Chapter Twenty-three

The guys returned with their food and AJ walked right to Maggie with a bag and two drinks in hand. "Hey baby," he leaned in for a kiss.

She placed her hands on his chest to hold him from her face. "Baby? Baby? Ugh, I hate that."

"Hate what?" He remained in the same position, just inches from her lips.

Nicole was sifting through a few bags until she came upon the bag Kevin held, with her food. She answered AJ's question, "Baby. She can't stand being called baby. Just won't happen," never looking up from the bag as she found her food.

"Hey dear?" he asked with slight hopes in his voice.

"That's Nicole's term, but it will have to do." She dropped her hands to around his waist and he leaned in for the kiss.

They lingered for a few moments while Kevin and Nicole were sitting on the edge of the stage eating, "Come on! We're eating here," Kevin called at the two.

Jessica came walking from behind the stage, "Hey. What do you guys think you're doing?" All four looked at her wondering what she was trying to say. "They're gonna open those doors in five minutes. Get your asses back here."

Nicole laughed, "Oh yeah. I forgot." She grabbed up her drink and pulled herself up to stand. "You guys gotta get back there and eat."

AJ spoke out like a kid in trouble, "Thanks a lot Nicole. Getting us in trouble with Mommy." She laughed and pushed at him with her free hand while Kevin carried her food and all she held onto was her drink. AJ fumbled around on the stage while his hands were full with food and his own drink.

The others had already finished eating. Kevin, Maggie, Nicole and AJ sat around a small table in their dressing room finishing their food. They were making jokes and laughing; having trouble breathing after long bouts of hysterics. AJ and Nicole were definitely crowd pleasers with their jokes and harsh remarks back and forth. Nicole shot back at AJ for insisting she was a cocaine addict with all her sniffling, "It's my allergies. What's your excuse for your sunglasses, pothead?"

They began laughing again and Kevin leaned his way over to Nicole while he was laughing, throwing his arm around the back of her chair. Neither thought anything of it when the door was knocked on and Kristin entered the room before it was answered, closing the door behind her.

She stopped dead in her tracks and saw her boyfriend sitting chummy with Nic. He stayed in the position and called out to her, "Hey, honey."

She replied with a flat tone, "Hey." He got up and threw an arm around her to hug and kiss her. She remained quiet staring at Nicole; meanwhile Maggie--with her back to Kristin and Kevin--was looking to Nicole for any response. Nic stared at Kristin waiting for her response to the situation, which there was none.

The door swung open and Nick came crashing through the doorway out of breath. "Hey...guys... Kristin's....here." He was out of breath, and came running to warn Nicole of the new presence at the arena. The first face he found after Nic's was Kevin's, who was standing right next to him.

"Hi." He breathed deeply. "I thought you'd like to know, your girlfriend is here." He looked around the room and felt uncomfortable. "Alright, I'm leaving now." He turned around and started closing the door.

"I'm coming," Nicole called out and she grabbed the garbage. Looking at Maggie and AJ, yet speaking to Kevin and Kristin, "I think we should leave these two alone." She smiled at Kristin, knowing she would be nice in front of her boyfriend. "How you doing Kristin?"

It took Kris a few moments to decide on whether to answer. "Fine," her tone was uncertain. "And you?"

"Oh, I'm good. Thanks for asking. So, you hanging around for a while on the next few stops?"

"Yeah, are you?"

Nicole swallowed hard and wanted to punch Kristin, all the while Maggie's comment on the threat of her job was running through her head. AJ cut in the small, yet harsh conversation. "Nicole, I think Jessica's calling for you." Nicole turned to AJ and glared. She kept thinking, 'I'm gonna hit her. I'm gonna hit her.' "Come on," he grabbed at her arm and brought her out into the hallway; Maggie and Nick followed.

Nicole began walking down the hallway with AJ, Maggie and Nick strolling behind her. She began mumbling, "I'm gonna hit her. I'm gonna hit her."

Brian walked out of a room and looked at her with fists clenched, "I guess Kristin's here?"

Nicole looked right into Brian's eyes with hate in her own and said with anger, "I'm gonna hit her."

He smiled, beginning to chuckle and trying to calm her, "Hey, hey, I'm not her. Calm down." Nicole sighed and walked off to find Jessica. Once she found her, they got things moving for the show.

More than half way through the boy's performance, Jessica's cell phone rang. She answered it and continued talking, "Yeah, I've got a few minutes." Looking over to Nicole she mouthed the words, "I'll be back." Twenty minutes later, Jes returned with a problem look on her face.

Nicole looked over, "Who was on the phone?"

"Management," she answered, putting the phone away and watching the guys perform.

"Anything I should be worrying about?" Nicole's attention was also on the guys.

"Nah, nothing right now." Jessica placed her hand on Nic's back and held it there. "They sure know what they are doing eh?" She sounded reminiscent as Nicole nodded her answer with her eyes on the men, mainly Kevin. Jessica noticed her friend's attention was plastered to the tall, dark and handsome man, "He's worth it? All the problems and he's worth it?" Nicole smiled and simply nodded again.

Once the audience had cleared out, Maggie made her way backstage and joined Nic and Jessica in conversations about the guys. Half an hour later, Maggie checked her watch and observed the late hour, "It's almost eleven and Melissa's taking me back soon." She frowned to the other two girls. She hugged Jessica first, thanking her for the stay and wishing to see her again. She turned to her friend and tried to smile without breaking into emotions. "And you."

Nicole laughed, "Well, well, well. If it isn't you." They both laughed. "Dear, you'll be hearing from me. That isn't a promise, it's a threat." She reached for a hug that held for a few minutes as they talked. "You gotta say bye to AJ, you know. He's in the back."

"I know, I know. You guys gotta keep in touch with me."

"I will dear. I will." They pulled back from the hug and smiled at each other warmly. "Hey, don't get so gloomy. I'm not dying." They continued smiling then hugged again, quickly.

The second hug was broken off by a loud, throaty voice. "Hey, hey, hey. Don't tell me you're giving good-byes without me?"

Nicole pulled away from Maggie, knowing it was AJ, and looked at her, "I gotta get going now. Don't let him get away with anything!" She pointed her finger at Maggie's face and laughed. "Bye, dear," and after a kiss on the cheek, Nicole left Maggie and AJ to their goodbye.