"I uh, I was here to see Brent and I thought I'd stop and see how you were doing. I'm glad you're going to be ok," Nick told her.
"Yeah for what it's worth. I just got off the phone with my manager. I had to cancel my tour this summer," she cried.
"I'm sorry to hear that. I know you were looking forward to it," Nick said genuinely feeling sorry for her.
"Yeah well.....you know what, why are you here? You don't care about me. You didn't bother to come see if I was ok until now," Mandy snapped at him.
"Well the papers are making it sound like because of the arguement you had with McKenzie and Shayla and me that that's why you had the accident," Nick explained. "I figured it best to keep a low profile because the press would be waiting for me to come here. I kept up with the situation through Brent's mom."
"McKenzie huh? What the hell kind of a name is that? Where is she anyway? Did she tag along? She did play a part in the accident by getting me so upset wit the things she said. Her and her wicked witch sister. They said some pretty nasty things to me and then the sister came along and threw her drink in my face for now reason," Mandy whined.
"You know what? I knew I shouldn't have stopped to see you. You're the one who said nasty things, you upset McKenzie not the other way around. You're just trying to get out of having charges pressed against you. You deserve everything you get," Nick said and stormed out.
"We'll see who gets what they deserve," Mandy mumbled to herself.
Nick felt bad the whole way home. He shouldn't have stopped to see Mandy. He had told McKenzie he wasn't going to and now he had to tell her he did. He couldn't keep it from her, he wouldn't lie. That was the old Nick. He wasn't going to ruin this relationship with McKenzie. He truly loved her and had never know what that was really like until her. She would probably be afraid to trust him now and think that he still had feelings for Mandy and went behind her back to see Mandy. He hoped he hadn't ruined everything.
When Nick pulled into the driveway, he saw Brian and Shayla sitting on the porch swing with the dogs. "Hey guys," Nick said walking up. He bent down and pet the dogs.
"Hey, how'd it go with Brent?" Shayla asked.
"It went ok. He's doing better," Nick said. Brian could see something was up. He knew Nick too well. "Um Shayla would you mind if I talk to Bri for a minute?" Nick asked.
"No not at all. I'm gonna go get things ready to start dinner," Shayla said. She gave Brian a kiss and one of her smiles he loved and he couldn't help giving her a smile back as he watched her walk away.
"Thanks," Nick said. He bent down and picked up Taco and sat down next to Brian.
"What's up?" Brian asked. It was obvious something happened.
"Promise you won't jump all over me?" Nick asked.
"What'd ya do buddy?" Brian asked.
"I ended up seeing Mandy while I was at the hospital."
"Why? I thought you weren't going to see her?" Brian said.
"I wasn't but when I was leaving I went past her room and I heard her crying, and I guess I just felt I should be nice and see how she was doing. Boy was I wrong," Nick said hanging his head.
"What happened?" Brian asked him. Nick knew Brian would be there for him and he could talk to him without being judged. They'd always been so close.
"She had to cancel her tour because of her injuries and she was upset. I tried to be understanding but she started saying all this stuff about McKenzie and how it was all McKenzie and Shayla's fault. I mean, she doesn't see where she was in the wrong at all," Nick said.
"She never does see where she's wrong. It's always about her, you know that," Brian told him.
"I just got the feeling she's intentionally doing this to make McKenzie and Shayla look bad. Mostly McKenzie though," Nick said.
"It wouldn't surprise me. What are ya gonna tell McKenzie?"
"I don't know. She's gonna be upset that I saw her. I told her I wouldn't and now it's gonna be like I lied. I didn't mean for it to happen. I just felt that I should be the bigger person and at least check on her. I sure wish I hadn't now," Nick said.
"Well you might as well get it over with. Here she comes," Brian said as McKenzie pulled into the drive. She'd been at the grocery getting some things for dinner. Brian took the bag from her and went inside so they could talk.
"Thanks," McKenzie said as Brian took the grocery bag. "Hi baby," she said greeting Nick with a kiss. "How was Brent? Did you see him?"
"Uh huh, he's doing better. I kinda need to talk to you about something baby, sit down a minute," Nick saidl leading her to a chair.
"Nick you're scaring me. What's wrong? Is something wrong with Brent? I thought you said he was doing better," McKenzie asked feeling sick to her stomach. She was still blaming herself and believing she was the cause of the accident and if something was wrong with Brent or Mandy she was really going to feel bad.
"No, no he's going to be ok. They both are, it's not that," Nick said.
"Then what is it?"
"I don't want you to be upset and think more of this than what it was ok?" he said feeling like the guilt was written all over his face and that he was going to break her heart.
"What? My god just tell me before I go crazy," McKenzie said.
"I know I said I wasn't going to but......." "You saw Mandy didn't you? That's what this is about," McKenzie said figuring it out.
"Yes I did," Nick told her. McKenzie sighed and rolled her eyes. "Now please don't be mad Kenz, I really wasn't going to but I was leaving and went past her room and she was crying and I just......I just felt bad and felt that I should at least stop and see how she was," Nick looked at the disappointment and hurt on McKenzie's face. It was a huge mistake because she ended up blaming you and Shayla and being a real bitch. Oh god, Kenz I'm sorry. I'm stupid for even feeling bad for her. It's just they canceled her tour and everything so I started to feel bad. I'm sorry, please don't hate me and don't think I lied to you because I really couldn't stand it if you felt you couldn't trust me," Nick pleaded. He was on his knees in front of her.
"I kind of expected once you got there you might see her. It's ok. I actually think I might of felt you were heartless if you didn't see her. So I guess I understand. I'm glad you told me about it though. However, I think subconciously you knew you would and you should have just been honest from the beginning, because I would've understood," McKenzie said.
"You're not mad? Oh thank you. I love you so much Kenz. I'm so luck to have you," Nick said grabbing onto her.
"Yes you are, and don't you forget it," she said putting on a brave front. Deep down she was afraid Mandy might be able to make him have feelings for her again. But she meant what she said. She did understand him seeing her.
Back in the kitchen Brian was telling Shayla what happened with Nick at the hospital as he helped her cut vegetables for the salad. "Do you think she'll understand or will she be mad?" Brian asked.
"I don't know," Shayla said. "I'm trying to think of how I would feel if it was you and you went to see Leighanne."
"Well, that's a little different. Leighanne and I didn't have the tumultuous and harmful relationship like Nick and Mandy had. Sure she cheated on me and that hurts but it doesn't compare to what Mandy did to Nick and his reputation with the public."
"I suppose. I guess I would understand. It's just he swore he wasn't going to see her. And I can't believe she's blamin us for the accident. That's just a bunch of shit," Shayla was getting all riled up again and waving around the knife she'd been holding. Brian grabbed it from her hand and gave her a look.
"I know, don't start letting it upset you. That's what she wants you to do remember," Brian said. He put down the vegetables and pulled her into his arms hugging her.
"You're right, let's forget about it. I don't wanna talk about her anymore. Maybe we should move to another state, or actually another country to get away from her," Shayla joked. Brian looked at her like no way.
"Smart girl to not let her get to you. That's why I love you so much," he said.
"I love you too. Why don't you go start the grill," she said kissing him and pinching him on the butt.
"Hey," Brian exclaimed as he saw her grinning. She took his breath away. "That's my butt!"
"I know, I love that little butt," she said laughing and shooing him out the door.
Nick and Mckenzie came into the kitchen. Everything seemed to be ok. They helped set the table and once the food was ready they sat down at the table to eat. No one mentioned what happened. They all wanted to stay off the subject for a while and forget about Mandy.
They kept the conversation on other things, like the upcoming party, trying to enjoy themselves. Halfway through dinner the doorbell rang. Shayla went to answer it. Immediately she felt an uneasiness when she saw it was a policeman. She opened the door nervously. She just knew this wasn't good.
"Shayla Starks and McKenzie Starks?" he asked.
"I'm Shayla Starks and McKenzie is here. What is it?" she asked.
The officer handed her an evelope and left without saying a word. Shayla closed the door and opened the envelope immediately. Her eyes grew huge as she read it and she felt sick to her stomach. It was unbelievable.
"Brian!" she yelled terror in her voice and she ran into the kitchen. She put the papers in front of Brian.
"What's wrong babe?" he asked.
"What's that?" Nick asked as he tried to look over Brian's shoulder.
"It's Mandy. That bitch of an ex-girlfriend of yours is sueing me and McKenzie for her accident," Shayla said angrily.
"Shayla," Brian scolded her. "Calm down and sit down and let's look at this."
"I'm sorry, but this is bullshit Brian. I'm not going to put up with it," Shayla said.
"No we won't. But it's not going to do anyone any good to get so upset about it," Brian said rubbing her shoulder. Shayla grumbled and folded her arms across her chest.
"Sorry, this girl just really pushes my buttons. Sorry Nick, I didn't mean to yell at you," Shayla said.
"It's alright Shay, I understand. I'm sorry that because of my past two people that I care a lot about are being hurt," Nick said as he held McKenzie.
"What do the paper say? What reason could she have to sue us?" McKenzie asked.
"Well according to this she's sueing on the basis of aggravated menacing and emotional distress leading to an accident and loss of wages and notoriaty due to the cancellation of her tour and other promotional events," Brian said as he read the papers.
"Unbelievable, just unbelievable," Nick sighed. "I knew she was up to something."
"Can she do that?" McKenzie asked.
"Well you can sue someone for any reason you want. She has to be able to prove it though. It depends on the judge. Anything is possible," Brian said.
"So what do we do about it?" Shayla asked.
"I'll call my lawyer and see what he had to say," Brian said. He looked at Shayla and McKenzie for a minute.
"What?" Shayla asked.
"I need to know that you two told us the whole story about what happened in that bathroom at the club. Did you tell us the truth? Does she have a reason to be sueing you?" Brian asked. He tried his best not to sound like he was accusing them of lying but he had to ask.