Lylian was sleeping peacefully on the couch, listening to the latest cd of Janet Jackson when the feeling of being watched woke her up. She got the hearphones off her head and opened her eyes slowly. What appeared in front of her just froze her blood.
"W...wh..what are you doing here???" she asked, jumping up and facing him.
"Not happy to see me??" the tall black haired man sneered.
"What do you want William??" she snapped, not moving a bit, her cold glare deep into his.
"Well, I wanted to pay a little visit to my girlfriend... that YOU took away from me..but since she's not here...I guess you'll pay for her.." he said with his deep voice, walking closer to her.
"Go away!!!" she shouted, wrapping her arms around herself. "I won't let her go back with you!! And she doesn't deserve to live with an asshole like you!!!"
"You Bitch!!" he screamed, slapping her face with his strong hand. Lylian yelped in pain and put an hand on her cheek. "She was pretty fine with me! You're the one who took her away from me so you're gonna fucking pay and she'll come back!!" he added. He didn't leave her time to answer, grabbed her by the hair and pushed her against the wall. "You heard me??? You had no fucking right to take her away like this!!! It's all your fault!!!" he whispered, as he wrapped an hand around her neck and held it tight.
"She wanted to come..she doesn't love you...she never will!" she choked and spat in his face. He groaned with anger and after wipping off his face with his other hand, hit her as hard as he could. She fell on the floor, tears streaming down her face and tried to move away but he kicked her on the stomach. She rolled on the back, pain filling her body, and he kicked her again a couple fo time on the side as she screamed for help. Without another word, he left her on the floor and walked out of the room.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
*** Back at the present ***
The Boys went on stage and tried their best to give their fans a good show. At least, when they were on stage, they could forget everything and just enjoy the feeling of being entertainers. The fans didn't seem to see that something was wrong...except that some of them could tell there was a dancer missing. After two exhausting hours, the show ended and the guys came back into reality. As soon as they got backstage, security pushed them in the tour buses and they headed back at the hotel.
"Where is Gaby?" Brian asked Mary.
"Marcus took her at the hospital... She will call us to say what is going on.."
"Anyways they don't want us to go to the hospital ....Damn... I can't believe this is happening. Did they find out who did it?"
"I think they did... well they know who but they didn't get him..." Mary sighed. Brian stared at her, wanting more. "A guy called William... I don't know.. Gaby seemed really shocked...and really scared when she learned it. She started shaking and crying... she didn't want to say anything more...did she talk to you about it?"
"No... "
"Well... I guess we'll found out sooner or later. They didn't arrested him but at least we know who he is... and we'll know what he looks like."
"Yeah..."
"You tired?" she asked.
"Yeah... it's been a hard night..." he sighed. She kissed him softly as the bus stopped in the parking lot. Everyone got off and headed to their room.
"Call us when you know anything alright?" Amanda asked Mary.
"Sure..." she answered with a weak smile.
"You're pretty silent tonight.." Deryck told Ally as they hopped in the elevator. "I never thought you'd be so touched by what happened to Lylian... "
"I'm not touched.." Ally snapped.
"Then what is it? There's defenitely something wrong 'cause if not, you'd be all smiley right now... "
"That's really what you think of me? That I don't give a damn about her?"
"Well yeah! Since she's on tour with us you act so bitchy with her!" he replied, as the elevator door opened.
"Yeah...well it's none of your business so stay out of this!" she shouted and stormed into her room.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
*** During This Time ***
Gaby walked in the little hospital room and ran at her friend's side. She was still in an emergency room since her bruises were not too deep. They were just making sure she had no intern problem but it didn't seem like it.
"Lily...Lily I am so sorry!!" she cried, taking her hand. "This is all my fault!!! I should be the one laying there.."
Lylian didn't say anything but just hugged her friend tight.
"I am so..so sorry!" Gaby sobbed. Lylian cleared her throat and spoke, her voice whispering.
"I hope you realize he came back... and that you'll have to confront him.."
"I know...and I will... Don't worry!" Gaby said.
"Too bad it took you this to open your eyes.." Lylian sighed. Gaby pulled away and wiped the tears off her face.
"Look..you have all the rights to be mad at me ...I join you on tour and just... hurt you.. but please, believe me, he had no rights to do this to you and he'll know it..."
"Gaby, you can't confront him alone... Why don't you want help??"
"Yeah...look what it did to you.."
"I mean real help...like the cops!" Lylian exclaimed as Gaby shrugged. "You can't just stand in front of him like that... look what he did to me...I don't even wanna think about what he could do to you! I just won't let you find him all by yourself! Where you go, I'm going! Whatever I pay for it. He'll have to kill me before he gets you!!! You lived enough shit because of him...and if it means I have to get fucking killed before you finally realize you're not strong enough to face him, then good!!!" Lylian shouted, leaning against the wall, her eyes filled with tears.
"Don't say things like that...please..." Gaby cried. "I don't want you to pay for my mistakes!"
"And I don't want you to get hurt again! It's all his fault if your life was so screwed up during the past years...and it's all his fault if we almost lost our friendship ...so please, promise me you'll tell security and get some help to finally throw him in jail?!?!" Lylian pleaded. Gaby stared at her for a moment and after seeing all the truth and pain in her friend's eyes, gave up.
"I.. I swear... I'll tell them everything..."
"Good!" Lylian let a sigh of relieve and hugged her friend again.
An hour later, they went back at the hotel, knowing there was nothing wrong. Lylian was just going through a lot of pain, especially in the stomach. She had some cracked ribs and some bruises in the face. They immediatly went to their room and fell asleep.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
*** The Next Morning ***
Everybody woke up early and joined in the restaurant of the hotel. They were all relieved when they saw Lylian and Gaby entered in room. They rushed at her side, wanting to know if she was feeling alright. They knew a little bit who was the attacker, well, they knew his name and that he had something to do with Gaby but they didn't ask any questions. The two girls were just coming back from an interview with the security team. Gaby had told them everything about her relationship with him... how he had been her boyfriend for the last few years and how good he was to manipulate people. She didn't want to tell everyone about it yet, she just hoped they were gonna find him and arrest him soon.
"So, do you think you'll be able to do the concert tonight?" Nick asked Lylian as she sat at the table to eat breakfast.
"I don't know... my stomach hurts like hell.." she sighed, her arms wrapped around her waist. "And I'm not sure if I can move properly.."
"Well if you don't feel good enough...it's okay you know... we can understand that.." Aj patted her on the shoulder. "But yesterday night was kinda strange without you not dancing with me.." he grinned.
"Oh thanks.." she giggled. "Can I tell you later? Maybe the pain will go away during the day.."
"Yeah sure, no prob!" he smiled.
They ate breakfast, trying to forget about the events of the night before. The boys had an interview at The View so they left right after breakfast. After the interview, they went eating and joined the crew at the stadium.
Nick stayed outside with his bodyguard, waiting for Lexy and Keri to arrive. He didn't know why he was feeling so nervous but he kept on bouncing.
"Damn... What's up with you???" Billy frowned.
"Nothing...why?"
"You keep jumping like a frog... what's so good about this chick man?"
"None of your business dude!" Nick laughed. "Just go if you don't wanna stay.."
v
"I don't... but I have to, it's my job and because of what happened yesterday, we have to be more careful!"
"I know! But there's no fan around... you can go if you want to.."
"I can't! Stop tempting me!" Billy joked. "So, she's your new girlfriend?"
"Dunno.." Nick shrugged.
"Well, I just hope she's not some kind of psycho ... "
"Don't worry Bill!" Nick rolled his eyes. At this moment, a car pulled in front of the door of the parking lot. Nick walked toward it and smiled.
"Oh my God it's Nick Carter!!!!!!" Keri yelled.
"Shut up Keri!" Marilyne sighed and shook her head.
"Hey Keri!" Nick laughed. Billy instructed them where to park the car and the girls did what they were told. Nick walked up to them and open the passenger side door.
"Hey Nick!" Marilyne smiled.
"Hey there beautiful!" he said and kissed her quickly on the lips. "How are you?"
"Really good! It's great to be here! Finally no work!!" she exclaimed.
"That's great! I'm happy you could come!" he replied as she smiled sweetly. "But um... I have something to ask you?" he asked, almost whispering.
"Yeah?"
"Can we like... not do things in front of everyone? In case you know... there's medias or anything...I wouldn't want any gossips going on and you stuck in it.."
"Oh..." she said surprised. "Yeah sure no problem.."
"Sure?"
"Yeah really. I understand.." she said with a little smile.
"Thanks!" he rubbed her shoulder.
"Thanks? Yeah thanks for waiting for me guys!" Keri exclaimed, running up to them. The two turned around and realized they had started walking without thinking about Keri still in the car.
"Oh sorry!" Nick laughed as well did Marilyne.
"I can understand you guys can't wait to be alone and all but.. you know, I'm still a part of this world ya know?" she faked a pout.
"Poor girl!!!" Marilyne giggled.
"So, how are you Keri?"
"Fiiinnneeeee!!! We're finally FREE!!! Yeah baby!!!" she shouted.
"That's great!" he chuckled at her excitement.
They walked in the stadium to join everyone but they were all already on stage.
"God, you sure want everything to be safe!" Keri said as she looked at all the security guy walking and running all around.
"Yeah well it's usually not as big as that...we just had a little problem yesterday so.."
"What happened?" Marilyne asked.
"A guy came in and beat up one of the dancers... well, it seems like a pretty weird story... she knew who he was so I suppose it has something to do with her.."
"Like an old boyfriend or something?"
"Yeah I think... or Gaby's ex or someone related to her.."
"Oh.... well is she okay?"
"Lylian is doing better today. Of course she has some bruises but she'll be okay. I don't know if she'll do the concert though... but Gaby..she looks pretty shaken up.. " Nick exlplained.
"Ok!"
"Anyways!" Nick shrugged. "Ok well, let me make you visit the backstage area!" he grinned as he offered them his arms.
"Oh thank you sir!" Keri laughed. They went around the backstage, just so they could know what room was what. They ended their little tour on the stage where everyone was already, practicing some dance steps.
"Was about time!" Lylian exclaimed, seeing Nick coming on the stage.
"Sorry!" he apologized, looking at the floor. "You can go sit at the first seats.." he told the two girls. They waved at everyone and joined Gaby, Mary, Michelle and Vickie who were talking together.
"Hey.." Keri smiled.
"Hey!" they all replied. The minute they were sitting, the four girls started talking and laughing with them like they were old friends.
"Not that we were waiting for you to begin but... yeah actually, we were!" Brian joked, patting Nick on the back.
"I told you I was waiting for them!"
"Yeah I know, I know.." he giggled.
"Well, at least we had some time to practice..." Lylian said.
"But I didn't... could we practice just once Get Another Boyfriend? I was a bit mixed up yesterday night.." Nick said.
"It's like the easiest routine!! How can you get mixed up!?" Lylian shouted a bit harshly.
"Well because last weekend when we shot the dance part for the video it was different so I was mixed up with the two routines.." he shrugged as she sent him cold glance. "What?? Why are you mad at me??"
"I'm not mad at you!" she replied. "Get Another Boyfriend everybody...!" she sighed and moved away.
"What's wrong with her?" Nick frowned, turning to Brian.
"I dunno.." Brian shrugged, looking at Lylian's direction. She was looking pissed off but it was hard to tell if Nick was the reason or not.
"Man, she's worst than Fatima.." Nick shook his head.
"You think? I don't ..." Brian said with a giggle.
"That's because Fatima was always on your back 'cause you couldn't dance her choreogaphies!" Nick laughed.
"Oh shut up!" Brian pushed him playfully.
"Are you guys ready of not?!" Lylian asked. "I don't know if you realize it Nick but we're waiting for you... "
"Yeah guys can we get through that damn routine once?" Aj shouted.
"Yeah yeah... shit... go .." Nick said, rolling his eyes.
They went through the routine once and after they did the soundcheck. As the dancer practice a little bit, Lylian left the stage and went backstage.
"Do you think she is okay?" Mary asked Gaby with a worried look.
"I'll go see her.." she stood up, stepped on the stage and walked backstage. "You okay???" she asker her friend when she reached for her in the hallway.
"Yeah yeah..." Lylian replied with a little smile, holding her stomach.
"Lily if you are not feeling well enough to dance tonight, don't do it.."
"I'll be alright!! I can do it! It just hurt a little bit.." she lied. Truth was that her ribs were extremely painful and she wasn't feeling too well but she was scared that if she missed too much concert, they wouldn't want to work with her again and ask another dancer to come. She didn't know why she was feeling that way ...now that they had worked with Ally for the video... and that they seemed to like what she had done... she was afraid they would always ask her for routines now.
"You don't need to prove them anything you know?" Gaby told her, reading her mind.
"What?"
"I mean, don't push yourself too hard to prove them you're a hard worker 'cause it will just hurt you even more.."
"I'm not pushing myself... I'm alright!" Lylian said angrily.
"Okay then! I just wanted to make sure.." Gaby put an hand on her shoulder.
"You two ladies shouldn't stay in the hallways alone ..." one of the security guy told them. "Please, go back with the others.."
"Yeah sure, sorry!" Lylian apologized. She took a bottle of water and the two headed back to the soundcheck. There was another reason she was feeling angry..but she just couldn't help it and couldn't tell her friend ... she was feeling to stupid to feel that way. She had never been a jealous type of girl and she didn't want to suddently be that type of person...
Brian, Nick and Aj were joking around, singing 'Foxy Lady' and imitating Garth in Wayne's World. Everyone was laughing, even Gaby and Lylian bursted into laughters when they saw them.
"You guys are nuts!" Gaby exclaimed, walking past them and pushing Aj playfully.
"Ouuhh Foxy Lady..." Aj took her hand and spinned her around, a smirk on his face.
"If you'd have longer hair, blond, thick black glasses.... you would maybe..I say maybe, look a little like the guy in the movie!" Gaby teased.
"This hurts..." he pouted.
"Poor guy!" she laughed, walking away.
"Is it always like that?" Keri giggled, still looking at their funny dances.
"Yes...always.." Lylian sighed, with a smile. "Never want to work.."
"But it has to be funny..."
"Oh yeah! it defenitely is!" Lylian laughed, looking at the guys now singing and dancing on one of the Venga Boys song.
"Boom Boom boom boom I want you in my room!!" Brian sang with a high voice, making funny faces.
"Shake your ass!!" Mary screamed. Nick turned to look at her, and then at the other girls who were all laughing and he started moving his ass in their direction.
"Mary!!! This is gross!!" Michelle exclaimed. "Make him stop!!" she told Howie with a smile.
"No!!!" Marilyne, Gaby and Lylian said at the same time. They all looked at each other and bursted into laughters.
"Ok guys! Enough... we should get through this and have fun after.." Kevin told everyone.
"God he's hot when he gets his authority out.." Vickie grinned as the girls laughed.
An hour later, the rehearsal and sound check was done. They decided to go back at the hotel since it was only 3 pm and had a lot of time before the concert.
"What should we do?" Aj asked when they stepped in the lobby of the hotel.
"What?" Brian frowned.
"Well let's do something...you guys won't just go to your room!"
"Oh well... I dunno.." he shrugged.
"Come on, don't leave me alone.." Keri grinned. "Lexy's gone with Nick and I don't want to stay alone in this big hotel.."
"Well..I can stay with you.." Aj smiled sweetly. She looked at him briefly with a little smile and then turned to Brian and Mary.
"I don't know...we could stay with them.." Mary shrugged. "Go to the pool or just hang out in a room..watch a movie or something..."
"Yeah...okay then!" Brian turned around to invite everyone else but they were all gone. "Oh well...let's go!"
The four people went to Brian and Mary's bedroom and took a seat at different places around. Mary and Brian cuddle up on the loveseat, Aj sat on the floor at the edge of the bed and Keri sat on a single couch.
They ordered as a movie Crazy/Beautiful and watched it in silence. Aj wasn't really watching the tv... he couldn't help but stare at Keri. Her brown hair falling on her face and her arms wrapped around her knees. She was looking like a child with her lips pouting a little smile. Feeling that someone was staring at her, she turned her head on the left but Aj was quick enough to look at the screen before she could see his eyes.
After half an hour, Mary was deep asleep in Brian's arms. Keri turned to look at him and smiled. He smiled back, unsure of what it really meant. He was angry with himself for giving her wrong ideas. But he just couldn't help to think about her smile. She defenitely had something special and he understood why Aj was so crazy about her. But he loved Mary very much and didn't want any troubles 'cause everything was fine now in his life. He put his attention back at the movie, or at least, tried to.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
*** In Nick's bedroom ***
Marilyne and Nick were making out on the king size bed when the phone disturbed them. Nick sighed and streched his left arm to get the receiver.
"Yeah??" he groaned.
"Nick?"
"Yeah ... who' this?"
"Lylian..."
"Oh sorry...yeah?"
"Well, I just want to apologize for the way I acted through the rehearsal....I'm really sorry...I didn't mean to act so bitchy.." her soft voice sighed.
"Hey it's okay...I know you were all waiting for me.." he replied. "I actually had forgotten about it.." he chuckled.
"Yeah well I felt bad so... I just wanted to make sure you were not thinking I was a jerk or something.."
"No I'm not thinking that... well, it's nice from you to apologize but you didn't need to.. " he smiled.
"Ok thanks... well...sorry I disturbed you... see ya later!"
"Later!" he said and hung up.
"Who was that?" Marilyne asked, fixing up her hair.
"Oh just Lylian who wanted to apologize for acting bitchy with me earlier.." he laughed.
"Really?? That's nice of her...I usually don't apologize when I do it.." she smirked.
"Can you really act that way with people?" he raised an eyebrow.
"You don't know me.." she laughed. He smiled and stared at her for a moment. That was true...he didn't know her much. And she was almost his girlfriend..or well, maybe she was ...
"What would you say... if we'd go for a coffee or something?" he asked.
"Um... yeah why not?!" she said, surprised.
"Cool! ... Why are you looking at me that way?" he giggled, wrapping his arms around her.
"I'm just...surprised you don't wanna stay here...ya know.." she said, playing with the bottom of his shirt.
"Oh well... to be honest...I just realized that...you know, we don't know each other much... you know a lot more about me than me about you and... I think we should enjoy the time we spend together.."
"Oh you're so sweet!!" she exclaimed and put a little kiss on his nose.
"I know, that's what everyone is telling me.." he jocked as she playfully smack his chest.
