Nick watched as Malia stretched out as far as she could on the lounge chair. He smiled, this is exactly what they both needed..especially her. It was their second day at the beach house, neither had been bothered by anyone. Well, Malia had turned off her cell phone the minute they reached the house and made Nick do the same. She smiled and turned her head to look at Nick through her sunglasses. He was sitting in one of the beach chairs, a coke in one hand, his gameboy ever present in his other hand. He was concentrating and bit his lip, trying to figure out his next move. "Do we have to go back?," Malia asked breaking their long, comfortable silence.
He nodded without looking up, "Yep..'fraid so. Just think though 'Lia..in a week we'll be on stage and having so much fun we won't have time to be exhausted."
She smiled, "I can't wait to perform."
"Me neither..I'm itchin' to get back up on stage.."
"I hear that.."
"This has been nice though 'Lia.."
She smiled and pushed her sunglasses off her eyes and rolling over onto her stomach, "Yeah it has..I'm very relaxed and very ready to go back and face the stress again.."
"Good...you can't get burnt out yet.."
"Ya know..I'm kinda scared to turn on my cell and see how many voice mails Bryan left.."
Nick rolled his eyes, "Is he ever going to realize that you're not 2?"
"No..I can not wait until May though! He will be gone forever!"
"Are you going to manage yourself or what?," Nick asked turning off the gameboy and looking over at her.
"Well..Michael said he'd take me on and from how you and the other guys talk, he's good.."
"He is..he's a nice guy and let's us make our own decisions.."
She nodded, "That's what I need..I need some sort of freedom.."
"I understand...you hungry?"
Malia smiled, "Starvin'."
Nick stood up, "Well, c'mon then and let's go find us some food and watch some cheesy movies on tv.."
She got up and yawned tiredly, "Sounds good to me buddy."
The next morning, Malia and Nick arrived back at their "compound" and met for final rehearsals. Jenna and Malia were in a dressing room doing their final fittings when Jenna brought up Jason. "Hey, Malia?"
"Yeah?," Malia answered from the next room.
Jenna appeared from the bathroom, in one of the outfits they were considering for the tour. "Do you think Jason's kinda weird?"
Malia pulled her feet underneath her, "Weird? How do you mean?"
Jenna shrugged and went to undo the shirt, "I dunno..I just think something's up with him..I mean, ever since that whole dressing room incident he's been acting all superior or some junk.."
"Jenna..."
"What? I can't help that I'm perceptive of people..I get the wrong kinda vibes from him though.."
Malia shrugged, "I don't know..he's always been nice to me.."
"Yeah..but too nice."
Malia shrugged again, "I don't know Jen..as long as he stays outta my way we're fine."
"Yeah..thank God he's not my partner.."
"He's not mine either.."
"I heard he may be going back out on tour with Britney Spears.."
"Oh..that's cool.."
"Yeah..but if anything weird happens again, tell me...or tell Jeff...I was thinking about telling him my suspicions about Jason.."
"Why Jenna?? Come on, Jason hasn't done a thing..."
"I just want to tell Jeff..as a precaution 'Lia.."
"Fine..tell him whatever you want Jenna.."
"Don't get mad at me..please?," Jenna said sitting down beside Malia on the couch.
Malia sighed, "I'm not mad Jenna..I'm just nervous about this tour starting and what Bryan may do and all this stuff is just happening around me.."
"I don't know what to tell you sweetie.."
"I don't know what to tell myself Jen..those past two days were heaven on earth..it was so peaceful and quiet and just..relaxing."
An evil grin crossed Jenna's features, "Was it heavenly because of a certain blonde guy with you??"
Jenna's answer?
A pillow to the face.
Malia was practicing her dance moves for one song called, 'Stronger*' with Fatima helping her out. "Good, now move your left hand this way..," She said, demonstrating.
Malia nodded and did as Fatima did, who nodded and smiled, "Good..with music?"
"Sure.."
Fatima walked over to the stereo and pressed play before counting off for Malia, "One, two, three, four.."
Malia began the complicated dancing that she had just finished learning and mouthed the words to the song every now and then and watched her reflection in the mirror.
Nick had snuck in just as Malia began, he walked over to Fatima, who smiled at him, "What are you doing here superstar?"
Nick grinned, "Came to watch..how's she doin'?"
"Awesome..she's so good Nick.."
"I know.."
"I think that little vacation you two took was good for her...she looks rested and comfortable.."
The song ended and Malia froze in the last position, her eyes were closed. Nick began to clap, "Bravo! Bravo! Encore!"
Malia's eyes snapped open and she smiled, "What are you doing here??"
"Why does everyone keep asking me that?!"
He hugged her, "Looked good girl."
"Thanks..how was it Fatima?"
Fatima smiled, "Looked good girl, tomorrow we'll work with the dancers, sound good?"
She nodded, "Yep.."
"Cool..we're done, see you two later."
"Bye," They both chorused.
The door shut behind Fatima and Malia plopped down on the floor and began to stretch her tired muscles. Nick walked over to the stereo and put in a cd and smiled at Malia, "I got something I think you should hear."
"What is it?," She asked lifting her head up.
He pressed play and a song she thought was lost forever pounded through. "You found it!!," She squealed, jumping to her feet.
Nick laughed, "Yep, mom sent it to me last night.."
Malia laughed as she heard their two young voices came through on the speakers. "We sound so young!"
"We were!"
"I can't believe your mom taped us that day!"
"I told her too cause I wanted to prove that me and you would make a good duet.."
"We sound awful Nick!"
He put his arm around her shoulders, "This is Grammy stuff man!"
Malia laughed, "Whatever!! I was so embarrassed when Jane played that for my mom and dad.."
"Your mom thought it was great.."
"My dad said it was a waste of time.."
Nick turned off the stereo and watched as Malia pulled her hair from the elastic that had been tied around it. Her hair fell in waves down past her shoulders and she shook it a little to get it all in place. "I never went and saw him Nick.."
"Have you talked to him?"
"No..mom said he hasn't called again either.."
"Malia..."
"I know I shouldn't let him affect me this way but it does! He doesn't care about me he cares about Malia Jackson, the singer. He doesn't know me and he doesn't care. I know all this yet, I still want to see him and want him to somehow..be proud of me.."
Nick looked at the wooden floor, "Do the 'Stronger' dance again?"
She sighed and nodded, "Yep..set it up and count it off.."
He nodded and got the tape ready...again....
Back to the All Of You Page
To Chapter 8
Back to the Main Page