"Bri's gotten into producing lately. He's been writing a lot of the songs, too. He's gonna be so into his work that he won't even notice that you're there. But if he does, just stay out of his way." AJ warned while Xanda rolled her eyes. "Trust me, that won't be a problem." AJ and Xanda hopped out of the parked car and quickly walked up the steps of the studio where Brian and Nick were inside waiting near a console. "You're late." Brian stated without looking up. He quickly glanced up at Xanda who glared at him in return before turning his attention to AJ. "I have plans tonight so let's get started."

Four hours and three minor arguments between Brian and Xanda later, AJ called it quits. "We're not into this right now. Bri, your mind is elsewhere, Nick wants to be with Krista and personally, I would have rather spent the entire day in bed with Xanda instead of being stuck here wasting time." AJ grabbed his jacket and Xanda's hand and turned to walk out the door. "No AJ. Don't leave angry. NEVER leave angry. I'm gonna go for a walk while you clear things up with him." Xanda put her hand up when AJ tried to protest. "No, AJ. Just listen to me. We are not gonna go anywhere if it looks like I'm standing between you and your friends who also happen to be your entire career." AJ groaned and turned to go back into the studio where Brian was alone trying to edit whatever he could salvage from the days session.

***

Xanda walked around the front of the studios and noticed Nick as he sat in his car talking on his cellphone. Nick quickly hung up his phone and hopped out of the car to speak to Xanda. "I heard you talking to AJ a minute ago." Nick said quietly. Xanda shrugged as she continued to walk around, kicking at the ground occasionally. "I know you and Bri hate each other but, ya know, that was...well...nice, I guess." Nick gave Xanda a half smile when he couldn't think of what to say. "Bad with words, eh?" She questioned. "Kinda. Just around people I don't know too well." He explained. "Oh..." Xanda felt awkward suddenly. Nick looked up and sighed with relief as AJ walked toward them with his hands in his pocket. Xanda placed her hands on her hips waiting for an explanation from AJ. "Relax, we're gonna work on this next week. This is the last song that we need to record and we're ahead of schedule so we're not in a hurry." AJ said quickly while Nick tried to suppress a laugh. Xanda elbowed Nick to be quiet as AJ looked between the two. "What's up?" He asked, specifically at Nick. "She's got you whooped!" Nick laughed before turning around to walk back into the studio.

***

"Yo Bri! Let's go!" Nick called out. "I have too much to finish. You go on ahead." Brian grumbled while rewinding something. "Man, we're ahead of schedule. Do this later." Nick complained. "She messed up everything!" Brian shouted. Nick looked at Brian with a shocked expression. "Where the hell did that come from?" Nick asked. Brian glanced up at Nick before looking back down while playing around with the console. "Xanda or Alexandra or whatever the hell her name is. She comes in here, starts shit with me, then AJ leaves with her. We got nothin' done today because of her!" Brian rambled on. Nick shrugged in response, not sure how to answer his friend. "She's not that bad, Bri. Just give her a chance. She's actually really cool and boy does she have AJ whooped. She even made AJ come back in here and..." "NICK! I don't want to hear it. Let's just drop it, okay?" Brian shouted. Nick nodded while he watched Brian stand up and stretch. "Let me grab my jacket and we'll leave." Brian sighed.

When the guys arrived at Brian's house they noticed AJ's car in Xanda's driveway. "I'll be back in a bit, Bri. I wanna go see Xand..." Brian gave Nick an annoyed look before walking into his house. Nick ran across Xanda's frontyard and up the front porch. "XANDA!" Nick shouted. "Ever heard of knocking? Or maybe you've heard about that invention called a doorbell." Xanda greeted as Nick walked past her into her house. "Nice dig." Nick commented, looking around the house. "Sure. Come in, Nick. Look around. Do what you will." Xanda mumbled sarcastically while Nick walked around the house. "Yo Nick! What are you doing here?" AJ asked as he walked into the living room without his shirt on. "Dracula's Daughter struck again, eh AJ?" Nick laughed as he pointed to AJ's chest. AJ looked down and smirked. "Mind your own business, Nick." Xanda snapped as she walked over to where AJ was standing. "Okay, let me get this straight. You two are sleeping together, right?" AJ groaned at Nick's question while Xanda stared at him in shock. "He has no shame, does he?" Xanda asked AJ, pretending Nick wasn't in the room while AJ shook his head no. "Not a bit." He replied. "No, seriously, AJ! No woman has even been able to whoop you in less than a week unless you're gettin' a piece of ass." Nick explained. "Nick, shouldn't you be at your friends house?" Xanda asked while pointing in the direction of Brian's house. Nick plopped himself down on Xanda's couch and grinned. "Nah, I'd rather have some answers. I mean, AJ's my bro and we look out for one another." Nick stated. Xanda sighed and sat down next to Nick. AJ walked across the living room and took a seat in the recliner. "Okay, why are you really here?" Xanda asked. Nick had a fake smile plastered on his face and it was obvious that something was bothering him. Nick shifted his weight awkwardly while AJ watched his every move. "Tell me about you two, first." Nick grinned. Again, Xanda noticed that it was fake. "Yes, we're sleeping together...as in the SAME BED. Nothing else. Not yet, anyway. Is that good enough for you?" Nick weighed her answer for a moment before nodding. "I guess. This is just weird. You don't know AJ like I do. He and I are exactly the same. When it comes to relationships and women, we're into that whole..." "Nick, shuddup! You've been talkin' too much!" AJ shouted. Nick quickly stopped talking and made a mental note to talk to AJ later. He knew that AJ and commitment went together like water and oil.

"So, why are you here?" AJ's question brought Nick out of his thoughts. "Oh right...that..." Nick mumbled. "Um, I kinda need advice. I can't go to Bri cause he's still going through some shit ever since Wendy fucked him over and Kevin. C'mon! Kevin would lecture me and Howie's never around." AJ sat up straight to listen to Nick better. "What is it, Nick?" AJ asked, semi-concerned. "Maybe I should leave you two alone." Xanda offered. Nick quickly placed his hand on top of hers. "No, I need a woman's point of view. And I need your advice, AJ, since we're both alike when it comes to this..." AJ nodded his head for Nick to go on as Nick took a deep breath. "I kinda cheated on Krista while we were on tour." AJ's eyes grew wide and Xanda exhaled deeply. "How many times while on tour, Nick?" He asked. AJ had hopes that Nick wouldn't follow in his footsteps by going from woman to woman, cheating on the ones who loved him the most. AJ had done that enough in his life and Nick had done it enough times to disappoint his friends and gain a reputation for himself when he was younger. Even since he had met Krista, he had done a complete 180. He loved her with all his heart and he did whatever he could to make her happy. But, the last tour had proven to be too much for him. Temptation was everywhere. "6 or 8, maybe 10 times." Nick mumbled. "Nick..." AJ sighed while shaking his head. Xanda noticed that Nick had his head down. It was obvious that he regretted what he had done but the fact remained, he had slept with at least 10 other women behind his girlfriends back...the woman he loved the most. The woman that made him happier than anything. Xanda placed her hand on top of Nick's and squeezed it softly. Nick looked up with sorrow in his eyes, unsure about what to do. "You have to tell her or the guilt will eat at you until it drives you insane." Xanda stated. AJ nodded his head in agreement. "Listen to the woman. She knows what she's talking about." Nick glared at AJ slightly. "AJ, you've done this WAY more than me. I admit, I like to sleep around but I've never hurt anyone that I've dated because of this. You have. MANY times, ya know. I'm asking for your advice. How did you get around it without them finding out?" AJ shook his head, unable to answer the question. "You're talkin to the wrong man. I did that for years but not anymore. I'm not gonna watch you do the same. I'm not gonna help you." AJ replied firmly. He glanced at Xanda to see her reaction but noticed nothing. She had her head down as she stared at her hand on top of Nick's.