What You Need - by Lyric

Felicity Fiction

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�No I don�t have a problem with it. As a matter of fact, I�m glad you�re sharing his suite.�

�You are?�

�It saves money. Not to mention, it will help keep him focused. I have to be honest, I�m glad Tony and Mike aren�t coming back out with him.�

�Roger,� chided Abe.

�Mike�s a good guy and Tony is�Tony,� chuckled Roger. �But they both have a tendency to egg Nick on when he�s doing things he shouldn�t. This way, he will be less inclined to go partying every night and with you in the room he won�t be bringing the party inside as much.�

�True.�

�Cancel your room when we get to the hotel.�

Abe went back to her seat next to Nick. They were mid-flight from LA to Vancouver, where the next leg of the tour was set to begin in three days. The crew, trucks and buses had arrived the day before and the crew was currently setting up the stage in the General Motors Centre. Backstreet had the night off, but would be at the Arena by 8:00 the following morning for a day of clean up rehearsals.

�What�d he say,� asked Nick.

�He was fine with it. I�m canceling my room when we get there.�

Nick leaned over and dropped a kiss just below her ear lobe, then whispered, �told ya so.�

�Nick,� she admonished in a hushed tone while looking around. �Someone might see.�

�No one�s paying attention Bella.�

�Abe,� she corrected, giving him a pointed look.

�Abe,� he corrected, before a smirk played with his lips. �Can�t wait to get to the suite.�

She made a face at him and placed her earphones on. Watching the in-flight movie, she pretended to ignore him the rest of the flight. Unfortunately, she was very aware of the man sitting beside her. How could she not be? While she was up talking to Roger, Nick had lifted the armrest between their two seats, now he was pressed against her from hip to knee. Her foot was bouncing against the floor. She jumped when Nick placed his hand lightly on her knee to still her leg. He grinned when he saw her blushing. She reached over and poked him in the side causing him to chuckle. She glared at him. He took her hand and she squeezed his fingers.

Through clenched teeth, she asked, �Do you want me to move?�

�Then stop acting this way.�

�Alright! Geesh,� he replied, hurt evident in his voice and on his face.

Signaling to a flight attendant, Nick asked for a blanket and pillow. Once they were delivered, he turned away from Abe, ignoring her until he fell asleep. She hated hurting his feelings, but this conversation required privacy. Thousands of feet in the air on a plane, surrounded by people who were going to be all up in your business in the coming months, was anything but private. No this had to wait until they were in the suite.

�I didn�t get to say hi to either of you before the flight,� stated Kevin, taking a seat in the van next to Abe. �How are you?�

Nick and Abe�s answers were in unison. �Fine.�

Kevin studied them for a moment. �How was Turkey Day?�

�Fine.� Again they answered at the same time.

�Okay,� replied Kevin, puzzled by their behavior.

�How was your holiday,� asked Abe.

�It was good. I ate too much. I�m going to pay for it in the morning,� he said, patting his stomach.

They lapsed into silence. Kevin knew enough to back off. Whatever was going on between his two younger friends would work itself out. He would allow nature to take its course, so long as nature's course had things worked out by the time they loaded up for the arena in the morning.

Arriving at the hotel, they saw fans lined up. They also saw Carlos and Pat with hotel security in tow. Kevin hoped out first. While they waited for him to get inside, Abe turned to Nick.

�Should I keep my room?�

�Do you want to keep your room,� asked Nick in a sullen tone.

�Then no.�

�Fine.�

�Fine.�

�Folks, we�re ready,� stated Pat. �I checked us in, so head straight for the elevators.�

�Pat, do you have my room key?�

�Sure do. Here.�

�Thanks. Take Nick up. I will come up in a minute.�

�Okay.�

Abe disappeared inside, while Nick stopped for the fans.

Once, safely on the elevator, Pat asked, �How was your break?�

�All right," replied Nick. His head down and shoulders slumped.

�That good,� quipped Pat.

�Yeah.�

�Peachy.�

They had reached the room. Pat opened the door and led the way in. Checking the room, he returned as someone knocked. It was Abe with bags in tow.

�Something wrong with your room?�

�No. I�m sharing the suite with Nick.�

�I see. Nick if you don�t need me for a few, I�d like to go over and settle in.�

�Fine.�

�Ahhhh! To be back on the road,� joked Pat as he left.

Abe watched Nick channel surf. He settled on Sports Center. She decided to give him some space and headed for her room. Hearing the remote slam down on the coffee table stopped her in her tracks.

�Okay. I get it, you don�t need space.�

Standing to face her, he exclaimed, �don�t let me stop you. Run to your fuckin� room!�

�Nick don�t be��

He interrupted, �don�t worry I won�t fuckin� touch you.�

�Hey! Do you want to piss me off or do you want to talk?�

�Piss you off? I thought I already did that when I touched you on the plane.�

They were at a standoff. Abe could see the anger radiating off Nick. She knew he was very close to snapping, but she also knew it was because she hurt him. She closed the distance between them. Once they were toe to toe, she made no attempts to touch him. He was breathing hard, but she could see the surprise in his eyes.

�I�m sorry I hurt you.�

�Who says you hurt me?�

Ignoring his question, she said, �We need to talk about what is going on.�

�Oh fuck!�

�What?�

�You said the we need to talk line.�

�Will you please sit down and talk with me,� she asked in exasperation.

Pouting, he relented, �yeah.�

After they were situated on the couch, Abe tried again. �Nick, I don�t think you took me seriously when I said at your house that we had to be careful. I can�t afford to lose this job. Not to mention all the hassles us doing this will cause you.�

�We haven�t done anything!�

�Yes we have. We�ve admit we care about each other and we want to explore this.�

�Don�t talk to me like some kind of therapist. You like me. I like you. We want to be together. End of story.�

�Problem is if we get caught it will be the end of story.�

�No it won�t.�

�Nick, my contract��

�Fuck your contract.�

�I�m glad you can be so glib about my career.�

�Abe, you don�t have to work.�

�Damn it Nick! I love working. I love being around all of this. Not the five-star hotels and all that crap, but the actual shows and the crew. Just the life and I�m damn good at what I do.�

�I know.�

�Then you gotta understand that I don�t want to jeopardize it.�

�So you�re choosing your job over me.�

�No. Nick, we are just starting whatever this is. You know as well as I do how hard it is to have a relationship. Add to that the fact that I�ve never been in a relationship and well it will just make it that much harder. Can we take it slow? Let me adjust? I want us to have the best chance at this thing working out.�

�Me too,� he agreed, blowing out air. �So no datie kind of stuff outside like this space.�

�Datie? Is that even a word,� she chuckled.

�You know what I mean.�

�Yes I do. And you�re correct, no datie stuff outside of private space.�

�Gotcha.�

Nick reached out and pulled her closer to him.

�What are you doing?�

�Private space equals private time,� he replied, nuzzling her neck.

�Oh,� she sighed.

Relaxing into his arms, Abe�s mind turned off. Unfortunately, private time was soon interrupted by a knock on the door. Nick grumbled and Abe laughed as she opened the door to reveal AJ and Marcus.

�What up hot stuff! What�s on the agenda for tonight?�

"AJ, I agreed to dinner."

"Yes Abe, you did and we had dinner."

"So time to go home."

"Nick, buddy, help me out here."

"You're one your own dude," replied Nick with a laugh.

"Thanks. Come on Abe. Nick said he would go and we are right here," he pleaded, pointing at the club outside the van.

"How con-veen-yant," quipped Abe. "AJ, you have an 8:00 am rehearsal."

He retorted, "exactly! A rehearsal that will go until late tomorrow night and start again same time the next day. Then we do press and the concert the next day. We'll be too tired to go dancin'."

"Weak argument. We're going to the hotel."

AJ put his fingers in his hears and started singing. "Lalalalalalala! I can't hear you Anna Bella�Ow! Why'd ya hit me?"

"For calling me that, Alexander James."

"That's it! Marcus park. We're goin' dancin'."

"It's the price you pay for hitting your employer."

"Bite me�Ow!"

"Always knew you were tasty. Now get yer ass out of the van." AJ cackle cut through the night as he hopped out.

"Pat can take you back to the hotel and we can catch a cab," offered Marcus, sticking his head back inside the van.

"No. We're here. Let's go in Abe. Come on, it'll be fun."

Shaking her head, Abe got out of the van.

"I give up! But I don't want to hear either one of you complain tomorrow about being tired."

"We won't Mom," replied AJ, hugging her.

Abe found herself sandwiched between AJ and Nick as they entered the crowded club. She jumped slightly, when she felt Nick's lips against her ear.

"I finally get my dance."

Before what he said could register, AJ was leading her to the to the VIP area. A waitress led them to a booth, really it was "the booth", because of location. It was strategically placed to allow for the optimal privacy from those not in VIP. After the waitress disappeared with drink orders, Abe pulled AJ close to insure his attention.

"This was not spur of the moment."

"Abe I don't know what you're talking about," replied AJ, batting his eyelashes in attempt to look innocent.

Arching an eyebrow, Abe stated, "Save it. They knew we were coming and held this table open. Not to mention the smooth entrance and waitress waiting."

"Damn," he muttered, but couldn't hide his smirk.

Kissing him the cheek, Abe said, "It's all right, but you realize you won't be able to pull this again."

"I know. Now come dance with me. Nicky, we'll be back."

Nick nursed his drink and waited for them to return. After four songs, he counted, they returned to the table laughing. Sitting down, Abe took a long drink from her water. Nick watched her swallow. He swallowed when he saw the pink tip of her tongue appear to catch a drop of water on her bottom lip as she pulled the bottle from her mouth. She smiled at him and he felt the goofy grin start. She looked so alive with her flushed skin and dancing eyes.

"Damn! You worked me hard. I need more water," declared AJ, thumping his empty bottle on the table.

"How will you ever make it through rehearsals tomorrow if you are already whipped," teased Pat.

"That's my bodyguard," hooted Nick, slapping palms with the older man.

Marcus and Abe laughed.

"I'll be just fine. Abe ready to go back out," asked AJ, taking the comment as a challenge.

"Well dang it. Who am I gonna dance with," he asked loudly.

"I'll dance with you, AJ," answered a girl, who had been lingering near the table with a friend hoping for an opening.

"What's your name darlin'," asked AJ, getting up from the table.

"Great name. Shall we, Olivia," he asked offering his arm.

"Sure. Rachael hold my purse."

Rachael looked lost with her friend gone.

Nick motioned to the booth and said, "would you like to sit with us until they get back?"

"You sure?"

"Yes," assured Nick with a smile.

Scooting into the booth, she said, "I'm Rachel."

"Hi Rachael. I'm Nick."

Giggling, she said, "I know."

"I see. Well this is Abe, Marcus and Pat."

They all greeted the young woman. As they talked, Rachael kept trying to see the dance floor. One thing for sure, she wasn't a Nick girl. She talked to all of them, but didn�t make a move on him.

After a few songs, Nick asked Abe to dance. They passed AJ and Olivia on their way to the dance floor. AJ spun Abe around, which allowed her to say something discreetly to him.

Finding a spot on the dance floor, Nick leaned down and asked, "What did you say to AJ?"

"I think Rachael is an AJ girl and suggested he might like dancing with her too."

"Look at you Miss Matchmaker."

"No. I just think she should get to dance with him."

"I'm just glad I get to dance with you."

"Me too," she replied, her face lighting up with a smile.

Soon, AJ and Rachael were dancing beside them. After a few songs, Rachael laughed with Abe as they watched their dance partners shake what their Mamas gave 'em. The moment was interrupted when Olivia appeared on the dance floor and informed Rachael it was time to go. Nick and Abe said goodbye on the dance floor, while AJ went with them back to the booth to collect Rachael's things.

After saying goodbye to the girls, AJ joined Marcus and Pat at the railing overlooking the dance floor. He took the bottled water offered to him by their waitress. The music had slowed. His eyes moved over the dance floor as he drank and came to rest on Abe and Nick. He felt slightly voyeuristic while watching his friends, because it was obvious they were lost in the moment.

Abe was smiling up at Nick and he returned the smile. Caressing his cheek, Abe allowed him to pull her closer. She rested her head against his chest. Her arms wrapped around his neck. Nick rested his cheek on top of her head. They swayed more than danced.

�They don�t realize how it looks,� comment Marcus, on one side of AJ.

From the other side, Pat said, �No they don�t.�

�And we see nothing,� stated AJ and the others agreed.

The song ended and the couple made their way off the dance floor to find the three men sitting in the booth.

�Can we go home now,� asked Abe.

�Yes whiney ass we can go home,� teased AJ.

�Goody!�

�I�ve got to close out my tab,� comment Nick.

�Done,� replied AJ.

�Thanks man. Next time it�s on me.�

�Damn right!�

Abe invited AJ to watch a movie, but he declined and they all said their goodnights on the elevator. Pat said goodnight after checking the suite. Once alone, Abe and Nick looked at each other and, as if on cue, yawned.

�Yeah that about says it all right there,� giggled Abe.

�Yeah. Well let me walk you to your door,� stated Nick, taking her hand.

Stopping in front of the door to her room, Abe said, �here we are.�

�Here we are.�

�I had a good time tonight.�

�Me too.�

�Nick?�

�Yeah?�

�This feels really dorkie.�

Laughing, he said, �I know, but that�s okay, cause sometimes we�re dorkie.�

�True.�

�Thanks for the dance Bella.�

�You�re welcome Nicky.�

�I guess I should go.�

�I guess so.�

Nick played with her fingers for a minute. He couldn�t believe he was so nervous. Hell anyone else would be in his room, clothes off and on his bed with him in them by this time. Placing Abe in the little scene in his head caused that familiar tightening in his body. He was so into his little fantasy that he almost missed it when Abe brushed her lips against his.

�Do that again,� he whispered.

Again, she tipped up on her toes and barely brushed her lips against his. Letting go of her hand, he used his body to pin her against the closed door to her room. His hands tangled in her hair as his mouth crashed down on hers. Her arms slid around his waist to pull him closer. Her mouth welcomed his tongue. She felt his hardness pressed against her and it woke a need in her she had never experienced before. Their position sifted and she felt Nick�s knee slip between her thighs. She moaned as her hips moved against it. He felt her movement and pressed himself against her even more, a groan coming from deep in his throat. Abe felt one of his hands leave her hair and slide down to cup her breast. Suddenly, reality came slamming back to her.

Breaking the kiss, she gasped, �Nick, stop.�

Groaning, Nick�s head dropped to her shoulder. �Okay.�

They clung to each other for a few moments trying to gain control of their bodies.

�Nick,� whispered Abe.

�What?�

�Are you mad at me?�

�What,� he asked, alarm in his blue eyes when he looked at her.

�Because I made us stop.�

�Well I�ll be honest with ya. It is hard stopping, but you�re right. We got time,� he said, kissing her lightly.

�Yeah we do.�

�Well I�m going to take a cold shower,� he joked.

�I�m sorry,� she said, her cheeks coloring.

�Don�t be. You are the best reason I�ve ever had to take a cold shower.�

�You are too,� she said, opening the bedroom door.

�Night Bella.�

�Night Nicky,� she said, stepping inside and closing the door.

Nick rested his head quietly against the door. In a moment, he heard her shower turn on, followed by a very distinct �BRRR�. A smile a mile wide spread across his face as he sauntered straight into his own shower.

"What You Need" is a work of fiction.
The characters and events portrayed are fictitious,
and any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental.

Used with Permission
Copyright ©2002
All Rights Reserved
No part of this text may be copied or reprinted
without the author's permission.

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