Chapter Nineteen ~ I Don't Want to Be Here
Rachel made her way out to the driveway, where a limo was pulling in which she assumed was carrying the boys from O-Town. When Rich stepped out she stood wondering what was going on.
"Rich, what the hell are you doing back here? I'm warning you if you do anything to hurt that girl you'll have a lot of people to deal with!"
"Rach, honestly, she's special. This isn't a joke relationship like the one that you and I would have, this is the real thing. I really like Nicole."
"Are you serious? She's eighteen years old Rich."
"Rachel, that doesn't matter to me. There is just something about her that makes me feel all good inside when I'm in her presence. Please Rach will you give me her phone number?"
"I don't know if thats such a good idea," Rach siad thinking back to the look on Jacob's face when Nicole had walked out the door with Rich.
"Well, if you don't, I'll find someone else that will!"
"Rich, wait, shes moving in with me tomorrow. Give it a couple days, so she can get settled and then give me a call, she'll be there."
"Thank, I owe you one," Rich yelled as he got back in his limo and waved at the O-Town boys who were just arriving home in Mark's van.
"Hey guys how was the concert?" Rach asked.
"It was great, excellent singer," all the guys but Jacob bounded out of the van.
"Jake, what's the matter?"
"He's spent the whole night worrying about what Nicole was doing with Rich," Ikaika joked.
"Shut up man! Atleast I'm not on the phone 10 hours a day like you are with Malia!"
"Yeah, cause you share a room with Nicole and still can't get any from her," Ikaika snapped.
"Ikaika, watch it thats my sister your talking about," Ashley jumped in.
"Yeah, your sister that would jump in bed with any one of us as soon as we asked."
Ashley and Jacob both lunged forward towards Ikaika, but was cut off by Mike and Paul both of whom knew how nasty this situation was going to get if it wasn't stopped.
"Alright, enough," Mark yelled. "Ikaika you come with me, Jacob you go with Rach and Ashley you and the others go inside with MG."
Rachel and Jacob walked around the side of the house where no one else could hear or see them. It was obvious to Rach that Jacob was upset and she didn't want to do anything to provoke him, but she wanted to get to the end of the problem that he was having with Ikaika.
"Jacob what is going on with you?"
"I love her Rach, and I can't be with her."
"Why can't you? I don't think I ever recall you asking her out or anything."
"I don't want to ruin the friendship I have with Ash, as I think I'm going to be spending a long time with him."
"Jake, you won't ruin anything you have with Ashley as long as you don't hurt his sister. I can see in your eyes that all you want to do is treat her right and love her and I honestly think that she has the same feelings for you. Look I know its known of my business, but I've seen the way you two look at each other and I see a connection. Another matter though is Ikaika, what the heck is going on with you two?"
"I don't like the guy, Rach. We don't get along and we never will. He never tried to be part of our group. He doesn't attempt to bond with any of us, and he doesn't like me anymore then I like him. All he ever does is talk on the phone to his girlfriend in Hawaii. If he's going to be this homesick all the time I can't trust my career in his hands."
"Jacob, are you the only one that feels this way?"
"No, everyone feels the same, but I'm the only one bold enough to voice my opinions. He always targets all his so called jokes at Nicole because he knows he'll get a reaction out of me and Ash, sometimes even Trevor. I'll tell you one thing though if he EVER says anything rude to her face like he does behind his back I'll plow him one!"
"You can't be thinking like that. You have to try to get along with him whether you like him or not. He is one of the finalist and I don't think he's leaving anytime soon. Malia his girlfriend is coming here from Hawaii on Monday. Maybe if you have a chance to get to know her you'll better understand him."
"I don't think so!"
"Jacob, just promise me that you'll try?"
"Yeah, I'll try Rachel, but I can't promise you anything."
In the front of the house, Mark was trying to get through to Ikaika and figure out what was going on with him.
"I don't belong here," Ikaika yelled. "I can't communicate with these guys. They aren't on my level!"
"Ikaika, have you honestly made an attempt to be their friends? From what I'm seeing, and from what I've heard the only thing that you have done is poke fun at people to get a rise out of everyone else."
"It's all in good humour," Ikaika snickered.
"Good humour is not calling Ashley's sister easy," Mark said as calmly as he could.
"I don't want to be here. The only reason I'm here is because my family wants me to do something good with my life in the music industry. The only thing I want is to be with Malia."
"Ikaika, if your going to make it through these next few weeks you are going to have to learn to adjust. Everyone here misses their family just as much as you do, but they are putting that behind them so that they can give these auditions all they've got. This is all I'm going to say for now. Please, no more fighting with anyone!"
"Yeah, I'll try, but if they get on my case..."
Mark sighed, "No BUTS Ikaika! No more fighting! Do you understand?"
Ikaika shook his head and headed off into the house where MG was finishing his talk to the rest of the guys. Everyone was sitting in the living room and looked up when "the enemy" walked in.
"Where is Nikki?" Ashley asked.
"She's in her room," Jacob announced walking through the door. "I saw her light on from outside."
"Okay, guys, we have to get going, Ash, Jake, Erik, Rachel told me to remind you that your helping to move Nicole tomorrow. Behave or we'll kick all of you out of this house and invite the other 18 people back that didn't make the cut the first time," Mark warned.
Everyone made there way to their rooms and settled in for the night. There were a few discussions going on in some of the rooms about that nights happenings, but otherwise all was quiet other then the hum from the air conditioning.
The next morning Nicole was up early and moving quietly around her room packing some of her stuff trying hard as to not to disturb her brother and Jacob. She was interrupted by the ringing phone and ran to answer it before it woke anyone else up.
"Hello," she spoke quietly into the receiver.
"Who is this?" the female voice on the other end asked.
"It's Nicole, and who may I ask is calling?"
"Nicole, it's Shelli, your brother's girlfriend."
"I know who you are Shelli, but what exactly do you want at 6:00 in the morning?"
"I want to talk to Ashley. He hasn't phoned me all the time he's been down there and I'm assuming it's because you told him not to," Shelli said snobbily.
"I don't tell my brother what he can and can't do Shell. If he wanted to phone you he could have, but since he didn't I guess that he's had other things on his mind."
"Whatever, you told him not to phone me! You saw this as the perfect oppurtunity to get me out of his life. Well I've got news for you Nicole, its not going to work! Go get Ashley NOW!"
"He's sleeping, but I'll tell him you phoned," Nikki slammed the phone back down in its cradle.
"Whoa, girl whats going on?" Trevor entered the kitchen.
"Nothing, just Ash's girlfriend," Nicole huffed. "I hope I didn't wake you. She just makes me sooo mad!"
*Ring* *Ring* *Ring*
"Trevor, it's Shelli guaranteed, don't answer it!"
Trevor picked up the phone against Nicole's will and began speaking..."Hi, you've reached the guys of Making The Band. We're all unable to come to the phone right now, so if you want us to get back to ya leave a message after the beep. See ya! Beeeeeeeeeep."
"Ash, honey, it's Shell, phone me when you get a chance please."
Jacob entered the room a few minutes later to find Nicole and Trevor both on the floor laughing so hard that tears were flowing from their eyes. "What's so funny guys?"
"Ash, Shell, Message, Trevor," Nicole gasped for air.
"Whoa," Jacob laughed. "I have no idea what your talking about, but I'm sure you'll tell me later. Anyways, Ash told me to tell you to get moving and pack your bags. Rach is gonna be here at noon."
"Thanks sweetie, I mean Jake," Nicole blushed as she took the hand that he was offering her to get up off the floor. She followed him into the bedroom and with the help of her two roomates packed her stuff and was ready and waiting when Rachel arrived at noon.