The truth hurts

“Wasn’t that the most exciting thing!” Holly gushed to Kirstie.
“Oh yeah! It was amazing! Imagine if they won a Grammy or something…I think I would have peed myself..” Kirstie laughed.
“So what is going on with you and AJ?” Holly grinned as she saw AJ give Kirstie a little wink from across the room.
“Uhh….I’m not really sure….but I’m liking it…” Kirstie gave AJ a little wave as she sipped her champagne.

“Hey there’s Rhiannon and the other girls…..maybe Nadine will finally make up with us tonight…” Becca said as they waited in line at the bar.
“Yeah…..but….oh my god..” Cassidy’s mouth dropped open as Nadine walked into the room, sporting black leather knee-high boots, a leather mini skirt, and a black piece of cloth that was trying to pass as a shirt with the words ‘Porn Star’ written in silver studs on the front.
“Shit…” Becca covered her mouth with her hands.
“Well…..she looks lovely..” Cassidy rolled her eyes as she got their drinks from the bar and pushed her way out of the line.
“Why?” Becca asked watching Nadine strut across the floor, heading in the direction of the guys. “I don’t know….but I have a feeling we’re about to find out…come on!” Cassidy urged as they made their way over to the other side of the hall.

“No, BabyFace has already said he’d produce on that track…” Howie shook his head as he and Kevin stood deep in conversation.
“But we’ve gotta prove our loyalty to Cherion…” Kevin disagreed.
“But we also need to try other……” Howie stopped in mid-sentence as he spotted Nadine, minimally clad in leather. His mouth dropped open. Nadine saw this and discreetly gave him the finger and a look full of hatred.
Howie shook his head and excused himself to Kevin, marching determinedly over to Nadine, who was standing alone in a corner. He walked over to her, and she turned away from him.

Howie took her by the arm and pulled her to face him.
“What the hell are you trying to prove??” He asked confused.
“Get your hands off me!” Nadine pulled her arm free.
“Answer the question Nadine….” Howie said through gritted teeth.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about…” Nadine folded her arms and looked away.
“Oh, well maybe the fact that you look like a 2 cent hooker on a bad day….” Howie knew he was being harsh, but it was the only way to get through to Nadine.
“I thought it would be appropriate, since that’s the only way you treat me…..” Nadine spat angrily.
Howie gasped shocked.
“What are you talking about….” He asked confused.
“You know damn well…” Nadine said bitterly.

“Hey guys….what’s going on with Howie and Nadine?” Holly noticed the two deep in hot discussion in the corner.
Nick looked at the two and did a double take. He knew what they would be ‘discussing’….and he knew that Holly had no idea.
“Uhh…?” He looked at Cassidy desperately.
“Maybe something about a dance routine??” Cassidy suggested, looking at Nick for support.
Nick nodded. “Umm..yeah! Those two are real perfectionists…it wouldn’t surprise me…” Nick nodded at Holly reassuringly.
“It looks like they’re having an argument…” Holly tried to get a better look at the pair in the corner.
“An argument? You sure??” Becca tried to look confused but had a pit of dread in her stomach.
“Yeah…I’ll just go see if Howie’s ok…” Holly began to turn.
“No!!!” Becca, Brian, Kirstie, AJ, Cassidy and Nick said in unison. Holly looked at them strangely.
“…uhh…I mean, we’ll come with you…” Brian said through gritted teeth as they began to walk slowly over.
“No I don’t know damn well….what does this have to do with me??” Howie said exasperatedly.
“You! Can’t you think about someone else for ONE minute!” Nadine was close to tears.
“Tell me! Maybe if you had told me from the beginning we would be in this mess…” Howie softened a little.
“I did! I gave all the signals Howie! Tell me you weren’t really blind….tell me you felt something too…” Nadine pleaded and went to reach for Howie, who stepped back out of her reach.
“Nadine….You knew I was involved…” Howie tried to keep his voice level.
“Well you could have acted the fuck like it!” Nadine exploded again.
“Nadine! I love your friendship…and I love you…as a friend…” Howie tried to explain. “Well I love you…..not just as a friend…with everything I am…I love you Howie..” Nadine looked at him with tear-filled eyes.
Nadine’s words hit Howie like a slap in the face. He couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. Thoughts and feelings were racing through his head and he was trying to decipher them until a voice broke through them like a knife.
“Sweetie, what’s going on?” Holly said from behind him.
Howie slowly turned around to see Holly standing there confused. Behind her was Cassidy, Nick, AJ, Kirstie, Becca, Brian and Kevin looking at him guiltily.
“Howie….I love you…” Nadine said desperately, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Everyone’s mouths dropped open, Holly couldn’t believe her ears.