Nick stood outside waiting. Pollyanna walked up to him. "Hello, Nick, nice job at the shoot today."

"Thanks. Tired?"

She nodded. "Very. Poor Karen she got back at 7:15 and started shooting again at 7:30. She's a VERY hard worker. Because of her endurance we got all the footage done in one day."

"One LONG day," Nick commented.

Howie joined them. "Hey, guys."

"Are you riding the girls' bus?"

"Yeah. Pollyanna and I are going to place the scenes in order. While you help Karen with the assignments I gave her," Howie said smiling.

Pollyanna placed her hands on her hips. "She's worked since 5:30 and you gave her homework?"

"Well----"

Pollyanna rolled her eyes. "You guys are so pathetic. Why don't you just admit that Nick and Karen would like some time alone together."

Karen walked out of the hotel in leggings and a huge oversized sweatshirt. (AKA Nick let her borrow his shirt.) Nick ran up beside her. "Here. Let me take your luggage."

"Thanks." Karen pulled up her sleeves. "Thank you for letting me borrow your shirt."

"No problem."

They stepped on to the bus with Howie and Pollyanna following behide them. The siblings set at the table up front, while the couple moved on to the bunks in back.

Karen sat on her bunk. "It's not as lavishing as ours. There's two sets of bunks. A cd player, small tv and a table."

"It's still nice. We use to have a bus like this. I do remember one nice thing about it."

"Oh, really?"

"Yup." Nick stood up and pulled back a curtain, seprating them from Pollyanna and Howie.

"Nice touch," Karen yawned.

"You tired?"

"Yeah. What time is it?"

"Midnight." Nick said glancing at his watch.

"Man, I've been up since 4:30."

Nick brushed her hair away from her face. "Then you should rest. You had a hard day." He stood up. "Lye back. I'll give you a massage."

Karen laid down on her tummy.

Nick remembered Howie's advice. "Mind if I play a cd?"

"No, go right ahead."

'Back At One' began to play as Nick set on the edge of Karen's bed. He began to rub her shoulders. "I like this song."

"Me too," she whispered.

"You feel okay?" Nick asked.

"Uh-huh. I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

"No reason," he mumbled. He gently ran his hand over her spine. "So, how's the tour affecting you?"

"Affecting me?" Karen repeated. "Well, it's making me tired. That's about it."

"Oh."

The redhead faced him. "Why all the medical questions? Are you leaving BSB to be a doctor?"

He blushed. "No." He stroked her cheek, and told her the story of tur-itis, and it's history.

Karen fought off her laughter. "So, you believe this?"

"Well--- I don't know."

"Well, I don't think I'm gonna' get sick, but I do think it's sweet that you care so much about me," she said with a smile. She yawned. "You're such a sweetie."

Nick looked at her tired eyes. "I may not be a doctor, but I do know one thing: You need some sleep. And some heat, this bus is freezing."

"I know," Karen shivered. The teen turned on her back and sat up. Nick took a seat closer to her, and Karen rested her head against his chest. He pulled the blankets around her. "Are you warm enough?"

Karen wrapped her arms around him. "I am now."

>>>>>

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