A/N: This chapter is basically a filler chapter, it's short and kinda just fluff. I think the next chapter will be my last, but I will have a sequal, so R&R!!

Chapter 11: Play With Fire

After the concert and the meet and greet, everyone went back to the hotel. Tomorrow was their day of rest and they wouldn't get back on the road until the day after. Nate and Cori were taking a walk outside the hotel, walking hand in hand. Cori shivered against the cold night and without a word, Nate slipped off his hoody and placed it over her shoulders. Cori smiled. "Thanks." Cori stopped walking and looked up at the starless sky. Nate stopped as well and followed her gaze.

"What are you looking at?"

"I was hoping to see stars, but I forgot that we're in the city. If there's one thing I don't like about the city, it's you can't see the stars." Nate nodded.

"There is a full moon though." Cori looked back up at the sky and smiled.

"You always find the positive." Nate wrapped his arm around her waist and they continued walking. Cori yawned and rested her head on Nate's shoulder.

"Tired?" Cori nodded. "Alright, let's get you back to your room." They made it back to the elevator and Cori leaned up against the side. By the time they hit their floor she was half asleep. "Come on, we're almost there." Cori groaned and Nate laughed. He scooped her up in his arms and carried her toward her room.

He knocked with his foot and Mitchie opened the door, awing at the two. Nate laid Cori down on her bed. He pushed the hair from her face and kissed her forehead. "Night Cori." Cori was already fast asleep, so Nate went back to his room. The next morning Cori awoke in her bed. She sat up and looked over at Mitchie, who was sitting on her bed writing.

"How did I get here?" Cori asked. Mitchie looked over at her and smiled.

"Nate."

"We were walking and I was tired, I can't remember anything after getting in the elevator. Weird."

"You probably fell asleep. Nate carried you in here, tucked you in and everything. It was so cute." Cori smiled and pushed herself off the bed. She took a shower, then put on a tank-top and pair of lounge pants and sat back down on her bed.

"So do you have anything planned for today?" Mitchie shrugged.

"Shane's taking me somewhere, but that's not till tonight. You wanna do something?"

"Yeah, got any ideas?" Mitchie opened her mouth to say something, but there was a knock on the door. Cori got up and opened the door. Nate, Shane, and Jason stood there in their swimsuits each holding a towel.

"Do you and Mitchie wanna come to the pool with us?" Nate asked. Cori looked back into the room.

"Hey Mitch, wanna go swimming?" Mitchie got off the bed and walked up behind Cori. She was still wearing her sports bra and short-shorts, from her morning work out.

"Sure." Shane was gawking at Mitchie.

"We'll change and meet you at the pool. And Shane…"

"Huh?" He asked without removing his eyes from Mitchie's body or closing his mouth.

"You're gonna catch a fly." Shane closed his mouth then blushed slightly and turned to his brothers.

"Let's go guys!" Cori shut the door and they changed into their swimsuits. They went down to the pool, which was completely empty except for Jason, Shane, and Nate, who hadn't even got into the pool yet.

"Hey boys." Mitchie said as her and Cori walked up to the three, who were putting their stuff down on a table. Both Cori and Mitchie had decided to wear their one-piece swimsuit so they wouldn't be mauled by Nate and Shane.

"Hey." Nate said smiling. "You guys changed quick." Cori nodded.

"How's the water?" Nate shrugged.

"Let's see." Cori dipped her toe into the pool and pulled it out. "Ooh. It's cold." Jason ran up and jumped in, splashing water all over Cori. "Hey!" Cori said as Jason resurfaced.

"Oh, it's not that cold you big baby." Nate laughed as Cori dipped her foot in and pulled it back out.

"Yes it is." Nate snuck up behind Cori and pushed her in un-expectantly. Mitchie and Shane had gone around to the shallow end and were slowly making their way in. Cori came up coughing. "That's not nice!" Nate just laughed harder until he realized that Cori was getting out of the pool and coming toward him.

"What are you doing?"

"Give me a hug!" Cori said. Nate ran halfway around the pool.

"You're not supposed to run!" He yelled back to Cori. Cori ignored him, but the next step she took she slipped and fell backwards on her butt. Nate covered his mouth to hide his laughter.

"Are you okay?" He said through his soft laughter. Cori nodded and attempted to stand up, but slipped again. Nate laughed and walked up to her. "Need help?" Cori took Nate's outstretched hand and Nate pulled her up into his arms. They stared at each other for a moment before it was ruined when Shane yelled.

"PDA!" Cori blushed and pulled away from Nate's grasp. She smiled mischievously at Nate.

"What?" He asked. Cori shoved him into the water. Nate came up a moment later gasping for breath. "Hey!"

"Play with fire you're gonna get burned." Cori said matter-a-factly. Nate pouted and Cori cannonballed into the water, splashing more water on Nate. Nate tried to grab her before she came up for air, but his gasp slipped. Cori swam a few feet out of reach and resurfaced. "Ha. Missed me." She teased.

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Cori sat on the window seat, with her back against the wall and her knees pulled to her chest, staring up into the night sky. Mitchie was off on her date with Shane, Jason was down in the lobby talking with his girlfriend over a payphone, and she wasn't sure where Nate was, but she wasn't thinking about any of that. She was thinking about Tara. Tara was staying in a separate hotel room with Paul and Denise. Paul and Denise had basically become Tara's parents, Cori's as well, but they really treated Tara like their own daughter. Cori smiled, for the last few months she had been genuinely happy for the first time in years and she didn't think it would ever end. At least she hoped it wouldn't. Someone knocked on the door, but Cori continued to look up at the sky.

"Come in." Not wanting to have to get up, Cori had left the door open a little. Nate joined her on the window seat, sitting across from her. After a moment of watching her look at the sky, Nate spoke up.

"What are you thinking?" Cori took her eyes off the window and looked at Nate, smiling broadly.

"Nothing, I'm just so happy." Nate smiled.

"Well, seeing as you're in a good mood, I have a question for you." Cori nodded, motioning him to continue. Nate's gaze drifted down to his hands. "We've uh… been like going out for a while and everything, and uh…" Cori knew Nate only stuttered like that when he was really nervous, either something really bad or really good was about to happen. Cori was hoping for the latter. Nate looked up into her eyes and gained some confidence. "I want to make it official." Nate slipped the purity ring off his finger, holding it his palm, stretching it toward Cori. "Courtney Rene Mead, will you be my girlfriend?"

Cori nodded happily and Nate slipped the ring onto the index finger of her left hand, since it was too big for her ring finger. Cori got up on her knees and placed a light kiss on Nate's lips. She wrapped her fingers around his belt loops and pulled him off the window seat. They fell back on Cori's bed lying face to face. Nate toyed with a stray lock of her hair and they talked until Cori snuggled into Nate's chest and fell asleep, feeling safe, secure, and happy.

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Mitchie and Shane walked quietly down the hall of the hotel. It was three in the morning and they were just returning from their date. They stood outside Mitchie's hotel room. "I really had a good time tonight." Shane said.

"Me too." Mitchie replied. Shane kissed her and Mitchie was just about to go into the room, when Jason popped up out of nowhere.

"Have either of you seen Nate? I went back to the room and he wasn't there. Mitchie and Shane both shook their heads and Mitchie opened the room door.

"I'll see if Cori knows where he is." Mitchie disappeared into the room, leaving Jason and Shane in the hallway. "I found him." Mitchie whispered from inside the room a moment later. Jason and Shane walked in behind her. Nate was asleep with his arm wrapped around Cori who was also asleep. The three weren't sure what to think of the situation. Yeah Cori and Nate were asleep in the same bed alone in a hotel room, but Nate had a purity ring, he wouldn't break his promise.

All three noticed at the same time that Nate's ring was missing. They turned to each other. "Oh. My. God." They said in unison, then turned back and looked at the couple, trying to figure out what happened. They were both fully dressed and were lying on top of the covers, so maybe it was just a misunderstanding.

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Nate woke up to the sound of whispering voices. He opened his eyes and vaguely made out the figures of Jason, Shane, and Mitchie. It was still dark out and the only light was coming in from the open hotel door. "Hey guys." He said, not fully realizing the situation at first. The whispering ceased and all three pairs of eyes looked at him. After a few moments, it hit him. He was lying on a bed in a dark hotel room with his girlfriend and his purity ring was missing.

"Dude, what are you doing in here?" A voice he recognized as Jason asked. Nate sat up and was about to say something when the word 'girlfriend' distracted him. Cori's my girlfriend. He thought happily as a smile spread across his face. Then he realized a goofy smile was probably not the best way to answer that question in this situation. (Think about it for a moment, I'm sure it'll come to you if it hasn't already.)

"It's not what it looks like." Nate finally answered.

"Uh-huh. Where's you purity ring." Shane asked. You could tell by his tone, Shane was contemplating how much time he would do for first-degree murder. He was always such a drama king, with the strangest thoughts.

"We were talking and must've fallen asleep. Cori's wearing my ring." Just then, Cori rolled over on her back, squinting at the figures that were standing by her feet.

"What's going on?" She glanced over at Nate, who was still on the bed with her. "Oh. It's not…"

"We know." Jason said cutting her off. "Come on Nate." Nate kissed Cori's forehead and left the room with his brothers. Mitchie changed quickly and sat down on her bed.

"So, you have Nate's ring."

"Yeah." Cori answered, smiling with her voice.

"I remember when Shane gave me his ring." Mitchie said, already drifting off into sleep. "Best day ever." She said dreamily and with that both girls fell asleep.

It's short i know, but review please! i should have my next chapter up soon.