"Where did he say he would meet us?" Keri asked Marilyne as they arrived in front of the big luxurious hotel.
"In the hotel..." she shrugged.
"That's pretty clear!" she laughed, looking at the huge hotel.
"He'll probably be in the lobby!" Marilyne replied, feeling butterflies in her stomach just at the thought of seeing tons of artists but mostly, to see Nick again.
"Let's get inside then!" Keri shouted, leading the way to the front door. They stepped in, looking all around. A security stared at them up and down but smiled and said something in a walkie-talkie. "So...where is he?!"
"I dunno... " Marilyne nervously answered, hoping he would be there soon.
"Um sorry, we're here to see our friend Nick.." Keri asked the big security guard.
"He'll be here in a few seconds!" Billy replied kindly.
"Thanks!" she smiled. "So...let's just go sit in this big couches!" she added, walking toward the living room of the lobby. "You okay Lexy? You look terribly nervous!"
"I am!" her friend sighed.
"What for?"
"Oh no reason...we're just going to the rehearsal of one of the most prestigious award show in the world and we'll pass the afternoon with one of the most famous boy group in the world... " Marilyne simply replied.
"Don't get too impressed Lexy... they are just normal people. You said it yourself, Nick is a kind and very normal 21 years old boy!"
"I know! I'm just a little stressed, that's all!" she said. She turned around to look at the entrance and at this moment, Nick walked in, his hands in the pockets of his blue baggy jeans. He was also wearing a black t-shirt with some white drawings on it and his hair was spiky.
"Hey!" he instantly smiled when he saw them both.
"Hey!!" Marilyne replied, beaming. "How are you doing?" she then asked, standing up.
"Fine!" he said, kissing them on the cheek. "What about you two?"
"Great!" the two girls answered.
"Thanks for coming!"
"It's out pleasure!!!" Keri smiled widely. "We couldn't say no to that offer ...right Lexy?"
"Yeah..." she nodded, not really paying attention to what she had said. She couldn't take her eyes off of Nick; he was looking so good.
"So...um...you girls ready to go?" he asked.
"Of course!!" Keri shouted. "Let's go!"
"We gotta go in the parking lot so..follow my lead!" he smiled.
They walked to the parking lot exchanging a few words. Keri was a lot more talking than Marilyne and Nick wondered why she was looking so shy around him now.
"Here we are...now, I have to introduce you to everyone.." he said, looking at the crowd. "Most of the people of the crew like technicians and others are already gone..."
"Ok! So who are all these people?" Marilyne asked, looking at all those new faces. She reconized some of the girls and boys she had seen at the club for the last 2 nights.
"Mostly dancers... there are my 4 mates and their girlfriends.."
"Cool!" the two girls said at the same time.
"Ok...here we go..." he said as they approached the crowd. He introduced them to everybody, saying they were two friends. He noticed Lylian and Gaby's puzzle look but act like it was nothing.
Aj couldn't help but stare at Keri all the time. He couldn't take his eyes off of her. She was wearing tight dark blue jeans with a white baby-t and her hair straight down on her shoulders. He felt angry at himself because he couldn't talk to her since Katya was grabbing him tightly by the arm. He just wanted to pull her away and go talk to Keri. But she was standing in front of Brian and Mary, talking animatively with both. He saw her smile and heard her laugh a couple of times and everytime his heart was skipping a beat.
They hopped in 3 different buses, Brian, Mary, Nick, Marilyne and Keri in one, Aj, Katya, Kevin, Vickie, Howie and Michelle in another one and finally the dancers plus Gaby were all stuck in the third.
"It's the girl from the club right?" Lylian asked Gaby as they sat on a bunk of the bus.
"Yeah..." Gaby answered, a little angry, mostly at herself for being so stupid. Why would Nick be different than the other guys? But something inside of her was telling her that maybe Lexy was just a friend... she would see how things were going that and how he would act with her and then she'd decided what she was going to do.
Lylian too was feeling like a fool. But she couldn't tell Gaby what had happened...she was too ashame of herself now. She had totally fell into Nick's game and now, she was feeling hurt. She knew she shouldn't have taken this kiss seriously but she had always been taking things too seriously and it was her biggest problem. She pushed Nick away from her mind, knowing she couldn't stand a chance with Lexy.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
*** In the second bus ***
"How did you know he was going to ask the two barmaids?" Kevin asked in Vickie's ear.
"Well, it was obvious... with Aj there I mean... he's so into Keri..." Vickie whispered. She didn't want the others to ear, especially Katya because she knew it would ruin everyone's afternoon.
"Yeah...I dunno if it was such a good idea to accept..."
"I think he would have called them even ... " Vickie shrugged. "Anyways, they look nice..."
"Yeah that's right." Kevin sighed. "Anyways, we'll see!" he smiled and kissed her.
Aj looked through the window, wishing to be in the other bus with Brian and the others. He wanted to much to see her. He didn't now what was attracting him so much to her... her smile, her eyes, the sound of her laugh,... everything together? He sighed and looked over at Michelle and Howie who were smiling and looking into each other's eyes lovingly. His eyes then moved to Vickie and Kevin who were exchanging a kiss. He then turned to Katya who was reading a magazine at the other side of the couch. How come he had never lived a love relationship like his friends? A relation that seemed so easy... so simple... His was passing most of his time now thinking about how awful his own relation was. He didn't know what to do. He didn't want to be alone...
"I didn't know Nick had barmaids friends..." Katya's voice broke his thoughts.
"Uh...I didn't know either." he shrugged, not really wanting to think about it.
"Are they really his friends or are they just two bitches he fucked yesterday?" she giggled. Aj felt his blood boiled with anger but didn't reply anything. She didn't have the right to say such things... how could she be so gentle and so evil at the same time? "That's what I thought..." she laughed evily.
"They are some friends." Aj simply replied, looking through the window. "And what happen in his bed isn't my business..."
"Oh sorry!" she chuckled and rolled her eyes.
They arrived in the Big Apple half an hour later and parked in the huge inside parking lot of the Radio Music City Hall building. Security leaded them inside the big building and in the backstage area.
"Wow... " Marilyne whispered, looking at the empty stadium. "I don't know how you you can stand up in front of that much people.." she told Nick as they walked on the stage.
"We got used to it I guess!" Nick shrugged with a smile. "I have to admit, it's a lot more stressing to be here than a normal concert because we have to show the whole music world what we can do... and sometimes it's not really easy."
"I'm sure you'll do great!" she warmly smiled.
"Thanks! Will you make an exception and watch tv tomorrow night?"
"Of course!" she giggled.
"Ok guys!!! Let's go!!" a stageman shouted.
"You can go sit with the girls ..." he told her, motionning the front row seats.
"Thanks! Good luck!" she said as she jumped off the stage and joined Keri and the other girls in the audience. Nick smiled at himself and ran up to his bandmates.
"We'll do a small soundcheck first so... we won't need the dancers now...but you can practice." the stageman said. The boys put their microphone around their head and when everything was ready start their little soundcheck. Lylian and the other dancers took this time to practice the routine a little as the people in the audience watched with interest. Half an hour later, the sound of their voices and musicians was okay and they were ready to practice with the routine. The guys had not practiced the dancing-singing yet so they were all a little nervous.
"Let's do this like yesterday guys... " Lylian ordered. "Everyone in place!" she shouted as the lights went down for a moment and went back on as the musicians started playing the song.
The girls watched what was going on in front of them with open mouth. Gaby felt extremely proud of her bestfriend. She had done a wonderful job and she knew the artists that would be there the next day would be really impressed.
"Who came up with this choreography?" Keri asked Gaby.
"Lylian...the girl dancing with Nick right now.." Gaby answered, her eyes not leaving the stage. She noticed Lylian was looking straight in Nick's eyes, but no smile on. Could she be mad because he had brought his friend with him? Maybe she was more into him than she thought...
"Wow! She's really good!" Keri replied. "Are you one of the Boys girlfriend too???" she then asked. Nick had introduced them to everyone really quickly so she couldn't remember everything.
"Oh! No!" Gaby smiled, turning to her. "I'm a friend of Lylian... "
"And you follow her on tour?"
"Yes!"
"This is really cool. You must have a good time!"
"Yeah I do..." Gaby said, smiling weakly.
"It's cool you can come to all those kind of events..." Keri smiled.
"Actually, I can't." Gaby giggled. "Each of the boys can bring their girlfriends or a friend but that's all...I'm not going."
"Oh that's too bad!" Keri pouted.
"I'll watch it on tv!" Gaby shrugged.
"I didn't think I would watch it... but I really wanna see how it will be!" Keri said, looking at the stage again. They had stopped dancing and were beginning again. "It sucks we have to work at the club...at least, we a tv behind the counter..."
"You do?" Gaby asked with a giggle.
"Yeah! There are some night where it's so boring and there are only 10 people in the club...so...we watch tv or listen to music!" Keri smiled back. "That's the only place we do it though... we never watch tv... It's just a way to waste time and look at worlds people want you to think are better.."
"I know what you mean... " Gaby sighed. Keri turned to her and smiled kindly.
"You know what? If you're all alone tomorrow night... join us at the club and watch it with us! It'll be more fun!"
"Oh well... yeah why not?!" Gaby said happily. "Everyone will be gone..."
"Cool!!" Keri replied with a smile. She then turned on the other side to look at her friend who was gazing at Nick on stage. "Watch out, you're about to drool...." she jocked.
"Huh? What??" Marilyne came back to reality.
"Just kidding!" Keri laughed. "Girl...this guy has quite an impression on you doesn't he?"
"Ker...look at him...how can he not make an impression on you??" Marilyne sighed, staring at the tall blond man dancing on stage.
"I dunno but you can keep him.." Keri grinned. She had never seen her friend so much attracted to a guy. She just hoped Nick was a nice guy and wouldn't hurt her. She, on the other hand, had an eye on someone too..."Just be careful... you know...guys sometimes..."
"Yeah yeah.." Marilyne replied, not really paying attention to what she had said.
Nick danced widly to the music, trying to show how good he could be. He wanted to impress Marilyne. He peeked at the girls for a second and his eyes locked with hers for a moment and she smiled at him. He smiled back and continued the routine, as he sang the chorus of the song. He then saw Gaby, two seats on the right...she was staring at him with a weird look. Was it anger or sadness? He felt guilty and he made a funny face to her. He saw her eyes lighting up and she giggled softly to herself.
"Let's do the couple routine part another time.." Lylian said. "There's something wrong... "
"Yeah you..." Ally mumbled to herself. Fortunately, no one heard.
"Everything is perfect Lyl!" Brian told her.
"No... there's something... missing..." she frowned.
Everyone stood around her, wondering what she was thinking about.
"Ok, I got it!" she suddently exclaimed. She explained them what she was thinking aobut; it was only a few steps more, what was making the dance a little faster than it usually was. They didn't know if it would change that much in the whole presentation but they agreed to do it and practiced.
"I don't see what a huge different it does..." Nick told Lylian as they danced.
"You don't but people in the crowd does..." she simply replied.
"O-kay.." he said and concentrated on the steps. He didn't know what to tell her... but she was looking a little pissed off and he had an idea why. The rehearsal went on great except that there was always something bothering the guys or Lylian.
"Will they practice with their costumes?" Marilyne asked.
"No, they never practice with the costumes... it's too bad because it's usually really funny!" Mary giggled.
"Have they chosen their outfits yet?" Vickie said. "Kevin didn't tell me..."
"Yeah they did but only the dancers have seen it..." Mary replied.
"I just hope they won't look ridiculous...because sometimes...they do..." Michelle added as the other laughed.
Aj tried his best to concentrate on the movements of the choreography. He had a hard time to focus because he knew Keri was watching.
"Come on Aj... you can do it.." he heard Lylian say behind him as they did the chorus. He sighed noisily, unable to get his mind straight. When the chorus ended, Amanda joined him in the front because it was time for the couple part.
"Don't make me trip this time.." she grinned as they danced. He smiled back and suddently got a new energy. He took her hand and spinned her around. "That's better..." she added.
"We'll show them what we can do..." he smirked and leaded her on an totally other dance. Amanda laughed but followed him.
"Waah stop... guys, please...can we concentrate on the routine... please?" Lylian pleaded with a sigh.
"Sorry.." they both giggled.
"It was pretty good though.." she said.
"No no, your routine is perfect!!!" Brian exclaimed, knowing she was thinking about something. "We keep it the way it was.."
"Yeah... or we'll all get mixed up tomorrow night.." Nick said.
"But I'm sure what they did would be a lot more cool..." she replied.
"No!!!" Howie and Kevin shouted.
"Come on Lyl... we love your routine and it's perfect the way it is alright??" Brian told her, looking into her eyes. He could feel she was scared and wanted everything to be perfect. He remembered what Gaby had told him the night before... yes she really was a perfectionnist... but she also wasn't really confident yet.. She stared at him for a moment and saw he was sincere.
"Alright..." she sighed.
"You could do something like this for the routine of the video...no?!" he proposed.
"Yeah maybe..." she smiled weakly.
The reheasal finally ended as another group of people took place on stage. The guys went backstage and the girls joined them a few minutes later.
"Ready to go back at the hotel?" Kevin asked everyone. "Everyone is here?" he added, looking all around.
"Yeah I think...no wait, where's Nick???" Brian said with a frown.
