AN: Just a note, this story is based off a rough sketch of BSB's basic timeline. Certain events or people may not be mentioned, or mentioned somewhat out of context. My apologies in advance. :) inspiredthoughts@hotmail.com ********************** Too Close for Comfort: Chapter Three ************************* Nicky had nearly grown up taking care of Nick, and five of her seven siblings, and pretty much anyone who couldn't stick up for themselves. She liked underdogs so to speak, empathized with them, and had made a lot of enemies as a result of that, never mind her mouth. Though the sarcasm didn't help. She missed Nick all the time. She missed his laugh and the way his eyes crinkled at the corners. She missed sharing a gallon of vanilla ice cream between them because she was allergic to chocolate. She missed staying up all night watching movies at his house, and having him tickle her into humility whenever she crossed the line. But most of all, she missed having him at school because, as much as she looked out for him, he watched out for her. She wanted his dreams to come true as badly as she wanted her own to, but some days, most days, she just really wanted her best friend back. Especially when Billy Longdon had her slammed up against a locker. "Put me down!" Nicky snarled and kicked ineffectively at his shins. Billy's cronies laughed cruelly as they shielded their leader and his current victim, her, from an interfering teacher's view. Which was just fine by Nicky. No one took care of her but Nick. She didn't let them. Even if it would mean some new bruises. Billy growled and pressed her harder against the cold metal, meaty hands grips of iron on her slim shoulders. "When are you gonna stop interfering in my business Hernandez? If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times, butt out and maybe we wouldn't have to have these little talks so often." "I'll stay out of your business when you stop picking on people just because you're an overgrown jerk!" Nicky hissed as Billy pressed his forearm against her throat, half crushing her windpipe. He leaned in until his flinty gray eyes were level with her furious brown. "Don't push me Hernandez. You don't have your little blonde puppy around to protect you anymore." She tried to bite him. "You leave Nick out of this or we'll see who's pushing who." He laughed and Nicole counted the hundred reasons she hated him. "Don't underestimate me Longdon," she growled. Billy snorted with contempt. "Don't overestimate my patience and your own good luck. It's the only thing that's kept you from getting hurt. Stay out of my deals, last chance." He nearly threw her to the ground and she lay there for a moment, nurturing her anger, until she heard them all walk away, laughing at her. Nicole stood up slowly, shaking with rage and muttering choice phrases in Spanish under her breath. After a minute she sighed and rubbed her neck, wincing at the soreness that was already setting in. One of her favorite underdogs peeked around the corner from a side hallway and rushed over to her, seeing that the coast was clear. "Oh, Nicky, are you all right? He didn't hurt you, hurt you, did he? That brute, he's animal, he should be put down!" She smiled wanly at Eugene Landly who, like Billy, was in ninth grade as opposed to her eighth. But, while Billy was the size of most seniors, Eugene was almost Nicky's petite size, though his rounded shoulders and thinness made him seem even smaller. He was a sweetheart though, and bless him, geek to the core, right down to his PDA and extensive collection of Dungeons and Dragons cards. He stared at her with concern out of his thick lenses and gnawed at his lower lip in worry. Nicole patted his arm awkwardly and sighed again. "I'm fine, just furious. Stay away from Billy and his gang for the rest of the day and you'll be home free. He's always in a good mood after beating me around for a bit. He'll forget all about that book report you supposedly owe him until seventh period when it's due and by then, it'll be too late." "He'll be mad tomorrow," Eugene dared to whisper. Nicole shrugged and retrieved her book bag from the ground, dusting it off. "Well, he's always mad. Don't worry, I can handle Billy and whoever else." Though her bruises said otherwise. "Don't give them the satisfaction of seeing you afraid." Eugene nodded vigorously but hovered, clearly wanting to say something. She waited patiently, used to him after being his protector from some form of bullying for nearly three years. "I miss Nick," he finally whispered. She squeezed her eyes shut and nodded slowly as she fought the tears that clouded her bruised throat, "Me too Eugene, me too." ********************************************************************************** Nicole left her shoes and backpack by the back door and headed towards the kitchen. She got out some apples, celery, peanut butter and juice and began to chop up the apples and celery, putting slices of each on four plates. She folded separate napkins for each plate and got down glasses, pouring juice into each. Then she got some homework out of her bag and started to work. Her four youngest siblings spilled through the door half an hour later since their bus ride wasn't nearly as long as hers. The middle school was a lot farther from the house than the elementary school. Juanita and Melosa, the twins, who were ten and in fifth grade, breezed in, chattering to each other in quick, gossiping Spanish. They grabbed their after school snacks and settled around the kitchen table, spreading their books out obediently next to Nicole's own. Nicky got up and gave Dolores, eight and in third grade, her plate and drink before carrying Maria's, six and in first grade, to the den as Dolores trailed. She settled her two youngest siblings on the couch, making sure Maria wouldn't spill her drink and snacks, before turning on the television. "Half an hour of cartoons, then homework," she instructed sternly. Both girls bobbed their heads and let themselves become immersed in the world of Tom and Jerry. "When's Mama getting home?" Juanita asked as Nicole sat back down at the table. Nicole thought for a moment, "Nine I think. She's working overtime again. Papa is coming home tomorrow night from Tampa." The twins watched as their older sister bent down to pick up a text book and winced. They exchanged glances. "Are you okay Nicky?" Melosa said softly. Nicky shrugged their concern off. "I'm fine. I just tripped on the stairs at school." The twins exchanged another glance. "You seem to be tripping an awful lot lately..." Juanita interjected more firmly than her sister. "Is this tripping, stuff the boys need to know about?" Nicole glared. "The boys are busy with their own lives and I'm fine. Mind your own business." Both girls nodded meekly, though fierce eyes glinted. The phone rang and the twins grinned. "Its Nick," they said in practiced unison. Nicky rolled her eyes as she went to get it. "It is not. It's only Tuesday. He never calls until the weekend, Friday if he's having a good week or bad one. You know that." The twins grinned again and went back to their homework. "Hello?" "Nicky? Oh my god, its you, thank you, I have the best news!" Nicole laughed. "Nickolas, calm down, what's going on, you meet a cute girl?" "Eww, get serious Nicky, we did it, we got a record deal!" Nicole stilled for an instant before she exploded in a gratifying bundle of Latin nerves, racing through English and Spanish as she tried to ask all her questions and feed Nick's own well deserved excitement. "Calm down Nicky," he cried happily, "Jive Records, we got signed by Jive. They saw us in Cleveland and fell in love and oh god, Nicky we made it!" "I'm SO proud of you Nick, of you all. This is so incredible." She listened to him chatter raptly for half an hour, interjecting with still more questions and exclamations of happiness. He gave her the best piece of news before he hung up. "We get to come home before we go record in Sweden. I get to come home Nicky." She tried not to cry as she laughed. "Okay, I got to go, we got to call one person and Brian is waiting to call his Mom." "All right Nick, I miss you, you did awesome. I'll see you soon." "Call you sooner." Nicole hung up to Juanita and Melosa grinning knowingly. "Not a word," she cautioned as she pointed at them. They laughed, a younger echo of her own, and returned to their homework. Nicky shook her head and went to usher the two youngsters into the kitchen for the start of their homework. She then started on dinner, a small smile on her lips the entire time. Her Nick was going to be famous. The Backstreet Boys were going to be famous; she could feel it in her bones.