~ A couple of days later ~
 

"That one was great," Mike said through the intercom that let me hear him in the sound booth.

"Thanks. Hey guys I'm starving can we take a break?" I asked my stomach growling for what was the millionth time in the past hour.

"Sure," Mike said before he turned around to talk to my producer.

"Thanks," I mumbled as I took off my headphones and walked to the door.

Needless to say the week wasn't going well. I had pretty much recorded fifteen new songs for my album none of which I was really happy with. Yeah they were all good songs and I liked them all but none of them truly fit what was going on right now in my life. I was walking down the hallway heading outside when I heard a voice that I recognized.

"Steve I'm going. I'm hungry and you can't keep me in here all day."

I smiled to myself as I glanced down at my cell phone which was clipped to my belt. I picked it up and hit my speed dial waiting for the person I was calling to pick up.

"'Ello."

"So Steve isn't gonna keep ya hey," I said with a smile leaning against the wall.

"Hey how'd ya..."

"Come on where ya going Nicky? I wanna come too," I said smiling even more as I watched him stick his head out and look up and down the hallway until he saw me. He smiled and I heard the phone go dead about the time I felt him pick me up in a huge bear hug.

"MICHELLE!!! I didn't know you were here," he said as he sat me down.

I laughed, "Yeah I'm recording out here to get away from Ben for a while."

I watched as his eyebrows furrowed and I felt bad.

"He didn't do anything to me Nick. Honest, I'm fine. We just fight a lot."

"Then why are you with him?"

"Nick you don't know what type of man he is... let's just say he isn't your normal Joe."

"Are any of us?" he asked as we walked out into the crisp LA air.

"We're more normal then he ever will be. Come on I'll drive."

Nick just nodded letting the subject drop and I was glad he did. I wasn't ready to open up to him, and I knew what was holding me back. I didn't want him to see me differently, like I was a freak or something.

"Where we going?" Nick asked breaking though my thoughts.

I shrugged, "I honestly couldn't tell ya. I'm just happy to get away from a mic and recorder for a while."

Nick laughed, "I know what you mean."

 

* * * *
 

We drove around for a while and finally decided to stop at a small cafe not to far from where we were recording our albums at. I watched Michelle eat her salad and soup while trying to eat my own sandwich. Let's just say it didn't work that well.

"What Nick?"

Busted, again.

"Nothing."

"I'm throwing the bull shit card in on that one. This is like the fourth time I've caught you staring at me. Do I have something on my face?" she asked proceeding to rub her face trying to get nothing off of it.

I laughed, "No I was just thinking actually."

"Dangerous pass time," she said with a smile.

"Oh I know." I said with a chuckle.

"Mind if I ask what were you thinking about?"

I sighed not knowing how to cover up the fact that I was thinking of her.

"I was wondering if you were going to make it for Christmas or not."

Her smiled faded and I knew instantly the answer that was coming.
"Nick I don't think I'm going to make it. Ben said something about us spending it in New York together."

I just nodded and looked at my sandwich. It wasn't fair that Ben had such a control over her. I barely got to see her let alone talk to her because of him and now he wasn't even going to let her spend Christmas with her friends or family.

"Nick don't do that. I want to be there I really do... I just..."

"You just what? Michelle what is it that keeps you away from us?"

"You wouldn't understand Nick," she said softly as she hung her head and I instantly felt like an asshole for pressuring her.

"I'm sorry Michelle," I said as I took her hand.

She looked at me and a smile crept on her face.  "It's ok Nick. Look, I'll try again... but no guarantees."

I smiled and nodded, "Ok."

I watched as she took another bite of her food while she stared out the window. I looked at mine and decided that maybe I should concentrate on eating and not on her.

"So what are you in LA at a studio for? I thought you guys were taking a break."

I looked up at her and saw her staring at me.

"Well it's a long story."

"I have all day. I'm not in the mood to go back to the studio… what I'm recording isn't going to make the new album."

"Not good?"

She smiled, "No, just not what I'm looking for at the moment."

I nodded, "Well I'm going to try the solo thing. I'm just not happy anymore Michelle. I mean I love the guys don't get me wrong but I can't really be me because when you work with a group it's pretty much the group's decision and with me being the youngest member what I say is never important."

She looked at me and nodded, "I've never been in that situation but I understand what you're saying and Nick in all honesty you have to do what's going to make you happy."

I smiled, finally feeling better that I was able to talk to someone about it who wouldn't judge me.

"I don't feel that I can tell the guys the real reason that I'm doing this…"

"What did you tell them when you made the decision to go solo?"

I looked at her and instantly felt bad, "I didn't tell them. They have no clue what I'm doing right now."

I watched as her eyes got wide and then she smiled, "Shock factor," she said giggling. "Even if you didn't tell them yet they're going to find out. I suggest you tell them soon."

"I will," I said with a sigh. "I will."

We were pretty much quiet the rest of lunch and on the way back to the studio. We said goodbye and I couldn't help but wonder what was on her mind and what she really thought about my going solo idea.


 

* * * *

~ A couple of weeks later ~
 

Liz sighed softly as she walked the busy mall in LA. She already had a few bags in her hands filled with Christmas presents for people but she had hardly scratched the surface of the long list of people she had to shop for. After a few more minutes of shopping she glanced at her watch and decided that it was time to grab a bite to eat. She headed for the food court shifting her purse on her shoulder so she wouldn't drop it.

The ringing of her cell phone caught her ear as she got into line at a nice little place in the food court for a quick bite to eat. She dug her cell phone out and clicked it on balancing it between her chin and shoulder as she readjusted her purse and bags.

"Hello," she said cheerfully into the phone.

"Hey girlie!" the voice answered on the other end. "How's everything in LA?"

"Great. Recording is going good. How's New York Shell?"

"Cold. But what is to be expected right?"

Liz let out a small giggle, "Hey hold on a sec," she said while ordering her food.

"Where are you at?"

"The mall. I figured I could get some of my Christmas shopping done while I was out here."

"Mike is ok with that?"

Liz laughed again as she handed the clerk at the register her money, "Yes. He had a meeting this morning so I don't have to be at the studio until later this evening."

"Oh, well I have to go. Ben just got home. I'll talk to you later."

"Sounds like a plan, bye," Liz said as she clicked her phone off.

Liz stood at the counter lightly tapping her foot while waiting for her food when all of a sudden she felt these arms wrap around her waist.

"Boo!"

"What the..." Liz nearly screamed as she turned around to see who was standing behind her. "AJ I swear next time you do that I'm going to kick your ass!" she said while holding her chest where her heart was at.

"Sorry," he replied sheepishly.

"So what brings you to the mall?" Liz asked while the clerk behind the counter handed her her food.

"Trying to get a few ideas for Christmas for everyone," he answered staring at her. "What brings you to LA?"

"I'm adding a few vocals to some of Michelle's new tracks, so I decided to hit the mall for some quick Christmas shopping."

"What? Michelle's recording in LA?" AJ asked dumbfounded as he followed Liz to a nearby table.

"Only a few of her tracks are being recorded and produced here. I think she did that to get away from Ben for a little while," Liz said taking a bite of her food.

"I thought everything was better between them, I mean since Thanksgiving that is."

"Oh everything is fine from what Shell has told me. I think she just wanted to record these few songs without him here. He can be very insecure... sort of... I guess you could say selfish when it comes to certain songs."

AJ gave Liz a weird look, "So he's really controlling is what you're trying to get at."

"In a way, yeah, I guess you could say that," Liz said nodding her head with a smile.

AJ smiled as he watched Liz finish her food. He couldn't help but be struck by her beauty. She was dressed in a pair of jeans and a baby tee with her long blonde hair pulled back into a pony tail but she still managed to take his breathe away. He just didn't know how to tell her. Ever since the day he met her he wasn't able to get enough of her and talking to her about once a week on the phone wasn't cutting it with him. He just didn't have any ideas of how she felt or if he should even tell her how he felt.

"Hey you want to walk with me and keep me company while I shop?" Liz asked hopefully. "I mean you could help me with some ideas and I can give you some."

AJ grinned loving the sound of her idea. "I would love to. Besides if I don't start now I never will. Which would mean I'd show up to Nick's house on Christmas Eve with nothing and would look like a complete idiot."

Liz laughed causing AJ's heart to skip a beat, "I hate to say this but you look like an idiot everyday."

AJ smiled, "Hey I resent that," he said pushing her lightly.

Liz smiled and pushed him back only to be caught by him. AJ pulled her close and she just leaned into him as they walked around the mall laughing and talking the afternoon away.

 

~ A few hours later~
 

"Thanks for helping me shop for everyone," AJ said as he helped Liz place her bags into her car.

"No problem. Thanks for keeping a girl company for an afternoon."

"It's not a problem when the company is fun and beautiful," AJ said causing Liz to blush.

"Thanks," Liz said quietly as she looked at the ground as AJ shut the trunk to her car.

AJ walked up to her and lifted her chin with his right index finger so she was looking at him. "You're welcome," he said quietly letting his gaze fall from her eyes to her lips and back.

Liz watched him feeling butterflies start to swarm in her stomach wondering what he was going to do next.

"I really had fun today," AJ said softly bringing his lips closer to hers.

"Me too," Liz said right before AJ's mouth captured hers in a tender kiss.
Liz's eyes fluttered shut as she returned the kiss. AJ pulled back and looked at her with a soft smile.

"I'll talk to you later," he said as he gathered his bags.

"Sure," Liz said still a little stunned from the kiss. She watched as AJ walked away with his bags in his hands. Liz watched him as him leave before she convinced herself to tear her eyes away from him to look at her watch. "SHIT! I'm gonna be late!" she silently cursed as she hopped into her car and took off heading for the studio.