Chapter four – ‘Paybacks are hell.’ “So, Joe, you originally from Missouri?” Questioned A.J. propping his feet up on the table. “Uh, no actually, a little further down south. A few states away.” Joe grinned. ~ Entertainment room ~ “I don’t like him.” Protested Nick throwing down his play station controller he had just been eaten by another zombie on resident evil 2. “I don’t either. I don’t know what it is but there’s something about him.” Brian agreed. As soon as they met Joe, they didn’t like him at all but they protected for the girls sake. Everybody with the exception of Nick and Brian and Joe. ~ Bunks ~ “Hey veggie, what’ cha doin’?” Codi chirped towards Julie who was lying in bed while typing away on her laptop, which she named ‘acrylic’. “Nothing much. Just checkin’ my e-mail.” Replied Julie, looking up at Codi. “Dude, just think about it, in less than 5 hours we’ll be playing our first concert!” “Yeah, I know, it’s so cool!” Codi got tired of standing and since Julie had a top bunk Codi thought she’d crawl up and sit in the bunk across from Julie, Nick’s bunk. “Benny said we’d be arriving in the stadium in about an hour. Then we’ll do sound check, dress rehearsal, then an hour break before show time!” Smiled Julie. ~ 4 hours later ~ The girls have been introduced to their choreographer, finished rehearsals, and completed dress rehearsals so now, an hour before the show, they wondered around backstage and onstage, they were acting like little kids. Brian had even joined them in running around. “Hey, what’s Nick doin’?” Questioned Codi from her balcony seat. “No clue.” Commented Brian setting beside her. But the way he answered Codi knew he knew what was up. Nick was onstage doing something but they couldn’t tell what. “Oh well, let’s go check out the roof.” Exclaimed Julie, jumping up form her seat. ~ One hour later – show time ~ Even the guys had to admit that the girls looked stunning. Julie in the leopard pants and tight red shirt, Codi with her blue leopard pants and her semi-tight black sleeveless shirt. “Ok ya’ll, smile.” Ordered Joe looking through a camera lens. He was taking a picture of BSB and Star struck together before the show began, all glistened up. “Are we done now?” Asked Nick, moving away from Codi. “It’s not like I wanted to be by you either Nick.” Sneered Codi back. Codi and Julie were picture people; well they liked to take pictures a lot. So even though it was just the second day of the tour, they already had used lots of film. “Oh come one you two. Can’t we all just get along?” protested Howie. “No!” They shot back in unison. “Ok girls, two more minutes to show time.” Informed the manager, Max, with a smile. “Good luck ya’ll.” The backstage area was filled with those words. Julie and Codi followed a man to wait by the hallway. That leads to the stage. They heard all the screams, it was deafening. “Yeah, good luck Codi, break a leg. No really, I mean break a leg!” Said Nick as the girls walked to the stagehand. As they walked, without looking Codi threw her arm back behind her back and rose her arm high and flipped off Nick. “I think that was an invite Nick.” Laughed/ whispered Joe. “No thank you Codi.” Hollered Nick. “Don’t worry, it wasn’t an invitation!” She hollered back as star struck was called onstage. Joe was also the designated photographer who would take pictures of Codi and Julie on stage so they could send some of them back home to family and friends. Julie and Codi did great! So far, they were now starting their second song. “So did you unassembled it?” Asked Brian feeling kind of guilty. “Hell no!” laughed Nick, evilly. Right in the middle of the second song Codi stepped on something, not paying any attention to what it was… ‘Click’ ‘Splat!’ Codi stood dripping with golden ooze from her fingertips. The band had quiet playing. Everybody was laughing, even Julie. The crowd loved it. Fits of laughter erupted. Codi was covered, head to toe in sticky honey. While laughing, Julie conducted the band to start up again. Codi was humiliated and even her best friend was laughing at her needless to say they only did two songs that night. “I’m ganna kick his f****** ass!” hollered Codi running off stage after their performance. “Codi…Codi calm…calm down.” Begged Julie in between laughs. As they made their way around backstage looking for Nick they came across one of those huge dress mirrors. Codi stopped in front of it. She looked at her reflection in the mirror then back at Julie. They both busted out laughing. “Dude, I look like ‘the blob’!” Laughed Codi. She wasn’t all that mad anymore, she had to admit, and it was a pretty good prank “Yeah, you do!” Confessed Julie. “So are you still pissed off at Nick.” “Naw, not really.” The guys were due on stage any minute. They were looking to wish them good luck. Julie and Codi chatted along as they approached their dressing room. Codi turned the brass door knob ‘click’ feather were falling down like feathers from an angel only it wasn’t an angel who stashed them there. “Nick!” screamed Codi. |
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