Chapter 38, Part 1


*The next morning, at Howie's club*


"I can't believe I'm doing this!" Naomie sighed again.

"You'll be so great!!!" Becky replied again. "This song is beautiful and you sing it with so much emotion...it's unbelievable!"

"Alright alright... who else is coming to the rehearsal?"

"Um... Carly will come...with her little sister I think. And Nick will come later too!"

"Oh great! I'm not doing it!" Naomie exclaimed sitting on a chair.

"Aaargg Nam! Come on! Anyway, he'll come later in the afternoon so maybe you'll be done and you won't have to sing in front of him! Anyway...he'll be there tonight so he'll see you anyway!" Becky exclaimed.

"I'm soooo nervous Beck! It will be like I sing this song to him! What if he notice it?"

"Don't you think it'd be good that he'd know your feelings for him?"

"I don't know...aah I'm so nervous!" Naomie whined.

"No you don't! Come on, let's start!" Aj said walking toward them.

"Ok..." Naomie sighed getting and walking to the little stage.

"So finally, what song will you sing?"

"If I Don't Tell You Now..."

"Great! Come on, do it!" Aj told her sitting right in front of the stage.

"Like this? No music?"

"Well it's just a try... and anyway, the musicians will arrive later!" Howie said. "You proved us you could sing without music yesterday...I'm sure you can do it now!" he teased her.

Naomie sighed but started singing the song as her three friends listened to her their mouth all open. When she stopped they all looked at her amazed.

"Ok I'm done!" she said walking quickly and sitting next to Becky.

"Damnit Nam!!!" Aj shouted. "You have an angel voice!"

"Yeah I'm an angel...I can fly!" she laughed.

"Do you really need a rehearsal with the musicians? Because I don't think you need one..." Howie told her.

"I'll be just fine...I guess..."

"Ok now...we have to decorate the club!" Howie said. "But where's my girl?"

"Righ here baby!" Carly smiled walking toward them.

"Oh there you are!" he exclaimed kissing her. "I missed you!"

"I missed you too!" Carly replied all smile. "Guys, I want you to meet my trouble maker... my little sister, Anna." she added. "Anna, say hi to the guys!"

"Oh my Gosh! This is Aj!!!" Anna whispered.

"No it's Kevin!" Carly jocked.

"Hey! Don't insult me like this! I'm not Kevin!" Aj said laughing. "Hi Anna! I'm Aj..yes it's really me!" he said taking off his glasses and kissing sweetly her hand. "Nice to meet you!"

"Nice.... nice...nice to meet you too!" Anna finally said.

"And this is his girlfriend, Becky!" Carly told her sister.

"Hi Becky! Nice to meet you!" Anna smiled.

"And this is...Nick's girlfriend, Naomie!" Carly jocked.

"What????" Naomie exclaimed wide eyes.

"Nam , was just kidding!" Carly laughed.

"So he's really single?"

"Yeah but... forget about it! He's too complicated!" Carly said.

"He's a crazy men" Naomie added.

"Well ... I kinda like crazy men!" Anna grinned.

"Oh poor little girl!" Howie giggled giving Anna a small hug.


The crew started decorating the club for the Christmas party that night. After an hour, Nick entered by the back door and straightly went to sit at the bar, looking sad. Only Aj saw him so he walked to him and sat next to him.

"Hey man! What's up?" Aj asked.

"Nothing..." Nick replied looking down.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing..."

"Come on tell me what's wrong!"

"Nothing..."

"What can you say beside nothing?"

"Nothing..."

"Nick if you don't tell me right now what's wrong...I'll...kick your fucking white naked ass!" Aj laughed.

"I'm almost scared..." Nick told him sarcasticaly.

"Big Baby! I can't help you if you don't tell me! Is it Brian again???"

"Well...."


*Earlier, At Brian house*


Nick knocked at the front door of Brian's house a couple of time before he answered. He knew he shouldn't be there but he had to talk to Brian about Alika. There was a chance that Brian would not listen to him but he had to try. Brian was his bestfriend and if Brian wouldn't want anymore to forgive well at least, he couldn't let Alika enter in his life. Brian could date any girl he wanted but not Alika. This girl was a trouble maker. Brian answered the door.

"Don't close the door! I really need to talk to you!" Nick said seeing that Brian wasn't happy to see him standing there.

"What do you want?"

"I need to talk to you..."

"I don't want to hear your excuses! I've heard them a thousand time!" Brian said trying to close the door. But Nick stopped him.

"It's not about me! I just have to warn you about someone... forget about what I did for a minute... I know it wasn't right but it's not about that I want to talk to you about! If I don't talk to you today maybe tomorrow it will be too late..."

"Alright...come in... " Brian said walking in the house and leaving the door open.

Nick walked in the house and looked all around him. He really missed this place. They had made so much silliness in this house together.

"So...what do you want to talk about?" Brian asked. Nick took a deep breath hoping wouldn't get too mad.

"Alika..."

"Alika? What about her?" Brian asked confused.

"I don't want to manage your life or whatever...but you shouldn't see her. She's not who you think she is." Nick said.

"How do you know I saw her?"

"Well...she ran to my house and told me about it. She also told me that you told her about me and.........Amber.."

"So...now you're angry at me because I've told her?" Brian asked.

"No I'm not mad about you! I'm mad about the situation! Can't you see she's just playing a game with you?"

"Oh yeah and how could you know that? She told you she was playing with me?"

"Listen...I know her! More than you think! She's a bitch!" Nick shouted.

"Everybody is a bitch with you, Nick!" Brian replied.

"I just want to protect you Brian! She screwed up my life and I don't her to do it with you!"

"If she screwed your life up...how come I've never heard about her??"

"I wanted to talk about it with you but you were always with Leighanne..."

"Leighanne has nothing to do with it!"

"I know, I didn't say that! I just said that I couldn't talk to you about...that ...because she was always with you so she would have known and would have tell Mandy... but I didn't think Alika was going to tell Mandy so... well I've just tried to forget about it!" Nick said.

"What happened with her Nick??" Brian asked starting to get furious.

"I... I... " Nick started.

"You've slept with her didn't you?"

"It's not what you think!"

"No matter what I think...you sleep with every girls that look at you!" Brian screamed. "You disgust me!"

"No...she...she... she did everything to turn me on!! I swear! She's the best in that category! She'll do it with you just to screw everything you've done to have a great life! I don't wanna see you hurt!"

"Well it's too late for that Nick...you've already screwed up everything..." Brian yelled.

"Brian listen...I just wanted to warn you about her!!!"

"Get out of here! I don't want to see you! I thought I could forgive you..I really did! but now you disgust me so much... I never want to see you again!" Brian screamed." I Hate you!Get The hell out of here"

"Brian, Brian...wait..." Nick tried to talk but Brian kept looking at him furiously, pointing at the door. Nick sighed and walked out the house .

"I hate you!!!!!!!!!!" Brian said slamming the door. "Gosh I miss you..." Brian whispered starting to cry against the wall.




*Back at the present, in the club*


"Alika is really like this?" Aj asked surprised.

"Yeah...be careful!" Nick sighed.

"You've really slept with her?"

"AJ!" Nick said. "I want to forget about it!"

"She must be hot... just look at her!" Aj grinned.

"AJ!! Stop it!" Nick shouted trying to not het angry.

"Ok ok relax! Oh hey! there's a young girl here who'd really like to meet you! She's so cool!" Aj said giggling.

"Who?"

"Come with me! I'll show you!" Aj said standing up and walked to the VIP area.

"Hey Nick!" everyone said when the two walked in.

"Oh my God!!!!" Anna tought.

"That's the beautiful girl I wanted you to meet!" Aj giggled walking to Anna. Nick looked at Anna surprised. He then turned to Aj and gave him a confused look.

"Oh Geez! You're really Nick!!" Anna exclaimed looking at him amazed.

"Umm... " Nick started. He took his wallet and looked at his cards. "Oh yeah that's really me!" he added with a smile. "Who are you?"

"I'm...I'm... Anna.."

"Nice to meet you!" Nick said staring at all the others who were all giggling.

"I'm Carly's sister.." she smiled.

"Oh I see! That's cool!" he replied. He talked for a little while with her and the others when he noticed Naomie trying to fix some lights at the wall. He walked up to her and put his arms around her waist.

"You don't wanna talk to me baby?" he whispered in her ear. She turned around to face him and hugged him.

"Hey Nick! I didn't know you were here!" she said pulling back but he kept her close to him, holding her tight like he didn't want to let her go. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah I feel better now!" he pulled back and gave her a beautiful smile.

"You do?" she asked with a little smile.

"Yep! So I've heard you were singing tonight? You never told me you could sing?"

"No..I didn't.." she replied looking at the floor.

"Well, I can't wait to hear you!"

"Yeah... I can't wait to sing.." she said sarcasticaly.

"I'm sure you'll be just fine! Do you need some help with those lights?"

"Oh well yeah why not? It's always good to have an helping hand!" Naomie smiled.

She took the lights and tried to fix to the ceiling but she had to be on tiptoe and expend her arms to the ceiling. Nick tooked this opportunity to look at her body from the feet to the head but he made a long stop at her butt.

"Ouuuff..." he thought with a smile. "I've never noticed that!"

"Why are you smiling like an idiot?" Anna asked coming by them.

"What????" Nick asked coming back to reality.

"You were looking at her butt and you were smiling like an idiot! I saw you!" Anna said.

"No I didn't!" Nick said looking shyly at Naomie who was smiling at him.

"Yes you did! You never saw a girl's butt before??" Anna asked seriously.

"Um... um... you're too young to say things like this!"

"Hey I'm 14...I'm not a baby anymore!"

"Whatever..." Nick said embarrassed.

"Hey big boy! Come here, I need your help!" Naomie laughed seeing his embarrassement.

"Thank you!" he whispered.

"You're welcome!" she replied looking at him in the eyes. But she looked away when he plunged his eyes into hers.

Everyone continued decorating fooling around at the same time. Anna kept running after Nick to talk to him and asking him really personnal questions...that he wasn't answering to.

"Hey Nick! Give me the sticky tape!" Becky said. Nick looked around him and spotted the sticky tape that was on the floor of the small level where the bar was. He tried to get it by strecht his arm between the two of the many colums surronding the level but he couldn't reach it. So he strecht him more and passed his head between the two columns too.

"Ah I got it!" he exclaimed but when he tried to come back at his initial place, he got stuck between the two columns. "Oh Damn...damnit..."

"Nick hurry!" Becky shouted.

"Damnit!!!" he screamed trying to pass between the two columns.

"What's wrong?" she asked walking toward him.

"I'm stuck in here!!!!"

"What? You're serious?"

"No I'm kidding!!" he said sarcastically. "My head and my arm are stuck!! I can't pass!"

"Oh my God!" Becky said trying to held back his laughter.

"That's not funny Beck! Help me!!" he shouted moving.

"Oh my Godness! Nick is stuck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Becky shouted bursting out of laughter.

"What? What's wrong?" Howie asked coming by them. "Nick...what are you doing?"

"I'm just...skiing what did you think I was doing? Wanna train me?" Nick teased unhappy.

"You're stuck??"

"YES!!!"

"What is doing here?" Aj said followed by all the others.

"Can someone help me????" Nick said.

"Nick is stuck!!!!!!!!!!" Becky said still laughing.

"Nick! What the hell were you doing??" Aj asked.

"I tried to get the sticky tape! Now please...HELP ME!".

Everyone looked at him and bursted out laughing.

"Ha Ha Ha! Ok you laughed ...now HELPPPPPPPPPP MEEEEEEE!"

"Ok ok... I'll tried to help you..." Carly giggled pulling him by the hips.

"Hey hey hey! Be careful! Don't break my columns please!! It was really expensive!" Howie said.

"I'll be careful honey!" Carly laughed still trying to pull Nick out.

"Hey...leave him there... it'll be funny when the people will arrive tonight!" Aj laughed."Nick Stuck!"

"Shut up and get me out of here!" Nick groanned.

"It doesn't work!" Carly said. "Sorry Nick!" she added smacking him on the butt what surprised him and made him knocked his head on the column.

"Ouch!! Thanks Carly!" Nick whined.

"Wait a minute wait a minute!" Anna said. "I'm gonna help you! I've already help someone in a similar situation!"

"No no...don't touch me... " Nick said.

"Hey! I succeed... he just came back without his arm but..."

"WHAT????"

"I'm kidding!" Anna laughed walking to him.

"She just want to smack my butt..." Nick pouted.

"That's not true! I'm not like you... I've already seen butt in my life.." she teased him as Naomie bursted out laughing. "Ok ok... listen to me! Try to raise your arm...I'll catch it and pull it slowly behind your head. Then, try to move your head alright?"

"Um...yeah I guess!" Nick said not really sure if it was gonna work. Nick raised his arm in the air slowly and then Anna catched it and pulled it behind his head. He then was able to move his head so he passed it between the two columns and finally was free.

"Thannnnnnnnk You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" he shouted giving her a big kiss on the cheek.

"No problem!" she said right before to smack his butt.

"Hey!!!!" Nick shouted as everyone laughed.

"Anna!!!!!" Carly sighed.

"Geez...it was just his butt. You did it and you have a boyfriend...I don't so I don't see what the big deal is!" Anna exclaimed.

"Whatever!" Carly said.



*Meanwhile, at Brian's*


Brian was in his room laying on his bed. He still couldn't believe that Nick had told him to stay away from Alika. It was none of his business. This had made him even more angry about it. He hated when people were trying to control his own life. If he wanted to do something with Alika...it was his business. And what was that all about anyway? He had only spent one evening watching horror movies with her. He didn't like her. She was extremely beautiful but.. that was all. On another hand, he wanted so much to forgive Nick and get things back like they used to. Everything was so mixed up in his head. The door bell brang him back to reality. He walked slowly to the door, hoping it wouldn't be Nick again because he wasn't in the mood to argue. His smile came back when he saw who was standing there.

"Hi!" Leighanne said smiling.

"Hi!" Brian smiled letting her in. "What are you doing here?"

"Well..I was just passing by... I was wondering if you had thought about what we talked about the other day at the beach.."

"Hum... well yeah I can't stop thinking about it actually!" Brian said will a soft laugh. "I'm so mixed up!" he added sitting on a chair. He put his elbow on the table and his hand on his face and let out a loud sigh.

"Ah come on Brian! I'm sure everything will get back as it used to!" Leighanne told him with the sweet voice she always used when he was worried or sad.

"It's so crazy! I want so much to forgive him...I miss him...but there's something inside of me who like...doesn't want to! It's so weird! And with what happened earlier... it just made me angrier!"

"What happened earlier?" Leighanne asked.

"He came here... and told me things...that was none of his business! I still don't understand why he came here to tell me that! He kept saying it was because he didn't want me to get hurt and that he just wanted to warn me...but I don't get why!"

"Well I don't know what it was all about but I'm sure he didn't do this to annoy you... I mean...well... I'm gonna tell you something that maybe you didn't realize yet..." Leighanne said.

"What?"

"Can't you see that... if Nick would have slept with Amber on perpose, he wouldn't look so sad and wouldn't try to warn you from I don't know what or who... and he wouldn't do all that he can to settle things! Well maybe he would but...sincerely, when you listen to your heart, do you really think Nick could do something like this on perpose? Would he really take the chance to lose his bestfriend?" Leighanne asked plunging her blue eyes into his. Brian thought for a moment. "I know all the time we talked I tried to not push you to forgive him...I thought it'd be better if you take your time and wait until you're ready... but I really don't think Nick would do this on perpose! He's not like that! He may have done a lot of stupidities... but he would never do something to hurt you or one of the guys."

"So...you're telling me I should forgive him?"

"Well I know I would! I don't know how you're doing to live with this since a month but... I would have forgive the week after!" she laughed.

"I know..you hate fights!" Brian smiled.

"And I also know you don't like them much!!" Leighanne said with a sweet smile.

"You're right...but there's still this little part inside of me who's not sure of what to do.."

"Well you're the only one who can fix things up! I can't force you to do anything!" Leighanne said standing up.

"I still have to think about it a little..."

"I understand!" she smiled. "But as I told...don't wait too much because anything can happen..."

"I won't forget it! Thank you so much Leighanne!" he said as he stood up and hugged her.

"You're welcome! Call me if you need anything!" she said with a warm smile.

"I will!" he replied all smile closing the door behing her.



*That night, at the party*


The club was now really crowded and Naomie was going to sing her song in a few minutes. She was leaning against the wall next to the stage, trying to get her stress away.

"Good luck girlie!!! We're with you! We'll sing with you!" Becky shouted hugging her.

"You'll be great!! Don't worry!" Carly hugged her too.

"I can't wait to hear you!!! You'll be fantastic!" Ashley said.

"Thank you girls!" Naomie chuckled. "I'll do the best that I can!"

"You really have a beautiful voice Nam! You'll be great!" Howie said before to kiss her on the cheek.

"You look really good!" Aj said. "All the boys will be at your feet after this!"

"Ah thank you!" Naomie laughed.

"We'll be right in front of the stage! Good luck!" Becky smiled as they all walked away.

"There you are!!!!!!! I'm sorry I'm a little late!!!" Nick said walking to her. He gave her a kiss on the cheeks. "I can't wait to hear you!". At this moment, Stacey and Kevin arrived hand in hand. Naomie looked at them wide eyes.

"You finally did it!!!!!!!!!" Stacey and Naomie said at the same time.

"What?? No!" Naomie chuckled avoiding Nick's eyes. "But you did!" she added with a grin looking at the new couple.

"Did what???" Kevin asked.

"Nothing!!!" Naomie answered fastly. "Well...I guess I gotta go now!" she added, her heart beating really fast as she heard Howie presenting her.

"Good luck Nam!!!" Stacey told her smiling.

"Thank you!" Naomie replied all smile. Everyone applaused when Howie was finish and she walked on the stage nervously. She took the microphone and started singing as the music played.


Ooh ooh oh yeah
I kept it inside for the longest time and I can't keep keeping it
All this love that's inside of my heart
Maybe it's safer not to say that I care
Maybe this road won't lead me anywhere
But if I don't tell you now
I may never get the chance again
To tell you that I need you, tell you what I'm feeling
If I keep these feelings in
And if I don't say the words
How will you hear what's inside my heart
How will you know then
If I don't tell you now

Ohhh
I'd do anything to be in your dreams and I can't stand standing by
With this dream that's inside my heart
Maybe I'm only gonna make a mistake
And there's a chance maybe my heart will break

But if I don't tell you now
I may never get the chance again
To tell you that I need you, tell you what I'm feeling
If I keep these feelings in
And if I don't say the words
How will you hear what's inside my heart
How will you know then
If I don't tell you now


Ooooooh
How will you know you're inside my soul
Oh it's driving me crazy
Cause you don't see, you're the world to me
I'm so afraid to see
The way that I feel for you

If I don't tell you now
I may never get the chance again
To tell you that I need you, tell you what I'm feeling
If I keep these feelings in
And if I don't say the words
How will you hear what's inside my heart
How will you know then
If I don't tell you now


Ohhhh ohhhh
If I don't tell you now



 Nick listened to the song really carefully and realized that he had to tell Brian that what he had said about Alika was true and it wasn't a jealousy thing. He had to tell him he would leave him all the time he needed to forgive him but he had to do it someday because he really needed him. Naomie climbed down the stairs as everyone applaused and screamed. She walked to the table where all her friends were sitting when Nick stopped her.

"You were excellent! You opened my eyes! You made me realize that I really have to talk to Brian right now!!" he said talking really fast. "Stay here! I'll be back in an hour! Thank you!" he added before to kiss her on the cheek. He then ran out the club.

"Nick!You...did not..."She said before to get back at the others at the table.

Nick ran to his car forgetting his cell phone on the table. He jumped in his Jeep and left like a whirlwind. He drove, not really paying attention at everything that was going on. He put the radio on and shuddered when he reconized the song that was playing at this moment.

what is done has been done for the best
Though the mist in my eyes might suggest
Just a little confusion about what I'll lose
But if I started over I know I would choose
The same joy the same sadness each step of the way
That fought me and tought me that friends never say
Never say goodbye
Never say goodbye
Never say goodbye
Never say goodbye


 He felt it was a sign and pressed on the speed pedal at the maximum. He then checked his watch to see what time it was. 11:57. The second he looked up, everything changed.

BANG!







To Part 2