We were on our way to Atlanta now, and I knew it was gonna be a long drive. So into the bored stage I was, I got up out of my bunk and went to ask Howie a favor.
"Howie, baby, sweet heart, hunny bunch, sugar bunny, boo-boo, dar-" I got cut off by a voice.
"No you can NOT kill Nick. I told you wait until we're done with him, then you can hold him hostage!" Howie said holding his hand up. And but of course Nick walks into the room while he's saying that.
"What?!" He say nearly drooping his glass of Mountain Dew.
"Howie, that was our little secret! But that's not what I wanted anyways." I said pausing. I decided to play a little mind game with Nick. "I just wanted to know if you were still gonna meet me at my bunk tonight after everyone's asleep?" I said in a loud whisper. He got a look on his face of shock, so I mouthed, "Play along." and pointed to Nick. He got the idea.
"Are you gonna be as bad as you were last time, baby?" He asked rubbing his finger over my cheek.
"Oh yeah. Don't forget the hand cuffs and whip cream!" I said about to get up. I turned my head a little bit so I could see Nick's face. "We need a camera. His face is priceless!" I whispered to Howie.
"I know." He whispered back smiling.
"So anyways, could you get the net up for me, I'm..... bored." I said in a normal voice.
"Sure, ba-. I mean Maris." He said slipping on purpose. We got up, looked at each other seductively, and walked out of the room.
"Man, wait till kev hears this!" We herd him say to himself. This brought a silent fit of giggles from us as we walked to his bunk.
"What was all that for?" He asked getting the lap top out, smiling.
"Mind games, my dear, mind games!" I answered.
"You know he's gonna be jealous, right?" He asked setting it up in my bunk.
"No. Why would he be?"
"Duh! He likes you! I can't believe you never noticed, everyone else has."
"No he doesn't! How can you say that, he hardly ever talks to me."
"Oh, yes he dose. Ask anyone else on the bus."
"Okay. KEVIN! AJ! BRIAN! COME OVER TO THE BUNKS! I WANNA ASK YOU SOMETHING!"
"Damn, girl! You got one set of lungs!" He said rubbing his ear.
"Thank you." I said as the three came into the room.
"Doesn't Nick like her? Tell her I'm right!" He said getting out of my bunk.
"You haven't noticed? It's so obvious!" Brian said with a shrug.
"I know, thats what I tried to tell her!"
"So he dose like me?"
"Yeah. Why do you think he was so nervous around you when you first met?" AJ said sticking his hands in his pockets.
"Oh...." I said quietly. There was a short silence.
"You like him too! Don't you?" Kevin inquired.
"Maybe...." I said blushing a little. I grew a grin on my face, slowly.
"Perfect match! You two are the biggest trouble makers I have ever known!" AJ said with a shake of his head. Giggles were brought around everywhere.
"Okay, but DON'T tell anyone, alright? I don't want him to grow a big head over this!" I said quietly.
"Will do." Howie said sealing his lips.
"Okay, no problem." Brian said walking out of the room.
"Sure." AJ said.
"Perfect couple and you don't even want to go out!" Kevin said shaking his head and walking out of the room. Little did any of us known, Nick got curious when he didn't get call for that "question" and stood by the cracked doorway to listen in.
*~*That Night*~*
I was laying in my bunk awake, thinking about what Kevin said. 'Perfect couple, and they don't even want to go out with each other.' Played over in my mind. I suddenly had cotton mouth and decided to get something to drink. I went to the little kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water and sat in the little semi-circle table. I took a sip and fell into my own little world, thinking about what's happened over the past few weeks. I really didn't know what to do. I was so scared and even though I had the guys around I felt as if anything or anyone was gonna hurt me. Like, one day when there's a concert, someone was gonna try and kidnap me like they always had. But this time I didn't have my father to come help. A single tear fell down my cheek. "What am I gonna do?" I whispered aloud, putting my head in my hands. I burst into tears, but did so quietly. I didn't notice when a figure walked into the room. When he opened the mini fridge, and the light came out, he noticed me.
"Marrisa, what's wrong? Are you okay?" Nick questioned sitting next to me and putting his arms around me.
"Nick I'm so scared. I'm scared that one day when you guys are gone, someone's going to try and kidnap me and their gonna get away with it. I'm scared that when I have to leave you, I'm going to die. No one is gonna keep me safe, no one's gonna keep them from trying, from trying to get me! And I don't even know who these people are! I thought I knew my father, but look where that got me!" I said crying on his shoulder. I looked up at him so see him staring directly in my eyes.
"Marrisa, listen to me. We are going to find out who these guys are, we are going to keep you from their grasp, and I won't let you go. No matter what, we'll all still be friends. And I promise, I won't let them hurt you." He whispered rubbing a tear away from my face with his thumb. "Now I think we need to get to bed. It's late and we should get some sleep." He said getting up.
"Yeah, thank you so much Nick." I said giving him a tight hug. I grabbed my water and headed to my bunk. Nick followed soon. I was still unable to sleep. And from the sound of it, so was Nick. All he was doing was tossing and turning.
"Are you asleep yet, Maris?" Nick said sticking his head in my bunk, still up in his.
"No, Nick. You're gonna fall out, come down here before you hurt yourself." I said laughing a little. He climbed out and I slid over to make room for him on my bunk. He got under the covers and faced me on his side. I was on my side also. He just stared into my eyes as a silence fell upon us. A couple of minutes later, he spoke.
"I herd the conversation with you and the guys earlier." He said closing his eyes. I shot up, hitting my head on the way.
"Damnit, you weren't suppose to hear that!" I whispered rubbing my head.
"Don't worry," He said laughing a little. "I'm glad I did."
"Why?" I said laying back down
"Well, if I tell you, do you promise not to tell anyone?" He asked facing me again.
"Sure, what?"
"This is why." He said and leaned over me and gave me the sweetest kiss ever. His lips were so soft and sweet tasting, I couldn't help but kiss back. A minute later, we parted.
"That's why." He said, closed his eyes and fell asleep easily. Confused, I closed my eyes also and fell into a restless sleep.
*~*The Next Morning*~*
I woke up with a stir and felt over on the side of me. Hoping for Nick to still be there, I opened my eyes to an empty space. I groggily got up and out of bed and walked to the kitchen grabbing my water bottle on the way. Ignoring anyone else who was in there, I got a cup of coffee, fixed it, and walked to the front room. I was going to do my best to ignore Nick today. He left me so confused last night, I wouldn't know what to say to him. But that kiss..... oh how I loved that kiss! I was in Heaven when that happened. The sweet taste of his lips, how soft and full they were.... Heaven. My dreamy expression was lost when I looked at the clock. 1:43 p.m.
"How come no one decided to wake me up???" I yelled to anyone who was listening. I herd no answer. "Hello?" I yelled. No answer. "Hello?" I said a little more quite this time, walking to the back. No one was in the bus, and I suddenly grew frightened. I swiftly walked back up front and looked out the door. No one, but I did know where we were. In Atlanta, at the Tower Dome. I quickly walked to my bunk, grabbed my lime green tank top and black skort, went into the bathroom and got dressed. I brushed my teeth, dabbed my make up on, slipped my black sandals on, grabbed my black leather backpack purse and coffee, and walked quickly inside the building. Big place, I'll tell ya. I would got lost real easy if there wasn't a map in the front. I found where the stage area was and walked that way. I found the doors and walked through easy. Luckily, I was able to slip through security cause the guard was talking to someone else. I saw the boys on stage with a slender black women, dancing their routine. I didn't know the song, but it sounded catchy. Almost with an edge of rock in it. I found a seat in the front row, and caught Kevin's eye. I had a curtain look on my face, and he knew I was mad.
"Okay, guys! Take a brake! That was good." The black lady said to the guys. They jumped off the stage and walked over to me.
"Don't you guys ever scare me like that again!" I screeched. I kept the look on my face, and stayed seated.
"Sorry, but you just looked so peaceful and we didn't have the heart to wake you." AJ smiled.
"I told them to wake you up, that you didn't like to be left alone, but they insisted!" Kevin said sitting next to me.
"Did you tell them about when you left for the store while I was asleep?" I asked smiling.
"No." He faced the guys. "The second night she stayed at my house, I went to the store to get some milk and cereal. Well she woke up while I was gone, and completely freaked out! She was talking to the police when I walked in the door." He finished.
"I still can't believe I did that!" I said putting my head in my hands.
"Hey, anyone who has gone through what you have, would have every right." AJ said sitting on the other side of me. "But it'll be okay."
"Well I'll forgive you this time, and this time only. Next time no matter how cute I look, as I always am, wake me up!"
"Yes ma'am!" Brian saluted.
"Anyways, army man, what song was that?"
"Don't want you back, why?" Nick answered.
"I liked it. That song was cool."
"Come on guys! Back to work!" The lady that was out before said coming from backstage.
"You can stay and watch if you want." Howie said as he and the others walked onstage. I did stay and learned to like their music.
*~*At The Concert*~*
"This next song, I want to dedicate to a special someone." Nick said as he looked over at me, I mouthed "Me?" pointing to myself. He nodded his head and I sat back down in my chair. They began singing a song called "I'll Never Find Someone Like You". It was obviously a new one cause you could see the surprised looks on their faces. The song brought tears to my eyes he looked backstage at me and I had already left. I walked to the dressing room to make a call. I locked the door and dialed the numbers I knew so well and let it ring.
"Hello?" The voice answered.
"Justin?"
