Date: Sun, 10 Mar 2002 21:28:32 +0000
From: Kevin K <kdawg96@hotmail.com>
Subject: Encountering Nick - Chapter Nine

Obligatory warnings and disclaimers:

1) If reading this is in any way illegal where you are or at your age, or
you don't want to read about male/male relationships, go away. You shouldn't
be here.

2) I don't know any of the celebrities in this story, and this story in no
way is meant to imply anything about their sexualities, personalities, or
anything else.  This is a work of pure fiction.

Questions and commentary can be sent to "kdawg96@hotmail.com".

Thanks again to all who have written. I love hearing what it is you have to
say. For other great reads, check out theses incredible stories as well:
'Nick and Ashley', 'JC's Hitchhiker' and 'Brian and Tommy'. I recommend you
check them out!

I hope you all enjoyed the sideline chapter previous to this one. ND, author
of the hit story 'Nick and Ashley', agreed to write the sideline chapter for
'Encountering Nick' from a different outlook. He wrote it from the
perspective of Brian. ND is an extremely talented and creative writer, and I
hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did! Thanks again ND!

COMING SOON: A sideline chapter written by writerboy69, author of the hit
stories 'JC's Hitchhiker' and 'Brian and Tommy'.

http://jcv.5u.com/all/worldofslash/ - Jayson Vascardi's website that
features my story and many other slash fiction stories. Go check it out.

Also check out Dream Slash, at http://www.geocities.com/dreamslashuk/, who
has kindly offered to co-host this story, along with many other favorites.

Please send me all comments and suggestions. Let me know what you think. Now
lets get back to what you came here for.

***
Encountering Nick - Chapter Nine

I found myself in awe staring down at a letter made out to Nick by who I
believe was TJ. A Trevor Joshua signed the letter, one declaring a secret
love to Nick. I never actually knew what the initials TJ really stood for,
but I'm guessing this was it.

I looked out through the already open door down the halls to see if TJ was
still there. He wasn't though. The halls were empty and completely silent.
What the hell is going on here?

"Hey Geoff, I thought you were heading down to rehearsal?" Nick said from
behind me as he walked into the room.

"Uhh, yea I am going now." I said as I stuffed the letter into my pocket. I
don't know why I did that, but I don't feel like showing this to Nick. At
least I don't feel like showing it to Nick right now. We already have enough
problems with Jack. So, I think I will try solving this one without
pestering Nick. I mean it's not his fault TJ is in love with him. I bet he
doesn't even know about it. Or does he?

I pushed that thought out of my mind because now I was actually very late
for rehearsal.

"Bye sweetie!" I said as I rushed out the door, "I'll be back later!"

"Alright! I'll be waiting," he shouted to me from the door as I rushed down
the hall towards the elevator.

When I got to the rehearsal everyone was already there, strangely except for
Jack and TJ. Where the hell is TJ? And what about Jack? I wonder if Jack
will even show? It is his first rehearsal with the group, but he seemed
pretty upset and distressed when I last saw him a couple hours ago.

As I finished that thought Jack entered the room. He had obviously spent the
past few hours crying, since his face was completely tearstained. He really
needs help. Somebody needs to help him.

While engulfed in my pity for Jack, Andrew, our choreographer, came up next
to me. "Hey Geoff?"

"Oh hey Andrew," I said a little startled, "What's up?"

"I was going to ask you the same question. Are you doing any better today? I
know yesterday was pretty rough for you." Andrew asked, obviously referring
to when I ran out of rehearsal after he introduced Jack to us.

"Yea it was. I cannot deny that. Though I think things will be fine. Don't
worry Andrew, I am not leaving the group." The stressed look on Andrew's
face lessened as soon as I assured him I wasn't going anywhere. I think he
was afraid that with Jack back that I would quit. But I could never leave
Andrew! He's not only been such an amazing choreographer to me, but a good
friend as well. He has been so supportive to me since he found out about
Nick and I as a couple, and it doesn't bother him the slightest bit that I
am gay. The choreographer with Britney always seemed somewhat distant to me,
and never really talked to me much except when presenting us with new steps.
Andrew was different, but in a good way.

"Good to hear Geoff. By any chance do you have any idea where TJ is?" He
asked me.

"No, I was just wondering that myself." I replied.

"Well, he will have a bit of explaining to do when he shows up eventually,
but we are not going to wait for him any longer." Andrew said before walking
to the front of the room and gathering everyone's attention. "Excuse me
everyone, can I have your attention please?"

Everyone went silent as we all stood waiting to hear what Andrew had planned
for today.

"Alright. As you are all aware, due to my delay at the airport yesterday we
had to cut rehearsal short." Andrew explained, "I mentioned to you yesterday
that I have some new moves I want to show to you, and it will take a bit of
time to do. Tomorrow we leave LA for Washington DC, and we perform a concert
tomorrow night. We will have a group rehearsal at the stadium sometime
tomorrow afternoon, but we have a lot to learn before then. So let's get
started!"

Over the next few hours Andrew showed us numerous fresh steps, which we all
mastered pretty quickly. Every so often I would glance over at Jack to see
how he was doing. Although he was mastering the steps like the rest of us,
he still seemed pretty miserable. I honestly shouldn't have any compassion
for this guy. He has harmed me to such an extent that I should have the
scars to prove it. But I can't help it. I do feel sorry for him, as much as
I don't want to.

Eventually TJ did show up. He walked into the gym looking very scruffy,
almost as if he just had sex or something. His hair was a total mess, his
shirt was untucked and all of his clothing was creased and crumpled. Where
the hell had this guy been the past few hours? Now that TJ finally did
arrive Andrew gave us a ten-minute break so the two of them could have a few
words. Andrew seemed pretty pissed at TJ for his extreme tardiness, and
whatever TJ was saying didn't seem to make it any better. Nevertheless, soon
enough TJ rejoined the group and the rehearsal continued.

At around 1:00 we broke for lunch. I took out my cell and called the hotel
suite, but Nick wasn't there. I figured he went out Brian, or with some of
the guys for lunch or something. I called Britney's cell next, but it was
off as well. I bet she went shopping. There's no stopping Brit when she's
out with her gold card! So I couldn't get a hold of anybody. "I guess I'll
be eating lunch alone today," I muttered to myself as I began walking out of
the gymnasium.

"Not if I have anything to say about that," TJ said as he ran up next to me.

I smiled. It was a fake smile though. "Alright TJ, let's go."

I don't understand. How can this guy pretend to me be friend and at the same
time try and steel Nick away from me? Well, I guess now is a better time
than ever to find out.

As much as I insist on eating healthy, we really didn't have enough time to
go sit down and eat at a real restaurant. So as much as I hated the idea,
the two us of just went to a local McDonalds.

As I stared down at my Crispy Chicken Sandwich, almost a little scared to
eat it, I thought about how I was going to confront TJ. The two of us were
barely talking at all, except for occasional and uncomfortable small talk.

I couldn't take it anymore! The silence was killing me and I just had to
find out why he is doing this. I had to find out why he is trying to steal
Nick away from me.

I reached into my pocket and placed the letter on the table. I looked at TJ,
directly in the eyes, and said, "So, do you care to explain yourself?"

His eyes bulged and his face dropped. "No." He whispered to himself. To TJ,
he believed all of this couldn't really be happening.

"Yes." I said harshly.

"That wasn't for you." He was barely able to say, still being in shock.

"Yes, I realize that, Trevor Joshua, but I found it." I said, "And I am glad
that I did! Now what the fuck are you trying to do here TJ!?"

"It's not what you think Geoff." TJ protested.

"What?! You're not in love with Nick and you're not trying to steal him away
from me?" I said very callously. I would be yelling, but we were in the
middle of a public place, and I didn't want to cause a scene. "Then what the
hell is going on?" I asked.

He didn't answer me. He just looked down at the table and tears began
falling from his eyes.

I took a few deeps breath to calm myself down. "Listen, TJ, I need to know.
Please tell me." I said in my normal tone of voice.

He looked up at me and his face was so full of pain. His eyes, all red, were
now full of tears. But he still said nothing.

"Come on TJ? You have to say something eventually." I said.

"I know," he said quietly, "But you wouldn't understand. He didn't, so you
wouldn't either."

"Who didn't understand?" I asked.

"Who do you think Geoff!?" TJ said a little angrily. "Nick!"

'So Nick does know. How long had he known for?' I thought to myself.

"It doesn't matter anymore anyways. He loves you now, not me." TJ said
looking down at the table again.

"You're right, it doesn't matter anymore. And it will never matter. Alright
TJ?" I said sternly once again, "It's over."

I took the letter and stuffed it back into my pocket. I got up, leaving TJ
at the table and walked out of the McDonalds. As I was leaving I could hear
him crying behind me. Honestly, way too many people have ended up in tears
today. I am surprised I have yet to.

I arrived at the gymnasium a couple minutes early. TJ arrived a few minutes
after I did. The rehearsal progressed for a couple more hours before we
concluded for the day at around 4:00.

I was very impatient to leave when it was done and I just wanted get back to
Nick. I walked into our suite, but couldn't find him anywhere. Where was
Nick? I searched every room, even the bathroom, but he wasn't here.

While searching the entire suite I heard the front door open and close.

"Nick?" I yelled from inside the bathroom.

"Yea, it's me!"

"Thank god it's you!" I said coming out to greet him; throwing my arms
around him and giving his the most passionate kiss I'd given him since our
little fun we had earlier this morning. I slipped my tongue inside his
eagerly awaiting mouth, taking pleasure in the savor of his kiss.

"I missed you." I said once we broke our kiss.

"I missed you too," he said, "And I bought you something!"

"You did?" I asked. I didn't even notice the bags he was holding. He must
have been out shopping. He took out a small black box out of one of the bags
and handed it to me.

"Open it now, please." He asked me.

"Alight," I said. I opened it and it was a silver chained necklace, with an
emblem attached to it. I took a closer look at the emblem and saw the
letters 'N' and 'G' engraved in it with a heart around it. "Oh my god Nick,
its gorgeous!" I exclaimed as I threw my arms around him once again to kiss
him.

"Not as gorgeous as you." He said.

"Thank you." I said. "And not just for this, but for everything. I know
about TJ, and that hey loves you." I said as I took out the letter from my
pocket and handed it to Nick, "And I confronted him with this. I didn't want
to bother you with it, so I never showed it to you. Please don't be mad."

"I'm not." He said looking a little relieved that I wasn't mad at him.

I continued, "He told me he already confessed his love to you, and you said
you loved me. And that is all that matters to me, because I love you too,
and I always will."

"I will always love you too, Geoff." Nick said.

"I know you will," I said as the two of us engaged in yet another passionate
kiss.

***

End of Chapter Nine
No cliffhanger this time! Enjoy it while it lasts. Please e-mail me with all
questions and comments at kdawg96@hotmail.com - and I'm always open to new
and fresh ideas. I look forward to hearing from all of you. Check back next
week for Chapter Ten!