Kelsey walked out of the bathroom a little bit later to see Nick laying on her bed, looking at a magazine. He didn’t move to look at her, he just cut his eyes over at her, smiled, and looked back at the magazine. Kelsey just kind of froze, looking at him until she walked over, grabbing a scrunchie to pull her hair back with.

“Watcha reading?”

“This magazine, uhhh Country something. There’s a article about you.”

“Weekly?”

“Yeah. Didn’t know you wanted to be a fashion designer.”

“Ugh.” Kelsey said as she started to laugh, “Yeah. I did, when I was little.”

“This is whack. This article doesn’t even sound like you.” Nick said as Kelsey walked over, turning her TV on and grabbing the remote and then crawled up on the bed, turning the TV to CMT.

“I know it doesn’t. I didn’t like it really.” Kelsey said when “Amazed” by Lonestar came on.

“I like this song.”

“You’re really scaring me with this country fondness here.” Kelsey said as she looked at him.

“Yo, this is a pop song too thank you very much.” Nick said as Kelsey rolled her eyes, “Damn chick in a bubble bath.”

“That’s what I just took.” Kelsey said as Nick cut his eyes over at her, “Opps, sorry to not inform you.”

“Damn.” Nick said as Kelsey started to laugh, “Next time inform me.”

“Yeah.” Kelsey said as Nick laughed a little, “You’re on my side of the bed.”

“Oh, excuse me.” Nick said as he started to crawl over her and then stopped, looking at her, “You gonna move?”

“Dunno, kinda like this.” Kelsey said as she started to laugh and then moved over so that he was on the left and she was on the right, “So like at the concert, do you want a seat because I have three seats in the front if you want to sit out there. Rachel is going to sit out there some during my part of the show.”

“I’ll just follow her around then. That’ll be cool. I’m sure it will get on her nerves.” Nick said as Kelsey started to laugh, “For some reason, I like picking at her.”

“Yeah she’s fun to pick at.”

“So I’ll do that. When’s that video come out?”

“What video?”

“The one I was in.”

“Hmm January 7th I think. I gotta go on that show again.” Kelsey said, “January 7th I think. Cuz right after that we’ve got to fly back to LA.”

“Dude, so do I. The AMA’s?”

“Yeah.”

“Dude, Kevin and I are presenting.”

“I’m presenting too.” Kelsey said, “I don’t know with who yet, but I am.”

“Well damn sweet. Maybe you can be my date.” Nick said as he looked over at Kelsey and Kelsey looked over at him.

“You think?”

“Why, already got one?” Nick asked as Kelsey started to laugh at him, “What?”

“I don’t have a date.” Kelsey said, “Besides Rachel and David.”

“Well you can be my date.”

“No, you can be MY date.”

“Fuck it, we’ll be each others date. How’s that?”

“Sounds good to me.” Kelsey said as she looked back at the TV and Nick looked back at the magazine. Kelsey sat there looking at the TV, until she reached up, turning the TV off, “I’m tired.”

“Go to sleep.”

“Well I can’t when someone has the light on, reading a magazine.”

“Well excuse me.” Nick said as he turned the light off and put the magazine up, “Happy now?”

“Why thank you.” Kelsey said as she got under the covers, “Night.”

“No goodnight kiss?”

“Ugh.” Kelsey said as she sat back up and gave him a little kiss on the cheek, “There. Goodnight.”

“Night.” Nick said as he sat there looking around while being wide awake.

The next morning, Kelsey, Nick, and Rachel got up early and got dressed so that they could head over to the arena and Kelsey could rehearse. A few of the people in her band were a little bit confused, especially Joelynn and Samantha who were both in shock, but didn’t even say anything to Kelsey.

Kelsey rehearsed her set which lasted until after lunch that day. Nick, Rachel, and David sat out watching her most of the time and Kelsey kept messing up when she noticed Nick looking at her, so finally Rachel told him to close his eyes. He kept peeking out and finally she put her hands over his eyes so Kelsey wouldn’t be messing up.

After rehearsing, Kelsey had just enough time to go and change for the press conference with Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, and Rascal Flatts, announcing the tour. She just kind of sat there not saying anything because she’d never did anything like that before.

Finally when someone asked her a question, they asked did she have a boyfriend and her only reply was “Maybe.” which led David to laugh at Nick in the back. Nick in return punched him in the arm and Rachel had to stand inbetween them.

After the press conference, they had a little time to relax before Kelsey had to go rehearse the closing number with Tim, Faith Hill, Sara Evans, and Rascal Flatts. That lasted until about 8 that night because they had to get everybody’s parts organized and then rehearse it a few times. That’s when Kelsey found out that at midnight, everybody would be coming out onstage for the countdown and they could bring their wife or husband or boyfriend or girlfriend out on stage with them.

After they finished rehearsing, Kelsey, Rachel, and Nick went back to Kelsey’s apartment and Kelsey went to sleep, leaving Rachel to be in her room going over some papers, and Nick watching TV alone. Not that he cared, because he fell asleep on the sofa not long after they got back.

“I dare you to ask her.”

“I am not.”

“Ask her Joey.” Samantha said the next day as they stood up on the stage while Kelsey was standing over on the side, talking to Rachel while Nick was sitting out in the seats talking with David and Tim.

“I’m not asking her that.” Joey said as leaned over to Samantha, “You.”

“You’re the blunt one.” Samantha said, “It’s her business.”

“Yo, we’re her friends. We have a right to know ya know.”

“See you want to know. Ask her.”

“I am not.” Joey said as she stood there, “Fine, okay.”

“Good.” Samantha said as she put her hands in her pockets and Kelsey started to walk over to them.

“So Kelsey.” Joey said as Kelsey looked at her.

“Oh I know what your asking. I was waiting for it yesterday.” Kelsey said, “Didn’t you get the memo?”

“What memo?” Samantha asked.

“Nick and I are getting married.” Kelsey said as Samantha and Joey’s eyes shot out of their head.

“WHAT?!?!?!!?” they both screamed while everybody in the arena turned around and looked at them.

“Shit, shut up girl.” Joey said as she hit Samantha on the arm.

“I’m joking. Damn. He wanted to see the concert, so he came here.”

“Where’s he staying?” Joey asked as Kelsey looked around, “With you?”

“Yeah.”

“Uh huh.” Joey said as she looked over at Samantha, “You see that.”

“Uh huh.” Samantha said as Kelsey rolled her eyes at the both of them.

“Uh huh.” Kelsey said, “So are we set on what we are gonna do tonight?”

“Damn skippy.” Joey said as Kelsey looked over at her, giving her a weird look, “What?”

“Just can’t rehearse it with Nick out here.” Kelsey said as she looked over her shoulder.

“Well we know the words by heart.” Samantha said, “We really don’t need to rehearse it. We’ve rehearsed it thousands of times.”

“Yeah I know.” Kelsey said, “Okay, sweet. Now let’s rehearse.”

“Okay.” Samantha said as Kelsey walked away from them and she looked over at Joey.

“Yeah, they’re dating.” Joey said as Samantha started giggling.

“Blah blah blah why am I nervous?” Kelsey said backstage about 10 minutes before she had to go on stage. She was pacing back and forth and the others just stood there watching her.

“Oh would someone slap some damn sense into her.” Joey said as Rachel started to laugh.

“Kelsey just calm down.” Nick said as Kelsey looked over at him, “Yeah I said calm down.”

“Fine.” Kelsey said as she took a deep breath, “I’m not calm.”

“Is she like this everytime?” Nick asked as he looked over at Rachel who nodded her head yes.

“Are you guys going to stay back here or sit out there?” Kelsey asked.

“Some of both.” Rachel said, “Why?”

“Okay, just wondering.” Kelsey said as she took another deep breath, “Dude I can’t do this.”

“Oh good god.” Samantha said while she crossed her arms.

“And I don’t give a damn, I’m somehow going out there and watching Rascal Flatts and Tim sing tonight.”

“Her boys.” Rachel said laughing.

“Boys? Oh I’ll be damned.” Nick said as Kelsey looked over at him and David walked in the door.

“Kel, come on.” David said as Kelsey started to make a whinning sound.

“Oh would you come on.” Joey said as she grabbed her arm, practically pulling her out of the room while Nick and Rachel sat there.

“Well, should we go out?” Nick asked as he looked over at Rachel.

“Sure let’s go on out.” Rachel said as they both stood up and walked out of the room.

Rachel and Nick went and took their seats, which were off towards the side on the front row as Kelsey came out singing her first song. She didn’t even notice that they were out in their seats until the 4th song and that was halfway through her set and that’s when Joey tapped on her shoulder and pointed over in that direction.

She performed two more songs until she looked over at Joey and Samantha telling them it was time for the surprise. Joey looked over at the band leader, which was the drummer and told him and the crowd started to calm down and she looked over at Nick and Rachel. She stood there a minute taking a deep breath and not even saying anything as the music started to play.

“What’s this?” Rachel asked as she looked over at Nick who sat there with a confused look on his face.

“Dude.” Nick said as he didn’t take his eyes off of the stage, “It’s our song.”

Kelsey walked up to the microphone, and looked back over at Nick and Rachel and then closed her eyes and began to sing.

I never thought that I would lose my mind
That I could control this
Never thought that I’d be left behind
That I was stronger than you? baby
if only I knew what I’ve done
You know, so why don’t you tell me
And I? I would bring down the
Moon and the sun to show
How much I care

Don’t wanna lose you now? Baby
I know we can win this
Don’t wanna lose (lose) you now? No? no
Or ever again

She took the microphone off of the stand and started to walk over towards the side of the stage where they were and began to sing the next verse.

I’ve got this feeling you’re not gonna stay
It’s burning within me
The fear of losing of slipping away
It just keeps getting closer? baby
Whatever reason to leave that I’ve had
My place was always beside you
And I? wish that I didn’t need you so bad
Your face just won’t go away

She smiled down at Nick and then began to walk away from that corner of the stage while she started to sing the chorus again.

I never thought that I would lose my mind
That I could control this?yes
Never thought that I’d be left behind
That I was stronger than you?Oh ohh

Kelsey started to walk back towards the middle of the stage, looking at Nick out in the audience as she walked back up to the microphone stand, placing the mic back in there and continued to sing.

Don’t want to lose to loneliness
I know we can win
Don’t want to lose to emptiness
Oh no or ever again

Don’t wanna lose you now? Baby
(Don’t wanna lose to loneliness) No way
I know we?
I know we can win this
Don’t wanna lose you now? No? no
Or ever again
Don’t wanna lose you now
I know we can win this
Don’t wanna lose you now
Don’t wanna lose you now
No?No?or ever again
Don’t wanna lose you now

The song ended and everybody cheered. Kelsey stood there with her eyes closed and then opened them up looking over at Rachel and Nick who were standing there clapping. She smiled back and then introduced the next song which was her next single and began to sing it.

“The songs almost over.” Rachel said as she stood back in the dressing room with Nick, “She’ll want to change and then watch the others.”

“I’m still in shock she sung that. Did you know?”

“No idea.” Rachel said as Nick started to laugh a little, “She did good though.”

“She did better than us.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.” Rachel said as Nick laughed when David, Kelsey, Joey, and Samantha walked into the door, “Hey! You did good!”

“Really?” Kelsey asked, “I think I sucked.”

“No, really. You did great.” Rachel said as she hugged her.

“Thanks.” Kelsey said as they stopped hugging and she looked over at Nick, “Well?”

“Well, that was great.” Nick said as Kelsey started to laugh, “What?”

“Just great?”

“Oh it was fine. Super. Great. It was the fucking bomb.” Nick said as Kelsey started to laugh at him even more and she hugged him while the others looked at them. They stopped hugging and began to kiss as Rachel, Samantha, Joey, and David stood there in shock looking at them.

“Hmm” Joey said as she cleared her throat and Samantha hit her on the arm, “Well it was a great show.”

“Uh yeah.” Kelsey said as she looked around, “I need to go shower and change and all.”

“Yeah.” Nick said as Kelsey smiled and started to walk in another room as Nick stood there with the other four looking at him, “What?”

“Nothing.” they all said as Nick started to laugh.

Kelsey and Nick watched the rest of the performers from the side of the stage the rest of the night. Kelsey would be singing along and Nick would just sit there looking around. Not that he gave a shit about watching these people, he was just watching because Kelsey wanted to watch them.

They stood there watching Tim McGraw after his set was over and Faith came out to sing “Let’s Make Love” with him. Kelsey just tilted her head a little, listening to the lyrics and then would look over at Nick who looked like he was doing the same thing and she smiled until David came and told her she needed to come back and change again because it was almost time for the finale. Nick stood there watching them finish performing the song, and then they performed another song together and he looked over to see Kelsey standing beside him and the other performers came up.

“Nervous?” Nick asked as Kelsey nodded her head yes and smiled.

“When everybody else comes out, I want you to come out with me.” Kelsey said as Nick smiled.

“Okay.” Nick said as everybody walked out to take the stage and he stood there watching as Rachel walked up beside him watching.

All of the performers walked on stage and they took different turns performing the finale which was “Livin’ On A Prayer” by Bon Jovi. Kelsey kept looking over on the side of the stage at Nick until finally they announced that it was two minutes before midnight and they called everybody out on stage. Nick walked out and stood beside Kelsey and he looked around, noticing that some of the people were noticing him, not that he gave a damn though.

“You gonna kiss me?” Kelsey whispered as she looked over at him while Tim was talking to the audience.

“I dunno, I doubt it.” Nick whispered back as Kelsey started to laugh a little as they started to countdown, beginning at 30, “Nah, I never kiss anybody on New Year’s Eve. Especially on stage.”

“Me either.” Kelsey said as she started to countdown. They reached 10 and Nick pressed his lips together, looking around and looked over at Rachel who was on the side of the stage and then back at Kelsey.

By the time they reached 2, he put his hands on Kelsey’s arms and turned her around, kissing her with everything he had. At the same time, everybody was cheering that it was midnight and a brand new year, but Kelsey stood there, almost weak in the knees as she wrapped her arms around Nick’s neck, kissing him back. They stood there kissing each other until after everybody had finished cheering for the new year and when they finally stopped, they realized that everybody in the arena, and everybody on stage was looking at them.

“Whoo hooo happy new year!” Kelsey shouted as everybody on the stage started to laugh and they ended the show. Kelsey took Nick’s hand and they walked off the stage and back to the dressing room where Rachel and David was.

“Rach, I need to talk to you a minute.” Kelsey said as she let go of Nick’s hand and dragged Rachel to the bathroom and shut the door.

“Well well well.”

“Don’t come home yet.” Kelsey said as Rachel looked at her.

“Umm why?” Rachel asked as she crossed her arms.

“Just don’t okay. Just, I want some time alone with him.” Kelsey said as Rachel smiled.

“Okay.” Rachel said as Kelsey smiled.

“Okay, good. I’m gone.” Kelsey said as she smiled even more and walked out of the bathroom door, “Nick, you ready?”

“Ready for what?” Nick asked.

“Go home.”

“I’m not going home yet.”

“My apartment.”

“Ohh..” Nick said as he laughed, “Yeah.”

“Okay.” Kelsey said, “I’ll see ya’ll later.” as David looked at her and back at Rachel.

“Bye.” Rachel said as she waved and her and Nick walked out the door.