Natalia smiled, more to herself than anyone else, as she looked through a bunch of pictures Nick had in his car as he drove her back to her hotel. "That your mom?," She asked.
Nick glanced over and then nodded, "Yeah, thats my mom and my sister BJ."
"Ohhhh...they look alike.."
"Yea.."
"Sounds like you have a great family.."
"Yea...we've been through alot but it's all good now.."
She smiled, "That's good.."
"So..I've heard practically everything about your brothers...what about your mom and dad?"
"My dad...my dad is a little complicated to explain. He's very work oriented and pretty strict. He never really liked me going out alot but let me whenever I was with Michael or Christopher. I love him, you know, he IS my dad and whenever he was at home he was really cool. I can remember coming home from school...I guess I was in junior high and came home from having a really bad day and I was really surprised to see him there. Usually the housekeeper or someone was there..never him. But I saw him and like immediately started bawling and he just sat me down until I talked all about what was going on..."
"What about your mom?"
"I...I never knew my mom. She left when I was 2.."
"Oh...I'm sorry..."
"It's...it's okay..I've dealt with it.."
"Does your dad know where she is?"
Natalia shook her head, "No..well, if he does then he isn't saying anything to me about it. Truthfully, I don't think I want to know where she is..if my dad knows, then he can just keep it to himself."
"Oh.."
She smiled, "My life isn't too bright Nick...sorry."
"No, it's okay..I mean, we're friends, so we're supposed to get to know one another...even with the bad stuff.."
"I guess.."
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
Nick sighed as he pulled to a stop at a stoplight, "Do you think...your never knowing your mom..has something to do with the whole girls not getting along with you thing? I mean, you were kinda raised around all guys...you know?"
"I think that has something to do with it...I don't know...maybe I just don't have the skills to get along with females? I have no idea.."
Nick smiled, "I think you'll be okay.."
She finally smiled, "I think I will be too...thanks for taking me out.."
"Not a problem.."
He pulled to a stop in front of her hotel, "I'll see you tomorrow, ok?"
"Ok..have a good night Nick."
"You too Natalia."
She smiled and closed the door to his car. He pulled away and Natalia walked up to her hotel room. Michael was sitting at the small table in the room with his briefcase and laptop surrounding him. He looked up, "Hey...have fun?"
"Yeah..pretty much spilled my life story to him..."
"You like him?"
"He's my friend Michael.," She said as she walked into the bathroom to change into sweats and a tank top.
"I didn't say anything different Natalia."
She poked her head around the corner, "Do you think he likes me?"
Michael's head sort of shot up, "I don't know Natalia.."
"Michaellllll..."
"I caught him..kinda staring at you a couple times..and he seems like a pretty nice guy.."
"He stared at me?"
"Kinda..when you weren't paying attention or when you were listening intently to Fatima at one point. I think he kinda has a crush on you.."
She smiled but tried to hide it from him. Michael caught it but didn't let her know..just yet. "You think?"
"I do."
"I don't think he does Michael...he's a HUGE celebrity..why would he like someone like me? And besides, the other girls seem much more his type."
"And what do you think his type is?"
She stepped out, pulling her hair up into a ponytail, and walked to the bed, "I dunno...I guess..you know the pop princess type..loves the color pink, chews bubble gum..I dunno.."
He smiled, "In other words, everything you aren't."
Michael's soft snores rang through the room. Natalia smiled a little, her brother had fallen asleep a long, long time ago. She was glad he was there but sad that he would be leaving soon. She glanced at the clock, 3:23 a.m. The tour would be starting in less than 24 hours and the nerves were already kicking in. She was afraid she was really going to screw up and be really bad on stage. She sighed, Michael's words (though they were not intent on harming her in any way), 'everything you aren't' kept running through her mind, it was keeping her up. Sure, she knew she may not be the type Nick Carter normally went for, but that didn't mean she couldn't try, did it? So far, he saw her as a friend. Somehow, Natalia hoped he'd grow to like her as maybe a tad bit more than that later on down the road.
She sighed and crawled into her bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. Hopefully, her mind would calm down and she'd be able to get SOME sleep.
After the short rehearsal the next morning, everyone was ordered to go home and rest. Natalia went with Michael to take him to the airport. Michael sighed as he turned back to his sister; she was about two seconds from breaking down and it was nearly breaking his heart. "Natalia...."
"What??"
"Don't....cry.."
She smiled sadly, "I can't help it!"
"I know..you'll be okay...and I'll even convince dad to come see you when you all get to New York..alright?"
"Chris too?"
"Christopher too...you gotta get us the tickets though."
She smiled, "I will.."
"You take care of yourself, okay? Don't let those other girls get you down or anything..you're as good as them and you've earned your spot there.."
Natalia nodded, "Okay.."
The PA system announced that his flight would be boarding in five minutes. Michael leaned forward and planted a kiss on her forehead, "Love you kiddo.."
"I'm not a kid."
"To me, you are and always will be. Call me after tomorrow night?"
She smiled, "Ok.."
"I'll talk to you soon.."
She hugged him tightly, "Thank you for coming to see me..even if it was partly business."
"I had fun seeing what you do.."
"And now you can go tell dad I'm okay.."
Michael laughed, "Yea, I can."
"Do you think I'll really be okay? I mean, I'm not going to totally screw up?"
Michael smiled, "No you won't screw up, you may make some mistakes but everyone's human, they all make them. You'll be okay, everything will be okay."
She nodded, "Ok..you better go.."
He smiled, "I am...bye Natalia."
She watched as he handed the ticket agent his boarding pass and then he turned, waved once more, and walked through the terminal.
Tears still threatened to fall and she wiped at her eyes as she made her way outside to hail a cab. She was more surprised than (pretty much) anything to see Nick standing beside his Durango, no hint of a disguise or anything. He smiled, "Hey...I figured you may of needed a friend."
"How'd you know I'd be here?"
"You told me, remember?"
"Ohhh yeah...but how'd you know I wouldn't have my rental car?"
He shrugged, "Just a hunch."
"Ohh..I figured you'd be at home packing..and saying bye to your friends..."
"I can do that later..so, how about we go pick up some lunch?"
"Sure.."
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