Nick sighed, looking at his reflection in the mirror. Last interview before it was time to take Natalia to the airport. He sighed again and looked away, he hated looking at himself.
The past two days had been busy for the both of them. The last show was the night before and Nick could sense she was really sad it was all over. She was going back to New York and Nick was going back to Florida. He didn't even know if he'd ever hear from or see her again.
He ran a hand through his hair and stood up as the other guys came into the room; laughing and joking. They didn't understand, hell, they didn't even have any idea what it was like. He guessed Brian and Kevin sort of had an idea of what it was like to send off a person they loved more than life itself, but Nick's was different. Brian plopped down in the seat next to Nick, "Hey man, you okay?"
Nick nodded, "Yea...yea..I'm cool..I was just thinkin.."
"You talked to her?"
"Earlier this morning...I'm going to take her to the airport later.."
Brian nodded, "That'll be good..."
"Yea..."
"Are you sure you're okay?"
Nick nodded, "Yea..yea..I'm fine."
"Okay..if you say so..," Brian said, looking at him skeptically.
Nick sighed, "I'm okay Bri..just a little down, that's all..I don't want her to leave.."
"I understand man...I really do.."
"I know you do...I'm just afraid that this is the end..you know?"
"You have always been afraid of the unknown."
"Yep..pretty much."
Brian smiled and patted Nick on the back, "Everything will work out for the best, I promise."
Nick nodded, "I hope so.."
Their manager came in the room, "Okay guys, let's go and get this over with and then, it's vacation time for all of us!"
The guys stood up, following him, making smart-ass comments behind his back. Nick followed lastly, his hands stuffed in his pockets, his shoulders sagging just a little bit more than normally.
Natalia looked around the room, her hands on her hips, trying to make sure she had gotten everything and packed it away. Finding a stray sock, she grabbed it, stuffing it into the closest open suitcase. She then looked at the clock; Nick would be arriving shortly to take her to the airport. She sighed, this was getting to be harder than she thought it would be. And she hadn't even left yet!
She heard the knock and pulled the door open. Nick stood there, in his jeans and polo shirt, holding out a white tulip. She smiled, taking it, and smelling it softly, "Nicky..you didn't have to."
He smiled, seeing her smile, that calmed him down so much more. He hugged her, "I want to...I had to make sure you smile today."
"Of course I'll smile, I'm with you aren't I?"
He rolled his eyes playfully and kissed her, "You have been getting lines from AJ, haven't you?"
"Mmmmm...nope! That was my own!"
He grinned, pulling back, "Well..it sucked.."
She shrugged, "Did the best with what I could come up with.."
"So I noticed..so, you all packed?"
"Umm...I think so..let me check once more real good and then we can leave, k?"
"Fine with me..," Nick replied sitting on the edge of her bed.
He watched her walk from the main room and towards the bathroom. She looked really cute that day, although (he thought with a small grin on his face) she looked cute ALL the time. Her jeans rode low on her hips and she was wearing a dark blue one-shouldered top and her sandals that he just loved on her. They made her feet look extra sexy, which he had told her many-a-time to which she just laughed off and pushed him out of the way. Her hair was pulled up but he could tell she had been running around because a few peices were flying around her head as she moved back and forth between the bedroom and the bathroom. Finally, she came back, empty-handed. "I think I have everything...you know, I'm one of those people that just has to check everything like a dozen times before they're completely satisfied."
He smiled, "Yea..but I understand..I wish I was like that..I leave things ALL over the place!"
She laughed, "Somehow, I can just see that Nick."
"Thanks Nat...so, you ready?"
She sighed, "Yea..I guess so..."
The car ride to the airport was quiet sans for the radio playing some rap station they had both agreed on in the background. Natalia watched the way he drove; his right hand resting on her knee, tapping out the beat to whatever song was playing, his left hand resting on top of the steering wheel, tightening and loosening with each beat of the song. She smiled, it was so funny that she was so interested in watching the way he drove. He looked over, catching her watching him, "What? Do I have something on my face?"
She shook her head, "No..I was just watching you.."
He smiled, "Oh...that's a little odd Nat.."
"Yea..I know.."
The rest of the ride was quiet.
They parked and Nick carried two of her bags while Natalia carried her carry-on and another bag slung over her shoulder. Nick had slid a hat over his hair and hoped upon hope he wouldn't be recognized now. He hated to say goodbyes and this one was going to be one of the hardest of them all. He needed this private time with just her and not a bunch of fans crowding around behind him right then. He took her hand and the two of them walked silently into the airport.
He watched from beside a pole as she checked in and then checked her bags and they were taken away from her. She walked back over, "Ok..that's done.."
"Want to walk to your gate and wait there?"
She nodded, grabbing his hand, "Sure..come on superstar."
He smiled, about a week ago she had started to call him that after he had apparently whined about something stupid...something, she said, only a 'superstar' would whine about. She had laughed, saying, that if he ever whined about there being brown M&M's in a bowl when he didn't like the brown ones she would bitch slap him till he took it back.
They walked to her gate and sat in two of the chairs. A boarding call was announced and Nick was almost afraid it was hers. Thankfully, it wasn't. He took both of her hands in his and sighed, "This is gonna be hard, huh?"
She nodded and scrunched up her nose, "Yea..I think so.."
"I don't want it to be..I just need to know one thing.."
She nodded, "Ok..ask away...I've never kept anything from you before, so I wouldn't start now."
Nick opened his mouth to talk but he was interuppted by a computerized voice announcing Natalia's flight. His heart sank a little bit more. She pulled on his hands, "Nick?"
He looked up at her, "That was you.."
She smiled, "You and I both know I'm not gettin' on that plane until the last boarding call anyways."
He smiled, faintly, "I just...I need to know...is this the end?"
"End? Of us?"
He nodded, "Yes...I don't want it to be...but if you're just going to go home and forget about me...I don't know if I can deal with that..."
She reached out, touching his face, "Nick...you know I care about you so much...and I know it's been a short period of time..but I really do care about you...this isn't the end of us..I just need to go home..and so do you...You need a vacation about as much as I do."
He nodded, "Yea...I need sleep.."
She smiled, "I know you do.."
Nick stood, pulling her with him, "So..this isn't the end?"
"Nope."
He hugged her tightly, "Good..I'm so glad..."
Her flight was called again and she pulled back, "I gotta go Nick..."
He nodded, "Ok.."
"You'll be okay?"
"Yea...I'll be fine Nat...I'm going home tomorrow morning.."
"Call me?"
"Of course...you be okay?"
She nodded, trying not to cry though it was hard, "I will.."
He leaned down, kissing her, trying to memorize each and every part of her. He opened his eyes as he pulled back, "Natalia?"
Her eyes opened and he reached out to wipe the tear that managed to slip its way out, "No crying."
"Sorry.."
"It's okay..."
The last boarding call was made and he hugged her again, "I'm going to miss you.."
"I'll miss you too...I'll leave a voice mail when I get home, ok? You can call me tonight if you want to, ok?"
"Ok...you know what?"
"What?"
He smiled, "Maybe you should make a move to Florida?"
She laughed, "When winter comes, I may just take you up on that one if I don't have a job by then.."
He kissed her forehead, "Go on Nat..go home."
She smiled, "Ok...I'll call you.."
"Bye Nick.."
He watched her walk to the terminal and hand her ticket to the woman. She turned once more and waved before disappearing. Nick walked to the window and watched as all the passengers boarded onto the plane. He waited until the plane disappeared into the afternoon sky before whispering, "Bye Natalia."
Nick drove back to the hotel silently, the radio turned off, his cell phone on 'silent'. Brian was waiting when he got off the elevator. Brian smiled sadly at Nick; the poor guy looked worn out. "Hey...how'd it go?"
"It went okay....I'm tired Bri.."
"I know you are...she get off okay?"
Nick nodded, "Yea..."
"Did you all talk?"
"Yea...," another nod, "I think we're gonna try this whole thing..."
"Really? That's great man."
He smiled, a real one for the first time in over an hour and a half, "Yea..yea..it is, isn't it?"
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