CHAPTER SIXTEEN ~ Celebrity Sightings
The next morning, Ashley woke up and wondered where Jacob had gone to during the night. He didn't think much of it, nor did he think much of it when his sister wasn't in her bed. She had always been more of a morning person than he had. When he walked towards the living room, he was stopped by Bryan. "Man, I don't know that you want to go in there."
"Why wouldn't I want to go in there?" Ashley asked confused when Paul came up to him.
"Yo, Ash, I think you are letting the wrong one of us stay in your room with you and your sister," he said, stepping aside so Ashley saw his sister and Jacob cuddled together on the sofa, sleeping peacefully.
"NICOLE!" Ashley yelled, waking up both of the people sleeping on the sofa. "What are you doing?"
"Huh? I was sleeping...what did it look like I was doing?" Nicole asked confused.
"Well, why weren't you in your bed? And why were you cuddled up with Jacob?" Ashley asked, upset that his sister may wind up getting hurt by one of his potential bandmates.
"Ashley, chill out," Jacob said, hoping he could calm Ashley down just a little bit. "Your sister needed someone to talk to last night...and we must have fallen asleep while we were talking. Nothing happened, man, I swear it," he added, even though he was thinking, "but I wish something had."
"I know...I'm just not used to finding my sister waking up in the arms of some guy," Ashley said. "I'm sorry for yelling, Nic, forgive me?"
"You know something, big brother, I don't think I will this time," Nicole said trying hard to keep a straight face, but she blew it when she burst out laughing. "You know I will, Ash. You're my big brother and my best friend. How can I stay mad at you?"
"I don't know," he said smiling as Mark came walking in the front door.
"Alright, I see the good influence Nicole has had on y'all hasn't continued today. Let's get ready guys. We have places to be and things to do," Mark said as all the guys scurried around the house to finish getting ready for their rehearsals that day.
When everyone was at the door, Jacob asked, "Where's Rachel with the second car?"
"Well, I'm the one they're paying to play chauffer. She called me early this morning and told me that she wouldn't be here, just so I wouldn't leave any of y'all behind waiting for her to get here. She said she had to be at Trans-Con for an early morning meeting about something," Mark explained. "Now all nine of ya, move your butts and get in this here van."
Everyone was crammed into the van, and both Erik and Nicole hoped that Rachel would have the time to drive them home that evening. It was bad enough driving in all crammed into the van, and Erik didn't want to think about what it would be like after they had all been sweating for several hours. Once they reached the Trans-Con studio, Nicole pulled Erik aside, and said, "I know you are worried about Rach. I'm gonna go and wait for her in her office. If Ashley asks where I am, just tell him I wanted to look around a bit, please."
"Yeah, I'll do that. Thanks, Nicole. You're the greatest," Erik said as he hurried into the vocal studio that they were using as Nicole walked slowly down the hallway.
She was busy looking at the pictures of the groups that lined the walls of Trans-Con and she kept finiding it hard to believe that she was standing in the same hallway that Nick Carter and Justin Timberlake had walked down previously. She was so caught up in looking at the pictures that she didn't realize that someone else was in the hall, so it startled her when she bumped into someone. "Oh, I'm sorry," Nicole said as she turned and looked into the eyes of Rich from LFO, which was also part of the Trans-Con family.
"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to run into you, miss," Rich said politely.
"Ohhhhh....You're Rich," Nicole said, surprised to be meeting one of her favourite singers.
"Yeah, I am. Who are you beautiful angel?" he asked as he kissed her hand.
"Uhhhhh..." Nicole stammered as Rachel came down the hall.
"Hey, Nicole, Rich. How are you two doing?"
"I'm fine, Rachel," Rich answered. "Just trying to find out who this angel is in front of me."
"Well, that is Nicole Angel," Rachel answered seeing that Nicole was in a state of shock at seeing Rich.
"Oh, so this angel really is an Angel," Rich said laughing. "Well, I must be getting to our rehearsal, ladies. I hope to see you again soon, Ms. Angel," he added as he turned and rushed into one of the many rehearsal studios along the hallway.
"So, Nicole, why aren't you watching your brother and the rest of the guys," Rachel asked as Nicole continued staring into space. "Nicole. NICOLE!!!" Rachel yelled until Nicole finally realized someone was talking to her.
"Ohh...hi Rachel, I didn't see you there."
"Yeah, I wonder why?" Rachel joked. "So you like Rich and LFO, huh?"
"Ummmm...yeah. I can't believe I actually bumped into him," Nicole said.
"Yeah, well from the way your brother acts, get used to seeing him and other celebrities," Rachel said. "So, why aren't you watching your brother?" Rachel asked again.
"I just wanted to look around a bit," Nicole answered. "And I was hoping to find you, too."
"Well, you found me. What did you want?"
"Rach, what's going on with you and Erik? Are you going to try to find a way to be able to see him?"
"Nicole, I'm trying to find a way out of it...but I don't know what's going to happen," Rachel answered truthfully. "Did Erik send you to talk to me?"
"Well, he kinda said something to me...but he didn't send me or anything," Nicole answered.
"Let's take this into my office, if ya don't mind," Rachel said, sensing that Nicole wanted more answers than what she wanted anyone else at Trans-Con to hear.
"Sure, let's go," Nicole said as she followed Rachel down the hall. Once in the office, she turned to the older girl and said, "Honestly, what is happening between you and Erik?"
"Honestly, I really like him alot, but like I said last night. Right now there is a clause in my contract that says I can't see him. I've been talking to the legal department here since 7:00 trying to get a feel for whether or not I could get that clause removed somehow...or trying to find a way around it. So far, no luck," Rachel admitted. "Please, let Erik know that I'm trying hard to find some kind of loophole for us. I can't stand seeing him, knowing that I want to be more than just friends with him, but can't," Rachel said as she broke down crying.
"Rach, I'm sure you'll figure something out. I know Erik will be happy to know you're trying to find a solution so you can be together," Nicole said sweetly.
"Thanks, Nicole. Now, how would you like to go and watch LFO and their rehearsal?" Rachel offered as she stood up.
"I'd love it, Rach," Nicole answered excitedly. "Do you know Justin Timberlake and the guys from NSYNC?"
"Yeah, I know those guys. I've done some other smaller jobs around here all the while I've been in school, so I know all the guys from NSYNC and from Backstreet too," Rachel answered. "Oh, and Nic, what I told you about me and Erik, don't mention it to anyone else, please," she added.
"No problem. You get me to meet LFO, and I'll keep any secret you want me to," Nicole answered.
"Hey, mind if you have an audience today?" Rachel asked as she poked her head into the dance studio that LFO was rehearsing in.
"Come on in Rachel. We'd love your opinion on something," Devin answered.
"Well, do you mind if I bring a friend with me?" Rachel asked as Nicole followed her into the room.
"Ms. Angel, we meet again," Rich said taking her hand and bringing it to his lips.
"Ummm...hi, Rich," Nicole said shyly.
"Brad, Devin, this is Nicole Angel. Her brother is one of the candidates for O-Town," Rachel said introducing Nicole to the other members of LFO.
"It's nice to meet you, Nicole," Brad and Devin both replied.
"Come on in and give us your opinion too, please," Brad added. "We're trying some new moves for Summer Girls, and we'd love your opinions. Us guys just don't seem to know what to do to make the girls all swooon while we're dancing."
"Well, I can tell ya that without even seeing your new routine," Rachel answered.
"What is it?" Devin asked.
"Show some skin, boys," she answered laughing. "Seriously. Skin causes girls to scream. You'd think they never saw a guy with no shirt before, but it works every time."
"Tell us what you think of the new dance anyway," Rich said, his eyes never leaving Nicole. When they finished the routine they were working on, Rachel looked at her watch and noticed that it was about time for O-town to have a break, so she excused herself and Nicole to go and join those young men. "I loved the new dance, guys. You'll really get them swooning with it, especially if you take off your shirts," she said. "Oh, Rich, did you find a date for the dinner Lou's throughing at his house this weekend?"
"Not yet. Are you sure you won't go with me?" he asked.
"Sorry, hun. No can do, terms of my contract," Rachel answered, knowing that he was only joking and wishing she could take Erik with her.
"Well, can't blame a guy for trying," Rich answered back. "How about you Ms. Angel, will you be attending Lou's dinner party?"
"Ummmm...I don't know," Nicole answered, finally over her shyness. "My brother didn't say anything about it."
"Her brother and the rest of O-town aren't included in this weekends party, Rich. Lou wants them to check out Phoenix Stone, to see what some of the Trans-Con talent can do," Rachel added.
"Well, Nicole will you be attending the show with your brother or would you be so kind as to escort me to a boring dinner party at Lou Perlman's house this weekend?" Rich asked hopefully.
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