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| HIDDEN by Janey Nick was musing as he so often did when he was bored witless. He hated all the palaver that went alongside the concerts; namely the touring, the rehearsing, the sound checks, the photos and the endless interviews. Plus of course, he hated being out of Wales. Things had now reached the point were Nicky would be deliberately misleading or obtuse to journalists just to irritate the hell out of them. After answering the same questions in the 35th different town, his brain was shutting down. At the last gig in Birmingham, Nicky had recorded one interview on his new Dictaphone, and he had then used it when the local radio station had interviewed him, to illustrate that it’s always the same stuff and the only thing to change is the place. Needless to say, the interviewer was not best pleased. Though it did very nicely prove Nickys point. “Never mind Nicky,” said Katie cheerfully as she patted him on the back, “back in Wales tomorrow and no more gigs for a while.” “I can’t wait I tell you,” he sighed almost with despair, “though I’d rather that it was tonight.” “Have you asked Martin if you can escape early?” she giggled. “If he’ll let you I can drive you ‘cos I’m away soon after the gig finishes.” “And how does James feel about you running out on him?” he tormented Katie. “Not best chuffed I’ll bet.” “If I didn’t know you better I’d be offended, but as I do I’ll let it pass! However much more of that and you can walk home, Wire!” “Well as I haven’t asked Martin yet I may not need a lift from you. What time would you be going if he lets me go with you?” “About an hour after the show I guess. So you’d need to bring your stuff back here with you when you arrive for the show because the hotel’s the wrong direction to where we want to go.” Nicky was straining to see Martin, when he finally saw him going towards Nick Naysmith no doubt to discuss some changes. “Want me to come with you?” asked Katie when she saw the look of dread on Nickys face. “If you wouldn’t mind.” So together they walked to Martin. Whether or not Martin was in a good mood because it was the last night of the current tour and everything had gone far better than expectations, or whether he would have said yes anyway, Nicky didn’t care. All he was bothered about was going home after the show rather than having to spend another night in a hotel. Katie drove him to the hotel where they collected his things ready for their quick escape. The gig went well, and after it Nicky had a shower and got changed with a renewed vitality. He even had several photos taken with fans and signed some c.d., dvd and video covers and stayed for a brief chat too. The pair of them then let everyone know that they were about to go. After many wishes for a safe journey, Katie and Nick finally set off at nearly 1am. “It suits you with your hair down like that,” said Nicky as he pointed at Katie’s now loose, naturally curly, long blonde hair. “You should have it that way more often.” “It’s easier to just tie it back when I’m really busy Nick, especially at a gig too when it’s so bloody hot and sticky,” she smiled warmly. “Umm, I guess,” he muttered, as though unconvinced. “And wearing a skirt now, too. Can’t remember the last time I saw your legs.” “If I recall right, it was your last birthday when we all went to Sean’s for a fancy dress and you passed out after drinking too much!” Katie’s eyes lit up as she remembered the night fondly. She had had such a great time, dancing with almost everyone and really getting into the spirit of it. Then she began to blush as she recalled her encounter with Nick. ‘At least he hadn’t any recollection of it as he was too drunk’ she thought as she looked at him wistfully. “Well you know I can’t handle my drink very well, damn I never could!” His swimming pool blue eyes lit up and sparkled at he laughed loudly at himself. “Unlike you who even managed to out-drink bloody James!” “That was in my wayward youth, if you don’t mind.” Just after 3 am the rain started. The fog had been rolling in steadily over the last 20 miles or so, making driving difficult and this would only slow them up more. Within a short time Katie had the wipers going at full pace, yet still it was nearly impossible to follow the road easily. “Sorry Nick, but it’s gonna take us a lot longer to get you home now,” Katie sighed wearily. “At least another hour.” “Hell that don’t matter,” he said, “I’m more worried about you having to concentrate in this. We can always stop at some services for a break.” “I’ll keep going. If I stop it’ll seem so much worse when I start off again.” “Then your home is at least another hour away from mine. If this doesn’t ease up you can’t drive it.” His eyes were full of concern. “I mean it Katie; I won’t let you.” Katie said nothing and instead merely nodded her acquiescence. Stubborn as she could be sometimes, she had to acknowledge that Nicky was right. At 5.35am they finally entered Nicky’s home. Whilst the rain had now eased off the fog was still really bad so Katie was going to be staying to get some rest before she went home later that day. “Do you want to join me in a drink or go straight to bed? I don’t want to keep you up if you’re really tired,” said Nicky. “You know where everything is, so make yourself at home.” Katie began giggling to herself as she pondered on how Nick’s words could have been misinterpreted, as she replied, “drink would be good thanks.” “Ok what’s so funny?” Nick asked as he walked through to the lounge, turned on some lights, and then went to the drink cabinet, with Katie following, still giggling. “Its just what you said, sounded like an invitation if you know what I mean.” Her own blue eyes met Nicky’s and it was obvious that Nick was replaying the conversation back in his mind, and he then flashed her a wicked grin without saying anything more, instead he poured two large whisky’s. “Since when have you been a whisky drinker Wire?” “Occasionally I do like one.” He whispered into her ear. Nick breathed in the scent of her and sighed. He felt sure she was wearing the perfume he’d bought her several weeks ago for her birthday and several times during the journey, he had wanted to ask her. He hadn’t because he had been unsure of what his reaction may have been, and he had already been finding it difficult dealing with her close proximity. Katie gazed up at him and smiled coyly. At 5ft 7in she was almost a foot smaller than Nick, but right now she felt as though she was walking tall and it was all down to him and the way that he was making her feel. “I can’t believe we’re having whisky at this hour,” Katie remarked as she sat down on the sofa. “There’s always tea if you’d prefer,” taunted Nick. “Mum said when she came to do the curtains and stuff last night that she’d drop some milk off, along with fresh bread and other bits and pieces.” “Come and sit down. You’re making the place look untidy,” and Katie patted the sofa as she took a sip from her glass. Nicky sat next to her and they both beamed at one another coyly, as they nervously drank their whisky, their eyes probing as if searching for clues at to how things were, when suddenly Nick blurted out, “I do remember that party you know Katie, and what I said.” “Oh.” “Damn James, I just couldn’t believe he’d got his timing so badly wrong!” He briefly flashed a nervous grin before staring back into his drink. Katie remembered how they’d both gone to stand outside to cool after lots of dancing. Nicky had gone as Marilyn Monroe and she had been Debbie Harry. Nick had huddled her to him as she was shivering and asked her if she would consider kissing another woman, whilst rubbing a hand over her bottom. She had replied that Nicky was definitely ‘all’ man as she had teasingly touched his bulging groin. Just as they moved to kiss, James had urged them in, as it was time for Nick to cut the cake. After doing his duty Nick had been plied with so many drinks he almost became comatose, so nothing more was said. “I’d always figured you’d got so plastered you couldn’t remember.” Her voice was quiet and her eyes seemed sorrowful. “Then you and James spent nearly every dance together. I thought I’d missed my chance.” Katie saw the pain in his eyes, his usually shiny blue eyes now dull and sad and gently ran her fingers across his shoulder and squeezed him affectionately. “James is my friend Nick, albeit a very good friend.” Nick’s body visibly tensed before he said with a trembling voice, “and all those times he called and you went running? The nights you spent in his room, alone with him? What were they?” “Times he needed a friend, Nick.” It was a simple but honest response. “Times when his thoughts of Richey overwhelmed him; when he’d found his girlfriend in bed with another man. Just times when he didn’t know where to turn.” Nicky inhaled deeply and ran a hand feverishly through his hair, then across his eyes. “We cuddled, as friends comforting each other, and yes we shared a bed… sometimes.” She turned into him and made him look into her eyes. “But we’ve never gone beyond the line Nicky. Not ever.” “Did you want to? Did he ever want to?” “Nicky it has never been like that,” she put her drink down and tenderly stroked his face with her fingertips. “He told me he’d tried talking to you but each time you made excuses and bailed out.” “Yeah, I guess he did,” Nick conceded. “It’s just as soon as he said your name I thought he was going to start talking about how much he loves you and I couldn’t bring myself to listen to it.” “He was trying to tell you that it was ok for you to make a move,” a nervous giggle escaped her lips as she spoke those words. “James may be many things Nick, but one thing he truly is, is astute. He came to me one day and asked why nothing had happened between you and me, when it was quite clear we really fancied each other.” “And?” “I said that I didn’t know you felt the same way too. Unfortunately all he could say was that he ‘thought’ you did and I really didn’t want to make a fool out of myself.” Nicky then put his drink down shifted his body into hers and softly said, “you know he once said to me ‘we need to take risks with people we really like or we could lose out’. Perhaps that was a veiled message.” “ I think so.” Nicky gazed into her eyes; his own much more lively now and then touched her lips with his own. Together they sighed as they eventually had the closeness that they had both yearned for. Tongues explored mouths slowly and sensuously as their hands caressed what had so far been forbidden flesh. As they broke their embrace, both looking at each other, they sighed and warmly smiled. “I have wanted that for so long,” Nicky whispered into her ear, before capturing her mouth once more. <<< Janey's stories |