t, sorry. He’s my best friend and that’s it. You three are just like Steph. I mean, c’mon Nick, I don’t think so."
"Why not?" Dani asked.
"Because he’s not my type."
"Oh c’mon, there’s gotta be a better reason than just that."
"We’re friends and that’s it. So just drop it." I walked back into the room.
"Ah, Felicia. Just on time. We’re going over the dance for ‘Get Another Boyfriend’ so you gotta get with Nick."
I put my bottle down and got in my position. We rehearsed all day and most of the night. Just getting basic stuff down. We’d start the extra hard stuff the next day.
We finished at around 11:30. Nick and I went home, in silence. Just because we were tired. But the silence started to get me to think about what Laura, Dani, and Amanda were talking about. Could Nick possibly like me more than just a friend? Did I like him more than a friend? Man, this was confusing me. I just needed to think, and think long and hard...
