Chapter Two - Family Portrait

“I loathe him.” Melinda said as her and Bianca walked through the mall the next day, “I hate him.”

“And your disguise is funny.” Bianca said, moving Melinda’s sunglasses from her face.

“Stop.” Melinda said as Bianca started to laugh, “I need those.”

“Would you stop bitching about Nick. I’m tired of hearing it. It will turn out good, just forget who you’re performing with.” Bianca said as she stopped in front of a store, looking at some Gucci handbags, “Oh I want that.”

“I have to go in first thing in the morning to start going over it with him. I’ll be stuck with him all freaking day. I’m going to be in major bitch mode tomorrow night, so stand clear.” Melinda said as she stood there, holding a few bags of things she had bought, “Can we go now?”

“Sure.” Bianca said, “So will you have to make a video for this song?”

“A video?” Melinda asked as she paused and looked over at Bianca, “A VIDEO?!?”

“You know, for a romantic song, it will probably be all steamy and touchy and ohh hot.” Bianca said as she started giggling while walking away from Melinda who stood there in shock.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++“Nick!” AJ said as he opened his front door to see Nick standing there, propping his arm up on the doorframe, giving AJ a weird look, “What are you doing in L.A.?”

“Where do I begin?” Nick said as AJ moved out of the way for Nick to come in, “Well I’ve got to record a song.”

“What song?” AJ asked as Nick sat down, picking up the remote and turning channels.

“Hey, give that back. I was watching golf.” AJ said as he stole the remote away from Nick and turned it back to the Golf Channel.

“A song, for Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s new movie. It’s the main song of the movie.”

“Oh cool.”

“Not really.”

“Why not man?” AJ asked, looking over at him, “They making you sing it with like Britney or some shit?”

“Worse.”

“Jessica Simpson?”

“Melinda.” Nick said as AJ busted out laughing and then stopped, looking at him, “I’m serious.”

“Your stepsister Melinda?”

“She’s not my stepsister. Her father was married to my mother for like three years while she was going through this transitional phase or some shit. She’s not my sister.” Nick said as AJ continued to laugh, “Dude, it’s not funny okay, I hate her.”

“Oh come on, she’s not that bad. I saw her and that friend of hers the other day.” AJ said, “The one that is always attached to her hip.”

“Bianca? Two of a freakin’ kind. Two little rich girls who live off of Daddy’s money.” Nick said as he shook his head.

“Actually I think Mindy might be making her own money now -”

“Shut up.”

“So what do you have to sing?”

“This song.” Nick said as he put his hand in his pocket, taking out a folded piece of paper and gave it to AJ. AJ looked over the lyrics and finally started laughing at him, “What?”

“This song is hot man. You have to sing it with her?”

“Tell me about it.”

“You could say no, you know. They can’t make you do anything you don’t want to.” AJ said, handing him the paper back, “Or did your mom ask you to?”

“She thinks it’ll do me good and keep me in the public eye until the group gets it’s shit back together,” Nick said, ’since my album flopped.”

“Yo, your album didn’t do that bad.”

“Her’s is doing better.”

“Yeah well she’s cuter.”

“She is not.” Nick said, “I think I’m cuter.”

“Well sorry babe, you don’t float my boat.” AJ said as Nick rolled his eyes at him, “Just forget about it. Don’t do it if you don’t want to.”

“I need to do it. I just don’t want it to be with her.” Nick said, “Just not her.”

“Get over it man. ” AJ said as he patted him on the back, “Get over it and watch the Golf Channel with me.”, he said as Nick cut his eyes over and looked at him.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++So I have to record this duet with Nick. Well I don’t guess I have to, my label wants me to. They think it’ll give my album and I more exposure so that when the third single comes out, it will do better. I’m fine with that. I want my album and singles to do better. There’s just one small problem - I do not want to sing with Nick.

I don’t have a problem with his singing, I actually like his voice. I just hate the person. I don’t want to sing this song with him, but I need to. Why him? I would much rather sing with anybody else. I’d sing with Justin Timberlake or Nick Lachey. I’d sing with Vanilla Ice before I would ever want to sing with Nick.

So here I sit, in my car, on my way to the recording studio where hell will officially begin. I have to sing with Nick. From what I understand, we’re going to have to make a video for this song. A vi-de-o. Yes, for a romantic song about someone kissing someone else all over their body so that they won’t forget they belong to them. I have to record this song and video with NICK.

I’m in hell.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++“Hey Melinda!” Mark said as Melinda walked into the recording studio to see Mark and his assistant Paul sitting at the soundboard, “Ready?”

“Not really.” Melinda said as she sat her things down, “Is Carter here yet?”

“He just called and said he was stuck in traffic. He was on his way.” Paul said, “Mark said that you two hated each other.”

“Yes.” Melinda said, “He’s my ex - stepbrother.”

“Really?” Paul said as he started to laugh and Melinda looked at him, “Sorry.”

“Yeah.” Melinda said as Mark handed her some papers.

“Here’s the lyrics and everything you’ll need.” Mark said, “Nick should be here soon and please, try not to fight.”

“As long as he doesn’t.” Melinda said as she sat down, crossing her legs and began looking at the papers when the door opened.

“This is the right studio right?” Nick asked as he looked over to see Melinda sitting there, “I guess it is.”

“This is it.” Melinda said as she looked up at him and looked back down.

“Hey Nick, I’m Mark.” Mark said as they shook hands, “And this is my assistant Paul.”

“Hey.” Nick said as he put his backpack down on the floor beside Melinda’s seat and she looked down at it and back up at him, “So we’re gonna get started on this?”

“Yeah, here’s the things you need.” Mark said, handing Nick the same papers that he handed Melinda, “Maybe you two need some time to go over things.”

“I already know the lyrics.” Melinda said as she looked at Mark, “I already know the part I’m singing.”

“Well it would be nice if you shared so I could know what I’m supposed to sing.” Nick said, looking down at Melinda as she rolled her eyes at him, “So Mindy, what are you singing?”

“Don’t call me that. “Melinda said, “And I’m singing the first two verses.”

“Well I’m glad you’ve decided this yourself - ” Nick started to say as Mark interrupted him.

“How about I decide who’s going to sing what? I’m the producer right?” Mark asked, as he looked at both of them, “Melinda, you take the first verse, Nick takes the second. You both do the chorus, then split up the third voice.”

“Sounds good to me.” Nick said as he cut his eyes over at Melinda and then back at his paper.

“Okay.” Melinda said as she stood up, straitening her skirt “Sounds fine.”

“Good, now go practice.” Mark said as he looked at them, “You need to practice.”

“Alright, cool.” Nick said as he looked at Melinda, motioning for to go first, “Ladies first.”

“Ugh, ” Melinda growled as they both walked into the sound booth, putting their papers up on the stands, and picked up their headphones putting them on. They both looked up to see the other straight across from them.

“Well go.” Nick said as Melinda cut her eyes up, looking at him, “Stop looking at me like that.”

“I’m getting ready to start.” Melinda said as she cleared her throat as the slow music started to play and she looked up for Mark to tell her when to start.

I’m only happy when I’m with you

I only feel good when I’m talking to you

Nick rolled his eyes, looking over at Mark and Paul at the mixing board, and then back at Melinda who had her eyes closed, singing along.

And I’m a mess when you don’t call me at night

Call me at night

Where did you go

Where did you go

And did you think of me

“Go Nick.” Mark said over the speakers as Nick sighed and looked down at his papers and began singing.

It’s hard to breathe

And my heart’s sinking

I’m slipping fast

As I’m reaching for you

It’s gonna hurt because I’ve been there before

Can’t take much more

Can’t take another night

Without you here beside me

“Hold a note right.” Melinda bitched as Nick looked up at her and back over at Mark and Paul at the mixing board.

“That’s great, now go do the chorus now.” Mark said as Melinda looked up at Nick and back down at the lyrics as Mark counted down for them to start singing.

I want to review my kisses

On every inch of your body

I want to reveal my secrets

That only you should know

I feel all this pain inside me

That only your lips can make better

I want to review my kisses

So you won’t forget that you are mine

Nick and Melinda stood there singing the chorus, giving it their all and trying to out due each other. Mark just sat there looking at both of them until he finally cut in and stopped them.

“Alright.” Mark said as he stood up, looking at them, “Do that later in the song and it will be great. Don’t try to out due each other yet. Make it simple.”

“Sorry.” Nick said as Melinda crossed her arms as they began to rehearse the chorus again. They did it simple and slow that time and then Melinda went into her part on the next verse.

Don’t wanna care

More than you do

Don’t want to be the one

Who’s out in the rain

Don’t wanna get that

Call where you sound so cold

So far away, so far away

Like the distant roll of thunder

They went back into the chorus again, picking up the singing a little, but kept giving each other evil looks through out it.

“Okay Nick, you’re turn.” Mark said as Nick took a deep breath and then looked back down at the lyrics, as he began to sing.

Its a cave in the darkness

And I’m lost inside you

Don’t go

On the last note, Nick held it, until finally they both started back in with the last chorus.

I want to review my kisses

On every inch of your body

I want to reveal my secrets

That only you should know

I feel like a childless mother

Longing to hold her baby

If I could review my kisses

Then you won’t forget that you are mine

“Perfect!” Mark yelled, “That’s it!”

“Really?” Melinda asked surprised, as she looked over at Mark.

“Yes! You two go over it one more time in there. Paul and I will go get the things we need and we’ll be right back.” Mark said as him and Paul walked away from the mixing board and out the door. Melinda looked back at her lyrics, making a note about something and then cut her eyes back up, looking over at Nick.

“So what made you do this?” Melinda asked as Nick looked up at her.

“Mom wanted me to.” Nick said, “She’s the one that suggested you.”

“Good ole Jane.” Melinda said as crossed her arms, looking at the lyrics, “How’s everybody doing?”

“Fine.”

“Fine? That’s all.”

“Great.”

“Thanks for elaborating.”

“Yeah well, not your family anymore. Why do you even care?” Nick said, looking up at her, and then back down at his paper. Melinda stood there with a shocked look on her face and was about to say something until Mark and Paul walked back into the room.

“Alright guys, you ready to get to work now?” Mark asked, smiling as he clapped his hands together, looking at them both.