It was dark when they made it to the hotel. The boys had rehearsals all the next day. But Nick and Brianna both were antsy from being in the bus for two long days, practically non-stop. So, rather than settle in for the night they decided to go out and blow off some energy.

Standing at the bar with their drinks in hand they kept watch over the dance floor below. The DJ had a string of dance mixes playing and they kept time with the beat moving ever so slightly. It was far too loud to talk so they just watched the other people dance and sneaked glances at each other. After two drinks Nick had had enough standing. Grabbing Brianna’s hand he pulled her behind him and down to the dance floor. When he reached an open spot he turned to face her and was happy to see a smile on her face.

Brianna felt free. She loved her time on the bus with Nick, she always had. But the “crosses” had given her more energy then she had felt in months. Being surrounded by bodies, music glaring, and dancing feverously with Nick created a sensation of euphoria. Cocooned in familiarity she was relaxed. As her body moved Brianna could feel the stress of the past semester seeping out of body, freeing her thoughts and easing her worries; for the moment anyway.

Someone bumped into her causing her to step closer to Nick. They were dancing separately, yet in time with each other. Her movements were independent from his, yet they were feeling more connected than they had in the past three days that they had spent together. As she stepped closer her body made brief contact with his. It was completely unintentional. They both felt it and tried to ignore the surge of warmth caused by it. They both hid their true emotions within to keep them from showing on their faces. Both were determined to bury any lingering hopes in order to save their “friendship”. However, inside, both were failing miserably at their efforts.

Looking down at Brianna, Nick wondered when she had grown up so much. He wondered when and why she had started to wear so much makeup. It wasn’t that it was unattractive on her. It was just he felt she didn’t need to wear it so heavily. She had always gone with very little to no makeup. It was her fresh face that he had seen that first day on the side of the highway. Whenever he came home for a visit it was her clean face that was always so refreshing to see after months on the road with heavily made-up fans following him. On the other hand, this new look really accentuated her mouth, a place that unfortunately his eyes kept returning too.

Brianna had been keeping her eyes level with his chest. She was afraid to look up at him. Afraid he would see what was in her eyes, behind them, barely hidden. When she felt his hand at her waist she did look up, in surprise. She wasn’t expecting him to grab her. The strobe lights were flashing and made his eyes literally seem to sparkle. Faltering only momentarily she regained her composure, licked her dry lips, and smiled at him. She didn’t know how long she had been looking up at him, but she knew she had to stop. Feeling the heat in her cheeks she turned her back to him, which only caused him to pull her closer. Brianna could feel him from where the top of her head rested against his chest, all the way down to her heels which were just barely against the inside of his own feet.

When the song ended the DJ changed the pace and played a slow song. Nick leaned down and touched her ear with his lips and asked, “Thirsty?” Brianna simply nodded her head and allowed him to again take her hand and lead her off the dance floor and back up stairs to the less crowded VIP area. They stayed until the club closed. The hours passed with them dancing towards each other and then pulling away. They drank and talked. The entire time they both acted as if nothing was different between them, as if nothing strange was going on. Knowing Nick had rehearsals fairly early it was agreed that when the club closed its doors that they should return to the hotel.

<~ Chapter 69 or Chapter 71 ~>

In the End

Karina 2003