"Hey Nick, can you come here for a minute?" Kevin called out to him.

"Yeah , what's up?"

"I was just wondering...Jesus Christ, what happened to your eye?"

Nick lowered his head and mumbled something Kevin couldn't hear.

"Did she do this to you Nick?"

Nick avoided Kevin's gaze and refused to answer.

Kevin sighed. "Let me help you cover it up a bit better, okay?" Kevin turned to the makeup case and shook his head. He knew it was pointless to say anything to Nick. For whatever reason he refused to leave Mandy, she had some kind of hold on him.

Mandy stomped into the dressing room and started complaining about the fans. "Why are they always booing me? Can't you make them stop it?" she yelled at Nick.

"Maybe they just cheer for the real talent, WILLA." AJ smirked.

Mandy shot him a look and swung around to glare at Nick again. "Where were you all day, no one saw you all morning!" Nick turned away from her, but Mandy grabbed his arm and pulled him back to her.

"I went out for lunch with a friend, okay?" he said, miserably.

"A friend?" she snorted. "Who do you know in Texas?" she considered for a moment. "Did you go out with one of those dancers from yesterday?"

Brian, Kevin, Howie and AJ tried to ignore the verbal beating Nick was taking, but Mandy was getting louder and louder.

"What in hell does he see in that bitch?" AJ questioned.

Brian shook his head sadly. "I think Nick is starting to wonder that too."

"Well, this is getting out of hand." Kevin declared, and walked over to the couple. "Okay Mandy, people can hear you out front." Kevin said, pulling her away from Nick. "Nick has to finish getting ready for the show."

As soon as Kevin had her far enough away from Nick he grabbed her by the shoulders and gave her a hard shake. "Look, Even though Nick won't tell me, I know you gave him that shiner. I don't know why he puts up with it and I guess it's not my business. But when it starts to interrupt a concert, or an appearance by the group, it is my business. Lay off of him in public or you'll be off this tour so fast you won't know what hit you." Mandy struggled to get out of his grip. "I mean it Mandy. Nick got you on this tour, but the rest of us can get you off of it. And there's nothing I would enjoy more."