AN: Whew, finally, an update! Two more chapters, well one and a fun epilogue, and this baby is a finished ride. Have fun... inspiredthoughts@hotmail.com ************* Nightmare of a Lifetime: Chapter Twenty-Seven ****************** Episode Eleven was a triumph for MTV. The brawl, while not quite as highly prolific as the KISS, drew in huge numbers of people, biker and otherwise, who wished to see the shining Boys of Pop getting into a bar fight. Nicole waved cheerfully as her credibility proceeded to fly away. She just had to live with the shame of defending *NSYNC publicly, on camera no less. Mr. Buttons was a nice addition to the end of the episode. Toy Pekinese figurines with painted toe nails were already making their way into Hot Topics all over the country, fondly known by the cynical as Goth in a Box. With her luck, some rabid fans would try pulling a Backstreet stunt by stealing him away from her. Perry started to carry around mace, just in case. ************************************************************************* Nicole Perry sighed and took a deep breath as she stared absently at herself in the hotel room mirror before emerging. She didn’t look any different- short as ever, tattoos highlighting the paleness of imperfect skin, dark eyes framed by long lashes and heavy mascara, hair grown out nearly halfway down her shoulder and dyed brightly blue, typical punk clothes… She wore knee high socks, ragged basketball shoes, shorts that reached her knees, and a fitted three quarter sleeved black mesh top with a blue tank beneath. Never mind the jewelry. Most the bruises from the fight had faded to a dull yellow, and her cast finally, finally, was off for good, leaving one arm pale but otherwise normal. She didn’t look any different. Nicole titled her head and studied herself for another moment before sighing again. She felt different. Three months had changed things, ideas, inside of her she didn’t know could be changed. She knew the freaking choreography for *NSYNC. The woman standing in front of the mirror was softer, milder, and happier than the tough as nails hard ass that stood in her shoes three months before. It felt weird to admit, if only to herself of course, that Puppy had been right- *NSYNC, with all their insanity, had been good for her soul. “Talking to yourself in the mirror again?” “Screw you,” Nicole snapped to Bill who shouldered his camera and gave her a cheeky grin. “Ready for your last day oh Goddess of Pop?” She smiled with patently false sweetness. “Only if it starts with me kicking your smart mouthed ass.” “Now Perry, play nice.” She shook her head ruefully but let Bill have the last word, just this once. Mr. Buttons trotted up to her and she picked him up easily before putting him in a large canvas purse she had picked up. The dog, well trained as he was, was perfectly happy to ride along like some pampered pet. Well, he was a pampered pet but, hardly the point… Nicole opened the door, ready to begin her last day on the Tour of a Nightmare. Opened her door to find five rather sheepish, and still somewhat battered, pop stars milling around with one indulgent body guard. She stared at them. They stared back. “Hi.” The five men nodded. “Hello,” they said in perfect harmonic unison. Nicole winced. “Umm, are you guys mental or what?” “You’re leaving tomorrow,” Joey said simply. “That means your last day is today,” Chris added helpfully. “Which means we want to follow you around and spend every second with you because soon we won’t be able to,” Lance admitted. JC had tears in his eyes. “I’m going to miss Mr. Buttons!” he wailed. “Oh hell,” Justin muttered, looking embarrassed. Dan winked at her over their heads. And before she could protest, violently, she was engulfed in a fierce, warped kind of group hug, one that involved more groping than was strictly necessary. Nicole suffered in silence broken only by JC’s sniffles, but finally started in. “Timberdumb, that better not be your hand on my ass.” “It isn’t me Perry, geeze, bitchy much?” Chris flushed bright red somewhere near her elbow. “Sorry Perry, I thought it was Joey.” She scowled in his general direction as Bill and Dan laughed from the sidelines. “I don’t even want to know,” she growled. “All right, all right, you guys can tail me all day, which will make my job much easier, but get me out of this damn hug.” They obediently freed her and stepped back, forming a circle of four beaming men and one sulking lead singer. “You all are certifiable nuts.” Chris leaned forward, holding his hand up like a microphone as he sang, “Come on little honey and be a little nutty with me...” Nicole socked him in the stomach. ************************************************************************* Her last day was spent with at least one member of *NSYNC in faithful tow. Joey was hovering with Kelly called. Nicole shot him a dirty look and flipped open her cell phone. “Hey sweetie, how’s your tour going?” “Oh wretched. The weather sucks over here and all my flights have been delayed. I’ve been late to every freaking appointment and concert for the last week.” “You sound cheerful.” “Screw you Pear Bear. You ready to be free?” She shrugged and wondered that she wasn’t happier. “I guess. I miss you guys. I miss Ozz Fest but, I’m not unhappy here, ya know?” Joey cooed and pinched her cheeks as she slapped him away. Kell laughed in the background. “I wouldn’t be unhappy if I had five attractive men trailing my every move.” Nicole flushed. “Shut up brat and quit teasing me.” “Yeah, yeah, I haven’t even started and you know it. I’ll be teasing you about this until we’re in nursing homes eating out of tubes.” “I would have never guessed…” Perry snapped as she tried to pry Joey off her. He clung in a stubborn embrace and licked her cheek. “Gross, Joey, dammit, you might have fleas or rabies. Get the hell away from me!” Mr. Buttons, who had been sleeping placidly on a nearby lounge couch, looked up and barked once. “Where are you going after the show wraps today?” Nicole managed to peel one of Joey’s arms away from her, though one free leg promptly wrapped around her waist. She sighed and accepted temporary defeat. “I’m heading to visit Uncle Ozzy for a few weeks, then your Mum. Then I have, uhh, that New York thing.” She could see Kelly smirking from half a word away. “That special top secret thing with the very large bonus check at the end of it? The one that’s a surprise?” “Shut up brat, this is your last warning.” Kelly laughed. “All right, I’m gonna try to fly in and visit Mum when you do for at least a few days. Jack is out of rehab next week so we’ll see. Maybe it’ll be like old times for a bit, right?” Nicole didn’t have the heart to tell her best friend how lost she sounded. How vulnerable. “Yeah Kell, old times. I’ll see you in a few weeks sweetie. Kick ass, all right?” There was an indelicate snort. “I always do. Behave. Don’t get arrested, again. Bye Pear Bear.” Perry snapped her cell phone shut and glared at Joey. “You have until three to let go and then they’ll be some damn harsh consequences.” He stared back blandly at her and Bill snickered as he filmed. Nicole tried to keep her temper in check. “One. Two. Three…” Joey licked her neck. She snapped. “Buttons!” The small dog looked up swiftly. “Attack!” Joey howled as the ball of fur and fury unleashed itself upon him. Lance quickly took Joey’s place by wrapping his arms around her middle, resting his chin on her shoulder. “Damn, I’m gonna miss you Perry.” They watched Mr. Buttons maul Joey in companionable silence broken by screamed curses and Bill’s maniacal laughter.