Chapter 28

Chapter 28 - The Mystery guest
By Chelle, Tess

~~~~~~The next Morning~~~~~~
Everyone sat around the dining room table in the girl's suite, eating a quick breakfast. Shawn looked at her watch and grinned. Chelle and Nick were gonna miss breakfast again. She had never known two people who couldn't get up early like those two. If it was before noon, you could be sure they were still in bed.
Suddenly, the door to Chelle's room flew open and she tore out, still buttoning her blouse. "There's still food, Chelle," Kevin said with a grin. "Yeah...AJ is still in bed too," Tanya said laughing as she watched Chelle scramble around.. Chelle ignored them as she stooped to look under the couch for her shoes. "Now...where's that briefcase....." Chelle asked herself, looking in the corner and around the living room.
“Chelle? What are you doing?" Shawn asked as she watched Chelle scurry around the room.
Chelle headed back into her room, never once paying any attention to Shawn, or anyone else for that matter.
The others stared at each other confused as to what was going on. Meanwhile, as they were trying to understand what was going on... Chelle reappeared mumbling very softly to herself.
"Did you find what you were looking for, Chelle?" Nick asked walking behind her. It was obvious that Nick was still half asleep.
"No, I didn't. Damn it. Where can it be?" Chelle said as she once again went searching through out the living room still mumbling to herself. "I'm gonna be late...I'm gonna be late...."
"Chelle!!!! What are you looking for?" Shawn blurted out.
"What? what time is it?" Chelle asked never answering Shawn's question.
"It's about five minutes till 10:00? Why?" Tanya questioned. She was now curious as to what was up with Chelle.
" It's what time? oh, shit. I am gonna be late.. Bye gotta go.." Chelle said as she flew out the front door.
The others all stared at the door shocked to what just occurred. Nick was a little stunned since Chelle left and forgot to kiss him goodbye. As they were trying to figure out what had just happened, AJ came stumbling out of Carmen's room, scratching his head. "what's with all the racket? Can't a man sleep?"
"It's 10 am dumb ass. You should be up by now anyways, "Brian said. "And you can blame Chelle for all the racket the next time you see her. She just blew outta here like a tornado."
"Okay, Nicky boy.....what the hell's up with your woman?" AJ asked.
"Yeah, Nick...what's going on with Chelle?" Shawn added, curious as to why she was in such a hurry this morning.
"Uh? Oh...uh...she's got a meeting or something...I think. Mr. Roark gave her a note late last night............well, this morning..."Nick mumbled.
"You don't think she's meeting with Jared do you?" Sherry asked.
"What? No.....Someone she works with...I think I over heard her say that...." Nick said with a shake of his head. He was still wondering why she had left without kissing him.
Carmen just entered the room, catching the last bit of Nick's sentence. She what? What about work? The girl is on vacation!"
"Why? What's wrong, Carmen?" Nick asked, suddenly concerned.
“Oh, nothing Nick. Chelle just tends to forget to leave everything at the office. The girl sometimes hides in her briefcase, computer…etc.. and well damn it… that was why I hid her briefcase when we got here. I could not believe she brought it with her. Looks like I am gonna have to just handcuff her to you Nick. That will keep the girl from over working herself.”
“Oh, please don’t give them any ideas. We’re finally getting some sleep around here” AJ added in. Everyone laughed, except Nick, who was now worried about who Chelle was meeting.
Shawn glanced up at Nick and noticed his concerned __expression, “Nick, Chelle didn’t mention who her meeting was with to you?” Shawn asked curious of this mystery meeting. Why of all places would she get tracked down in Hawaii for business? Shawn thought to herself. Shawn couldn’t help but be concerned for her young friend.
"I know she did, but I don't remember what the name was" Nick answered back with a worried tone.
"Well, don't worry. It's probably nothing." Shawn said trying to reassure him.
"yeah, it's probably one of her authors....tracking her down for a story or for money" Tanya added in.
“ok, well not to change the subject totally here guys. But as much as I hate to say it. We’re gonna need to go find Davy here in a bit and get our day started” Kevin suggested.
The guys all groaned at Kevin's suggestion. They did not want to have to deal with Davy.
"No Kevin. Davy is just going to have to wait. I have to talk to Chelle. After the other night, we don't need anything else to go wrong. I love her and I will not lose her because of him!" The girls all turned and stared at Nick. Had they heard him right?
"Don't worry Nick. Davy can wait a little longer," Kevin said reassuring him.
Nick smiled at Kevin, then headed for Chelle's room. He closed the door and Kevin sighed. Nick had it bad.
~~~~~~Chelle’s meeting~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tess waited in the dining room for Chelle. She checked her watch once again. It was after 10:00 already. She knew she was encroaching on Chelle's vacation, but this was important. She needed these papers signed and returned to Carl. She needed her advance to finish paying for her legal fees and hospital bills. Her divorce had been messy and she didn't ask for any alimony. Without this large book advance, she was virtually penniless. Tess gathered her purse and briefcase and was just about to leave, when Chelle entered the dining room. Tess waved at her and smiled as she walked over to the table. "Chelle....Hi!"
"Tess...what are you doing here?? I thought Paul was taking care of this," Chelle said as she sat down.
"I'm sorry, Chelle. Paul and I didn't see eye to eye."
"He made a pass didn't he?? I was afraid of that."
"Chelle, he tried...And well, let's just say he won't be trying anything on any woman for a while."
"Oh Tess...those lessons are really paying off, huh??"
"Yeah...well, if I had been taking them before, maybe Will wouldn't have put me in the hospital."
Chelle reached across and took her hand. She knew how badly Will had hurt Tess. Then to have lost the baby too. It had been too much. Thank God, Tess had turned to her writing. She was an excellent writer. And her romance story was more than just a fairy tale. It had drama and romance. And tragedy. She had cried the whole way through, from cover to cover.
"Ok....let me see those papers," Chelle said reaching for them.
Tess smiled. Always the business woman. Chelle was too damn diligent. She reached out and placed her hand on top of Chelle's, staying her.
"Wait...I know I interrupted your vacation. How's it going, Chelle?"
"It's been amazing. This island is beautiful. I've been sailing and to a luau. Oh and you will never guess who I've met.....Nick Carter! And Tess, he's so wonderful. We've been spending time together and I'm so happy. I'm in love with him."
Tess looked at her, stunned. She was in love with Nick Carter? Chelle had been through so much with Jared. She wanted her to have someone special in her life, but Nick?? How would that work??
"Uh Chelle....Nick Carter?? Isn't he a Backstreet Boy??"
"Yeah," Chelle said dreamily.
"Oh Chelle....He's got women all over the world throwing themselves at him."
"What are you saying Tess? That I'm not good enough for him?" Chelle asked her eyes narrowing in anger.
"No! No...that's not what I am saying at all. I just would hate to see you get hurt. That's all. You're my friend....and I love you. We've been through a lot together. I just don't want to see you get hurt."
Chelle's face softened, though she was still upset about what Tess had said
"He loves me, Tess. He.....loves...me..." Chelle said.
Tess smiled and patted her hand. She wasn't going to get into an argument with her.
"Of course he does. What's not to love," Tess said, praying that `Mr. Backstreet' didn't hurt her friend.
"So, where's those papers?" Chelle asked, reaching for them once again.
Tess smiled as Chelle signed off on her generous advance. So much for returning to New York right away. She had a 'date' with a Backstreet Boy. Nick Carter had some explaining to do. She didn't want him to hurt Chelle. "Thanks Chelle. You have no idea how much I appreciate this," Tess said with a warm smile.
'Oh yes I do.' Chelle thought, remembering how bad things had gotten for Tess during her divorce. "So, you are staying a few days, right?" Chelle asked. When Tess shook her head no, Chelle sighed. "Come on Tess. It'll do you good to get out of the city. You need to get some color back. You don't look good."
"I'm fine, Chelle," Tess said. "Just tired."
"yeah, sure you are" Chelle answered back sarcastically. "but, you'll look even better after a few days here in the sun. Besides, you'll finally get a chance to meet my friends"
"I'll think about it," Tess said. She really didn't want a confrontation with Kevin. She just wanted to see Nick find out what he was going to do about Chelle and then go home.
"Ok, well you do that. Meanwhile, I am going back upstairs to that gorgeous blond I was talking about. If you need anything you now have my room number alright?" Chelle said.
Tess stood up and they hugged quickly.
"Please, stay. I think it will do you a world of good, Tess. Get your mind off things," Chelle said, then turned and left the dining room. Tess sat back down and sighed. Chelle was right. She needed a break. Maybe this is what she needed. But first she had to deal with Nick. "ok, now just what are you up to, Mr. Carter?" Tess said under her breath.
~~~~~~~~~~one hour later~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chelle walked to the elevators. While she waited for the elevator to arrive, her mind traveled back to her conversation with Tess. “Nick does love me. I know this is different. He’s had plenty of opportunities to take it back. I know he loves me. I just know it.” Chelle was so wrapped up in her own thoughts that she didn’t realize the elevator door had opened til she overheard a voice say “Those damn Backstreet Boys”. But before she was able to distinguish the voice, the same person plowed right into her knocking her over. “Shit.” Chelle swore then barked out “watch where you are going next time pal!”
Davy looked up and noticed the girl that was looking up at him was the same girl he saw in the newspaper the day before.
“Sorry Miss.” Davy said as offered his hand to the girl.
Chelle refused his help and got up on her own. She then walked passed him to get onto the elevator but before she could utter another word, the man followed her into the elevator.
“What is your problem?” Chelle yelled out. “Knocking me over wasn’t good enough for you?” Being alone in the elevator with this guy was making her very uncomfortable. At first she thought this guy was a complete weirdo but after looking at him again, she realized who he was. This was the same guy she saw ride down in the elevator car with Nick and the guys a few days ago. This was the infamous Davy. “Oh shit” Chelle thought.
“I am looking for the Backstreet Boys. I am quite certain that you can help me. So if you don’t mind, tell me where they are” Davy insisted.
Chelle gritted her teeth and shouted in her mind ‘ who the hell does guy think he is. Oh god, what do I tell him. NICK, where are you when I need you!’ Chelle took a breath then said, “I am sorry but you’re mistaken. I don’t know where the Backstreet Boys are” Chelle hoped she said that in a believable tone.
“look miss, I don’t have time for any games. I know you along with your friends have been entertaining the boys” as soon as the words left Davy’s mouth he noticed the girl grimace, “yes, I know you know them. And I also know you’ve become quite close to Nick. So let me say this again, I don’t have time for your games. Just please tell me where they are.”
"Listen...if you can't keep tabs on your boys, how do you think I can help you?" Chelle snapped then glanced to the numbers at the top of the elevator. She then thought ‘Dammit, why does this seem like the elevator ride from hell. God, please just make this guy disappear.
“Don’t think you’re doing them any favors by helping them hide from me. I have seen a lot of women like you hanging around Nick. So just do yourself a favor and let it go. Your only hurting yourself. When they finish this project, it will be on to another city and more girls. Groupies like you are a dime a dozen. When I get rid of one of you, ten more pop up to take your place."
Before Chelle was able to say anything the elevator stopped at a different floor and a woman with a small child entered the elevator car. Chelle saw this as the perfect exit, and just as the doors were about to close she jumped off.
“Shit, son of a bitch” Davy screamed out.
“hey! Watch it mister. I have a young child here” the woman said as she smacked Davy in the arm.
“Mommy, I don’t feel too good” the youngster moaned to her mother. Before the mother could reply to her child, the little girl vomited on Davy’s shoes.
“Oh, hell. That is disgusting!” Davy screamed.
Chelle huffed and puffed as she finally made her way towards the door of her suite. She couldn’t believe she had a horrible run in with Davy.
She said to herself, ‘Boy this day was not starting off on the right foot. Can anything else go wrong today?” She quickly looked over her shoulder to make sure Davy was no where in sight before entering the suite. Once she was sure the coast was clear, she quickly entered the suite slamming the door behind her. Her action got the attention of the entire room. However, before anyone could ask or say anything to her she bolted for her room and slammed the door behind her.
“what the hell was that about?” Carmen blurted out.
Nick who was just as stunned as the rest, “uh..I don’t know but let me find out. I’ll be right back”.
After Nick disappeared into Chelle’s room behind her, Shawn said “I wonder what or who ticked off Chelle because she only reacts like that when she is mad”
“Who did she have a meeting with? Does anyone know?” Carmen asked looking at the other girls.
The all answered in unison, “Don’t know”.
“well, I am sure Nick will talk to her” Howie replied.
“While he is talking with her, I am going to go find Davy. Lord knows that he’s probably foaming at the mouth as we speak.” Kevin said as he quickly kissed Shawn and walked out of the suite.
“Good Luck with him Kev” AJ said as he waved to his friend.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~with Nick and Chelle~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Nick entered the room, he saw Chelle laying on the bed with her face buried into her pillow.
“Chelle, babe what’s wrong?” Nick asked with a concerned voice.
Chelle didn’t answer Nick. Instead her ears were still ringing between Tess’ and Davy’s words.
‘Chelle, Nick’s got women all over the world ‘
‘Groupies like you are a dime a dozen. When I get rid of one of you, ten more pop up to take your place. '
When Chelle didn’t answer Nick, he began to worry. He walked over to where Chelle was laying and sat at the edge of the bed placing his hand on her back hoping to get some sort of response. “Chelle, honey please talk to me. Something has upset you and I would like to help”.
Chelle finally heard Nick’s voice and she quickly regained her thoughts. The last thing she wanted was for Nick to feel sorry for her. After everything that has happened between the two, Chelle deep down knew she needed to slow things down with Nick. She rolled over and sat up to look Nick in the eyes. “Let’s just say this has been an awful morning. I had a meeting with one of my authors. She is also a good friend and is dealing with some major problems. Problems that I am not quite sure how to help with. But I wanna try.”
“What kind of problems?” Nick asked as he rubbed his hand along the side of Chelle’s face.
“the worst kind. She was married to a jerk who drank too much and abused her. She’s left him for good but she is an emotional wreck. She came out here so I could sign the new contracts for her new book she’s working on. And also to get an advance which is not problem. I just hope she will take my advise and stay here for a little while. It would do her a lot of good to just get some sun.” Chelle closed her eyes as she continued talking with Nick. His hand was putting her into comfortable trance.
“well she’s lucky to have you for a friend. Hopefully she will take your advise” Nick replied as he leaned in and kissed Chelle. As Chelle felt Nick’s lips touch hers, she had a quick flashback of her run in with Davy. This memory caused Chelle to react to Nick’s touch. When Chelle pulled away from Nick, she quickly looked down at her hands. “Chelle what’s wrong? Why did you pull away from me? Did I do or say something wrong?”
Chelle looked up at Nick and saw the concerned look on his face. “No Nick nothing is wrong. I am sorry it’s just been a rough morning that’s all” Chelle wrapped her arms around Nick’s neck and hugged him like her life depended on it.
“Chelle something else is wrong. I can tell. What is it?” Nick questioned as pulled back from the embrace and looked in her eyes.
Chelle took a deep breath then said, “On the way back, I ran into your manager. Davy. And well.. Let’s just say he basically put me in my place. Letting me know what he thought about your new groupies.”
“HE WHAT? WHAT DID HE SAY” Nick screamed out. Nick’s reply startled Chelle. And she thought it was best to not give all the details of her conversation for she feared Nick would beat Davy to a pulp. Of course, he was an ass and would deserve it. But she wasn‘t ready for this confrontation and especially at her expense.
“Look Nick, please don’t get upset. He obviously saw my picture with you guys in the paper and recognized it was me. So he basically just said that he knew that I was involved with you guys. And well somehow he now knows about the other girls as well. He was only trying to intimidate me into telling him where you guys were. He is a jerk. You were right about that. But let’s not talk about this anymore please.
“That son of a bitch! He think he owns us. Well, he doesn’t. I cant stand that guy and now he insults my girl. He called you a Groupie? What else did he say?” Nick barked out as he began to pace the floor.
“Nick! Please, let this go! It doesn’t matter what else he said. He is only trying to get information from me to get to you and the guys. Well, I didn’t cave. I basically told him where he could go.” Chelle answered back then smiled “you know me….tough as nails… well that jerk messed with the wrong girl”.
Nick gathered Chelle into his arms and mumbled into her hair “Baby, I am sorry that you had a bad run in with him. I won’t promise not to question his motives later but I will promise to be civil but also to make sure he understands that he better NOT say another unkind word to you.” Nick then placed his hand around Chelle’s face, “That I will not tolerate. I love you baby. And I will not let him or anyone else get in the way of our new relationship.”
Chelle just smiled back at Nick then leaned up and kissed him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~with the others~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Geez, what is taking them so long?” Shawn gasped out.
“Wait a second, we trusted Nick to talk to Chelle and we’re waiting to hear back from him… ha.. You know how those two are.. They can barely get a sentence out with out getting tongue tied.. And I don’t mean words either.” AJ blurted out.
At the thought of Nick and Chelle getting intimate again, Carmen decided enough was enough and bolted for Chelle’s door. She first had intended to barge on in but decided against it just in case AJ was right. She knocked loudly then hollered, “CHELLE!”
Startled by the pounding of the door, “Just a second! We’ll be right out!” Chelle replied back then said quietly “Shit, if anyone else gives me a heart attack today..I swear I am gonna lose it!” Nick followed behind Chelle as they rejoined their friends in the living room.
“Well, it’s about time you two!” Brian said in authoritative voice. “what took you guys so long?”
“yeah? And what was with the mysterious behavior this morning?” Shawn quickly asked. She as well as the others were curious to hear the answers.
“I had a meeting with one of my authors. You girls haven’t met her but she needed me to sign her contracts so she could get her new book started.” Chelle quickly answered.
AJ looked back at Nick and noticed his face ___expression was distant. “Nick, you alright man?”
Nick looked over to AJ “Yeah I’m alright…but Chelle here ran into Davy. He questioned the hell out of her about us. Then had the nerve to call her a groupie. You guys may want to keep me at a safe distance from him cuz I really don’t think I can trust myself alone with him today.”
“He called you a what?” Howie questioned looking over at Chelle who had joined the other girls on the couch.
“Chelle, are you ok?” Tanya asked looking over at her friend.
“yeah, I am fine. I was really ticked off at first. That was the reason I went straight to my room before talking to anyone cuz I needed to cool off.” Chelle answered.
“What exactly happened Chelle?” Shawn asked.
“I was waiting for the elevator to come back upstairs. When it finally arrived, the doors barely opened when Davy plowed right into me. He didn’t say anything to me but just stared at me. Of course, you know me..I read him the riot act.” Chelle paused for a second then continued, “then when I moved passed him to get into the elevator. What does he do? He follows me. So there I was alone with the idiot in the elevator. He then started questioning me where the guys were. When I pretended to not know what he was talking about, he bit my head off. Luckily before he could continue asking more questions, someone else boarded the elevator. That was three floors down so I got off on that floor and took the stairs the rest of the way up. God, I gotta tell you…that guy gives me the creeps.”
"Well, just lay low and we'll deal with him," AJ told her with a grin.
"Oh yeah...I know your brand of dealing with him and trust me the ass deserves it," Chelle said with a smile of her own.
Nick stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. Davy was gonna pay for hurting her. One way or another.
~~~~~~~~~~~~With Kevin~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kevin walked through the lobby looking for Davy, although it was the last thing he really wanted to be doing . He couldn't find him so he decided to leave a message for him at the front desk. Maybe that would keep him off their backs, he thought.
"I need to leave a message for someone," he told the clerk.
The clerk pushed pen and paper toward him and while he was writing, Kevin quickly asked for any messages for their suite. Maybe Davy had left one for them.
Kevin handed the clerk the note he had written for Davy and took the ones for their suite. As Kevin looked them over, he noticed one in a very familiar feminine handwriting, addressed to Nick.
"What the HELL!?" he exclaimed as he ripped it open. He read it over and shook his head. How had she found them? And what did she want with Nick?
~~~~~~~~~~Later that Afternoon~~~~~~~~
Tess walked through the lobby, wishing she could find Nick. She had left him a note, but he had yet to call her or stop by her room. She had to find out exactly what kind of game he was playing now. Chelle’s happiness was at stake here. She didn’t want Nick to break her heart. She was headed out the front doors and was surprised when someone grabbed her arm.
"Tess...come with me."
Tess would’ve recognized that deep, sexy voice anywhere. Even after all this time. She looked up and found herself staring into familiar, brilliant green eyes.
"Kevin," she said with a smile.
"Don’t you ‘Kevin’ me! What are you doing here? And what’s with this?" Kevin asked holding up a slip of paper as he steered her toward the gardens.
"Is that any way to treat an old friend, Kevin? Geez....I’m not here to see you. Hell, I didn’t even know you were here!" she yelled at him, pulling her arm free. "And what do you have that for? It’s to Nick, not you!" she said, snatching the note out of his hand.
Kevin looked down at Tess and sighed. He had gone off the deep end. Of course she hadn’t known he was here, but how did she know Nick was here then? And just what was she doing here?
He hadn’t seen her in three years, though he still thought about her, occasionally. As he looked at her, he realized just how much he missed her. He looked her over carefully. She looked amazing. She had cut her long, auburn hair so it fell just to her shoulders but she was thinner than he remembered and her hazel eyes were much sadder.
"I’m sorry, Tess," he said hugging her. He was afraid to squeeze her too tightly, afraid he would hurt her. "It’s good to see you."
"That’s better, Richardson," she joked, hugging him tightly. God, she missed his warm loving arms.
"Come on...let’s sit over there," he said pointing to a wooden bench.
They walked to the bench and Kevin waited for her to sit down. He sat beside her and turned to face her, taking her hand in his. He had so many questions for her. They had a lot of time to catch up on.
"How long has it been?" he asked, already knowing the answer.
"Three years. But you knew that."
Kevin smiled. She knew him so well. She always had.
"Yeah.....I did. So how have you been? We kinda lost touch..."
"Yeah...well that was for the best. We drifted apart...went in different directions."
"I loved you...." he said quietly.
"I loved you, too.....It was just never going to work, Kevin," Tess said, hanging her head.
"I...well...I won’t go into that with you now. You look awful thin, Tess. Are you okay? You’re not sick, are you?" Kevin asked her, suddenly worried about her.
"No...I’m fine, honest...Nothing a few days rest won’t cure."
"Is that why you’re here?"
"That and to see a friend."
"Chelle Wilson," Kevin said.
"You know her too?"
"Well, Nick has been spending a lot of time with her since we got here."
"You think he will treat her well?"
"He loves her, Tess. He really does," Kevin said.
Tess looked at him and smiled. She trusted Kevin’s judgement. If he said Nick was in love, then he was in love. She just prayed he was right and that Nick didn’t hurt Chelle.
"I should go, Kevin....I really only came to get Chelle to sign some papers for me..."
"You going to be here long?" Kevin asked her. He really thought she needed a rest.
"A few days...that’s all. I have to get back to New York," Tess said, wishing things had been different between them.
Kevin nodded. He hugged her tight and kissed her cheek. "Bye Tess. Take care of yourself, will ya?"
Tess smiled and nodded. She watched as he left the gardens, knowing she wouldn’t see him again. She had made her decision. She was leaving first thing in the morning.
**************************