What You Need - by Lyric

Felicity Fiction

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�Come on Bella.�

�No Nick!�

�Why not?�

�Because you�re Nick Carter.�

�Fine,� he said, storming into the bedroom.

�Nick.�

�Go away.�

�You know I�m right,� stated Abe, sitting beside him on the bed.

�All I want to do is go see a fuckin� movie with my girl.�

�We can.�

�No! I want us to go alone.�

Brushing his hair off his forehead, Abe said, �I know you do.�

�Then let�s do it. Come on Bella. I know you can figure out a way to get us out of here. You did the last time.�

�Nick, we just went to the drugstore and it was in Eugene Oregon. This is LA and with the AMA�s going on, they are looking for you.�

�Please. Let�s be normal.�

His eyes were pleading as much as his voice.

�You don�t fight fair.�

�Bella.�

Rolling her eyes, she relented, �We can try, but if we get caught��

�We won�t,� he replied, grinning from ear to ear.

Staying at the Chateau Marmont made sneaking away easier, because the place was famous for all its different entrances. Once on the street, catching a cab was a snap. They were both surprised with how easy it was and more than a little giddy. It was the first time they had been out in public completely alone. Nick was right, it was different. It felt like the relationship was more official.

Nick paid the driver, while Abe got the tickets. He insisted they get popcorn and drinks. Soon enough they were ensconced in the back row of the theater. It was a weekday and they had the theater to themselves. Playing the on screen trivia waiting for the movie to start, Nick learned his girlfriend was very good at movie trivia. She explained cable and no love life allowed her to watch a lot of movies.

�From now on we can watch movies together,� he said, kissing her temple.

She snuggled closer and sighed. �Sounds like a plan.�

�Speaking of plans, we only have a month left on tour. What do you want to do when it�s done?�

�I promised Dad I would come home for two weeks. You got any plans?�

�Nope.�

They were quiet for a moment.

Not taking her eyes off the screen, Abe asked, �What do you think about coming home with me?�

�You want me too?�

�You wouldn�t have to stay the whole time.�

�Yes, I want to go home with you.�

�Really,� she asked, finally looking at him as the house lights went down.

�Really. Now Sh! The movie�s startin�.�

They watched the previews and reminders about talking and cell phones. Nick pulled out his phone and turned it off.

�Is yours off,� he whispered.

�No,� she whispered back.

�You better turn it off.�

�What if��

�Bella, no one is going to need us in the next two hours.�

�I don�t know Nick.�

�Come on Bella, like normal people.�

Sighing, she said, �okay.�

She pulled her phone out and turned it off. Nick pushed up the armrest between them, while she slid the phone back into her pocket. Pulling her close, they settled in and began watching the movie.

As the credits rolled, the couple stood and stretched. Taking Abe�s hand Nick, led the way to the main lobby of the cinema. It was still fairly empty. Primarily, the staff milled around.

�So how we gettin� back to the hotel?�

Abe halted and looked up at her boyfriend. �Call a cab, but I forgot to bring the number.�

�They�ve gotta have a phonebook around here somewhere.�

�Nick,� called a voice from behind him.

Nick turned when he heard his name called.

�Marcy I told you that was him!�

�Oh Wow! Can we have you�re autograph?�

�Um�Sure,� replied Nick, glancing over at Abe.

�Let me get the cab called,� she said, walking over to the customer service desk.

�May I help you?�

�Hi. Do you have a phonebook I could look at?�

�Sure do,� said the man behind the counter. �Here you go.�

�Thanks.�

�Having car trouble?�

�Huh? Oh no�we need a cab to get back to our hotel.�

�Good luck.�

�Why�s that?�

�You�ll get one, but it�ll be awhile. Hey who�s your friend? He looks familiar.�

Looking over at Nick, who was now talking to four girls, Abe said, �He�s my boss and he�s Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys. We need to get him out of here and back to the hotel.�

�What is going on here,� asked a man, wearing a sport coat and tie.

�Mr. Sherman, that�s Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys. This is his assistant.�

�Hi Mr. Sherman. I�m AB Cavett. I�m sorry for the inconvenience, but Nick wanted to see a movie. We took a cab to get here, but I didn�t think about getting back after the movie.�

�Can�t you call some of your people,� asked Mr. Sherman, sarcastically.

�Mr. Sherman, my shift is almost over. I could give them a ride.�

�That�s not necessary�� Abe trailed off, looking at his name tag.

�Danny and it�s no trouble. Right Mr. Sherman?�

�Yes. Yes. Anything to get the girls back to work.�

Now Nick was surrounded by three more people, who had come out of another theater. These were older woman.

�Thanks. I think we need to take you up on your offer Danny.�

Danny said, �No problem. I�ll get my car and pull up out front.�

�Make sure the back door is unlocked too. I�ll get Nick. Mr. Sherman, will you run interference?�

�Oh dear. What do you mean by interference?�

�Will you slow down anyone who might try to follow us?�

�I suppose so.�

�Thank you so much Mr. Sherman.� Turning, she called, �Nick, can I see you for a minute?�

�Yep,� he said. �Well girls I need to see what she wants.�

�Who is that? Your girlfriend,� asked one of the girls in an accusing tone.

�She�s my assistant,� he replied, moving away from the group of girls.

Abe glanced outside and saw Danny pull up. �Thanks again Mr. Sherman. Let�s go Nick. You get the backseat.�

�Why,� he whined as she pulled him through the exit door.

�So you can hide better. Now get in,� ordered Abe, opening the car door for him.

After she got him in, she quickly hoped in the front seat of Danny�s Sentra. �Go Danny.�

Danny pulled away from the curb. Abe watched through the back window for anyone who might follow them. They made a clean get away. Danny dropped them off at the entranced they had left from. They thanked him. He said it got him off work early so it was all good.

�That was so much fun,� said Nick as Abe opened the door to their suite.

�Well I�m glad it was fun,� replied Roger, from his seat on the couch.

Nick and Abe were glued to their little patch of carpet in stunned silence. Roger stood, leaving Pat on the couch.

�Abe, come with me,� Roger said, his voice unsettlingly neutral.

�Yes sir,� she replied, in a tiny voice.

�Wait! Why can�t you talk in here,� demanded Nick.

�I need to talk to Abe.�

�No! You need to talk to both of us. We both did it.�

�Nick, let me go talk with Roger,� stated Abe.

Nick started, �Bel��

�Nick,� interrupted Pat. �You and me gotta have a talk, too.�

�Fine, then we will all stay here and talk.�

�Abe?� Roger held the door open.

�I�ll be back,� said Abe.

�Fuck,� exploded Nick, moving to the door.

�Nick,� yelled Pat, causing the younger man to pull up short.

�What?�

�Leave it be.�

�Hell no.�

�I said, leave it be,� he ordered. �You will only make it worse.�

�Do you want Abe sent home?�

�Isn�t that what he�s doing?�

�Maybe. Maybe not. You go chargin� after them and she will get sent home. Come sit down. We gotta talk.�

�Fine.� The word exploded on a release of air.

Nick ran his hand over his head and flopped into a chair. Pat watched him from his place on the couch. He watched and he waited. Nick finally slumped forward to rest his elbows on his knees; his head was hung down.

�Sorry,� he said softly.

�For sneakin� out.�

�Liar,� chuckled Pat.

Nick�s head shot up. After a moment, he said, �All right, I�m sorry we got caught.�

�Ah, there�s the truth of it.�

�I�m sorry I got you in trouble and it won�t happen again.�

�You got that right.�

�I do?� Confused, he raised his eyebrows.

�It won�t happen again, because I�m movin� in.�

�Where?�

�Here.�

�But Bella.�

�You two are sharing a room, leaving one to spare.�

�But Roger.�

�I told him I would be sleeping on the couch from now on.�

�So you lied.�

�Yes,� he replied.

Nick remained quiet. Pat could see the wheels turning.

�You won�t get past me. I�m sleepin� with the door open. The only thing I ask is you keep your sounds down.�

�Sounds?�

�You know�moans, groans, screaming out of names. Keep it down.�

�Ah fuck Pat,� exclaimed Nick, his face flashing red.

�Yeah like that,� said Pat with a hearty laugh.

�Fuck you,� said Nick, his face still a dark shade of red, but a grin curving his lips. Suddenly, his face fell. �What do you think Roger is saying to Bella?�

�You crack me up with that Bella stuff. You better watch it.�

�Fine. Abe. What do you think he�s sayin� to Abe?�

�Don�t know.�

�Do you think he�s firing her?�

�Don�t know.�

�Do you think he�s being rough on her?�

�Don�t know.�

�Anything you do know,� Nick snapped.

�Yeah. I know ain�t nothing he will do to her that will equal how hard she will be on herself.�

�Yeah,� sighed Nick. �I wish she�d get back here.�

Roger opened the door to his suite and indicated for Abe to enter. �I�ll be with you in a minute.�

Inside, Abe remained silent. Her head was down and her foot bounced. She listened as Roger checked his messages. Finally, he took a seat at the table and gestured for her to do the same.

�I�m very disappointed,� he began.

�Yes sir.� She was sitting very straight in her chair, her eyes not meeting his.

�I never thought we would have a problem this late in the game.�

�Yes sir.�

�Well there is only one thing to do.�

�I understand. I am truly sorry I let you down. I will be packed and out of here within the hour. Is there any paperwork for me to sign?�

Roger studied her for a moment. It surprised him to see her lip tremble as she fought to control her emotions.

�So that is your solution�me firing you.�

�I�m not going to argue with you. I didn�t do my job. You are completely justified.�

�I see.�

Abe drew in a shaky breath and willed her legs to support her as she began to stand.

�Sit,� he ordered, she complied. �Good thing I�m the boss then.�

�Excuse me?�

�Abe, I�m not firing you.�

�You�re not,� she asked, looking at him for the first time.

�Hell no! I am disappointed and it better never happen again, because I will fire your ass then.�

�It will never happen again. I promise.�

�I was surprised Nick talked you into this and I know it isn�t the first time,� he said and watched her face flush to bright pink. �Thought so.�

�Cause this was too big an adventure for him to talk you into right off the bat. So, how many times have you gotten past Pat?�

�Pat didn�t do anything wrong. Please don�t blame him for us,� she pleaded.

�I�m not. Now answer me.�

�Only one other time. Last Thursday when Pat was so sick. Nick needed things from the drugstore. He wanted to let Pat rest and didn�t want me to get the stuff for him. He was bent on going, so I went to make sure he was safe.�

�Yeah and that is the only reason he didn�t get caught,� scoffed Roger.

�Well it isn�t happening again. I really am sorry we cause so much trouble.�

�Don�t get me wrong Abe. I�m glad you have made peace with Nick and you two are getting along better. But just because you are getting along better, doesn�t mean you let him run over you. Got it?�

�Got it.�

�Good now get out of here. Tell Nick he has to be ready and downstairs by 7:30. They have a party to go to.�

�A party?�

�Yep and tell him to dress nice. As a matter of fact, you pick out his clothes.�

�Will do. Thanks again Roger.�

�Get out of here,� he said with a smile and a wave of his hand.

When she opened the door to the suite, she could hear the sound of a shower running. Nick wasn�t in the room, but Pat was still sitting on the couch. Their eyes met. He arched an eyebrow. That�s all it took. Huge tears began to roll down her face.

�I�m so sorry Pat. I didn�t mean to get you in trouble. We won�t ever do it again. Even if it means me tattling on him.�

�Thanks for the apology. Good to know you learned your lesson. Now dry your eyes and wipe your nose. We�re fine.�

�Okay,� she said, her voice still shaky.

�Did you get the boot?�

�Didn�t think you would. Are you leaving?�

�Are you breakin� up with dufus?�

�Thank God!�

�Hey, I don�t want to deal with him going into destruct mode.�

�He wouldn�t.�

�That boy would meltdown faster than ice cream left on a heater. He was freakin� when you left with Roger.�

�Sure. That�s why he�s showering now.�

�He�s in the show, because I told him about the party and said if he didn�t get his ass in the shower, I�d put him in there.�

�Thanks for looking out for both of us.�

�Anytime,� reassured Pat.

�I have to pick out his clothes.�

�And let him know you aren�t fired and you�re not breaking up with him.�

�Yeah that too,� she replied with a smile.

�Abe, before you do that I need to let you know something.�

�What?�

�I�ve moved into the spare room. I�ll be staying in the suite with you guys from now on.�

�Really,� she said, getting upset again.

�I believe you, but your boyfriend still may get the urge to roam without me. I�ll be sleeping with the door open so don�t wander out here uncovered.�

�Pat,� she exclaimed, her face turning almost purple.

�I�m just saying.�

�I got it,� she said, going into the bedroom.

�Mmmm�you smell good,� sighed Abe, feeling Nick slide into bed.

Pulling her back against his body, Nick said, �I thought you were asleep.�

�I heard you turn on the shower.�

�Sorry, I woke you. I smelled all smoky.�

�How was the party?�

�All right. Wish you were there.�

�Me, too.�

�We�ve got, what? Six weeks until the tour is over.�

�Almost,� she replied.

�Can�t be soon enough for me.�

�Really?�

�I�m tired of hiding us. I want to be able to hold your hand and hug you whenever I want. Getting caught sucked, but today it was like�finally! We are out of the damn hotel room.�

�It was nice to go on a date, but you�re right. Getting caught sucked big time. Which is exactly why we won�t be doing it again.�

�Bella.�

�Nick, I�m serious,� she said, sitting up and turning to look down at him through the darkness.

�Okay. Okay. I promise to be a good boy. Now come back here.�

Abe allowed him to pull her back down. Once they were spooned together, Nick brush her hair away from her neck and planted a soft kiss.

�We would never forgive ourselves if Pat got fried, because we couldn�t be good until the tour ends.�

�You�re right.� He sighed and buried face against her neck. He murmured something unintelligible.

�What?�

�I said thanks for not breaking up with me and for being here when I got back.�

�I�m not going anywhere.�

�You didn�t even think about it?�

�I did for a split second or two on the way to Roger�s room.� She corrected herself. �That�s not true. I actually thought I would be fired and panicked.�

�Why did ya panic?�

�The idea of leaving you freaked me out.�

�Gee thanks,� he scoffed.

�Oh Nick, I didn�t mean it that way. It�s just�I know all the stuff they tell you in books and movies about how it�s suppose to feel. You know, all that stuff about your other half. I�ve never been half of anything before.� She waited for Nick to say something - anything. After a second or two of silence, she cracked. �Nick Carter! If you don�t say something, I�m going to completely freak out!�

�Demanding much,� he teased.

�Fuck you.�

�Wow, you weren�t kidding.� She made a move to get out bed, but he held her firmly. �Hold up. I was thinking and trying to decide whether to freak out or not.�

�Forget I said anything,� she said.

�Nope. Not gonna do it. Hey, I�ve never really had it put to me that way before. Guess cause I was never half of a relationship. Usually, it�s been one extreme or the other.�

�And I like this. This feels settled to me. I�ve never had settled before.�

�Me neither,� she agreed. �You know what I realized while you were out partying?�

�What?�

�It was one year ago today that we met for the first time.�

�For real? Damn�aw fuck!�

Alarm blazed across her face. �What!�

�We should have been together tonight.�

�It�s okay.�

�No, it�s not okay.�

�Nick, I figure we celebrated this afternoon with the movie.�

�I guess.� After a moment, he began to chuckle. �Just think Bella, a year ago we hated each other and today we went out on a date.�

�I know. Face it, blondie, we are too twisted for words,� she giggled.

�Then I guess we better stick together. So, have you told your parents I�m coming home with you?�

�Not yet. Have you told your family anything?�

�Naw. I�ll wait �til we get to your parents then I�ll call. More fun that way.�

�Are you sure?�

�Yep. When are you going to tell your parents,� he pushed.

�I�m waiting to tell them when I call with our flight information.� She paused, �I can tell what you�re thinking and you�re wrong.�

�What?�

�You think I�m going to wimp out or change my mind about letting you come.�

�Just checkin�.�

Abe yawned. �I know what I wanted to ask you. What do you want for your birthday?�

�Oh it don�t matter.�

�Liar,� she laughed. �Is there anything you�re dying to have?�

Without a second thought he said, �You.� Her silence made him nervous, so he amended his statement. �I meant I want you with me, whatever we do. The guys were talking about it tonight. We�ve gotta show that night. They said something about going to a club. There are some fun places down in San Diego.�

�That�ll be fun.�

�It will be as long as you�re with me.�

�I�ll be there. We just have to be careful.�

�Fuck careful,� he declared, nuzzling against the curve her neck.

�Nick,� she chided.

�I know. I promise I�ll be careful.� He lifted his head. �When is your birthday again?.�

�The seventh of February.�

He did the math in his head. �Damn!�

�What now,� she teased.

�We have to be careful on your birthday, too.�

�Yeah, we do,� she sighed.

They fell into silence. Nick shifted. His leg slid between hers. He loved this - being in a couple - being with Abe. She made everything make sense. He loved her and he trusted her.

She yawned again. �Sorry.�

�Don�t be,� said Nick, giving into a yawn. �Happy Anniversary, Bella.�

�Happy Anniversary, Nick. Love you.�

�Love you too, baby. Sweet dreams.�

Nick lay there for a long time listening to her breathe. Soon, he could tell she was asleep, but he was still hovering in that place just before you begin to fall asleep. Normally, he hated to be in that place. It gave his mind a chance to throw thoughts at him he didn�t want. Tonight was different.

It was hard to believe it had been a whole year since they met. His life was so different. He was different. Hell she was different. He chuckled to himself. �Different� seemed to be the word of the day. He was glad he was no longer that guy. That made him smile. He was happy. Happy to have Abe in his life and happy with who he was. She had shown him he could be this new person. It came down to trust and she had his. Not an easy thing to admit, even to himself. Feeling her snuggle closer, he felt a surge of love and protectiveness. Nobody, he meant no-bod-y, better fuck with her or them.

Yawning, he began to drift off. As he slipped into sleep, he decided he was just fine with keeping this relationship secret for awhile longer.

"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 ©2002-2003
All Rights Reserved
No part of this text may be copied or reprinted
without the author's permission.

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