Nick froze in his last position and opened his eyes to look down at Swoop who was nodding his head. It was their last rehearsal before the show the next day. All they would do tomorrow is run through the sound check really quick. Swoop nodded and clapped his hands together, "Looks good, of course, we'll put it to the test tomorrow night but y'all look good. Go shower and have a nice night off!"
Nick sighed and threw a towel around his neck as he followed his bandmates backstage. Howie handed him a bottle of water, which he took graciously, and made his way towards his dressing room. He opened his door and wasn't surprised to see Malia lying on the couch watching tv. She looked up, "Hey.."
"Hey, lemme grab my clothes and I'll go back to the hotel with you.."
"K."
Malia had finished her rehearsal earlier that morning and had been lounging around the rest of the early afternoon. Since this was their last evening off for awhile, Malia and Nick planned to get together in one of their rooms and hang out. Both figured it'd be awhile before they got to just be 'them' and now was as good a time as any to hang out with each other. Nick swung his bag over his shoulder and came back into the main room, "What movies did you decide on?"
"Mission Impossible 1 and two, X-Men since I bought it last night, Titanic, The Best Man, and Titan A.E."
"Cool."
Malia yawned as she stood up and stretched her back a little before grabbing her bag and slinging it over her shoulder. Nick opened the door and let her pass first, "You know I had to get some chick flicks Nicky."
"I know."
Jenna was leaving just as they were, "Hey what are you two up to tonight?"
"We're having a movie fest till tonight and then we have that stupid dinner to go to."
Jenna rolled her eyes and nudged Malia playfully, "See you there then, bye Nick!"
"Later Jenna."
"Bye Jen!"
Malia and Nick piled into the van with Kevin and AJ and rode back to the hotel.
Nick showered in Malia's room and was now wearing a pair of jeans, New Balance shoes, and a white wifebeater. Malia had also showered (after Nick, you dirty minded people!) and was wearing orange and blue plaid pajama pants and a blue tank top with her Adidas sandals. Both were lying on her bed, chowing down on some not-so-healthy junk food. Malia smiled as Nick rolled over and groaned. She poked him with her foot, "What are you groanin' about boy?"
"I can't believe this is our last night off!"
"I know.."
"And you also know we have to be downstairs in.....," He said lifting his wrist to look at his watch, "Two and a half hours."
"Yep..and I'll be ready..I just don't want to be stuck in that stupid outfit now...it's uncomfortable."
"Okay, okay..plus, I think you look cute in that."
Malia smiled, "Awww..did Nicky give me a compliment?!"
He sat up and scooted up near her, "You know you're pretty Lia."
"I'm pretty but I'm no supermodel.."
Nick smiled, "You are so shy sometimes!"
"I know! I can't help it.."
"Are you excited?"
She nodded, "Oh yeah..I can't wait to be on that stage tomorrow night and just feel all that energy come at me at once..it's going to be amazing.."
Nick opened his mouth to say something when the phone rang. Both of them groaned and Malia reached over Nick to answer it, "Hello?"
"Malia?! Where the hell are you??"
"What do you mean, where am I? I'm in my room Bryan, where I'm supposed to be..."
Bryan sighed with annoyance and looked down at his watch, "You were supposed to be here a half hour ago."
"No I'm not, I'm supposed to be there at 8 with everyone else..that's what YOUtold me."
"Fine..," He said before hanging up.
Malia sighed and hung up the phone. "Was that Bryan?"
She nodded, "Yeah..he thought I was supposed to be down there earlier but I know he told me 8.."
"I know he did too, I was there."
She turned to look at Nick and was taken aback of how close he was...was Nick that close before? She couldn't remember but..it didn't feel weird like she thought it would. "I know that and you know that but obviously, he doesn't."
At precisely eight o'clock, Malia met Nick in the hallway as they waited for AJ and Brian to show up. Nick looked her up and down when he knew she wasn't looking; Malia looked so pretty with her hair left down to fall around her shoulders, the simple dark blue dress fell just below her knees and her feet adorned with brown strappy sandals. He grinned inwardly as he spotted her toe ring, which he had thought Bryan told her to get rid of. Brian and AJ finally showed up and they made their way towards the elevator. "I thought you weren't supposed to have your toe ring..," Nick said quietly in her ear.
She turned just a little so he could see the grin across her face, "Like I listen to him anyways..if Britney can get her belly button peirced and no one freak out over it, why can't I have a toe ring?"
"Exactly my thoughts."
"Mmm hmmm.."
"So, you gonna be my date?"
"I don't know, am I?"
He smiled, "You know...people will talk..."
"And Bryan'll get mad..."
Both of them smiled at one another before nodding, "Yep..."
"Good.."
Her hand slipped easily into his as they made their way through the small crowded area...it wasn't an unnoticed thing of course, some of the media that was there took note and some got pictures of the two of them holding hands.
Malia didn't think it was weird for her to be holding Nick's hand..it was a habit, really. Of course, she was just telling herself that..
Bryan had finally cornered Malia on one side of the room where she wasn't around Nick or Brian or AJ or Kevin or Jeff or Howie. He glared down at her, trying to make himself seem superior, "What do you think you're doing walking in here holding his hand???"
"What gives you the right to run my life Bryan? In three months, you're gone, you can't run my life anymore, I'm over eighteen and I am an adult."
"You have no idea how much I'm going to have to cover your ass for this one Malia!"
Nick slid up behind her and put an arm around her waist smirking at Bryan, "But it is a nice ass, huh Bry?"
"You stay out of this Nickolas."
Malia feigned shock and gasped, "Oooooh, full name usage, we should be scared!"
Nick's jaw dropped as he too feigned shock and fright, "Oh yes! We should run far, far away from this evil, evil man!"
They both began to laugh. "You are going to fail Malia without me and when you do, I'm going to be the one to be lauhing right in your face."
Both watched as Bryan stormed towards the entrance. She turned to look at Nick, "He's really gone crazy I think..."
"I think so too.."
"Wanna dance?"
"You are my date after all!"
He smiled and held his arm out, "Shall we?"
"Yes kind sir.," She said taking his arm and letting him lead her towards the dance floor.
Malia slipped her shoes off as her and Nick rode the elevator up to their floor. She leaned back against him and he slipped his arms around her. "You know, I like your hair down like this..," He said pulling a strand out of place and twisting it around his finger.
"I like your hair cut like that.."
"I like it better too..not as much to do with it.."
"Uh huh..."
"Tired Lia?"
She nodded against his arm, "Yep..you?"
"A little.."
The elevator dinged and the doors slid open. Nick led Malia to her room. She yawned as Nick slid her key in the door for her. He smiled, "You get some sleep girl."
"I will..thanks Nick for a fun night.."
He bent down to hug her and pulled back briefly to plant a kiss on her forehead, "I had fun too..'Night Lia."
"Nicky?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you sure you don't want to come in?"
He smiled slightly, "I can't Lia...see you in the morning?"
Malia smiled, "Yeah..see you in the mornin.."
She walked inside her room and shut the door making sure it was locked before walking into the main part of the room and sliding her jewelry off her hands and neck.
She was wondering something as she made her way around the room picking up stray things, she was wondering about why she had had the sudden urge to kiss Nick.
And she wasn't thinking in the friendly way...but in the boyfriend/girlfriend kind of way.
"Oh grrreeat..," She mumbled before falling backwards onto the bed.
The next morning was busy was everything was being packed into the trucks that would be taken to Florida for their first show. The stars of the show would be riding in their buses as far as South Dakota before catching a flight to Florida as well. Malia was up and packed by the time the trucks left. She looked at her watch, 9:10. AJ appeared and sat down next to her, "Hey.."
"Mornin'..how are you?"
He nodded, "Pretty good..you?"
"Tired..I didn't get alot of sleep."
"Yeah, me neither. But I know I'll get a chance to sleep on the bus later.."
She nodded, "Yeah..I hear that."
He smiled, "Did you have fun with the Nickster last night?"
"Yeah, it was alot of fun...I made Bryan mad, huh?," She asked looking over at him.
He shrugged, "Probably..just like I used to piss of Lou with the tattoos and stuff.."
She smiled, "I just wish he'd stop trying to run my life..."
"I understand girl, I really do...hey, are you riding on our bus?
"I don't know...hey, I'm gonna go get some coffee, want anything?"
"Nah, I'm cool.."
She stood up, "I'll be back then.."
"Cool."
Jeff spotted Malia walking towards the small hotel cafe and followed her. Malia smiled at him, "How are you this morning Jeff?"
"As good as I can be..you?"
"I'm doing good..."
Jeff nodded, "That's good..I heard you made quite a splash last night at the party.."
Malia smiled before looking at the grin on Jeff's face, "Guess I did.."
"You two did that on purpose, huh?"
"Uh huh.."
"Are you riding their bus?"
"Can I?"
"I don't have a problem with it.."
Malia paid for her coffee and took a small drink before turning to Jeff. "But Bryan would, wouldn't he?"
"Probably..look, I'll go ask him..I'll tell him you have some stuff you need to go over with Kevin on that new song you two are working on.."
"I don't have a song with Kevin..."
Jeff smiled at the younger girl, "Well..ya do now girlfriend.."
"Ohhhh! I get it..sorry, it's early...I get it, I really do."
"You be over there with AJ?"
"Yeah."
"K, I'll come tell you what he said in a few minutes."
"Thanks Jeff...you're the best."
"Yeah well, I know. Only the best for my Lia."
"Of course!"
He smiled, "Go on, i know you wanna see blondie."
"JEFF!"
Jeff laughed as Malia stood there with her jaw dropped. He knew exactly what Malia was doing and what she was going through, but she'd have to deal with it on her own.
Malia walked back to AJ and took her seat by him again. "So..you ridin' with us?"
"I'm hoping too...Jeff went to go ask Bryan..I now am doing a song with Kev.."
"Oh really?"
"Not really.."
"Ohhhhh..I see.."
"Yep..I hope so, I mean, I'll be so bored on that bus with him and noone else...even the dancers are riding on their own bus."
"Yeah I know...they're leaving about a half hour before us..damn, where are the guys at? We have got to go in like a half hour ourselves.."
Jeff walked back over, "He said you could, but just because you're working with Kevin and quote, 'don't expect this to become a habit.'"
Malia rolled his eyes, "Thanks Jeff.."
"No prob..now, I'm guessing you know the security measures...I'll be on the bus with the dancers and two other guards. Rodney and Mark are going to be riding in the bus behind you all with someone else but I can't remember who right now...you are not to get off the bus until one of them comes to get any of you all..understand?"
Both her and AJ nodded. "Cool..see you in South Dakota."
"Later Jeff!"
"Yeah, bye Jeff."
Once Jeff had once again disappeared around the corner AJ turned to her, "I like him, he's cool."
"Yeah..he's awesome..he's like my brother or something rather than a bodyguard."
"Thats how I am with Marcus..he's awesome."
"Yeah I like him too...I like all of your all's security.."
"By the way, did they ever figure out who broke into your dressing room??"
She shook her head, "No..unfortunately...Jenna said something that really got me thinking though.."
"What?"
"She thinks Jason, you know my new guy dancer? She thinks he did it..."
"Why would he do something like that? And on like his first day or whatever?"
"I dunno..that's what I said..but I was just thinking about that..."
"We'll all have to keep an eye on him then.."
"Yeah..just to make sure.."
"Of course."
The rest of the guys showed up shortly after their conversation ended. They packed up their things and the six boarded the bus. Nick was reading a comic book when the bus pulled out of the hotel. Malia flopped down beside him, "Hey, how are ya?"
"Good..you?"
"I'm tired yet I'm too wound up to go sleep right now.."
He smiled and locked eyes with her, "You ready for the tour to start?"
"Oh yes..I can't wait!"
"Me neither.."
"I'm so glad we get to go home for a couple days."
"Me too..hey, the guys were thinking we should have a barbecue with all our familes and some friends before we leave..."
"That sounds cool.."
"Yeah, get your mom and brother and they can come over my house.."
"Oh okay.."
"What's wrong?," He asked putting the comic up.
She shrugged, "I dunno.."
"Are you okay?," He said with a smile.
"Yeah..I'm fine..I'm just thinking about things right now.."
"Well you know you can talk to me whenever you need to, right?"
She nodded and pulled her hair back from her face and secured it with an elastic band, "Yeah, I know Nicky..and I really appreciate that.."
He smiled, "I know you do and so do I."
She smiled, "Later we should have ourselves a big long talk.."
He nodded, "Later tonight? After everyone's asleep?"
"Okay."
She got up and went to the back to watch some tv. She groaned inwardly and thought to herself, 'I can't talk to him and tell him my problems and concerns..when he IS the problem and concern...'
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