"Touring was the best fun I've ever had,".

Nick nodded and handed me a soda as I sat in his TV room. "I remember saying that after my first tour, but it gets kinda tiring after a while!".

It was two months later and I'd just gotten back from the Westlife tour. It had been so much fun! I'd got to see many different cities and meet lots of cool people, like the other opening act girl, Cryssi, who was real nice. The Westlife guys had been really sweet and had given me lots of tips. But the best thing had been performing in front of an audience. I'd been scared at first but soon got over it after feeling that amazing buzz on stage. I'd performed a set of three of my own songs- This is Me, Blue-Eyed Angel and Let Me Be Her, plus I had performed a medley of Westlife songs, as that would please the audience who were there to see them! I was sad the tour was over, I couldn't wait to get back on stage again, but I was glad to be seeing Nick again. I was over at his house that afternoon telling him about the tour.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it," Nick told me. "Now, how well did your CDs go down?".

"Great," I told him. "We had them on sale for a small price at all the venues and quite a few were sold,".

"The magazines may pick up on you now," Nick told me. "Jack will arrange you some photo sessions as the mags always wants some professional shots.

"So I could be appearing in 16 and Teen Beat soon?!" I gasped. That sounded so cool!

Nick nodded. "Yep!".

I blushed, feeling kinda shy about having my picture on newsstands. "Oh, I meant to ask you something. Next week is Daisy's birthday and it's mine a few days later. She wants us to have a huge costume party at her house as a joint birthday party. You and Jade are invited. That's if you want to come...".

Nick nodded. "Yeah, sounds cool. What day?".

"Wednesday twenty-third," I told him. "Cuz Daisy will be twenty on the twenty-first and I'll be nineteen on the twenty-fifth. So it's in the middle,".

He smiled. "I don't have any plans that night, sure we'll come!".

I grinned. "Excellent! It's a costume party, remember. So you'd better dress up...".

"OK," he said.

"But please don't wear an ugly mask like you wore at that Halloween party last year!" I laughed, referring to pictures I'd seen of him in an awful mask.

He laughed too, adjusting his baseball cap. "OK, I won't,".

We were silent for a few moments. Nick still looked kinda sad, I couldn't figure why.

"Is everything OK?" I asked, looking at him in concern.

He frowned. "I'll be OK..." he trailed off.

At that moment, Jade came in. "Nick, I need more money," she said, ignoring me as if I wasn't there.

Nick's eyes widened, almost in fear. "I gave you a thousand dollars this morn...".

"I've ran out," she cut him off, tossing her golden curls over her shoulder. "Now gi...".

"OK, OK!" he said sharply, rushing over to a cupboard and pulling out a box. He took a key from his pocket and unlocked it, taking wads of money out. "Is this enough?".

She counted it. "Well... for now. Remember what I said...".

"Yes, OK," Nick said quickly.

Jade smiled and walked to the doorway, folding the money into her purse. "Don't worry melody honey," she said to me with a sweet smile, noticing my shocked expression. "Nick and I have financial arrangements, as a couple we share our money. I'm not stealing it, don't worry!".

"I'm sure you're not..." I said, shaking a little.

"Goodbye, see y'all later," she said as she sauntered out of the front door.

"Why do you let her have so much?" I asked Nick when she'd gone.

He didn't say anything, he stared at the wall with a solemn expression.

"Nick?".

He turned to me. "Sorry... oh well I'm a millionaire. She spends a lot of money, much of it on her career. She needs a lot, so I don't mind her taking mine,".

"Oh right," I said to end the subject. I could tell Nick hated talking about it. But I knew there must be more to it than simple her spending a lot...

I saw Nick quite a few time that week, as I had a lot of business to sort out with him and Jack now I was back from the tour. We always seemed to get on well and had lots to talk about as we had many things in common. But one thing I tried not to talk about, even though it was bugging me, was his mysterious relationship with Jade. I didn't want to upset him by pressing for details.

The day before our party, I arrived at a studio in Tampa for a photo shoot for my press photos. Nick had told me that he'd show up later to check on things.

When I got inside, he wasn't there yet. I found Jack and he talked over my clothing. I got my make up done and changed into my first outfit- tight black pants and a red sequined tank top, along with matching red boots. My hair was streaked with red and black too.

A couple of stylists fussed over me making sure I looked perfect. Finally we were ready to take photos.

It was a long, tiring day and hot too, as it was August so temperatures were high. I was glad when it was over.

I was in my dressing room changing back into my jeans when I heard a knock at the door. "Come in," I called.

I smiled when I saw Nick. "Sorry it took me so long, but you won't mind when I tell you why,".

"Why?" I asked excitedly as I pulled my hair back into a messy ponytail.

"Just before the VMAs in a couple of weeks, me and the guys are making our first TV appearance since... I don't know when! Long ago!".

I laughed. "Men Strike Back?" I guessed, trying to remember the last time all five were on TV together.

"Probably," he said. "Well, the TV show is a new one starting up and we'll be on the first one they make. It's filmed live and shown on national, prime time TV. It's gonna be a huge show,".

"Cool," I said, wondering why he was telling me this.

"The show is a mixture of star interviews and performances. Us guys will be both performing a couple of new tracks and being interviewed. I was just speaking to one of the guys in charge of it and he said he saw you performing on the tour and picked up your CD. He says you have potential and wants you to appear on the show too. It'll be your big break!".

I was shocked. "Oh my God! Oh wow...".

Nick smiled. "I knew you'd be pleased,".

I was overwhelmed at the news. Nick gave me a hug and wished me luck.

"Thankyou," I barely managed to say. "Thankyou Nick...". I was gonna be on TV in front of millions!

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