CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE ~ Picking Up the Problem
Jacob smiled, and nodded his head. He was disappointed that he wouldn't be able to take Nicole out on the date that he had promised to her, but was happy that she would be staying at the studio with him that night so that atleast during breaks and such they would have some time to talk.
"Mark, can I speak with you?" Nicole looked at the head of security.
"Sure, beautiful, what's up?"
"Alone, please," Nicole suggested as she looked at everyone that was surrounding them.
The two walked out into the hall and down towards a free rehersal room which was not in use that particular day. "What's on your mind, Nicole?"
"I'm sick and tired of Ikaika ruining things for everyone else," Nikki blurted out not sure if she was overstepping her boundaries.
"I know something has to be done about Ikaika, but I didn't realize it was this bad."
"This bad?!?!" she screamed. "Mark, it keeps getting worse. The guy is a jerk and because of him all the others in the band are suffering. I've seen first hand what he has been doing and I don't like it one bit. I realize that they all have to have a certain number of hours in the studio before a final decision can be made, but this is ridiculous!! Sure they were all immature with not phoning to let anyone know where they were or what they were doing, but Ikaika is the main cause of all this. I was looking forward to my night out with Jacob and now because of some STUPID IDIOT, my night has been ruined. Why should they all have to pay for the stupidity of Hawaii?"
"Whoa, girlie, your quite the fiesty one aren't you?" Mark laughed. "I don't have any say in rehearsals. My responsability is to keep them inline and safe. I understand your concerns, and I promise you that we will have a meeting with all the big wigs about what is going on, but as for your plans for tonight, I'm sorry, but you are going to have to change them to another night."
"Yeah, I already know that," Nicole rolled her eyes back and sighed. "Mark, I'm sorry for taking this all out on you, but I didn't know who else to talk to. Rachel has heard it all before and hasn't done anything about it as has Lou, so I was hoping you could maybe talk to Ikaika?"
"I'll do what I can sweetheart, but until then I need you to stay strong and calm about the situation. No more outbursts like we just had right here."
"Understood," Nicole agreed.
"Would you do me a favour tonight?"
"That depends what it is," Nicole answered.
"Would you go with Rachel to pick Malia up at the airport?"
Nicole took a deep breath, knowing that she wasn't looking forward to meeting the famous Malia, but politely agreed to accompany Rachel knowing that it would probably make for a more friendly atmosphere.
At around 1:30, just as the boys were taking a break, Nicole and Rachel got ready to go to the airport. Jacob ran to the girl he wanted to badly to date, and asked where she was going.
"I have to go get Malia with Rachel, but I promise I'll be back later."
"Promise," Jacob flirted taking her hands and pulling her in close to him.
"Hmmm, give me a good reason to return," Nikki smiled batting her long eyelashes.
"Will this work?" Jacob asked as he pulled her around the corner to a more secluded area and pressed his lips up against hers.
"Hey, Romeo, I need to steal your Juliet," Rachel joked.
"It works for me," Nicole blushed as she followed Rachel down the hall. "We'll pick up where we left off later," she yelled behind her.
"Looks like you and Jacob are getting pretty close," Rach commented on the car ride to the airport.
"I don't know," Nicole smiled. "I like him a lot, but he's taken so long to make any moves."
"He's shy around you Nikki, which is surprising because from the others I'm told that Jacob is one of the outgoing ones. I think personally he's a bit of a perfectionist and he doesn't want to ruin any chance he may have."
"He won't ruin anything," Nicole assured. "I've never met a guy that I've liked as much as Jake," she forced herself to exit her daydream as they pulled into the airport parking lot.
Nicole and Rachel went to the snack bar in the cafeteria and got a drink while they sat and waited for Malia's flight to land. Neither knew what this mystery girl looked like, but Ikaika had phoned her and told her to look for Nicole who would be wearing a Florida Panthers hockey jersey which was lent from Trevor.
"It smells like Trev's cologne," Nicole giggled as she slipped the jersey on over her sweater. "I just hope she knows what the Panther's jersey looks like."
"You know what, I never thought about that," Rach panicked. "What if she doesn't know what the jersey looks like? A lot of people are wearing hockey jersey's."
"Then we just leave with out her," Nicole joked. "It wouldn't be a big disappointment to all the guys to not meet Malia."
"NICOLE! That's not nice at all."
"I'm sorry Rach, I was only joking."
Just then a petite girl with dark hair and eyes approached the two girls. I'm Malia. Take me to Ikaika," she demanded.
"Well, it's nice to meet you Malia," Nicole smiled grinding her teeth. "I'm Nicole and that's Rachel. We'll be escorting you back to Trans Con."
"Yes, Ikaika told me. Now please can we go?"
"This way," Rachel motioned mouthing at Nicole, who was obviously frustrated, to keep calm and refrain from any comments.