�Hey, Sunn,� Alexander began, �can I get one of those when Nick�s done.� Sunshine ignored him and Danielle hit her.
�Bitch, what?� Sunshine rebutted.
�Alex asked you a question,� Brian said.
�What?� Sunshine asked looking at Alexander.
�Can I get one of those when you�re done with Nick?� Alexander asked again.
�It�ll cost ya,� Sunshine replied and Nickolas grinned.
�How much?� Alexander asked.
�More than you can afford pal,� Sunshine said.
�What�s Nick paying ya?� Alexander asked.
�Nothing,� Nickolas replied. �She volunteered.� Sunshine smiled.
�For you it�ll cost about fifty G�s,� Sunshine smirked.
�I see how ya are,� Alexander said and they all laughed.
�Nicky�s really tense,� Sunshine stated.
�It�s �Nick�,� Nickolas corrected her and she looked at him.
�Well Nicky sounds so much cuter,� Sunshine replied smiling and Nickolas shook his head, as they all laughed again.
�I�m tense,� Alexander said.
�Yeah right,� Sunshine said. �You just want a girl to touch ya.�
�Well that too,� Alexander said and Sunshine shook her head.
�So what happens after tonight?� Sunshine asked. �We may never see each other again.�
�Yes we will,� Brian said. �You�ll be seeing a lot of me.�
�We already did,� Sunshine said under her breath, as Danielle just looked at her.
�Why�s that, Brian?� Danielle asked.
�Because I agreed to be his girlfriend,� Destiny replied giving Brian a kiss.
�Cool,� Josephine said. �So, Sunn, Kevin, what�s the story between you two?�
�What�s the story between you and Alex?� Sunshine asked in return.
�Hopefully more than friends,� Alexander replied looking at Josephine and smiling.
�Then she can give ya a massage,� Sunshine smirked.
�I�m sure we can work something out,� Josephine said returning the smile.
�Anyway,� Howard said. �So what is the story between you two?�
�Just friends,� Sunshine replied before Kevin could say anything. Nickolas looked at Sunshine and grinned, as she squeezed the back of his neck.
�Hey, hey, hey,� Nickolas said. �Take it easy, woman.� She just smiled.
�What�s going on with Nick and Danielle?� Brian asked. �And Venus and Howie?�
�Nick and I are just friends,� Danielle said. �And it will never be more than that. Sorry to disappoint ya�ll.�
�What about you two?� Brian asked looking at Venus and Howard.
�Just friends,� Venus answered. �He�s not my type.� Howard nodded in agreement.
�Guys,� Kevin said. �We need to get ready.�
�Then we�ll leave you guys alone,� Sunshine said getting up and kicking Nickolas in the back. �Sorry.�
�That�s alright,� Nickolas assured her, as he got up and Kevin looked at them.
�We�ll go so you boys can get ready,� Sunshine said walking towards the door. �Let�s go, Ladies.� They all just looked at her then the girls joined her at the door.
�We�ll be waiting outside,� Danielle said. The girls walked out and Sunshine sat down as the girls just looked at her.
�Sunn, what�s your problem?� Venus questioned.
�That�s a first,� Destiny said. �Wanting to get away from the Backstreet Boys.�
�Nothing�s wrong,� Sunshine lied. �They have to get ready for the concert.�
�I know what�s wrong with her,� Danielle said.
�So do I,� Josephine said, as Sunshine looked at both girls and Josephine sat beside her then whispered, �Is it what happened with Brian yesterday?� Sunshine just looked at her. �I know how you�re feeling, because I feel uncomfortable around him too.� Sunshine gave her a weird look then turned her head and Josephine continued, �We�ll get through this together.�
�How?� Sunshine wanted to know and Josephine whispered in her ear. �Probably not. I ain�t showing anyone my naked body. Unless it�s Tom Cruise.�
�What if it�s Nick Carter?� Josephine asked, as Sunshine got up from the table. �You can�t say no to that.�
�Not even Nick Carter,� Sunshine replied, as the dressing room door opened and Nickolas walked out just as Sunshine turned around. �Nick.�
�Uh-oh,� Destiny said.
�Nick, before you get the wrong idea,� Danielle began, as Kevin walked out, �she didn�t mean anything mean.�
�Ya see,� Josephine started, �I just suggested that��
�That I should play a video game with someone,� Sunshine interrupted hoping it didn�t sound too stupid. �And I said no not even if my competitor was you.� Kevin took her hand, but she pulled it away and he just looked at her.
�Why not?� Nickolas asked, as they all just looked at them and he smiled.
�I just read that you get mad when you lose,� Sunshine replied. �I didn�t want you to skitz out on me if, well when, I kicked your ass.�
�Whatever,� Nickolas said rolling his eyes.
�Can�t you take a frickin� joke?� Sunshine asked sarcastically. Nickolas just smiled at her. �If you�ll excuse me I need to use the little girls� room. I�ll catch up then.�
�We�ll be by the stage,� Kevin said.
�Alright,� Sunshine said walking away and Danielle followed.
�Hey, Sunn, wait up!� Danielle yelled.
�Hey,� Sunshine said. �What�s up?�
�You tell me,� Danielle said.
�What are you talking about?�
�I know you and Nick kissed.� Sunshine just looked at her and smiled. �I walked in on you and you kissed when I was watching.� They walked into the bathroom and Danielle went on, �He likes you ya know.�
Sunshine went into the stall. �What are you trying to say, Dani?�
�If you like him let him know. Don�t make him think he doesn�t have a chance.�
�I don�t know. I mean Kevin wants to get a thing going and I just want to be friends.� She sighed. �But Kevin seems pretty persistent about it, ya know.
�Why don�t ya just tell him it ain�t going to work?�
�I can�t do that. I ain�t that mean.�
�You�re right. You�re too nice.�
They stayed silent a moment and Sunshine flushed the toilet and walked from the stall and started washing her hands. �I don�t even want to make Nick think he doesn�t have a chance, because I know he knows he does. I mean after that kiss we shared he should know I�m into him. That�s what I got out of the kiss.� Danielle just looked at her. �Besides, even if I do agree to this thing with Kevin, it ain�t going to last long. I give it a few weeks at least. If that. He�ll realize we�re two totally different people and decide just to be friends. Which is what I want.�
�You really believe that?�
�Yes; what do you think?�
�That�s something you need to figure out on your own. Not with my help.�
�So Nick really likes me, huh?�
�Yeah; it�s obvious he does the way he smiles at you and the way you smile at him.� Sunshine smiled. �And it�s obvious you want him. You�ve been finding little ways to touch him today. And that massage. What was that all about?�
�He was tense.�
�And I�m a lesbian bitch.� Sunshine just smiled. �Why don�t you tell Kevin to take a hike and that ya want Nick?�
�No.�
�Why not?�
�Because I never had two guys that wanted me at the same time before. With you, V, Des, and Josie it happens all the time. Guys don�t take a second look at me when you four are around, but this time it�s different. Two guys want me and it�s awesome. Can�t I enjoy it for a few more days?�
�I guess so. It is fun ain�t it?� Sunshine smiled and nodded. �Just as long as a few days don�t turn into a few weeks or a few months.�
�Whatever.� Sunshine sighed, as they walked from the bathroom. �So is Nick jealous that Kevin asked me out first?�
�No; he just reminds himself that he kissed you first.�
�And what a kiss it was.� Danielle shook her head, as they turned the corner and spotted Josephine and Howard looking at each other.
The two girls stopped and Sunshine said, �Remember how Josie said Howie was looking into her eyes?�
�Yeah.�
�I now believe it.�
�So do I.�
�We saw nothing. Just like you saw nothing between me and Nicky.�
�Alright. Let�s leave these two.�
�I�m with you.� They started walking and Sunshine scratched her neck. �Damn it.�
�What?�
�I lost my necklace.�
�You�re always losing that damn thing.�
�I can�t help it.�
�I�ll check the bathroom.�
�I�ll go check the dressing room.� Danielle nodded and the two girls went their separate ways. Sunshine opened the dressing room door and retraced her steps. She got to the spot where she was sitting and looked on the floor. She didn�t see it and sighed while getting up. She went to go towards the door when Nickolas walked from the bathroom. �Uh, hey.�
�Hey,� Nickolas said. �Lose something?�
�Yeah; my dolphin necklace.�
�This one.� He held it up and she grinned.
�That�s the one.� She walked over to him and went to take it from him.
�Turn around.� She just looked at him and did as he requested. She moved her hair out of the way and Nickolas stuck the necklace on her. �There ya go.� He left his hands on her and she took a deep breath.
�Thank you.� She slowly turned around and they looked at each other. �You start any minute so you��
�Yeah.� He took her face in his hands then leaned down and kissed her. He put her against the wall and pushed his body against hers to hold her there. She kissed him in return and stuck her arms around him, as the door opened.
�Sunnie Jo, I didn�t find your necklace,� Danielle interrupted and Sunshine and Nickolas pulled apart. �I see you found something else.� Sunshine and Nickolas just looked at her and grinned.
�I�m going to go sing and dance,� Nickolas said walking out.
Danielle looked at Sunshine and Sunshine said, �I found my necklace.�
�That�s great,� Danielle said and Sunshine smiled, as she walked out.
CHAPTER 11
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