�What ya looking for Nick?� Kevin asked.
�Oh nothing� he lied. He was looking for something alright, he was looking for her. What was taking her so long? She was early for work, what she couldn�t be early for this either? Maybe he was wrong; maybe she wasn�t coming at all. But going back into his Nick Carter ways he knew for a fact that he was never wrong. She was coming alright, it just took awhile. Tapping his foot against the tile flooring, his eyes were removed from the front door to the clock that now read 8:25. �Where in the fuck are you Tina?� he said to himself.
�Excuse me but you can�t come through.�
�Why not? This is gate 41. I have a flight here.�
�Well at the moment no one is allowed through, this is strictly prohibited.�
�What?!� What kind of shit had Nick gotten her into? After finally making the decision of joining him on the road she packed as much clothing as she could and made it to the airport only to be told the gate that she was supposed to wait was prohibited? Prohibited? What?! Hearing the commotion, some of the members turned to face the situation going on with their security. Probably another excited fan trying to get through.
�What�s going on back there?� Nick asked.
�Someone trying to get through.� That had to be her! Popping out of his chair he made his way towards Marcus one of their many security guards to the front.
�Yo yo, NC step it back some we don�t know who this person is,� Rob another guard warned.
�I know who it is.�
�NC--�
�Don�t question me,� he snapped. Making his way further in, there she stood with a big colorful duffle bag arguing with one of their guards two times bigger than her. So she didn�t back down huh? He liked that. �Yo she�s cool,� he announced. Nick basically pushed his guard aside to make way for Tina.
�Am I not supposed to be here or something because I really don�t need no guff from Miami Vice here.�
�Yeah you�re cool,� he smiled, �Come on.� As Tina made her way through
Nick turned around to face Marcus, shaking his head in fury. He was really gonna hear it tonight on that incident. �I�m glad you made it.�
�I hope I�m glad I made it to.�
�What�s that supposed to mean?�
�I�m just hoping that perhaps this is the right decision. If you prove me wrong I�m gonna kick you in the balls.�
�Well then you�ll never regret that decision. Gotta protect the goods you know.� Together they walked through the crowd of the Backstreet entourage all eyes fell on Nick and Tina as they made their way towards them.
�Oh shit,� Kevin said to himself.
�Hey guys there�s someone I want to introduce you to.� Howie and Kevin already knew her, A.J. and Brian hadn�t. �This is my new assistant Tina. Tina, this is Howie, Brian, Kevin and A.J.�
�Nice to meet you all� she smiled. No one said anything, just stared as if she had 4 purple heads and a penis on her face. Their silence made her more than uncomfortable.
�What in the fuck are you doing?!� A.J. growled. Nothing like that being the first thing to say after being introduced right? Before Tina knew it, Howie grabbed her hand and pulled her closer to him and further away from Nick�s side.
�Stay closer to me ok?� That comment there made her nervous. A.J�s outburst and Howie�s warning unsettled her. Was it too late to turn around and run out of there? Kevin and Brian did their best to break up the spat that brewed amongst the singers. This was not the place; nor the time to argue in such fashion. So with a little bit of goading and annoyance (much on Brian�s part) the two simmered down. All the while Howie and Tina stood off to the side, still hand and hand watching the approaching boxing match cool.
�Where�s Tina?� Nick called out. Looking over to Howie first, his eyes looked as if they pleaded with her not to say anything but it wasn�t like she could just run off somewhere and hide. She was right there in a bright red and tan halter top, far from invisible.
�Right here� she spoke up. Nick marched over to Tina who was standing beside Howie. As angry as he was he could�ve knocked Howie out. He saw his little game plan and that shit so wasn�t going to work.
�You can let go of her fucking hand Howard, she�s not a fucking child.�
Dropping her hand, Howie let go of Tina�s hand and walked away.
�What in the world is going on with you two?� she asked.
�Nothing.�
�Its more than nothing.�
�He�s just jealous because he didn�t do shit with that Johnny No Name garbage,� he sneered, saying it loud enough for A.J. to hear. Oooh, drama within the band. Something she noted right off the bat that she wasn�t going to be a part of. �Look, don�t worry about him, he�s small potatoes, the plane should be loading up soon. Let�s go.� Grabbing her hand, Nick led Tina far away from the rest of the band so they could no longer impose their influence upon her. From that little incident there it made him note to not let her stay too long around any of them. They�d probably run his name in the mud and since they were still on shaky ground she�d more than likely believe them. Just as he thought, the plane boarded up fast. With much convincing A.J. traded seats with Kevin sitting nowhere close to Nick.
�Nick just let me tell you before all of this starts ok?� Nick closed his magazine and gave his full attention to Tina. �Don�t put me in the middle of ya�ll shit ok? Whatever is going on between you and A.J stays between you and A.J. I don�t know either of you yet and even if I did I�m not going to pick sides. Never have in a situation like that, never will.� Tina�s words proved true then but down the road she was gonna have to eat �em.
�Definitely, definitely. I�m sorry you had to see that.�
�Yeah whatever.� Kevin sat back and listened to the conversation the two shared. Leaning over to Brian, he whispered what the two conversed about. Brian shook his head at Nick�s response. He was deluding her!
�Sorry that she�s seen that? Is he serious? That girls gonna see a hell of a lot worse than a simple fight if she sticks around.�
^*^
�That�s funny.�
�Its not funny.�
�Is to.�
�Is not.�
�Is to.�
�Is not.�
�Is to.�
�Is--are we gonna have this argument all night?�
�I could go for some but then again I wouldn�t be able to retrieve your bubble gum scented shampoo� she giggled.
�Its not funny, its volumizing.� It wasn�t funny at all. What was so wrong with liking shampoo that smelt great? Plus it was volumizing!
�Yeah whatever, is that it?� Tina looked over the list of things Nick had given her to do for the night. First she had to go down to the mall to pick up some custom made St. John loafers her ordered for his mother ahead of time, tie up some loose ends with the radio station he was having an interview with that next morning, reservations at Le Marto�s in their next stop San Diego and above all a stop at Larena�s salon for some bubble gum scented shampoo he always got made whenever he came to town.
�That�s it, when you make it back here your pass should be on the bed.
If not just grab one from Toby.�
�Alright, well I�ll see you around then.�
�Later gator.� Tina grabbed her suede Gap bag and headed out of the
spacious hotel room. Hopping into the elevator, a voice called out for her to hold the door. Catching the door, to her surprise A.J. jumped inside. It wasn�t really like she didn�t want to get to know the rest of the band because she was going to spend the next 4 months with them but there was just something about him that made her disconcerted. When they first met early that morning he didn�t even say hi, instead screamed: What the fuck are you doing? Let me just say this much, first impressions are a mother. Both stood on opposite sides of the elevator, A.J. on the right, Tina on the left. They would be on the damn 12th floor. Tina�s two brown eyes remained on the colored lights of the buttons as they went down each floor. Anything that could help maintain contact away from A.J. who was making it more than apparent that he was staring right at her. He was staring at her for a reason. What was Nick�s purpose�? She was his type, so that wasn�t a question but other than that exactly what? She didn�t look like a ho or anything but sometimes it is the ones you least suspected. No�no she wasn�t that. Still..
�You know you so don�t have to stare at me like I�m some caged circus animal.�
�What are you doing here? Really?�
�I�m going to be Nick�s assistant for this tour.� A.J.�s laughter confused her.
�Honey if that�s what you think you�re here for you�re sadly mistaken.�
Just as she was about to open her mouth to reply the doors opened to the lobby. Literally she was dying on the inside to say something to him but felt intimidated. Something about A.J.�s stance made her back down this time--this time only. A.J. waited for Tina to leave before pulling out his cell phone to call her. �Paula�what are you doing? So you are still with him? Did you know--you do? And you don�t care? Alright then fine.� A.J. hung up his phone from Paula. If she was comfortable with this then fine he�d leave it on her part. But that still made him wonder about what Nick was up to.
^*^
�Here they are� Tina pulled out the gift wrapped bag of shoes and passed them over to Nick who carefully inspected them.
�And the shampoo?�
�Here�s your precious shampoo along with some peppermint knee cream.�
�Peppermint knee cream?�
�Don�t act like you didn�t order it.� Well no point of pretending then.
Ashy knees were a bitch especially with all those floor movements they did.
�Um yeah�just keep it low key alright?�
�Yeah yeah.� Tina�s eyes slowly rolled over to her left where their attentive audience watched on in silence at the two interacting with each other. That made Tina uncomfortable, that in fact would make anyone uncomfortable. �Um�is there anyway we can um go out to the hall?� she whispered. They still heard her.
�Yeah, sure come on.� Nick grabbed Tina�s hand and carried her out to the semi-empty hall to chat. He knew why she wanted out. They were so gonna pay for that. �What�s up?�
�Nick why are your friends acting this way? I mean there has to be a reason they�re all staring at me like I�m some extraterrestrial and if you don�t tell me now I swear I�ll not only give you a swift kick but I�ll make it so that I�ll kick you so hard you can�t have children.� Oh like he was really gonna fess up to that. Granted she had a right to know why they were all looking at her but that didn�t mean he was gonna tell.
�I�ll tell you on one condition.�
�Ok.�
�The reason they�re looking at me is because I told them something stupid.�
�Like?� Tina�s arms were folded in defense. If he was to say something out of turn she was gonna so get that foot ready.
�That I thought you were wife material.� Tina�s arms slowly dropped to her sides. From one day he thought she was wife material? Aw! What girl didn�t want to hear that? But then again was this some kind of line he was just throwing out there to get on her good side? Nonetheless it still made her feel good, so she took it as a compliment. I mean that had to be the reason they were looking at her funny right?
�Well that saved your balls then--you think I�m wife material? You barely know me.�
�From what I know of you, you are. But I don�t know you could prove me wrong later down the line.� Playfully, Tina smacked Nick in the arm. Maybe he wasn�t such a horndog after all.
�Yeah yeah, so what are you guys about to do now?�
�I don�t know about them but I�m beat. They�re probably gonna go out to some after parties, I just wanna hit the hay.�
�Cool cool, well I�m about to head to the bus so��
�I�ll walk with you, just let me get my jacket.�
�Ok.� Nick walked around Tina back into the room where the remaining men suddenly grew silent upon sight. Apparently he had lied because if he hadn�t they would�ve heard a lot of screaming and yelling. Instead Nick walked back in as if he had the world in the palm of his hand, which in all honesty he almost did. Plainly strutting over to his jacket, Nick grabbed his red and white mock varsity jacket and threw it over his shoulder.
�Nice try guys� he smiled, �just stop while you�re ahead of yourselves ok?�
^*^
Walking into the tour bus, pretty much exhausted Nick still had a little go in him. He could�ve accompanied the rest of the guys to the club but he opted rather to save up the little energy he had left for LA. LA was gonna be bananas. While Nick thought of all the things to do in the city of Angels, Tina changed in the bus bathroom. For her first day she never knew how much running around one personal assistant could do but hey with the money she was getting for that she�d do a back flip. First she�d have to learn how to do a back flip.
�Tina, are you done in there?� Wiping the dripping lukewarm water with a white towel, Tina poked her head out of the bathroom door.
�Gotta take a whiz?�
�More like a dunk.�
�Ew!�
�I�m just kidding� he laughed, �just wanted to talk to you for a minute.�
�Alright.� What in the world did he want to talk about? Tina straightened herself out, applying her moisturizer while walking back into the main room where Nick was waiting. While she was in the bathroom he changed out of his attire into what he probably considered night clothes. Until that moment, Tina hadn�t factored in on how hot Nick was. That damn white tee shirt clung to his muscular upper torso so strategically that she wondered if he wore it just to impress her. If so he was doing a good job. �You�ve summoned me?�
�Come with me.� Oh she could come with him--whoa that was wrong.
Shaking that out of her mind was a must. Then again if she wanted Nick she could have him. He was the one who approached her, all she had to do was simply thro-- �Tina, you ok?� he asked pulling her away from her erotic thoughts she knew she wasn�t supposed to be having.
�Uh yeah�brain fart.� Nick grabbed for Tina�s tiny hand and led her to the middle of the room. Jumping a few feet from the floor, Nick grabbed hold of a ladder and pulled it down closer to the two of them. �Nick, where exactly are we going?�
�Upstairs.�
�Upstairs�on a bus?�
�On a bus, now up and at them. Ladies first.�
�Why me first?! You�re the one who knows that ladder better than I do.�
�You go first so in case you fall, I�ll catch you.� Red began to fill Tina�s cheeks. How adorable! Not saying anymore, Tina climbed up the thin black rail that led her up to the roof of the tar black tour bus that planned to take them cross country. Nick soon followed behind her to the top. Carefully he moved her along closer to the edge of the bus so they could sit more comfortably. The Phoenix air was more than humid earlier that day but that night it was much more comfortable. Still hot but not sickening hot. The midnight sky above them was crystal clear, displaying each and every shiny star.
�What a beautiful night� she sighed.
�Yeah it is.� For awhile there the only sound being made was the sound of crickets before anyone said a word.
�This is just ludicrous, just the other day I was working at a coffee shop walking in the slushy rain and now? Now I�m in Phoenix sitting on top of a tour bus. Isn�t this the stuff that only happens in t.v. or something?�
�Sometimes it happens in real life.�
�Yeah to other people, but me? Why me?�
�Why you? I don�t know, I mean you knew why I came up to you but after we left--I don�t know. I saw a girl who needed a chance. We got a chance to make music when no one else wanted to do such. It was the least I could do to help someone who could use it.� Tina tried as hard as she could to stare up at the stars that were just amazing but couldn�t help but turn towards the man who was focusing all his attention on her instead. His blue eyes were like magnets, drawing her like a vacuum. She couldn�t help but turn her head. In the moment they remained looking into each others eyes. Had she not realized how beautiful his eyes were?
Jeez those eyes were captivating. As if God himself reached in the bluest ocean and created two eyes just for Nick and Nick only. Inch by inch Nick moved closer to Tina. She hadn�t even realized she wasn�t breathing until his lips grazed gently across hers. Tina�s eyes slowly opened when she had yet to feel his lips. �We�re gonna be in LA tomorrow. I was thinking maybe we could get up early and have ourselves a day, just the two of us. A little bit of breakfast, some shopping, clubbing? Sounds good?� Normally if anyone else was to say that it�d just be taken as an invitation for a day of fun but the rasp in his voice made it sound much more seductive than what it should�ve been.
�Yeah sure� she squeaked. �Uh�well I better get some sleep.�
�Yeah.� Without waiting for Nick to assist her, Tina got up from the roof and moved down the ladder as if her feet were on fire. What the hell just happened up there? And why didn�t he kiss her?! Ugh dammit! Tina jumped under the covers scolding herself for letting Nick G. Carter get beside her. But that�s what the plan was of course. Nick knew exactly what he was doing and all it took was one night under the stars to get her riled up.
^*^
A.J. looked over to the screeching alarm clock that read 7:02 am. In a half an hour there was a meeting called by Johnny at the last minute, something about a few more stops on the tour that he wanted to run through the guys first. After a relaxing shower he reluctantly pulled himself from, A.J. dressed and met up with Kevin down in the main lobby.
Figures Kevin would be the first one down there. If it wasn't Kevin, then it'd be A.J.
"Good morning bro" A.J. smiled.
"Hey hey."
"Any of the others coming along?" A.J. asked before plopping down on the tan leather chair.
"I know Howie's on his way down, Brian shouldn't be too long. You know he and Nick are the hardest to wake in the morning."
"Speaking of which, what is going on in that boys mind? Inviting that girl here with him. He barely knew her and vice versa."
"Alex my friend, I gave up a long time ago trying to figure out Nick. He�s too fucking impulsive for me. There's a reason why she's here besides his 'assistant' whatever that shit is all about it. We'll just have to wait it out in due time I suppose." That was the problem; waiting out anything on Nick's behalf was like waiting for a firecracker to explode...while it�s under your tongue. Just as Kevin said Howie came along a few minutes later. Of course no Nick. The time passed while each member waited along for him. Minute after minute grew closer to the time that they needed to be on their way to Johnny's makeshift office still there was no Nick.
"Call his phone." A.J tried Nick's cell, hotel number and two-way, nothing. Howie came back down later to inform them all that after a series of serious bangs on his door he had yet to retrieve a zombie like Nick.
Instantaneously it was like a light bulb shined on above each one of their heads. "Call Tina's phone." Tina looked over at her phone that vibrated against the IHOP table. Before she could see who it was Nick snatched it away from her possession.
"Hey!"
"Don't answer that."
"Why?"
"Its the guys."
"And I'm not answering it because...?"
"They probably want to work."
"Yeah cuz working is such a bad idea, wait no its not--WHEN YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING IT!"
"See I knew there was a good reason why I hired you, very responsible.
Don't answer it." The phone continued to ring as Nick took a bite out of his cherry pancakes as if nothing was going on. Desperately Tina wanted to cease the vibration of her phone that was irritating her more than she could ever imagine, though she held back due to Nick's request. It was Nick, not the guys who signed her checks. And even though work meant money surely Nick had enough in his bank account to pay her for her services if you wanna call it that without lifting a finger. Finally the phone stopped, causing her to blow a sigh of relief. "All they wanna do is ruin our day. I promised you I'd show you around LA, do a little splurging, the whole nine yards and we're just gonna do that. All they wanna do is those same stupid ass dance moves over and over again. I got them down pact; I could do them in my sleep."
"Look Nick I really appreciate you not wanting to renege on our plans, but if they need you they need you. Its not gonna kill me to run errands while you dance it up with the guys."
"No I told you I was gonna do something and I'm gonna do just that.
That is unless you don't want to and you're just stringing me along..."
"HA!" she laughed, "stringing you along, funny. Fine you've got your date today then but if any of those guys come to me with lip, I'm putting it all on you."
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
