Nick met Natalia downstairs in the hotel's restaurant early the next morning before the day got really busy.
He slid into the booth and almost yawned immediately. "What's wrong?," She asked taking a drink of her coffee.
"Didn't sleep too well...where's your brother?"
"He left just before I did to come down here..he's got some business to do before tonight.."
"So who all is coming tonight?"
"Well..my dad and my brothers and I think Michael is bringing his new girlfriend, whom I have yet to meet. And I think that's it."
He smiled, "You excited?"
"Actually..I am. I can't wait for them to see me up there.."
"Michael already has.."
"Yea..during rehearsal...but this...this is for real Nick."
The waitress appeared, "Can I get you something to drink?"
"Umm..yea..coffee please, black."
She nodded and disappeared. Natalia smiled, "Are you excited?"
"Well..yea...it's always been a blast to play in NYC."
She smiled, "Do you have anything to do before soundcheck?"
"Ummm..well..we have an interview with a magazine at like 5...it'll be during dinner...why?"
"Well..I was going to head uptown and go see if I can see some of my old stomping grounds..wanna come with me?"
"Sure..."
"Cool.."
The waitress came back with his coffee and then took their orders.
After both showered and changed, they began the trek uptown. Randy, a bodyguard, was coming along just in case. They got out of the hotel without too much ruckus, for which Nick was thankful.
Once they were about a block or two from the hotel, Nick reached out, taking Natalia's hand in his. She didn't pulled back, to which he inwardly smiled. Randy stayed a good five feet behind them, trying to enjoy the trek and give them some privacy.
"So..where we headin' first?"
"Well..I was going to go see my old dance studio and see if I can find my teacher..she was real cool.."
"Ok."
Natalia led him into a tall building and up at least four flights of stairs and into a room lined with mirrors and a bar all the way around. A small group of men and women stood around in a group. Nick could tell, this was her element. A small, dark haired woman stepped forward, "Is that who I think it is??"
Natalia smiled, "Hey Simmone!"
The woman stepped forward and hugged Natalia tightly, "It is so good to see you, I was just thinking about you the other day and was wondering how you were doing..how's it going?"
"Good, real good...we've got a show tonight."
"I know, I know...are you excited?"
She smiled, "Of course!"
It was then, Simmone spotted Nick. She looked him up and down, before leaning into Natalia, "Where did you meet HIM at??"
Natalia smiled at Nick, "Oh him? That's Nick..."
"Well hello Nick, it is nice to meet you, I used to teach Natalia some moves.."
Nick shook the woman's hand, "It's nice to meet you too.."
Natalia smiled, "So are you all getting ready to start?"
"We sure are...wanna hang around a bit?"
"We'd love to."
Simmone nodded, "Okay, great, hang out over there or something...ok, class, let's get started!"
Natalia led Nick over to some chairs and they sat down. "Where's Randy?"
"Outside smoking probably."
She smiled, "He seems cool.."
"Yea..he is.."
Music boomed out from the stereo system and the class moved totally in-synch with one another through the pretty complicated dance sequence. Nick, out of the corner of his eye, watched as Natalia moved with the class. He smiled and looked over at her, "Want to be out there?"
She stopped moving and looked at him, "Well...sometimes. But I think I like touring a little bit better.."
"Better pay?"
"Hell of a lot better.."
He laughed, "She seems cool.."
"Oh she is, she's wonderful. She was one of the first people to tell me to take that audition.."
"I'm sure glad you did."
Natalia smiled, "Me too.."
After leaving the dance studio, they had to head back to the hotel so Nick could finish packing before he had to leave for the guys' interview at the venue. He walked her up to her room, which she kept saying he didn't have to.
"Natalia, I know I don't have to, but I want to."
"You're too sweet, you know that?"
He smiled, "I try...I've been taking lessons from AJ, but I'm not too sure they're working.."
"Umm..just stop with the AJ lessons, K?"
He laughed, "I'm just kidding...so, I guess I'll see you tonight, right?"
"Yep..I'll be there.."
"What time are you leaving?"
"Umm..probably around 6 or so..I don't know..we're supposed to meet by the buses around 6.."
He nodded, "Ok..I'll come look for you before we head for the stage?"
"If you want.."
He kissed her quickly, "Bye Nat."
"Later Nick."
The concert that night was absolutely flawless. Natalia was back in her element totally and the energy she felt was just amazing. Her and Nick were totally on with one another, and anyone who couldn't have seen their chemistry together would of had to of been blind.
Natalia was late coming to the after-party because she had to say goodbye to her brothers and her father. Nick knew it was hard for her to say goodbye and leave again, but she tried not to let it bother her too much.
He spotted her from the VIP lounge and met her on the stairs. He smiled softly, "Hey...you okay?"
She nodded, "Yea...it's just hard, you know?"
"I know..come on up..you hungry or anything?"
Natalia shook her head, "No, I'm fine..."
He took her hand leading her up the staircase, "Did you see them off and everything?"
"Yea...Michael's girlfriend is really nice..."
"So you approved?"
"Pretty much.."
He smiled, "That's good.."
They sat down at one of the tables and Nick ordered a drink. Natalia fought off a yawn, which elicited a laugh from Nick. "Sorry..I'm tired."
"It's okay, I'm not insulted."
"So..where are we going now?"
"Umm..after this we are going to....we are going to...hell, I dunno."
She laughed, "Well between the two of us, we'd get completely lost."
"Yep..pretty much."
His drink was set in front of him. "You better not drink too much...you have a show tomorrow.," She scolded lightly.
He smiled before taking a drink, "Don't worry Nat..I'm not gonna get drunk."
"Ok..I'm just looking out for you."
"I appreciate it."
Everyone went back to the hotel to get their things and load up the buses to leave for the next destination. Nick snuck up to sneak in a quick goodbye to Natalia before he left. He poked his head in her room, "Hey.."
She jumped, "Damnit, don't scare me!"
He smiled, "Sorry.."
"What are you doing up here?"
"We're waiting on Kev...so I thought I'd come say goodbye..I don't think I'll get to see you till the show."
She zipped up her bag and added it to the others before walking up to him near the door. He smiled down at her, "I'll call you though.."
"Ok.."
"I'm gonna have to go.."
She leaned up, kissing him softly, "I know..me too.."
"We could just be left behind..."
She raised an eyebrow, "Oh yea? And get chewed out by management AND Fatima? I don't think so Nick."
Nick pondered that thought for a moment, "Ohhh yea....you do have a point."
"Usually."
He smiled, "I have the distinct feeling you are pretty much right all the time, right?"
Kissing him softly this time, yet longer, then said, "You're learning quick Nicky."
"Nicky, huh?"
"Yep..I like calling you that."
He kissed her forehead, "I don't mind...I gotta get going or I'll get a new one ripped by Kevin...and everyone else."
She smiled, "ok..call me tomorrow when you have a break, ok?"
"Ok..bye."
"Bye."
Natalia finished packing the last of her things and then drug all of her things down to the bus loading area. The driver of her bus loaded her things into the bus and she climbed on and going back to her bunk. She pulled her journal, she had started since the tour began, from her backpack and climbed into the bunk, preparing to write a loooong entry about what had been going on lately in her life.
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