Malia was once again up on the stage rehearsing. She was on a song that was going to be new to her performance called "That's What I Like About You". She didn't see Jason's foot until it was too late and she tripped and went down on her knees. "Shit Malia, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to trip you.," He said helping her up.
Malia nodded and bent down to make sure nothing was bruised too badly, "It's okay, really. I should of been paying attention more. It's not your fault."
"I am sorry though."
"It's okay. Swoop, are we done?"
He nodded from the pit, "Yeah sure, we'll work more tomorrow."
She nodded, "Thanks.," And then turned to the dancers, "Thanks you guys too. I guess I'll see you all tomorrow."
Jason watched her leave, hiding a smug smile.
Malia walked to her dressing room and opened the door to find Nick lying on the couch, staring at the tv. "Hey Nick.."
"Hey..you done already?"
"Yep. Jason tripped me by accident and I figured that was enough embarrassment for today. Why are you still here?"
"I figured, you could shower and change, then me and you can go explore the city some and get something to eat. I asked Jeff and he said him and Ryan would come along."
She nodded, "Okay, give me a few minutes..I so need a shower."
"Yeah, you do!"
Malia replied by throwing a shoe in the general direction of Nick. His laughter continued after she closed the door, she could still hear him.
Malia was showered and changed within a half hour. Nick grinned once she reappeared out of the bathroom, "Damn, a woman who can get ready in under 2 hours! Where you been all my life?!"
She laughed and playfully pushed him out the door, "I've been right here all along Nicky."
"Shhh! No pet names in public!"
She laughed, "Shut up..now where Ryan and Jeff?"
"I guess we gotta go find them, duh."
"Okay smartass, thank you."
They found Jeff and Ryan and went outside. Their hotel was a good ten minute drive away, so it was more like a twenty/thirty minute walk.
Malia pulled her jacket closer around her as a chilly wind blew past them. Nick smiled, "Cold?"
"A little."
"Tired?"
"Alot. You?"
"Very. But I figured getting outside of the venue, even if it is with security, would be good for us. We gonna have our nightly chat session tonight?"
"Of course, you bring the movie, I bring popcorn."
"Cool."
She sighed, "I found out my dad called my mom today."
"Oh? And what'd he have to say?"
"I don't know, my mom left a voice mail so I'm going to have to call her when we get back to the hotel."
He nodded in understanding and then pointed to a small restaurant, "Let's grab some carry out and go on back to the hotel. I'm kinda interested to know why your dad contacted your mom after a year of hearing nothing from the guy."
"Me too."
Malia's father, Cameron, had left more than two years ago and barely spoke to his daughter. An occasional birthday card(two months late) or congratualtion card came, but no real phone calls. Malia was kind of worried about what her father wanted, he was a selfish man, always had been. But he had always made time for Malia, but that was before he ran off with his secretary. After he disappeared, Malia pretty much became a recluse, she even thought about giving up singing but Nick was there to pull her out of the rut and get her back on track.
"Excuse me, Malia? Could I have your autograph?," A girl, who looked about her age, asked as they waited for their order to come up.
Jeff started to come over but Malia shook her head at him and turned to the girl, "Sure. What's your name?"
"Kim. I was at the conference but I was way in the back. I think it's really cool that you and the Backstreet Boys are going to tour together, It should be an awesome show."
Malia signed the paper and smiled at Kim, "Well thank you, we're working hard to make it as good as possible. Are you going to any shows?"
"I'm going to the one in Seattle, that's where I live anyways."
"That's cool, I hope you enjoy the show."
"I'm sure I will..could you also get Nick to sign this? I kinda feel stupid bugging him."
"Oh don't, hey Nick? Come here."
He walked over from where he was looking at a jukebox and smiled at the girl, "What's up Lia?"
"Sign this for Kim please; she said she'd feel stupid bugging you."
He laughed, "I wasn't doing anything important anyways, Kim, right?"
Kim nodded, too starstruck to talk. He signed the peice of paper and handed it back to her, "There you go."
"Thank you all so much."
They both replied, "You're welcome."
Their order came up soon after, they gathered their food and walked out the door. "See, I like fans like that girl.," She said as they walked towards the hotel.
"What'd you mean?"
"The ones that don't scream and yell in my ear about wanting to have your baby, or the ones that say they want to kill me are kinda mean. That girl was nice about it and didn't scream when you came over."
He smiled, "But even the ones that scream are good..they're fans."
"True..but wanting to have your baby? Whoa."
He laughed and put his arm around her shoulders playfully, "Now you know Lia, you want to have my baby. And we ALL know HOW we'd make that baby."
Malia's eyes widened and she shoved him away playfully before laughing, "You are SUCH a dork!!"
"Well, it's the truth!"
"No it's not!," She replied.
Ryan pulled Nick away, "Leave the girl alone before she makes sure you WON'T be able to ever have kids, if you catch my drift!"
They all broke down in laughter and were laughing so hard they had to stop in the middle of the sidewalk.
It was times like this that Malia truely enjoyed, it made being in the business seem easier.
The lone figure opened the door to Malia's dressing room and shut it behind him. A smile crossed his face as he began to search for something, anything that would be incriminating. 'Oh what the hell.,' He thought before beginning to tear through the dressing room.
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