~*Chapter 3*~
At the sound check the next day, Nick seemed disoriented. He wasn't really
paying attention, and when Blane walked onto the stage, he turned to the
others.
"I'll be right back," he announced, and ran over to her. "Hey, can we talk
for a sec?" he asked. He took her hand, and they went to a quiet corner just
behind the stage.
She gave him a small smile. "I'm sorry about last night. I was just too
tired," she told him. She leaned over and kissed him, and he slowly and
gently began to kiss her neck. She smiled and let out a small giggle.
"Nick, you're hopeless," she murmured.
He pulled away and ran his fingers through her hair. "I know, but I can't
help myself. I love you, Blane. And it seems every time I want to get
intimate with you, you push me away. Am I doing something to scare you?
Because if I am, let me know and I'll stop." He gazed at her as he kissed
her again.
After a moment, she said, "It's not you, Nick. It's me. I'm scared to get
close to anyone because I've been hurt before and I don't want it happening
again. Do you understand?"
He shook his head. "You've been hurt before? But I thought you were...never
mind. Blane, talk to me. I hate when you don't tell me things. I thought
we promised to be honest with each other."
Blane shook her head. "I can't talk about it right now, Nick. Please don't
pressure me. If you really love me, you'll leave it alone," she said, an
edge to her voice.
Nick stepped away from her. "I don't know what's going through your mind
right now, Blane, but I really wish you'd talk to me. But I'm not going to
pressure you to tell me what you don't want to." He turned away then and
started to walk back to the guys, but she grabbed his arm.
"Nick, please don't be mad," she begged, her eyes filling with tears. He
turned back and looked her in the face.
"I'm not mad, Blane. I'm frustrated because I feel I don't know you like I
should. I feel you don't have enough trust in me to tell me things, and I
don't like that. But like I said, I won't bother you about it anymore." He
walked away then, raking his fingers through his hair.
"Nick, please...," she called after him, but he ignored her. She leaned
against the wall and began to cry.
*~Chapter 4~*
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