* * * *
 

"Hey what's on your mind?"

I looked up from my pool side lounge chair to see Liz standing before me dressed in a purple bikini with a towel wrapped around her waist. I shrugged watching as she sat in the empty chair beside me.

"Want to talk about it?"

"What's there to talk about?" I asked not sure what was really bothering me but only knowing that it dealt with Michelle and something she said last night during her performance.

I knew Liz was looking at me trying to figure out what was on my mind but how in the world was I supposed to tell her if I didn't truly know?

"Nick I know it has to do with Michelle. Just spill it already."

I smiled trying not to laugh at the down right bluntness that Liz just showed. It was a definite that she was Michelle's best friend.

"I guess it's just..." I was at a lost for words, "I guess... I guess that I was just taken aback a little last night. I never knew that the events of that day touched her deeper than what anyone knew."

"No one did. Marissa didn't even know and you know she grew up with her down in Florida. I think the only people who truly knew was Courtney and myself and the only reason why we found out was because we were in New York helping her move that day," Liz said placing a hand softly on my knee.

I looked down at my hands not knowing what to say. "Liz, I want to help her so much," I replied looking up at her, "I just wish she would let me into her life."

Liz let out a sigh and looked out across the pool for a moment before returning her attention back to me, "Look Nick, I know that your feelings for her are more than just friendship. I think we all do but right now what Michelle needs from you is your friendship. If something is going to happen it will."

I nodded understanding what Liz was saying wishing that there was more that I could do for her.

"Michelle has had her share of troubles, probably more than she would want to share with anyone," Liz said softly, "Nick you've only seen the first few layers of her soul and if you have fallen for her this fast," she looked at me before she finished, "Then you truly are her soul mate and she has to realize that herself."

I looked at her and smiled. I knew what I felt was exactly what Liz knew and I guess I could say I was in love with Michelle, but if I only knew the surface what was going to happen when I reached deep down into her soul? I guess I would just fall deeper in love with her, at least that was what Liz was implying and I had to agree with her. We sat in complete silence; it wasn't an uncomfortable silence but a soothing one.

 

* * * *
 

~A week later~
 

I sighed as I pulled up to the studio where my new music video was going to be filmed. It was really early in the morning and I wasn't looking forward to starting the new project. Literally my life had been a huge whirl wind since the concert on the 20th and I will never understand what exactly happened at that concert. Two days afterwards, my album went to the highest status that an album could go plus my single shot and has stayed number one on all the billboard charts and on TRL.

"We're here Miss Michelle," I heard Steve say as he opened the car door to the van and climbed out.

I let out a sigh as I went to find Joseph Kahn to discuss the concept of my new single's video.

"Five in the freakin morning is too early to be up doing a video shoot," I mumbled to myself walking through the crowds of workers that were brought in to work on the set.

"Michelle! Just the girl I wanted to see!"

I turned to see Joseph walking up to me. I smiled as he got closer, "Actually you're just the man I was looking for."

"Is that so?" he asked giving me a hug.

"Yeah I wanted to go over a few ideas with you for the video before I actually went into wardrobe and makeup," I said as we started walking to where his stuff was set up.

"Ok. You know I'm always up for ideas. Let's hear them."

"Well," I started off leaning against the wall of the sound stage we were using for the video, "I think that the video should start out with a fight or something between me and the boyfriend. I think it would add to the song."

Joseph smiled, "You know for the past two days I was thinking the same thing. I really didn't like the story line that your record label pitched to me either. I was planning on changing it too."

I laughed, "OMG! I didn't like it either. I have been racking my brain ever since we decided this was going to be my next single on what the hell I could for the video. I swear the single will go no where with the concept that they pitched."

"They should just leave the concepts up to either the directors or the singers themselves. I mean between the two there can be some really cool concepts."

I nodded knowing what he was talking about. I was hoping to put out one more single from this album which probably was going to be a little redundant but I know that it's going to be a least another six months before my next album will even be ready to be released.

"So, what do you think we should do?" Joseph asked pulling me out of my own little world.

"I was thinking that it should start out with a fight between me and my boyfriend. Something along the lines as I'm not gonna take his shit anymore. Then have it zoom into one of my eyes like it's going into my mind and you see all the shit I've ever done for the guy and how he never respected any of it."

"Ewwww... I like that idea. Its way better than the one that I was thinking of," he said smiling. "And I think we could pull it off."

"That's good because when I recorded the song that was what I envisioned. You know really this song fits my life so well," I said with a laugh.

"Is that so? What has some guy treated you wrong?"

"Yeah. It sucks, but you get used to it after awhile."

"Now why would a guy treat you wrong Star? You are such a sweet caring person," Joseph said looking at me.

I shrugged. To tell the truth I have no clue why guys always treated me like shit but they did.

"Well I guess I'll let you go get your hair and make-up done. The costumes are here too for you to look at. We have three days to shoot this and MTV should be here in an hour for the "Making the Video" shoot."

I nodded, "Thanks Joseph. I'll see you in an hour then."
He nodded and started to walk off so he could find the set designer so he could throw the new idea at him.

* * * *

~Four Days Later~

"I can't believe the tour is now over," Liz said with a soft sigh.

"I can. It always goes by much faster then you anticipate," Michelle said laying her head down on Liz's shoulder.

We were sitting on a plane heading to Florida and I couldn't help but hear what Liz and Michelle were talking about beings I was sitting with Brian behind them.

"Want to talk about it?" Liz whispered.

"Not really," Michelle said standing and moving so she was sitting next to Kevin.

Kevin accepted her with open arms and she snuggled closer in his embrace. Over the last couple months Kevin opened up to Michelle and was like her older brother. Whenever something was on Michelle's mind or she just needed time to think it was right into his arms with her. I couldn't help but feel a little bit jealous. Kevin had become her rock.

Something I wanted to be.

"Have you told her?"

I looked over at Brian and shook my head. "Not yet. I don't know how she would take it if I told her I really liked her more than a friend right now."

"I think you should just take it one day at a time. Your heart will tell you when to tell her."

I jumped a little to see Liz peering over the back of her seat at me and Brian.

"Scared ya, didn't I?" she said with a giggle.

I nodded with a grin, "Yeah don't do it again."

We looked over at Kevin who was whispering something to Michelle. It appeared that she was crying but none of us could tell. Michelle had been fighting something deep within herself ever since we did the concert for New York. When I sat down and put two and two together I just figured she hadn't fully healed with her losses from that awful day. I watched as Kevin played the big brother yet again. I know she didn't say anything to him but somehow they had a connection and he just knew what to say to her. Sometimes he wouldn't even say anything at all and that was all that she needed.

"Nick, I want to tell you something but you can't say a word to anyone else," Liz said pulling me out of my thoughts and my gaze and Michelle and Kevin.

"What?" I asked wondering what Liz had to tell me.

"I won't say anything," Brian said and Liz nodded.

"Michelle would kill me if she knew I was telling you this but you need to know. Nick you mean so much more to her than any one of us here. She doesn't let you in because she's scared. She's been hurt by more guys then you'll ever know about. She's been abused in every possible way and has had everything taken away from her by them. I hope that little bit of information helps you in your decision. One day you will be the one she runs too. And that Nick, will be the day that you need to tell her how you feel."

I watched as Liz turned back around in her seat placing her headphones on her head. I looked at Brian who was in just as much shock as I was. What happened to Michelle? That was all that was running through my mind.
 
Shortly after Liz told us one of Michelle's many secrets we landed and we went our separate ways. Michelle promised she'd call with her plans for Christmas but she wasn't guaranteeing that she was going to make it back down to Florida for the holidays. It was a sad day for all of us beings Michelle was only going to be here for two days, long enough to go see her parents, then she was flying back with Liz and Courtney to New York then to Colorado. Riss actually stayed with Howie. They seemed to be getting closer and closer and I knew it was only a little bit longer before they officially became a couple. I just wish I could have the confidence that Howie did at the moment. At least he knew that Riss liked him back just as much as he liked her.