"Hi Lysa!" Francesca’s brother said when he answered the door. "Hey Tony…is Fran ready?" she asked, coming inside. "Ready? For what? She’s up in her room…" he said, pointing up the stairs. "Ok…" Lysa said, walking up the stairs to Francesca’s room. She knocked on the door, and when she got no answer, she opened the door slowly. Francesca was lying on her bed, in her pajamas. "Hi…" Lysa said, sitting down on the edge of her bed. "Hi…" Francesca replied. "Don’t tell me you’re going to the concert in your PJ’s…" Lysa joked. "I’m not going to the concert…" Francesca said. "Yes you are." Lysa said. "No…I’m not…" Francesca replied. "I promised Nick you would be there…you’re going to be there." Lysa said, getting up and opening Francesca’s closet. She started pulling out different outfits. "Lysa I’m not going." Francesca said, sitting up in bed. "Why not?" Lysa asked, putting her hands on her hips. "Because I don’t want to have to face him…I want to just yell at him so much…and I know if I hear his voice…and see him…that gorgeous face, and those eyes…that I won’t be able to do that…" Francesca explained. "Come on…you know that you love him…why can’t you just talk…it’s not that hard…" Lysa said, laying the outfits on Francesca’s bed for her to choose. Francesca picked up a pair of khaki cargo pants and a purple tube top, "I do love him…but I’m mad and confused and uh…I just want to beat him up!" Francesca exclaimed, going into her bathroom to change. "Well just see how things go…Nick isn’t gonna be his normal self anyway…" Lysa called into the bathroom. "I know…but…well I’ll give it a shot…" Francesca said coming out of the bathroom. Lysa helped Francesca with her hair and make up and a half an hour later they were ready to go.
"First row huh?" Francesca realized as they found their way to their seats. "OF COURSE! I mean we’re their girlfriends…" Lysa said. Francesca just looked at her. "You’re Nick’s girl…don’t give me any bull." Lysa said with a smile. Francesca’s face lightened and she sighed. After the opening act finished there was a little intermission before the boys came on stage. The first song they sang was "Everybody". After a few more songs the boys each sang a solo. Kevin, Howie, and Brian sang their solos, then AJ came on. "Lysa…AJ is an animal…" Francesca said, as she watched AJ perform. "I know, isn’t he?" Lysa said, grinning. Francesca hit her arm. "What?" Lysa asked innocently. Francesca laughed and continued to watch. Next Nick was supposed to sing his solo. The band started to play the music, not realizing that Nick wasn’t on stage yet. They stopped and started playing a couple of times. AJ came running out with a microphone and explained that Nick wasn’t feeling too good and that he’d be out a little bit later.
"Kaos! What are you doing? You’ve got a packed arena out there waiting for you to sing." Brian yelled into the bathroom. "I’m nervous Rok…" Nick mumbled. "What the hell Nick?! You can sing and you’re not afraid to be in front of a big crowd, what’s there to be nervous about?" Brian asked. Nick came out of the bathroom. "She’s out there…" Nick said, sitting on the couch in the dressing room. "So…she was out there for all the other songs we sang too." Brian said, annoyed with his friend. "Fine…but if I puke out there…" Nick said, leaving the dressing room. "You won’t puke…now get your butt onstage before I drag it out there…" Brian said, pushing Nick down the hallway.
"I wonder what’s wrong with him…" Francesca said as the lights went down. "Nerves…" Lysa mentioned. The spot light shown on the stage and the band started playing the music for "I Need You Tonight". From that they went right into "Let’s Have A Party". Francesca was in shock over Nick’s solo, so the rest of the concert seemed to fly by. "Fran…come on…we can go backstage now…" Lysa said, pulling Francesca by the arm.
"You guys were great!" Lysa said, pushing past the guard. She ran to AJ. "Thanks." They replied. Francesca walked slowly into the room. "Hey Fran!" Brian, Howie, and Kevin said. "Hi guys. How’s it been?" she said, smiling. "Good." They replied, "Did you like the show?" Brian asked. "Yea it was unbelievable…" Francesca complimented. "Thanks." Brian said. Francesca smiled, then looked around for Nick. "Nick’s in the bathroom…" Brian said, seeing the disappointed look on Francesca’s face, "…he should be out soon." He continued. Francesca nodded.
A half an hour later Nick still hadn’t come out. Everyone was getting ready to leave. Francesca just sat on the couch. Before they left, Brian went over to the bathroom door and knocked on it. "Yo Nick. You got your girl out here." He called in to him. "I’m coming out…" Nick mumbled. "Well sometime this year would be nice…" Brian said, turning to leave. "Good luck…" Lysa said, as they all left the room and headed for the bus. Francesca let out a sigh. "Nick. I’m gonna leave if you don’t come out soon." She said. The door to the bathroom opened and Nick came out slowly. He sat beside her on the couch. He looked really nervous. "Nick why are you so nervous about talking to me? It’s not like we’ve never been together…" Francesca said, looking over at Nick. Nick swallowed, "I know…" he said, "You’re so beautiful…" Nick said, brushing the back of his hand on her cheek. "Thank you." Francesca said, biting her lower lip, "But I need an apology before I forgive you…" she said. "You have no idea how bad I feel for what I did…or didn’t do…I should have called…and I don’t know why I didn’t…" Nick said. "I can understand you being busy and all…and not wanting to ruin the surprise if you accidentally told. But it didn’t have to be a surprise. I would have rather had a phone call from you. It didn’t have to be everyday…but atleast once in a week for a couple of minutes… What I don’t understand is how the other four guys could take time out to call me…but you couldn’t…" Francesca said. "I know…I should have…I feel really bad…please forgive me?" Nick said, taking her hand. Francesca looked into Nick’s eyes and melted. She nodded her head, and started to cry, "Nick I have an apology to make too…" Francesca said. He looked at her. "I had my friend set me up with this guy while I was mad at you for not calling…and I never should have done that…I’m sorry…" she apologized. Nick looked shocked, "It’s ok…I guess I can understand where you’re coming from…" Nick said, pulling her back into his arms. Francesca breathed a sigh of relief. Nick smiled, and then started laughing under his breath. "What are you laughing at?" Francesca asked, wiping her tears away. "It’s been so long since I’ve kissed you…I’m afraid that I forget how to…" Nick joked. Francesca laughed, "I’ll help you…" she said, leaning over to kiss him.
The next morning there was a knock at the door, "Room service" the man called. Nick answered the door, "Thanks." He said, paying the guy. Awhile later, Brian knocked on the door, "We’re going now…" he called into them. "Ok…we’ll be out…" Nick said.
"How did it go with Nick last night?" Lysa asked, when Francesca came onto the bus. "Alright…" Francesca said quietly. "Alright? That’s it? I want details girl!" Lysa said laughing. "What? It was alright. What else is there to say?" Francesca said. "Um…well you two stayed together last night…and from the looks of it…" Lysa said pointing to Francesca’s neck. "What?" Francesca asked. "You have a hickey girl!" Lysa exclaimed. "Aww shit. My dad is gonna kill me!" Francesca said. Nick came onto the bus, "Why is he gonna kill you?" Nick asked. Francesca moved her hair away from her neck. Nick grinned. "Come on…a hickey from Nicky’s like a Hallmark Card…" Nick said, pulling her into his arms. Francesca laughed helplessly as Nick gave her little kisses. "Well I’m glad you two are back together…" Lysa said, going back to the bunks.
