Nick woke up slowly when he heard his cell phone ringing. He streched out his arm and after touching everything on the little table next to his bed, he finally got the phone and took it.
"Yeah?" he mumbled, still half asleep.
"Hey there winner boy"
"Um... who's this?" he asked and cleared his throat.
"Wanna take a guess?" the voice chuckled.
"Hey Lexy.." he smiled and opened his eyes.
"Hey! Was my turn to wake you up..."
"Oh..thanks.." he sarcastically said.
"No really...I'm sorry I woke you up... I just wanted to congratulate you for yesterday.." she said.
"Thanks...thanks a lot!" he replied. "You watched the whole show?"
"Yeah well I really good part of it. The song was great..you did a great job!"
"Well, thank you miss!" he smiled. "Um...what time is it?" he then asked as he turned on his side to look at the clock.
"It's nearly 2 pm... You had a great after-party I guess..."
"Yeah was fun! Well...the parts I can remember..." he laughed.
"Oh I see!" she giggled. "So...Do you have any plans for today?" she casually asked.
"I have no idea... I don't know if we have a meeting or something... what about you?"
"I'm working tonight. Beside that...I dunno...would you like to... I don't know...go out for dinner or something?" she asked, her heart beating fast.
"That'd be nice.." he smiled, putting one of his arm behind his head. "But let me check and make sure we don't have anything...can I call you back?"
"Yeah sure! I'm really sorry I woke you up.."
"No problem. Thanks for calling me! I'll call ya back in like...an hour or so alright?"
"Sure! ... Bye!"
"Later!" he said before to hang up.
He put his cell phone back on the little table and let his head fall back on the big pillow. He stared at the ceiling, trying to get his headache away but it didn't work so with a little difficulty, walked to the bathroom and stepped in the shower.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
*** During this time ***
Gaby layed in her bed, staring at the ceiling. She had waken up hurriedly, her heart pounding. She knew what dream she had had..she knew it wasn't the first time she had it... but this time was different. She usually was feeling safe and happy after that dream but this time she was completely scared...but she didn't know why. There was just this strange feeling inside of her and she really didn't like it. She sighed noisily, knowing she should talk about it with someone... but she knew what Lylian would tell her... 'go talk to Brian it might help' ... and she knew her friend was right. After a moment of thinking, she finally made her decision: she'd talk to him today. She slowly got up and went in the shower, humming a song. Ten minutes later, she turned the shower off and stepped out.
"Gaby... please open the door... I'm gonna be sick..." she heard Lylian's voice on the other side of the door as she pound hurriedly.
"What???" Gaby responded. She fastly wrapped a towel around her body and opened the door. She was about to ask something but didn't have time, Lylian ran to the toilet and threw up. "Damnit... " she sighed. "You okay??" she asked, when Lylian was finished and turned her head on the side.
"Everything turns around... " she weakly replied, grabbing the side of the bath to get up.
"Wait...don't stand up to fast... it'll be worst! Sit there a few minutes.." Gaby put an hand on her shoulder. She wet an handtowel and put it on the forehead on her friend. "Stay here...i'll be right back." she told her as she walked out of the bathroom and got dressed with blue jeans and a red shirt. "Feeling better?" she asked when she came back.
"Um..yeah..." Lylian replied. "My head...ouch..."
"Do you think you can stand up?"
"Yeah..." she said. Gaby helped her and they walked back in the room, where Lylian layed back on her bed.
"You should rest today..."
"Don't worry 'bout that..."
"Do you need anything?? I guess you're not really hungry..."
"Yuck..food..." Lylian replied. "No...thanks... "
"Alright! Well, I am hungry so... I'll go eat something...I'll be back in a few"
"Sure.. see ya later!" Lylian said, closing her eyes.
"Later!" Gaby smiled before to walked out of the room.
She made her way to the first floor where the restaurant was. She ordered a few things to eat and decided to take it up to the room. When she walked out of the restaurant, she turned a corner and arrived face to face with Brian and Mary.
"Hey guys!" she smiled.
"Hey..." Mary replied with yawn.
"As I can see...you had a hard night too?" she chuckled looking at their tired eyes.
"Yeah!" Brian said.
"That after-party had to be fun if you're all exhausted this afternoon! Lylian is even sick... you made her drink didn't you?" she accused with a grin.
"Oh poor thing... " Mary exclaimed. "We're not the one who made her drink... someone did but I don't know who..."
"Nick did.." Brian laughed.
"Damn...Deryck was suppose to look after her..." Gaby said.
"Oh well..maybe he did I dunno but...she was pretty wasted!" Mary said. "Is she okay?"
"No not really... But yesterday night when she came back she was alright.. I mean, she was obviously drunk but she wasn't sick..."
"Well, it's just an hangover.." Brian replied. "I just hope she'll get better soon 'cause we'll start to shoot the next video pretty soon."
"Well don't count on her for a choreography today 'cause... she has a major hangover!"
"Damn..that's no good.." Brian sighed. "Anyways, we'll let her rest...and I'll talk to ya later to tell you what's going on..."
"Sure... and um.... do you think we could...you know...talk sometime soon?" she asked, her eyes looking at the floor and then up to meet his.
"Of course! Whenever you want... today?"
"Yeah that'd be great... " she said.
"Ok well... what about later, before dinner? Let's say... um... here in the restaurant at 4, 4:30??" he asked with a wide smile.
"Yeah sounds good! Thanks!" she answered with a sincere smile.
"Alright! See ya later then!"
"Later! Bye guys!" she waved happily before to walked to the elevator.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
*** Meanwhile ***
"Oh listen to that... poor Lylian is sick and won't be able to make the choreography and I didn't have to do anything!" Ally giggled, hiding behind a wall as she looked at Brian and Mary walking in the restaurant and Gaby stepping in the elevator. "Now... let's just hope she'll stay sick for a couple of days... and then prove those guys I can do a better job than her.." she grinned and joined Brian and Mary in the restaurant.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
*** A bit later ***
Nick sat on his bed, his cell phone in hand. He took the little white piece of paper out of his pocket and dialed the number that was on it. After the first ring, someone answered.
"Hello! You've joined Lexy and Keri but we're not here at the moment so leave a message after the beeeeeeeppp..."
"Oh shut up!!!" Nick heard another voice. "Hello"
"Hey!?..." Nick laughed. "Lexy?"
"Yeah... it's me... Keri...hang up!" Lexy said with an annoyed sigh. Nick heard someone laugh and then a click. "Arg one day I'll kill her! Sorry 'bout that!!" Marilyne sighed.
"No problem!" Nick chuckled. "I'm getting used to it."
"I am not!!!" she exclaimed with a laugh. "Anyways! How are ya doing?"
"Not bad! what about you?"
"Great!" she replied. "So... have any news?"
"Yes I do! I'm totally free t'ill 8 tonight!"
"That's cool!" she said, trying to hide the excitement. "So...would you like to do something?"
"Sure... what would you like to do?" he asked.
"What about... you join me at the appartement and we..I don't know... hang out and then go for dinner?"
"Sounds good to me! I'll be there in what...half an hour..?"
"No problem! ... So... see ya later!"
"See ya!!" he smiled before to hang up. He ran to the bathroom and made sure he was looking alright. He put a bit of parfume and grabbed his wallet before to step out of the room. He went straight to Billy and told him what was his plan and a few minutes later, they went to the inside parking lot and left in a minivan.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
"Hey there.." Brian smiled, sitting in front of Gaby.
"Hey! How ya doin?" she asked, feeling a little nervous.
"That's no good... we're going to talk about the video tonight so...we'll see...anyways, that's not what I am here for!" he said with a smile.
"Yeah..." she replied. "So...um... where to start?"
"I dunno...is there anything you'd like to know? I can't tell you I'll remember everything 'cause it was a long time ago but I'll do my best..."
"Thanks...well..first of all... what is the babysitting thing?" she giggled. "I mean... I can't really figure you ...babysitting me.."
"Scary huh?" he laughed. "Well you're the only child I babysat in my teenage years... you were living in the house on the other side of the street... right in front of mine. It was a cute little house... " he said, searching in his memory to get the most details as possible.
"So I was living there...only with..." she paused and looked at her hands.
"With your mother..." he finished. "Alone with her. To think about it..I've never seen any other peole coming to your house...from your family I mean... "
"That's kinda weird... Do you know anything about my father?" she asked, her eyes searching for truth into his.
"Um... he died when you were really young...I remember my mother telling me..." he said, hoping she wouldn't get too hurt.
"Yeah...that's what I thought..." she sighed. "And what was my mother doing at night? Why were you babysitting me?"
"She was working t'ill like... 9pm so after school you were coming to my house and hang out t'ill your mother was coming home.."
"I see...and what were we doing?" she asked with a grin, curious to know what she had been doing with a backstreet boys.
"Mostly...music.." he answered. "Do you still play any intruments?"
"Oh well.." she said, surprised. "A little bit yeah... well, it's been a while since I've touched a piano or guitar... I don't know if I could play like I used too.."
"You should try...'cause really, you have a big talent... and I'm sure it's still inside of you."
"Maybe.." she smiled weakly. They continued talked for more than an hour. Gaby learned all sort of things about her past life and her mother.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
*** During This Time ***
Nick knocked loudly on the wooden door of Lexy's appartement. He checked his reflection in the window to make sure he was looking alright and a few seconds later, the door opened, revealing Lexy, wearing tight blue jeans with some square pattern at the bottom. She had a blue top, ending just above her bellybutton and her curly hair was falling down her shoulders.
"Hi ya!" she smiled brightly.
"Hey!" Nick replied before to kiss her on the cheek. "How ya doing?"
"Pretty good... what 'bout you?"
"Great!" he said as he stepped in the little appartement. It wasn't big but still, there was enough place for two people living there. There was a small bathroom painted pink and a kitchen linked with a modest living room with 1 big couch and a smaller one in front of a dark wooden table with a tv laying on it. There were 2 doors closed and he thought they were probably leading to their bedrooms.
"I know it's small and not as comfortable as an hotel room but... it's our house." she said, shrugging.
"It's really nice!" he said. "Believe me, hotel room aren't as comfortable..when you live in them all the time... you just get really bored!"
"Yeah it just doesn't feel like a home I guess..."
"Exactly!" he smiled, his blue eyes observing her. She looked at the ground shyly and looked back at him. "So... Keri isn't here?" he asked after a little moment of silence.
"Nope. She went out. " she answered, not saying that she left to leave the two alone.
"Okay!"
"Do you want anything to drink?" she demanded, leaning on the counter in the kitchen.
"No thanks..." he said, walking closer to her. She stared back at him and smiled. She just couldn't resist to his blue sparkling eyes and this sly smile he had on his face. He arrived in front of her and touched her face lightly with his hand. She closed her eyes, enjoying this soft sensation and when he pushed his lips against hers, she kissed him back with passion. She wrapped an hand behind his neck and pulled him closer. The kiss disconnected her from reality and when she finally opened her eyes again, she was laying on her bed, Nick on top of her, staring into her eyes. She had never felt something like this for a simple kiss and touch from a guy. Her heart was beating so fast she thought it was gonna explode. She defenitely wanted him.
"Oh my God.." she whispered, taking her breath.
"You okay?" he asked.
"Yeah... I'm..fine!" she answered, with a soft giggle. "Has anyone ever told you ...you are an amazing kisser???" she asked him with a sly smile.
"Um..yeah a few times.." he grinned. He kissed her neck slowly, savouring her delicate skin and went up to her right ear. "Want me to show you what else I am good at?" he whispered. She turned to face him and kissed him as a response. He took it as a yes and moved his hands under her top. A few minutes later, they were both naked under the covers, discovering each other's body.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
*** At the hotel ***
Everyone gathered around to eat dinner. Aj looked at their table for a moment, making sure Katya wasn't looking at him and he walked up to the table where Gaby, Deryck and Amanda were sitting.
"Hey there..Gaby, can I talk to you for a second?" he asked.
"Yeah sure..." she frowned. She stood up and followed him a few meters away from the table. "What's wrong?"
"Oh nothing... I just wanted to know...how your evening was yesterday?!!?!"
"Well...great!" she responsed, still frowning.
"You went to the club right? With Keri and Lexy?"
"Yep... it was cool!"
"Did Keri say anything 'bout me???" he suddently asked.
"What?!? Um...no ...not really.." Gaby answered, confused. "Sorry..." she added, seeing Aj's sad look. "You really like her don't you?"
"Damn.. she's haunting my days and nights!! I see her everywhere!!!" he said, smacking his forehead. "There's something wrong with me!"
"Well you just really like her... there's nothing wrong with that."
"But...I have a girlfriend.. and Keri doesn't even look interested with me..." he sighed.
"Ah you know women more than that...you're a Don Juan!" she grinned. "She's probably the independant type!"
"Yeah maybe!" he laughed at her comment. "Well, thanks girl!" he patted her shoulder and joined Katya at the other table.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
*** Later that night ***
"So...how was your date?" Brian asked Nick as they walked to Kevin's room for the meeting.
"Oh man... Amazing!" Nick replied, still not believing what had happened.
"You look like someone who got some..."
"Yeah...defenitely got it!!!" Nick laughed.
"No way! You did???" Brian exclaimed, wide eyes.
"Twice.." Nick chukled.
"Damn!! So..it's like...serious between you two?"
"Serious...I dunno..." he shrugged. "We'll see."
"So you'll forget 'bout Gaby...and Lylian?" Brian asked.
"I dunno...well nothing happened with them anyways! Kiss only...it doesn't mean anything!!" Nick sighed. "Stop talking to me about that!!"
"Okay okay!" Brian said as they knocked at the door. Kevin opened and they sat at different places in the bedroom. All the dancers were there, beside Lylian who was still sick. And the 5 Backstreet Boys were there also.
"So, what's going on with the vid?" Ally asked.
"Well, we talked to the director...we chose Jonas and we decided that we'll shoot some parts here, in New York so... it'll be like... in 2 days, Saturday, in a small studio where we'll shoot some individual parts. And then we have a little dance parts...it'll be Sunday night. So...we have to get a choreography done by then...and learn it!" Kevin explained with a very serious look.
"We have to get the choreography done and learned in 3 days???" Brian exclaimed.
"Yeah.." he sighed.
"Damn.. Lylian is sick.. " Brian told everyone. "I know she had started to work on it a little bit but...it's not done... and we don't know when she'll get better..."
"It's only an hangover!" Howie said.
"Well, not the way Gaby told me... and I think she should rest... "
"Well I could come up with something.." Ally said loudly. They all turned to look at her with curious glance. "Well, I've seen a little bit what she had in mind for the routine...I can continue it. I have a lot of ideas!" she smiled.
The boys looked at each other and shrugged. They had nothing to lose. And they knew Ally pretty well and were sure she was able to make a good routine.
"Yeah why not?!" Kevin said. "Listen, if Lylian is not feeling better tomorrow morning... you get the contract alright?"
"No problem!" Ally said before to smile devilishly.
