The Morning After Nick's Birthday. . .

Nick found his way into the kitchen, following the aroma of coffee filtering throughout the house. His head was pounding, but surprisingly, his hangover was not as bad as he thought it would be. He entered the kitchen finding Danielle sitting on one of the stools at the counter reading the newspaper.

She looked up as he walked in, "Coffee?"

"Yeah, thanks," he answered. He sat down on the stool and she filled a mug and placed it in front of him.

"How ya feeling?" she asked.

"My head hurts, but other than that, it's not too bad," he answered. He looked at her and noticed her eyes were glued to the newspaper again. "Whatcha reading?"

"Funnies," she replied, still not looking at him.

"Danielle, listen," he began. He placed his hand on the newspaper and gently tugged it away, "Will you. . .will ya stop reading that for a second? Please?"

She looked up at him, "Hmmmm?"

"Hey, my mind is kind of fuzzy, and you are acting kind of weird," he paused looking at her with questioning eyes. "Did something happen last night?"

"Oh, let's see. . .ummmmm. . .yeah," she replied. "Nick, aren't you wondering why I am here?"

"Cause you wanted to stay the night?" he tried.

"Nooooooo. Cause you sent the car away and I was stranded here."

"Oh yeah," he remembered.

"Then. . ." she started.

"Wait wait, there's a 'then'?" he asked.

"Oh yes. THEN. . .you tried kissing me. . .THEN you did kiss me, while you were naked in your bed."

"Well, what were you doing in my bedroom while I was naked?"

"Bringing your drunk butt some water and aspirin, Mister!"

Nick put his head down on his arms, laying on the counter. "Oh man. Yeah, this sounds familiar. I think I took a shower then."

"Yeah, you did," she confirmed.

"Dani, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I was drunk and stupid. I am sorry," he told her shaking his head, looking up at her.

That's what you told me last night, she wanted to tell him. "It's okay, Nick." They sat there staring at each other, when Danielle perked up, "Hey, you just called me Dani."

"I did? Oh, I guess I did," he realized. "That's OK isn't it?"

"Of course it's okay. I'm surprised it has taken you this long to call me that," she laughed. She looked at the clock on the microwave, "Nick, I need to get home. I have a class in two hours and YOU need to get on a bus to Philly."

"Aw, shit. At least I can go back to sleep then," he mumbled. He glanced at her, and saw that she was sitting there waiting for him to do something, but he didn't know what. "What?"

"I need you to take me home, dear," she said.

"Oh! I can do that!" he smiled. "Let me go grab a hat and then we can go, aight?"

"I'm ready when you are," she said laughing at him. "Oh, and Nick?"

"Yeah?" he stopped and turned back to look at her.

"I'm glad you had a nice birthday," she smiled.

A Week Later. . .

"Got the pictures back Nicky!" AJ hollered as he bounded through the door to their dressing room. They had a couple hours before showtime and most of the guys were already there, hanging out, snacking on some of the food that was prepared for them.

"Pictures?" Nick cocked his head, taking a drink out of his bottled water.

Brian jumped up and grabbed the envelope from AJ. "From your birthday, Frack! Cool!"

"OH!" Nick jumped up, "Lemme see!"

Brian pulled the photos out of the envelope sleeve and they started sifting through them. Brian started laughing as he came across the picture of Nick opening the bottle of champagne standing on the table. AJ snapped the picture just as the champagne started overflowing onto people around them. By now, all of the guys were gathered around looking over each other's shoulders, giggling away at the photos as they got passed around.

The next photo that Brian came to, he glanced at, then looked up at Nick with a tilt and a smirk, "Awwwwwwwwwwwww." Brian flipped the picture around to put it into Nick's view.

Nick handed the picture he was looking at to Howie and focused his attention on the one in Brian's hand. He squinted and moved closer to it. Upon seeing the picture, a smile spread across his face and he gently took it out of Brian's hand.

He held the photo with both hands and just stared at it smiling. It was the picture that AJ had taken of him and Danielle right after his birthday kiss. She had her arms around his waist and Nick was holding her close to him. There were both looking and smiling at each other. Nick took a deep breath and looked up at AJ, "This is a great picture, Age."

"Yeah, yeah, I had just missed the makeout session," AJ teased. He glanced at the picture and looked at Nick. "Ya look good together."

"Yeah. . .yeah we do," Nick said quietly. He had an uneasy feeling in his stomach. He suddenly felt the need to call Danielle. Looking at her picture, really made him miss her. He checked the time, and realized that she was still on her way home from class. He would have to wait until tomorrow to call her. He kept staring at the picture, he just couldn't take his eyes away from her. He wanted so much to feel her in his arms again.

"Frack," Brian approached Nick quietly. "What's wrong?"

Nick shook his head, "I don't know, man. I just look at her, and it's like, I want her here ya know?"

"I know," Brian answered. "Why don't you call her and have her come out for a couple shows?"

"Nah, I can't do that. She won't come. She's got school and stuff. And besides, that would raise a lot of questions," Nick said.

"Nick, questions are already being raised here. At least within the five of us," Brian commented. "We all saw the way you kissed her that night. We all see how much happier you are after you talk to her on the phone."

Brian playfully poked Nick in the shoulder, " You need to take a good look at what you're feeling, because I have seen you do this before. You are falling for her. I know that you had a crush on her way back when. You don't think that any of that is coming out right now?"

Nick stood and listened to his friend. Brian knew him better than anyone, and no matter how much he didn't want to admit it, he knew what Brian was saying was true.

"Bri, she doesn't like me that way. Even if she did, I'm not ready to jump into anything. It's only been a few months since Mandy, and I can't get wrapped up in that shit again," Nick told him.

"The main difference here is that she is NOT Mandy. Mandy couldn't deal with all of this," Brian said sweeping his hand. "She hated the fans, the fans hated her. Mandy wanted the limelight for herself anyway. Danielle doesn't seem to let that stuff bother her."

Nick looked at Brian in confusion. "Are you trying to talk me into liking her, Bri? I thought no one wanted her around?"

"Oh, I don't need to talk you into liking her, you already do. What I'm doing is trying to get you to admit it to yourself. Because whether she wants to or not, something is happening with your feelings, and if she isn't interested, you're gonna get hurt bro. Remember that." Brian gave him a final playful poke, with a knowing look then turned and rejoined the other guys.

Nick stood there letting Brian's words sink in. Damnit, Bri! I know that I am falling for her. But, I can't do anything about it. I'm not ready, she's not ready. It just ain't happening.

Nick's cell phone began ringing before he could finish his thought. He checked the caller ID and smiled as he answered, "Hel-lo?"

"You're not onstage yet?" Danielle piped.

"Nope, got another hour," Nick replied. "Funny you called. I was just thinking about you."

Danielle laughed, "We must be on the same wavelength. My last class was cancelled today, so I came home early and was just studying, and I suddenly just wanted to hear your voice."

Nick closed his eyes and listened to her words. Oh Dani, he thought, you have no idea how much I wanted to hear yours. Instead he answered her coolly, "Well, here I am! Hey, guess what? AJ got the pictures back from my birthday!"

"How did they turn out?"

"Good! There a really good one of me and you," he told her matter of factly.

"Really? When did we get one taken?" she asked.

"Remember? AJ snuck that shot after we, uh. . .uh. . .ya know. . .after my birthday kiss," he stammered.

"Oh. Ohhhhhh, yeah," Danielle really wanted to see this picture.

There was an awkward silence between them and Nick finally spoke up, "So, uh, how are things going? Mid-terms driving you nuts?"

"Not as nuts as Joey has been," she answered.

"Is he still calling? Have you talked to him?" Nick hoped the pang he was feeling in his stomach couldn't be heard in his voice. Why couldn't Joey just leave her alone? She had finally started getting to the point where she can move on, and now he's calling?

"Yes, he's still calling and no, I haven't talked to him. I have nothing to say to him."

Good, Nick thought. "You gotta do what you feel is best, but he probably isn't going to stop calling until you talk to him."

"Oh, Nick, I know. But, I just don't want to hear it. All he is going to do is yell about us being at the Superbowl. It's not even any of his business!"

"What does Britney have to say about all this? She must have some inside scoop?" he asked.

"She said that he pretty much wants to yell at me about the Superbowl. He's driving them all nuts!"

He's driving me nuts too. "Just talk to him, tell him to stop calling and that you don't have anything to say to him," Nick was starting to get frustrated. "I'LL tell him to stop calling. . ."

"No, no, I'm gonna do it. After mid-terms. I don't need to be upset trying to take my tests."

"You're right."

"Well, Nick. I should let you get going. I just wanted to say hi," Danielle said, trying to wrap up the call.

"I'm glad you called, Dani. Seeing this picture of you, made me realize I miss seeing your ugly mug."

"Gee, thanks! I miss you too!" Danielle laughed with sarcasm.

"No, seriously. You know I think you are beautiful."

Danielle's voice softened, and a seriousness was brought to it when she heard the tone in Nick's voice, "I miss you too."

Nick closed his eyes tight and threw his hand to his chest to hold his heart as he listened to how she said those words. It didn't take much longer for Nick to realize that Brian was right. He couldn't deny it anymore. He was falling for her.

Chapter 7
Chapter 5
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