Oreos for Breakfast: Chapter 34

Oreos For Breakfast: Chapter 34
By the Paperbag Princess and Pumpkin Coach

My phone rang and I answered it quickly. I didn't care who it was. I was supposedly sitting here at the table on my bus answering email and stuff, but I was just staring out the windows. We were driving from New York to the venue on Long Island and I was waiting for things to start looking familiar.

I mean, it was just a road. I'd only driven up to Rachel's a couple of times by myself, more worried about getting lost than paying attention to the scenery. The other times, Rachel had driven, and I'd just watched her. We'd talk and laugh about songs on the radio and…

"Nick?"

"Yeah." Did I know this voice? Damnit, had I given out my real number to my hook-up last night? I didn't even know her name. I was in New York, so I had sorta expected to see Cori, but she wasn't around. When a girl bought me a drink at the hotel bar, I didn't have any problem taking her up to my room.

"It's Cori. Remember me?"

"Cori! I was in New York last night. I was looking for you, baby."

I guess I could have called her. But she always appeared when I needed her. Why should I make the effort?

"Were you?" She sounded really happy about that.

"Yeah. You live in New York, right?"

"I was looking for you in Trenton."

"Now, why would I stay in Trenton when I knew I could see you in New York?"

She laughed, and I smiled at the phone. I liked Cori. She was sweet, and really hot in bed. Just what I needed.

"I called you, but you didn't answer… I thought maybe you were hanging out with Paris Hilton."

"That's all just made up by the media, baby. Can't believe everything you read."

"Good. So, um… you're playing the Nassau Coliseum tonight, right?"

"You gonna be there? I really want to see you."

"You do?"

"Absolutely. I'll put you on the list, so you can come backstage. I'm on my way there now."

"Thank you. That's great. When do you go on?"

"Late, I'm closing the show. I think we'll be there in about an hour. Come whenever you want, you can watch sound check and we'll hang out until the show starts."

"Is it okay if I bring some, um, friends?"

"Sure, baby. I'll put you on the list for what… plus two?"

"Perfect. I'll be there around five or so."

I hung up my phone, and called for Vinnie.

"What?" he asked, sitting across from me at the table.

"Cori's coming tonight."

"That hot red head? Does she have friends?"

"Two," I told him, and he high-fived me.

"You two are disgusting," Anna said, throwing an empty water bottle at Vinnie.

"Nick!" a voice called as I was going down the hallway to sound check, and I turned around, expecting Cori.

Was that Cori? Red hair was right, but she was in jeans and a sweater. I liked the little skirts she usually wore.

And who was with her?

"Hey, Cori," I said, stopping so that she could catch up.

"Hi, Nick," she said, giving me a huge smile and leaning in to kiss my cheek. What the hell? "Mom, Dad, this is Nick Carter."

"Pleased to meet you, Nick. Cori can't stop talking about you," her mom said.

I was pretty sure she'd stop talking about me soon. As if on autopilot I smiled at them, shook their hands, and then shot Vinnie a look. Time to work, Vin.

"Sorry, guys, Nick needs to get to sound check. Why don't you go out to the audience and find a great seat? You'll see him onstage in just a minute."

Vinnie was getting really good at this. Ron took them towards the seats, and Vinnie cracked up as soon as they were gone. "Shut up," I said.

"Were those her parents? Dude, I am not getting it on with a mom tonight."

"I didn't know she was bringing her fucking parents!"

Vinnie couldn't say anything, he was laughing so hard, and I just glared at him.

"Nick?" Anna called, coming down the steps from the stage. "We're waiting."

She took in the scene and turned to me. "Is that cute redhead in the front row Cori?"

I just turned my glare to her, as she started giggling. "Are those her parents?" she added.

"Both of you suck," I informed them.

"So, after two one-night stands, it's time to meet the parents? I am totally behind on modern dating etiquette," Anna said as I passed her on the stairs.

"Only because you can't get any," Vinnie said, but Anna just smirked.

"Yeah, who got some in London? And who got dissed by Paris Hilton and all of her friends?"

"Paris didn't dis me," I said. "She wanted to, but I was playing hard to get."

That cracked Anna up.

I hated my friends. I needed real friends. Obviously Anna and Vinnie were just enjoying my pain.

"Both of you suck. Vinnie, get rid of Cori and the family. Tell her I have interviews I forgot about or something. But I don't want to deal with her after I get through with sound check."

"Nick, don't be an asshole," Anna said, and I turned to her.

"You don't know my life, Anna. This is funny to you. It's not funny. She's crazy."

"She's not crazy, superstar. She's just a little crushed out and stupid. I'm not even sure if she's 18." Anna argued.

I'd noticed that she looked a lot younger without all the make-up she usually wore. Shit!

"Great. Even better. So now if I piss her off, she can press charges. Thanks for showing me the bright side, Anna. Vinnie, earn your fucking paycheck and get rid of her."

"What am I supposed to do?" he asked. So much for Vinnie being good at his job.

I pulled out my cell phone and handed it to him. "Call Frank and find out. He'd probably have a restraining order on her by now."

"I'm not doing that, Nick! She's a nice girl!"

"Maybe she is, Vin. But I've dealt with too many crazy ones to stick around and find out."

Vinnie was so fired. And Ron. Frank never would have let Cori within a mile of me again, so why the hell was she in my dressing room an hour before I was supposed to go on stage?

"Nick?" she said, her voice quiet.

She looked like the Cori I knew… little skirt, more make-up. And she was alone.

I glanced around the room. Anna and Jason were playing some video game in the corner. The rest of my band were just talking, getting ready for the show. Vinnie and Ron were probably in the other room having dinner.

There was no one here to help me if she got crazy. "Hey, Cori," I said, and she sat down next to me.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to freak you out by bringing my parents."

"You didn't freak me out." I lied.

"Then why did your friend tell me to leave?"

Fucking Vinnie. I was just happy that he got rid of her. I didn't ask how.

"I'm back, though. I knew you wouldn't want me to really leave. And I brought some other friends, but I couldn't get them passes, because I wasn't on the list any more."

"Then how did you get back here?" I asked.

She showed me her pass. Fucking lousy security at a fucking stupid radio show.

"Is that okay? I promise, we can still have fun tonight." She put her hand on my knee, and I moved away.

"That's okay. We've had a lot of fun already, and I don't want you to think this is something it isn't."

"But…"

Shit. Was she crying?

"You said you liked me. You said I was amazing."

Damnit.

Damnit. I had to stop sleeping with groupies. Usually, it was fine. Everyone understood what was going on. But there was the one percent that was insane, and you never found out until it was too late.

Howie always knew. There'd been a couple of times when we'd be out and he'd pull me aside and just say "Loco, Nicky. Run away."

If I made it through this alive, I had to call Howie. He'd probably be able to tell me what clues I'd missed.

"You are amazing, baby." I said, trying to remain calm. If I could just get her to leave it would be fine. I'd change my cell and make sure she couldn't talk her way backstage again. " Just… not with me any more."

"But I brought friends for Vinnie! He said he likes blondes, and they're really cute. Please, Nick, I…"

"Alright, sweetheart, let's go."

Anna?

Cori looked at me. "Who's this?"

"The woman who's about to give you the best advice of your life, cutie. Let's go," Anna held out her hand, but Cori ignored her.

"Nick, tell her to leave us alone. You want me here."

They both looked at me. Shit.

"Cori, this is Anna, my best friend. I think you should listen to her. She's a smart girl. She knows me."

"I know you too, Nick! I don't need anyone but you. I don't need any advice. I know what I'm doing."

I could tell now that there was no way she was as old as I thought she was. Shit.

"Sacrificing your friends to Vinnie?" Anna's voice interrupted Cori's whining. "Sweetheart, that is a low-down thing to do. Never offer up your friends just so you can get to any guy. Especially this one," she said, pointing at me.

"Hey!" I protested

"He's a dog, and Vinnie's worse. Nick doesn't like you, honey. Sorry to break it to you. He thinks you're hot, and you get him off. The relationship ends there."

"We're just starting…" Cori tried to argue, but Anna cut her off, sitting next to her on the couch.

"Do you not read the papers? He just got out of a very serious relationship. He's incapable of having another relationship now. Give up. Go get your friends, go home and cry on their shoulders. Then go back to school, get a hobby, learn how to play the guitar, something, and learn some self-respect. Don't get all dolled up just to sleep with some washed-up pop star."

I would have yelled at her, but Cori was listening. I'd yell at Anna later.

"He's not…"

"Of course not. He's a great guy. But not for you. Don't be something you're not to impress him. You seemed to be having fun with your parents this afternoon. You're lucky. Enjoy being their kid, enjoy your friends, and stop following this loser around."

"You're leaving, miss," Ron said. When did he get here?

Cori looked at me and I nodded at her, "Cor… I liked hanging out with you, but Anna's right. You need to go now."

"Okay," she said, sitting up straighter, "But you're going to be sorry."

Not likely, but I'd let her think whatever she wanted as long as she left. And she did. She didn't even try to kiss me, she just left, and I looked at Anna. "I think I should be mad at you."

"For what? Getting rid of crazy stalker girl? Thank me, asshole."

I sat next to her on the couch and gave her a huge sloppy kiss, making her squeal and pull away. "Quit it."

"Dude, stop kissing Anna. She doesn't have any friends for me." Vinnie said.

"You're such a dick, Vinnie."

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