--chapter two - page one--

“Could his hotel room BE any higher off the ground floor?”

Malu stopped dead in her tracks. Turning around, she faced her father with nothing but dismay on her face. A sigh escaped her gut for what must have been the millionth time that day. “Pop, just stop.”

“Stop what?” Amador asked innocently. He hadn’t seemed to notice that his incessant nagging was wearing his daughter’s nerves very thin. Or if he did, he didn’t seem to care.

“You’ve been complaining the entire way here.” Malu whined. She was complaining about her father complaining. Any outsider on the situation would have noticed the irony and laughed. But this was not a laughing matter to Malu and her father.

“I’m an old man,” Amador defended himself. For added support, he leaned against the suitcase he’d been dragging behind himself. “It takes a lot out of me to drag these suitcases up all these floors.”

“Well, we could have gotten a bell-hop to do it.” Malu pointed out sensibly. “No way,” Amador insisted. He shook his head defiantly. “Do you know how much those bell-hops make on tips in a place as fancy as this?”

Malu shook her head. Her father was just being stubborn, and frankly, it was getting on her nerves. “Well then, stop complaining. We took the elevator, not the stairs, and my suitcases have wheels on them. Besides, delivering packages is what you do for a living- this shouldn’t be that different.”

“I just don’t understand why you can’t stay at home where your mother can take care of you.” So that’s what all the nagging had been for. Amador wasn’t ready to let his only daughter go.

His only daughter didn’t seem to care. Malu rolled her eyes. “Nick is my boyfriend, Poppa. And I want to be near him. He will take care of me.”

“If you want to be near him so much, why don’t you just get married?” For an immigrant born in the post-World War Two baby boom, it seemed the only sensible thing to do in such a situation.

Malu couldn’t help but sigh. Again. Though her father had seemed agreeable the morning of Nick’s first family breakfast, she knew that having a child out of wedlock was still a difficult subject for Amador to deal with. She walked over to her father and placed her hands on his shoulders. “Poppa, we discussed all this already. Nick is so busy, touring and trying to finish up two CDs. There just isn’t enough time to get married, unless we elope in Vegas. I want my wedding to be perfect- with bridesmaids and a big white dress. But it will just have to wait until after the baby, okay?”

Amador kissed his daughter on the forehead. Despite how much they argued, he still wanted to show compassion for his child. The last thing he needed was for her to run off with this pop star and never contact her family again. “I know, I know. It’s just going to take me a while to get used to, okay?”

Malu nodded. She pinched the soft skin on her father’s cheek affectionately. “Come on, Pop. Lets get a move on it. That’s Nick’s room, at the end of the hall.”

A moment later, Malu and her father were standing in front on Nick’s hotel room. It had only been a week since Malu had last been there, but it seemed like a lifetime. Taking a deep breath, Malu reached up and knocked on the door. The door swung open. Nick stood just within the threshold, wearing only a pair of basketball shorts. He ushered Malu and Amador into the room, while listening intently to the cell phone at his ear.

“Yeah, Malu just got here.” Nick said to the faceless person on the other side of the phone. “No I didn’t help her. Her father is here. Yeah, okay. I’ll call you back later.”

“Sorry about that,” Nick apologized as he hung up the phone. “Who was that?” Malu asked out of curiosity.

“Steven Everson.” Nick answered. The relationship counselor. At least, that’s what they told the public. In reality, Steven was a public relations assistant hired by management to keep our dirty little secrets, like the fact I’m not even dating Malu, out of the tabloids. It was his idea for Malu to move into my hotel room. To establish the image of a normal boyfriend-and-girlfriend relationship. Or some crap like that. “He wants to meet with you tomorrow.”

“Meet with me? Why?” Malu asked, as if she were in trouble.

Nick shrugged. “I don’t know. I forget. Actually, I was never paying attention in the first place. I tend to kind of tune Steven out. But anyway, he’s coming by here at 11AM tomorrow to pick you up.”

“Did you ever think of consulting me before you made plans?” Malu questioned. “No,” Nick admitted truthfully. “Why? Do you?”

Now it was Malu’s turn to regretfully make an admission. “Well, no.”

“So what’s the problem then?” And to Nick, it made perfect sense. Because that was just the way he thought. He didn’t think to ask if she had plans, but she didn’t, so no harm done. At least that was the way he saw it.

“The problem is that I don’t like you scheduling my life for me. I’m not going to be the obedient housewife in a patriarchal society. I decide what I do with my life- not you.” Malu took a second to gather her breath before beginning again. “And what’s worse is that you obviously don’t respect me if you obligate me to participate in something that you don’t even deem important enough to pay attention to…”

“Aren’t you going to greet the mother of your child?” Amador asked Nick, interrupting the couple’s tift. He knew his daughter- if someone didn’t intervene when he did World War III would have been launched. In response to Amador’s question, Nick and Malu glanced at each other. Pretending to be in a relationship was going to take a little getting used to, especially if they expected to maintain an air of believability.

“Absolutely,” Nick said, nervously glancing from Amador to his daughter. Malu looked back at him with the same awkward stare. They’d purposefully spent the last week avoiding physical contact as much as possible.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this, Nick thought to himself. One-night stands are supposed to be just that- ONE NIGHT. One night to be totally free and uninhibited. You don’t have to worry about what the other person thinks about you- because it doesn’t matter. Because after that one night, you’re never going to see that person again. Or at least, that’s the way it’s SUPPOSED to happen.

Leave it to me to screw things up.

Nick wrapped his arms around Malu, his hands gently crossed on the small of her back. They both seemed to be holding their breathe as their bodies pressed closer together. Their lips came to gather awkwardly, as if kissing were a foreign entity. Nick wasn’t sure how far Malu wanted to go, and for some reason he was oddly scared she’d be angry if he jumped the gun. A slip of the tongue seemed a bit inappropriate, and a quick peck on the lips too informal. Nick settled for opening his lips only slightly, suckling on Malu’s full, pouty lips. If only Nick could forget his performance anxiety, he’d think back on that night and remember that the bottom lip was Malu’s sensitive point. Feeling Nick’s lips tug on her own, Malu couldn’t help herself. A low moan escaped her throat and pressed itself into Nick’s mouth.

Deeming the situation too sensual for his fatherly eyes, Amador uncomfortably cleared his throat. “Excuse me for a moment. I think I need to use the bathroom.”

The comment shook both Nick and Malu out of their dreamlike-state. Their kiss ended with the intensity of a 5K run. Both were relieved that they had succeeded in their first physical feat of foolery. Malu collapsed against Nick’s bare chest, absent-mindly playing with his sparse chest hair. A blush crept up Nick’s neck and into his face. Suddenly Nick was very aware of how self-conscious, and naked, he felt dressed in only basketball shorts. “Maybe I should put on some clothes.”

“Why?” Malu asked. Her eyes were shining as she continued on. “Its nothing I haven’t seen before.”

“But now you’re sober,” Nick pointed out. He pulled a gray gym shirt over his head.

Malu took a step closed to Nick, placing a hand on his shoulder. “You have nothing to be self-conscious about.”

Uncomfortably, Nick shrugged away her hand. His back to Malu, he began to speak honestly. Somehow, it was easier to do without having to look Malu in the face and see her reaction. “People think that just because I’m a pop star, I’m supposed to be built like Usher or someone. I’m just tired of hearing their flack when they realize that I am not.”

Malu turned Nick around by the waist. She pushed his shirt out of the way, placing her hands on his stomach. He quickly averted eye contact.

“Nick, look at me,” Malu directed. Grudgingly, Nick obliged. “I’ve lived in Los Angeles my entire life. This city is saturated with bleached blonde, silicon-filled replicas of Barbie and Ken. You, on the other hand, are real. Not plastic. It was the first thing about you that caught my eye.”

“Malu, I have a confession,” Nick said, sounding slightly embarrassed. “I’ve used my fair share of bleach and sun-in.”

Malu laughed. “That’s okay. I’ve been known to wear fake eyelashes, so I guess we’re even.”

The two chuckled for a few moments, easing the intimacy of their past few moments. When the laughter died down, Nick spoke up. “Just for curiosity’s sake, what made you so nice and complimentary all of the sudden?”

“I’m nice all the time,” Malu defended herself.

“Yeah, right,” Nick scoffed. “Nice for an ice princess. You know, I could be wrong, but I think that kiss of mine began to warm you up.”

Now it was Malu’s turn to scoff. “In your dreams.”

“You can’t deny it- you liked my kiss.” Nick insisted teasingly. By the smile on his face, Malu could tell he was enjoying every moment of their bickering. “I was just trying to make the kiss believable,” Malu said with a grin. “You know, for my dad.”

“Ah yes, your dad.” Nick repeated sarcastically.

“Someone talking about me?” Amador asked, as he finally exited the bathroom. “We were wondering what was taking you so long, Pop.” Malu lied. She crossed the room, affectionately linking her father’s arm within her own.

“I was admiring what a beautiful hotel room Nick has here. I believe you could fit our entire apartment in this suite.” By the tone in Amador’s voice, Nick could not tell if the older man was complimentary or envious.

“I guess it’s nice,” Nick nodded his head meekly. “To be honest, I’ve been staying here over a week and I haven’t really gotten the chance to check the whole place out. When you’re in hotel rooms as much as I am, they all tend to look the same.”

Malu collapsed onto a leather sofa, stroking it with admiration. “Well, if they all look as nice as this one, I think I’m going to like living out of a suitcase.”

A veteran of the road, Nick shook his head all too knowingly. “The novelty will wear off REAL quick. I’d much rather be chilling at your place in Torrance any day.”

Both Amador and Malu looked around, taking in the sights of the elaborate hotel suite. By the glazed-over expression on their faces, Nick could tell they were both thinking he was crazy. And he didn’t blame them. He probably felt the same way the first time he had stayed at a four-star hotel. But Nick could hardly remember, that was so long ago. His senses had since been numbed to feel any sort of amazement towards grandeur and prestige. Just wait, Nick thought. You’ll see.

“Speaking of the apartment, I better start for home,” Amador said reluctantly. And for a split second, Malu almost looked teary. “Come give your dad a hug.” Malu wrapped her arms around her father, hugging him tightly. She pressed her face into his shoulder and he stroked her head affectionately. Someday, Nick realized, that will be me and my daughter.

“Come and visit your mother in a couple of days, okay? She misses you?” Amador instructed his daughter. He was holding Malu at arm’s length, warmly pushing a strand of silky black hair out of her face.

Malu looked positively miserable as she nodded her head. “Of course, Poppa.” With an affectionate kiss on the cheek, Amador exited into the hallway. Malu stared at the closed door for a moment. When she finally turned around, she looked into Nick’s eyes with a look of pure disgust.

“What did I do?” Nick asked, raising his arms in defense.

Malu didn’t say anything. In fact, she barely even acknowledged Nick as she turned on her heel and marched promptly into the bathroom. The door was slammed shut behind her.

Dumbfounded, Nick pressed his ear against the bathroom door. Inside, he could hear that Malu was crying. One minute I think we’re sharing an actual moment, and the next, she’s locked herself into the bathroom crying! Nick had never understood why girls were so emotional. His sisters annoyed him to no end when they cried over spilt milk. But Nick didn’t know Malu as well as his sisters, and hadn’t yet learned when he could push her buttons.

“Malu?” Nick called out, as considerate-sounding as he could muster. “What’s the matter?”

“I- I don’t know,” Malu choked out amidst sobs. This wasn’t the feisty Malu whom Nick had been so attracted to that night in the club. This was the Malu sent to remind Nick how young she actually was. The was the Malu most reminiscent of the girl who had left the fateful message on his answering machine, ‘Nick, I’m pregnant.’ Agreed, Nick could not for the life of him understand what she was so upset about. But the vulnerable young girl, crying in the bathroom, brought out the protective, testosterone-induced side of Nick. He wanted to kiss her (again) make things better.

”Well then, why are you crying?”

“I don’t know. I just can’t help it.”

“Is it because you had to move out of your family’s apartment?” Nick suggested, trying to get to the root of the problem.

“I don’t know.” Sniff. “Maybe.”

“Because just a couple of days ago you were saying how happy you’d be out from under your parent’s eye,” Nick hoped to jarg Malu’s memory.

Sniffle. “I remember.”

“And the apartment is only 20 minutes away. You can visit whenever you want,” said Nick, who was now aiming for the sensitive approach.

“I guess you’re right.”

“So do you think you can dry your eyes and come out here?” Nick pleaded with every sappy boy band bone in his body. “Be fair to me here. I can’t be that terrible to live with, can I?”

The bathroom door opened and Malu stood before it with her hands on her hips. “Be FAIR here?!?! You had just as much of a part in making this baby as I did, right? But somehow I’m the one stuck with morning sickness, body disfigurement, and crazy mood swings! That doesn’t sound very fair now, does it?”

All Nick could do was laugh at Malu’s tirade. “There’s the blunt girl I’ve been missing all day!”

In response, Malu threw a tear-stained towel at Nick’s face. She marched across the hotel suite. Stripping a blanket and pillow off the bed, Malu subsequently tossed them onto the sofa.

“What’s that for?” Nick asked naively.

“You.” Malu directed. She pointed at Nick, then moved her finger until it was directed at a piece of hotel furniture. “That’s where you’re sleeping tonight.” Nick eyed the tiny love seat. He soon opened his mouth to protest. “But I’m 6’2”!”

“And?” Malu asked with an eyebrow raised, purposefully not seeing his point. Her arms were crossed over her chest, fingers drumming her forearms.

“And you just get a king size bed all the way to your little self?”

“I don’t want your penis or your sperm within 100 feet of me and a bed.” Malu explained. “Those boys can swim.”

“But you’re already pregnant!” Nick protested. “What else can happen?”

“I don’t know,” Malu answered. “But I’m not taking any chances.

Nick turned his back on Malu with a grunt. He got to work attempting to make a somewhat feasible sleeping space. My future daughter better be eternally grateful for all the shit her mother is putting me through.

“Oh, and Nick?” Malu interrupted his thoughts. “You better not snore.”

...to be continued...
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