The next morning, Isabel was down in the gym that was located in the hotel. She annoyingly shot the basketball at the hoop and let out a low groan as it bounced off the rim and fell to the ground. "I'm from the freaken basketball capital of the world and I can't even make a simple shot!!," She said to herself.
"Thats 'cause you weren't doing it right.," A voice said from behind her.
Isabel spun around to see Nick standing there wearing a Nike shirt and shorts with a white cap put on backwards. "Well thanks for you're help.," She said sarcastically before going to retrieve the ball.
Nick smiled to himself. 'God she's gorgeous..,' A voice in the back of his head said.
Nick, being a guy, checked her out. She was wearing a tank top and adidas shorts with a pair of adidas shoes she had bought before they left for Europe. He sighed inwardly that they were still in a 'fight' and walked over to her. She turned around with the ball under one arm, "Look, I don't need your help so go..go sign some ten year old's cd cover and leave me alone.."
He whistled lowly, "Low shot Isabel."
"I know. Now leave."
"No..I came to play basketball whether you're on the court or not..," He said taking another basketball off the rack that was set up.
"I was here first."
"And your point would be?"
"UGH! You are so annoying sometimes!"
"So are you."
She angrily threw the basketball at the wall. It bounced off with a loud BANG! and bounced down the court. She turned and walked to the bleachers and sat down in a huff. Nick shrugged and began to dribble the ball. He shot, it went in, and he went to get it.
Isabel sat on the sidelines and watched him..she couldn't help it. Nick noticed she was watching him. "What?"
"Nothing..just trying to compare you to Justin Timberlake.."
"HUH?"
"Just trying to compare you to Justin Timberlake. You know, of N'SYNC or whatever they're called. You're much cuter.."
"Oh..thanks..I think.."
"Welcome. Hey..umm..Nick?"
"Yeah?," He said shooting the ball.
"Can..you umm..teach me how to shoot?"
"If you want."
"Really?"
"Sure..its not hard..come on."
She hopped down off the bleachers and ran over to him. He smiled to himself, 'Her moods are so weird sometimes..one minute we're fighting, the next I'm teaching her how to play basketball..'
She took the ball from him. "Okay..Now..when you're releasing..do it just like this..," He said demonstrating.
She nodded and dribbled two times. Then, she shot it. It actually went in. "YES! FINALLZY!"
He laughed, "Good job."
"Thanks."
"No prob."
"Ya know..Nick...I'm umm..really sorry about the way..I acted on the plane the other day. I was just really cranky.."
"Its okay..I'm sorry too. I shouldn't of said the things I said."
"So..friends?"
"Yep..friends."
She smiled, "Good."
He looked at his watch, "We'd better get back upstairs and ready by noon or Kevin'll have a cow.."
"Oh yeah..you all have soundcheck, rehearsal, and some interview, and then a show.."
"Yep.."
They walked out of the gym and to the elevators. They got in and rode it up to the floor they were on. "See ya later Nick.," She said as she reached her room.
"See ya Isabel."
She unlocked the door and walked in. She grabbed some clothes and went to take a shower.
Around noon, everyone met in the lobby. Then they went out a backway to the van that would take them to the arena. Isabel sat in between AJ and Brian on the way, they were all talking about photography. "So, is it easy?," AJ asked.
Isabel shrugged, "I think it is."
"Maybe you can teach me sometime."
"Sure..its not that hard. I mean, I don't look for perfect lighting or whatever..I just take pictures of what appeals to me.."
"Cool."
Q, one of the head bodyguards, opened up the door for them when they reached the arena. It was only noon, yet a bunch of fans were already at the gates waiting. They began to scream and carry-on as they guys and Isabel walked in. "God..some of your all's fans are a little obsessed..," SHe said.
"Don't we know it.," Howie said grinning.
She laughed, "Its wierd!!"
The guys were ushered onto the stage to begin soundcheck and rehearsal. Isabel sat down in what would be front row and began looking through her backpack. Her phone, annoyingly, rang when she picked up her portfolio. "Ugh..hello?," She said into it.
Again, no one answered, she could still hear background noises and breathing. "Hello?," She said again.
"Stay away from the van.."
"The van? Why?"
"Because I said too...or else..," The voice hissed and then hung up.
"Isabel?," Nick asked stepping off the stage.
She stood there staring at her phone. "Isabel?," He said again.
"Wh..what?"
"I gotta get back to the hotel to get my things..do you need to come?"
"Umm..no..wait! Are you going in the van?"
"Yeah..why?"
"You..you can't!," She exclaimed as a fear crept over her.
"Why?"
"I just..have this weird feeling..maybe you shouldn't go Nick.."
"Isabel, I have to. We're not going back to the hotel after the concert and I forgot my things.."
"Nick..I've been getting these weird phone calls..I just got one now that said to stay away from the van.."
"Isabel, its probably some fan.."
"No one has this number!"
"Isabel, you're in the public eye along with us. The fans have a way of getting phone numbers.."
"Please Nick..don't go."
"I have to..Are you coming or not?"
She shook her head. Nick left then. She tried one last time to convince him to stay but he wouldn't. Nick, the driver, and Q left then.
Isabel sat on pins and needles for almost an hour before Nick, the driver, and Q came back. She almost ran up to Nick and hugged him. He sat down next to her, "See? I'm fine.."
"I..I just had this weird feeling..thats all.."
"Its okay..I know sometimes this can be weird..I keep getting odd calls too.."
"You do?"
"Yeah..it started last night right before I went to bed. I thought maybe it was my brother playing a joke cause my family has that number..but it wasn't..my mom said he was at a friends house.."
"Do you sit there and say hello and all you can hear is breathing?"
He nodded, "Yeah..you too?"
"Yeah..I thought maybe it was someone playing a joke, like 'Scream' or something.."
He nodded, "Me too."
"This is gettin' sorta freaky.."
"Yeah..but we'll be outta here by tomorrow and everything will be fine. I gotta go get ready..wanna come backstage?"
"Sure.."
Around 7:30, the BSB ran on stage. The screams were almost deafening.
Almost 11:00 p.m. they were showered, dressed, and were doing a meet-and-greet. Fans walked around the room talking to the guys, getting pictures with them, etc. Isabel sat on one of the couches drinking a bottle of water. One of the girls that was there kept glaring at her. She walked over to her, "Excuse me..but are you Nick's girlfriend?"
Isabel almost started to laugh. "Umm...no."
"Who are you then because I saw you sitting here before any fans came in.," The girl said snottily.
"I'm a relative of Kevin's.."
"Yeah right..Just stay away from Nick.," The girl warned before stalking off.
Isabel stared after the girl. 'I know she did not just try and threaten me..,' She thought.
After all the fans had left they all got on the guys tour bus for the long trip out of Belguim. Isabel and Nick didn't get any phone calls..that night.
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