Our �dates� usually involved me going to his hotel room or bus and hanging out or him coming to mine. We�d play video games, eat, just talk or make-out. To everyone on the tour it appeared we were back to being friends. We never stayed the night together so no eyebrows were raised. On the rare occasion that we went out it was usually as a group. Nick was always careful not to pay me too much attention. If he danced with me, he�d dance with every girl in our party. If he hugged me then someone else got a hug as well. I made sure I did the same. Sometimes it was hard keeping the affection to a minimum but somehow we managed.
�You know what?� Nick asked.
�No, but I know who and why,� I replied.
�Smart ass,� he said poking me in my side.
�You know you love my ass,� I replied with a grin.
�Like I was saying,� he said shooting me a �whatever� look. �You�re the only girlfriend I�ve had that actually likes playing video games with me and can go as long as I can.�
�And can beat you?�
�Yeah and can beat me, although, you didn�t hear me admit that.�
�That must make me special,� I said.
�Yeah it does,� he said. We were eating pizza in Nick�s room playing video games and talking. He was stretched across his bed feet to headboard while I sat cross-legged on the floor.
�So when are we going to tell people about us?� Nick asked.
�Are you trying to distract me from the game?�
�No seriously,� he said pausing the game. �When are we going to tell people about you and me.�
�See, that�s why I hate when you have controller number one.�
�Alexis� you�re trying to change the subject.�
�OK. I don�t know.�
�We have to tell someone sometime. It�s better to tell people than to have them find.�
�What are you going to do? Hold a press conference?� I asked looking up at him.
�No. . . I�d tell the guys and I wouldn�t have to dance with every girl in the building when we go out. We could hold hands in public and in interviews I won�t say I�m single, anymore. I can also do this in public,� he said before leaning down to nuzzle the side of my neck and nibble on my earlobe.
�All. . . very good points. I don�t know. . . I�m still not ready. I�m worried about what people are going to think about you dating me,� I replied with a smile.
�Didn�t I tell you not to worry about that? There are ways I can keep our relationship private and not be so secretive about us.�
�Yeah but-� I started. �I�m just not ready.�
�Ok, I can take a hint. It�s up to you, whenever you�re ready, I�m ready,� he said.
�Aaawww thank you. That�s so sweet. You get a kiss for that,� I said.
�No thank you, you have pizza breath,� he replied.
�Whatever, so do you.�
�Yeah but I didn�t have onions on my half.�
�Fine, I won�t kiss you then,� I said sounding hurt.
�Oh please, I was only kidding,� he said. �Come on lay one on me.�
�No, no that�s ok. I don�t want to kiss you anymore.�
�Aaaww did I hurt your feelings?� he asked sliding off the bed to sit next to me on the floor.
�Well no, I just wanted you to come closer so I could do this,� I said kissing him full on the mouth.
�Oh you know you�re going to get it, now,� he said.
I scrambled to my feet and made a run for the bathroom, Nick followed close behind. He caught me about my waist, picked me up and threw me over his shoulder. He proceeded to carry me back in the direction of the bed.
�Put me down!� I yelled smacking him on his butt.
�Oh someone wants to get frisky,� he laughed.
�No I don�t, put me down.�
�What?�
�Put me down!�
�I�m sorry, I didn�t hear you. What did you say?�
�I said, put-me-down!�
�Ok,� he replied before dropping me unceremoniously on the bed.
�Jerk,� I said.
�Whatever, you like it,� he said walking away. He stopped turned to face me and at a running start bounded on the bed.
�Aaahh! You�re such a nut,� I laughed.
That�s how most of our private dates went. We always managed to have a good time no matter how careful we had to be. Aside from the secretiveness, Nick being a celebrity and the fact that most of our dates took place on a moving bus in different cities I thought our relationship was pretty normal. We were in the early stages of a relationship when everything was new and beautiful. We were closer than ever and no one even suspected a thing was different.
I think being secretive about our relationship was starting to wear thin because eventually we got a little less guarded. At first we wouldn�t even sneak a small kiss when we thought no one was looking after a while that changed. Nick was becoming more vocal about us letting our relationship be known, as well. A few times we came close to an argument but Nick tended to give in. He knew how crazy the public could be for someone who wasn�t used to it. Our relationship remained a secret one and no one even suspected. As they say, �All good things must come to and end.�.
�You know I�ve been wanting to kiss you all day long,� Nick said.
�Really? Well believe me the feeling is mutual,� I replied with a sensual smile.
�Come here,� he said. It was the end of the show in Iowa. Nick and I were in the makeup room which was now empty. He sat in one of the makeup chairs and I went over and climbed onto his lap. Slowly our lips met in a sensual kiss.
We had started to meet like that for more than a week. Sneaking kisses in corners, make out sessions in empty rooms, secret looks from across crowded rooms it became a bit of an aphrodisiac. Somehow, we managed to keep our new relationship from anyone. After about two weeks, there wasn�t a single moment missed that we didn�t sneak a look, a touch or a kiss. Still, no one even suspected that things had changed between us. As they say, all good things must come to an end.
We were completely engrossed in each other, so much that neither of us heard the door open. I looked up and gasped causing Nick to look up at me then swivel the chair around to see what I was looking at. Zeke stood in the doorway looking mildly shocked.
�Damn. . . so it�s like that?� he asked. Neither of us answered and I don�t think he expected us to.
Shit! I thought. Zeke is going to tell someone about this for sure. Of all the people to catch us he is definitely the last person I would have liked it to be. I had to do something. . . . say something.
�Look Zeke,� I started climbing out of Nick�s lap. �Is there uuuhhh�. Is there anyway we could keep this between us. Nick and I aren�t ready to tell people about us, just yet.�
�Oh now, don�t worry about me. I ain�t gonna tell. Ya�ll do yo thing,� he replied turning to leave. I turned to face Nick.
�Well we have to tell someone now,� he said.
�No, I don�t think Zeke is going to tell anyone,� I replied.
�I�m not talking about Zeke. He was only the first to catch us eventually, someone else will and I doubt they�ll be as trustworthy as Zeke. We might as well stop hiding.�
�No.�
�No? Why not?�
�I�m not ready,� I said. He didn�t say anything for a minute. He just sat there staring at me like he was trying to figure me out.
�That�s it? You�re not ready? Look Alexis, I wish there was a way to prepare you for everything. There are no classes or books on how to be a popstars� girlfriend you�ll just have to wing it. . . . and trust me.�
�I can�t. . . I�m not ready. You have to understand,� I said.
�Wait a minute, did you just say you couldn�t trust me?�
�No, that�s not what I meant. I�m not ready to have my life on display.�
�Ok, fine. What about the fellas, can we tell them?�
�I. . . don�t know. It hasn�t been that long since. . .�
�Ok Alexis, say no more. We just won�t tell anyone. We�ll keep hiding it until the tour is over or until you�re ready, whichever comes first. Why don�t you let me know when that happens,� he said then he got up stepped around me and left the room.
I sat in the seat that Nick vacated. At first I was angry, How dare he issue ultimatums to me? Who does he think he is? After I sat there for a little while I began to see Nick�s side. He was just tired of the lying and the sneaking around. I�m just being silly. After sitting there for about five minutes more, I felt like a heel. Nick was being hugely accommodating where my anxiety was concerned. He was right, after all. We couldn�t go on hiding forever. The next time we could get caught by a paparazzi and that would be worse.
Nick rode on my bus back to the hotel but he wouldn�t come near me. He stayed at the front talking to some of the dancers and completely ignoring me. I was getting his message loud and clear. I climbed into my bunk to get away from all of them. I had to figure out a way to show Nick that I wasn�t afraid and more importantly, that I could trust him.
I pulled out a copy of the itinerary and I saw that the next city was Las Vegas. That would be the perfect place to take a chance, I thought.
�Luck be a lady,� I said to myself.
