Malia raised her head at the voice and almost started to cry once again. Nick bent down and hugged her to him, "Sweetie, what happened?"
"I don't know, I just snapped Nick..God, I'm such an idiot..," She said sobbing into his shirt.
He picked her up and made sure she could stand before finding a washcloth and wetting it with warm water before handing it to her. She wiped off her face, "Guess everyone heard, huh?"
"Pretty much."
"I just don't know what I'm doing anymore Nick..someone actually broke into my dressing room and trashed it..but why? What have I ever done to anyone?"
"I don't know Lia..some people are just mean like that.."
She sighed, "I'm tired and everything is just happening so fast..now I'll definitely be on the tabloids about something other than you and me although there is no you and me."
Nick smiled, "Maybe I can duck out of the spotlight for a minute then."
"Bryan is probably going to kill me.."
"No, he's just going to make your life hell.."
"I know..now everyone surely thinks I'm psycho."
"No..just PMS'ing."
She looked at him before rolling her eyes, "Niiickkk.."
He wrapped his arms around her and laid his chin on her shoulder, "Lia..it's okay, we all lose it sometimes..okay?"
"I know..but I feel like such an idiot..Bryan's probably going to make me make a public apology or something stupid like that."
"But you don't have to do that, ya know."
"I know.."
"Swoop canceled your rehearsal for today, and I'm done, so me and you are gonna head back to the hotel and then we're going out, just as Nick and Malia, not Nick Carter and Malia Jackson..okay?"
"We'll have to take Jeff and someone for you.."
He grinned almost evily, "No we won't."
"Nick..what are you thinking?"
He looked around as if someone was going to pop out of the shower just hear what he was going to say and he put a finger to her lips before whispering, "Not here..someone may hear us."
She smiled, "Then where?"
"Your hotel room..come on, let's get out of here and go back to the hotel."
She nodded and let him lead her out of the bathroom. Jeff was waiting in the main part of the room and looked up worriedly as they came out. He stood up, "You doin' better?"
She nodded, "I think so..I think I'm gonna apologize to everyone I can find right now..and then me and Nick are going to head to the hotel."
"Maybe I should come along..."
Malia shook her head, "No..that's okay Jeff..I think I may just crash inside all day since I don't have anything to do."
He nodded, "Okay.."
She hugged him, "Thanks Jeff."
"You're welcome..go get some sleep, huh?"
"Okay."
Nick smiled, "I'll make sure she gets PLENTY of sleep."
Malia pushed him out the door, "In your dreams buddy."
"How'd you know my dreams?"
"Nick!"
Malia ran into about three of the dancers, that included Jenna, and smiled at them, "Hi Guys."
"Hey, how are you doing?"
"I think I just need some sleep..I'm sorry you all had to witness that..I kinda lost it."
Jenna smiled, "We all do sooner or later..you heading back to the hotel?"
Malia nodded, "Yeah..I'm gonna go crash..you all have a good rehearsal, okay?"
"We'll try, you get some sleep."
She nodded, "Thanks guys."
Nick and Malia made their way through the winding hallways of the backstage area and once outside were met with some of the crew, as well as a waiting cab. Malia made her apologies to the crew, who understood completely, and got into the cab with Nick. "You planned this, huh?"
He nodded, "Got that right, we can't have Jeff or Rodney or anybody smothering us..plus, you are supposed to be resting young lady."
She playfully saluted him, "Yes sir, right away sir."
After a quick shower and a change of clothes, Malia was feeling alot better, she was even more awake. Nick was smiling a chesire cat smile when she emerged from the bathroom. "What are you grinnin' about boy?"
"My surprise."
"Okay..so what's the big secret??"
"Well..I rented a car and me and you are going to drive to my parents' place in Santa Monica and we're going to hang out there."
"Really?? That's great! But don't we have to be back tomorrow?"
He shook his head, "Nope..no rehearsals tomorrow or the next day. Swoop and Fatima have to fly to New York to do a Mandy Moore video so we get two whole days off."
Her eyes lit up, "That's wonderful Nick! How'd you think of this in such a short amount of time?"
"I'm a genius."
"Uh huh..whatever.."
"So, pack the stuff you'll need and let's go!"
"Okay!"
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