CHAPTER TWENTY ~ Moving Day

Rachel showed up at exactly noon, to start moving Nicole.  "Hey, guys, I've got a surprise for y'all," Rachel said as she found them all watching TV in the living room.
"What is it?" they all asked eagerly, hoping maybe she had found out already who the final five would be.
"Step outdoors, my boys, and you shall find out," Rachel said.  When everyone got outside they saw a Black Ford Windstar van.
"What's this?" Erik was the first to ask.
"It's the car that Lou leased for y'all to share while you're here.  Starting tomorrow, y'all are responsible for getting yourselves to Trans-Con.  Mark and I are off of chauffer duty.  Well, with the exception of Ashley, who I'll be picking up at 6:30, so he can be at his school sessions by 7 AM every day."
"6:30?? You must be joking.  I can't get up that early," Ashley protested.
"Yeah, well get used to it.  You will be up and ready to walk out the door.  If you make the band, you're gonna be up and ready to perform by that time quite abit when you start doing the talk show circuit.  Right now, it's the only time I could find in your schedule where you had 3 hours together that could be used.  I'm sorry, Ash, but that's the way it goes," Rach answered.  "For now, there will be two sets of keys.  Once Lou names the final five, all five will get a set.  As of now though, you need to work with the others involved to SHARE use of the van.  Although Lou is paying for the food down here, y'all will be the ones doing the shopping for it, as well as running any other errands you need to run.  Today, however," Rachel added as she noticed Paul and Ikaika both reaching for the keys, "the van will be in use moving Nicole from here to my house.  Who is going to be driving it?" Rachel asked Jacob, Erik, and Ashley.
"I'll drive," Jacob answered.  "Let's get it loaded up and ready to go."
All eight finalists, Rachel, and Nicole helped carry the luggage that Nicole had brought with her and the extra stuff she had purchased since she had arrived out to the van and Rachel's car.  "Alright, who's riding with me and who's riding in the van?" Rachel asked.
"Me and Nic are riding with Jacob in the van," Ashley answered quickly knowing that Erik wanted to have some time to talk with Rachel alone.
"Alright.  Jake, do you know how to get to my place?"
"Ummm...I think I remember, but I'll follow you, just to be sure," he answered.
"OK.  Let's get going.  After they get the van back, y'all are going to have to figure out someway to share use of the van, guys," Rachel said as she climbed into her car with Erik.  "So, I take it there was something you wanted to talk about, the way Ash jumped in that he and Nic were driving over with Jake," Rachel said, hoping to open up the conversation.
"Well, yeah.  What happened with you and Ryan last night?"
"Don't tell me you're jealous??" Rachel asked shocked.
"Well, yeah, I am.  I wanted to spend time with you...and I got stuck with seven strange guys from around the country instead."
"Erik, you know they aren't all strange.  I told you...I couldn't take you with me because of my contract.  Please, don't make this hard on me.  Ryan and I think we may have found a way around it, but he's gotta look into it some more.  Give me some more time, please."
"I know they aren't.  I was just upset that we didn't spend my first weekend in Orlando together.  I'll give you as much time as you need.  I just wish you would fill me in on what's happening," Erik said.
"Erik, I will, when we get to my house.  I've got more to tell you than just the plan I'm working on with Ryan," Rachel said, knowing that her reputation around Trans-Con would definitely be heard about by one of the guys, who would mention it to Erik and soon, and she would rather he hear about it from her.
"Rach...Rachel.  You can turn the car off now that you've parked in your driveway," Erik said snapping her out of her thoughts.
"Huh, oh yeah.  Thanks, Erik," she said as she went out to start carrying some of Nicole's things from her car to the bedroom she had designated as Nicole's.  Once her car was unloaded and Jake, Ash, and Nicole were wandering around the rest of her house, she took Erik into her bedroom to talk.
"Wow.  I'm priviledged.  I get to see your bedroom," Erik said joking.
"I only said that cuz I hadn't had time to clean it yet that day, Erik.  But, honestly, I have somethign I need to talk to you about.  I've been doing alot of work for Lou and Trans-Con since I moved down here, so I know alot of guys from different groups," Rachel started.
"Well, I expected you to know quite a few famous people," Erik said interrupting her.
"Erik, please.  Let me say this, without interruptions.  It's hard enough, seriously," Rachel said.  When he nodded his agreement to not say anything until she told him she was finished, she went on, "Well, at first, it was just a little job here, a little job there...and well, I met the Backstreet Boys.  I hit it off really well with the older guys from the group, and Howie is like a big brother to me...and his family has basically adopted me to be part of their family.  Well, anyhow, I ended up dating AJ a couple of times, nothing happened.  Then Lou signed NSYNC, and well, I really hit it off with JC, and well, we kinda ended up dating for a few weeks.  Honestly, nothing has ever happened other than some dates with the guys, but....I've gotten the repuation at Trans-Con as someone who dates around, ALOT, especially Trans-Con talent.  That's the other thing, Erik.  I don't want anyone seeing you as 'another of my Trans-Con conquests," Rachel admitted.  "Say something, anything, please, Erik."
"I can't believe you're using me to add to your list of conquests," Erik said shaken.  "Is that why you left me like you did after we spent that time in the Hot tub?" he asked, tears forming in his eyes.
"NO!! Erik...I love you so much," she said holding his face in her hands.  "That's not it...that's why I need to find away around the the clause in my contract, Erik.  Believe me, I love you so much."
"Then why did you go with Ryan to the party?"
"Erik, I've told you, I had to be there and he's my friend.  That's all you need to know."
Out in the backyard, Ashley was trying to give his sister and Jacob some space so that maybe, possibly, Jacob would finally get the courage to ask her out.  "Guys, I'm gonna sit out front," he said hoping that maybe that would help eliminate the shyness he could tell that both his sister and friend were hindered by.
"Ummmm...Nicole...." Jacob started.
"Yes, Jacob," she answered blushing because she knew her brother was doing his best to play matchmaker, no matter how much he didn't want to see her date any guy.
"Well, I was kind of wondering if...maybe....you'd like to go out for pizza with me tomorrow night?"
"I'd love to, Jacob," Nicole answered.  "I think we should let my brother know that he can join us back here again," she added.
"What?"
"Jake, I know my brother.  He was trying to give us some space, so one of us would admit to the other what we felt.  And, well, I've been attracted to you ever since I saw your face walking out the door of the house the night I came," Nicole answered blushing.
"Well, I thought I loved you from the minute that I saw your picture on Ashley's bedside table," Jacob admitted.
Back in the house, Rachel and Erik were still arguing about why she felt she needed to attend Lou's dinner party.
"Erik, are you jealous?" Rachel finally asked, understanding what was bothering him so much.
"Well, yeah, I am.  Why can you date someone else who just works for Trans-Con, but not any of the talent?"
"Erik, Lou wants all his talent to be single.  If there is a significant other involved before the group signs he won't say anything, nor does he say anything if his artists find love after they sign with him, but he doesn't want his employees to take his single, marketable talent off the market.  As far as you being jealous of Ryan, there really is no need.  He's involved in a monogamous relationship with someone," Rachel said, not wanting to go into all the details.
"So why didn't he go with her?" Erik asked.
"He didn't take his partner because Lou frowns on that kind of activity when he and others that wrk for him are trying to impress record company execs and other important people from national companies."
"His partner?" Erik repeated, finally getting the point of what Rachel was saying.  "You mean he..."
"Leans the opposite direction you and I do," Rachel finished.

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