| "Bubby, can't we please just talk about this?" Ayzlin pleaded. It was a week since she and Nick had gotten into the fight over the phone. Now, they were sitting in Nick's hotel room. "Ayzlin, there's nothing to talk about," Nick replied, coldly. "Yes, there is. We need to talk about why it bothers you so much that I'm dating Peyton. Justin told me that you probably wouldn't like it, but I figured since you told me that you cared so much about me and you are supposed to be my ' big brother' that you would deal with it and not blow up like that." " Listen. While I am sorry that I chose to blow up at you instead of handling it calmly, I'm not sorry that I'm not being supportive of this. You don't know how Peyton can be, Ayzlin. You really think you've got Peyton all figured out, but you're wrong. You haven't seen what I've seen." "I know that Bubby! Is that all you can say?" Ayzlin said, getting the feeling that there would soon be more screaming. "I'm just trying to get my point across. I'm sorry if trying to do what's best for you is getting annoying," Nick said sarcastically, his voice raising. "Nicholas Scott Lachey! I am 17 years old! I think I pretty much know by now what's good and what's not for me by now! I learned how to take care of myself when you and Drew left, okay? I'm a big girl now, why can't you understand that? I can understand you being the big brother sometimes, but back off a little sometimes, okay?" There was the screaming Ayzlin had expected. "Alright, we need to stop this before it gets out of hand," Nick said after a long silence. "Ayzzie, you are so important to me. I would never want to see you hurt or angry. I shouldn't have been so quick to think that Peyton is still like I've seen. It will probably be different with you. I will try to be more supportive of you from here on out, okay?" "Thank you. I'll talk to you next time there's something about to happen or there's a problem, okay?" Ayzlin offered. "Great. All better now?" "All better." The two stood up and hugged, extra tight. =============================================================================== The next day, Peyton took Ayzlin to a movie. They sat close to each other, and talked while waiting for the movie to start. "It's alright, Peyton! Nick's okay with it now. We talked about it last night and he's fine with it now. Oh, Peyton, I've haven't been this content in such a long time." He smiled at her and the movie started. She smiled back. /I never want this to end.../ =============================================================================== "Drew, seriously, he's so perfect. And Bubby's okay with it now, too. Life is so perfect right now," Ayzlin gushed as she and drew lay on the bed in her hotel room reading magazines. "It's nice to see you so happy," Jeff commented as he walked in, Justin trailing behind him. "Yeah, it is, " Nick agreed. Ayzlin looked up at the door and saw him leaning in the entry way. "Mind if I join the party?" "Nope. C'mon Bubby!" Ayzlin exclaimed. The five then continued to laugh and talk through the night, just enjoying each other's company, something they hadn't done since the karaoke night. =============================================================================== The next few weeks went by, and to Ayzlin, it seemed as if the radio tour went by in days. The next thing she knew, it was three days before the actual tour. Christmas had already come and gone. Ayzlin went home and spent the two weeks she got off being a high school senior and enjoying the Christmas break. The New Year's holiday she spent with 98 Degrees and the roadies- and Peyton. The two had become inseperable. Peyton and Ayzlin were always seen together and every so often, he could be found watching her practice. When three days before the tour rolled around though, Ayzlin wasn't thinking about much else besides vocals and choreography. She dreamed about it at night, concentrated on it during day-long practices and went over it in her hotel room at night. The day before the tour, Scot called her into his office. She drove over there, realizing how drained she felt. " Ayzlin, I'm giving you today off," Scot told her. 98 Degrees was standing behind him. "I can't take off! I've got to practice," Ayzlin exclaimed. "No, you don't need to. Ayzlin, you can't get any better than you are now. You've drained yourself out. You need a day off. Take it- it's not a suggestion, it's an order from your employer," Scot urged her. "Alright fine. What do you suggest I do with this day?" She gave in, knowing inside she needed this day. "Have fun, be a kid. Spend a day with Peyton. He's been getting lonesome," Jeff told her mockingly. She laughed and nodded as she left Scot's office, bidding goodbye to her four friends.. She called Peyton and agreed to meet him at the food court in the mall. Chapter Eight |