*The Next Day*
"Good morning princess," Nick said as he woke McKenzie up by gently trailing his finger up and down the side of her naked body. When they'd returned last night luckily Brent was out when Nick called. That meant they didn't have to discuss Mandy and he got to put off the argument that was going to be inevitable when he wanted to add more time to the plan.
"Good morning baby," McKenzie said wrapping her body with his.
"Mmmmmm, you feel so good," Nick said holding her tight and rolling her over so he was now on top of her kissing her madly. He wanted her again so badly. He was so afraid of losing her with what he was thinking of doing to get to Mandy, that he had to have her as much as possible. He decided he couldn't tell McKenzie about what he was going to do, other than telling her he needed more time. Even though he promised not to keep anything from her. Hopefully he wouldn't have to go to far, but if he did, he would just have to make sure she didn't find out about it. He made love to her again but McKenzie could sense that there was some sort of desperation behind it. This would set off the trail of events that would become one of the worst days of their lives.
While everyone was at breakfast the manager of the hotel informed Nick he had a phone call. He had given Brent the number to call when Mandy wasn't around so they could talk. He stood up and told the manager to transfer it to his room in two minutes. McKenzie jumped up to follow him but he told her to stay and finish her breakfast. If it was Brent, he'd fill her in later, that it could just be his mom. He knew it was Brent though. He excused himself and ran up to their room. The phone was ringing when he entered the room.
"Yeah, this is Nick," he answered the phone.
"Hey buddy, how's the good life in Sveden?" Brent asked putting an accent on the word Sweden.
Nick laughed. "It's ok man. Lot's of work to do these next two weeks. What's goin on there? Any news?" Nick asked.
"Not a whole lot? Nothing new to report. She's keeping quiet so far," Brent told him.
"Damn, that's what I figured. I need to be there. I think I'm gonna have to pour on the steam to get her to talk," Nick said.
"What do you mean?" Brent asked.
"I'm thinking of maybe giving her some more incentive," Nick said. "If ya know what I mean."
"Yeah I know what ya mean. Do you think that's a good idea though man? What about McKenzie? She's not gonna go for that?" Brent said.
"I know man. I don't know how I'm gonna deal with that yet. I'll figure out something though. Keep trying on your end and let me know if anything changes. I'll see ya when we get back buddy," Nick said hanging up.
He pondered whether or not it was smart to do what he was going to do next. He picked up the phone and dialed the number he'd hoped to forget and never dial again. It was answered after three rings.
"Hello," Mandy sang happily into the phone.
"Hey wassup?" Nick asked.
"Nick?" Mandy asked surprised. "Is that you?" He was the last person she expected to hear from.
"Yeah it's me. What are ya doin?" he asked feeling the sweat start to form on his forehead. He didn't want to be doing this. He thought about McKenzie and how much she was trusting him.
"I'm getting ready to go out with some friends. What's up with you. I sure wasn't expecting to hear from you. Is something wrong?" Mandy said.
"No, nothings wrong. I just, well I just thought......well I don't know what I thought. I guess I just called to see how you were and say hi," Nick said rolling his eyes.
"Well, I'm good. It's good to hear from you though. Where are you now?" Mandy asked.
Hook, line and sinker, Nick thought to himself. He had her now. "Uh we're in Sweden right now working on the album."
"Cool, how's it going? Sing something for me," Mandy said then giggled.
Nick cringed. He hated her laugh now. He liked McKenzie's laugh. It reminded him of a little kid laughing. "It's going great and no, I'm not gonna sing for ya. You'll have to wait just like everyone else," he said laughing.
"Fine then, see if I go buy your next album when it comes out," Mandy teased him.
"Yeah right, you'll buy it and you know it," Nick said. "So what else is going on? How are you and Brent?"
"We're ok I guess. You know, nothing real serious or anything. How are you and McKenzie?" Mandy asked.
"She's fine, she's downstairs having breakfast with everyone," Nick said pausing remembering that he was betraying her trust.
"What's going on Nick? Why did you really call me?" Mandy asked.
"I don't know. I guess I just wanted to hear your voice and see how you were doing. Is everything ok? Do you need anything?" Nick asked.
"I'm ok. Why would I need anything?" Mandy asked.
"Well you know, since your tour got canceled and all and things are still up in the air with your album, I just thought......well I still care about what happens to you that's all," Nick said lying.
"Well thanks, that means a lot to me, but really I'm doing ok. I'm switching record labels to Atlantic so things look like they should be picking up soon," she told him.
"Great, well let me know if you need any help with that," Nick offered.
"Ok I will. Are you sure everything's alright Nick?" she asked again.
"Yeah I'm fine," he said sounding very down. "Listen, I should be going. I'll talk to you again soon ok."
"Ok Nick, bye."
"Bye Mandy."
Mandy sat by the phone staring at it. What was that all about she wondered. Could it be that Nick was having second thoughts about breaking up with her? Did he possibly miss her and want her back? Or did he really only care about how she was doing and that's all there was to it?
Nick stared at the phone. He walked into the bathroom and splashed some cold water on his face. He looked at his reflection in the mirror. He hated what he saw and he hated himself for doing this. "You're playing with fire buddy and you know someone's gonna get burned," he said to himself. He dried his face and went back downstairs.
"Who was it?" McKenzie asked.
"Who was what?" Nick asked feeling out of it.
"On the phone, what do you think I meant?" McKenzie said.
"Oh, it was Brent. Nothing new to report," he told her without looking at her. He started eating his breakfast but felt sick and didn't eat more than 4 or 5 bites. McKenzie knew something was up because it was very unusual for Nick to not eat and he wouldn't look at her. Something was definitely going on.
After breakfast they went to the studio to work on the album. They had to particularly work on the song they would be releasing later in the summer for a Burger King promotion. Kevin had written it and Max Martin put it to music. Since this song would be released early, they had to get it done before they left Sweden.
Brian went into the booth to sing his part. Everyone else was in the control area watching. Shayla and McKenzie were very impressed with Cherion Studios. It was huge and Max and his group were great. Shayla watched Brian sing. She loved watching him sing and loved the sound of his voice. The song was so deep and beautiful. It almost had the girls in tears. Shayla was teasing Brian and holding her eyes open with her fingers to remind him to keep his eyes open cuz he always kept them closed when he sang. She always told him that one day he was gonna fall off the stage cuz his eyes were gonna be closed while he walked around. Brian laughed and messed up and had to start over.
"It's a beautiful song Kev. What inspired you to write it? It seems like there would be something behind that?" Shayla asked when Brian was done and she gave Brian a should massage while AJ was in the booth singing his parts.
"Thanks, actually I started this song a long time ago when Kristin and I were having some problems. But none of that matters anymore. It's not really for her now but the guys liked it and still wanted to record it. I was a little unsure at first since it doesn't mean anything anymore, but I think I like it now that I hear it to music," Kevin explained.
"Well it's beautiful and I love it," Shayla told him. They'd heard the words before but this was the first time the girls had heard it put to music.
"Thank you," Kevin said all smiles. "This will probably be the song I'll play the piano to on the next tour."
"Oooohhh, that would be a great idea. Id does kinda remind me of Back To Your Heart," McKenzie said.
"Yeah, it does kinda, doesn't it," Brian agreed.
"Nick are you ok? You've been awfully quiet all day," Shayla asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he said not very convincingly as he went into the booth ready to sing his part. McKenzie rolled her eyes at Shayla. He was definitely in a mood.
Shayla looked at McKenzie. The way McKenzie was looking back they both knew something was going on and figured it had something to do with the phone call from Brent that morning. They never would have guessed that he'd called Mandy though.
As Nick sang he stared at McKenzie. He knew if she found out what he was doing, one day he'd be saying these words to her.
"But I love you, and I always will,
So I wonder, if you want me still,
Can you forgive me and open your heart once again, oh yeah
Nick and McKenzie were silent on the way back to the hotel. Everyone sensed some tension between them. They remained silent in the elevator up to their floor and only responded with a nod when they were told what time to meet in Brian and Shayla's room to go to dinner.
Nick unlocked the door to their room and walked in. McKenzie closed the door and stood there looking at him. Nick stood at the dresser unloading things from his pockets not wanting to face her.
"What's going on? You've been acting weird all day. What was the phone call from Brent really about?" McKenzie asked.
Nick didn't turn around. He stayed facing the dresser, looking down at the ground. "I told him we'd continue when I get back. I need more time Kenz. Just a little more time."
"No," McKenzie said firmly.
Nick finally turned around and looked at her. There was coldness in his eyes. "Too late, it's already done. When we get back I'm going to continue with it," he said.
"You're making decisions like that without talking to me? Why? I want it stopped as of right now. It's not working, I want it stopped," McKenzie demanded.
"Sorry, that's not gonna happen," Nick told her coldly.
"Nick, if you do this I will leave you. Something really bad is going to happen, I can feel it. I'm very serious when I tell you this. I will leave you if you continue when we get home." McKenzie had tears in her eyes as she looked at his cold expressionless face.
"Why can't you understand that I'm doing this for you?" Nick yelled very loudly slamming his fist on the dresser so hard it shook the whole room. "Stop being so stubborn and I told you before don't tell me what to do and never, ever threaten me McKenzie," he said getting too close to her. The tone in his voice was scaring her.
"What is wrong with you? Why is this so important to you? Why are you being so cold?" McKenzie asked now crying.
"Me being cold? I'm not the one making threats to leave if I don't get my way. You're acting like a spoiled little brat as usual," Nick yelled right in her face.
McKenzie was in shock. He'd never acted like this before. "I mean it Nick. I will leave you."
"Then leave," he spat angrily. "I'm doing it and you can't stop me." He stormed away to the bathroom slamming the door. She heard it lock and then the shower turn on.
McKenzie picked up her purse and left crying. She was walking down the hall not knowing where she was going to go. Her vision was blurred from the tears that were pouring from her eyes.
Brian had been getting some ice and saw her walking the hallway like she didn't know which way to go. "Kenzie, are you ok?" Brian asked grabbing her. "What's wrong honey? What happened?" he asked seeing now that she was crying.
McKenzie collapsed into Brian sobbing. "Oh Brian, it's so awful. I don't know what's wrong with him. He's acting so hateful and crazy," she sobbed.
"Come on, come in here and sit down and we'll see if we can figure this out," Brian said opening the door to his and Shayla's room.
"McKenzie what's wrong?" Shayla asked when Brian led her into the room. She looked awful.
Shayla led her to the sofa and she and Brian sat on either side of her, holding her as she sobbed uncontrollably. Brian looked at Shayla and shrugged his shoulders that he didn't know what was wrong.
"Baby what's wrong?" Shayla asked as she handed McKenzie some tissues.
McKenzie wiped her face. "Nick and I are breaking up. I hate him and I never wanna see him again. Shay, I wanna go home," McKenzie said breaking into sobs again.
Shayla and Brian looked at each other. Brian put McKenzie's head on his shoulder and held her. "What did he do now?" Brian asked.
"Well ya know how he's been acting weird all day ever since he talked to Brent this morning?" McKenzie said.
"I hadn't really noticed anything until we were getting ready to leave the studio," Brian said.
"I did," said Shayla. "He's been in a mood all day."
"Does all this have something to do with the phone call from Brent?" Brian asked wiping her tears.
"Yeah. When we got back here, I asked him what was going on and he said he's going to continue with this stupid plan when we get back, even though he promised me if it hadn't worked by the time we got back, he would stop. He says he needs more time and he's going to do it and I can't stop him," McKenzie told them.
"And what did you say?" Shayla asked her.
"I told him no and that I want it stopped now. It's not working so they might as well end it now. He got mad and said why can't I understand that he's doing this for me, and banged his fist on the dresser and I ......" McKenzie broke down again unable to speak.
"Oh sweetie, it's ok. Tell us what else happened," Shayla said holding her hand.
"I told him that if he continues this when we get home against my wishes, that I will leave him. I told him that I'm serious about this and I am you guys, if he does it, I will leave him," McKenzie cried.
"Whew," Brian grimaced as he and Shayla looked at each other again. "I'm guessing he didn't react well to that," Brian said.
"I've never seen him like that before Bri. He was so cold and mean. He scared me. He got right up in my face yelling and said that it's too late and that it's too bad cuz he's gonna do it. And he told me not to tell him what to do and that I better never threaten him. He called me a spoiled brat. But it was how he said it and the look on his face. He really scared me how hateful he was. I told him I was very serious, that I would leave him and that I really think something bad is going to happen."
"What did he do?" Brian asked.
"He said, "then leave" and he went and got in the shower. He doesn't care. I want it stopped and he's not gonna do it, so I guess we're breaking up," McKenzie cried again falling on Shayla.
"I can't believe he's being such an ass about this. I knew he shouldn't have been trusted to do this from the beginning," Shayla said.
"He swore to me Shay, he swore that if it wasn't done by the time we got back from this trip, that he'd give it up and that he wouldn't do anything I didn't feel comfortable with and we'd discuss and agree on everything that was done. I can't believe he's breaking this promise to me and doesn't understand my feelings. Maybe he still likes her," said McKenzie.
"No, that's not it. But there's no excuse for him to treat you that way," Brian said getting up. "I'll be back. I'm gonna see if I can knock some sense into him."
"Tell him he'd better be glad it's you and not me," Shayla said.
"I don't know about that baby," Brian said on his way out the door. "He's gonna get it from me big time. He's way out of line here."
"Do you want something to drink?" Shayla asked McKenzie. "How about some wine?" she asked going to the bar. McKenzie nodded yes and Shayla poured them each a glass and she sat back down next to McKenzie.
Brian walked down the hall to Nick's room and banged loudly on the door. Nick had been laying on the bed crying. He wiped his eyes and got up to answer the door.
"Come on in. I expected you to have been here sooner," he said leaving the door open and walking away.
"Well at least you're upset over this. From the story I got, I thought you'd be celebrating. You were very mean to her," Brian said taking notice of Nick's wet, puffy eyes.
"Of course I'm upset. I love her and I'm hurting her. But I have to, there's no other way."
"Are you a complete idiot? Of course there's another way. What's wrong with you man?" Brian said getting upset with him.
"I'm doing this and no one's gonna change my mind," Nick said.
"Then I'm gonna have to kick your ass," Brian said. Nick glared at him. "What's the point of going through with it anyway if she breaks up with you?"
"She won't, she'll get over it. I hope so anyway. She's gonna have to learn that she can't boss me around and tell me what to do. She'd understand if she wasn't such a spoiled little brat. I'm doing this for her and she acts like a spoiled brat and threatens me that she's gonna leave. Let her go then, whatever," Nick said waving his hand and downing his 2nd beer.
Brian couldn't believe what he was hearing. McKenzie was right on the money. She hadn't exaggerated at all about his behavior. "How can you be so cold? What the hell is going on with you? You're acting like you did when you were with Mandy. I got news for ya buddy, McKenzie ain't Mandy and you can't treat her this way."
"You don't understand man. You just don't understand," Nick sighed.
"Then you better explain it to me real quick cuz you're acting like a complete asshole," Brian yelled.
"Ya know what? Fuck her, if she wants to leave over something stupid just cuz she's not gonna get her way, then she can just fucking go," Nick yelled.
Nick had had his back to Brian so he hadn't seen Brian get up and walking over to him furious with what Nick had just said. Nick turned around and Brian's fist met with his face with a crushing blow and resounding smack that sent Nick reeling backwards and down to the ground. He layed there shaking his head trying to come out the shock.
"No Nick, fuck you. Fuck you for fucking up the best thing you ever had in your life. You don't deserve her. You're the only spoiled brat I see around here," Brian yelled and stormed out slamming the door.