"Please, I have to see if Elisha is still rehearsing. Please call Mandy and tell her I'm going out with you for a bit!"

Brian looked at Nick and shook his head. "No way she'll fall for that, you hardly ever go clubbing!"

"Please, Bri, as my best friend in the whole world, help me out here?"

Kevin stifled a laugh. The one person Nick's pouts didn't work on was Brian, he knew Nick too well for that.

"Who's this Elisha?" he asked Nick.

Nick's eyes sparkled. "She's a dancer I met in the hotel gym yesterday. She's really pretty, funny, friendly, down to earth..."

"And 13 years older than him. She's 5 years older than you!" Brian interrupted.

Kevin looked thoughtful. "How do you know she's all that?"

"I took her out to lunch today. That's when I found out her age. We talked forever. You guys will love her!" Nick was bubbling over with enthusiasm.

Kevin threw Brian a look and told Nick the guys would come up with something to keep Mandy satisfied while he went to check on Elisha.

As soon as they arrived at the hotel Nick zoomed off for the gym.

Kevin pulled Brian aside and told him his idea. "Look if he's this hot for her, why don't we help him out? He needs to get away from Mandy and maybe this will be the start of that."

"Yeah, maybe this girl, woman, will be able to show him how real people treat each other in a relationship. Did you see that shiner Nick has tonight?"

Kevin nodded. "He wouldn't tell me how he got it, but I knew."

The two cousins talked some more and walked over to Howie and AJ to tell them the plan.

"Okay, who's gonna brave the fierce lioness and call her?" Howie asked.

"I'll call, Kevin." said Brian.

The guys leaned over Brian's shoulder, straining to hear. It was soon apparent they could hear every word. Brian hung up the phone and shrugged his shoulders.

"Ms. Willa is none too pleased. Nick's been ignoring her all day. She needs to see him. It's not fair. Put him on the phone. Blah, blah, blah!"

The guys burst into laughter over Brian's imitation of Mandy. He had her down cold.

"Hi Elisha!" Nick hollered out.

Elisha was just gathering up her CDs and workout clothes and stuffing them into her backpack. "Hey Nick! How was the show?"

He ran over to her, went to hug her and then stepped back. Elisha smirked, he was too cute for words. How many men today would do that?

Nick casually stuffed his hands in the pockets of his jeans. "Oh, it was good, really good! I wish you had been able to come, though."

"Well, I'd love to see it." she said. "We just have to get the schedules worked out!"

She looked up at him. His eye was now a ugly blue, black and yellow mixture, the swelling had gone down a bit, but it still looked sore. Elisha took his hand and pulled him over to the bench.

"Can we sit and talk for a minute, or are you expected elsewhere?"

"No." Nick grinned. "The guys are looking out for me tonight!"

"She came in here tonight and warned me to stay away from you." Elisha told him.

Nick groaned and covered his face with his hands.

"What is it about her, why do you stay with her?" she asked him.

"It's complicated." Nick said quietly.

"She gave you that black eye, didn't she?"

He just nodded.

Elisha sighed. "Nick, it's none of my business, what you do in your personal life. I'd like to be friends with you and friends talk. If you need to talk about this or anything, will you call me?"

Nick agreed.

She leaned over and hugged him. "I mean it, Nick! When you feel like you are ready to talk about this, call me. I want to help."