Kristy awoke early the next morning, and breathed in deeply. Nick's cologne floated into her nose, and she smiled. Slowly opening one eye, she snuggled into his arms. They were crammed into one of the tiny bunks on the bus. Ever since the night at Nick's house, they'd been closer than ever. Sleeping together occured whenever possible. Not sex, just sharing a bunk, which, though it involved barriers like clothes, was far more intimate than sex. The whole "fall asleep with, dream about, awake with" thing was strong, and effective. It wasn't possible in hotels, for Nick's mom was there with Aaron. For night's on the bus, though, Kristy would climb into Nick's bunk, and sleep there with him, or Nick would climb into Kristy's bunk and sleep there with her. The guys had filmed another video during the previous week, and Brian had started dating one of the actresses they'd used. LeighAnne something. Kristy could never remember LeighAnne's last name, but she seemed sweet. Kristy kissed Nick's forehead and slipped out of the bunk. She wandered down the hall, and poured a cup coffee. Brian was talking on the phone. "LeighAnne?" Kristy mouthed, and Brian nodded, smiling slightly. Kristy quietly puttered around the little kitchen and made herself breakfast. He chatted for a few more minutes, then the two hung up. Kristy looked at Brian and smiled.
"I love talking to her" Brian gushed after a few moment's of silence. Kristy laughed.
"You sound like me!" she teased softly, and they elapsed into silence again. She chewed her beloved Fruit Loops thoughtfully, thinking of them: Kristy and Nick...Nick and Kristy. "Brian have you ever been in love?"
He glanced up at her, surprised. "Why do you ask?"
Kristy shrugged absently. "Wondering?"
"Are you and Nick having problems? You know I'm always here to listen-"
"No, I just..." she stopped. "I dunno, it may seem stupid, but I'm just wondering if we're seriously in love. I think we may be, but I just wanna know how other people feel when they're in love. To re-assure myself."
"So...you wanna know what I felt like?" he asked her unsurely. Kristy nodded, and Brian sighed. "Okay. I met Becca when I was seven, and she first came to my school. We went through school together. I'd been going out with her since highschool, grade 11 to be exact. We got voted for all the cheesy grad titles-cutest couple, most likely to get married, crap like that. We basically had life all planned out. Two kids, one boy, one girl, a dog, a house in Lexington. We were gonna get married in April, on a Saturday, in the afternoon. We didn't care about the date, just as long as it was in April, on a Saturday, in the afternoon. But then me and the guys started to get real popular, I was always gone, and it was really straining. She broke up with me."
Kristy looked at him, and giggled quietly. "Thanks for your life story, but how did you feel when you were going out with her. Emotions, stuff like that."
"To make a long story short....at first I felt like I was on top of the world, but towards the end we just cracked." Brian rubbed his temples, emotionally drained as thousands of bad memories flooded his minds. Memories he desperately wanted to ban from his mind.
Kristy contemplated what Brian had said. It all fit the description of how she felt. Atleast the on top of the world part did. She hadn't hit the 'cracked' part yet, and hopefully never would. We're okay, she thought.
But what she didn't know was that Nick was awake in his bed listening to everyword they had said. And what Kristy wasn't saying, Nick didn't know. And to condradict the popular saying, what Nick didn't know could hurt them.
~*~ Meanwhile ~*~
Nick listened to what Kristy was saying with an aching heart. From what he could hear, it sounded like she was doubting their relationship. That was a big, scary thing for Nick, considering he was ready to do anything for her. End his career, if it meant she would be his. He thought about all he'd sacrificed so far: he'd basically put his head on the chopping block when he'd told her that he loved her. After all, you can never be sure if they'll love you back. He'd skipped interviews and backstage meet 'n' greets to get a few extra minutes of alone time with Kristy; put his friends off every now and then to spend some quality time just talking with Kristy, something every couple need do. Hell, he'd even lied to his best friend for her. Nick remembered the day when Brian had reminded him of the passive, yet oh so tangible no-sex rule. After spending a good hour cross examining the subject, Nick had decided it would be better if she didn't know. It would make their PDA's limited, which could fool other guys into thinking Kristy was single, and then where would they be? Not dating anymore, that's almost certain. Yes, Nick confirmed to himself again, it was best that he didn't tell her. But what Nick wasn't saying, Kristy didn't know. And to once again condradict the popular saying, what Kristy didn't know could hurt them.