Chapter Four - Tic Toc

“Me?” Melinda asked, looking at Nick, “What about me?”

“Are you fuckable?” Nick asked, with a smirk on his face, as he licked his lips.

“Eww! Pervert!” Melinda yelled as she threw a pillow at him, “God you freak.”

“Trust me, I’m so fucking joking.” Nick said, “I wouldn’t touch you with a ten foot pole.”

“You wish you had a ten foot pole.”

“Wouldn’t you like to know.”

“Eww! As if!”

“Oh god.” Nick said as he rolled his eyes and looked over at Melinda who was straightening her pigtails, “So did you like the song today?”

“Yeah it’s a nice song.”

“I think we did pretty good on it.”

“Me too.”

“I hate performing it with you.”

“Same here. I wish I could perform it with, like, hm, Craig David or something.” Melinda said as she nodded her head yes, “Yes, Craig David or John Mayer.”

“I’d like to perform it with hmm - Michelle Branch.” Nick said, “She’s good. She’s cute too.”

“I guess I’ll just have to close my eyes and pretend you’re Craig David.”

“You wanna do him?”

“Not that it’s none of your business, no I don’t want to ‘do’ him.” Melinda said, “Is that all you think about is doing someone and them being fuckable?”

“That’s what you think huh?” Nick asked as he started to laugh and looked back at the TV to see Kelly Rowland’s video playing, “You know, I’m not like that really anymore.”

“Oh, here a chick, bang a chick, everywhere, bang a chick?” Melinda asked, singing along as Nick looked back over at her, “Guys never change Nick. I know. I’ve seen my father everyday of my life. He hasn’t changed in 20 years and he never will. He’s still the same person. No guy changes.”

“Ed is different.”

“No, he’s not. He cheated on Jane when he was married to her. He probably cheated on my mom before I was born. He still goes out and fucks these little blonde bimbos who want a role in one of the movies he’s working on. He just knows not to bring them home or I will raise hell.”

“He cheated?” Nick asked, looking back at the TV.

“Hell yes he did. That’s how he is. Why do you think he didn’t want me in the music industry? He knows how it is. So there, my point is proven. No guy changes. My Dad hasn’t changed in 20 or more years, and you have not changed either.” Melinda said as she looked over at Nick, “Don’t like it? Too bad, learn it, live it, and love it.”

“You think you know everything don’t you?” Nick asked, turning the TV off, “Mindy, you don’t know shit.”

“Don’t call me that. God, I’m not fucking 10 anymore.” Melinda said, “I know what I believe. I don’t care if you’re off fucking every little bitch that you see. Hey if you got the stamina I say go for it.”

“You’re probably just uptight ’cause I know you’re not a virgin” Nick said as Melinda opened her mouth in shock, “That guy never gave you any? What was his name um - ”

“That’s none of your fucking business.” Melinda said, “My sex life is none of your concern.”

“Then don’t tell me you know how I am and no guy changes.” Nick said a she stood up and looked down at her, “Got it?”

“Whatever.” Melinda said as Nick rolled his eyes and walked out of the living room. He walked into the kitchen, and opened up the refridgerator, looking in to see what he could find to eat -

Nick, come in here!

“Coming!” Nick yelled back as he shut the refridgerator door and opened up the cookie jar, grabbing a few cookies as he walked through the house and into Ed’s office, “What’s up?”

“Are you and Mindy fighting again?” Ed asked as Nick sat down in a chair and crossed his leg a little.

“Just being our usual selves.” Nick said as he looked around the office, and back at Ed who was looking over some papers.

“Daddy, I forgot to show you these.” Melinda said as she walked into the office, giving Nick the evil eye, before laying down some pictures in front of her father.

“What’s this?” Ed asked, looking at the pictures.

“From a photo shoot I did, for my calendar.” Melinda said, “Whatcha think?”

“Nick, what do you think?” Ed asked as Nick stood up and walked over leaning over the desk to see a picture of Melinda in a little white tank top and short white skirt.

“Will she put on some clothes?” Nick asked, looking over at Melinda.

“My thoughts exactly.” Ed said as Melinda rolled her eyes, grabbing the pictures and walked out of the office pissed off, “Nick -”

“Yes sir?” Nick asked, as he looked at some pictures that were on the side of the wall, seeing one of him, Melinda, and BJ from when they met Bruce Willis when they were kids.

“You know that if this song is the theme song of the movie, you and Mindy will be doing some promotion for it, right?” Ed asked, looking over his glasses at Nick who looked back at him.

“Damn, didn’t think of that.” Nick said as he looked back at the pictures, “God, maybe this is a mistake. We’ll kill each other.”

“You know how over-protective I am of her, so when you do, watch her. I don’t trust a bodyguard.” Ed said as Nick turned back around, looking at him, “I hate her leaving home for weeks at a time.”

“You’re asking me, the guy that bitches with her whenever we’re around each other, to watch after her? Ed, that’s about the funniest thing I’ve ever heard.” Nick said as he started to laugh, “That’s a good one.”

“I’m serious. You watch after her. Don’t let her go out and party.”

“You’re talking to the wrong one.”

“You’re listening to me aren’t you?”

“Uhh…” Nick said a she sighed, “Yes sir.”

“Good, you do that.” Ed said as he smiled and looked back down at his papers.

Come inside my walls of ecstasy with me

Close the door and throw away the key

That’s the way you can start by moving in nice and slow

Taking your time to move down low

Cuz everything you do is everything I need

Lights are low, so here we go lets get busy

Nick stood there in the doorway of Melinda’s bedroom, watching her dance into the mirror and sing along to her song on her CD. He shook his head laughing at her a little to himself as he watched her continue to dance and sing.

Tic Toc

Hands on the clock

Time to make my body rock

Move with me, you get me

So hot that I can’t stop

Tic Toc

You got the spot

Here I come ready or not

Move with me you get me

So hot that I can’t stop

Tic Toc Tic Toc Baby

Tic Toc Tic Toc baby

“So maybe you have had a lot of sex since you’re singing about having an orgasm.” Nick said as Melinda jumped and looked back at him, “I mean you wrote the song right?”

“What the hell are you doing watching me?” Melinda asked as she walked over, turning her stereo off, “I was rehearsing.”

“That song is about having an orgasm right?” Nick asked as he walked into the room and looked around.

“As a matter of fact it is, and no, I’ve had plenty of sex, thank you very much.” Melinda said, “What? Jealous?”

“Jealous of what?” Nick asked as he started to laugh and looked over at a picture on her dresser.

“That you didn’t get any?” Melinda asked, as she put her hands on her hips and Nick looked over at her, wanting to laugh, “That’s what it is huh?”

“Trust me, if I wanted you, I could have already had your ass again. I never even thought of you that way, you’re like a boy to me.” Nick said as he shook his head, picking up a picture of Melinda and Brian, “Got a thing for Rok huh?”

“Oh shut up, you know I always had a crush on his ass.” Melinda said, “He’s married with a kid now. I still think he’s cute, who cares?”

“I don’t.” Nick said as he started to laugh, “So when are you gonna move out?”

“When I get my career up and going.” Melinda said, “As of right now, I’m staying here.”

“You won’t have a maid if you moved out on your own.” Nick said as he started to laugh, “God I love Maria.”

“You two would make a cute couple.” Melinda said as Nick looked over at her with a big smile.

“Oh she’s very fuckable isn’t she now?” Nick asked as Melinda made a disgusted face, “Don’t worry. I leave to go back to Florida tomorrow. You’ll be through with me.”

“God, I pray that’s true.” Melinda said, “Think we’ll have to do anymore shit for the song?”

“A video probably. I vote for having separate actors in the movie. A fine female for me and some guy for you.” Nick said as he started to laugh, “Oh yeah, get me a fine woman up in there.”

“Only way you’ll get a half decent one.” Melinda said as Nick made a face at her.

“Thank God I leave tomorrow. I don’t know how much more of this I can handle.”

“Then hello Carter, get out of my room.”

“But it’s so cozy and hm pink in here.” Nick said as he looked around, “Looks like it’s been drenched in Pepto-Bismol.”

“Yeah, you probably like that.” Melinda said, “I certainly hope we don’t have to do anything else together.”

“You’re not alone.”

“I’d rather be alone.”

“Oh why?”

“God, can’t you take a hint?!?”

“Whyyyy, I like bugging you.” Nick said as he walked over to her, putting his arms around her neck, “Give me a hug sister.”

“Oh god!” Melinda yelled as she pushed him away, “Get off you freak.”

“I’m so joking with your ass.” Nick said as he cracked up laughing, “You are so uptight. I need to order you a male whore or something.”

“Please god. If I wanted a male whore I would go after you.” Melinda said as Nick looked in shock.

“OH! That was cold man.” Nick said, “You really think I’m a male whore?”

“Call ‘em like I see ‘em.” Melinda said as she walked over to her closet and walked in.

“Call ‘em like you see ‘em huh?” Nick asked as he shook his head, “You know what Mindy, I thought maybe since you’ve gotten into the music business, you would learn to respect people more, but you’re still the stuck up little rich girl that you always were.”, as he walked over to her door and walked out. Melinda walked out of her closet and looked over at the door before rolling her eyes and walking back in it.

Me? A stuck up little rich girl? Nick really doesn’t know what he’s talking about. I have never ever been a stuck up little rich girl. I can be a friend with anybody. Rich or poor, smart or dumb. Whoever.

Like - I just don’t like him.

I hate when people think that about me. I don’t know why but a lot of people think it about me. I just don’t like Nick and he doesn’t like me. He’s obnoxious and stupid, and annoying. He’s always picking on me, and making me feel bad about myself. I hate that. I’m all about being happy, or atleast trying to be and he always brings me down.

Stuck up rich girl my ASS Carter. Bastard.

“Miss Melinda! Breakfast!” Maria yelled the next morning as Melinda stumbled her way downstairs and into the dining room where her father was sitting in his usual spot.

“Good morning Daddy.” Melinda said as she sat down as Maria brought her a glass of orange juice.

“Good morning sunshine.” Ed said, as he sat there, drinking his coffee and reading his paper. Melinda sat there, taking a sip of her orange juice and looked around until she finally cleared her throat, “Yes?”

“Where’s Nick?” Melinda asked, yawning as she looked over at father.

“He left this morning. He had a flight back to Miami.” Ed said, “He said to tell you goodbye and he’d see you sooner or later for more duet things.”

“Oh.” Melinda said as she took another sip of her drink.

Great. Nick was gone now. She smiled as she looked over at the huge Grandfather clock to see that it was 9 in the morning. She smiled again until it hit her.

More duet things.

The smile washed away quickly when she took another sip of her orange juice, wondering what she did to deserve this kind of hell from God.