A few more hours had passed on the bus. They were getting much closer to New York City, so everyone was up and alert. Caitlin had gotten up off the couch she was resting on, and she headed towards the back of the bus. She was shocked to see Nick sitting there all by himself. Caitlin was hesitant at first; she wasn't sure if he wanted to be alone, or if he needed some one to talk to.
"Hey Caitlin! Your up!" Nick said. He put on a smile, but some how Caitlin could see past it.
"Yeah, I'm up! Riding on a bus for over seven hours can make a person tired, huh?" She said, while yawning.Nick laughed and he patted the seat next to him. Caitlin sat down in that seat.
"Yeah, that is the only bad part about touring. We spend countless hours on this bus! " Nick said."Is that the only bad thing about touring?" Caitlin asked softly.
Nick looked at her. His eyes wondering how she knew? He didn't care that she knew. He needed to tell someone about it."I guess I am leaving something out. My girlfriend Mandy broke up with me." Nick said softly.
Caitlin looked at him sadly."Why?" She said. She knew the real answer but she wanted to hear it from him.
"Because of touring! She said it wasn't fair. But, she tours too! She models, ya know? She tours all over." Nick said.Caitlin sat their silent for a few minutes. She listened to him tell her everything that upset him. How hurt he was, how he thought he was in love. Caitlin tried to understand. She was only 16; she herself has never been in love. But she listened anyway.
"Nick! I know you are 18 and I am 16. And I know that you are more experienced when it comes to this type of thing. But if she broke up with you because of something you love to do, then she wasn't the right one for you. I really only got to know you today, and I already know that you have a big heart. There is enough room in there for your music and for love. If she can't handle that, then she wasn't the right one. You probably thought she was the one, your heart probably felt complete, right?" Caitlin asked."Yeah. My heart felt whole!" Nick answered.
"It felt whole because she just filled it. That was all she did for you. She just covered up the emptiness in your heart. If someone truly loves someone else, that emptiness stays covered. She covered it only temporarily." Caitlin said.Nick honestly was blown away by what Caitlin was saying to him. She made so much sense to him.
"Thank you so much, Caitlin! You totally made me see what happened. You may not think you know a lot about this stuff, but you do. You REALLY do!" Nick said.He reached out to her, and he hugged her. Caitlin smiled. She felt glad that she could help him.
"Well, I'm glad I could help! I hope we become friends." Caitlin said. Nick smiled at her."Are you kidding? I have a feeling we are going to become great friends!" Nick said. ******************************************************
Lynn and Brian were sitting up with the other's in the kitchen area of the bus. Brian was taking this time to get to know her."So Lynn…tell me about yourself!" Brian said.
"Well, my name is Lynn Foster. I am 23 years old. I just graduated college." Lynn said."Really? What was your major?" Brian asked.
"Well, I wanted to become a doctor." Lynn said."Woah! So we have a doctor on tour with us?" Brian asked. He was impressed.
Lynn began to laugh. She hadn't finished her sentence."I wanted to become a doctor. However, I am only a medical assistant." She said laughing.
Brian joined in laughing with her."That is ok! That's better than nothing, right?" Brian asked.
"Of course it is!" She said.Brian was completely taken a back by her. He really was beginning to like her. In a way, she reminded him of Caitlin. Lynn had the same charisma, the same light in her eyes. Lynn was 5'7; she had shoulder length dirty blonde hair. She had big blue eyes. Everything he liked in a girl. And she was sitting right in front of him *********************************************
Finally the bus pulled up in front of the plaza hotel. Everyone got out, grabbed their luggage, and headed towards the doors. Once inside the rooms were assigned. Kevin got his own room; A.J. and Howie roomed together. Nick and Brian roomed together. Also, Caitlin and Lynn roomed together.Lynn and Caitlin had gone to their room and fell onto the beds. Both of them were exhausted. But, they heard a knock on the door. Caitlin jumped to open it. She looked threw the peephole and saw Nick and Brian.
"Hey guys! Gosh, ya miss us already?" Caitlin said smiling."Yup! We just couldn't stay away." Nick said as he punched Caitlin lightly on the arm.
"Hey Lynn!" Brian said.Lynn smiled. Brian walked over to her and they began talking.
"So when is the first show?" Caitlin asked Nick."Well, tomorrow we do a sound check. You go on stage, and run threw your whole thing. You'll meet your back up dancers, and a they'll find a lighting set up for you." Nick said.
Caitlin had a look of excitement, and nervousness on her face."Wow! I can't believe this is actually happening to me. I hope I can do this." She said.
Nick placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. She had helped him threw his problem, and if she needed him for her problem, he was going to be their. He could tell she might have a bit of stage fright."Caitlin, you're going to be great! I was listening to 'Release Your Heart' on my disk man, it is an awesome song." Nick said.
"Thanks! I've just never been in front of a huge crowd before. But, there is a first time for everything, right?" She asked. Nick smiled."Defiantly! Well, let me pull Brian away from Lynn. I'll let you get to sleep. Your gonna want your rest. Bri...B...ROK... BRIAN THOMAS LITTRELL!" Nick yelled.
Caitlin held onto Nick's shoulder. She was laughing so hard, she could barely stand. Brian looked over to Nick."What do you want?" Brian said.
"It's getting late! Caitlin needs her rest! Come on!" Nick said. Brian gave Lynn a smile."Goodnight Lynn! I'll see you tomorrow." Brian said.
"See ya later Brian." She said.Brian and Nick left the room. Caitlin looked over at Lynn and gave him a questioning look. Caitlin laughed.
"So...you and the 'short southerner' seem to be getting along well!" Caitlin said. Lynn laughed at her."His name is Brian Thomas Littrell!" Lynn said.
"I knew that! I'm just checking to make sure that you knew that too." Caitlin said."Well, Brian's friend is cute don't you think?" Lynn asked Caitlin.
"Who Nick? Yeah...why do you say? Caitlin said."No reason! You just look nice together." Lynn said.
"Well, Nick and I are just friends. Besides, his girlfriend just broke up with him." Caitlin said."Oh! Well, I bet you by the end of the summer, he will like you more then a friend." Lynn said.
"Whatever! Now let's go to sleep." Caitlin said. ***************************************************Brian and Nick both were talking in their room. Nick had noticed the way Brian was looking at Lynn.
"You like Lynn don't you?" Nick asked."What? Get real!" Brian said.
"Brian, I have known you for five years. I know when you like someone." Nick said."Ok, fine! She is pretty, and nice, and funny, and sweet." Brian said.
"See! I knew it." Nick said.Brian walked over to his bed by the window.
"What about you and Caitlin?" Brian asked."What do you mean?" Nick said.
"I heard you two talking on the bus. I heard you about Mandy. Maybe Caitlin is the one for you?" Brian said."Brian! Caitlin and I are just friends." Nick said.
"Right, just friends!" Brian said laughing.Nick walked over to his bed by the door. He threw a pillow over to Brian smacking him on the head.
"Thanks! I needed that." Brian said.He placed the pillow underneath his head. Nick and Brian both began laughing. They shut off the lights and went to bed.