CHAPTER 37

Holly ran to open the door when she heard the light knock. She didn't try to conceal her disappointment when she saw Tristan standing there.

"Oh…" she muttered, sighing. She turned and walked back into the suite.

"Thanks, Hol. Nice to see you again, too." Tristan shut the door behind her and followed her friend into the living area.

"Sorry." Holly flopped down into a chair. "I thought maybe it was…"

"Nick?" Tristan finished.

Holly looked at Tristan with a puzzled expression. "Yeah…."

"Last I saw he was getting into the elevator. That was after the little rumble we had in the hallway." Tristan pulled her legs up under herself as she found a place on the sofa. "You want to tell me why he thinks you went down on J.C.?"

"Shit!" Holly spat. She jumped up from the chair and began walking in little circles around the coffee table. "I can't believe he said something to you about that!"

"Oh, he thinks I know all about it!" Tristan exclaimed. "He was pissed and we fell into one of those runaway conversations - if you want to call it a conversation." Tristan went on to replay the incident for Holly's benefit. "It really turned into a party when Kevin showed up. He heard the last part of Nick's rant and blew up. Carlos and Billy had to pull them apart!"

"Damn….I'm sorry, Tris. Did this cause any trouble between you and Kevin? You seem a little upset."

Tristan hesitated before she answered. The was no reason for Holly to feel guilty because Kevin had been cruel.

"Kevin and I…well,…he said some mean things, but they had nothing to do with you or Nick. They were about us."

Holly's eyes darkened. "What did he say?" She wasn't being nosy, just concerned.

"I'm not going to talk about that, Hol. It still stings." Tristan smiled sadly and then took a deep breath.

"Tristan…." Holly sat down on the other end of the sofa. "I feel like I'm going crazy." She confided. She told Tristan about her confession to Nick and how things had gone off topic and out of hand. "I feel like I'm being punished or something. I'm suffocating. Does that make any sense or do I sound like I'm nuts?"

Tristan understood perfectly. She had felt hassled and in the way - one more thing for Kevin to worry about. He needn't have worried about her but she knew that he always did. And now his cruel comments had pushed her insecurities back to the surface of her soul. His temper and impatience had collided with his obsession for privacy and Tristan had gotten the fallout. She suspected that the shit would hit the fan again when Kevin found out about Holly's father, especially considering that Tristan knew about his relationship with Lou Perleman, Johnny Wright and 'NSync. She's just as soon wait to discuss this with him after he cooled off.

“Tristan?” Holly had grabbed her knee and was shaking it, trying to get her attention. “Did you hear me?”

Tristan’s stream on consciousness ground to a halt.

“Ye…yes, Holly. I heard you.”

Tristan got up and walked over to the large window. Down on the street were at least seventy-five fans ranging from the pre-pubescent to the mature woman. All of them were waiting for a kind word or a smile from their favorite Backstreet Boy. She had to smile at the irony. She was waiting for the same thing. She turned back to her friend.

“I don’t think you’re crazy, Holly. I understand what you’re saying.” Tristan crossed her arms and turned back to the window. “Do you want to get out of here, Hol?”

“Do you mean - leave?” Holly asked Tristan’s back.

“Yes. That’s what I mean.”

“As in ‘I’m leaving you forever?’” Holly’s voice was squeaking.

Tristan shook her head. “No. I mean as in ‘We need a little break.’”

“When?”

“Today.”

“Where?”

“How about Kentucky? You’ve never seen our home. We can rent a car and drive - take our time and stop along the way.”

“Do you mean it?” Holly’s voice had developed a touch of excitement.

“I mean it.” Tristan turned to look at Holly again. She looked a little like a fifth grader about to go on a field trip to an amusement park. “I have some things to tie up first. You call the desk and arrange for a car.”

“I have to talk to Nick.”

“Of course. I have to talk to Mason and then Amanda and Leigh. We have to visit an old friend.”

“Lily?” Holly asked.

“Yes. I’m pretty sure that mess will be wrapped up today.”

Holly noted that Tristan didn’t seem particularly excited or triumphant about Lily’s upcoming downfall. She seemed….tired. She was aware that Tristan had left one person off of her ‘things to do’ list. Tristan had started moving across the room towards the door.

“What about Kevin?”

Tristan stopped but didn’t turn around.

“I doubt that I’ll be able to reach Kevin. He’s pretty much tied up for the rest of the day - meetings and stuff. You know - business.” Then she added. “You’d better go find Nick before the group meeting starts. And Holly, just pack a small bag. I have plenty of clothes at the house.” Tristan gave her a smile, opened the door and left.

Holly noticed that it was a rather piss-poor smile.

“I swear to God! That dumb bitch broke so easy! It kinda ruined my fun, to tell you the truth.” Amanda snuffed out her cigarette and pulled another from the pack.

The bookkeeper had been forthcoming when Amanda had threatened defamation and conspiracy charges. Of course Amanda hadn’t known what she was talking about. She had pretended to be Mr. Richardson’s lawyer. Most of her dialog and all of her legal expertise had been culled from the reruns of LA Law. She had been convincing, playing both ‘good cop’ and ‘bad cop’ with aplomb. When Miss Dunning had begun to whimper and panic over the phone, Amanda began to visualize a trio of Emmy’s surrounding an Oscar on her mantelpiece. She smiled recalling her improvised lines. ‘I’ll do my best to keep your name out of this, Miss Dunning, but only if you tell me the truth right now! If this goes to court, you’ll be called as a witness. I can’t promise you anything then. It will be too late to bargain. Do you understand?’

Amanda grinned. The empty threat had worked. Jane Dunning had admitted that Lily had paid her $2500.00 just to leave a message on Kevin’s answering machine. Easy money.

“Where’s Lily now?” Tristan asked Leighanne. It had been Leigh’s job to keep tabs on Lily so she could be confronted when all the information came together.

“She and Nina went down to the hotel restaurant for a cup of tea about fifteen minutes ago..” Leighanne said, looking at her watch.

Tristan let out a long, slow breath. “Are we ready?” she asked, looking back and forth between the two women.

“Hell yes!” Leighanne shouted.

Amanda cracked up and choked on her cigarette smoke. “Damn. Leigh! I think you’re really gettin’ into this! I’d say we both do pretty well at the ‘acting’ thing.” She paused and cocked her head towards Leighanne. “Hey, why don’t you get me a walk-on or something in that ‘Olive Oil’ movie you’re doin’?”

Leighanne looked disgusted and rolled her eyes, but she wasn’t taking the bait. Even Amanda couldn’t get to her today. The three women stood as one and headed for the restaurant.

Holly had been watching Nick from the door that opened onto the roof of the hotel. She figured he’d be up here. There was no place else where he could be alone. It was like a little park up here. Small trees grew out of planters. There were a few scattered benches and even a grape arbor. Nick sat alone on one of the benches. He checked his watch occasionally and after a few moments stood up and began to pace. He didn’t hear Holly approaching from behind.

“Nick?”

Nick jumped, startled at the sound of her voice. When he whirled around to face her, Holly could see that the rims of his eyes were red. He turned his back to her again and wiped his nose.

“Tristan told me what happened.” Holly spoke quietly. She saw Nick nod but he still didn’t speak. “She said that Kevin got into it, too.”

Nick nodded again. “Yeah. He got a little perturbed when I started screaming at Tris about givin’ head. He tends to be a little sensitive about things like that.” Nick tried to force a chuckle, but it fell flat.

“Nick…”

“”Look Holly!” His voice rose. “I have no right to pass judgement on you and what you did or who you did it with before we got together. I know that the day of the virgin is over, but…”

“Nick!” Holly interrupted. “I didn’t go down on J.C.”

She watched him turn his head to his shoulder as if he were straining to hear.

“What?”

“I said that I didn’t have sex with J.C. Chasez - oral or otherwise.”

Nick turned around slowly. His face was serious and somewhat resigned.

“Don't bullshit me, Holly. Please. Tristan told me that she knew about it.” Nick put his hands in his pockets and looked at the tarmac. He felt hurt that Holly was playing him for a fool.

Holly was becoming exasperated - she didn’t seem to be getting through to him. Nick had already decided exactly what had happened and his mind was set. Once again, he turned his back to her.

“God dammit, Nick! You are being such a bone-head!” Nick glanced back over his shoulder, frowning, but Holly wasn’t about to give up the floor. Her mouth shifted into overdrive. “You listen to me, Nikolas Gene! You’re already late for an important meeting, so I’m gonna try and make this short and sweet. Tristan didn’t know anything about J.C. because there was nothing to know. What she did know about was ‘Nsync and my fathers relationship with them. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about! I never said that I’d done anything with J.C., either. You jumped to that conclusion! What I did do and certainly regret is ask you if blow-jobs constituted sex. I was being sarcastic. Not that it’s any of your damn business, but I was only with one guy before you. One! That was my sophomore year at Juilliard. Three fucking years ago, Nick! Now you’ve gone and stirred up trouble between us, between you and Tris, between you and Kev and between Tris and Kev. Before it’s all over, there will probably be trouble between me and Kev. I don’t know what’s going exactly between Tris and Kevin - she won’t say - but I do know that she’s leaving the tour and she’s leaving in a few hours!” Holly paused before finishing her thoughts. “I’m going with her.”

Nick’s expression shifted from serious to panicked.

“You’re leaving me?” He whispered, shaking his head in disbelief.

“No. Nick. I’m not leaving you. I’m leaving the tour. We need a little break. We’ve been together almost constantly since September. Under normal circumstances, that would be great but with tour schedules and pressures, it’s just too much. Things are starting to wind down and you guys are tired. Tris and I are going to Kentucky. We’ll see you in a couple of weeks. Now go to your meeting. Tell everyone about my father and try to get it straight with Kevin so I don’t have to.” She turned to the door.

“But Hol…” Nick had started towards her but stopped when she began to speak again.

“Don’t Nick. I know that this was a misunderstanding and I hope we’ll get past it. I need to get away from busses and hotels for awhile. Now go - you’re late.” Holly attempted a small smile.

Nick nodded, trying to give her the space that he really didn’t want her to have.

“I love you, Holly.” He declared simply. His voice cracked a little on the words.

“I know, baby. I love you, too.”

Nick stood alone and watched the roof door close behind her.

Tristan, Leighanne and Amanda stood in the door of the darkened restaurant, glancing around the dining room. Most of the tables were empty at this hour but back in a corner, almost hidden by a potted palm. Amanda spotted Lily and Nina.

“Look,” she whispered. “There’s the mother-not-to-be over there.”

Tristan followed Amanda’s nod and smiled. Everything had been set up for the turkey shoot except for the turkey, but there she was. The turkey was sipping tea and laughing contentedly. The great march began with General Tristan out in front and her two captains close behind. Lily was sitting at the side of the table but Nina saw the approaching army. Her eyes grew wide but Lily hadn’t noticed. She was too self absorbed in talking about herself.

Tristan locked eyes with Nina and nodded towards the door. The dancer swallowed, rose from her seat and beat a path to the exit. Lily, of course, didn’t know what was happening until she spotted the posse standing nearby.

“What the fuck do you bitches want?” Lily snarled at the three women.

There was no need for a pretense of sweetness since none of the guys were with them.

Tristan took the seat opposite Lily and Amanda and Leighanne followed suit taking the chairs on either side.

“Well, gee!” Lily gushed. “Did you girls remember to bring the cards? We could play some bridge. Tristan, you can be the dummy…”

“Shut up, Lily.” Tristan said evenly. “You shut your mouth and listen for a change. I’m tired of playing games with you.”

“You gonna beat me up again, Tristan? My, that was just so feminine!”

“Don’t talk to me about feminine, Lily. If you insist on flapping those lips, at least talk about something that you’re an expert in like manipulation and lying.”

“Ooooh, Tris! You’re gonna hurt my feelings! How about I talk about sex instead? I’m an expert in that. Just ask Kevvy.” Lily smiled triumphantly.

Tristan felt herself bristle. She couldn’t let herself get diverted but Kevin’s earlier arrogance danced around her brain. She had to force herself back to the matter at hand.

“How about we talk instead about how to fake a pregnancy, you emotional blackmailing skank!”

Lily squirmed in her seat and then forced a laugh. “Did Kev tell you it wasn’t true? That I’m faking it? Jesus, Tristan…don’t tell me that you fell for that one!”

Tristan was beginning to feel a little like Rocky Balboa. She lacked experience in these mind-game standoffs but she had truth on her side. Lily was shrewd enough to capably deny the truth - if she had time to think. Tristan had to hit her fast and hard with the big guns - now.

“Listen to me, Lily and listen well. Holly and Leighanne took a trip to Orlando…”

“So?” Lily was cocky. She had covered those bases.

“So…. your blood type on the doctor’s records doesn’t match the blood type listed on corporate medical records.”

Lily lifted her glass and took a sip of water Fuck! “Clerical error.” She remarked calmly.

“I heard you in the restroom at the venue a couple of nights ago. A woman there gave you a tampon.”

“You’re lying. You weren’t even there.” Lily was starting to fidget.

“Oh yes I was, Lily. I even have a witness," Tristan countered, remembering the cleaning lady.

“All of that means nothing! Maybe I was bleeding a little because you knocked me down and hurt me! I could have lost the baby you know!”

Lily knew that she’s made a mistake as soon as she’d said it. She was screwing up. Tristan’s eyes looked as if they were on fire as they bore down on her. Even Amanda and Leighanne were shocked at Lily’s stupidity. Tristan had never really spoken about the loss of their baby girl but they suspected that the miscarriage continued to weigh on her heart - and on Kevin’s.

“Don’t you ever speak to me about losing a baby until you have one to lose.” Tristan virtually growled. “Lily, you are a conniving, lying, psychotic and cruel slut and there is a Jane Dunning in Dr. Marcos’ office who’s willing to confirm that. She entered a medical history into their records and made a call to Kevin. We can easily get a photocopy of the check you paid her with. Twenty-five hundred dollars, right?"

Lily paled and, for once, seemed to be at a loss for words. Finally, she grasped at a straw.

“You probably scared the bitch, didn’t you? She’ll say anything. It’s still just her word against mine.”

“We know that you paid her with a cashier's check.” Amanda cut in. “And we know that your signature is not on that check, but there are ways to trace the buyer, Lily.”

“And it will be traced if you’re brought up on defamation charges.” Tristan continued. "If you want to go through that humiliation, Lily - fine. But you can believe that you’ll be thoroughly examined by an independent doctor and when it's all over, you're going to stink to high heaven. I doubt you’ll ever work in the business again and every man in this hemisphere will be afraid to even look at you. The papers will have a field day.”

Lily could see no escape. She chewed on her lip.

"Did you already tell Kevin about all of this….evidence?" She asked. Her eyes darted towards the door as if she expected him to come roaring into the room.

"No." Tristan answered. "You're going to tell him."

Lily laughed angrily. "Uh…I don't think so…"

"Oh, I think so…" Tristan replied. "I didn't tell him because I don't want to see him arrested on assault charges, Lily."

Lily swallowed again. Her hands were actually trembling when she lifted her napkin to dab at the perspiration that had formed on her upper lip. She had understood Tristan's drift. Tristan reached into her bag and brought out a sheet of her pale pink stationary and an envelope and pen.

"You're going to write Kevin a letter, Lily, and you're going to tell him the truth…."

"He's still gonna come after me!" Lily said nervously.

"He's in a meeting now." Tristan explained. "And you're going to be on a plane out of here before he sees this letter.

"A plane to where?" Lily showed her ass again and played her stand-by trump card. "You can't force me out of work, Tristan. I'd have to go to court myself if that happened and I'm sure you don't want the details of my and Kevin's relationship made public."

Tristan laughed confidently. She knew that Lily had threatened to call in attorneys before.

"But no one is forcing you out of work, Lily honey! You'll be in Branson, Missouri by 10 PM and tomorrow morning you'll have your pick of three different jobs - all exciting, glamorous and befitting a woman of your excellent taste and sophistication."

"A choice of jobs? Where?" Lily asked suspiciously.

"Well, let's see - you can dance for the Osmond Brothers - not Donnie, of course, or Roy Clark - you remember Hee Haw?, or Tony Orlando. Hey, I hear he's lost weight!"

"You've got to be kidding…" Lily hissed.

"Do I look like I'm kidding?" Tristan's eyes had narrowed and her face was hard. "NOW WRITE!" she screamed, pushing the paper and pen across the table. Several faces looked in their direction.

After ten minutes Lily folded the paper and slid it into the envelope. Tristan looked at her watch.

"A cab is coming for you in fifty minutes, Lily, so I'd get a move on if I were you." Tristan pulled a long envelope out of her purse. "Here's your plane ticket and the number of the agent in Branson. Your hotel confirmation is in here. Your bill is paid for one week in advance. Cab fare and cash for incidentals is also in the envelope. Now, I want you to get your shit together and get in that cab. I never want to see you again, Lily." Tristan took a breath before adding her final eight words. "Because if I do, I may kill you myself…"

Lily rose slowly from the chair, unable to meet the eyes of the women at the table. They watched her as she wobbled out of the room, defeated at last.

Tristan picked up the pale pink envelope at stared at it for several seconds in silence. Then, unable to contain her emotions any longer, she broke down, sobbing uncontrollably with long overdue relief for herself, but especially for Kevin.

Ding, dong, the witch was dead.

Email Grace

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