"No!" Nick yelled as the phone rang for the fifth time.  "Go away!"  Of course, Brian couldn't hear him, but he knew Nick was there and he wasn't gonna hang up until Nick answered.  "Uh, fine!" Nick sighed as he ran his hands through his hair and got off his bed to answer the phone.
    "Frack," Brian said as soon as Nick picked it up.
    "Hey Rok!  Glad you're back.  So, what's up?"
    "Well, we're at Dee's adn non one's home.  There's a box of your stuff outside and we were wondering what happened?" Brian asked as Nick was silent.  "Nick?"
    "Man, I really screwed up!  Kris broke up with me cause of the way I was acting with Sandi."
    "Well, bro, that was kinda obvious!"
    "Yeah, I know.  It was so stupid!  I tried not to do it, but, well, ...I don't know!  All I know is I screwed up things with the only woman I've ever truly loved!"
    "I don't know what to tell you man," Brian said sympathetically.
    "I know.  I feel like the biggest jerk, idiot, whatever in the world!  I want Kris back!! I love her!!"
    "I know how you feel.  I felt the same way when I lost Dee," Brian said as he smiled and pulled his girlfriend close, "All I can say is, sorry, man.  Look, we've gotta go now!  It'll all work out, though, just give it time!! Even if you don't get back together, you can still eventually be friends!"
    "But, I need her!! I need us to get back together!"
    "I'm sorry, dude!  Listen I've gotta go, Bye,"
    "Thankz bro, Bye!" Nick said before he hung up the phone.  Brian didn't tell him that he had to go cause they were gonna find Kris, but Nick knew she was gone.  He knew exactly where she was, but he wasn't gonna go get her.  He was the last person she wanted to see!  She was like him right now, she didn't want to be disturbed by anyone, esp. not him!!  He really wanted to go get her, but he knew it was a very bad idea, so, he collapsed in a chair and began to slowly cry!
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  Dee suggested tehy go to the beach since Kris and Nick both loved it there.  They drove there as quickly as possible and found Kris walking by herself up the beach.  Dee told Brian to stay in the car as she ran to Kris.
    "Kris!  I finally found you!  Are you okay?" Dee asked with concern for her friend.
  Kris picked her head up at the sound of Dee's voice, "Yeah, I'm fine.  I've just got a lot on my mind," she said as Dee fell in step with her.  "Listen, I'm not trying to be rude and you are my best friend and I know you wanna comfort me, and I really appreciate that, but I really need to be alone right now."
    "Okay, sorry.  I'll see ya later babe," Dee said before she looked at Kris sympathetically and hugged her then, quickly raced back to the Beamer.  Kris continued to her destination-her's and Nick's spot.  It was a small cove in the rocks right by the ocean.  The water barely came in and only one other person knew of this spot, and Kris knew Nick wouldn't be there if she was there!  She sat against the rocks and put her portable CD player on repeat for #5.  She was listening to "I Need You Tonight" for some strange reason.  Why was she doing this?  Why was she in the very spot that only her and Nick knew of?  Why was she listening to their song, which he sang?  Why?  She didn't know.  All she knew was it hurt so bad!!  She had a humongous pain inside her that would not go away!  She programmed the CD player for "Don't Wanna Lose You Now," and "I Need You Tonight", put it on repeat, and bawled.
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    "and 7, 8, and final position!" Fatima called as the girls finished their version of "Candy."
    "That was great!" Jerry said clapping for the girls.  All the guys were clapping and smiling too.  Well, all except Nick.  He was in a corner trying not to look at Kris.  She looked so beautiful today!  It was weird for them both to be in his studio.  There was so much tension, but both knew they had to handle it professionally, since the girls were here for a job.  They still weren't talking, though, and tried not to look at each other.
    "Girls, we need to talk," Jerry said, "Okay, "The Firm" is having a party for all our clients and our client's record labels and various other record labels tonight.  I've discussed it with my boss already and I can get you on the soonest flight to LA and you guys can perform tonight.
    "Tonight!!!  Are the guys coming?" the girls all shrieked.  The guys had to be there for their first performance.
    "Um, the guys have known about this for a while, they knew about you guys performing too, but I made them keep it silent.  I got you on their flight, we'll leave in about an hour."
    "AAAHHHH!!" the girls screamed as they hugged Jerry.
    "Okay, we don't have much time.  I've got the demos and pics for all the record execs.  I've got your flight already so go home and pack quickly.  Bring formal dresses, but for performance, um, you gotta match, so dress pants and, no, better yet, khakis and white dress shirts with white shoes."
    "Thanks Jerry!" they said again before hugging him and heading out to Vanessa's Dakota and rushing the their apartment and Vanessa's house.  Wow!  Maybe this was it!
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  The flight took forever!! They finally arrived in LA an hour before the party.  Good thing they were already dressed!  When they got to the building, they were escorted to a small room where Dawn made minor adjustments to everyone's hair, make-up, and outfits.  And, since, she was already in LA with her boyfriend, Sandi helped the guys and the girls warm-up since the guys were performing too.  Kris and Nick were barely talking, just a small "Excuse me," or "Thank you," when needed.  They did act cordial to each other since they were in a business environment!
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  Sandi was alone in the small room as Mark burst through the door.
    "Mark!" she said surprised.
    "Don't 'Mark' me!  What are you doing with a bunch of guys?" he yelled.
    "Um, Mark, I'm the girls vocal coach, I go with them everywhere,"
    "Yeah, but I heard you with the guys too!"
    "Mark, their coach is in Orlando.  I just filled in!! Why are you spying on me?!"
    "I can!  I don't want you working with a group of guys!" he yelled.
    "Mark, I'm no abandoning my job!" she yelled back.
    "I will not have them putting the moves on you!"
    "Mark, they won't, they're very professional!  Besides, they're in relationships!"
    "So!! Stop working with them now!"
    "I'm just a fill in, but I won't stop helping when needed!"
    "You will too!"
    "Don't you ever tell me what to do!! You don't run my life!!"
    "Yeah, well, someone's got to, cause you can't!  Around a bunch of guys acting like who knows what!! I'm sure people see you as, well, who knows what they see you as, but I can bet it's not good!"  he yelled before storming out and slamming the door so hard a picture fell from the wall and shattered on the floor.  Sandi jumped and then collapsed on the couch crying.
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    "Oh I'll catch up to ya'll.  I left my jacket in the room," Kevin said as he rushed back to the room.
    "Oh, sorry.  I forgot my jacket," he said to Sandi as he quickly grabbed his jacket.  He then noticed she was crying.  "What's wrong?" he asked sypathetically.
    "Nothing," she said jumping up and wiping her eyes quickly.
    "Sandi, you don't just cry over nothing."
    "Oh, it's too much trouble.  You don't wanna hear it."
    "Sure I do.  Come on, tell me, you'll feel better."
    "Okay..." she related the whole story to him.  After she was done, he apoligized and hugged her.  Before they knew it, both were engaged in a kiss.
    "Kevin!" Dawn said as she walked in to see if Kevin got his jacket.  They broke away quickly, but before he could explain, Dawn was out the door.  He rushed after her.
    "Dawn!"
    "Leave me alone, Kevin.  I don't wanna talk to you right now," she said as she continued on.  He stopped and watched her disappear.  He flung himself at the wall and pounded his fists against it.  Why did he always hurt the ones he loved?  Why?