Nick couldn't understand it. Just when he thought he had females, in general, figured out (kind of), they threw him a curveball. Ever since him and Natalia had gone to the after-party together the week before, she had been kind of aloof. She hadn't been downright cold and mean to him but he kind of got the feeling she wasn't interesting anymore.
They were on their way to New York; her turf. She had told AJ that her dad and brothers were going to be there for the show and that she would be going to her house that night to stay with them. Fatima had even been okay with that.
Nick sat on the bus, staring at the scenery as it passed by in bright, vibrant colors. He was bored. Very, very bored. He had already played a video game, two in fact, listened to his cd player, read a magazine and had even drawn something but now, it seemed he had exhausted all his entertainment abilities. He sighed and turned to see AJ walking from the bunk area to the kitchen. "Hey Nick.."
"Hey.."
"What's wrong?"
Nick shrugged, "I dunno...I'm just bored I guess.."
AJ nodded, "I understand..we're just about to watch a movie, wanna join us?"
"I might later on.."
"What's really wrong Nick?"
"Nothing.."
"Bullshit."
Nick sighed, "Nothing's really wrong AJ..."
"Trouble in paradise?"
"Not really...I just kind of get the feeling she doesn't like me.."
"Dude...she likes you.."
Nick looked up at him, "Then why is she acting like she doesn't want to be around me?"
"She's actin' like that?"
"Yea...a little bit..."
"Maybe she just needs a little space or something.."
"Yea..maybe you're right.."
"Soo..gonna come watch the movie?"
"I will in a few minutes.."
"Ok.."
They arrived in the city about 3 that afternoon. Nick and the rest of the guys were already packed into their hotel rooms...Nick was still bored. Because of the number of fans that had learned of the hotel they were staying in, the guys had been put under a type of 'house arrest'. Most of the other guys didn't even want to go out anyways, they were tired and wanted to rest. Nick was tired too, but he was getting antsy.
Natalia and the other dancers had been into their rooms and as far as she knew they were all still in their rooms or in each other's rooms. Natalia had grabbed her purse and cell phone and walked out of the hotel without any trouble from any of the fans outside.
She caught a cab and told the driver the directions to her house.
Fifteen minutes later, the cab stopped, she paid the guy, and she walked up the long driveway to her father's house.
She knocked on the door and it was swung open a second later by her older brother, Christopher. Grinning, he grabbed her into a big bear hug. "It is about damn time you got home!"
She laughed, "I told you I'd be here before 5!"
"Whatever!"
"Is dad home?"
"Nope..he left about twenty minutes ago, some meeting. Come on in though...want something to eat, drink?"
She shook her head, "No, I ate on the bus..where's Michael?"
"In the city somewhere at some meeting too.."
"They're not at the same meeting are they?"
"Nope.."
"Ohhhh okay...so how are you? I haven't talked to you in forever!"
He smiled, "I've been good..not as good as you, apparently."
"What do you mean?"
"Have you not seen the National Enquirer?"
"Umm..no..I've been on a bus since real early this morning dude..and I haven't been in a super market in weeks."
Chris smiled, "Didn't know you and Nick Carter had a thing goin'.."
Her eyes widened, "Oh my God...no way!"
"Yep..there's some pictures of you two going into some party...and you two dancing.."
She groaned, "Awww man!"
"Natalia.."
"Don't...say...a...word.."
"You gotta tell me! Let me in on it!"
She sighed, "Nothing's really goin' on..we've gone out like twice to clubs and stuff...and..we've umm..kissed..more than a couple times.."
"Umm..eww..you're my little sister Natalia, I don't need to know your sex life."
"Christopher!"
He grinned, "So you're goin' with a pop star, huh?"
"No! I don't..really know..what we are.."
"But you've gone out and kissed?"
"Well..yeah."
"Sounds like you two are dating."
"I can't date him!"
"Why not?"
"There's a big loooong paragraph on not dating employers in my contract.."
"And?"
"And...he's a big time celebrity with girls that want to have his kids..I'm a dancer with the big time celebrity..if this stuff got around, I'd be toast."
"But if you like him and he likes you...you know, I'm gonna have to meet this guy."
"I know..you'll meet him tomorrow night at the concert.."
"And dad's gonna have to meet him.."
She sighed, "I know, I know...so..wanna take me back to the city and my hotel?"
"Can I stay?"
"I don't see why not...we'll call dad and Michael and maybe meet them for dinner?"
He nodded, "Let me go grab some clothes.."
Natalia wandered up the stairs to her room while Chris was busy packing an over-night bag. She pushed the door open; it looked exactly the same as she had left it. The bed was actually made and her closet was just about empty. Her window overlooked the long driveway and she could just see the road that led up to their house. She remembered spending alot of time in her room, listening to music or reading or watching tv. It was where she first 'learned' to dance. She never really had formal training until she was 15 but before then she would turn on the radio or a tape she had in and dance around her room. She'd push her dresser back and push the trunk at the edge of her bed back that way to have alot of room to move around.
She sighed and ran a finger over the pictures that lined the top of her dresser. The last one was one she didn't remember sitting for. She was a baby being held by her mom, her brothers on each side of her mother and her father standing behind them all. Her mom and dad looked so happy. Now, all she could remember was the stony look her father seemed to have all the time.
Chris knocked lightly on the doorframe, "Hey.."
She turned, "Hey.."
"You ready?"
"Yea..you?"
He smiled, "Of course..."
"Ok..you drivin'?"
"Natalia, there is no way in hell, unless it froze over, that I would let you drive...and in my car, HA!"
She smiled, "Okay, okay.. I get the point..let's go.."
Back to the 'Broaden Horizon' Main Page
To Chapter 13
Back to the Main Page