Chapter Eleven ~ Out of Service
Before the boys started their dance routine, Nicole ran to her brother to get his cell phone off of him.
"What do you need it for?" Ashley questioned.
"I need to phone mom."
"Rachel will let you use the phone in her office for that, as long as your not talking for too long."
"Ash, please. You know how Racehl's office is, people coming in and out all the time. This call is kind of personal. I don't want all of Trans-Con knowing all my problems."
"Is everything all right?" Paul came over sensing that there could possible be a problem.
"Everything is just tine," Nicole smiled. "Ashley was just about to gve me his cell phone so you can get back to your practice."
Ashley sighed and pulled the phone out from his back pocket. although he hated to admit it, Nicole had him wrapped around her baby finger. She wasn't only his baby twin sister, she was his best friend.
Nicole took the phone and went outside, hoping to find some privacy. She dialed her parents phone number back in California, but instead of her mother or step-father picking up she got a recorded message. "This number is no longer in service. The new number is unlisted."
"That's odd," Nicole thought outloud, before dialing her and Ashley's private number.
"The number you have dialed is no longer in service. For more information press "0" to talk to an operator."
Nicole pushed the "0" and an older woman picked up on the other end. "hello, how may I be of service to you today?"
"I'm inquiring about a phone number, 585-1017. It should be registered to a Mr. Ashley Parker Angel," Nicole said calmly.
"Miss, I'm afraid that phone number is no longer in use. It comes up on my computer as being disconnected."
"That's impossible! That's my phone number!"
"I'm sorry Miss," the operator said as she disconnected Nicole from her line.
"Nicole?" Jacob snuck up behind her.
"Huh?" Nicole jumped, startled by the company.
"Is there something the matter?"
"Um, no, everything is wonderful," she replied tears welling up in her eyes.
"Do you want me to go and get Ash?"
"No need to. Did you want something Jacob?"
"Yeah, I volunteered to come and get you. Rachel wants to start the dinner meeting and she said that you should be there," he answered offering his hand to help Nikki up from the curb she had been sitting on.
He pulled her up, and she collapsed down into his arms. "Nicole, are you feeling alright?" he asked holding her up.
"Fine, it's just the heat. Be a doll and show me to the meeting room," she forced a smile to her face.
Jacob put his arm around Nicole's waist practically carrying her to the door that led into the meeting room. Once they got inside and were seated, Rachel started the meeting.
"First off, I'd like to apologze to Trevor, for excluding him from the sleeping arrangements," Rachel laughed. "I talked with Ashley earlier today and I think that we've got everything worked out. As long as Nicole and Jacob are agreeable, Ash agreed that he would be alright with the idea of Jacob staying in the room with him and his sister."
"Ah, why is Jacob the lucky one?" Trevor whined quietly to Paul he was seated beside him.
"Oh, stop it," Paul laughed, remembering the shy glances Nicole and Jake had shared during lunch.
Nicole looked up to Jacob, who had a smile plastered on his face the size of Europe. When he saw her looking he began blushing and hung his head. "That's fine with me, as long as Nikki doesn't mind."
"No problems here," she said quietly and shyly.
Rachel went on to further explain the new rule of the length of visits people were allowed and everyone was in agreement. She ended the meeting with a recap of tomorrows schedule, before everyone ate the hamburgers that had been placed infront of them. After dinner they proceeded to the cars to get a ride back to their home. Rachel, Erik, Ashley, Jacob, and Nicole in the car and Mark, Trevor, Mike, Paul, Bryan, and Ikaika in the van.