Scars [An Exclamation Point Fan Fiction]

PART 16

I walk back to the dressing room and pull out my phone. I decide to call people back home, since it's been a while. First I call Cori.

"Ney Nikki!" She answers.

"Hey Cor! I just saw your message you sent me. I loved it. Thank you!"

"You're welcome Nik. I'm glad you're doing better."

"Me too.."

We talk for a few more minutes and catch up. Cori tells me she started school at the University of Alabama. After we hang up I call Lyle. I'm hoping he's at a band rehearsal so I can talk to everyone.

"Hey hey Nicole!" He answers. Lyle's the only person that calls me by my real name. "You're on speaker!"

"Who else is there?" I ask.

"Everyone!" I hear Connor yell. "We were rehearsing."

"Hey Nikki!" Drew yells.

"Hey guys! I miss y'all! How's it going?"

"We're great we miss you!" Connor says.

"How are you doing?" Lyle asks.

"I'm better. I saw the video y'all sent. I loved it thank you."

"Anything for our little sister!" Drew says.

"Please I'm a month older than you Drew!" I say laughing.

The guys laugh and I can practically see Drew pouting about being the youngest one.

"Hey I'll be right back." Lyle says. I hear a door close and Lyle sighs. "So Nik, you really doing ok?"

"I'm fine Lyle. Seriously. I'm just glad it's over."

"Why didn't you tell us? You know we could've taken care of it, and you."

I sniff. "He hated you Lyle. He would've hurt you guys. I couldn't handle that. Plus he scares-scared- me. I love you guys too much to have y'all deal with that."

There's a pause. "Have you stopped cutting?"

"You knew?"

"I knew from the start. I was just waiting for you to tell me. So have you?"

"I stopped doing it, but I still think about it."

"You know you can call us anytime right?"

"I know." I sigh and listen to the silence. "Well I better get going, the show's already starting."

"Ok I'll take the phone to the guys." The phone makes shuffling noises.

"Bye Nikki miss you!" Connor says.

"Bye Connor love you!"

"Don't I get love too Nik?" Drew says

"Of course Drew! Love you too!"

Lyle's back on the phone.

"Bye Lyle. I miss you and love you too."

"Love ya Nicole, be safe."

I walk out of the dressing room and go find Paul.

"Hey. Have you gone on yet?" I ask.

"No we're next. Where were you?" He asks.

"I called my friends back home. I miss them." I say. I out my arms around Paul and lay my head on his chest. He kisses my head, then puts his chin on my head. He stays like that for a couple seconds, then lets me go and puts both hands on my face. He gently pulls me so I'm looking at him.

"You ok?" He asks.

I nod my head. "Yea just a little emotional." I say. "I'm tired of people feeling sorry for me all the time. I feel like everyone's annoyed with me." I look away.

"No one's annoyed with you. We're all concerned and we want you to feel better." He says. He kisses my forehead. "We love you."

I smile at him and put my hands on his neck. I stand on my toes so I can reach him and I kiss him.

"Danny! Paul! Time to get set up!" A voice yells. We break away and he goes toward the stage.

After the show the producers tell us we've been invited to a movie premire Friday night. The top four will perform on the red carpet. The next morning we rehearse all day. Show time comes and everyone is on stage. The hosts announce who will be going through to next week.

"The first act through is.... Mandy Thompson from the Teens!" Everyone cheersand Mandy walks to the other side of the stage. "The second act through is.... Chris Reynolds from the Young Adults!" Everyone cheers as Chris walks over to join Mandy. The next act through is Jeff Styles from the Over 25's. "There are two acts left, one's staying the other is leaving the competition. It's between Exclamation Point from the Groups, and Jared Barnes from the Teens." I'm backstage waiting. I close my eyes and pray for Danny and Paul. "The last act through to the Top 4 is...." It feels like forever before they finally say "Exclamation Point from the Groups!" Everyone cheers and says a tearful goodbye to Jared.

The next morning Lyndsay and I go shopping for dressed to wear tonight. We're trying onthe dresses we chose, and I look at myself in the mirror. I chose a starpless, red dress, that's a high-low dress. I turn and see the giant bruise on my back, and my chest. My arms look like Dalmations, with all the spots.

"Nikki let me see!" Lyndsay calls, knocking on the door. I open the door slowly. She's in a blue, tight, short, dress. She looks great.

"That dress looks amazing on you!" She says.

"Yours looks better." I say. "I can't find anything that will cover my bruises. I'm just not going tonight." I say closing the door.

"No, you're going." Lyndsay says grabbing the door. "Show people how strong you are." She looks me in the eyes. "Get the dress. You look hot."

I laugh out loud. "Fine. I'll get it." I say.

We buy the dresses and head back to the studio. I hang out with Paul a little before we need to get ready. I curl my hair and put it half up, half down. Lyndsay helps me do my make up- as I try not to flinch- and she even makes the bruises less noticeable with concealer. We're just finished when there's a knock on the door.

"You two almost ready?" Paul asks.

I run to the door, while putting on my black heels, and open it. Paul turns to face me and his jaw drops.