Later that evening, after everyone had eaten dinner, Nick and Isabel were hanging out in his room. He laid his head on her shoulder, "I missed you, you know."
She smiled and leaned back against him, "I missed you too Nicky."
"Ooohh..the dreaded Nicky.."
"You know you like it."
"Well..yeah."
She laughed, "Well, do you or don't you?"
"Let's just say that you and my mom are the only two that can get away with callin' me that.," He said.
"Ohh..okay."
"What's wrong baby? You've been really quiet tonight."
"Well..I'm tired.."
"Oh..okay."
"Can I ask you something though?," She asked turning around so she was facing him.
He nodded, "Of course."
"Okay, you remember when I was staying with you and I ended up meeting Justin Timberlake?"
He nodded again, "Umm..yep."
"Well..what would you say, or think, if I told you I met up with him the night they were in Lexington and went to his hotel?"
"I'd say..whoa...I guess.."
He had gotten up and was pacing around the room, "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
Isabel shrugged, "I don't know, I mean, come on, I wasn't alone or anything, I took Madison, Kev's neice, remember her?"
He nodded, "Yeah..I remember her."
"Great, you're pissed off."
"No I'm not."
She gave him a skeptical look, "Yeah right Nick."
"Fine, I'm a little..mad but it's not like I'm going to throw you out and go kick his ass..I'm not."
"Okay..I just..I felt bad for not telling you."
He sat back down, facing her once more, "Don't feel bad, I hate it when you feel upset or bad or mad or anything."
"I mean, I figured I'm gonna see the guy tomorrow, at least I run a big ass chance of it, so I figured I'd tell you..I know you two aren't like best friends or anything but I also know you're pretty civil to one another."
"Yeah..he's a pretty cool guy. As long as you didn't do anything with him-"
"I gave him a hug..but you know I do that with all guys."
He smiled, "Then don't worry about it. I'm glad you told me though."
"You're not mad?"
"Of course not..Geez Isabel, have some faith."
She smiled, "I do..I just felt..guilty."
"Have you been this worried about Justin for this long?"
"Kinda."
"Isabel..don't worry about it..if you see him tomorrow, go say hi, I won't care."
"Okay," She said hugging him.
"You know....you could stay in here with me.."
She looked at his face before laughing, "And have Kevin on your ass about 2 a.m."
"Iiiissaabbbeeellll.."
"Oh don't whine! GEEZ!"
He smiled kissing her forehead, "I love you."
"Love you too."
"We are SO cheesy!"
She laughed while she stood up off the bed, "I know! We're acting like...like..-"
She had opened the door with him behind her. He laughed, "Like Kevin and Kristen!"
"Who's acting like me and Kristen?," Kevin asked from the doorway.
Isabel laughed even harder as Nick's eyes widened before he started to laugh again. Kevin looked at them weird, "I just came to make sure you were going back to your room Isabel."
"Thanks dad..I'm SO glad to know you're taking care of me."
"Funny Isabel."
"Thought so..," She said before kissing his cheek and hugging him, "Night Kev."
"Night Isabel."
She leaned up and kissed Nick quickly, "Night Nick."
"Goodnight Isabel."
She left them standing in the hallway as she made her way into the room she was sharing with Kristen.
The next day was pretty hectic for everyone. The guys had last minute rehearsal at the venue, plus they were doing a spot on TRL and another news show, as well as doing a final fitting for their outfits to the show as well as the performance outfits.
Isabel had been woken up by Kristen before she left to go to the airport to meet LeighAnne and Amanda. Isabel had stayed behind, she was first to gt her hair done. Their hairstylist, Suzie, stood behind her; pulling and brushing her hair. "So, what do you think you could do with it so it'll look decent with me outfit?," Isabel asked.
"Well...let's see..do you want it up or down?"
"Preferably down."
"Okay. Hmm..we could just curl it, pull up some of the hair and put some cute jewel thingies in it..."
"Cute jewel thingies, huh?"
Suzie grinned, "Shut up."
Isabel smiled, "That sounds cool though."
"Okay, lemme get to work..I do have to do three other women, I do believe."
"Nope, only me.," Kristen said as they came through the doors with LeighAnne and Amanda following.
"Yep, me and Leigh are gonna do our hair ourselves, save some time since you gotta make the guys look decent.," Amanda said grinning.
"That's true, it does take ALL me expertise to get them looking halfway normal.," Suzie said as she finished setting Isabel's hair up in rollers.
She stood up to hug LeighAnne and Amanda. "Are you excited Isabel?," LeighAnne asked.
"Yeah, I actually am..I'm so excited to see their performance."
"Me too..AJ's not too helpful on the hints as to what they're doing.."
"Like Brian is, whatever!"
Isabel looked at them confused, "So you all have NO clue what they're performing or wearing?"
"Nope, they want it to be some huge surprise."
"Ohhhh..Nick said they were going to perform Get Another Boyfriend."
Amanda and LeighAnne exchanged a look. Amanda looked thoughtful, "Hmmm..could be.."
"True..maybe a meledy or something..As long as it doesn't end up being cheesy."
They all shared a laugh at that...they couldn't help it.
Isabel was turning in the mirror, looking at herself, as she waited for Amanda to finish getting ready. Kristen smiled, "You look fine Isabel."
"I was just making sure nothing was popping out that's not supposed to be."
She laughed and stood behind her, "I think we look kick-ass good."
"I feel so...weird almost.."
"Why?"
"I don't know..I feel like I should be at home right now doing homework or studying."
"Well you're not, you're here with us and we're going to have SO much fun."
"I can't wait for the after-party...Nick said he was takin' me to one."
"Of course, you gotta go to at least one."
Amanda appeared out of the bathroom, "Ready?"
"Yep..LeighAnne!"
LeighAnne appeared from the adjoining room, "I'm coming, damn!"
Everyone made sure they had all their stuff and exited the room to find security waiting outside. "The guys ready yet?," Amanda asked Randy.
"Supposedly."
Isabel was looking at herself again, this outfit was so not her. But it felt good. She was wearing a low-cut, sleeveless dress that fell to her ankles (think Britney's DRESS on the VMA's this yr..kinda...mixed with Beyonce from Destiny's Child's dress) and had slits way up the sides. There were small rhinestones studded all around it, her shoes were knee length black boots and she had on her regular jewelry and her hair by Suzie looked wonderful.
The door to one of the guys' rooms opened and all the girls tuurned to look to see what their men were wearing.
Nick smiled as he took in Isabel's dress, "You look beautiful."
"It's not too much?"
"No, it looks great."
"Well you don't look too bad yourself there Mr. Carter."
He put his arm around her, "Ready to be on tv?"
"Ready as I'll ever be."
He held her hand tightly as they began to walk towards the elevators. He knew the press would hound him (and her) as would the fans, but he knew they'd get through it together. She squeezed his hand tightly and he looked down to see her smiling up at him. "What?," He whispered so no one else could hear him.
"Nothin'..just looking at you."
He kissed her gently, "Sounds like something I'd say."
"Yeah, pretty much. Nick?"
"Hmm?"
"I'm kinda nervous..this is like our first big public appearance..anything after this could change forever."
"Change isn't always a bad thing Isabel."
"True."
"Just..when we get there, keep a hold on my hand."
"I will..and I'll keep Jeff in my eyesight.," She said nodding, referring to his security.
"Okay, sounds good."
Back to the Hold Me Page
To Chapter 22
Back to the Main Page