CHAPTER EIGHTEEN ~ All Dressed Up

   Saturday, Rachel went over to the O-Town house to help Nicole get ready.  Her friend Ryan had agreed to pick her up there as well, so she took her own dress to change into also.  When she got there, she found Nicole staring at her dress.  "What's up, Nic?  You look disappointed about your dress," Rachel commented.
    "It's just that, well, I don't have any thing to wear with the dress," Nicole said.  "I forgot my jewelry at home, and well, mom hasn't sent any of my other things yet."
    "Well, I'll call your mom and see when she is going to send the rest of your stuff out here on Monday while you and Ash are taking your classes," Rachel offered.  "But now, let's get ready for our 'dates'."
    "Alright," Nicole answered as Jacob and Ashley both walked into the room that they were sharing with Nicole at the time.
    "Guys, there are girls getting ready in here.  Knock next time, will ya?" Rachel said.
    "Why?  We share a room with Nicole.  There isn't much that we haven't seen already,"  Jacob joked.
    "JACOB UNDERWOOD!!!!  YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING!!!!!!" Nicole yelled getting upset.
    "Sorry!  Sorry!  I was only joking," Jacob answered.  "Next time I'll just yell for Erik so he can see the woman he loves."
    "Jacob!  Erik doesn't love Nicole.  Why call him?" Rachel asked, trying to deflect speculation about her relationship with Erik.
    "I meant you.  You may think you're fooling everyone, but we can all see how much he cares about you.  I think it was really low of you to lead him on the way you did in the hot tub the other day, only to announce in front of everyone that you couldn't date him because of your contract with Trans-Con," Jacob answered.
    "Jake...cool it," Ashley said, sensing that Rachel was about to blow up at his friend.  "We just came in to get different shirts to wear to the concert tonight," Ashley answered.  "We'll be out of your hair in just a second."
    "One.  You're taking too long, Ash," Rachel joked.  "Jacob, as for your comments.  Mind your own business.  What I do is of NO concern to you, do you understand me?" Rachel asked as she backed him into the door of the room.
    "I'm sorry, but it does concern me, because it concerns one of my friends," Jacob shot back.
    "No, Jacob, it doesn't.  If you put your nose into my business again, you're gonna be without it or something else that I'm sure you value as much as your life," Rachel said, upset that he thought he had anything to do with anything.
    "RACHEL!" Ashley and Nicole both said at the same time.
    "I'm serious.  Anything that has happened is between me and Erik.  Jacob has no part in it unless we bring him in, and since Erik isn't here to bring him in, he isn't involved....END OF STORY!  Now get  your stuff so us girls can get gorgeous for our dates."
    Once Ashley and Jacob were out of the room, Nicole looked at Rachel and said, "Rach, I don't think you should have yelled at Jacob like you did.  He's only looking out for his friend.  Isn't that something you'd look for when you select the final five."
    "Nic, I have no say in who the final five are.  Honestly, right now, I'm making some plans for the promos the guys are going to be doing starting in March or April, once the show is on the air," Rachel explained.
    "Well, ummm...can I ask you something?"
    "Sure, what is it?  Then I want to see this killer dress you've got picked out," Rachel answered.
    "Well, have you found anything out yet?  I know Erik would like to know what's going on," Nicole asked, afraid of how Rachel would react.
    "Listen, what I'm going to tell you, I want you to find a way to let Erik know, without the others finding out."
    "OK, what is it?"
    "Well, it seems that the clause reads that I can't START DATING TRANS-CON talent while I'm under contract.  So, I'm hoping that I'll be able to delay signing my official, post-graduation contract with him a couple of weeks after my co-op contract expires.  That way I can start dating Erik during those couple of weeks, and Lou can't really say anything, cuz I won't be employed by him when I start dating Erik.  That's all me and my friend Ryan could come up with.  My buddy just wishes that I could go to this party with Erik instead, because he absolutely HATES the parties Lou throws," Rachel explained.
    "Well, why is he going if he doesn't want to go?  Couldn't you go by yourself?  And how do you know he or someone else in the department won't tell Lou what you're going to try to do?"
    "First, he's going cuz he's my bud.  He knows I don't really like them anymore than he does, so if we're together, it's kind of bearable.  Second, I could, but since I don't like them much, I'd rather not.  Third, he's my friend, and he's the only one I've been talking with about the whole plan.  He'd never rat me out to Lou.  He agrees with me that that clause shouldn't be in any contract of any employee here at T-C."
    "Thats cool....Dang...it's almost 6:30 and we haven't even started getting ready yet.  Rach, can you help me get this dress on?"
    "You bet," Rachel said as she helped zip up the back of Nicole's dress for the evening.  "Oh, Nicole, it's gorgeous," she added after seeing the floor-length black gown.  The dress had a V-neckline in the front with a small cluster of faux diamonds at the tip.  The back had a deeper V cut, and there were smaller clusters of faux diamonds where the spaghetti straps attached to the main part of the dress.  "Girl, you look great.  I think I've got the perfect necklace with me for you to borrow.  I wasn't sure what I was going to wear with my dress, but this one definitely goes with your outfit," Rachel said, pulling out a bag containing a gold chain with a large diamond shaped pendant that appeared to be all diamonds.  "Before you think this is that great, they're all fake.  I couldn't afford a real diamond if my life depended on it," Rachel said. "Now, what to do with your hair?"
    "Well, I was thinking I could wear it up, with some ringlets framing my face, and my junior prom court tiara," Nicole offered.
    "Nicole, that will look totally awesome," Rachel said, as she worked on arranging Nicole's hair the way she had described before they worked on getting Rachel ready in her dress.
    "Rach, that colour is definitely you," Nicole commented when Rachel came out of the bathroom wearing her strapless emerald green dress which came down to her knees.
    "Thanks.  I appreciate that.  Can you help me put this necklace on, please?" Rachel asked as she pulled out a necklace with a small emerald pendant attached and matching earrings.  "Dang, I almost forgot.  These will really make your outfit," Rachel said as she offered a pair of dangly-diamond earrings to her new friend.  Just then, someone knocked on the door of the room.
    "Nicole, are you ready yet?" Ashley asked through the door.  "Your date is here," he added as he walked back down the hall.
    "Oh my gosh, what am I doing?  I can't believe I'm going out with Rich Cronin," Nicole said as she checked to make sure she looked fine in the mirror.  "Rachel, are you sure I look alright?  I don't want to embarrass you, Rich, or Lou."
    "Nic, you look tremendous.  Rich won't know what hit him when he sees you," Rachel said honestly.  "Just remember, act like everyone there is just a friend of yours from Redding, and you won't have any problems."
    "Thanks, Rachel.  Did you want to go over with me and Rich?" Nicole asked as the two of them walked down the hall towards the living room.
    "Nope, Ryan is going to pick me up here in about ten minutes.  Thank you for the offer though," Rachel said.
    "Ms. Angel, you look wonderful," Rich said as he stood up when she enterred the room.  "You too, Rachel.  Why couldn't I have the pleasure of escorting both of you to the party Lou is hosting tonight?"
    "Because, I know you too well, Richie-baby," Rachel joked.  "Just remember, I'm going to be there and if you do anything to hurt Nicole, you'll pay for it babes, got it?"
    "I know....I know," he replied.
    "Nicole," Jacob was finally able to get out of his mouth after the shock at just how good the girl he loved looked.  "Please, don't leave with him tonight.  Come with us to the concert, please," he begged the girl of his dreams.
    "Whoa, how did your sister end up looking so great?" Paul whispered to Ashley.
    "I don't know...I didn't realize she looked that good, myself," Ashley replied as Rich and Nicole made their way out to the limo that was waiting for them.
    While all the joking was going on about Nicole and the way she looked Erik pulled Rachel aside.  "Rachel, you look great.  Please don't go out with anyone else."
    "Let's talk, somewhere else though," Rachel said as she and Erik walked towards the room he was currently using.  "Erik, I have to be at this party.  I'm sorry, but I can't not go.  I promise, I'm working on a way out of the clause in the contract, I'll explain more tomorrow while you, Ashley, and Jacob help me get Nicole's things moved to my house.  Just trust me, I'm doing my best," Rachel explained as Jacob yelled for her because her 'date' was there.  "I've got to go, please, don't act like this is a big deal.  I promise, Ryan and I are only friends.  Have fun at your Phoenix Stone concert with Mark and Mark.  I'll see you in the morning," Rachel said as she made her way to the front door.
    "Rachel, you look great as usual," Ryan said when he saw her.  "Let's go or we'll be late."
    As they were walking out to Ryan's car Mark and M.G. were walking up the walkway.  "Rach, what you doing here?  Did you move in?" Mark joked.
    "Uhhhh...yeah...I moved in and have been doing Ashley for the past week," Rach joked back.  "Not hardly.  I just came to help Nicole get ready to go to Lou's party tonight, so Ryan was a sweetie and came here to pick me up instead of making me go home first," Rachel explained.
    "Rach, can I ask you something?" Mark asked; "In private," he added when it looked like Ryan wasn't going to leave her side.
    "Yeah, I'll be right there, Ry," Rachel said motioning for him to keep walking towards his car.  "What did you want?"
    "What are you going to do about the crush Erik has on you?" Mark asked bluntly.
    "Erik knows I can't date him due to my contract with Trans-Con, Mark.  He's dealing with that.  I don't know what else I could do, other than not work with them at all until after the final five are announced."
    "Rachel, you need to make sure it doesn't seem like you and Erik are involved in some sort of relationship.  I'm just telling you this for both yours and Erik's sakes.  He's a good guy and I don't want to see him get hurt.  Make sure you nip his attrraction for you in the bud," Mark warned.
    "I gotta get going.  I'll think about what you're saying, but no promises on anything, cuz I don't think it's anything to worry about," Rach answered as she went back and got into Ryan's car for the drive to Lou's.
    The party at Lou's was really swinging...and everyone was having a good time, except for Ryan and Rachel who both would have rather been somewhere else.  "Rachel, I can't believe you didn't tell me who all was going to be here," Nicole said when she finally found her friend and roommate.
    "Well, Nicole, I wasn't sure who all was going to be here.  Hey, Rich, Devin.  You treating my friend alright?"
    "Of course."
    The party went well, and Rachel and Ryan were among the last guests to leave, even though they both swore they hated the dreaded T-Con parties.  They both knew that it was always fun the following day at work to goof on the new bands Lou would introduce at the parties, because of the way they acted like they were all some big-time musical group like the Beatles or something.  When they got back to the house that the guys from O-Town were sharing, they found Nicole and Rich sitting on the steps.  "Hey, what's wrong?  Why are you two sitting out here?"
    "I don't have a key...and Ashley still isn't back yet," Nicole said, somewhat upset that she was forced to sit and wait for her brother to get home.
    "Well, let's see what I can do about that," Rachel said with a smile before she went to her car and pulled out a key ring.  "Hmmmm...now which key was it for the house?" she asked herself as she tried several keys that looked like they would be house keys.  "Ahhh...here it is," she exclaimed as she felt the door open.
    "Well, since you are now safely in your home, Ms. Angel, I bid you adieu, until the next time we meet.  I had a wonderful time.  Please, search me out the next time you're at the Trans-Con facilities," Rich said after giving Nicole a good-night kiss and before turning and getting back into the limo which was waiting for him.
    "Wow.  I've never known Rich to sit and wait for any of his dates to get into their houses before, Nic.  I think you've got a new boyfriend," Rachel joked.
    "Well...we did have fun at Lou's tonight, but I don't think he thinks of me like a girlfriend.  He only asked me to go cuz you told him no," Nicole said.
    "Nic, that's me and Rich.  We joke around about us going out, cuz, well, honestly, I've been on at least one date with a guy from every band that has gone through Trans-Con, with the exception of LFO.  I can't even claim O-Town as an exception, because I love Erik so much it's killing me to not be able to go out with him.  Anyway, Rich knows where I stand on dating him.  He's a good friend, that's all.  He knows when he asks that I'll always say no to him, but he wants to be the Lyte One that I date," Rachel explained as she helped Nicole with the zipper on her dress.
    "So is that what you're doing to Erik?  Using him as your one member of O-Town to date?  I think he has a right to know about that, Rach."
    "Nicole, I'm not using Erik for that.  Hell, I don't like the fact that quite a few people at Trans-Con think of me as a female player.  I can't help the fact that I've been attracted to the guys in the groups Lou helps get started.  That's the whole point, they are attractive to women, and I'm a woman.  Anyway, as far as me going out with so many of them, it was only when I wasn't doing some kind of internship for Lou through school, and well, nothing ever 'clicked' with any of them, if you know what i mean."
    "Yeah, but I think you need to let Erik know about your 'history' with other Trans-Con talent," Nicole answered.
    "I will....oh and no need for you to tell him what I asked you to earlier.  I talked to him after you left, and told him I'd explain all tomorrow while he helps me, Ash, and Jake move you to my place," Rachel said.  "Now, are you sure you'll be alright here by yourself until the guys get back?  I could stay if you wanted me to."
    "No, that's alright.  I'll be just fine.  Thanks for the use of your necklace and earrings."
    "No problem.  I'll see you tomorrow around noon-ish, so try to make sure your stuff is packed, alright?"
    "OK, see you then," Nicole answered as Rachel walked out of the room.

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