We've Only Just Begun

Part 12 - One More Chance

I woke up the next morning around 9. My eyes were stinging and my face was all puffy. My hand started aching so I reached for my pain killers on my night stand and took two of them. Then I remembered what happened last night and I instantly started crying again. I really wish I wasn't such an emotional person, it made me look weak, and I don't want that. 

Spending last night without Nath was hard. The whole "never go to bed angry" saying is really telling. I sat in bed for a couple minutes and thought about what I wanted to do about all of this. When I made up my mind, I wiped my face and made my way to Nathan's room.

I knocked on the door. "Come in." He said. He sounded sad. I cracked the door and peeked in. His eyes grew wide, I guess he wasn't expecting it to be me. 

"Hey..." I sighed. 

"Hi." He said. He looked down at his hands.

I walked in and shut the door behind me.

"I know I said I wanted space but that's going to be impossible with us living AND working together." I told him. "I guess I just meant I needed space romantically from you, but not having you with me last night was the worst--"

"I know we barely know each other." He interrupted. "But neither of us can deny that we're not attached to each other already. And if you had two boys coming after you in one day I'd be upset too..." He said. 

"I'm open to pretty much anything, just tell me how we can make this situation better so we don't have to go through it again." I replied.

"Well Charlotte's gone, she won't be coming back. And Dionne's back in the UK..." He trailed off.

"Is there anyone, ANYONE else, that I should be worried about?" I asked. I could see his face starting to light back up.

"Not at all, babe." He said with a hesitant smile.

"Nathan I swear to God if something like this happens again..." I didn't even finish my sentence. I didn't want to.

"It wont." He said. He grabbed my face with both hands and kissed me softly. "I'm so sorry that you had to go through it in the first place." He pulled me down onto the bed with him and held me.

"I can't believe I've only been here for four days and all of this has happened." I laughed, shaking my head in disbelief. 

"Me neither. And you don't deserve that." He said back to me. 

"I don't know why I acted the way I did last night, Siva and Ollie both told me how you felt about Charlotte. Deep down I knew you didn't have feelings for her, that it was just her coming on to you. I guess the fact that both of these girls came after you in one day...I broke my hand...saw you kissing another girl..." I couldn't finish my thoughts, everything was coming out scattered. I held back my tears and took a deep breath. "I was just stressed about all of it and I cracked under the pressure." I told him. I started drawing circles on his chest with my index finger. 

He squeezed me. "You don't have to explain yourself, love. I understand." He replied.

I sighed and hugged his waist. "I guess I'm just not used to this lifestyle."

"We start work tomorrow, maybe that'll help." He said.

"That's true...OH that reminds me! I need to call Scooter." I said. I jumped up and ran to my room to call him and Nathan followed.

We talked for about five minutes. The boys were going to be staying in LA for a couple months recording for the next album, promoting the album by going on a few talk shows; Ellen being one of them, and doing a few local shows here and there to keep the fans from going crazy. 

"All you have to do is be there and make sure they don't say or do anything stupid." Scooter told me. "I'll pop in here and there to make sure everything's going well." 

"Sounds great. I can't wait to get started." I replied.

"Tomorrow you'll be going with them to the studio. If they're not in the booth recording you HAVE to make sure they're getting some writing done and not goofing around."

"Got it." I said.

"I've gotten a few texts from the guys, they seem to really like you. I hope you stick around." He told me, I could hear the smile in his voice.

"Oh I think I will." I replied with a laugh.

"Alright. Have a good one. Call me if you need anything!"

"Okay Scooter, thanks!" I said. And I hung up.

I looked up and smiled at Nath. "You're going to the studio tomorrow to record." I told him.

"I know." He laughed.

"What?! How do you know all these things before I do? And why don't you tell me?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"Abbey, have you forgotten what you've been through these past few days?" He asked me with raised eyebrows.

"Oh yeah." I uncrossed my arms and slumped over. 

He laughed and walked over to me. "Why don't you get dressed and we'll all go do something fun on our last day off." 

"That sounds amazing. I feel like I haven't even seen LA at all." I smiled up at him. "I'm gonna go shower." 

"Alright I'll go tell the lads." He said. He bent down to kiss my forehead then walked out of the room.

I smiled and got ready for my shower. I was glad to be back to normal with Nath, though I was still on edge about the situation and would be for a while. I just hoped with all of my heart that I didn't have a day like yesterday ever again.