Finally, the day Caitlin had been anticipating, and secretly dreading came. It all happened so fast. She was actually sitting in her own personal dressing room. It even had her name on the outside of the door. Caitlin nervously sat in the make-up chair. Her legs were bouncing, and she was chewing down on her nails.
"Sweetie! I have to apply your lipstick! Your gonna have no nail left!" The woman said nicely."Huh? Oh, sorry!" Caitlin said. She removed her finger from her mouth.
When the make-up artist was done, Caitlin went over her stage notes. She took in all the information she could. Lynn had come into the dressing room to wish her luck."Hey Caitlin! Well, this is it. In 30 minutes, you are gonna be out their! I've got first row!" Lynn said.
"Lynn! I don't think I can do this! I am so scared." Caitlin admitted."Caitlin, honey! Your gonna be great! You know it, and I know it! Just relax, ok?" Lynn said.
Caitlin nodded. Lynn gave Caitlin one last hug and then left to head to her seat. Caitlin watched as Lynn left. She listened as she heard the stage manager call and warn her of the time she had left. Caitlin broke into a nervous sweat and ran out into the girl's bathroom.Nick and the guys just finished doing their prayer and chant. Nick looked around and noticed that Caitlin wasn't there with them. Actually, all the guys noticed.
"Nick? Where is Caitlin?" Kevin asked."I don't know! But, she has to be on stage in 15 minutes." Nick said.
"Maybe she is in her dressing room." Brian said."I'll go check!" Nick said.
He quickly walked down the hallway until he reached the door with Caitlin's name on it. He softly knocked, but when know one answered he let himself in. Caitlin was not in her dressing room. Nick walked back towards the rest of the guys."Is she in her dressing room?" Howie asked.
"No! She isn't! I don't know where she is." Nick said.Brian gave it some serious thought. He remember Lynn saying something to Brian about how when Caitlin gets nervous, she hides in bathrooms.
"Go check the bathroom, Nick!" Brian said."The Bathroom? The girls bathroom?" Nick asked nervously.
"Yeah! Just go do it!" Brian said.Nick mumbled some words under his breath, and headed down the long hallway one more time. He came to the bathrooms. He hesitated as he stared at the 'Woman's sign'. But he opened the door, and swiftly entered. He didn't see any sign of anyone. He looked under all the stalls, until he saw one of Caitlin's perfectly manicured nails under the stall. Nick got down on his knees, and peeked under the stall.
"Um……is their room for one more?" Nick asked sweetly.Caitlin was surprised to see that Nick had come to look for her. She was so embarrassed that she was letting her nerves get the best of her. Nick forced his 6'1 frame threw the small opening under the stall. Caitlin moved over so he could sit next to her.
"Your nervous, aren't you?" Nick asked.Caitlin tightened her high ponytail, and she fiddled with the lace on her Nike shoes. She didn't want to admit that she was nervous, but she couldn't hide it.
"How did you guess? It's written all over my face isn't it?" Caitlin asked while smiling."Well, your hands are shaking! You look pale, and you were supposed to be at the stage 10 minutes ago." Nick said.
Caitlin put her head in her hands and let out a sigh."How am I gonna get through this, Nick? There are so many people out there!" She said.
"Caitlin, your gonna be great! Just pretend you are singing for us like you did during rehearsal. How about I stand in the corner of the stage. If you get nervous, just turn and look at me. I'll be right in the corner! I promise." Nick said.Caitlin looked down at the tiled bathroom floor. She thought about her options, and she didn't have many. Nick was right; she knew her dance cold. She had to prove to herself she could do it.
"Ok! Let's get this show on the road!" Caitlin said. She stood up and brushed off her track pants, and her halter-top. She reached her hand out to Nick, and he took it."And now, ladies and gentleman! Sit back and get ready to move to the addictive sound of CAITLIN!" Screamed the announcer.
This was it. Caitlin ran out onto the stage with her dancers right behind her. Nick took his place in the corner, as he promised. Caitlin took a deep breath, and then started to dance to the music.Release your heart to me Tell me what's inside You don't know what's been done to me Or how much there is to hide Maybe there's a story hiding In between your lies Why you left me home and crying Too hard to say goodbye If I knew Why you act And seem the way you do Maybe I could help you out Start giving me a clue And now I wonder What I could have done To have prevented all this crying shame To have kept us from having us to blame You have got to trust in me Before I trust in you I'm still young Baby, tell me what to do You must release your heart to me So I can learn where to start Mending broken feelings Chasing away the dark Release your heart to me Tell me what to do I need to know, honey Where I need to go But you're still hurting me Deep beyond my skin Honey, please, tell me Where do I begin? And I wonder what Just I need to say to you I think I need instructions I think I need a clue
As the song ended Caitlin waited to hear the reaction of the crowd. She heard a sound that she was going to have to get used to from now on. This sound was mind blowing. It was applause. She smiled, and stared at Lynn who was grinning at her. Nick was off in the corner, just like he had promised. She thanked her audience and then ran off stage. She ran into the arms of Nick."OH MY GOD!" She screamed.
"Oh my god is right! You were amazing out there!" Nick said. He hugged her tightly."Nick! Thank you so much! I wouldn't have been able to get threw this without you." She said.
Nick just smiled and hugged her again. All the guys came over and hugged her. They were all very proud of her. The crowd was still hyped and excited, all due to Caitlin's performance."Now Caitlin, you got to do something for me!" Nick said.
"Ok! What is that?" She asked, still king of out of breath from her performance.Nick put on a sly grin.
"If I look in this corner when I am out on stage, I better see you're behind sitting on this stool! I get a little nervous myself." Nick said. While smiling."Yeah sure ya do!" Caitlin said.
"I mean it! If I don't see your lazy behind in this stool, there will be major hell to pay!" Nick said triumphantly.Caitlin saluted him.
"Yes sir! My butt will be placed firmly on this stool, sir!" Caitlin said.Nick laughed at her. He loved how she was so fun loving, and carefree. She reminded him of himself, and of Aaron, his little brother. Caitlin kept her promise and for the rest of the concert she sat and viewed it from the stool on the corner of the stage.