The next morning, Kelsey got up pretty early so that she could head to the auditorium where the awards were taking place, so they could go through rehearsal for the performance two or three times.

Joey and Samantha never got a chance to talk to Kelsey alone to ask her about Nick. Everytime they thought they had a chance, someone would pop up and get her attention, whether it was Rachel, someone from the awards, band, or either Nick. They figured they’d get her alone sometime before the awards and talk to her.

So after rehearsing for her performance, she found out that she would be presenting an award with non other then Kevin and Nick. Nick found it funny but it made Kelsey a little nervous, with them being on live national TV like that. There was no telling what Nick would do.

“Okay, I’m going with Rachel, Joey, and Samantha to get our dresses okay?” Kelsey asked as Nick looked around, “No you can’t come.”

“Yeah I know. I need to head back to the hotel. I’m tired. I need a nap.” Nick said as Kelsey rolled her eyes.

“Okay, see ya soon.” Kelsey said as she smacked her lips like she was going to give him and kiss and walked over towards Joey and Samantha, “I’m already tired.”

“Question.” Joey said as Kelsey smiled, “You and him are really dating now?”

“Answer. Yes.” Kelsey said as Samantha started to laugh, “Get use to it. You’re gonna see a lot of him.”

“Really?” Samantha asked as Kelsey smiled.

“Yes, really.” Kelsey said, “Any other questions?”

“Will we see the other guys as often?” Joey asked as Kelsey rolled her eyes, laughed and walked off, “Did she just walk away from us?”

“I do think so.” Samantha asked as they walked over to where Kelsey and Rachel where.

“Okay, I’m nervous.” Kelsey said as she paced around the room later that afternoon, after getting her hair straightened and her make up done. She was already dressed in her white suit that she was wearing to the awards, “I’m nervous.”

“Breathe child.” Rachel said, “It’ll be okay.”

“You think? I hope so.” Kelsey said as Nick walked out of the bedroom wearing a tan turtleneck, kacki pants and a beige jacket, “Oh damn.”

“Well damn.” Nick said, looking at her.

“Well damn damn damn.” Rachel said as she stood up, “Well I think I’m going to go ahead and leave with the others. David will be up here in a little bit for you.”

“Oh, you’re not gonna go with me?” Kelsey asked.

“No, you’re with him. David’s your guard. He’ll be here in a few minutes to go with you.” Rachel said as Nick looked over at Kelsey, “I’ll see you there.”

“Okay.” Kelsey said as Rachel smiled and walked out, “Well now that was totally weird.”

“Well damn.” Nick said as he laughed a minute, “Well she’s got a point.”

“Yeah.” Kelsey said as she looked down, “How do I look?”

“Smart.”

“Smart?”

“You look like a business woman. Damn smart.” Nick said as Kelsey laughed, “How do I look?”

“Nice.”

“Nice?”

“Nice.” Kelsey said as she smiled as he leaned over to kiss her and she stopped him, “Nah. Don’t mess up my make up.”

“Blah.” Nick said a she gave her a quick kiss on the lips when they heard someone knocking on the door.

Nick, Kelsey, it’s time to go

“Oh it’s David. Ready?” Kelsey asked as Nick took a deep breath.

“It’s now or never.” Nick said as he took her hand and they walked over to the door opening it to see David and Kevin standing outside.

“Oh the other guys aren’t going?” Kelsey asked.

“No, they’re going to the after party though.” Nick said as Kelsey shook her head and they closed to door.

“Oh.” Kelsey said as Kevin looked over at her.

“You’re looking nice tonight.” Kevin said as she smiled a little.

“Thanks, so are you.”

“Why thank you.” Kevin said as David laughed to himself as they walked down to the elevator.

All during the limo ride to the awards ceremony, Kelsey sat there moving her hands back and forth in her lap, being nervous about walking out with Nick and everybody seeing the. Nick just sat there, running his mouth with Kevin about how nosey AJ was.

Then someone opened the door. David got out first, and then Kevin followed him, stepping out onto the red carpet, followed by Nick and Kelsey. Nick looked over at Kelsey and she looked back at him, wondering what the hell they were going to say. Finally he just took her hand and they started to walk down the isle together, stopping along the way for a few interviews.

A few interviewers asked if they were attending the awards together, and they both replied with a yes. Kevin just smiled and wanted to laugh in response when they asked were they dating. Kelsey was about to say maybe or even a no comment, but Nick spoke up saying that they were dating. After a few more interviews, they made their way into the auditorium and found their way to their seats, which were right up front. Not to mention right beside ‘N Sync.

“No way.” Kelsey said as her and Nick stood there in the isle, looking over at their seat. Kelsey’s name was right beside Justin’s, “No fucking way am I sitting beside him.”

“I’ll sit there.” Nick said.

“No.” Kelsey said as Kevin got over, replacing his name with Kelsey’s causing her to sit next to Tim McGraw.

“There.” Kevin said, “Sit next to Tim.”

“Thank you.” Kelsey said as she smiled and looked over to see Rachel and she waved at her.

“Hey.” Rachel said as she walked up to them, “Well did you tell it?”

“We are dating.” Nick said as he smiled at her.

“Great, I’ll have PR work to do tomorrow.” Rachel said as she laughed and looked at Kelsey, “You look really good.”

“Thanks. Everything ready back there?” Kelsey asked.

“Yep.” Rachel said as Justin and Sabrina walked up, taking their seats. Justin cut his eyes over at Nick and Kelsey and then leaned over, telling Sabrina something when Joey and JC walked up.

“Asshole.” Kelsey muttered as Rachel grabbed her arm, pulling her over to the side.

“Kelsey, you can’t be saying things like that outloud.” Rachel said, “Act professionally.”

“I can’t help it. I hate him.” Kelsey said, “I just want to squish him like a little bug.”

“I know you do.” Rachel said, “Just ignore him. He’s just doing that because he’s with Nick’s ex-girlfriend. Show off dammit. You’re his girlfriend now.”

“Okay.” Kelsey said as she smiled, “Let me know when it’s time to go back and get ready.”

“I will.” Rachel said, smiling as she walked over to where David and the others were.

“God.” Kelsey said as she walked back over, sitting down in her seat, crossing her legs and looking up at Nick and Kevin who were talking about something.

“Is it extremely sad that Kel and Nick make a really cute couple?” Samantha asked as Rachel looked over at her.

“Yeah they do.” Rachel said as she sat down, looking at her watch.

“I bet she hates sitting near Justin. God knows she hates the bastard.” David said laughing as Rachel looked over at him when her cell phone vibrated.

“What the hell?” Rachel asked herself as she opened it up to see that it was Sharon calling her.

“Hello?”

“Rachel?”

“Hey Sharon. How’s the test going?” Rachel asked as Joey, David, and Samantha looked over at her and she got up, walking away from them.

“That’s why I’m calling. Not so good. The cancer is spreading really fast Rachel.” Sharon said as Rachel closed her eyes and sighed, “That’s why I’ve been feeling like I have the past few days.”

“You need to tell Kelsey really Sharon.” Rachel said as she looked over to see Kelsey laughing at something with Nick, then leaning over to kiss him.

“I can’t, not yet. Especially now with her performing tonight. How is she?” Sharon asked.

“She’s perfect right now. She’s sitting in the front row on the left side with Kevin and Nick. She’s inbetween Nick and McGraw.” Rachel said, “She’s got on a white suit and a black collared shirt underneath it with her hair straight. She’s looking really good tonight. She’s nervous though.”

“Oh why?”

“Her and Nick walked down the carpet together and told everybody they were dating.”

“Good.” Sharon said as she smiled a little, “I’m glad. I can’t tell her yet. I don’t want her to worry.”

“You really need to Sharon.”

“I know that, but I can’t.” Sharon said as Rachel rolled her eyes, “It took everything I had telling her I was sick. I can’t tell her this.”

“Well call me in the morning and let me know everything else. The awards are going to start in a minute.” Rachel said.

“I know, I’m watching on TV. I’ll talk to you then. Wish her good luck for me.”

“I will, take care.” Rachel said as she closed her cell phone and walked back to her seat, sitting down.

“She okay?” David whispered as Rachel looked over at him, nodding her head no.

Throughout the whole awards, Kelsey kept looking over at Justin. One time he looked over and noticed her looking at him, wondering what her problem was. Nick didn’t really pay any attention to it at all, and was enthused by Destiny’s Child’s performance.

When Kevin, Nick, and Kelsey went up to present the Top Country Male Vocalist award, they were discussing the nominees, and Kelsey made a comment that atleast ‘N Sync wasn’t nominated in this category since they had already won one away that night. Just just gave her a evil eye and she smiled at him. After Tim won that award, they all headed backstage to the press area and Nick and Kelsey told that they were dating once again and that’s all they really said about it, before Kelsey had to go and get ready for her performance.

After Alicia Keys won an award and walked off stage, Rascal Flatts came up onstage and introduced Kelsey who stood there infront of the microphone in a simple long black dress, performing “I’m Not Suppose To Love You Anymore” with Samantha and Joey singing back up behind her along with her band. She kept looking down at Nick a few times during the performance but he kept making weird faces, trying to make her laugh. At the end of the performance, everybody stood up, giving her a standing ovation.

That was the awards. Kelsey was the last performance of the night and after that, everybody went and headed for the afterparty where they were going to meet up with the other guys and party the night away.

“Oh there’s the lovebirds!” AJ yelled time Kelsey and Nick walked into the view at the after party a little while later, “I saw you two all holding hands together.”

“So?” Nick asked as he started to laugh a little.

“Damn sweet.” AJ said as he handed them some punch, “Here ya go.”

“Thanks.” Kelsey said as she took a sip of it, “My performance sucked.”

“Dude, it did not.” Nick said as he looked over at Brian, “Tell her it didn’t.”

“Really, you did great.” Brian said as he smiled.

“Thanks.” Kelsey said as she took another sip of her punch and someone walked up to them.

“Kelsey, hi, can I talk to you a minute?” Kelsey heard a voice asked as she looked over to see Trisha Yearwood standing there.

“Oh yeah.” Kelsey said as she handed Nick her drink, “Be right back.”

“Okay.” Nick said as Kelsey walked off with Trisha and Nick watched them, “Who’s that chick?”

“Trisha Yearwood. Big singer. They say she’s dating Garth now that he’s divorced.” Brian said as AJ looked over at him.

“Look at Rok all up in the country gossip. I’m so proud!” AJ said as Nick started to laugh, “Nick you better be learning these country peeps. You’ll be attending all those country awards now. Kelsey’s gonna be done dressed your ass in a Stetson cowboy hat, Wranger jeans, and chaps.”

“I’ll be damned.” Nick said as both AJ and Brian started laughing.

“Well that’s what I was thinking.” Trisha said as Kelsey stood there in shock, “Different artist come in and record parts, like one big duet.”

“Oh, I’d love to.” Kelsey said as she felt someone tap her on the shoulder. Trisha looked up to see who it was but Kelsey paid them any attention to them, “Really I would.”

“Excuse me.”

“Yeah?” Kelsey asked as she turned around seeing who was talking to her. It was Justin, “Uh what?”

“Can I speak to you please?” Justin asked as Kelsey looked back at Trisha, whom she was talking to.

“Can’t you see that I’m talking to somebody?” Kelsey asked as turned back around. Justin grabbed her arm and pulled her away, “What the fuck are you doing?”