Nick was mad...no make that pissed off majorly. He was having to actually sneak up to the floor the dancers and some of the other crew were on just to see Natalia. His mind couldn't even comprehend it. Someone had found out that him and Natalia were kinda/sorta going out and had pasted pictures of the two of them kissing and holding hands all over the Internet, which management promptly found. As far as he knew, she could be all but gone from the tour. Especially if management took their contracts a little too seriously. He gripped two of the pictures in his right hand while he peeked around the corner. Ok...maybe ten feet to her door and he'd be there. He looked to his left, then to his right, and finally behind him, just to make sure no one was around.
It was clear. He sprinted the distance and knocked, hoping she'd be near the door and able to open it quickly..just in case someone he didn't want to run into came around that corner. He had finally convinced the guys to cover for him, not that it was hard: they liked Natalia. They were downstairs, waiting to hear if he got caught or what was happening.
The door swung open and he looked down into her sad, dark eyes. He smiled sadly, "Hey..."
"Hi..."
"You okay?"
She shrugged, "I don't really know right now...I knew it wouldn't last long..I mean, it was too good to be true, huh?"
"I guess so....hey, can I come in before I get caught?"
She smiled, "Oh yea..sorry!"
He stepped inside and closed the door, locking it. Before turning to her and hugging her close, "I'm so sorry Nat.."
"What are you sorry for? I'm the one that got involved with my employer.."
He sighed, kissing the top of her head, "It's not your fault either..."
"I leave after the last concert..."
"Least they're letting you stay till then..."
"Yea..look at the bright side Nick.."
He pulled back, "Hey...this isn't going to be goodbye though..you know that, right?"
"How are we ever going to see each other then? You'll be in Florida and I'll be in New York.."
"Don't think about that right now...we'll figure something out...hell, I'll even commute every weekend if it means we can still see each other."
She smiled, "You'd do that, for me?"
"Of course."
She pulled him into the main part of her room, "I just wish....I just wish..I guess..we could find out who did this..I mean, I didn't think we were ever like all over one another anywhere...and yet, there I am on the Internet."
Natalia handed him her laptop and he opened it, seeing one of the webpages that had popped up after the pictures. "That's the first one, I found out the date and everything. The webmaster's name wasn't listed, just her screenname...I know it's a girl. I was actually thinking of calling Chris...to see if he can figure out who it is."
"Think he could do that?"
She nodded, "Oh he can, trust me Nick."
He smiled, "True...but would you really want to find out who it is?"
"Oh hell yea...I mean, think about it Nick, the only person who would have ACCESS to these places and events is someone in the camp...it's someone on this tour."
"Well..that's true....go ahead and call your brother and see what he can find out.."
She nodded, "ok..I will later when I know he's home.."
"When'd you get so smart, lady?"
She shrugged with a smile, "I dunno.."
"Well...when'd you get so damn sexy, lady?"
She laughed out loud as he pulled her over to him, nearly knocking her into him, "Hmm...I just don't know...I don't normally think of myself as sexy.."
He looked up at her, a grin playing on his face, "Oh you don't?"
She shook her head, "Nope."
"Well..if I do so remember correctly, you were the one showin' off those pretty little hips that one night in a club dancing to Britney Spears and pretty much being ALL over some guy makin' me all jealous..."
She rolled her eyes, "I am never going to live that down, am I?"
"Nope. Although, now that I think about it, I can deal with that song...if you're the one dancing to it."
She smiled, "I was just dancing like that just because you dragged me out to an after-party.."
"Well..a bet is a bet."
She nodded, leaning closer to him, "Yea..it is.."
He kissed her neck first, moving up to her chin, and finally her lips, "Mmm...Nat?"
"Ummm....yea?"
"Wanna come out with me tonight?"
She didn't answer for a minute and Nick opened his eyes to find hers still closed. Her eyes opened and slammed into his, and he smiled, "Nat?"
She blinked a couple times, "oh..sorry. Yea..I'll go with you.."
He grinned, kissing her again, "Cool..I'll call you before we leave, ok?"
"You mean..we're not sneaking out?"
"Natalia, whoever doesn't want you on tour has already outted us...who cares if me and you go out IN PUBLIC anymore?"
"Are you sure?"
"Well...we'll just wait 'till we get there to get all freaky."
She laughed, "We're gonna get freaky?"
Nick cocked an eyebrow, causing her to laugh again, "What do YOU think, lady?"
She pushed him playfully away, "You better go...go report to the guys."
"how'd you know?"
"I know how you and them operate."
He kissed her one more time, "Okay..I'll call you...bye."
"Bye Nick."
Later that evening, about 11 or so, Nick knocked on Natalia's door. She pulled it open, motioning with her manicured hand to come on in. He did so, closing the door behind him, "What are you doin'?"
She walked into the bathroom, "I have a dilemma..and as much as I know you're not the clothes person of the group, you're the only one here...I have narrowed it down to two outfits..help me decide?"
He shrugged, "I'll try...but you know, you'd look cute just goin' in your sweats."
She turned to give him a weird look, "Umm..yea right...anyways, hold on and let me change."
"Ok.."
"Are you in a hurry or anything?"
"No..are you?"
She smiled, "No..I was just making sure."
"Well Kevin and Kristen left with Howie a little while ago...I think AJ is going to wait for us and I don't know if Brian's going or not..so we're not in any big hurry or anything.."
"Ok."
She closed the door and Nick leaned against the wall behind him. She came out a few minutes later and his jaw about dropped. She turned around, "Well?"
"Umm..maybe you should just save that one when you hang around me."
"Why?"
"Cause....well..you look too good in it.."
"Niiiiccckkk.."
"What? I'm serious Nat...it looks good..what's the other one?"
"This..," She said holding up another outfit.
Nick thought about it for a moment, either outfit would look good on her, either way. But he had to admit, he DID like the one she had on. Low-rise, flared jeans, black boots, a purple and black halter top. When she turned around to show him the back, that was the kicker right there. He grinned, "You know you can see your underwear, right?"
"Umm..DUH Nick. And it's called a thong...all girls wear them at some point or another...do you like it?"
He laughed, "Natalia!"
She laughed as well, "I'm just joking! Anyways..it'll only show when I sit down or whatever...so..this outfit?"
He nodded, "Oh yea.."
"You're sure now?"
"Yes..Nat...now can we go?"
"Yes, yes, let me get my purse and turn off the lights, then we can go."
"Thank God.."
"I didn't take that long!"
"Ok..you didn't..but still."
She smiled, coming out of the bathroom with her purse in hand, "Ok..let's go."
He took her hand and led her out of her room and towards the elevators.
Nick kept a hold of Natalia's hand as they made their way through the crowd behind AJ and Brian, and the security that surrounded them. Natalia tried hard to ignore the looks, stares, and jeers of some of the girls who stood nearby trying to get a glimpse of their idols. Nick looked back once as Natalia kind of paused, the crowd was huge and most of the people there were girls who appeared to be fans of the group. Nick noticed her resistance and smiled warmly at her, before putting his arm around her bare waist and whispering (so only she could hear), "They're not going to hurt you...but just think, just a few more webpages up about you."
She tried not to laugh, but continued to walk inside with him.
He kept ahold of her hand until they all reached the V.I.P. area and found a booth to sit down in. Nick smiled over at her, "You okay?"
She nodded, "Yea..it was just a little..unnerving..you know?"
"I bet..I'm sorry.."
"No..don't be...I guess I should get used to it, huh?"
He smiled, "Maybe. Wanna dance?"
"Nick? What is my occupation?"
"Ummm..dancer."
"So that would be your answer..come on blondie."
He grinned, letting her lead him back down the stairs and onto the crowded dance floor. Some dance beat was puslsating through the club. Nick let her lead him right to the middle of the dance floor, his bodyguard following somewhat closely, but not enough to interrupt them. Nick put his hands on her hips and she wound her arms around his neck, pulling him close. Their hips and legs began to move with the crowd and the beat, just enjoying being with one another.
The tour would be ending in just three shorts days, which would end Natalia's jaunt with the Backstreet Boys. Somehow, Nick couldn't imagine not having her dance in front of him on stage in front of 15,000 people anymore. He couldn't imagine her not hanging out with him on their days off and he couldn't even begin to imagine how hard it was going to be, after she left, to see her and go out with her. She made him feel like a normal 21 year old. She made him feel human.
He sighed, pulling her closer to him, trying to memorize the smell of her perfume and shampoo, to memorize how she felt in his arms...everything.
She sensed his change in mood, and pulled back a little, "What's wrong?"
He leaned down, "What??"
"I said, what's wrong?"
"I think I just realized how much I'm going to miss you when you leave....I just remembered that in three days you won't be rehearsing with me and goofing off in the part where you have to slid under my legs...and I just remembered that you won't be in front of me when we step on stage..."
She smiled, "Nicky..."
He kissed her forehead, "I know..I shouldn't be worrying about this right now...we have three days together, right?"
"And we'll be together AFTER that as well..."
He nodded, "True...sorry...I just ruined the night, didn't I?"
She shook her head, "No..you didn't...you just worry too early."
He sighed, her settling back into his embrace. He lightly kissed the top of her head.
Natalia and Nick were the last to leave the club that night. A few girls were still outside, and stood up when they saw Nick exit. They had one security guard, who moved to block the girls' paths but Nick stopped him. He looked at Natalia who looked at him like he was crazy, "Why are you asking my permission?"
"I didn't know if you were tired or what..."
She smiled, "Go on..I'll wait over here with Mr. I don't know more than two words."
"Ok..I'll only be a few minutes.."
She nodded, "I understand..go on."
She stepped into the background with the security guard, who was ready to pounce if need be.
The three girls or so flocked around Nick. Natalia watched, partly in amazement and partly in humor. Nick could charm the pants off anything/anyone..these girls were no exception. One of the younger ones pointd behind him and he glanced over his shoulder, smiling at Natalia, and then nodding to the girl. The girl looked at Natalia before smiling a little shyly.
One of the other girls, who was a little older, stepped up to Natalia, "Are you one of their dancers?"
She nodded, "Yea..I'm Natalia."
The girl smiled, "I'm Mary..we appreciate him stopping..we figured it would be too late and he wouldn't stop.."
Natalia smiled, "Not a problem...this is pretty much early for us. Have you seen their show?"
Mary nodded, "Yea..it's awesome! Is it hard to be a dancer for them?"
"Sometimes...the traveling is what gets to me the most.."
"That's cool...I didn't know dancers could date one of the guys though.."
"What?"
"You and Nick..aren't you two dating?"
"yea, we are.," Nick said coming up to the two.
Natalia looked at Nick; she hadn't a clue whether she was his girlfriend or not. It wasn't like, any more, that guys asked girls 'will you be my girlfriend?'..it was just an assumed thing nowadays. He smiled at Natalia. Natalia nodded, "Yea...we are...it's kinda against policy but the tour is up in three days so they're letting me stay on.."
Nick took the paper from Mary's hands and gave her an autograph. The third girl was busy snapping picture after picture of Nick. She noticed the way Nick looked at Natalia and took her hand before they left. "It was nice meeting you all..have a good night.," Natalia said.
Mary smiled, "Yea, thanks for stopping!"
Nick and Natalia joined the security guard and began the walk to the car around the corner.
The third girl, who had been taking pictures smiled, "Wow..she actually seems nice."
Mary nodded, "Yea...they're cute together..did you get pictures?"
"Of course I did Mary! Duh!"
"Good..these'll be all over the 'net by morning..huh?"
"Of course..come on guys, let's get back to my place and scan these."
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