[ - ]
Table of Contents [Report This]
Printer Chapter or Story Microsoft Word Chapter or Story
- Text Size +
After A.J. Brian and Nick had dinner, which may as well have been just A.J. and Brian, Nick had gone up to his room. He changed into a pair of navy blue Adidas track pants and a white sweat shirt. He strapped on his iPod, laced up his sneakers and went down stairs.

"Hey we were just about to watch a movie, want us to wait until you come back from your run?" Brian asked hopeful.

"No. I'll be out for a while," he put his ear phones in and headed for the front door.

"Just be happy he actually came to dinner," A.J. shook his head.

"The only time he talked was when he was ordering is food."

"Yeah but seriously since you got here Nick has been better."

"I should stay longer than just till tomorrow you think?" Brian bit his lower lip.

"It's your call. I honestly don't know what else to do. He's an adult, not like we can tell him to sit down and talk to us like we had him when we were first started touring."

"You think he truly doesn't miss the music?"

"I think he's afraid it will bring out too many emotions."

"Kevin wants to come back."

"As into the Backstreet Boys?" A.J raised an interested eye brow and Brian nodded.

"He misses the tour and there's nothing for him in Broadway right now. He wants to make some music."

"That would be so awesome! If Nick could stop feeling sorry for himself. He's not the only one who has ever lost someone ya know."

"We all handle things differently. You should know that," Brian pointed out the obvious with his drinking and drug habit's years ago.

"So how do you think we should try to talk Nick into at least start making another album?" A.J. asked.

Meanwhile, Nick was already on his third mile, sweat dripped down his face and stung into his eyes. He sucked in air trying to catch his breath and found himself starting to walk because of a cramp he had gotten. "That's what I get for running right after I ate dinner," he scolded himself. As he came around his familiar route, he had walked up to pieces of plastic on the ground. It was part of the smashed keyboard that had been murdered the other night. Right out of Kylie's hands. Just like Stacie was taken right out of Nick's.

Nick removed his hood and grabbed his side trying to make the cramp go away and leaned over his knees.

"Carter?" he heard someone call. Nick looked up and saw Kylie smiling above him.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" He breathed heavily.

"Well, I live right there," she pointed up to the top of the tall apartment building. "I should be asking you the same thing. Were you feeling sentimental about the keyboard?" She questioned with a slight laugh.

"No, I just usually run this way and well happened to be here."

"You alright? Why are you holding your side?"

"Just a cramp, it will pass."

"You know you shouldn't stop moving if you've been running. You're supposed to walk them out. Here drink some of this, you're probably dehydrated." She handed him a water bottle.

"Thanks," he said and took a sip.

"So, I was just coming out for a walk myself. Care to join for a little bit, at least until your cramp is gone?" She asked, her green eyes sparkling up with excitement. Nick couldn't figure out where the excitement was coming from though.

"Uh, well, I was just-"

"Good! Let's go this way." She interrupted him and tugged on his arm to a direction. The two began walking. "So does running help you clear your mind? I've been working on a song and it's just not coming together and I've been trying to use my guitar but honestly I suck at playing it. I need my keyboard back but I'll have to wait a couple more weekends until I can afford another one." She rambled on throwing her hands around and walking briskly.

"Actually running makes me stop thinking. I usually have my iPod turned all the way up. The rate I'm going, I'll be deaf by the time I'm forty."

"Oh my goodness!" Kylie stopped dead in her tracks putting her hand to her mouth.

"What, what's wrong?" Nick asked alarmed.

"Nick Carter DOES have a sense of humor!" She laughed and Nick rolled his eyes and began walking again. "Aww doll face I was just teasing. You seem so serious all the time." Nick only shrugged in response. "So Nick, was my singing and keyboard playing that bad the other night?"

Nick looked down at her trying to figure out what she was talking about. "No you're good," he said simply.

"So, why did you leave so early?"

"I just had to get back home and I walked home so I knew it would take me a little bit."

"@#%$ but that's fine you don't want to tell me. I'm still a big ammature, I know. Alex said he sees something special in me whatever that may be."

"You wrote that song the other night?"

"Everything I play live is stuff that I write. That's what live music is about, it's about you and your life. It's your time to show people who you are or who who you want to be. That's the beauty of it, they could just think it's a song but there is always someone who can relate to one song or another." There was a good two minutes of silence before Kylie spoke up again.

"Big into working out huh?"

"I guess so," Nick shrugged his shoulders again. Kylie couldn't figure out why Nick was being so distant. Yes, they just met but she just always imagined a performer like him would be more out going. She was a fan of the Backstreet Boys, had every song they made and went to a couple concerts. From what she could remember, Nick was not the same as he was on stage. But then again, he is a performer.

"I'm going hiking tomorrow morning, kinda early leaving at seven am. Would you like to join me? A friend I work with is going with her husband. I was going to invite Alex but he probably won't want to come. He's not so much a nature person. But I also don't know too many people since I just moved here about a month ago." Again there was the silence, of course it being L.A. there was a lot of noise pollution but between Nick and Kylie, there was silence. "Just thought I'd offer, it's a great work out and I hear where we're going is beautiful."

"You talk a lot."

"And you don't talk." She answered back in a snap.

"Seven?"

"Yeah."

"Where should I meet you?"

"We can pick you up, just be ready at seven or I will come into that ginormous home of Alex and beat you up." Nick stopped walking and looked her up and down. "Just because I only weigh one hundred pounds doesn't mean I can't take your six foot two frame!" Nick let out dry chuckle.

"Seven it is." He pulled a half smile.

"You need to do that more Carter," she said.

"Do what?"

"Smile, especially the way you did. Kinda sexy but only kinda. Just imagine what I'd say if you gave a full smile. But I'll let you get back to your run. If you have any questions or anything, Alex has my number." She turned around.

"Wait you want me to walk you home?"

"Nah, what are the chances of being mobbed two nights in a row?" She laughed. "Seven o'clock Carter!" She began to walk back and Nick couldn't help but notice the bounce in her steps.

From there Nick picked his pace up and headed home. Once inside he saw Brian stretched out on the couch and A.J. on the love seat; watching a movie.

"You're home early," A.J. told Nick without taking his eyes away from the action packed screen.

"I have to be up early," Nick responded and went into the kitchen to grab a water bottle. He came out a minute and was about to head up the stairs.

"What do you have going on tomorrow?" Brian asked turning his attention to Nick who was about to head up the stairs.

"I'm going hiking with Kylie."

"Kylie as in Kylie Love as in my Kylie?" A.J. asked.

"As in yes," Nick responded rolling his eyes.

"Well, that sounds fun Nick. I hope you have a good time," Brian smiled.

"Wait how did this happen?"

"I run on her street that her apartment is on and she was walking out the door and just asked. It's supposed to be a good work out." Nick shrugged his shoulders and took a long swig of his water. Brian shot A.J. a look saying 'don't press any further,' knowing that it might scare Nick away from the idea. As far as he knew, this would be the closest thing to a date he'd have in over a year.

"Her friends are going too, it's not a date," he told them, looking at Brian. Brian shook his head wondering how he knew what he was thinking. But they weren't called Frick and Frack for nothing.

"I didn't think that," Brian said.

"Sure. I'm going to bed, goodnight." Nick went up the stairs skipping every other step.

"Wow, Kylie huh?"

"A.J. it very well just be hanging out. I mean honestly, I don't think he's ready to date and the guy can use some friends. New friends especially to try to gain some trust."

"I suppose," A.J. agreed and turned his attention back to the movie.
~*~*~*~
The next morning Kylie reached Alex's house at 6:56 in a red Jeep with two of her friends. To her surprise Nick was leaning against one of the cars in the driveway with a back pack at his feet. He had a pair of army cargo shorts on, a grey beater and a black zip up over. He wore a baseball cap and a pair of Oakley sunglasses sat on top of his hat.

"Good morning!" Kylie bubbled, leaning out the window of the car. "You ready Carter?"

"Yup," Nick picked up the back pack, slung it over his shoulder and made his way to the empty back seat. He got in and nodded to Kylie.

"Nick, this is Aaron and his girlfriend and my first friend I met here in L.A, Liz. Liz and I work together."

"Nice to meet ya," Liz turned from the passenger seat and flashed Nick a smile. "Alright baby let's go!" She patted Aaron's leg and he backed out of the driveway.

"So you into a lot of hiking Nick?" Aaron asked looking into the rear view mirror.

"I've done a little but I'm always looking for new ideas. I love being out in nature."

"Do you know what you're getting into with going with Kylie?" Liz asked.

"Oh stop I am not that bad. I make everything I do an adventure!"

"Well, I think I have an idea by the way she talks. Hard to keep up with?" Nick pointed out.

"And tiring!" Liz added.

"Nick will be just fine. He runs every night and works out at a gym. I have found that the best way to become in shape is by doing as much of your activities in the outdoors."

The drive to the trails they would be hiking was another forty minutes to get out of L.A. and hit the woods. Aaron parked the Jeep and the four climbed out, each with his or her own back back.

The four headed up the mountain and began their hike, making small talk as they walked. Nick couldn't help but find himself amused as Kylie took pictures of everything that amazed her; and that was pretty much everything.

"Nick, don't move!" She then snapped a shot of Nick and a butterfly that had landed on his shoulder. "I think you actually pulled another half smile in this one." Kylie beamed and continued to walk in front of Nick.

"You working tonight?" Liz asked Kylie, pushing back branches.

"Yeah, I'm closing."

"Where do you work?" Nick asked now pushing back the same branches for Kylie.

"She's a line dance teacher and bar tender with me!" Liz broke in before Kylie got a chance.

"Line dancing huh? Where at?" Nick asked.

"Right down on A strip at Wolf Creek."

"I've been there once but not in a long time," Nick mentioned.

"Yeah, we have line dancing Thursday's and Saturday's. But I'm there Thursday through Sunday most of the time for bar tending and once in a while during the week. Like tonight, Wednesday. You should stop by sometime, I'll get you a free drink." She winked and continued to walk.

The four walked further up the trail and came to a resting place, where they had a snack and caught their breath. Nick had walked away from the group and walked towards a cliff that over looked a ravine. He placed his hands on his hips and looked down and around his surroundings.

Kylie saw Nick by himself and let him stay there for a moment, knowing he was collecting is thoughts. She then moved up to his side and without saying anything looked down at the view.

"Stacie would've loved to see this," Nick said simply and without emotion. Almost afraid to break the silence again and to speak for the first time, Kylie hesitated but placed a hand on Nick's lower back.

"Girlfriend?" She asked. Nick only shook his head no and stepped back. Knowing that this Stacie person must be a sore topic for Nick, Kylie changed the subject. "Apple?" She asked and handed him a small red apple.

"Thanks," he smiled. "This is really amazing, thanks for taking me." Nick bit into his apple.

"Next time I'll take you somewhere, I think you might like even better." Kylie raised an eye brow and smiled back at Nick.

By noon, the group was back at the Jeep and piling in, talking about Aaron had tripped over a rock and landed face first in a puddle of mud and how Liz wanted to go one way but it was the wrong way back to the car.

"I'd like to thank you guys for taking me today, could I take all of you out to lunch?" Nick asked.

"Awe we would love to Nick, but I have to go to the in laws," Liz threw her thumb in the direction of Aaron.

"Rain check then, Kylie?" Nick looked next to him.

"Well, they're my ride home."

"I can bring you home."

"Alright sounds good," Kylie beamed and Aaron brought them both back to Nick's place. They had gone right into Nick's Expedition and drove to a deli restaurant where they could get sandwiches.

"So you have any more shows coming up?" Nick asked looking over a menu.

"Alex is trying to help me find some bigger places but I'm doing mostly small cafes. Which is a great start. As soon as I get some more songs written he's going to help me sign onto a label and hopefully make something of myself." She shrugged and took a sip of her water.

"Looks like you're already making something of yourself. How many songs does he want?"

"He wants at least three, I won't go less than five. My songs are like a portfolio to show him what I have. I don't want to let him down. I constantly have songs in my head, with lyrics and sound. I have to wait another two weeks for my paycheck before I can buy a new keyboard though. I have a guitar but I'm not all that great at it. It's a lot easier for me to hear what I want through a keyboard." Nick nodded his head.

"If you ever want to come over and use A.J.'s piano, just give me a call or him. I know he won't mind."

"Really? That would be great. Maybe this week I can." The waitress then came over and took their orders, both of them getting half a wrap with a salad. "I'm kind of impressed. I mean guys don't usually order salads?"

"Well, life is too short and I need to take care of myself the best way possible."

"Agreed." There was a moment of silence and Kylie spoke up again. "Can I ask you something personal Nick?"

Nick's blue eyes flickered with worry but he nodded.

"How do you feel about rock climbing?" Nick blinked and stared at her like she was crazy.

"Rock climbing?"

"Yes."

"Never been."

"Oh? Alright well what are you doing Sunday? I don't work and have the day off."

"I have plans," he said lightly.

"Okay, some other time."

"Want to know what I'm doing?"

"Sure," Kylie shrugged and took a sip from her straw.

"I'm going rock climbing with this crazy woman who has more energy than a six year old." Nick smiled flashing his white teeth.

"I wonder if this woman knows what she's getting herself into with someone who is as mysterious as you."

"Me, mysterious?"

"Yeah you Carter." Kylie pointed at Nick across the booth and Nick sat back and rubbed his chin. "It's a good thing, trust me." Kylie added. "I'm going to run to the bathroom, be back in a minute." She stood up and walked away.

"Something tells me that I should trust you," Nick told himself but honestly did not know if he could allow himself to open up again.