Mary grabbed the pig and smacked him over the head with it, then grimaced, "Stop it!"
"Mary!"
"Nick!" she mimicked. He turned away, hurt, his smile completely washed off his face. Nick just didn't understand 'why she was being so objecting, he thought for sure she would be happy about it.
"We can do whatever you want now." he told her in a monotone voice.
Mary saw how sad he looked, but ignored it, and they continued on. They walked down the sidewalks without a word and went on rides and stopped at booths without looking at each other, the laughter and hand-holding of before was no longer there and neither were the smiles. They had a few more fan encounters, but the day basically went uneventfully until they got to the restaurant. It was a swanky Italian one and both Mary and Nick were in positions of discomfort. They were both uncomfortable in their sweaty clothes and with each other.
Meanwhile, over at the Hardrock cafe, the other s were all sitting around waiting for Nick to show up.
"You told him when.. didn't you, Bri?"
"Yeah!"
"Did he say anything to any of you?" asked Mandy, dully.
They all put in their 'no's' until they got to Jenna, who just asked Brian to step out with her for a minute.
"Brian.. 'you' know!" she wailed smacking him as soon as they were out of hearing range.
"Know 'what'?!" he cried, rubbing the arm she had hit.
Jenna began speaking with her 'lecture' voice, "You actually know Mandy, and you're putting her through this? Tell her before she cries, will you? Tell her.. I don't want to be stuck here all day! I want to get to the club and to Justin!" she walked on out the door and went over to the side of the building.
"Know what?" asked Brian, annoyed, "Just tell me!"
"Nick and Mary are out!"
"I knew that! Neither of them showed!"
"With each other! Nick 'told' you already, didn't he?"
"Told me what? Jenna, you make absolutely no sense!"
"Mary and Nick are out on a 'date'! A 'friendly' one.. but that's where they both are!" Jenna bit her lip, "How come you told Mandy he was coming?"
"W.. w.. so he's not?"
"Of course not! He's on a date!"
"He was serious?"
"So he 'did' tell you?!"
"Not this!"
"Well, go tell Mandy! I want to go!"
"Stop being so selfish!" he cried, a little too loudly.
"I'm 'not'!" she retorted, glaring at him.
"Yes you are! You just care about yourself!"
"No I don't! You know who's selfish? You are!"
"Me?" he wailed, as Nick would have, "How am I being selfish?!"
"You'd tell her if you weren't!"
"Yeah, and totally crush her!"
"She wouldn't be mad!"
"Yes she would!"
"She wouldn't! But you know what? You're not selfish..." Brian's smile returned along with his colour until she continued, "You're stupid! You're a stupid redneck!"
Brian's eyes burst into flames, "Shut up you moronic valley girl!"
Jenna's jaw dropped, "Me? A valley-girl? They way your 'girlfriend' is a valley girl?!" Jenna began acting ditsy, "Like, y'know, like, y'know! Like, yeah!" She threw her hair back, "Like, y'know!"
"Stop it!"
"Go tell her!"
"No! You go tell her! you knew first!"
"Fine! She probably wouldn't even understand what you were saying you stupid Hill-Billy"
"Quit that!"
"Red neck, red neck! Na-Na-Na-Na-Na-Na!!"
He brushed past her, as she continued her taunting,"Whatever!"
They went back into the Hard Rock cafe and sat down.
Exchanging glances with Jenna, Brian spoke up, "Uh.. I just got a call..."
"Huh?"
"Aaron is sick.. he needed Nick and.. yeah.." Brian looked at Mandy hopefully.
Kevin smiled, "Really? So.. Nick's in.. Germany?"
"Huh?" Brian looked over at Jenna frantically, "Uh.. I said Aaron? I meant Angel! She's sick. Really really sick."
"Oh.. so he's in Florida?" asked Leighanne, smiling.
Jenna laughed, "No, he's still here in New York.." she told Mandy, smoothly, "Visiting her grandma."
"Oh!" Mandy looked all right with the explanation and smiled, "Should I maybe go over there?"
Jenna's smile faded, but she quickly covered, "It's not a pretty sight.."
Mandy nodded, "Oh, all right.. I'll just see him tommorow!
They all got up and headed for 'Oz'.
Back at the Italian joint, Nick and Mary were sitting stiffly, barely speaking.
"So.. how's it going?"
"This is fun.."
Nick sipped his drink, "That's good!" he took another sip, "So.. how's the food?"
"Fine.." she answered while he took another gulp, "Hey.. maybe you should cool it a bit with that.. we've had two bottles or something already.."
Nick poured himself some more and took another sip, "I can handle it." he downed the glass, "Why should you worry?"
"Because you're my friend, Nick... and you're obviously a little drunk.."
Nick started speaking loudly, "You're my friend, huh? Well I don't wanna be no friends!" he took another gulp, "I wanna be more! Don't you get it? Or even understand?"
"Nick.." she whispered softly, "Let's leave.."
"What? The food not good enough for your tastes? Derek give you better?"
She paled, "Nick, let's go.. you are making a scene!"
"Maybe I 'want' to!" he got up onto his chair, "Can I have your attention please?" he pointed down to Mary who was cringing, "See her? I love her!!"
She glared up at him, "Shut up..." she mouthed.
"I 'love' her!" he shouted even more loudly, while everyone else in the restaurant either cheered, clapped, laughed or tried not to.
"Nick! Get down, or I will leave on my own!" she told him icily.
Nick smiled and got back down into his chair, "Dessert! We need dessert!" he cried as she buried her face in her hands.
"Nick! Let's go!"
He laughed and had some more wine, "Let's have some fun!" Nick loudly moved his chair closer to hers and reached over to put his hand on her leg, "Wouldn't you like that?" he leaned in and she stood up, causing him to fall out of his chair, "Hey, what was that for?"
"Pay and get out." she whispered. He plopped down a hand full of twenties and followed her out.
Nick got into the drivers seat of the black jaguar they had taken. She shoved him over to the passenger side as she got in, "I'm driving!"
go..
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