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Chapter 7
Beep Beep
Nick looked over at Brain as pulled his pager out of his pocket.
"Oh I gotta take it. It's mom. Tell me what's up when I get back." With that Brian left the hotel room.
Nick sighed. "Good."
"What?" Kevin was confused.
"He would have killed me!" Nick shook his head. He really felt guilty.
"Why?" Aj sat in Brian's old seat.
"Because…well you guys remember Cathy right?"
"Yeah, that computer whiz. She was smart as a whip!" Kevin remembered a fan that they befriended a few years back.
"Well I e-mailed her the other day to…umm…well test V."
"Test her? How? Why?" Howie sat next to Nick.
"Well, that virus…she planted it in my computer…I told her to."
"What? What on earth would you do something like that?" Kevin was in shock ant Nick's stupid action.
"Like I said to test V. There's something about her that I just don't like. I don't know what it is, but she's hiding something. I can feel it. I figured it was her occupation. So…I thought I would sort of test her." Nick replied sheepishly, putting his head in hands.
"Nicky that was harsh." Howie shook head.
"I know. I feel so bad, thought for sure that she was lying and now…" He sighed. "To make matters worse I think she knows that I was testing her."
"What? Man you better be glad Brian left cuz he's rip you up one side and down the other!" Now Kevin was shaking his head.
"Hey guys. It wasn't mom, but she got Harold to clean out the garage and he found a bunch of my old basketball stuff. He's gonna send them to my house in Florida." Brian smiled happily and walked over to an open chair.
Nick forced a smile. "That's cool."
"Yeppers. So what's up with you?"
"Nothing." Nick got up and put his newly fixed computer on the desk. "We talked it over. It's fine now." Nick picked up his keys to his rental and headed for the door. "I've gotta go somewhere. I'll be back." Nick shut the door behind him.
In Café de Frances
"I'll have a mocha late and a cinnabon." I paid for my stuff and sat down in a comfy both waiting for my stuff. I spread out my papers and I turned on my computer. "Thank you." I smiled at the waitress who brought me my drink.
I sorted threw speeches I was to learn for when we went on air. I'm not TV material so I have no clue why I'm even going to be on. I mean you'd think they'd want me to be kept secret so I could do more cases. I don't know. Maybe they'll do a Face Off…gross! Never mind that. I may not be that pretty to myself but I'm quite attached to my face…literally.
I looked up when I heard a familiar voice. It was Nick. He ordered a drink then walked over to the bookrack across the room from me. He picked one out then sat in an armchair and started reading.
I went back to my reading as well. If he doesn't notice me then I can keep working. I flipped threw some pages until I came to one that interested me. It was only 6 words long, but the stung like a wasp sting. It burns your skin, but it remains the same to the naked eye.
Research and production by: Maranda Hunter.
That's all this entire page said, but it said a lot. It meant a lot. It meant she, Maranda, were a theft of privacy, a liar, and a bad person. Being a liar didn't hurt so much as being a bad person. Everyone lies, but my lies only hurt if found out. Mine soon would be.
Soon everyone would know how good I was at being a bad person.
Being a liar.
Being a theft.
That's me, I steal.
I hurt.
I lie.
I'm a bad person.
I did this to myself. If only I had said no when I was 17, if only I said I was happy where I was. If only I were happy.
"Veronica?" I hadn't noticed Nick repeating my name until after he did it about a dozen times and had touched my shoulder.
I jumped. "Nick." I stated. I looked down at my papers and frantically gathered my things into a manila folder and stuffed them into my brief case. I turned off my computer, unplugged it and placed it in the case as well.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?" I finished by scanning the table for anything that I might have left. I didn't.
"You looked really busy, but I wanted to apologize."
"You're apologizing twice. Wow. Please sit." I motioned to the empty seat across from me.
"Thanks."
"Well I forgive you so far." I smiled.
"Thanks, well I wanted to say sorry for being a compete jerk."
I decided to play dumb. "Why would I think you were a jerk?"
"Well, I…Um was testing you…a lot."
"I noticed that. Why did you do that?" I knew why, he was a smart boy who was very observant. He'd be a good spy. Goodness like he needs that!
"I thought…" He laughed while looking down at his coffee. "I know this is stupid, but I thought you might…be a spy." He was almost whispering.
"And what would I be doing here…with you?"
"I don't know." He laughed again. "I never figured it out. I gave up. I just really feel bad for thinking of you this way. Don't tell Brian, he really likes you and he'd hate me for…"
I cut off his thoughts by getting up and kissing his cheek. I couldn't help it. He was very concerned about my feelings and Brian's.
"You're a great friend. Brian's very lucky."
He blushed. I can't tell if it's from the kiss or the compliment. This made me smile. "Tell Brian I'll meet him in his lobby at 9."
I grabbed my stuff and walked toward the door.
"OK…wait you're going on a date with Brian?" He followed me out of the café.
"Yes. I assume since you're just finding out you wouldn't know where we're going would you?"
He just shook his head.
"OK." Feeling polite I offered him a ride back to his hotel. He accepted seeing about a dozen teens that were just out of school covered in BSB paraphernalia.
"So you like Blink 182?"
"Yeah." I laughed. "Why?"
"Just wondering. I didn't pay to much attention to what you've been saying lately...well except for what I've been asking about." He smiled.
"Sorry to disappoint you. You really wanted me to be a spy. Do you think I'd make a good one?" I decided to play with his head.
"Yeah, I guess. I mean a person with no friends, no dating, no sleeping in is a great spy."
"I thought you weren't listening?" I questioned.
"I zoned in and out." He smiled.
"Sure." I nodded as we pulled up. "Your stop."
"Thanks. I'll tell Brian you're sweating for him and all that junk." He laughed.
"Don't you dare!"
"I wont. I was just playing." He smirked.
"Nick, you better not!"
"Seriously I won't. Thanks for the ride." He looked out the back of the car to see the number of teens.
"Opps Nick I got glitter from my lip gloss on your cheek." I laughed and grabbed a napkin to wipe it off. "Sorry bout that."
"No prob." He got out and shut the door. He had to run to beat the mob.
9pm in the lobby
"Where is she?" Brian paced.
"She'll be here." Brian had dragged all the guys down to the lobby to talk to him and keep him calm.
"Chill Brian, you'll have a heart attack before you even see her." Mandy laughed.
"Either help or don't." He snapped. He let out a sigh. "Sorry." He said in a softer tone.
"It's OK."
"Brian." Nick pointed
over to the glass doors that the bellboys were opening.
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