Alex walked into her room after the show and turned on the light. Her and Nick had talked a bunch during the show, but he hadn't brought anything up about them. And to make matters worse, he told her to not tell Serenity that they had been talking because then she'd make tour a living hell for everyone. That sent daggers through Alex's heart.
Slowly, she pulled the necklace out from under her shirt and then wiped the tears from her eyes. Carefully she un did the clasp and took it off from around her neck then eased the locket open. There was the inscription she read every night before she went to sleep.
On the right half of the inside of the heart it said Nick + Alex
On the left side it read: Lovers Forever
She began to cry, then watched the locket as it slipped from her hands and onto the floor. Not caring much for the first time, Alex laid down and cried her self to sleep for what seemed to be the millionth time, leaving the necklace on the floor.
The next morning, everyone was down at the hotel restaurant for breakfast, everyone that is except Alex and Serenity.
Nick was extremely hyper, and Brian noted that he was the happiest he had been in over a year.
"Nick, where's Serenity?"
"Gone!" Nick smiled.
"If anything happened to my sister, you fucker, I will fucking pound your face in Pretty Boy." Danny said, losing it.
"Leave me alone. I never hurt your bitch of a sister very well got her self kicked off tour." Nick glared at him.
"How? Someone walk in on you trying to rape her? Huh? You tried to rape her didn't you?" Danny spat at Nick.
"No. She was caught sniffing coke. And you know as well as any of us that if you get caught with drugs on this tour, it's a one way ticket home." Nick explained with a snarl.
"What? My sister would never do drugs! You are lying to cover your actions, Carter." Danny scoffed.
"What on earth is going on?" Jared yelled, startling everyone.
"Where the hell is Serenity? Pretty boy here says she got caught sniffing crack, but he probably tried to rape her." Danny asked.
"Shut up, Williams. For a matter of fact, Serenity was caught sniffing cocaine. And you signed the same agreement as her, that anyone caught with illegal substances is immediately kicked off the tour. And if you don't want your scrawny ass joining hers back in Florida, shut your mouth right now." Jared said, causing Danny to shutter, then slouch back and then continue to eat his breakfast.
"Hey, has anyone seen Alex? She should have been down by now." Leighanne said, looking around.
"I'll go check her room." AJ replied and then left.
"Alex? You in here?" He called through her door. No answer. Carefully, AJ opened the door; surprised to find it unlocked. When he walked in he was surprised to see Alex lying on the bed in the clothes she wore to the awards show the night before.
"Alex? What's wrong, cupcake?" AJ questioned, calling her by the pet name he had for her.
"AJ? How did you get in here?" Alex sniffed, rolling over and seeing her best friend standing there.
"You didn't lock the door. What's wrong?" AJ asked, coming over and sitting beside her on the bed.
"I'm not feeling good." Alex lied. AJ saw right through the lie, but acted like he did.
"Poor cupcake." AJ said sympathetically. He took her into his arms, then squeezed her tight.
"Why don't you spend the night on the girls bus?
"Why?" She questioned, not wanting to tell AJ she still loved Nick.
"Well, It's probably quieter. Nick broke up with Serenity and she got kicked off tour and he's pretty happy."
"Why? What happened?"
"She was caught sniffing cocaine."
"Oh." Alex replied simply, then sat up. On the inside her spirit was doing cartwheels. Nick was single.
"You can stay on the girls bus tonight and hopefully you are feeling well enough to perform." AJ said and smoothed Alex's hair down. Alex nodded and laid her head down on his shoulder and tried to go to sleep. Unfortunately, Alex had gotten no sleep last night, due to the fact she was thinking about Nick. Again.
"Is all your stuff packed?" AJ questioned, bringing her out of her trance.
Alex nodded and then got up and picked her unopened bag up. AJ took it from her and then lead her downstairs to the cafeteria where everyone else still was.
"Alex, honey, what's wrong?" Leighanne exclaimed and ran over to where her cousin was
"Not feeling good. I suggested her spending the night on the girl's bus. Just because it is probably quieter now." AJ explained and then everyone nodded in agreement. "Come on cupcake. Let's get you on the bus and in bed." Then the two of tem left.
Nick began to worry. Last night she had been feeling okay at the awards show.
Alex laid down in the empty bus near the back, and AJ put her suitcase under her.
"Do you want anything off out bus?" AJ whispered, as Alex closed her eyes.
"Just my pillow please." Alex yawned.
"Okay. Be right back." AJ said and then kissed her forehead.
Once AJ was gone, Alex pulled her locket out from under her shirt. Late last night she had picked it up and put it back on. She couldn't sleep with out it.
"If he doesn't love me, I really have no reason to love him." She cried and then took it off once again and put it in her bag. Alex laid back down and wished the she and Nick could be back together. She remembered their first date. Nick had taken her to a semi-formal Chinese place and Brian and AJ had to chaperon. God how she missed him.
"Alex, cupcake, her. Go to sleep on this." AJ said putting the pillow under Alex's head. "Did you wanna change? It would be more comfortable."
"I don't wanna dig for tem." Alex pouted.
"Here. I thought you would say that. Don't worry. They are clean." AJ told her and handed his best friend a pair of his boxers and a T-shirt.
"Thanks, Alex. You're the best." She whispered and then kissed his cheek. AJ grinned and then got off the bus.
"How is she?" Linna asked as soon as she saw AJ get off the bus.
"Okay. Exhausted. But she'll be okay. Just let her rest for a while." AJ explained much to Nick's relief.