Demi
"Are you okay?"
I looked up and smiled at Tim who had a concerned expression, "Fine, just a lot on my mind."
He nodded, "Just push it away, let the music take over. That's what I do when I'm stressed out."
"Easier said then done."
We were on set of Good Morning America about to perform the song for the first time. Nicko would've been here, but he had a doctor's appointment with his mom so I made him go to that with her. I was excited to see people's reactions, but trying to act like I wasn't worried about Nicko was difficult. I kept getting sidetracked and missing cues for my lyrics. This wasn't like me.
"Guys you're on in two minutes." A producer called out.
"C'mon Dems." Tim said, touching my shoulder, "Just get lost in the music. It's all gonna be fine."
I took a deep, cleansing breath, and nodded, gripping my microphone tighter, "I'll be fine. I just want to get out there."
"Live in thirty!" The producer began the countdown and we took our places, Tim in the middle of the stage while I waited in the wings for my cue to come onstage.
"And now, to sing his new single, here is Labrinth with Beneath Your Beautiful featuring Demi Lovato!"
I closed my eyes for a second as Tim began to sing.
"You tell all the boys no, makes you feel good, yeah. I know you're out of my league, but that won't scare me, away, ohhh no. You've carried on so long, you couldn't stop if you tried it. You've built your walls so high, that no one could climb it... But I'm gonna try. Would you let me, see beneath your beautiful?"
The audience screamed as he sang the words beautifully, working the crowd and touching girl's cheeks as he serenaded them.
"Would let me, see beneath your perfect? Take it off now girl, take it off now girl, I wanna see inside. Would you let, me, see beneath your beautiful, tonight?"
I slowly walked out onto the stage over to him, smiling as he grabbed my waist. Gently, I pushed his chest away, smiling as I played the part we'd rehearsed.
"You let all the girls go, make you feel good, don't it? Behind your broadway show, I heard a boy say 'please don't hurt me'." I stepped closer as he tugged my waist again and sang into the microphone softly, "You've carried on so long, you couldn't stop if you tried it... You built your walls so high, that no one could climb it, but I'm gonna try. Would you let, me, see beneath your beneath your beautiful? Would you let, me, see beneath your perfect? Take it off now boy, take it off now boy, I wanna see inside. Would you let, me, see beneath your beautiful, tonight?"
The audience clapped as I finished my verse and together we did various vocal runs before breaking into the bridge together, parting to sing to the audience, "I'm gonna climb atop your ivory tower. I'll hold your hand and then we'll jump right out." He suddenly held me from behind and swayed us together as I struggled to not change my facial expression. "We'll be falling, falling, but that's okay..."
I stopped singing as Tim spun me to face him cupping my cheek lightly, "I'll be right here, I just wanna know... Would you let, me, see beneath your beautiful? Would you let, me, see beneath your perfect? Take it off now girl, take it off now girl, would you let, me, see beneath your beautiful tonight? Noah, tonight. We ain't perfect, no we ain't perfect."
Finally the song ended and Tim smiled widely, hugging me tightly and kissing my cheek as the audience clapped loudly.
"Wow!" Robin Roberts came over and hugged both of us, "That was absolutely amazing!" She glanced into the camera with a knowing expression, "Looks like Nicko has some competition!"
I rolled my eyes a bit and shook my head but saw Tim raise his eyebrows and shrug, "Hey, I'm not afraid of a little friendly competition!"
The audience "Ooooo'd" and I shook my head, "I'm very happy with my life right now."
Tim just laughed, "She don't know what she's missing."
~*~
I thought Nicko would call after my performance, but he didn't. A part of me was hurt, because I wanted to know what he thought, but I wasn't exactly surprised. Between his mom, and what Tim had said, I didn't know if I wanted to talk to him. So, I was quiet on the plane ride back to LA. We were doing a ton of promotion for the single and Tim and I had interviews o do at radio stations, starting with Ryan Seacrest. When I got back to the apartment, it just felt cold and empty without Nicko. I hadn't realized how much I actually missed him until I was finally alone. I kept looking for him or listening for him but the silence and the emptiness made my heart hurt. Randomly, I would burst into tears and have to pull myself together. Since Mia was staying with Nicko and his mom I had nothing to do, so I mostly just tried to distract myself with crime shows and writing. Nicko wasn't answering my calls, so I stopped trying and cried all over again every time I picked up the phone but it didn't show any new messages. Finally, around ten, he facetimed me, and I couldn't wipe the smile off of my face.
"Hi Nik."
Nicko was obviously in bed, his eyes squinting at the bright phone screen, "Hey baby. You did great today."
I smiled, wiping my nose, "Thanks, sorry about the last part, I don't know what he was doing it wasn't rehearsed."
He shrugged, "Don't worry about it, the audience ate it up."
I bit my lip, examining his face, "I miss you."
"I miss you too babe, a lot. It feels weird sleeping alone."
I sighed, closing my eyes, "I know. The apartment is so empty without you."
"Have you been crying?"
I sighed, "Is it that obvious?"
Nicko tilted his head and furrowed his brow, "Babe this is just temporary. I'll be back soon."
"I know that. It's just... We were finally good. We were finally a family, all of us together. We just can't catch a break."
He pulled in his bottom lip, "I can get a full time nurse for my mom, and come home."
"No." I was shaking my head before he even finished speaking, "I want you to be with your mom right now."
Nicko took a deep breath, "Once my mom is out of the hospital and I can get her a live-in nurse it'll be easier. I miss you a lot though baby... Life doesn't feel right without you."
I sniffled and wiped at my eyes, "I hate this. Why does this happen to us? I don't understand why we can't just be happy."
Nicko sighed, "Dems, I'm gonna come there. I'll take a plane tonight and the red-eye tomorrow morning."
I shook my head, "Baby that's too much flying. Just stay with your mom, she needs you."
He lowered his eyes, "But I need you."
"Stay in New York." I whispered, "We'll figure this out."
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-Rachel
