CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT ~ A Romantic Dinner

   When the girls arrived at the home that Rachel and Nicole were sharing, Carrah stood speachless.  "You two live here?" she asked surprised.
    "Yeah.  Long story.  Come on in, we've got a girl who has a big date tonight," Rachel said.  "We can talk about it while she's gone....and then we can go and crash the guys place for a while," she suggested as the trio went to Nicole's room to help her select a blouse to wear on her date.
    "I think this blue top.  It will really bring out your eyes, Nicole, and make Jacob go totally ga-ga over you," Carrah suggested.
    "She doesn't need the top to do that.  He's already head over heals for her...and so is Trevor too actually," Rachel laughed.  "But I do think that that top is what you should wear."
    "I think I'm gonna go take a shower quick...I'll call you two when I need some help with my hair and make-up," Nicole said, giving them the hint to leave the room.
    "Alright.  Just holler and we'll be back in a flash," Rachel said as she took Carrah to give her a tour of the house.  As the two of them were sitting talking waiting for Nicole to call for their assistance, the phone rang.  "Hello?" Rachel answered.
    "Hi, Rach.  Rich here," the voice on the other end of the phone said.
    "Hi Rich.  What's up with the Lyte Ones?"
    "Not much.  Can I talk to Nicole, please?" Rich asked.
    "Umm...not right now, sorry.  She's in the shower at the moment...and getting ready for a date tonight.  I'll let her know you called though," Rachel answered, wondering exactly what Nicole was going to be involved in while she was in Orlando.  "Talk to you tomorrow, Rich, Night," she added before hanging up the phone.
    "Who was that?" Carrah asked, her curiousity getting the better of her.
    "That was another of Nicole's admirers from Trans-Con, Rich Cronin from LFO," Rachel explained. 
    "Oh...and she's going out with Jacob, who may not even make the band, instead of Rich who is already successful?"
    "She doesn't believe that Rich really likes her.  Besides, if she feels more comfortable with Jacob, she should date him, don't ya think?" Rachel asked wondering what Carrah's true motives were.  Before she could ask, Nicole was calling for them to come upstairs and assist with hair and make-up for her big date.
    At exactly 5:45 that evening, Jacob pulled up in the van that the hopefuls were sharing.  When Rachel opened the door and invited him in, he seemed a little dissappointed that Nicole wasn't the one to greet him at the door.  "Hi, Rachel.  I'm here for Nicole," Jacob said shyly.
    "Just a sec, Jake.  Geez...you'd think I was Nicole's over-protective brother or something.  Come on in, and I'll go get her," Rachel said as she ran up the stairs to let Nicole know that her date had arrived.
    "Rach, do I really look alright?  I don't want to embarrass Jacob at all," Nicole said nervously.
    "Nic, you look terrific.  I think you need to get downstairs, cuz your man is acting like the whole world is gonna break his neck or something, he's so nervous.  Come on," Rachel said.  "Now, wait until I say ready, I want to get his expression on tape when he sees you the first time," Rachel reminded as she went downstairs and told Jacob that Nicole wanted him to wait at the foot of the stairs.  Rach then went and got her video camera, and started taping before giving Nicole the signal to come downstairs.  The expression on Jacob's face was priceless, and he was left speachless when he saw Nicole descending the stairs.
    "You two look terrific together," Rachel and Carrah both agreed as they were interrupted by a ringing telephone, which Rachel went to answer quickly.  "Rich...I told you Nicole had a date tonight," she said without even finding out who was on the other end of the line.
    "Uhhh...I know she does, Rach.  I wanted to talk to my sister before she left with Jacob though," Ashley said, unsure of himself after the initial response he got to the phone call.
    "Sorry, Ash.  I'll get Nic for ya.  I thought you were someone else," Rachel said as she went to get her friend and roommate before she left on her date.  "Nic, your brother is on the phone for you," she said just before Jacob was able to escort his date out the door."
    "Alright...just one second, Jacob," Nicole said as she excused herself to take the phone call.  "Ashley, what did you want?"
    "Nic...be careful with Jacob tonight.  I know him, and I know what he's after.  Don't let him influence you to do something you don't want to do."
    "Ashley!" Nicole said surprised at what her brother was saying to her.  "Jacob wouldn't ever try to do something like that....not on the first date."
    "Nicole...I'm not stupid.  I know exactly what was happening with that kiss you and him were having the other day.  Just promise me you'll be careful and protect yourself."
    "I promise.  Now I better get going, or we'll be late for the reservations he has for us.  I'll talk to you tomorrow, 'dad'," Nicole joked before hanging up the phone and walking back towards the door where she had left Jacob waiting for her.  "Alright, I'm ready to go," she said.
    "Alright.  Rach, we'll be at the Cafe Trastevere if you need to get ahold of us," Jacob said as he walked Nicole to the van that he had gotten to use that night.  Once in the van, Jacob turned to Nicole and said, "I'm glad you agreed to come with me tonight.  I hope this place is as good as what the person that recommended it to me said it was."
    "I'm sure it will be great.  I mean, the company is the most important part of the whole evening," Nicole said sweetly, wishing that Jacob would kiss her before they left the driveway.
    Once at the cafe, Jacob and Nicole chatted so they could get to know one another better.  "I'm just glad that they didn't send a camera crew with us on this date," Jacob admitted.
    "I'm glad they didn't too," Nicole agreed.  "I thought for sure there would be someone here watching our every move."
    "How about we go dancing when we get done with our meal?" Jacob asked after their waiter took their orders.
    "Sounds like fun.  I've always enjoyed dancing," Nicole said shyly, glad that Jacob had suggested it.
    Jacob paid for their meals when they finished eating and led the way back to the van.  As he unlocked the door for the Nicole, he shyly bent down to kiss her before she could get into the car.  Nicole wrapped her arms around his neck, as Jacob pulled Nicole closer to him while he deepened the kiss with her.  When they broke the kiss, both of them looked away somewhat embarrassed by what had just happened.  "I'm sorry, Nic.  I shouldn't have done that.  Do you still want to go dancing with me?" Jacob asked after he climbed into the driver's seat.
    "Jacob, sweetie, neither of us should be embarrassed by that kiss we shared just now.  I've wanted you to do that all night, and I'm glad it finally happened, and I would love to go dancing with you," Nicole admitted hoping that Jacob would maybe open up and let her know exactly how he was feeling.
    Not long after Jacob and Nicole left the house, Rachel and Carrah decided to go and bother the guys who were left stranded at their amazing home that Lou was providing for them until the completion of the television series they were filming as the auditions for the group were being held.  "Hey, what's happening, guys?" Rachel asked as she walked in the door, greeted by cold angry stares from six of the finalists.
    "We are stuck here, not allowed to use the pool because Ikaika and Malia have claimed that as their 'sanctuary' for the evening and because Jacob has the van for his date with Nicole," Trevor admitted when no one else would say anything.
    "Well, you all agreed to let Jacob use the van this evening, so that isn't anything I can do about that.  As for Ikaika and Malia's decision, y'all share the house, let them know that they can't dictate where you can go in here.  You guys are going to have to be able to work together...and settle disputes without me or Mark getting involved all the time," Rachel said as Paul greeted Carrah with a deep passionate kiss, which brought a chorus of cat-calls and whistles from the others in the room.  "This time, I will go and try talking to them, but even if they don't agree with me, use the pool.  You are all supposed to share everything here," Rachel said.  "But if they are in the hot tub, maybe give them the privacy that they want, and just stay at the actual swimming pool," she suggested as she walked towards the door leading to the pool area.  "Ikaika, Malia, may I speak with you for a moment?" Rachel asked as she walked outside.
    "Uh, yeah, what do you want?" Ikaika asked.
    "This is our area for tonight.  So leave us alone," Malia answered at the same time.
    "Whoa...slow down there, Malia.  You're a guest here, don't be telling ME what to do, or you will be put on the next plane back to Hawaii," Rachel said as her fighting instinct surfaced.  "Ikaika, who do you think you are to tell the others they can't use the swimming pool at their home?"
    "I just wanted some time alone with Malia, and I figured it would be nicer for us to spend our time outside," he answered.
    "Yeah, well, I'm sorry.  I told the guys that they could come out here swimming if they chose too, but to leave the two of you alone in the hot tub.  You'll have to deal with that.  It is their recreation area also, I'm sorry," Rachel said as she turned around and walked back into the house.  "There you go guys, problem solved.  I'm assuming since Carrah arrived with you this morning that you've managed to figure out some kind of sleeping arrangement, correct?"
    "Yeah, she's staying in the room with Jacob, me, and Paul," Ashley answered.
    "Alright, as long as that's alright with her and the three of you, it works for me.  Sounds better than arguing with Ikaika and Malia about the original plan should there be two ladies here visiting at the same time.  Now go and enjoy the pool, since I told Ikaika you'd be using it," Rachel said.
    After spending some time talking with Erik in his room about his family and hers, Rachel went home, surprised that Nicole and Jacob hadn't made it back yet.  "Well, he's got another 15 minutes until curfew...I suppose he could make it from here to there in that time...but he better get Nicole back here soon, or he's gonna be in trouble," Rachel thought to herself as she sat down to watch the Late show on television.  Rachel woke up to the front door opening and glanced at the time on the VCR, "2:00?  That better be a burgler and not Nicole just coming home," she thought to herself as Nicole and Jacob tried to quietly tiptoe up to the room that Nicole was using.
    "Shhhhh...I don't want Rach to know that you broke curfew," Nicole said.
    "Well, I think she'll find out when I'm here for breakfast in the morning, in the same clothes I picked you up in last night," Jacob whispered back.
    "I think I'll find out right now, as you two make alot of noise trying to be quiet," Rachel said as she sat up on the couch.  "Jacob, you know the rules.  Get back to the house NOW, and see me during one of your breaks.  Nicole, you're an adult, and I didn't set any kind of curfew for you for that reason.  Just go on to bed, and remember...we have to leave for the studios by 7:30," Rachel said before she padded off to her own room to get some more sleep before she had to get up and go to work.  "What am I gonna do about Jacob breaking curfew?" she asked herself as she drifted off into a fitful sleep.

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