Chapter One

The only light in entire room was the digital alarm clock that read "1:15am." Shifting around in the king-sized bed, she began to wonder if she was to ever get to sleep. The covers were pulled all the way over her head, but she still was shivering from the cold. She glanced over at the clock, "Damn it," with a mumbled. Getting out of bed, she grabbed a white, long-sleeve T-shirt; her favorite shirt, and headed over to the mirror. She pulled the white shirt over her head to cover up the gray, long-sleeve shirt she was already wearing, hoping to stay warm with layers. The top shirt was baggy and long on her already long, 5'10'' frame. She pulled back her dirty blond hair that reached just past her shoulders into a ponytail and walked back to the bed.

Lying under the covers for another half-hour, she was still freezing. She crawled out of bed knowing she should be sleeping, but couldn't. How could she sleep with no heat? She thought to herself of the luck; being in a huge hotel that was packed with celebrities and she was the one to have no heat. "They get the best treatment, and all the luxuries. For once, they should be without heat." It bothered her more that she had no options in changing rooms because the hotel was filled when they first arrived. She already felt like an outsider around all these people. Now, she had to deal without heat. As she walked over to her suitcase looking for a sweatshirt, more thoughts were rampant in her mind. Like how she needed to be up by seven to get ready and be at the theater by 8:30 a.m. to get all the checks through for the awards show that was later that night. She found her flannel pajama pants, another favorite bed time necessity. Taking off her cotton pajama pants, she slipped on the dark blue polar bear pants. Feeling a bit of warmth for the first time all night, she headed over to the bed, but then realized she was no longer tired. Worrying about her work that was waiting for her come morning, she began to wake herself up.

She decided to take a walk around the hotel, first stopping by the mirror before she left the room. She wiped at her blue eyes to swift away a free eyelash, then pulled down at her T-shirt so it was hanging straight. Pulling the rubber band from her hair, it now fell against her back. She grabbed her brush, hastily dragging it through her hair, then slipped on her lambs' wool slippers. The clock now read "2:01am." Just hoping she wouldn't find too much trouble in the hallway, she gently turned the knob to her room and exited. The hallway was already feeling warm compared to her ice-cube of a room. Entering the elevator, she felt alone, as she hadn't seen a soul. She made her way down to the front desk and approached the man behind it.

"Hi, how can I help you?" The man's voice screamed snob.

"Yeah, I had talked to someone last night about my room. The heat still isn't working."

"Name?"

In a tired voice, and seeming monotony at the words, "Nicole Andrews."

Punching at the computer keyboard and glancing at the screen, he responded, "Room 1209." She nodded and he began to study the screen, reading it. "Yes, it says there was a complaint of the heating system already."

"Yeah, I know. I made the complaint."

"Then how can I help you?"

With a quick sigh, "I was wondering if and when it's going to be fixed?"

He kept his voice steady, yet continued to be stern in his facial features, "Well, the complaint is noted."

"No, that's not why I’m here." Nicole started to become agitated by the man and was feeling warm already, from her anger. "Look, they told me before that you were packed for the show. Is there anything open now?"

"No, ma'am, we are booked for the show."

"So basically, I am stuck in a room with no heat?"

"Yes, ma'am, the complaint has been noted." With that she was ready to sleep out in the hallway, or even on the comfy couches that circled the lobby.

"Thanks," she said frigidly and left the counter. Making her way to the elevators, she contemplated staying up much longer. She got in the elevator and pushed the 12 button. Once the doors opened she made her way down the hall to her room on the left. Standing in front of the closed door, "Shit!" realizing she never even grabbed her key.

She heard a few mumbles of voices, turned to look down the hall and saw a couple walk onto the elevator she had just exited. The hallway was left open and she sensed that alone feeling return. It was creepy for her as just earlier that day, the hallways were filled with celebrities, their friends, and families as they all mingled in the hotel. There was even security, but at this hour, no one was to be seen, except for the snobby desk clerk and the exiting couple. She leaned up against the wall next to her door and slid down to the floor.

Glancing at her watch, it read "2:19." Her head leaned back against the wall and she stared at the door in front of her, 1210. She could tell at the peephole that lights were still on inside the room. At a loss of the moment, she began to count in her head who was in what room. "Nick in 1205, Brian 1207, AJ 1204, Howie 1206 and Jes 1208." She then remembered Jessica was in 1208 and she quickly got to her feet, walking to that door. Being the Boy's coordinator, she would have any extra keys. Glancing through another peephole she felt like a peeping tom, but was let down to see no lights on. Should she knock? It was after 2 in the morning, but she needed to get into her room. The thought process was not long as she wrapped her knuckles against the door. No answer. She proceeded, but just a bit louder than the last time. Still no answer. She walked by each of the other rooms the guys were occupying. No lights. Not a sound. Not a darned thing showing life. Giving up, she returned to her spot on the floor next to her own room's door. She stared at the room again. 1210.

It was Kevin's room. Kevin. The one she always liked before she came on to work under Jessica. She missed the boy band craze by a few years, but couldn't resist looking at the guys. Actually being in their age range, unlike a majority of their fans, she didn't buy into all the gaga feelings, and just saw them as five good looking guys who could sing. Very good looking. Who could sing very well. She thought Kevin was the best looking from the start. He just had that look she liked; tall, dark and handsome. The amazing green eyes and light accent didn't hurt either. He was also friendly with her, as were all the guys; but she enjoyed it more from him. Kevin was the only one she didn't really have a solid connection with. Her, Brian and Nick got along because they were all capable of getting outrageously giddy, and sometimes AJ would join them in on that. Unfortunately, those times was when she got the looks, or talks later, from Jessica about getting the job done before messing around. Which she never understood because her only job was to be Jessica's assistant. After those times was when she got along with Howie. He was always nice to her and they could joke around about the others when they got too outrageously giddy without her. All other time seemed to be spent with AJ as a clear, genuine friendship was stirring between the two.

The light was still on. Picking herself up off the floor, she stood in front of the door and listened as she could hear a conversation. As the voices changed, she could tell neither of the sounds were coming from Kevin and figured it was the TV. She thought to herself, "Either he's still up or he falls asleep to the TV." She could faintly see a figure move across the room and now knew he was awake. Her first instinct made her knock on the door, but she didn't want to. Didn't want to intrude. Once she heard the noise from her own knocking, she got nervous trying to think of what to say.