The party was in full swing by the time Nick and Alesha pulled in. There were 15 to 20 different cars parked in random places all over the lawn and driveway. Nick looked over at Alesha with a grin and said, "Are you ready for this?"
Alesha shrugged and smiled, "I guess."
He jumped out of the vehicle and quickly came around and opened her door for her, "After you Mi'Lady."
"Why thank you," Alesha said smiling up at him as she jumped out of the Durango.
"Nickay!" a raspy voice yelled from behind them. "You're late dude."
"Aww shut up, AJ. Had to pick someone up," Nick said grabbing Alesha's hand.
"And this someone is?" AJ asked raising an eyebrow. He walked up to them, smiled at her and winked.
"AJ, this is Alesha. Alesha, Bone," Nick introduced them, scanning the cars. "Hey, is Howie here yet?"
"Nice to meet you," AJ said taking her hand from Nick and kissing it softly. "Don't know how you ended up with Boy Wonder here, but I'm sure that will be remedied before the night is over." He grinned evilly, his dark brown eyes glittering with mischief.
Nick laughed and draped his arm across Alesha's shoulders. "Dude, this lil lady has eyes for only ONE man," he said grinning at her.
AJ grabbed his chest as if he were having a heart attack. "Oh, I've been shunned. For Nick even...oh the pain, the humiliation, the agony. Sigh." They all started laughing, and AJ said, "I think D's at the bar helping Chris mix drinks. Or trying to anyway."
Nick grinned and looked at Alesha, "Cool. Thanks Bone." He dragged her inside the house. Nick stopped every little bit and chatted, introducing her to the people he was associated with. Everyone was really friendly; but her stomach was in such turmoil from being this close to meeting Howie, that all she could really do was nod and smile at them.
Nick had sauntered off to supposedly get them something to drink, but after about 30 minutes of waiting for him and listening to some girl, Amory, talk about working with Britney Spears, Alesha couldn't wait anymore. "Ummm, excuse me. I think Nick is calling for me," she said walking away.
Alesha wandered away from the crowd down a dark hallway. She came across a pair of sliding glass doors that led out to a deck. She walked out and leaned against a post, closing her eyes, and rubbing her temples.
"Crazy in there, isn't it?" a soft voice murmured from a dark corner. Alesha jumped and squinted into the shadows. Howie leaned forward and smiled, "Didn't mean to startle you."
"Ummm, it's okay. Just didn't think anyone was out here," she said her hand over her heart.
Smiling he said, "I'm Howie. You came here with Nick?"
She nodded. "Don't know where he took off to, though," she said her heart still racing.
"He is probably out shooting hoops with Bone and some of the other guys. His usual past times at these things. What brings you out here anyway? Thought you'd be with him," he asked motioning for her to sit in the empty chair beside him.
Alesha sat down next to him and shrugged, "Not real good at talking to people I don't know." She smirked, "Especially ones who have to share every detail about their lives with Britney."
"Ahh, Amory," Howie smiled. "One of our dancers. She's really sweet. Just new to this whole fame thing." He looked at her in shock, "You don't like Britney? I think she's kinda cute," he said smiling softly and winking.
Alesha's heart melted, but she managed to stay calm, "Not really. She can dance, I'll give her that. She just whines too much." Howie laughed, the sound of it causing chills to go down her spine. "He is incredibly sexy," Alesha thought.
"Nick whines all the time," he pointed out. "How did ya'll meet anyway?"
Alesha told him the story about her and Nick, leaving out a few details here and there, but pretty much telling the whole thing. "And here I am."
"Hmmm," he said. Howie smiled, "A bit unusual for him. But oh well. Kinda cool to finally meet the chick he's been babbling about."
Alesha looked at him in surprise, "Nick...talks...about me?" Howie laughed again. "God he needs to stop. I'm going to kiss him now if he doesn't," Alesha said silently to herself.
"You have been his main topic of discussion for the past week. 'Lesh said this' 'Lesh likes that' 'Did you know Lesh does...'." Howie shook his head. "Don't get me wrong," he smiled at her, "it's not that I really minded, but it's kinda annoying when you have no clue who he's talking about."
"Well, now you know...kinda disappointing, eh?" she said with a grin.
Howie looked at her in shock, "Disappointed? The only thing I'm disappointed about is that he met you first."
"Me too," Alesha mumbled softly looking away.
"What did you say?" he asked. She looked back at him, but could tell by his smile that he had heard her. She quickly looked away again, embarrassed. "I wonder where Nick is," he said suddenly. Getting up and reaching out his hand, he said, "C'mon. Let's go find him."
"Okay." She shrugged and took his hand, shivering at his soft touch.
"You cold?" he asked his voice full of concern.
"Ummm. No. Just had a chill," she answered avoiding his gaze.
They walked back into the house, Howie still holding her hand. They ran into AJ on their way back to the party. He narrowed his eyes and looked at Howie. "Now that ain't right," he said. "She wouldn't run away with me...but she'll go with you?"
Alesha started laughing, "Maybe next time, AJ."
"I'll remember you said that," he grinned and walked away.
"What was that about?" Howie asked. Alesha told him about when her and Nick had arrived. "Ahh, I see. Hey Kevin," he said as he seen Kevin leaning in the doorway.
"Hey D. I'm am so ready to leave. I swear these things get more obnoxious each time."
"Yeah, but you have to admit, Bone can throw a helluva party." Howie grinned. "Anyway...have you seen Nick?"
"Umm, the last time I seen him, he was still shooting."
"Thanks. He lost his friend," he said holding her hand up. "Kevin, this is Alesha. Alesha, Train."
"Nice to finally meet you. He was right. Very cute."
Alesha blushed, "Nice to meet you, also." He shook her hand and she seen he was wearing a ring exactly like one she had on. "Nice ring," she said smiling showing him hers.
"Good taste, too," Kevin said smiling. At that moment a door slammed and Nick came running by. It looked like he had been crying.
Alesha looked at Howie and Kevin, "Ummm, I'm gonna go see what's up."
Howie nodded and smiled softly. He and Kevin headed off in the opposite direction.
Nick had taken off down the hallway she and Howie had just come from. So she quietly walked towards the deck. She could hear him sobbing softly. She looked out the doors and saw him sitting in the corner, knees bent his arms and head resting on them. His body was shaking terribly. Alesha went over to him and put her arms around him, "It's Emily, isn't it?"
He looked up at her, his eyes slightly swollen. He put his arms around her and buried his face in her shoulder.
She rocked him back and forth, holding him close. He held on to her so tightly, it was as if she was grounding him from slipping away. "Nicky, do you want me to drive you home?"
His sobs had quieted, but he was still trembling. He looked up at her and said softly, his voice shaking, "What about work?"
"I didn't ask that. Do you want me to drive you home?"
He nodded. "I don't want you to go," he said as the tears started again.
"Shhh...I'm not going anywhere. C'mon. Go to the truck. I'll be there in a minute. Just want to tell the guys that we're leaving." He nodded and slowly got up and walked to the car.
Alesha went back inside. She found Howie and said, "Tell the other guys that I took Nick home. Something happened with Emily and he's very upset."
Howie nodded and gave her a quick hug, "Thanks for taking care of him."
She looked at Howie, "That's what friends do." She smiled softly, waved, and ran to the truck.
Nick was curled up in the passenger seat when she got in. He looked up at her and smiled half-heartedly. She smoothed his hair and started the Durango.
She turned off the CD player and turned on the radio. Nick reached up and grabbed her hand and refused to let it go. She smiled softly, "You'll have to tell me where to go once we get to Tampa." He nodded without looking up.
She drove as quickly as she could without bringing too much attention to them. She sighed as she looked over at him. He must have fallen asleep because he was quiet the whole way. His breathing was slow and soft. Her arm was getting a cramp in it, but she couldn't have moved if she wanted to. "Poor sweet Nicky," she thought, her eyes filling with tears.
Alesha turned off at the first exit to Tampa and gently nudged Nick awake. "Baby, we're in Tampa. I have to know where to go from here."
He gave her the directions as he slowly sat up. He still clutched her had as if he was afraid she'd run away if he let go. They pulled up to the house, and she turned off the car. They sat there quietly for a few minutes. Nick sighed, "I can't believe she's gone." And he broke down again.
"Oh Nicky, I'm so sorry," Alesha said. She quickly got out of the car and came around and opened his door. She grabbed his hand and helped him out of the car. They walked up to the door and she unlocked it. She turned on the light and looked at him, "C'mon, take me to your room so I can put you to bed."
He walked her towards the back of the house. They walked in his room and he sat down on the bed and took off his shoes and his shirt and crawled into bed. Alesha smiled softly and turned to go into the other room. "Please don't go. I don't want to be alone right now," he murmured.
"Okay sweetie," she said sitting next to him on the bed. He wrapped his arms around her and moved his pillow next to her and fell asleep with his head on her lap. She held him close, leaning her head against the wall. She fell into a light sleep, waking everytime he moved or made a noise. He let go of her finally and she quietly got up and used the phone to call Jim. It was 4:30 in the morning, but she knew he'd understand.
"Hey. Sorry for waking you," she said.
"Didn't wake me. I'm still on the computer. What's up?" he asked.
"I well, I need you to do me a BIG favor. I'm stuck here in Tampa, without a way to get to work...think you can cover for me?"
"Sure. What're you doing in Tampa?" he asked.
"Helping out a friend. Thank you so much, you're a doll."
"I know."
"I have to go. Thank you again."
"No problem," he said as they hung up. She walked back down the hallway and looked in on him, he was tossing and turning lightly, like he was having a nightmare. She quickly went over and sat next to him, gathering him in her arms. He calmed instantly. She stroked his hair and watched over him the rest of the night.
