AN: Yay, I updated this one, finally! Anyway, welcome back to the irreverent world of Nicole Perry and *NSYNC, enjoy and feedback. Feedback makes the world go round. inspiredthoughts@hotmail.com *********************** Nightmare of a Lifetime: Chapter Twenty ******************** The phone rang three times. Three. It was a good sign. "Hello?" came the perfectly masculine voice on the other end. And Nicole's mind suddenly went blank. "Umm, hello, is anyone there?" She shook herself awake before he hung up because then she was NEVER calling back. "Yeah, wait, this is Perry. Is this Robert Stanon?" There was a moment of silence before a low chuckle came through. "Robert the Gentleman?" Oh, world, swallow her whole. Nicole hated that she could feel her cheeks burning, and she coughed to cover it up. "Umm, yes, that would be you." That wonderful laugh rolled over her again. "Yes, that would be me. I'm glad you called Perry. I didn't really expect to hear from you again..." World should chew then swallow, much more painful that way. "Yes, I know. Its not really done but I mean..." she played with the comforter on the bed, "its just... well..." "It was the best one night stand I've ever had." There was a god and he was merciful! "Exactly... it was the best one night stand I've ever had and... umm..." Robert laughed again. "And you weren't ready to write me off. I really am glad you called Perry because I'm not ready to write you off either." She blushed even fiercer. "Wow, thanks I..." Nicole laughed ruefully, "I'm usually more coherent than this, I really am, I'm just a little..." "Flustered?" he asked kindly. "Humm, embarrassed beyond all belief might be a little more accurate. I'm starting to understand why the no call rule is usually put into effect. Well, now that we've established continued mutual attraction, where do we go from here?" "You're not still in town are you?" Nicole's stomach flipped and fell with disappointment. "No, we're heading, umm, to a Times Square MTV concert thing. I take it you watch the show?" she asked carefully. "I'd seen it advertised before," he replied easily. "I didn't really make much of a connection until we had to go through security to get to your room since there wasn't a camera on us. I've watched the last episode or two just because." Her stomach flipped, ridiculously, again and Perry smiled, pleased. "Good answers." "Thanks, I thought so. Well, since we can't get together right now why don't you give me your cell number and we'll take things slow and casual for a bit. I'd like to talk to you some if you're all right with that. I tend to travel a lot to the East Coast, especially New York, so we can meet up here and there I'm sure. We can see where this goes, all right?" "Yeah," Nicole responded automatically as she grinned, "more than all right. What DO you do for a living?" she demanded. Robert groaned, for the first time sounding less than perfect. "I'm a lawyer," he responded slowly. She processed that for a moment as she imagined Robert again, and promptly burst out laughing. "You're kidding!" "Did you see my car?" he said, sounding resigned to her amusement. Nicole howled with more mirth. "Oh my freaking god, I can't believed I didn't figure it out before. That was SO a lawyer car. Let me guess, high powered corporate attorney?" "Yes," came the miserable reply. "I'm going to have to start calling you Robert the Slime now." "Perry." "All right, all right, had to get one last shot in. I want to see you in a suit. Or loafers." Nicole snickered again. "How about next time I take you out we go to a nice restaurant. I promise not only a suit, but a dozen red roses for you." She sucked in a sudden sharp breath. "Okay, Robert the Gentleman you are." "Thank you," he replied, sounding smug. "But I prefer white." "Duly noted. Now, would you mind giving me your number? You're blocked on my caller ID." She chuckled and complied, trying not to sound too eager, or smitten. They said their goodbyes and hung up. Nicole blinked, dazed, and looked up to find Bill smirking at her. "I bet he does something absolutely horrible and I'll never want to talk to him again. Men are not *that* perfect. You're all genetically programmed to be bastards or something." The camera man snorted. "I bet you a hundred dollars you wind up falling head over heels in love with him." "Shit, don't talk like that. I know what kind of odds you get at the studios. People bet thousands based on your predictions. You knew, to the day, when Ben and J-Lo were going to file for divorce, and that's after guessing their marriage day." "That's because I'm usually right," Bill said mildly. Perry sighed tragically, "That's what I'm afraid of." ************************************************************************************* The next morning found the five boys of *NSYNC whispering to each other in the corner of the dining room for breakfast. Nicole studied them for a minute, Bill taping by her side. "Think we should go have some fun with the babies?" Bill smiled wickedly. "Definitely." She ambled over to them and grinned when all whispers abruptly died away. "Whatcha talking about?" Four nervous gazes flit to Justin Timberlake. He shrugged easily. "Nothing." Nicole arched one brow. "Wow, nothing seems to have gotten pretty damn interesting as of late. Nice try. Now, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. The hard way probably involves pain, yours. Now, let's try this again, what were you all plotting about?" Justin stared down at her stubbornly from his advanced height. It didn't bother Nicole Perry one little bit. Lance broke, like she knew he would. "Britney Spears is visiting us when we're in New York. She's going to do a guest song on stage." "Good Poofu!" Perry crooned as Justin cussed crudely. "Dammit Lance," he admonished darkly. "Well, she would have found out eventually anyway. Might as well save ourselves the interrogation." Justin growled, obviously unconvinced as Nicole smiled sweetly. "Oh no you little she-devil, leave Britney alone. She never did anything to you." She batted her eyelashes. "Well, Britney might have never done anything to me but her ex boyfriend drew her life sized on my cast. Besides, its, on my god, Britney Spears! I just, like, have to meet her." Justin shook his fist at her. "You better be nice or so help me..." "Is the big bad pop star gonna try to beat me up? Oh save him from the embarrassment!" Justin flushed purple as the other four laughed uproariously. "Perry, I'm warning you. One more word and you're going to regret it." Nicole grinned toothily, unable to help herself. "Britney and Justin sitting in a tree, F-U-C-..." She ducked as Justin lunged at her. The rest of *NSYNC roared with laughter as Justin Timberlake chased Nicole Perry around the dining room. Bill shook his head. "She just doesn't know when to quit, does she?" Joey asked as he wiped tears from his eyes. The camera man snorted. "She knows exactly when to quit, she just never does. You better have someone warn Britney. She's a weak spot for Justin and Perry can never ignore a good opportunity, especially when it comes to needling Timberlake." Joey rolled his eyes. "Neither can the rest of us. Perry is just better at it." Bill laughed.