So, I decided to make the TRL scene a little cutesy, but sometimes, though rarely, I enjoy cutesy. The title of SME's song, 'Leave Running To the Track Stars' was also used in Third Times the Charm, and I liked the name a lot so I used it again. I hope to get at least one more update this week before I head to Chicago with some friends next weekend, but with my work schedule, we'll have to see. As always, much love to the reviewers and I hope you continue doing do.
Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue.
Nic ushered everyone into the living room of her and Tommy's house on Tuesday afternoon and stood in front of them. "All right, gang. The show starts in five minutes, so if you need to go to the bathroom before the first commercial break, do it now. While TRL is on, there will be no talking, movement, or loud breathing. No making fun of Spiederman, regardless of what he says and/or does." She glared at Kwest and Tommy as she said this. "And finally, I'm really excited for this, so don't tease, okay?"
"All right, Nic," Tommy honestly agreed. "If you miss him that much, we'll behave."
As usual, the first 15 minutes of TRL were boring, as Damian Fahey just announced music videos and talked MTV news with Suchin Pak. Finally, though, the big moment came.
"Even though they're on a month-long vacation in South Carolina, we were lucky to get these guys to take a short break to come visit, so help me welcome the Spiederman Mind Explosion!" Damian cried as the three boys walked to the stage and picked up their instruments, ready to play their latest hit single, 'Leave Running to the Track Stars.'
Nic couldn't help but smile at the sight of Spiederman, even if he was on the TV. And when he smiled knowingly into the camera, she knew he knew she was watching. The crowd really got into the song and when they finished, they joined Damian in the center of the room.
"So, guys, how's the vacation going so far?" Damian asked.
"It's good," Wally answered. "Real good, right, Spied?"
Spiederman rolled his eyes. "Yes, I'm having an amazing time."
"Well, speaking of your vacation, tabloids have been popping up all over the place with somewhat revealing pictures," Damian reported, looking at the TV monitor behind them which was now flashing photos of Nic and Spiederman from that week, the most recent being of him leading her, both in their swimsuits, down the steps of the yacht on Saturday. "Rumor has it that you're now dating Nic Quincy. Is there any truth to this?"
"There is," Spiederman confirmed. "We met in January when she started emailing me about a plot to reunite her brother and Jude, and even though I was still technically married at the time, we had a definite connection. When we met for the first time a couple Fridays ago, we hit it off and now, I'm in love with her."
"In love?" Damian repeated. "That's pretty fast though, man."
Kyle nodded. "It is, but he is. And so is she."
"Do you see more wedding bells in your future then?" Damian wondered.
"I didn't see them the first time," Spiederman laughed. "To be honest, the marriage to Karma was never supposed to happen; it was a botched publicity stunt on her part that I stupidly agreed to. Now, though, with Nic, I don't know. I guess I could see myself married to her in the near future."
"Near?" Tommy whispered to Kwest. "I hope he means in about four years."
"So, what about you two?" Damian went on, turning to Wally and Kyle. "Any relationships for you?"
Wally shrugged. "Sometimes. There's a girl I date off-and-on in Toronto and we're on one of our breaks right now, but I'm hoping it doesn't last too much longer."
"I'm as single as they come," Kyle admitted. "I like having as many options as possible."
"Now, back to reuniting Jude Harrison and Tom Quincy," Damian said. "How's that going?"
Wally sighed. "Unless something drastic has happened since we left on Sunday, they're barely on speaking terms at this point."
"Just sort of re-breaking the ice," Kyle added. "He's trying and she's guarding herself."
"Which is probably a good thing," Spiederman put in. "She was humiliated when he left, with the pictures and whatnot, so she doesn't need to be giving into his temptations so soon. But, eventually, I'd like to see them together."
Jude, who had strategically seated herself next to Tommy on the couch, discreetly poked him in the leg and smirked all while keeping her eyes on the TV.
"So, before you guys go, you wanna wave to all the fans outside?" Damian asked.
The three boys, as if using only one brain, looked at him. "Can we moon them?" they asked simultaneously.
"No," Damian laughed. "Indecent exposure laws and all."
"Bummer," Spiederman muttered, walking to the window and waving like a maniac at all the people outside. "If I didn't love living in Toronto, I'd live in New York City."
"Your fans here would love that," Damian assured him. "So, guys, thanks for joining us today and we'll now let you get back to your Hilton Head vacation, where you can expect to now be stalked for the rest of the month you're there."
Nic squealed. "Now, they take a car straight to the airport and they'll be back here in like, three hours!"
"Oh, God," Sadie mumbled. "That just means the next few hours with her will be a nightmare."
"I heard that!" Nic called over her shoulder as she went to make sure she was prepared for Spiederman's return.
"I assume she'll be picking them up at the airport then?" Kwest gathered. "Good, cause I didn't miss them too much."
"Well, she did and she's excited," Jude shrugged. "It's either she be excited her boyfriend's back or depressed cause she still knows her ex-husband is lurking around, waiting to strike. And now, having seen that on TV, he's got a new target."
"Well, I'm not worried about Chris," Tommy admitted. "Megan Lords has powerful connections and she's not afraid to use them."
Jude frowned upon the mention of his ex-wife. She'd forgotten about her over the last couple of blissful days with Tommy. Now, remembering she was making a play at him, Jude's heart dropped to her stomach. How could she fight for him if everyone around her wasn't even aware she wanted to fight?
"Karma's not a threat," Kwest stated. "She just wants attention, not Spiederman."
"Good point," Jude agreed. "She should go and marry the father of Anna Nicole Smith's little girl; he still loves attention just as much, if not more."
"Ooh, good one, Jude," Nic complimented, walking back into the room. "I once met Larry Birkhead, at a party in LA, and he actually asked for my phone number. I would've laughed in his face but he had the little girl with him, so I just politely declined."
"What time are you leaving to pick them up?" Tommy asked his sister.
"Its 2:30 now, their plane leaves at 3:15, which means they'll land at about 5:30, so I'll leave at around 4:15 or so," she reported.
"And are you taking him out tonight?" Tommy went on.
She eyed him. "I told you on Sunday that I hate dates, so no. We're just hanging out around here, either in the hot tub or on the beach."
"So if I want to use the hot tub today, I should do it now, huh?" Kwest assumed. "Well, come on, Sadie." He grabbed his girlfriend's hands and led her back to the house next door.
"I'll be in the shower, so if anyone needs anything, come find me," Nic told Tommy and Jude going back upstairs.
"All alone," Jude sighed. "Whatever will we do with the time, Mr. Quincy?"
He leaned into her ear. "I can think of a few things."
Jude kissed him softly, and then put a little more oomph into it. "Like that?"
"It's definitely a time-filler," he nodded, kissing her again. "I love being able to do this and not having to worry about people seeing."
"So long as it's kept a secret just a while longer," Jude agreed.
"Define secret."
Both Tommy and Jude froze as they looked over their shoulders to see Nic, in her robe, smirking at them.
"Uhh, Nic, this isn't what it looks like," Tommy stammered, pulling away from Jude.
Nic rolled her eyes. "You act as though finding the two of you doing this isn't the outcome we've all been hoping for." She paused. "But, if you wish it to remain secret for just a bit, I'll keep my mouth shut."
"Even from Spiederman?" Jude asked warily.
"Oh, my silence will cost you," Nic assured them. "For one thing, it can only last about four days, so do what you've gotta do before then. And as for my reward, well, I'd like our house for myself for those few days, as well."
"If I agree to that, knowing what you'll want it for, clean up after yourselves," Tommy warned. "Other than that, I'm content sleeping in Spiederman's room over there, so long as his sheets are washed first."
At 4:15, Nic climbed into the Range Rover and headed for the Savannah airport, unable to keep a smile off her face the entire time. Being so in love and so fast was so ludicrous for her. She was a cynic with absolutely no belief in things like 'love at first sight,' but something about the childish guitarist was so different that it made her question everything. And for a girl who hated change, she didn't even fight it.
"There's your girlfriend," Kyle teased as the band walked towards security. Nic was far in front of them, wearing her big, black sunglasses, pacing just beyond the metal detectors. "She's waiting for you. Think she'll be mad when she finds out you called Jude and not her?"
"I called Jude to see how Nic was," Spiederman pointed out in exasperation. "And when Jude said Nic was depressed, I knew if I talked to her that I'd give up New York, so I didn't. And if you mention it, I'll kill you."
Wally was still watching Nic. "Well, get ready for a reunion, Spied, cause she just saw you."
Spiederman looked up just in time to see Nic rushing towards him. He dropped his carry-on, opened his arms, and as soon as he was holding onto her, swung her around. When she was back firmly on the ground, he kissed her so long that a security guard had to politely ask them to 'keep moving.'
"Hi," she smiled, breaking away from him momentarily. "How was Manhattan?"
"Who cares?" he murmured, kissing her again as they went up the escalator. "All that matters now is that I'm back with you."
"Puke," Wally gagged.
"Keep joking, Bass Boy, and I won't tell you what Jessica said when Jude called her yesterday," Nic snapped, latching onto Spiederman. Wally immediately shut his mouth. "Uh-huh; that's what I thought," she smirked.
"Well?" Wally demanded, trying to ward off the paparazzi with Kyle. "What did she say?"
Nic sighed and laced her fingers with her boyfriend's while he carried his guitar case in the other hand. "You might want to clean up your room cause she's coming from Thursday to Sunday."
His face lit up. "Really? Jude got her to agree to come?"
"She did," Nic confirmed. "This means that Kyle's been moved to the couch downstairs, Tommy's in Spied's room, and he and Kwest will take apart the bunk beds and make them into one, if you want, before she gets here."
"Where am I sleeping?" Spiederman whined, following her out to where she'd parked.
"With me," she whispered into his ear, tossing Kyle the keys. "I know a secret and the only way I said I'd stay quiet was if you and I could have mine and Tommy's house to ourselves for a few days."
"Can I know this secret?" he wondered.
She shook her head slowly. "Sorry; but it won't stay a secret for long, so no worries."
"Any run-ins with Karma, Chris, or Megan while we were away?" Kyle asked her.
"Not a one," she admitted. "It worries me slightly, especially after your proclamation about us on national TV, so we'll see. I'm not afraid of him anymore, just for him."
Once settled into the Range Rover, Spiederman held Nic's hand tightly and breathed in her cotton candy shampoo. He'd missed it immensely over the last three days, so being back with her was better than any interview or live show.
"What are you thinking about?" she asked him quietly.
"You," he replied, kissing her temple. "Always you."
For a cheesy as that was, Nic's lips curled upwards. "That's sweet; disgusting and lame, but sweet."
"Thanks," he said dryly. "Just being honest."
She tilted her head up to kiss his chin. "I know. I was only joking."
"Is anyone hungry?" Kyle asked. "Cause if not, I'm getting on the highway and I won't stop until we're at the houses."
"Take us home," Spiederman told him. "I just wanna spend time with my girl."